Chi Yang Runs Rampant, Chaos Breaks the Flame

As the morning sun rose, the gathering-spirit runes on the combat platform in Qingyun Region's central square glimmered with faint golden light, shrouding the entire platform in an aura of spiritual power. Today was the third round of the Inter-Regional Sword Convention, a crucial battle that would determine the four semifinalists. The most anticipated match was Ling Yun versus Chi Yang—a contest not only between two genius disciples of great sword sects, but also a collision between two supreme sword intents.

In the spectators' seats, Su Qingyuan clutched the edge of her medicine basket tightly, her palm damp with sweat. Murong Shuang beside her was little better off. The Wind Chant Sword hung diagonally at her waist as her fingertips unconsciously stroked its hilt. "Ling Yun's Chaos Sword Intent may be immune to attribute suppression, but Chi Yang's Crimson Sun Sword Intent is far too tyrannical. And there's that unknown forbidden-art pill. I'm afraid it may become an unpredictable variable."

Su Qingyuan nodded and took a pure white Meridian Protecting Pill from her medicine basket, extending it toward the combat platform. "This pill can resist the impact of sword intent. I had wanted to give it to Brother Ling Yun before the match, but he said he wanted to win through his own strength..." Before she could finish, the chief referee elder's voice rang across the square.

"First match of the third round: Ling Yun of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect versus Chi Yang of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect!"

The two figures landed on the combat platform at the same time, forming a striking contrast. Ling Yun wore fitted azure clothing, the Sky-Rending Sword slung across his back, his sword intent restrained and calm as a deep pool. Chi Yang, meanwhile, wore a crimson robe and held the crimson longsword Heaven Burning in his hand. His scorching sword intent spread without restraint, even baking the blue stones of the platform until they grew faintly hot.

"Ling Yun, you won easily yesterday. Today, I want to see whether your three-attribute sword intent can withstand my Crimson Sun Sword Intent!" Chi Yang pointed his sword at Ling Yun, arrogance practically spilling from his tone. "If you admit defeat now, I can still spare your life. Otherwise..."

"Enough nonsense." Ling Yun cut him off, his right hand resting on the hilt of the Sky-Rending Sword. "Let our swords reveal the truth."

"Good! Arrogant enough!" A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Chi Yang's eyes. The Crimson Sun Sword Intent in his dantian surged madly. With a sweep of Heaven Burning, a crimson sword shadow more than ten feet long roared toward Ling Yun like a flaming dragon. It was the core sword technique of the Crimson Sun Sword Canon—Crimson Sun Burns the Sky. Wherever the sword shadow passed, the air hissed with burning heat, and even the spiritual light surrounding the platform twisted from the heat.

"Clear Sword Heart!" Ling Yun's eyes flashed sharply, and he instantly saw through the sword shadow's weakness. Chi Yang's sword intent was fierce, but it was too outwardly unleashed; there was a minute stagnation in the circulation of spiritual power at the sword shadow's core. Rather than take it head-on, he shifted his feet. His Breath Concealing Steps shattered the blue stone beneath him as his figure circled to the side of the sword shadow like a ghost. At the same time, the Sky-Rending Sword left its sheath. Crimson, azure, and yellow sword intents intertwined into a thread of sword energy as thin as a hair, precisely piercing that point of stagnation.

Crack! The crimson sword shadow shattered at once, dispersing into blazing spiritual power that filled the air. Chi Yang's expression changed slightly. He had not expected Ling Yun to break his famed sword technique so easily. The contempt in his heart instantly gave way to vigilance. "You have some skill. It seems I'll have to get serious!"

His left hand quietly reached into his robes, his fingertips touching the crimson Crimson Sun Pill before slowly withdrawing. The elders of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect had instructed him not to use the forbidden art unless it was absolutely necessary, lest he expose his trump card. He took a deep breath and swung Heaven Burning again. This time, it was no longer a single sword shadow, but countless tiny crimson fire blades that blanketed Ling Yun like a torrential downpour. The technique was called Crimson Flame Thousand Blades.

Though these fire blades appeared chaotic, each contained the scorching power of the Crimson Sun Sword Intent. Once one touched the body, it would invade the dantian through the meridians, burning both sword intent and spiritual power. Ling Yun did not dare be careless. The chaotic aura in his dantian began to circulate slowly, and a gray glow enveloped his body. At the same time, the Sky-Rending Sword swept out an earth-yellow arc. Earth Attribute sword intent condensed into a heavy Earth Shield, blocking every fire blade outside.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The fire blades struck the Earth Shield in a dense barrage of explosions. The earth-yellow glow shook violently, yet it never broke. Surprise flashed through Chi Yang's eyes. His Crimson Flame Thousand Blades had once broken through the defensive sword intent of cultivators at the same level, yet now it could not even breach Ling Yun's Earth Attribute shield. The defensive power of this Chaos Sword Body far exceeded his expectations.

"I can't wait any longer!" Chi Yang steeled his heart. He plunged Heaven Burning into the ground and formed hand seals with both hands. The Crimson Sun Sword Intent around him erupted at once, crimson flames spewing from his body and dyeing the entire combat platform red. "Crimson Sun Sword Intent—Flame Prison!"

At his low shout, countless cracks split open across the platform. Crimson, magma-like sword intent surged from the fissures, forming a scorching sword prison that trapped Ling Yun in the center. This was Chi Yang's trump-card sword technique. It could draw upon the platform's spiritual power to increase the might of the Crimson Sun Sword Intent by thirty percent. Once trapped, one would be burned continuously by endless scorching sword intent until all spiritual power was exhausted.

The spectators erupted in uproar. Su Qingyuan abruptly rose to her feet, about to rush onto the platform, but Murong Shuang grabbed her. "Don't panic! Ling Yun hasn't used his Chaos Sword Intent yet. He'll definitely have a way!"

At the center of the combat platform, Ling Yun looked at the surging crimson sword intent around him and felt the heat searing his skin. The chaotic aura in his dantian finally began circulating at full speed. A gray glow spread out from his body and collided with the crimson sword intent surrounding him. Then something strange happened—the scorching Crimson Sun Sword Intent was slowly absorbed by the gray glow, transformed into pure spiritual power, and drawn into his dantian.

"Th-this is impossible!" Chi Yang's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief. "The Crimson Sun Sword Intent can burn all things. How can your sword intent absorb it?!"

"Because you do not understand the true essence of Chaos Sword Intent." Ling Yun spoke slowly. The Sky-Rending Sword rose from the ground and floated before him, gray chaotic aura coiling around its blade and emanating a terrifying pressure. "Your sword intent may be powerful, but it is merely the ultimate expression of a single attribute. Chaos Sword Intent can contain all things and transform everything."

Before his words had faded, Ling Yun raised his hand and grasped the Sky-Rending Sword. Gray sword intent surged instantly, completely engulfing the crimson sword prison around him. "Three Forms of Qiankun: Chaos Breaks the Flame!" He slashed with his sword. There was no heaven-shaking sword shadow, only a seemingly plain gray sword arc carrying the power to devour everything as it cut toward Chi Yang.

Chi Yang's face turned deathly pale. Only now did he realize that the gap between himself and Ling Yun went far beyond cultivation level. He hurriedly drove Heaven Burning forward, trying to block the attack, but the gray sword arc passed directly through his Crimson Sun Sword Intent and struck the blade of Heaven Burning.

Crack! The crimson longsword broke in response. The sword arc did not lose momentum as it grazed Chi Yang's shoulder, tearing apart the crimson robe behind him and leaving a wound so deep that bone was visible. Scorching blood splashed onto the combat platform, only to be instantly absorbed by the gray sword intent, leaving not even the slightest trace.

"I... I lost?" Chi Yang staggered backward, staring at the broken Heaven Burning in his hand, his eyes filled with confusion and unwillingness. He had cultivated the Crimson Sun Sword Intent for more than ten years and believed himself invincible among cultivators of the same level. Yet Ling Yun had destroyed every one of his sword techniques with a single slash and even severed his sword. To him, that felt worse than death.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers, more fervent than after any prior match. The weight in Su Qingyuan's heart finally lifted, and a radiant smile appeared on her face. Murong Shuang also sighed in relief and nodded toward the combat platform—Ling Yun had not disappointed them after all.

Just then, an elder of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect abruptly stood and pointed at Ling Yun, roaring angrily, "You dare injure a disciple of my Crimson Cloud Sword Sect! This convention is unfair! I demand a rematch!" The Crimson Cloud Sword Sect disciples behind him chimed in one after another, and the atmosphere in the square grew tense once more.

Ling Yun frowned slightly and was about to speak when the Region Lord's voice suddenly rang out. "Elder of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, the result has already been decided. How can it be changed at will? Chi Yang was inferior in skill, and injuries are commonplace. If you continue making unreasonable trouble, the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect will be stripped of its right to compete!"

The Region Lord's pressure instantly enveloped the entire venue. The Crimson Cloud Sword Sect elder's face flushed red, but he did not dare argue further. The Region Lord was a Late Stage Sword Emperor cultivator, far surpassing his Early Stage Sword Emperor strength. If he truly angered the Region Lord, the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect's standing in Qingyun Region would likely plunge from great heights. He shot Ling Yun a vicious glare, then supported the despondent Chi Yang as they left the square in disgrace.

The chief referee elder stepped onto the combat platform and announced loudly, "First match of the third round: Ling Yun wins! He advances to the final four!"

Ling Yun put away the Sky-Rending Sword and nodded toward Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang in the spectators' seats before walking down from the platform. He knew this was only the beginning of the semifinals. Stronger opponents awaited him, and the spies of Blood Fiend Hall were likely watching from the shadows, searching for an opportunity to strike.

When he returned to the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's resting area, Su Qingyuan immediately came forward and placed a Meridian Protecting Pill in his hand. "Brother Ling Yun, take the pill quickly. Chi Yang's Crimson Sun Sword Intent leaves behind scorching residue. Though Chaos Sword Intent absorbed most of it, you still need to recover properly."

Ling Yun accepted the pill and swallowed it. A cool medicinal power instantly spread through his body, completely erasing the lingering burning sensation in his meridians. Seeing the redness at the corners of Su Qingyuan's eyes, warmth rose in his heart. "I made you worry."

"It's good that you know that." Su Qingyuan shot him a reproachful glance, then took a stalk of Sword Heart Grass from her medicine basket. "I ripened this Sword Heart Grass with my Wood Spirit Body. It can stabilize your Chaos Sword Intent. Your opponents in the upcoming semifinals will be stronger, so you must be careful."

Murong Shuang also walked over and handed him a scroll of sword techniques. "This is the final volume of the Flowing Cloud Sword Canon. It records the sword technique Flowing Cloud Shatters the Sky. You may not necessarily need it, but one more sword technique means one more chance of victory. Oh, and your semifinal opponent has already been decided. It is Lin Hao, the young master of the Lin Family, the foremost of the five great lineages. He specializes in Metal Attribute sword intent and has reached the Middle Stage Sword Master realm. He is even a step stronger than Chi Yang."

Ling Yun accepted the sword manual, his heart tightening. Metal Attribute sword intent at the Middle Stage Sword Master realm was known for sharpness and armor-piercing power; it was even harder to deal with than Chi Yang's Crimson Sun Sword Intent. He opened the manual, his gaze falling upon the diagram for Flowing Cloud Shatters the Sky. Then Sword Elder's voice sounded in his sea of consciousness. "This sword technique is not bad. It can borrow the agility of Wind Attribute sword intent to erupt with Metal Attribute-like armor-piercing force. You can combine it with Chaos Sword Intent and refine it into a technique suited to you."

Ling Yun nodded, put away the sword manual, and looked toward the combat platform. The bell for the semifinals was about to sound, and Lin Hao had already appeared on the other side of the platform. He took a deep breath and tightened his grip around the Sky-Rending Sword. Gray Chaos Sword Intent began circulating quietly once more. No matter how strong his opponent was, he had to win. The Spirit Realm transmission token and the Sword Soul Fragment were the key to uncovering the truth behind his family's destruction, as well as the unavoidable road on his path of vengeance.

On the combat platform, Lin Hao held a golden longsword, Metal Attribute sword intent spreading around him like sharp blades. He looked in Ling Yun's direction, solemnity flashing in his eyes. Ling Yun had defeated Chi Yang with a single sword strike, proving that his strength far surpassed others of the same level. Lin Hao had to go all out in this battle.

"First match of the semifinals: Ling Yun of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect versus Lin Hao of the Lin Family!" The chief referee elder's voice rang out once again. A new contest was about to begin.