Entering the Sword Tower: Gale Breaks the Formation

Beneath the main peak of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, the obsidian Sword Tower stood like a pillar supporting the heavens. Its body was covered in a thousand years of sword marks, each groove entwined with faint golden ancient sword energy. When the wind blew, it emitted a dull sword hum, as if the will of ancient sword cultivators still slumbered within the tower. Hundreds of inner disciples lined up before the tower, their blue sword robes rustling in the morning breeze, their eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness—the Sword Tower Trial only opened once every six months, serving as the best opportunity for inner disciples to break through their realms and acquire resources.

Ling Yun stood at the end of the line, his Sky-Rending Sword still wrapped in coarse cloth, a stark contrast to the gleaming, standard-issue swords of the disciples around him. He looked up towards the top floor of the Sword Tower, where clouds and mist swirled. He could vaguely sense an even more powerful sword energy, which he presumed was the seventh floor where the "Sword Intent Stele" mentioned by the Sword Elder was located.

"Silence!" The Inner Sect's Grand Steward, holding a bronze token, stepped onto a high platform. His voice, amplified by sword intent, spread throughout the area. "The Sword Tower has seven floors, each with a unique trial. Failure in a trial will result in automatic expulsion from the tower, without harm to life but also without reward; the more floors you clear, the more generous the rewards! The first floor, the 'Gale Trial,' requires you to shatter the formation eye with 'Wind Song' amidst a fierce gale, within the time limit of one incense stick!"

Before his voice faded, the stone door at the base of the Sword Tower slowly opened. A biting gale, carrying fine sword energy, surged out from within, causing the robes of the disciples in the front row to flutter wildly. Murong Shuang was the first to step forward, her Green Peak Sword pointed diagonally at the ground. As she activated her Wind Spirit Physique, faint cyan wind rings enveloped her, forcefully blocking the oncoming gale from her body.

"What a powerful Wind Spirit Physique!" the surrounding disciples exclaimed. Murong Shuang, however, did not stop. Her figure, like a flowing wind, swept into the stone door, disappearing into the gale in an instant.

The disciples entered the Sword Tower one by one. Some were immediately knocked over by the gale upon entering, letting out a cry before being teleported out by a white light; others managed to stand firm but had their sword moves disrupted by the wind's force when attempting 'Wind Song,' their sword energy scattering, leading to their failure and exit. Half an hour passed, and nearly half the disciples had fallen on the first floor, with fewer than ten successfully executing 'Wind Song.'

"Ling Yun, it's your turn." The Steward's gaze fell upon him, carrying a hint of scrutiny—it was extremely rare in the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's hundred-year history for an Outer Sect disciple with no spirit root to attempt the Sword Tower.

Ling Yun nodded and slowly walked into the stone door, holding the Sky-Rending Sword. As soon as he entered the tower, the gale struck like sharp blades, the fine sword energy mixed within scratching his skin with a slight sting. The interior of the tower was spacious, with twelve cyan crystals embedded in the surrounding walls—the formation eyes for the 'Gale Trial.' They were currently emitting a faint glow, continuously fueling the wind's force.

"Don't resist head-on. Use your Chaos Sword Body to absorb the sword energy in the wind," the Sword Elder's voice echoed in his mind. "This gale isn't ordinary wind; it's transformed from the residual sword intent of ancient sword cultivators. It's perfect for replenishing your consumed sword energy."

Ling Yun followed the advice, no longer deliberately resisting the wind's force. Instead, he released his Chaos Sword Qi, forming a net to capture the fine sword energy within the wind. As expected, the sword energy that had been stinging his skin was assimilated the moment it touched the Chaos Sword Qi, flowing into his dantian along his meridians, perfectly filling the consumption from his previous cultivation.

He gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, his steps steady as he moved forward. With a flick of his wrist, the sword sheath traced an arc along the wind's path—the 'Wind Song' sword technique was unleashed again. The cyan wind blade was no longer fighting alone; instead, it drew in the surrounding gale, forming a rotating vortex that struck directly at the nearest cyan crystal.

"Crack!"

The crystal shattered in response, and the wind's force within the tower immediately weakened. Several surprised gasps came from the surroundings—these were disciples who had already passed the first floor and were waiting at the entrance to the second. They hadn't expected Ling Yun not only to stand firm but also to shatter the formation eye so effortlessly.

Ling Yun didn't pause. His figure weaved through the gale, each sword strike following the wind's momentum, wasting not a single bit of sword energy. He crushed half a Qi Condensing Powder between his fingers, its pure white spiritual energy merging into his meridians and intertwining with the absorbed sword intent, further enhancing the power of 'Wind Song.' The twelve crystals shattered one by one under his sword strikes. With each crystal destroyed, the wind's force within the tower weakened. By the time the last crystal shattered, the gale had completely dissipated, leaving only a faint sword energy lingering in the air.

"Gale Trial, passed!"

A cold, mechanical voice sounded within the tower. The stone wall ahead slowly opened, revealing stairs leading to the second floor, which were enveloped in even denser sword energy than the first. As Ling Yun stepped onto the stairs, he saw Murong Shuang standing on a platform not far away, her Green Peak Sword planted in the ground, a pill held between her fingers—clearly, although she had passed the first floor before Ling Yun, she had also expended considerable energy and was replenishing her spiritual energy.

"I didn't expect you to actually pass," Murong Shuang looked up at him, her eyes no longer holding disdain but a newfound seriousness. "The first floor was just an appetizer. The second floor, the 'Stone Sword Puppet,' is the real test. Those puppets are tireless, and their sword moves are even fiercer than 'Wind Song.' If you don't have a way to deal with them, it's best to withdraw as soon as possible."

Ling Yun didn't respond, merely looking up at the entrance to the second floor. Vague silhouettes of black puppets could be seen there, emitting a heavy Earth Element Sword Intent—an attribute that countered wind. He gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, the advantage of his Chaos Sword Body becoming even clearer at this moment: immunity to attribute suppression meant he didn't have to worry about being suppressed by Earth Element Sword Intent like Murong Shuang.

"Let's go, don't keep me waiting too long." Seeing his silence, Murong Shuang put away her pill and stepped into the second floor first, her figure disappearing into the dense sword energy.

Ling Yun took a deep breath. The Chaos Sword Qi within his body and the absorbed sword intent had completely merged, losing the previous sense of sluggishness. He stepped onto the stairs. As soon as he entered the second floor, he heard the "clang" of metal colliding—three puppets cast from black iron rock were slowly walking towards him, wielding heavy swords. Each step made the ground tremble slightly, and their swords were wreathed in solidified Earth Element Sword Qi.

"Stone Sword Puppets, immensely strong, their sword moves have no openings. You can only target the weak points at their joints," the Sword Elder's voice sounded at the opportune moment. "Use the 'Heaven and Earth First Form's' force-absorbing technique to deflect their sword power, then use 'Wind Song' to attack their joints—remember, your Chaos Sword Body can absorb the Earth Element Sword Qi from their swords. Don't waste this excellent opportunity for cultivation."

Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, his gaze fixed on the foremost puppet. As the puppet's heavy sword descended, it carried a whistling sound, and the Earth Element Sword Qi was almost tangible, making the surrounding air heavy. He didn't retreat but stepped forward to meet the sword's force, his sword sheath precisely striking the spine of the heavy sword—the force-absorbing technique of 'Heaven and Earth First Form' was unleashed again. The Earth Element Sword Qi flowed into his body through the sword sheath, instantly assimilated by the Chaos Sword Qi. Not only did it cause no harm, but it also made the sword energy in his dantian even stronger.

"Now!"

Ling Yun's wrist flipped, and the Sky-Rending Sword drew a line along the puppet's arm. The 'Wind Song' sword technique condensed a wind blade that struck directly at the gap in the puppet's elbow joint—the weak point where the black iron rock was pieced together, and also where the Earth Element Sword Qi was thinnest.

"Clang!"

The wind blade hit the gap, and the puppet's movement immediately paused. A crack appeared at its elbow joint. Ling Yun didn't hesitate, his figure darting behind the puppet like a ghost. He unleashed a series of sword moves, wind blades continuously striking other joints, each blow incredibly precise.

Outside the tower, at the entrance of the Sword Tower's first floor, the Inner Sect's Grand Steward's eyes flashed with surprise as he looked at Ling Yun's figure on the crystal screen. The crystal screen could reflect the situation of disciples on each floor. Currently, on the screen, Ling Yun was skillfully maneuvering between the three Stone Sword Puppets, not only holding his own but also continuously absorbing the puppets' sword energy to replenish himself—this method of cultivating by drawing strength from the enemy was something even top inner disciples found difficult to achieve.

"This Ling Yun's physique is truly strange," the Steward muttered to himself, his fingers lightly stroking the sword at his waist. "Perhaps, he can truly reach the seventh floor and see that Sword Intent Stele."

Inside the tower, Ling Yun shattered the first Stone Sword Puppet. The Chaos Sword Qi within his body had already become nearly twice as dense as when he entered the second floor. He looked at the other two approaching puppets, a resolute glint in his eyes—the Sword Tower Trial was not just an opportunity to gain rewards, but also an excellent battlefield for him to solidify his sword foundation and familiarize himself with the capabilities of his Chaos Sword Body. He was determined to clear all seven floors, to see the Sword Intent Stele, and more importantly, to grow stronger step by step on this path of the sword until he had the power to avenge his clansmen.