The stone doors to the second floor of the Scripture Depository were several times heavier than those on the first. The vermilion doors bore four gilded ancient seal-script characters: "Sword Legacy of Antiquity." Hanging on either side of the lintel were no longer bronze sword bells, but two ancient Remnant Swords embedded in stone grooves. The pale golden Sword Qi lingering around them was even more condensed than the Sword Intent Stele on the seventh floor of the Sword Tower. Clearly, those permitted to enter were the finest among the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's core disciples; ordinary inner disciples did not even have the right to approach.
Ling Yun held the second-floor access token and lightly touched it to the groove in the stone door. The instant the token fitted into place, the Remnant Swords gave a long, resonant cry, and the stone doors slowly opened. Dense spiritual energy, nearly tangible, rushed toward him, carrying the scent of aged sword manuals and ancient Sword Qi. As he drew it into his lungs, the five-colored Sword Intent pearl within his dantian began to turn on its own, greedily absorbing the spiritual energy in the air.
"The second floor holds the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's thousand-year inheritance. Besides the complete Seven Streams Sword Technique manual, there are many combat insights left by ancient sword cultivators, even records concerning the Misty Secret Realm." Sword Elder's voice carried anticipation. "First, find the complete version of the Seven Streams Sword Technique and make up for the latter four moves you were missing. Then see whether there are any clues related to the Ling Clan's sword manuals—your Lineage's fragmented sword manual may well be connected to ancient sword cultivators."
Ling Yun nodded and slowly walked along the bookshelves of the second floor. The shelves here were taller than those below, and were made from the rare Sinking Water Wood, which could naturally nourish the Sword Intent contained in sword manuals. A jade label was attached to every ancient book, noting its name and attributes. He scanned volumes such as Essence of Metal Element Sword Techniques and Wood Spirit Sword Intent Cultivation Method, before finally finding a deep-blue ancient book at the end of the shelves. The six words on its cover—Seven Streams Sword Technique - Complete Volume—were precisely what he had come for.
He reached out and took down the ancient book. The moment he opened it, an incomparably pure Wind Element Sword Intent rushed toward him. Its pages not only recorded the full seven sword moves, including "Wind Chant," "Cloud Coil," and "Rain Fall," but also contained hand-drawn trajectory diagrams by an ancient sword cultivator. Beside them was an annotation: "Wind momentum borrows clouds, cloud momentum draws rain, rain momentum hides its edge." This was exactly the core content missing from the first-floor fragment. For example, "Cloud Coil" required Wind Element Sword Intent to gather cloud-like Sword Qi and trap an enemy within it, before "Rain Fall" unleashed fragmented Sword Qi in a surprise assault. When the two moves flowed together, their power was more than three times greater than using "Wind Chant" alone.
"What exquisite sword move design." Ling Yun murmured in praise. Just as he was about to study it further, his gaze was caught by a tiny mark in the corner of the page—a broken "Ling" character, carved beside the annotation. Its strokes were identical to the handwriting on his Lineage's fragmented sword manual.
"That mark... is a simplified version of the Ling Clan crest!" Sword Elder's voice suddenly grew excited. "Look carefully. Is the ink of the annotation different from the main text of the sword manual?"
Ling Yun leaned closer and examined it. Sure enough, the annotation's ink was lighter, clearly added by someone later. Yet the carving of the "Ling" character was deeper than the annotation's ink, as though it had existed from the very moment the sword manual was compiled. Something stirred in his heart. His fingertips brushed over the character, and Chaos Sword Qi flowed from his fingers into the page. In an instant, the sword move trajectory diagrams on the page lit up. Pale blue Wind Element Sword Intent intertwined with his Chaos Sword Qi, and a line of hidden fine print appeared on the page: "Southeast Qingyun Region, Sword Mound Mountain, conceals the Ling Clan Sword Legacy."
"Sword Mound Mountain!" Ling Yun's pupils contracted sharply. He had seen that place name in his Lineage's fragmented scrolls, but after the annihilation of his family, he had never had the chance to investigate it. He had never expected it to be connected to the Seven Streams Sword Technique. It seemed the Ling Clan's sword inheritance ran far deeper than he had imagined, perhaps even linked to the ancient origins of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect.
"Do not hurry to explore Sword Mound Mountain yet. What matters most now is consolidating your Basic Sword Intent and mastering the complete Seven Streams Sword Technique." Sword Elder reminded him in time. "The Misty Secret Realm opens next month. The Dragon Origin Fruit can help you break through to the Great Swordsman Realm and awaken Fire-Attribute Sword Intent. That is your foremost priority."
Ling Yun suppressed the excitement in his heart, tucked the Seven Streams Sword Technique - Complete Volume into his robes, and took a copy of the Misty Secret Realm Survival Guide before walking to a cultivation cushion in the center of the second floor and sitting cross-legged. He poured out the Basic Sword Intent Condensing Fluid from a jade bottle. The pearly-white liquid slid down his throat and instantly transformed into pure sword-intent power, surging through his meridians into his dantian and merging with the pale golden intent core within him. His previously somewhat loose Basic Sword Intent instantly solidified by more than half. The spiritual energy in the surrounding space seemed drawn by an invisible force, forming a pale golden vortex around him.
"Bzzzz—"
The Sky-Rending Sword suddenly trembled lightly. The three Sword Intent crystals of metal, earth, and wood within the grooves of its hilt lit up at once. Ancient patterns flowed across the blade as it began absorbing the surrounding spiritual-energy vortex on its own. Understanding dawned on Ling Yun. He immediately circulated the cultivation method for "Cloud Coil" from the Seven Streams Sword Technique. Wind Element Sword Intent and Basic Sword Intent complemented one another, condensing a semi-transparent cloud-layer Sword Qi before him. This time, the cloud layer was no longer scattered and shapeless. It was firmly controlled by his Basic Sword Intent, able to shrink and expand as he wished, infinitely more refined than the rudimentary "Cloud Coil" he had imitated before.
"Ling Yun?"
A familiar voice came from nearby. Murong Shuang stood beside the bookshelves with the Green Peak Sword in hand, surprise in her eyes as she looked at the spiritual-energy vortex around him. "You have already begun consolidating your Basic Sword Intent? And you have even mastered 'Cloud Coil'?"
Ling Yun withdrew the move, and the spiritual-energy vortex slowly dispersed. "The sword manuals and condensing fluid on the second floor of the Scripture Depository helped me make up for the flaws in my sword moves."
Murong Shuang stepped forward and handed him an ancient book with a pale violet cover. "This is insights into the wind element sword intent application. When I encountered bottlenecks while cultivating 'Cloud Coil,' I found all the answers inside. Though you have comprehended basic sword intent, you may find its control of the details of wind-element sword moves useful."
Ling Yun accepted the ancient book. The instant his fingers touched its pages, he could feel the lingering Wind Element Sword Intent upon them. Clearly, this was a volume Murong Shuang often used, and it even contained her handwritten annotations. He looked up at her and found that her former arrogance had vanished from her eyes, leaving only a pure love for the sword. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me." Murong Shuang gave a soft laugh, drew the Green Peak Sword, and traced a "Cloud Coil" Sword Qi through the air. "I merely hope that the next time we spar, you can bring out stronger sword moves. Do not disappoint me. Oh, and next month, the sect will select twenty core disciples to enter the Misty Secret Realm. If you wish to participate, you must pass the core disciple assessment before the end of the month. The assessment is..."
"Defeat a sect guard in the early Sword Master Realm," Ling Yun finished. He had seen the relevant record in the Misty Secret Realm Survival Guide.
Murong Shuang nodded. "The difference between the Sword Master Realm and the Swordsman Realm lies in the solidity of Sword Intent and the continuity of sword moves. Though you possess Basic Sword Intent, you still need more actual combat practice. If you do not mind, we can spar every morning at the Training Ground in the core district."
Ling Yun did not hesitate. "All right."
A trace of a smile flashed through Murong Shuang's eyes. She turned and walked toward the depths of the bookshelves. "I will fetch some texts about secret-realm demonic beasts. When we spar next time, I will tell you more about the Crimson Flame Flood Dragon's weaknesses."
Ling Yun watched her retreating figure, then lowered his head and opened insights into the wind element sword intent application. The annotations on its pages were graceful and delicate, yet carried an unyielding resilience, exactly like Murong Shuang herself. He tightened his grip on the Seven Streams Sword Technique - Complete Volume, feeling the "Ling" mark on its pages. His heart was firmer than ever—consolidate his sword intent, master the seven swords, pass the assessment, enter the secret realm, seize the Dragon Origin Fruit, explore Sword Mound Mountain, avenge his clansmen... every step lay clearly before him, and he was steadily advancing along this path of the sword.
The setting sun shone through the skylight of the Scripture Depository's second floor, bathing Ling Yun in its light. The pale golden sunlight merged with the Sword Qi around him, forming a warm halo. The Sky-Rending Sword lay quietly across his knees, ancient patterns flickering on its blade, as though it too awaited the challenges and inheritance soon to come.
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