The instant the pale golden light fused into the Sky-Rending Sword, the entire sword tomb suddenly lit up with a gentle silver radiance. The Sky-Rending Sword in Ling Yun's hand trembled violently, the ancient patterns on its dark cyan blade flowing like living creatures. Beside the single crimson fire pattern already present, fine silver-white sword patterns appeared. The two patterns intertwined and coiled around each other, ultimately condensing into a tiny "Sky" character seal at the hilt—this was a sign that the Sky-Rending Sword had begun to awaken its "artifact spirit consciousness."
"What powerful Sword Soul Origin!" Sword Elder's voice reverberated through Ling Yun's dantian, unable to conceal his excitement. "This Primordial Sword was forged from fragments of the Ancient Sword God's personal sword. It holds the key to awakening a Sword Soul! By absorbing its origin, the Sky-Rending Sword can not only awaken its artifact spirit early, but also save you ten years of detours when you condense your Sword Soul in the future!"
Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword tightly, clearly feeling the intimacy emanating from its blade, as though this ancient sword had completely fused with his Sword Intent. He looked up at the Primordial Sword embedded in the center of the sword tomb. The silver-glowing ancient sword had now dimmed, and the patterns on its blade were gradually fading. Only a fragment of a scabbard inscribed with the words "Myriad Sword Cave" remained where it stood—evidently, the Primordial Sword's core power had all been passed to the Sky-Rending Sword, leaving behind only this clue pointing toward a sacred land of the Spirit Realm.
"The secret realm's miasma... seems to be getting denser." Murong Shuang suddenly spoke. Her Wind Spirit Physique made her particularly sensitive to environmental changes. She raised a hand and sent out a wind blade, only to discover that it traveled nearly thirty percent less far through the miasma than before. "We've already been in here for two and a half days. Only half a day remains before the three-day limit Elder Liu mentioned. If we don't leave now, the secret realm may forcibly teleport us away. We could be randomly sent into a dangerous area."
Steward Wang immediately nodded, his gaze sweeping across the sword tomb. "This is no place to linger. We have obtained the Primordial Sword's secret; we should return to the entrance at once." He had barely taken a step when rubble suddenly fell from the stone chamber's ceiling. Faint sounds of fighting came from afar, mixed with disciples' screams—the direction was precisely the route the third group was meant to take back.
"It's the third group!" A core disciple's face changed dramatically. "They were responsible for scouting the left side. How did they encounter danger in that direction?"
Ling Yun frowned slightly and activated Clear Sword Heart. His spiritual sense barely penetrated the dense miasma, faintly detecting a strong scent of blood ten li ahead, along with a familiar demonic beast aura—one somewhat weaker than the Crimson Flame Flood Dragon, yet far more troublesome: the Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python. This beast excelled at spewing paralyzing miasma and possessed two heads, one for attack and one for defense, making it exceptionally difficult to deal with.
"Let's go take a look." Before Ling Yun's words had faded, he had already rushed through the hidden doorway. The silver-red intertwined sword patterns on the Sky-Rending Sword glimmered faintly, automatically dispersing the surrounding miasma within a radius of three feet. "The secret realm's rule is 'serious injury means teleportation,' but if someone is trapped by a demonic beast, the Teleportation Array cannot activate. They will be swallowed directly."
Murong Shuang and Steward Wang exchanged a glance and immediately followed. Though the two core disciples were afraid, seeing that Ling Yun and the steward had already set off, they gritted their teeth, raised their swords, and followed close behind.
They had traveled barely three li when the miasma became as dense as solid matter. Pale purple poisonous fumes mingled with the white fog; inhaling even a mouthful made one dizzy and disoriented. Ling Yun activated the Chaos Sword Body, and a six-colored halo surged around him, enveloping his companions and finally easing the poison miasma's corrosion. Suddenly, the miasma ahead exploded apart, and a cyan figure flew backward, crashing heavily into volcanic rock—it was Li Yan, a core disciple from the third group. A wound deep enough to expose bone ran across his chest, while black blood continually spilled from the corner of his mouth. He had clearly been poisoned by the Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python.
"Save... save me!" When Li Yan saw Ling Yun and the others, a fierce desire to live erupted in his eyes. He had just raised his hand when a thick snake tail struck him. His body was instantly sent flying; if Steward Wang had not promptly lashed out with a vine to wrap around his waist, he would have fallen into a fissure in the volcanic rock.
"Hisss—" Two scarlet serpent eyes appeared through the miasma. The enormous body of the Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python slowly emerged, stretching a full eight zhang long. Its left head spewed pale purple poisonous miasma, while its right head gathered black venom. Its scales were covered in a thick layer of keratin, clearly capable of resisting high-level sword techniques. Elder Zhang, the leading steward of the third group, was currently wrapped in the serpent's coils. The barrier formed by his Wood Element Sword Intent was already covered in cracks, while the other two core disciples were trapped in the poisonous miasma and could only barely swing their swords to defend themselves.
"Elder Zhang!" Steward Wang cried out and immediately activated his Wood Element Sword Intent. Two thick vines burst from the ground and wrapped around the Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python's vital point. "Ling Yun, this beast's weakness is where its two heads connect. There are no scales protecting that spot!"
Murong Shuang had already made her move. Her Wind Element Sword Intent condensed into dozens of wind blades that shot straight at the right head's eyes, seeking to divert its attention. But the Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python reacted swiftly. The poisonous miasma spewed by its left head instantly enveloped the wind blades, corroding them into wisps of black smoke. At the same time, its tail swept horizontally, forcing Murong Shuang to retreat again and again.
Ling Yun tightened his grip on the Sky-Rending Sword. The six-colored Sword Intent pearls within his dantian spun at high speed as Fire-Attribute Sword Intent and Gold Element Sword Intent flowed along the blade. The silver-red intertwined edge shone with scorching light. He did not attack rashly. Instead, he activated Clear Sword Heart and fixed his gaze on the pale pink soft flesh where the two heads connected—there were indeed no scales there, but a thin membrane covered it. Clearly, that was the beast's weak point of defense.
"Sword Elder, can I borrow the Primordial Sword's remaining power?" Ling Yun asked inwardly.
"Yes! But only once. That power needs time to be digested!" As Sword Elder's voice fell, pale white points of light glimmered between Ling Yun's brows. It was the power of the Primordial Sword's Remnant Soul Imprint. "Fuse it into your gold and fire Sword Intent, and you can break its membrane!"
Ling Yun nodded, and his figure suddenly accelerated. Bolstered by Wind Element Sword Intent, he moved nearly twice as fast as before, instantly charging before the Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python. Poisonous miasma from its left head rushed directly at him, but Ling Yun activated the Chaos Sword Body, and the six-colored halo absorbed it all. At the same time, the Sky-Rending Sword gathered gold, fire, and primordial power. Its blade erupted with dazzling gold, crimson, and silver light—this was the new composite sword technique he had created, Primordial Toxin-Dispelling Slash.
Clang! The blade struck the membrane where the two heads joined, producing a crisp collision. Ripples instantly spread across the membrane, yet it did not shatter. The Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python howled in pain, and its right head fiercely snapped at Ling Yun. The instant its jaws opened, black venom shot forth like arrows.
"Murong Shuang!" Ling Yun shouted.
Murong Shuang immediately understood. Her Wind Element Sword Intent condensed into a Wind Shield behind Ling Yun, while threads of wind wrapped around the snake's tail, seeking to slow its movements. Steward Wang also seized the chance to manipulate his vines, pulling Elder Zhang free from the serpent's coils. Wood Element Sword Intent flowed into Elder Zhang's body, easing his injuries.
Seizing that instant of opportunity, Ling Yun poured all the Fire-Attribute Sword Intent in his dantian into the Sky-Rending Sword. The crimson light on its blade surged explosively, and the Primordial Sword's remaining power completely erupted—Primordial Toxin-Dispelling Slash rose another level in power at last, cleaving through the membrane as the blade plunged into the beast's weak point.
"Hiss—" The Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python let out a miserable shriek. Its two heads twisted frantically, and its massive body rolled violently. Ling Yun took the chance to pull back his sword and retreat. At the same time, he transformed the poisonous miasma he had absorbed into Chaos Sword Intent, condensing it into a black Sword Qi that stabbed toward the beast's wound once more.
Boom! The moment the black Sword Qi pierced the wound, the Poisonous Miasma Twin-Headed Python's body exploded with a roar, becoming wisps of poisonous miasma that dissipated into the air. The surrounding miasma also thinned, revealing that this beast had been one of the keys maintaining the poison miasma within the secret realm.
"Thank... thank you, little friend Ling Yun." Elder Zhang panted heavily, his face as white as paper. Looking at the Sky-Rending Sword in Ling Yun's hand, his eyes were filled with shock. "This sword... actually carries the aura of an ancient Sword Soul?"
Ling Yun said nothing more, merely putting away the Sky-Rending Sword. "The secret realm's time limit is nearly up. We need to return to the entrance quickly."
No one dared delay. Elder Zhang and Li Yan were severely injured, so Steward Wang and Murong Shuang took turns supporting them, while Ling Yun cleared the way ahead. They had traveled barely ten li when a pale purple halo suddenly spread across the sky. It was a sign that the secret realm's Teleportation Array had activated, meaning only half an hour remained before the secret realm closed.
"The entrance is ahead!" A core disciple pointed at the pale purple Space Rift before them and shouted excitedly. Just then, a black figure suddenly rushed from the miasma beside the rift, a longsword stabbing straight toward Ling Yun's back—it was a cultivator dressed in black, with faint demonic qi glowing from his sword. He was clearly not from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect.
"Careful! A demonic cultivator!" Sword Elder's voice suddenly turned grave. "He bears the aura of Blood Fiend Hall. How could he have appeared in a secret realm of the Mortal Realm?"
Ling Yun reacted with extreme speed. He instantly shifted aside and swung the Sky-Rending Sword backward. Gold Element Sword Intent condensed into a stream of Sword Qi and pierced straight at the black-clad cultivator's chest. The cultivator sneered, black demonic qi spreading over his blade as he blocked the Sword Qi. At the same time, his other hand flung out a black chain that wrapped toward Ling Yun's wrist.
Murong Shuang and Steward Wang immediately closed in. Wind Element Sword Intent and Wood Element Sword Intent activated simultaneously, forcing the black-clad cultivator back again and again. Seeing that he could not succeed, a vicious glint flashed through his eyes. He suddenly threw out a black token. The instant it landed, dense demonic qi spread from it, temporarily sealing the Space Rift.
"Ling Yun, you carry the Primordial Sword's aura. You cannot escape!" The black-clad cultivator sneered as his figure gradually merged into the miasma. "Blood Fiend Hall will find you. Just wait!"
After the demonic qi dispersed, the seal on the Space Rift was lifted as well, but the black-clad cultivator had already vanished without a trace. Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword tightly, while the Primordial Sword's Remnant Soul Imprint between his brows faintly burned—he knew that this journey through the secret realm had not only allowed him to break through in cultivation and awaken Sword Intent, but had also drawn the attention of an evil cultivator force from the Spirit Realm. The road ahead would likely become even harder.
"Hurry, the Teleportation Array is about to close!" Steward Wang urged. Everyone immediately rushed toward the Space Rift and stepped into it one after another. The instant Ling Yun's Figure vanished into the rift, all the miasma in the Misty Secret Realm suddenly dispersed, and the Space Rifts among the ancient trees slowly closed, as though they had never existed.
And at the moment the rift closed, a strand of black mist quietly rose from the direction of Burial Sword Slope and flew toward the depths of the Qingyun Region—it was Blood Fiend Hall's spy in the Mortal Realm, carrying news of Ling Yun to distant demonic cultivator forces.
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