The Peril of Spirit Rhyme Bamboo: A Spirit Hall Spy Stirs Trouble

The Peril of Spirit Rhyme Bamboo: A Spirit Hall Spy Stirs Trouble (Lin Che searched for Hundred-Year Spirit Rhyme Bamboo and encountered a Green Clothed Eyeline tracking him)

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wrapped in a thin layer of frost that early morning. Fine ice crystals clung to the Green Bamboo Leaves in the West Courtyard, reflecting a faint silvery gleam beneath the sunlight. Lin Che stood beneath the bamboo, holding the Azure Water Sword Art. The moment his fingertips touched the stalk, he recalled what Gu Rong had said the evening before—"The Azure Water Sword needs sword intent to nourish it. Ordinary bamboo can only be used to practice moves. If you want your Sword Martial Soul to attune to you faster, go to Spirit Bamboo Valley in the sect's rear mountain and seek out Spirit Rhyme Bamboo. It is a hundred-year Spiritual Plant that emits Sword Attribute Soul Power, which will greatly benefit your sword practice."

He touched the sword manual in his robes, then lowered his head to look at the faint Azure Water Sword phantom in his palm. Anticipation welled up within him. When he had practiced Azure Edge Draw yesterday, he had been able to condense Sword Qi, but the connection between his Soul Power and the sword phantom had still felt slightly off. Gu Rong had said that the aura of Spirit Rhyme Bamboo could help him break through that blockage and even lay a foundation for absorbing his First Soul Ring in the future.

"Remember to avoid the miasma in the valley. If you encounter strangers, come back immediately." Gu Rong's warning still echoed in his ears. Lin Che silently repeated the words to himself, slung the cloth bag he had prepared over his back—it contained the Clear Miasma Pill Gu Rong had given him and a small flask of Spirit Herb Tea—and headed toward the rear mountain along the path from the West Courtyard.

The road through the rear mountain was harder to travel than he had expected. The snow had not fully melted, and stepping on Withered Branches and Fallen Leaves produced crunching sounds. The closer he got to Spirit Bamboo Valley, the more apparent the Sword Attribute Soul Power in the air became. It carried a cold, crisp feeling, much like the sharpness emitted by the Azure Water Sword phantom. Lin Che slowed down and followed the method Gu Rong had taught him, closing his eyes to sense the flow of Soul Power around him. The Soul Power of ordinary vegetation was a gentle green, while the Soul Power of Spirit Rhyme Bamboo carried a faint azure glow, like scattered stars drifting In the Air.

After walking for about Half an Hour, the forest ahead suddenly thinned, revealing the entrance to a valley. A weathered Stone Tablet stood at its mouth, engraved with the three Seal Script Characters: "Spirit Bamboo Valley." Moss covered the tablet, but the force behind the original carving was still visible. The moment Lin Che Stepped Into the valley, a cool aura washed over him. The air was more mild and moist than outside, and the snow on the ground was much thinner, exposing Bamboo Roots in Batches. These bamboo stalks were thicker than the Green Bamboo in the West Courtyard and glowed faintly azure. They were clearly Spirit Rhyme Bamboo.

"So this is Spirit Rhyme Bamboo." Lin Che approached one and touched its stalk. A subtle tremor of Soul Power traveled through his fingertips, faintly echoing the Azure Water Sword phantom in his Dantian. Following Gu Rong's instructions, he sent a wisp of Soul Power into the bamboo. Instantly, a clear, cold stream of Sword Attribute Soul Power flowed from his fingertips into his Meridians like a cool brook, slowly converging in his Dantian. The Azure Water Sword phantom seemed to awaken and trembled lightly, becoming a little more solid than before.

Delight surged through Lin Che. Just as he was about to try again, he suddenly heard a crack from the valley entrance—the sound of a dead branch breaking beneath a foot. He abruptly Opened Eyes and gripped the Short Sword hidden in his sleeve, an ordinary Iron Sword Gu Rong had given him for practicing moves. Looking toward the sound, he saw a corner of a green robe peeking out from behind the Stone Tablet.

"Who's there?" Lin Che demanded in a low voice. His Footsteps instinctively retreated half a step, his back pressing against a Spirit Rhyme Bamboo stalk. The Soul Power coming from it calmed him slightly, but it also reminded him of Gu Rong's warning: return immediately if he encountered strangers.

After a moment of silence behind the Stone Tablet, a tall, thin man walked out. He wore a faded green robe and a Bamboo Hat that concealed most of his face, leaving only the stubble on his chin exposed. He held a Wood Chopping Knife and carried an empty Bamboo Basket on his back. He looked like a woodcutter who had entered the mountains for firewood, but Lin Che noticed that the blade of his Wood Chopping Knife was spotless, without even a speck of wood dust. There was also less mud on his shoes than outside the valley. He did not look like someone who had been chopping wood.

"Are you here to look for bamboo too, kid?" the man asked. His voice was hoarse, as though he were deliberately lowering it. "The bamboo in this valley is hard as rock. It wouldn't be worth chopping it up for firewood."

Lin Che did not lower his guard. His gaze remained fixed on the man's hands. Though those hands were rough, they lacked the Thick Calluses a normal woodcutter should have. Instead, faint Soul Power Fluctuation lingered around his Knuckles. "I am a Sect Disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I came here to practice swordsmanship." Lin Che deliberately mentioned his sect, hoping to observe the other man's reaction.

Sure enough, upon hearing "Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," the man's grip on the Wood Chopping Knife paused slightly. His eyes beneath the Bamboo Hat seemed to turn colder for an instant before quickly returning to normal. "So you are a Sect Disciple. My apologies. I was merely passing through. Seeing so much bamboo in this valley, I thought I might cut a few stalks to take home and weave baskets with." As he spoke, he took two steps farther into the valley, his gaze casually sweeping over Lin Che's palm. The Azure Water Sword phantom there had not fully faded and still Glowed with a faint azure light.

Lin Che's heart sank. He recalled Gu Rong's words: "Spirit Hall eyelines may disguise themselves as ordinary people to gather information." Every reaction from the Green-robed person before him seemed suspicious. He quietly channeled Soul Power into his Dantian, ready to summon the Azure Water Sword phantom at any moment, but casually said, "The bamboo in this valley are the sect's Spiritual Plants. You cannot cut them. You should go elsewhere."

"Oh? Spiritual Plants?" The Green-robed person stopped, then suddenly laughed. There was not a trace of goodwill in that laughter. "Then I would like to see what kind of Spiritual Plant could make a little disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect so protective." As soon as he finished speaking, he Raised Hand. The Wood Chopping Knife fell to the ground with a clang, Replaced by a wisp of pale purple Soul Power. It condensed in the air into a thin Vine Whip, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle as it lashed toward Lin Che's wrist!

"Spirit Hall!" Lin Che reacted quickly, twisting aside to dodge the Vine Whip. At the same time, he poured the Soul Power he had prepared into his palm and struck out according to the Azure Water Sword Art—Azure Edge Draw!

Pale azure Sword Qi Poured Out from his palm. Though it was only half an inch long, it carried a fierce edge and Chop At the Vine Whip. With a hiss, the Purple Vine Whip was Cut Off by the Sword Qi and Turned into specks of Soul Power that dispersed In the Air. The Green-robed person clearly had not expected Lin Che to use a sword technique. He froze for a moment, then a ruthless gleam Flashed through his eyes. "Did not expect you to be a brat with a Sword Martial Soul. No wonder you dared to fight me!"

He pushed off the ground, his body lunging at Lin Che like a gust of wind. More purple Soul Power condensed in his hands. This time, it was no longer a Vine Whip, but dense Spikes that shot toward Lin Che's chest. Judging by the Soul Power Fluctuation, he was actually a Soul Master at the Soul Grandmaster level, with at least two Soul Rings!

Lin Che did not dare take the attack head-on. He turned and ran deeper into Spirit Bamboo Valley. The Spirit Rhyme Bamboo grew densely throughout the valley, their stalks crisscrossing and perfectly suited to slowing the Green-robed person down. As he ran, Lin Che looked back. The Green-robed person chased relentlessly, purple Soul Power forming a barrier behind him that forced aside the bamboo on both sides. Clearly, he did not intend to let Lin Che use the terrain to escape.

"Don't run, brat!" the Green-robed person roared, urgency in his voice. "Tell me about your martial soul, and I might spare your life! Otherwise, once I catch you, you'll suffer!" He had clearly received orders to investigate "special martial souls." Lin Che's Azure Water Sword phantom and the sword technique he had just used had convinced him that Lin Che was a target worth reporting.

Lin Che ignored his roars and kept running. He knew he was no match for the Green-robed person and could only place his hopes on what Gu Rong had told him: there was a Warning Array set up by the sect deep within Spirit Bamboo Valley. As long as he reached it and triggered the formation, the sect guards would sense it. But after running for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he still had not seen any sign of the Warning Array. Meanwhile, the Green-robed person behind him was getting closer and closer, his purple Soul Power nearly brushing Lin Che's clothes.

"No other choice." Lin Che gritted his teeth and suddenly stopped, turning around. He took a deep breath and mobilized all the Soul Power in his Dantian. Half went into the Azure Water Sword phantom, and the other half into the Universe Cauldron phantom. Though he had not yet learned how to use the Universe Cauldron, Gu Rong had said it could gather and disperse Soul Power. Perhaps it could be useful.

Seeing Lin Che stop, the Green-robed person assumed he intended to surrender and Scoffed. "Wouldn't it have been better if you'd done this sooner? You could've saved me the trouble of..." Before he could finish, he saw the Azure Water Sword phantom in Lin Che's palm suddenly expand from five inches to a foot long. Its Sword Qi grew sharper as well. Beside the Azure Water Sword, a small Bronze Cauldron phantom Appeared. Its body emitted a faint golden radiance, protecting Lin Che within it.

"Dual Martial Souls?!" The Green-robed person's Pupils Contracted. The Scoff on his face instantly Turned into shock. "Dual Martial Souls! I've rendered great service this time!" Greed Flashed through his eyes. He no longer held back, and two yellow Soul Rings suddenly lit up behind him—two Hundred-Year Soul Rings!

First Soul Skill: Purple Vine Entanglement! the Green-robed person shouted. His First Soul Ring lit up, and countless Purple Vine Whips burst from the ground, coiling like venomous snakes toward Lin Che's ankles.

Azure Edge Draw, sever! Lin Che poured all his Soul Power into the Azure Water Sword and swung out a foot-long arc of Sword Qi. This Sword Qi was several times stronger than before. It not only Cut Off the approaching Vine Whips, but also flew toward the Green-robed person. The Green-robed person had not expected Lin Che's sword technique to suddenly become so much stronger. He hurriedly condensed a shield of Soul Power to block it, but was still forced back two steps by the impact, blood Overflowing from the Corner of Mouth.

Second Soul Skill: Purple Poison Thorn! Enraged and humiliated, the Green-robed person lit up his Second Soul Ring. Black Poison Thorns covered the Purple Vine Whips as they stabbed toward Lin Che's entire body. These Poison Thorns carried a potent poison. Once struck, his Soul Power would be sealed, leaving Lin Che at his mercy.

Lin Che's heart leaped into his throat. He could sense the danger of those Poison Thorns, but that previous strike of Sword Qi had already drained more than half his Soul Power. Even condensing Azure Edge Draw now was difficult. Then he suddenly remembered the Universe Cauldron phantom in his Dantian. Gu Rong had said the Universe Cauldron could gather and disperse Soul Power. Perhaps it could draw over the Soul Power of the surrounding Spirit Rhyme Bamboo!

He immediately focused and injected his remaining Soul Power into the Universe Cauldron phantom. The cauldron instantly lit up and released a Suction Force. The azure light from the surrounding Spirit Rhyme Bamboo gathered toward it, then transformed into Sword Attribute Soul Power and flowed into the Azure Water Sword phantom. The Azure Water Sword's radiance surged again, this time extending to two feet. The patterns on its blade became clearly visible, as though it were a real longsword!

"What kind of martial soul is that?!" The Green-robed person stared at the Universe Cauldron phantom, his eyes filled with terror. He had never seen a martial soul capable of absorbing the Soul Power of Spiritual Plants. This had gone beyond his understanding.

Lin Che did not answer. Gripping the expanded Azure Water Sword phantom, he unleashed Azure Edge Draw once more. This time, the Sword Qi was no longer pale azure, but azure-gold streaked with golden light. Like lightning, it Chop At the Green-robed person's chest. The Green-robed person tried to condense another shield, but his Soul Power had already been injured by the previous impact. Coupled with his shock at the Universe Cauldron's strange phenomenon, he was half a beat too slow. With a tearing sound, the Sword Qi struck his shoulder, ripping a large gash through his green robe and revealing the Black Heart Protection Armor beneath. A deep mark was carved into its plates as well.

"Ah!" The Green-robed person cried out and staggered back several steps. His eyes were full of fear as he looked at Lin Che. "Y-you... your martial soul is too bizarre! I'll remember you!" He knew he could gain no advantage today and might even fall here. He immediately turned and ran toward the valley entrance, not even bothering to retrieve the Wood Chopping Knife he had dropped.

Watching the Green-robed person's retreating back, Lin Che's taut body instantly relaxed. The weakness of exhausted Soul Power washed over him, and he staggered against a Spirit Rhyme Bamboo, gasping for air. The Azure Water Sword and Universe Cauldron phantoms in his palm gradually faded, leaving behind only faint Soul Power Fluctuation.

He Lowered Head and looked at his palm. The sensation of absorbing the Soul Power of Spirit Rhyme Bamboo was still there. So the Universe Cauldron could not only gather and disperse his own Soul Power, but also absorb Soul Power from external Spiritual Plants. That was a great secret. Yet at the same time, he understood the danger. The Green-robed person already knew he possessed Dual Martial Souls and would surely report the news back to Spirit Hall. More Spirit Hall Soul Masters might come looking for him in the future.

"Grandpa Gu was right. I have to grow stronger as quickly as possible." Lin Che clenched his fists, his gaze turning firm. He looked at the Spirit Rhyme Bamboo beside him. Having absorbed much of its Soul Power just now, the azure glow on its stalk had dimmed somewhat, but its Sword Attribute Soul Power could still be felt. He carefully took out a Small Shovel from his cloth bag, one Gu Rong had given him for digging up Spiritual Plants, and gently began digging around the Spirit Rhyme Bamboo's roots. He wanted to bring this Spirit Rhyme Bamboo back. It could continue helping him practice swordsmanship and serve as evidence of the danger he had just faced, proving to Gu Rong that Spirit Hall eyelines had already come for them.

As he dug up the Spirit Rhyme Bamboo, Lin Che's hands still trembled slightly. That battle had been too dangerous. If the Universe Cauldron had not suddenly displayed its power, he would likely have been captured by the Green-robed person. Yet he did not regret coming to Spirit Bamboo Valley. He had not only found Spirit Rhyme Bamboo, but had also unexpectedly discovered a new ability of the Universe Cauldron. More importantly, he now knew that Spirit Hall's threat was close at hand. He could no longer simply focus on practicing the sword as before. He had to improve his strength as quickly as possible in order to protect himself and this hard-won opportunity.

After carefully placing the Spirit Rhyme Bamboo into his cloth bag, Lin Che brushed the dirt from himself and Walked Towards the valley entrance. The sun had already risen high into the sky. Snow in the valley was beginning to melt, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and bamboo. But Lin Che had no mood to appreciate it. He quickened his pace, wanting only to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as soon as possible and tell Gu Rong about the Green Clothed Eyeline he had encountered. He knew that an even greater storm might already be quietly brewing.