Sword Gathering Preparations, Spirit Realm Foreshadowing

The morning mist over the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect still carried the faint scent of blood from the recent battle. On the bluestone-paved mountain path, disciples were busy repairing the protective formation that had been corroded by demonic energy. Beside the formation's eastern eye, several inner disciples marveled at the sword mark left by Ling Yun yesterday when he shattered the Soul Devouring Banner. Their eyes were filled with awe – the smooth cut contained not a trace of demonic energy, showcasing the power of his Chaos Sword Intent to dispel evil.

"Senior Brother Ling Yun!" an outer disciple rushed over, holding a sword manual, his expression excited. "This is the middle volume of the Flowing Cloud Sword Canon, which the Sect Master asked me to give you. He said your current strength is enough to cultivate the advanced sword techniques within."

Ling Yun took the sword manual. As his fingertips brushed the yellowed pages, he could feel the faint aura of the Way of the Sword contained within. He looked up towards the Sect Master's main hall. After yesterday's battle, Ye Chen had not only given him the sect's last three Spirit Gathering Fruits but also granted him special permission to access the top floor of the Scripture Depository, where he could study ancient sword cultivation texts rarely seen in the mortal realm. Clearly, Ye Chen now saw him as the future hope of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect.

"Brother Ling Yun, you're here," Su Qingyuan's voice came from behind him. She carried a bamboo basket filled with crystal-clear pills and several fragrant spirit herbs. "This is Sword Heart Grass, which I ripened using my Wood Spirit Body. It can stabilize Sword Intent. And here are three Breakthrough Pills; they'll be useful when you attempt to break through to the Sword Master Realm."

Ling Yun took the bamboo basket, the fragrance of the spirit herbs filling his nostrils, and a warmth surged in his heart. "Little Sister Qingyuan, you've gone to trouble again."

"Don't be so formal with me," Su Qingyuan smiled and shook her head. Her expression then turned serious. "Yesterday, when I returned to Medicine Immortal Valley to deliver a message, my father mentioned that ancient texts in the valley record that the Blood Fiend Hall infiltrated the mortal realm a hundred years ago, searching for ruins of ancient sword cultivators. The fragmented sword manual that the Ling Family once guarded seems to be related to the Myriad Sword Cave in the Spirit Realm. Perhaps they destroyed the Ling Family for that very manual."

"Myriad Sword Cave?" Ling Yun's heart stirred. Sword Elder had once mentioned it as a sacred ground for sword cultivators in the Spirit Realm, containing the origin of Sword Souls. If the Ling Family's manual was connected to the Myriad Sword Cave, then the truth behind their annihilation must lie deep within the Spirit Realm.

"That's right," Su Qingyuan nodded. "Father also said that the champion of the Qingyun Region's Inter-Regional Sword Competition will receive not only a Spirit Realm teleportation token but also a Sword Soul Fragment. This fragment is the key to opening the outer ruins of the Myriad Sword Cave. So, in this competition, you must not only win but also be wary of people from other factions – they might also be after that Sword Soul Fragment."

Just then, a figure clad in blue flashed before them. Murong Shuang, holding the Wind Chant Sword, pointed its tip at Ling Yun. "Ling Yun, I heard you're participating in the Inter-Regional Sword Competition? Perfect, I've also registered. How about we spar a bit? Consider it pre-match warm-up."

Ling Yun raised an eyebrow, handed the sword manual to a nearby disciple, and gripped the Sky-Rending Sword. "Alright, I also want to test how much my strength has improved after integrating my three elemental Sword Intents."

The two moved to the training ground. Disciples, upon hearing the news, gathered around, and even several elders stood watching from a distance. Ye Chen looked at the two figures facing each other in the arena, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. With two such geniuses in the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, why worry about its rise?

"I won't hold back," Murong Shuang declared. Before her words even finished, the Wind Chant Sword transformed into a translucent sword shadow, striking directly at Ling Yun's face. Her wind elemental Sword Intent was pushed to its limit, her movements as swift as lightning, her sword strikes accompanied by a sharp sound that tore through the air. It was the advanced sword technique "Wind Blade Thousand Rends" from the Flowing Cloud Sword Canon.

Ling Yun's eyes narrowed. His Clear Mind Sword Heart instantly saw through the trajectory of the sword strike. He neither dodged nor retreated. The Chaos energy in his Dantian circulated, and his fire, wind, and earth elemental Sword Intents intertwined around the Sky-Rending Sword, forming a three-colored light barrier of crimson, azure, and yellow. "Three Forms of Qiankun – Three Powers Defense!"

The moment the light barrier blocked the wind blades, Ling Yun's figure moved. He executed the Breath Concealing Steps, shattering the bluestone beneath his feet, and circled to Murong Shuang's side. The Sky-Rending Sword, imbued with the heaviness of earth elemental energy, struck directly at her ribs. This strike, though seemingly slow, blocked all of Murong Shuang's evasion angles – it was a new path of swordsmanship he had comprehended after his battle with the Sabertooth Bear.

Murong Shuang was shocked. She hadn't expected Ling Yun's swordsmanship to become so steady. She hurriedly retracted her sword to block. The Wind Chant Sword clashed with the Sky-Rending Sword, azure and tri-colored Sword Intents intertwining, forcing the surrounding disciples to retreat. "Not bad, your integration of three elemental Sword Intents is very proficient," Murong Shuang's eyes flashed with excitement. "Again!"

Her sword momentum shifted, and her wind Sword Intent stirred the air in the training ground, forming countless tiny wind blades that enveloped Ling Yun. Ling Yun took a deep breath, the Sky-Rending Sword vibrating slightly. Gray Chaos energy seeped into his Sword Intent. "Seven Forms of Flowing Fire – Burning Wind Break!"

Crimson flames and azure wind traces intertwined, forming a spinning sword wheel that shredded all the wind blades. Simultaneously, he used the momentum of the sword wheel to charge forward like an arrow, the Sky-Rending Sword pointing directly at Murong Shuang's sword hilt – this strike wouldn't injure her, but it would knock her sword away. This was the method of "defeating force with skill" that Sword Elder had taught him.

Seeing this, Murong Shuang quickly let go of her sword. The Wind Chant Sword flew out of her hand, while her left hand formed a fist, striking towards Ling Yun's chest with wind elemental spiritual energy. Ling Yun sidestepped to avoid it, grabbed the hilt of the Wind Chant Sword with his right hand, and returned it to her. "I concede, Senior Sister Murong."

Murong Shuang took back her sword, her face slightly flushed, but she didn't deny it. "You won. It seems the championship of this Inter-Regional Sword Competition is yours."

The surrounding disciples erupted in cheers, and the elders nodded in agreement – Ling Yun's progress had far exceeded their expectations.

As night fell, Ling Yun sat on the top floor of the Scripture Depository, holding an ancient sword manual. Sword Elder's voice echoed in his sea of consciousness: "That Sword Soul Fragment is very important. It can not only open the outer area of the Myriad Sword Cave but also nourish the Sky-Rending Sword, allowing it to awaken faster. But remember, among the participants of the Inter-Regional Sword Competition, there is one person you must be careful of – the genius disciple of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, Chi Yang. His Crimson Sun Sword Intent restrains fire elemental energy, and he has already reached the Early Sword Master stage."

"Early Sword Master stage?" Ling Yun's heart tightened. He was currently at the Late Great Swordsman Peak, still one step away from the Sword Master Realm.

"That's right," Sword Elder's voice was grave. "Chi Yang is not only strong, but he also has the support of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect behind him. They have always wanted to annex the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, and they will definitely target you in this Inter-Regional Sword Competition. You must break through to the Sword Master Realm before the competition, or it will be difficult to win."

Ling Yun nodded, closed the sword manual in his hand, and took out the Sword Heart Grass given by Su Qingyuan. He sat cross-legged and circulated the Qiankun Sword Canon. The spiritual energy of the Sword Heart Grass slowly seeped into his body, merging with the three elemental Sword Intents in his Dantian. The Sky-Rending Sword rested on his knee, its blade emitting a faint gray light, as if resonating with his Sword Intent.

"Chaos Sword Body, activate!" Ling Yun let out a low cry. Gray energy spread from his Dantian throughout his body, and the three elemental Sword Intents began to circulate wildly. He could clearly feel the spiritual power in his meridians condensing, pushing towards the barrier of the Sword Master Realm.

Just then, a faint noise came from outside the Scripture Depository. Ling Yun opened his eyes, and his Clear Mind Sword Heart instantly detected a black figure moving along the wall – a spy from the Blood Fiend Hall!

He silently got up, the Sky-Rending Sword in his hand, his Chaos Sword Intent concealed to the extreme. As the black figure approached the Scripture Depository window, Ling Yun suddenly lunged out, the Sky-Rending Sword, imbued with the Power of Seeing Through Illusion, striking directly at the black figure's back. The figure reacted extremely quickly, turning and throwing a black poisoned needle while simultaneously retreating.

"Trying to run?" Ling Yun snorted. He activated the Breath Concealing Steps, instantly catching up to the black figure, grabbing his shoulder with his left hand, and infusing Chaos energy to seal his spiritual power. "Speak! Why did the Blood Fiend Hall send you here?"

A flicker of fear flashed in the black figure's eyes, but he gritted his teeth and refused to speak. Ling Yun frowned, about to press further, when the black figure suddenly spat out black blood and fell to the ground – he had taken poison and committed suicide.

Ling Yun examined the black figure's corpse and found a black token hanging from his waist, inscribed with the words "Blood Fiend Hall – Mortal Realm Branch." He pocketed the token, his vigilance increasing – the Blood Fiend Hall had already infiltrated the core area of the Qingyun Region. It seemed they would not give up during this Inter-Regional Sword Competition.

Returning to the Scripture Depository, Ling Yun sat cross-legged again. The previous incident made him even more certain that only by quickly improving his strength could he protect himself and those around him in the coming crisis. He took a deep breath and once again circulated his spiritual power, pushing towards the barrier of the Sword Master Realm.

As the night deepened, the light on the top floor of the Scripture Depository grew brighter. The intertwined three elemental Sword Intents formed a pillar of light that pierced through the roof of the pavilion and shot straight into the night sky. Ye Chen and Lin Feng, watching from a distance, looked at this pillar of light with surprise – Ling Yun had finally broken through to the Sword Master Realm!

Ling Yun slowly opened his eyes, feeling the surging spiritual power within him and the more condensed three elemental Sword Intents. A determined smile curved his lips. The Sky-Rending Sword vibrated gently in his hand, as if rejoicing in his breakthrough.

"Inter-Regional Sword Competition, here I come." Ling Yun gripped his long sword, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. He knew this was not just a competition for a spot in the Spirit Realm, but also the new starting point of his path to revenge.