It provided a sliver of life.
Much like the Heavenly Dao's forty-nine, with one escape route.
As long as Fang Ming did not interfere excessively with this world, he had a chance of survival.
Then, once the cooldown for his World-Hopping talent was over, he could traverse again.
In this world, all struggles could ultimately be resolved in four ways.
First, see if communication was possible.
Second, see if the opponent could be subdued through direct combat.
Third, endure.
Fourth, flee. As the saying goes, if you can't win, run.
One, communication.
Fang Ming and the world's will of this realm were not on the same level, so communication was impossible and unfeasible.
Two: combat?
Fighting the world's will, Fang Ming couldn't even begin to fight, let alone find out where this world's will resided. Moreover, to fight the world's will of a world that could fuse immortal and divine professions, Fang Ming's current strength would be akin to certain death.
Communication was impossible, and combat was unwinnable, leaving only two options.
Either endure.
Or flee.
These two methods could be used concurrently.
Fang Ming would first use endurance, employing various means to endure for a month.
Then he could directly use his World-Hopping talent to traverse.
This was the strategy of running when you couldn't win.
It was precisely because of this escape route that Fang Ming was currently lamenting his bad luck rather than despairing.
"My main objective now is to endure."
"Endurance also requires certain methods... hiding in deep mountains and old forests?"
According to normal speculation, hiding in deep mountains and old forests, and not interacting with the outside world, might reduce interference with this world.
The hostility of the world towards him would not increase too rapidly.
However, all of this was based on the assumption that the world's will only cared about humans.
There were many creatures in the wild. Would destroying the ecosystem incur the world's will's animosity?
The creatures in the wild were numerous, far more so than in the cities!
If the world's will cherished both humans and wild creatures, then Fang Ming hiding in the deep mountains and old forests, seemingly a place without people, would actually have a greater impact on this world than staying in the city.
"Therefore, other methods must be employed..."
Recalling Yan Deye's performance and his reverence towards him, Fang Ming felt he had already thought of a way to "endure" for a longer period.
That was to display his strength, so that others would know he was a "Sword Immortal" with immense power before they even made a move.
This way, even if others harbored ill intentions, they would not dare to act directly.
Moreover, the Sword Immortal profession was just one profession, and the strength of each Sword Immortal varied. Displaying oneself as an ordinary Sword Immortal or a powerful Sword Immortal would undoubtedly have a different deterrent effect!
Fang Ming estimated that an ordinary Sword Immortal in this world, upon entry, should be comparable to an ordinary cultivator in World One. Yet, he had already practiced to the point of being able to fly with his sword.
He was completely incomparable to an ordinary person who had just stepped into the Sword Immortal profession.
If everyone could know his strength upon seeing him, then "enduring" would become much easier.
Just like the guards at the city gate. They only knew from Yan Deye that he was a Sword Immortal, but was he truly a Sword Immortal? What level was he? The guards couldn't tell from his appearance.
Perhaps they suspected he was a fake Sword Immortal.
Therefore, Fang Ming needed to find a way to demonstrate his strength.
And this kind of strength certification, profession certification, would depend on whether this world had such things as professional certificates.
From Yan Deye, Fang Ming knew that such things existed.
...
In this world, there were various guilds.
Every professional had a corresponding guild.
And these guilds were distributed across multiple empires and kingdoms in the world.
Perhaps, some professions were too noble, with too high a threshold, and too few people could join.
Therefore, they were not distributed or built in remote cities.
However, the cities of the Hailan Empire were relatively prosperous, not extremely remote.
Therefore, the Sword Immortal Guild existed here, as the guild for Sword Immortal professionals.
In this guild, one could certify their Sword Immortal level—this world truly resembled a game world, but Fang Ming considered that the professions in this world were not balanced, and it was unlikely anyone would play such a game, so it was likely just an illusion.
In reality, this could not be a game world—if someone had set up such a bizarrely mixed game, Fang Ming would immediately suspect that person's sanity.
What kind of mixed style was this?
It was a complete monstrosity.
Fang Ming walked into the Sword Immortal Guild.
He first saw a receptionist.
Then, Fang Ming said to the receptionist, "Hello, I want to certify my Sword Immortal profession."
The receptionist was a man.
At this moment, he looked at Fang Ming, intending to go through the usual procedure.
But by some unseen force, influenced by the world's will's malice towards Fang Ming, he began to dislike the young man before him more and more.
"You? And you claim to be a Sword Immortal?"
"Sword Immortal is a noble profession, comparable to some hidden professions, and its entry requirements are extremely high."
"At your age, you look no more than thirteen or fourteen, how could you possibly meet the entry requirements for the Sword Immortal profession?"
The receptionist taunted Fang Ming.
Originally, as a guild receptionist, one should know not to judge people by their appearance, nor by their clothing.
No matter who they met, they should be amiable, after all, how could you know how strong this person was? If they offended someone powerful, it would be utterly embarrassing.
There was no need to mock someone like this.
It was as if they weren't suited to be a receptionist, but rather sent by a competitor to cause trouble and provoke people.
But the influence of the world's will on people's hearts was real and could not be ignored.
This influence led to the receptionist's taunts.
Fang Ming understood who was causing this situation and did not bother too much with the receptionist, who seemed like a puppet.
Fang Ming simply said, "Whether I have the strength or not, isn't your job to test people?"
"Can I not be tested just because I'm young?"
These words almost shut the receptionist up.
His job was indeed to test people's professional levels.
And according to the guild's rules, there was no rule prohibiting someone from being tested due to their age.
Logically speaking, even though he disliked the young man before him, he could not refuse his request.
After thinking it over, he snorted, "Although you won't pass the test at all, I can reluctantly allow you to take it."