Outer Sect Taunts, Sword Heart Begins to Form

In the training grounds of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's Outer Sect, even before the morning mist had fully dispersed, the area was already filled with figures practicing their sword swings. Ling Yun chose a stone platform in the farthest corner. The Sky-Rending Sword was thrust into the ground beside him, its blade wrapped in rough cloth, making it appear no different from ordinary iron at first glance. Following the Sword Elder's instructions from the previous night, he repeatedly practiced the basic sword moves: "slash, stab, parry." He wasn't focused on speed, but rather on feeling the connection between his fingertips and the sword hilt with each downward stroke, attempting to capture the faint sword energy drifting through the world.

"Yo, isn't this our 'no spirit root' disciple Ling? Still practicing moves even a three-year-old knows?"

A mocking voice came from behind him. Three Outer Sect disciples, led by Zhang Meng, approached, their gazes falling on the rough-cloth-wrapped sword by Ling Yun's hand, filled with ridicule. Zhang Meng was a distant relative of the Outer Sect manager. Although his spirit root was only a low-grade earth spirit root, he often bossed around new disciples, relying on his connections.

Ling Yun stopped his practice and stood still, not turning around. "The path of cultivation inherently begins with the basics. How can there be high or low?"

"Ha! Basics?" Zhang Meng took a step forward and stomped on a sword mark Ling Yun had left while practicing. "Without a spirit root, you can't even absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. What are you talking about capturing sword energy? I think you're just here to freeload and wait to die! Senior Sister Murong Shuang was practicing the 'Flowing Cloud Three Forms' on the sword platform yesterday. Now that's what a sword cultivator is! You'll never catch up in this lifetime!"

The other two disciples joined in with laughter, their words full of contempt. Ling Yun's hands, hanging by his sides, tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white—it wasn't that he couldn't retort, but the Sword Elder had repeatedly warned him that before his Chaos Sword Body stabilized, he needed to hide his strength and avoid showing off his true abilities too early.

He silently bent down, picked up the Sky-Rending Sword from the ground, and turned to leave.

"Stop!" Zhang Meng reached out to block him. The tips of his fingers had just touched Ling Yun's sleeve when he suddenly snatched his hand back as if burned. A faint, pale green light flashed from between the folds of the rough cloth wrapped around the sword hilt in Ling Yun's hand, so quickly that one might have thought it was an illusion.

Ling Yun didn't linger. He walked straight through the training grounds and returned to the servant's room assigned to him in the Outer Sect. The room was small and damp, but it was quiet. He closed the door and placed the Sky-Rending Sword on the table. As soon as he sat down, the Sword Elder's voice echoed in his mind: "Why didn't you fight back just now? With your current foundation, even though you haven't reached the Swordsman realm, you could still take three moves from Zhang Meng."

"Sword Elder, you told me the Chaos Sword Body needs to be tempered in secret and not be ostentatious," Ling Yun said, his fingertips brushing over the rough cloth on the sword sheath. "Besides, arguing with him would only waste cultivation time."

The Sword Elder's voice carried a hint of approval. "You understand. When you were practicing just now, a trace of sword energy entered your body, but you deliberately suppressed it and couldn't guide it to your sword. The foundation of the Qiankun Sword Canon isn't about absorbing spiritual energy, but about 'fusion'—using the Chaos Sword Body to integrate all sword energy in the world, even the faintest essence of plants and trees can be turned to your use."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Sky-Rending Sword suddenly trembled slightly, and a gentle light emanated from beneath the rough cloth. Following the Sword Elder's guidance, Ling Yun sat cross-legged, placed the Sky-Rending Sword across his knees, closed his eyes, and stopped deliberately pursuing "absorption." Instead, he let the trace of sword energy within him circulate with his breath.

Gradually, he seemed to be able to "see"—as the willow branches outside the window swayed, faint green wisps of energy drifted in; beneath the moss in the corner of the wall, moist water vapor condensed. As these minute essences approached the Sky-Rending Sword, they were drawn by the sword itself and slowly flowed into his meridians, merging with that trace of sword energy.

"This is the advantage of the Chaos Sword Body," the Sword Elder's voice said with a smile. "Ordinary sword cultivators need to use spirit roots to filter sword energy, but you can integrate everything. That's all for today. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you the starting stance of the Heaven and Earth First Form. Once you can condense this trace of sword energy at your sword tip, you will have truly stepped onto the threshold of the sword path."

Ling Yun opened his eyes and looked at the Sky-Rending Sword on his knees. The blade beneath the rough cloth seemed to shine a little brighter than before. He gripped the sword hilt, his heart's forbearance and unwillingness gradually replaced by a longing for the sword path. Whether it was the mockery of the Outer Sect or the disdain of others, one day, he would use the sword in his hand to prove that he was not someone who just "freeloaded and waited to die."