Trial Sword Platform Assessment: First Victory in the Sword Master Realm

The "Trial Sword Platform" in the core area was crafted from a single piece of profound iron crystal. Its body was inscribed with defensive array patterns, remaining intact and undamaged after several centuries of assessments. At this moment, the platform was surrounded by core disciples and sect elders. Elder Liu stood in the center of the high platform, holding the assessment roster. His gaze swept over the crowd below, finally landing on Ling Yun. "Ling Yun, your opponent is Guard Li. He is in the early Sword Master Realm, skilled in Earth Element Sword Intent and defensive sword techniques. Just stop when you can't continue."

Before his voice faded, a burly figure leaped onto the platform. The profound iron platform trembled slightly upon his landing. Guard Li wore a grayish-brown chest guard and wielded a heavy iron sword. Earth-yellow sword intent swirled around him, forming a semi-transparent "Stone Wall Guard." The shield's patterns were rough like rock, exuding the weighty aura of "Immovable as a Mountain." "Kid, the gap between the Sword Master Realm and the Swordsman Realm isn't something sword intent can bridge. If you can't take it, just call for a stop. I won't hurt you."

Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword and slowly walked onto the platform. As soon as he steadied himself, he felt a heavy Earth Element Sword Intent rush towards him. It was more condensed than the "Sword Intent Overload" on the fifth floor of the Sword Tower, as if a small mountain was pressing down on his shoulders, causing his steps to falter slightly. This was the core advantage of the Sword Master Realm: Sword Intent could already condense into "Intent," forming domain suppression, rather than just a simple sword energy attack.

"Don't be intimidated by his sword intent! Although Earth Element Sword Intent is stable, it has gaps during its flow. Use Clear Sword Heart to find the weakness!" Sword Elder's voice echoed in his mind. "His 'Stone Wall Guard' requires continuous infusion of sword intent. With every breath, the shield will have a slight, weak loosening. That will be your chance."

Ling Yun nodded and activated Clear Sword Heart. The earth-yellow shield before him instantly became "transparent." He clearly saw that every time Guard Li inhaled, the sword intent flow at the left shoulder of the shield would lag by half a beat. That was precisely the weak point of the shield. Although Earth Element Sword Intent excelled at defense, it was difficult to achieve seamless transitions during breath changes. This was an inherent flaw of the early Sword Master Realm.

"Begin!" Elder Liu announced loudly.

Guard Li struck first, sweeping his iron sword horizontally. Earth-yellow sword energy condensed into a "Rock Slash," aimed directly at Ling Yun's chest. This strike appeared fierce but held back its power, clearly intending to test Ling Yun's strength first. Ling Yun did not meet it head-on. His figure dodged like a flowing wind. Simultaneously, he unleashed the "Cloud Roll" sword technique. Pale green sword energy condensed into clouds around Guard Li, attempting to restrict his movements.

"Useless!" Guard Li snorted. The Earth Element Sword Intent within him surged. The "Stone Wall Guard" instantly expanded, shattering the cloud sword energy. "Earth counters wind; your wind-element sword techniques are ineffective against me!"

While shattering the clouds, Guard Li stepped forward and thrust his iron sword straight. Earth Element sword energy flowed along the sword into the ground. Several stone spikes instantly protruded from the platform surface, shooting up from beneath Ling Yun's feet. This was the Earth Element sword technique "Earth Spike Technique." It was both offensive and defensive, sealing off evasion space while launching a surprise attack. It was a common combination technique for cultivators in the Sword Master Realm.

Ling Yun's pupils contracted slightly. He tapped the ground with his left toe, his figure drifting back five feet. Simultaneously, the Sky-Rending Sword drew a golden-green arc. He fused the Metal element (penetration) and Wind element (agility) from the Five Elements Sword Intent, unleashing a new composite sword technique, "Golden Wind Piercing Spikes." Pale golden sword energy, wrapped in cyan wind blades, moved like a sharp pair of scissors, slicing through the incoming stone spikes one by one. The sword energy's momentum did not diminish, heading straight for Guard Li's "Stone Wall Guard."

"Clang!"

The sword energy struck the shield, emitting a dull metallic impact. The earth-yellow shield rippled but did not shatter. However, Ling Yun could clearly feel a slight disturbance in the sword intent flow at the left shoulder of the shield—the very weakness he had spotted earlier!

"Now!" Ling Yun seized this fleeting moment of disturbance. The Chaos Sword Qi within him churned wildly, and the Sky-Rending Sword swung out again. This time, he fused the Metal and Earth Element Sword Intent: "Gold-Earth Rock-Breaking Slash"! The interweaving pale gold and light brown sword energy no longer pursued speed but condensed into a heavy slash, accurately striking the weak point at the left shoulder of the shield.

"Not good!" Guard Li's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly channeled all his sword intent to reinforce the shield, but it was too late. The composite sword energy acted like a chisel, precisely drilling into the shield's weak point. The earth-yellow shield instantly developed a crack, which rapidly spread. With a "crack," the "Stone Wall Guard" completely disintegrated!

The moment the shield shattered, Guard Li felt a foreign sword intent surge into his body through his iron sword. His meridians felt a slight soreness—it was Ling Yun's Chaos Sword Qi absorbing his scattered Earth Element Sword Intent! He was greatly alarmed and was about to retreat when he saw Ling Yun's sword stopped before his throat, the tip less than an inch from his skin. There was no killing intent, but an irresistible oppressive force.

"I... lost." Guard Li gave a wry smile and put away his iron sword. "I didn't expect you, a Swordsman, to break my 'Stone Wall Guard' and even absorb my sword intent... Chaos Sword Body, truly lives up to its name."

A gasp erupted from the crowd below. The core disciples looked at Ling Yun with awe. Defeating a Sword Master Realm cultivator was rare in the assessment history of Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's core disciples, let alone for Ling Yun, who was a cultivator with "no spirit root."

Murong Shuang stood in the crowd, a smile playing on her lips. She clearly saw that Ling Yun's composite sword techniques not only fused elements but also precisely exploited the opponent's weaknesses. His swordsmanship was more mature than before, possessing the strength to contend head-on with Sword Master Realm cultivators.

"Ling Yun, assessment passed!" Elder Liu announced loudly, his eyes filled with relief. "You have earned the qualification to enter the Misty Secret Realm. Gather at the sect's main gate in three days and depart with the core disciple team."

Ling Yun put away the Sky-Rending Sword and bowed to Elder Liu and Guard Li. As he walked off the platform, Murong Shuang approached him and handed him a cloth bag. "This contains 'Miasma Avoiding Pills' and the 'Monster Compendium.' The Misty Secret Realm is filled with miasma and many high-level monsters. These will help you survive."

Ling Yun took the cloth bag. The warmth of the cloth bag touched his fingertips, and his heart felt a slight warmth. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me," Murong Shuang turned, her dark combat attire shimmering in the sunlight. "I just don't want you to be eliminated too early in the secret realm. I still want to compete with you for the Dragon Origin Fruit."

Watching Murong Shuang's retreating back, Ling Yun clenched the cloth bag in his hand. He looked up towards the sect's main gate, the starting point for the Misty Secret Realm, and the crucial place for him to break through to the Great Swordsman Realm and awaken his fire-element sword intent. Sword Elder's voice echoed in his mind: "The fire-element energy contained within the Dragon Origin Fruit is extremely potent. It's perfect for activating the fire-element potential within your Chaos Sword Body. You might also encounter ancient sword cultivator ruins in the secret realm, perhaps finding more clues about the Ling Family's sword manual."

Ling Yun took a deep breath. The Sky-Rending Sword in his hand trembled slightly, as if anticipating the challenges in the secret realm. He knew that the upcoming journey to the Misty Secret Realm was not only fraught with danger but also held opportunities. Only by obtaining the Dragon Origin Fruit and breaking through to the Great Swordsman Realm could he get closer to his goal of revenge and closer to uncovering the truth behind the Ling Family's destruction.

The journey to the secret realm in three days was destined to be a trial of both life and opportunity. And he was ready.