Sparring at the Sword Hut, Hidden Assassin Revealed with Killing Intent

Dawn broke through the bamboo forest behind the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's back mountain, casting light onto the bluestone plaza in front of the "Sword Hut." Ling Yun held the Sky-Rending Sword, its silver-red sword patterns flowing with his Sword Intent, carving a three-colored interwoven sword mark on the ground. This was his fifth practice of the "Primordial Toxin-Dispelling Slash." After guidance from Su Qingyuan's "Notes on Guiding Sword Intent," the fusion of his fire and gold element Sword Intents had become smoother. He could now inject the power of the Primordial Sword's remnant soul imprint more precisely into his sword moves. As the sword mark landed, it actually caused the surrounding bamboo shadows to tremble slightly.

"Not bad, the purity of your Sword Intent has increased again," the Sword Elder's voice echoed in his dantian, filled with praise. "The Chaos Sword Body naturally accommodates multiple attributes, and with the Primordial Sword's Sword Soul origin, the power of your current sword moves is no less than that of a cultivator in the mid-stage Great Swordsman Realm. However, Zhao Hao of the Zhao family is already in the late-stage Great Swordsman Realm and has cultivated the 'Sword Devouring Art.' If you want to defeat him in the grand competition, you'll need to hone one or two more killing moves."

Ling Yun sheathed his sword and stood, a wisp of crimson Sword Intent condensing at his fingertips, dancing in his palm. After several days of guidance, this wisp of fire element Sword Intent was completely under his control, no longer as wild as when it first awakened. He looked up at the sea of clouds beyond the bamboo forest, recalling the "Fire Lotus Pill" Su Qingyuan had brought him yesterday. That pill, refined from volcanic lotus seeds, could stabilize fire element Sword Intent and was clearly something she had sought out for him. A warmth spread through his heart.

"Ling Yun!" a clear voice called from outside the bamboo forest. Murong Shuang strode over, carrying the Green Peak Sword. As her Wind Spirit Physique activated, a faint green halo emanated from her body. "The sect grand competition is in five days. I heard you've been practicing new sword moves. Want to spar a round? Let me see how strong you've become as a Great Swordsman."

Ling Yun nodded and stepped aside, clearing the bluestone plaza. "Please."

Murong Shuang didn't stand on ceremony. The Green Peak Sword was drawn in an instant, and her wind element Sword Intent condensed into a "Wind Swirl," rushing directly towards Ling Yun's face. Her sword moves were faster than during the Sword Tower Trial. Intertwined wind blades formed a dense sword net, seemingly impenetrable. This was "Flowing Cloud Weaving Net" from the "Seven Streams Sword Technique," which required the wind element Sword Intent to be refined to a minute level before it could be executed.

A sharp glint flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. He activated his Clear Sword Heart, instantly discerning the flaw in the sword net. The Sky-Rending Sword blocked in front of his chest, infused with gold element Sword Intent. With a "clang," it blocked a wind blade. Simultaneously, he propelled his feet with wind element Sword Intent, his figure drifting back three feet like a willow catkin, evading the sword net's grasp. Immediately after, he flicked his wrist, and the Sky-Rending Sword condensed fire and wind element Sword Intents. The blade glowed with interwoven crimson and cyan light as the "Wind-Fire Meteor Sword" thrust out. The sword move, carrying scorching airflow, pierced directly through the weak point of the sword net.

Murong Shuang's pupils constricted. She hadn't expected Ling Yun to break the "Flowing Cloud Weaving Net" so quickly. She immediately retracted her sword and changed her move. Her wind element Sword Intent surged, forming a "Wind Barrier" around her, blocking the wind-fire sword energy. At the same time, the Green Peak Sword drew an arc, and the "Wind Silk Slash," as fine as a hair, struck directly at Ling Yun's sword-wielding wrist. This was her trump card technique, specifically designed to break an opponent's sword move linkage.

Ling Yun, however, was already prepared. His Chaos Sword Body activated, and a six-colored halo appeared around him, deflecting most of the Wind Silk Slash's power. Simultaneously, he condensed earth element Sword Intent in his left hand and pressed it towards the ground. A yellowish-brown Sword Wall suddenly rose, blocking Murong Shuang's follow-up attack. Seizing this opportunity, the Sky-Rending Sword once again condensed three-colored Sword Intents. The momentum of the "Primordial Toxin-Dispelling Slash" locked onto Murong Shuang's sword. The silver-red and gold light flashed, forcing the Green Peak Sword to slip slightly from her grasp.

"Stop!" Murong Shuang quickly retracted her sword, looking at her slightly numb wrist with amazement. "To be able to fuse three elements of Sword Intent so smoothly after just breaking through to the early stage of the Great Swordsman Realm, the Chaos Sword Body is truly as its name suggests. If I hadn't used the full power of my Wind Spirit Physique, I probably wouldn't have been able to withstand even ten of your moves."

Ling Yun sheathed the Sky-Rending Sword, the halo on its body slowly fading. "Your 'Wind Silk Slash' is very exquisite. If it weren't for the Chaos Sword Body's ability to absorb force, you would have broken my move just now." He knew Murong Shuang's proud nature and that she wouldn't easily admit defeat. Gaining her recognition now was a form of progress.

As they were speaking, a figure in green approached from outside the bamboo forest. Su Qingyuan carried a bamboo basket containing two porcelain bottles, her cheeks lightly sweating. "I heard from the disciples that you were sparring, so I came to watch. This bottle is 'Fire Lotus Pill,' which can stabilize fire element Sword Intent. The other bottle is 'Clear Heart Dew,' which can alleviate the consumption of Sword Intent after sparring."

As she handed the porcelain bottles to Ling Yun, her gaze swept over the sword marks on the bluestone plaza, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "This sword move... it actually carries the aura of an ancient Sword Soul? The fortune you obtained in the secret realm is even more precious than I imagined."

Ling Yun took the porcelain bottles and thanked her softly. "It's just some remnant soul imprints, and I still need time to digest them. By the way, you mentioned before that Medicine Immortal Valley has dealings with other factions. Do you know what the Zhao family has been up to lately?"

Su Qingyuan's expression turned serious. She sat on a stone stool and said, "My master received news yesterday that the Zhao family has been getting close to Black Wind Stockade and Blazing Fire Gate recently. They've also bought quite a bit of 'Soul-Corroding Powder' from the Spirit Realm—that's a type of poisonous powder that can contaminate Sword Intent. If an ordinary cultivator comes into contact with it, at best their Sword Intent will become disordered; at worst, their Sword Soul will be damaged. They must be planning to use this to deal with you in the grand competition."

Ling Yun's hand, holding the porcelain bottle, tightened slightly. The Sky-Rending Sword let out a soft hum. He recalled the demonic cultivator who had ambushed him before and the black aura Zhao Kun exuded during his cultivation. His vigilance intensified. "It seems they not only want to kill me in the grand competition but also use this opportunity to weaken the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's strength."

"You need to be extremely careful," Murong Shuang also put away her usual arrogance, her tone grave. "The leader of Black Wind Stockade is in the late-stage Sword Master Realm, and the sect leader of Blazing Fire Gate is also at the mid-stage Sword Master Realm. If they intervene during the grand competition, with only our inner disciples, it might be difficult to cope."

Ling Yun nodded, his gaze drifting towards the direction of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's mountain gate. "I'll be mindful. Thank you both for today. I'll practice my sword for a while longer, and then I'll go to the Scripture Depository to check the records of the 'Sword Devouring Art' and see if there's a way to break it."

Seeing this, Murong Shuang and Su Qingyuan didn't disturb him further and turned to leave. Ling Yun was once again alone on the bluestone plaza. The silver-red sword patterns of the Sky-Rending Sword flowed with his Sword Intent, his sword moves becoming faster and faster. The sword energy amidst the bamboo shadows grew increasingly sharp. He knew that the sect grand competition in five days would be his first direct confrontation with the Zhao family, and he could not afford the slightest carelessness.

Night fell. Near the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's mountain gate, a black figure moved along the wall, holding a black token that emitted a faint demonic aura. He avoided the sight of the patrolling disciples and stealthily infiltrated the inner sect area. He left a silver needle laced with poisonous powder outside Ling Yun's residence, the Flowing Pavilion. Just as he was about to leave, a silver-red sword energy suddenly shot out from within the pavilion, aiming directly for his back.

"Who?" the black figure exclaimed, quickly turning to block with his sword. With a "clang," his long sword collided with the Sky-Rending Sword, and the sword body instantly cracked from the impact. He hadn't expected to be discovered.

Ling Yun stood at the pavilion's entrance, a six-colored halo swirling around him, his gaze fixed on the black figure. "A spy from the Zhao family? Or a demonic cultivator from the Blood Fiend Hall?" He could clearly sense the demonic aura on the black figure. Although fainter than the demonic cultivator who had attacked him before, it shared the same "Soul-Corroding Seal" aura.

A ruthless glint flashed in the black figure's eyes. He suddenly threw a handful of poisonous powder from his bosom. The pale black powder scattered in the air, emitting a pungent odor—it was precisely the "Soul-Corroding Powder" Su Qingyuan had mentioned. "You're seeking death!" He took advantage of Ling Yun dodging the poisonous powder to turn and flee, but he failed to notice the ground beneath his feet suddenly emanating yellowish-brown Sword Intent. A Sword Wall rose, blocking his path.

"Trying to escape?" Ling Yun's voice was icy. The Sky-Rending Sword condensed fire and gold element Sword Intents. The "Wind-Fire Meteor Sword" thrust directly at the black figure's chest. The black figure was forced to block with his sword, but he was sent staggering backward by the sword energy. His chest clothing was torn, revealing a black token engraved with the character "Zhao" and entwined with a wisp of demonic energy.

"You're colluding with the Blood Fiend Hall!" Ling Yun's killing intent surged. His sword move advanced further, the silver-red sword energy aimed directly at the black figure's throat. Seeing the situation was dire, the black figure suddenly pulled a Teleportation Talisman from his bosom. The moment he crushed it, a faint purple halo appeared around him. "The Zhao family patriarch said he will definitely take your dog life in the sect grand competition!"

The light of the Teleportation Talisman flashed, and the black figure vanished from his spot, leaving behind only a wisp of demonic energy and a dropped black token. Ling Yun picked up the token, condensed fire element Sword Intent at his fingertips, and burned away the demonic energy on the token. The Sword Elder's voice echoed in his dantian, "The demonic energy on this token is from the same source as the previous demonic cultivator. It seems the Zhao family's collusion with the Blood Fiend Hall has been going on for more than a day. During the grand competition, you'll not only have to deal with Zhao Hao but also guard against sneak attacks from demonic cultivators."

Ling Yun clenched the Sky-Rending Sword, its silver-red sword patterns flashing coldly. He looked up in the direction of Qingfeng Town, his eyes filled with determination. "No matter how many schemes they have, I will face them. Five days from now, the sect grand competition will be the beginning of my quest for retribution against the Zhao family!"

As the night deepened, the lights in the Flowing Pavilion remained lit. Ling Yun sat at his desk, opening the "Qingyun Region Evil Cultivation Records" borrowed from the Scripture Depository. The records on the "Sword Devouring Art" on the pages were smudged with ink—this was the key he needed to decipher in the next five days, and the first hurdle he had to overcome on his path to revenge.