Duan Lang

Before them lay a winding path, stretching into the deep darkness, its end unknown.

"Brother, thank you for saving my life," Qin Shuang first thanked Duan Lang, then looked up at the ceiling and said to the two of them, "Since there's still a path, let's keep moving forward."

"Okay!" Nie Feng readily agreed. He wouldn't back down until he understood the strange circumstances of his father, Nie Renwang's, disappearance.

After walking for over an hour, Qin Shuang and the other two finally arrived at a small cave entrance. It was short and narrow, forcing them to bend and crouch to get inside.

Passing through the narrow opening, they found themselves in a spacious cavern, the air thick with heat.

Even more surprisingly, within this hell-like cavern, countless vines had grown, and among them hung strange, blood-red fruits.

And in the densest part of the vines, a skeleton sat, its neck, hands, and feet bound by iron chains.

Upon seeing the skeleton, Nie Feng felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, but the signs of age and decay made it clear it wasn't Nie Renwang.

Qin Shuang, his body aching from injuries, exhaustion, thirst, and hunger, didn't overthink it. He picked a red fruit and ate it.

To his surprise, he immediately felt his Blood Essence harmonize, his injuries gradually soothed and healed, and his internal energy continuously strengthened.

Astonished by the efficacy of the strange red fruit, Qin Shuang quickly shared his discovery with Nie Feng and Duan Lang, urging them to eat and meditate as well.

In a short while, all three had recovered from their injuries and finally had the time to examine the cavern carefully.

At this moment, Nie Feng suddenly noticed that the stone platform where the skeleton sat was covered in inscriptions.

After reading them all, Nie Feng realized that the skeleton was that of his ancestor, Nie Ying!

A long time ago, Nie Ying, Nie family's ancestor, had gained renown throughout the jianghu with his divine weapon, the Snow Drinking Saber, and a set of saber techniques called the Arrogant Cold Six Forms.

At that time, the Fire Qilin was causing havoc in the west. To save the common people, Nie Ying resolutely went to Lingyun Cave to battle the Fire Qilin.

Although the Fire Qilin was fierce, Nie Ying's Arrogant Cold Six Forms were perfected, and the icy saber energy of the Snow Drinking Saber countered the Fire Qilin's fiery might.

The two clashed outside Lingyun Cave for several days. In the prolonged battle, the Snow Drinking Saber managed to wound the Fire Qilin, but Nie Ying also accidentally ingested Qilin Blood.

As soon as the Qilin Blood entered his body, Nie Ying felt as if his insides were burning, and he collapsed. The Fire Qilin took the opportunity to escape while injured.

After a day and a night, Nie Ying awoke, his body burning as if on fire. He dared not rashly enter Lingyun Cave to pursue the Fire Qilin.

Upon returning home, Nie Ying discovered drastic changes in his body, his power increasing to an unbelievable level.

Even more terrifying was a strange and powerful killing intent spreading through his blood.

More than half a year later, Nie Ying found the killing intent within him reaching its peak, beyond his control. Fearing he would harm his wife and children, he left behind the Arrogant Cold Six Forms and the Snow Drinking Saber and departed without a word under the cover of night.

Nie Ying first went to the Sword-Forging Manor and told his close friend, the manor lord Ao Ri at the time, the whole story. He hoped Ao Ri could forge a supremely yin and cold divine weapon to kill the supremely yang and hot Fire Qilin, and also to restrain himself should he become possessed by the Qilin Blood in the future.

Afterward, fearing he would lose control and endanger the martial world, Nie Ying returned to Lingyun Cave and chained himself within the cavern, awaiting the completion of the divine weapon from the Sword-Forging Manor.

However, the forging of divine weapons requires favorable timing, location, and fortune. Nie Ying waited for his entire life.

From then on, a terrible tragedy was passed down through generations of the Nie family: a mad blood flowed within them, capable of losing control and becoming demonic at any moment. The Ice Heart Art, created by Nie family descendants, was also meant to suppress this mad blood.

Nie Feng, having learned the cause and effect, made up his mind. "Senior Brother, this uncontrollable mad blood flows within me. If one day I lose myself to madness and cannot be saved, I hope you will remember our brotherhood and end me. Do not let me become a demon and bring disaster to the jianghu!"

Qin Shuang knew Nie Feng's kind heart. Seeing his firm resolve, he fell silent for a moment before nodding resolutely. "If that day ever comes, I will personally take your life, so you won't have any regrets."

"I never imagined your Nie family had such a connection to the Fire Qilin!"

Duan Lang exclaimed, then slowly recounted some of his Duan family's past. "The ancestor of the Duan family, Duan Zhengxian, the foremost swordsman of his time, fought the Fire Qilin that was wreaking havoc in the west. After the fierce battle, he severed a piece of its scale and embedded it into his sword, naming it the Fire Qilin Sword."

"The spot I attacked earlier was the only part of the Fire Qilin's body not protected by scales, which is why I was able to injure it with a single blow."

Duan Lang paused, then continued, "Similar to the mad blood in your body, the Fire Qilin Sword also carries a great hidden danger. The scale on the sword can generate an incredible power, increasing the wielder's strength. However, the longer one wields the sword, the more it can control the user's mind, leading to uncontrollable demonic thoughts."

"I know it's a double-edged sword, yet I can't bear to part with its benefits."

Qin Shuang couldn't help but touch his recovered left eye, feeling uneasy. He forced himself to shift his attention and looked around, discovering something else. "Look, there are murals on the stone walls."

Nie Feng and Duan Lang gathered around, examining them closely. "This is a set of saber techniques!"

"It's the Nie family's Arrogant Cold Six Forms!" Nie Feng exclaimed, realizing these murals depicted his family's unique saber techniques. He couldn't help but study them, finding them more profound and infinitely more varied than those used by his father, Nie Renwang.

Nie Renwang had never taught Nie Feng the Arrogant Cold Six Forms, so he could only learn by observation. Now, seeing these murals, his understanding deepened, and he benefited greatly.

Furthermore, the more he practiced the saber techniques from the murals, the more the medicinal effects of the strange red fruit within him were stimulated. He felt his internal energy constantly increasing, an urge to release it building within him.

Seeing Nie Feng engrossed in practicing his saber techniques, Qin Shuang didn't interrupt him. He walked over to talk with Duan Lang and learned that Duan Lang's father, Duan Shuai, had disappeared into Lingyun Cave along with Nie Renwang. He had come here to investigate the truth of that incident.

However, despite finding the Fire Qilin Sword and the Snow Drinking Saber, there was still no sign of Duan Shuai or Nie Renwang, dead or alive.

Nie Feng was immersed in his martial arts practice, and Qin Shuang and Duan Lang didn't want to waste time. They began their own cultivation.

Several hours passed. With the help of the strange red fruit, Nie Feng and Duan Lang both broke through to the Innate Realm, a remarkable feat for two individuals only fifteen or sixteen years old!

Of course, Qin Shuang had no reason to envy them. The medicinal effects of the Lesser Restoration Pill within him had not been fully absorbed, and now, with the addition of the strange red fruit, their effects combined, stimulating and complementing each other. This allowed him to advance further, just half a month after breaking through to the Innate Realm, reaching the Mid-Innate Realm!

With their greatly increased strength, the three were filled with confidence. They retraced their steps, determined to slay the Fire Qilin and unravel the mystery of Lingyun Cave.