Cloud Sword Palace

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cloud Sword Palace (云剑宫)
Alias(es)	Martial Arts Holy Land; Number One Sect Under Heaven 6 41
Affiliation	Righteous Path; allied with five affiliated dynasties 4 12
Occupation/Role	Sword-cultivation sect and major Jianghu power devoted to suppressing treachery and evil 4 6
Status	Active
First Appearance	4

Background

Cloud Sword Palace was founded by Patriarch Ling Yun 572 years before the events of Lin Heng's first entry into the sect. Its founding creed is the eradication of treachery and evil, placing it among Lan Continent's foremost Righteous Path martial arts holy lands. 6

At the time of Xiao Rang's tour for Lin Heng, the sect claimed 1,073,427 disciples. Most had completed their training and were stationed across surrounding nations to uphold the sect's principles, while slightly more than 10,000 remained at the mountain gate. Its resident True Disciples generally possessed at least Xiantian Realm cultivation. 6

The sect maintained a longstanding enmity with Li Hen Pavilion and repeatedly struck its subordinate forces. During an assault on a Li Hen Pavilion manor used to raise Cauldrons, Cloud Sword Palace eliminated nearly all defenders, seized the spoils, and discovered the critically injured Lin Heng in an underground Blood Pool. Sect Master Xiao Rang saved him and accepted him as his direct disciple. 4

Mountain Gate

Built halfway up a towering mountain, the Cloud Sword Palace mountain gate is surrounded by clouds and mist. Its pavilions, towers, gardens, and other buildings are arranged to blend with the surrounding mountains and waters. 6

• The central Training Ground hosts large-scale sword practice under the Transmission Elder. 6
• Younger Postnatal Realm disciples practice in formations of several thousand, using their combined sword intent and receiving a minor baptism of Heaven and Earth Origin Energy. 26
• The Main Hall serves as the site of formal ceremonies, elder meetings, and major celebrations. 12 31 36
• Empty Bright Hall was arranged as Lin Heng's residence for himself and his twenty Sword-Bearing Maids. 16
• Ethereal City, the nearest city to the mountain gate, handles the transfer of the sect's supplies through a Lan River tributary. 67

Defenses

Cloud Sword Palace maintains several thousand experts at its mountain gate under normal conditions, with still more returning for important ceremonies. Its disciples can form defensive formations powerful enough that even Great Grandmasters risk being trapped and exhausted to death if they attack recklessly. 12

During the New Year's Eve assault, the sect deliberately allowed the Kill Heng Society to infiltrate, captured its members for interrogation, and used the mountain gate as the site of a counter-encirclement against Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City. 38

Organization

• Sect Master: Xiao Rang, Lin Heng's master and the sect's principal leader. He later reveals Great Grandmaster Sixth Heaven cultivation. 4 71
• Young Sect Master: Lin Heng, Xiao Rang's direct disciple and designated future inheritor of Cloud Sword Palace. 13
• Elders: Include the Transmission Elder, Law Enforcement Elder Li Yan, Spirit Plant Elder Zhang Ya, Finance Elder Wei Xuan, Spirit Pill Elder, grand elders, and retired grand elders. 8 31 56 63
• Great Grandmasters: The sect assembled twelve Great Grandmasters to suppress the uncontrolled sword qi within Lin Heng's body. 56
• Disciples: Black uniforms embroidered with white cloud patterns identify Cloud Sword Palace swordsmen. 4 6
• Sword-Bearing Maids: Twenty attendants assigned to Lin Heng, including recruits from the five great imperial dynasties and Cloud Sword Palace itself. 15 16

Martial Arts & Training

Cloud Sword Nineteen Forms

Cloud Sword Nineteen Forms is the sect's foundational Sword Art. It contains nineteen forms and 1,076 variations, training the muscles, bones, skin, membranes, internal organs, qi, blood, and spirit while preparing a disciple for formal cultivation. 7

Ethereal Immeasurable Sword Technique

The sect-suppressing sword technique has three realms corresponding to the Xiantian, Grandmaster, and Great Grandmaster levels. 15

• First realm: Allows a swordsman to wield Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, temper the body, and strengthen sword techniques. 15
• Second realm: Uses sword intent to temper Internal Breath and store sword qi in the meridians and acupoints; sword qi can then be released with every gesture. 15
• Xiao Rang used the technique to send several hundred streams of sword qi into the sky as a signal during the counter-encirclement at the mountain gate. 38

Cloud Sword True Art and Ethereal True Aura

Cloud Sword True Art is paired with a body-tempering method suited to Grandmaster Realm cultivation. At Great Completion, it can produce Ethereal True Aura, a body-protection aura that can absorb qi-force attacks unable to breach its defenses and turn them to the user's advantage. 18

Later Inherited Arts

After reaching the Heaven-Human Realm, Lin Heng designated his Azurewood Sword Art as Cloud Sword Palace's core inherited cultivation art. He also transmitted the Second and Third Editions of the Boundless Sea Divine Art to the sect's upper ranks, with future disciples to receive arts suited to their talent and comprehension. 71 81

Resources

• The sect's medicine hall can mobilize stockpiled precious medicines and refine high-value pills such as the Dragon Tiger Golden Core for exceptional disciples. 8
• Elders contributed Earth Vein Spirit Milk, Dragon Tiger Golden Cores, and Xuanqing Golden Cores to save Lin Heng after he was injured by divine sword intent. 56
• A gold mine discovered in Barren Valley was estimated to be worth tens of millions—and potentially more than one hundred million—taels of silver. 63
• The first reckoning against the Kill Heng Society's twelve affiliated powers brought in treasure valued conservatively at hundreds of millions of taels. 42
• In a later campaign, the assets seized from Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City exceeded 150 billion taels of silver coins and were intended for Cloud Sword Palace's management. 79

Story Role / Major Arcs

War against Li Hen Pavilion

Cloud Sword Palace raids Li Hen Pavilion forces as part of its Righteous Path doctrine. Its attack on a manor housing Cauldrons leads to Lin Heng's rescue, healing, and adoption as Xiao Rang's direct disciple. 4

The sect later identifies Li Hen Pavilion as the force responsible for infiltrating its mountain gate and attempting to assassinate Lin Heng during his Master Acknowledgment Ceremony. 12

Kill Heng Society and the New Year's Eve Battle

When coordinated disturbances reveal a plan to lure Cloud Sword Palace experts away from the mountain gate, the elders conclude that a larger assault is imminent. 31 32

Cloud Sword Palace turns the scheme against its enemies. It captures the infiltrating Kill Heng Society, then ambushes the invading experts of Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City. The battle kills 4,937 enemies; 223 elderly Cloud Sword Palace members die of old age, with no one slain in combat. 38 41

The victory establishes Cloud Sword Palace as the strongest legacy beneath heaven and earth, with Lin Heng recognized as the Number One Expert Under Heaven. 41

Destruction of Rival Holy Lands

Following the mountain-gate victory, Cloud Sword Palace dispatches experts to launch overnight attacks on Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City. Both centuries-old holy lands formally declare their destruction on the first day of the new year, after which Cloud Sword Palace conducts a wider purge of their affiliated families and subordinate forces. 42

A year later, the mountain gate is rebuilt larger, stronger, and more imposing than before. A new ruling system centered on Cloud Sword Palace is established across Lan Continent, with local powers offering tribute. 45

Cloud Sword Palace Ascent Plan

In a later simulation, Xiao Rang formulates the Cloud Sword Palace Ascent Plan: force Demonic Heretics into uniting, use Lin Heng's unmatched strength to eliminate them, then compel Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City to submit and surrender much of their income. 63

Cloud Sword Palace plants Grand Elder Zhao Feng within the Sacred Path Alliance and manipulates the Demonic Heretics into assembling on an isolated island, avoiding a battle in populated territory. 65 66 68

After Lin Heng destroys more than 50,000 Demonic Heretics in seventeen seconds, Cloud Sword Palace compels Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City to become vassals, pay tribute, and hand over cultivation resources and martial arts manuals. 69 70

Gathering Sentient Beings' Vow Power

After Lin Heng's return from Pure Yang Blessed Land, Cloud Sword Palace supports his plan to gather Sentient Beings' Vow Power. The sect identifies Demonic Heretics throughout Lan Continent, while Lin Heng exterminates them in a single day. 103

Cloud Sword Palace disciples then spread faith in Sword Venerable Lin Heng, encouraging the populace to pray for protection and favorable weather. Over the following years, the sect and Lin Heng also assist with rain and other matters of livelihood, increasing the Vow Power gathered beyond the normal rate. 103 108

Relationships

• Xiao Rang — Sect Master; personally rescues Lin Heng, accepts him as a direct disciple, and designs plans to raise Cloud Sword Palace into the foremost holy land. 4 13 63
• Lin Heng — Young Sect Master and designated successor; his talent, cultivation arts, and victories drive the sect's rise. 13 41 81
• Zhang Qing — Previous master of Cloud Sword Palace and Xiao Rang's master; Zhang Yuan is his descendant. 29
• Li Hen Pavilion — Longstanding enemy and Evil Sect repeatedly targeted by Cloud Sword Palace. 4
• Heavenly Star Valley — Initially one of the three balancing Martial Arts Holy Lands; later an attacker, a destroyed rival in one campaign, and a vassal in a later simulation. 32 42 70
• Ice Frost City — Initially one of the three balancing Martial Arts Holy Lands; later an attacker, a destroyed rival in one campaign, and a vassal in a later simulation. 32 42 70
• Five Affiliated Dynasties — Dynastic powers connected to Cloud Sword Palace and represented at Lin Heng's Master Acknowledgment Ceremony. 12

Notable Quotes

“Cloud Sword Palace was founded by Patriarch Ling Yun five hundred and seventy-two years ago, and has developed to this day with the eradication of treachery and evil as its founding creed.” 6

“I hope you will inherit my aspirations, protect the Sect and the people of Lan Continent, and sweep away all treachery and evil.” — Xiao Rang, presenting the Clear Cloud Sword to Lin Heng 13