Fire Lotus Tempering Sword, Winds and Clouds Gather on the Eve of the Grand Competition

As the first ray of dawn pierced through the window lattices of Flowing Cloud Pavilion, Ling Yun sat cross-legged on a futon, a crimson Fire Lotus Pill cradled in his palm. Under the urging of his Chaos Sword Body, the pill slowly released its scorching energy, surging through his meridians into his dantian. This was the last Fire Lotus Pill Su Qingyuan had given him yesterday, refined with three-hundred-year-old volcanic lotus seeds and calming grass, specifically to stabilize his fire-attribute Sword Intent.

"Buzz—" The six-colored Sword Intent bead within his dantian suddenly vibrated. The crimson fire-attribute Sword Intent and the earthy yellow earth-attribute Sword Intent spontaneously intertwined, forming a swirling vortex of red and yellow. Sword Elder's voice, filled with surprise, echoed, "The Chaos Sword Body is indeed special! The Fire Lotus Pill's energy has activated the resonance between the two Sword Intents. Try to fuse them; perhaps you can create a sword technique to counter the Sword Devouring Art!"

Ling Yun immediately followed the advice. He focused his mind on his dantian, guiding the fire and earth Sword Intents to flow through his meridians to his arm, finally injecting them into the Sky-Rending Sword. The silver-red sword patterns on the sword intertwined with a yellow halo, and the blade shimmered with alternating red and yellow light. He raised his hand and swung the sword. The moment the tip touched the ground, a sword mark half a foot deep appeared. The ground around the mark actually condensed into a layer of scorching rock armor—this was the combined effect of the fire attribute's heat and the earth attribute's density, capable of both piercing defenses and providing protection.

"A good move!" Sword Elder exclaimed. "The Sword Devouring Art relies on devouring Sword Souls to enhance its power, and its techniques are insidious and imbued with demonic energy. The heat of this 'Fire-Earth Demon Suppressing Slash' can burn away demonic energy, and its density can block evil swords, making it the perfect counter! Practice it more to make the transition between the two Sword Intents smoother. It will surely help you achieve a surprise victory in the competition."

Ling Yun nodded and swung his sword again. The Sky-Rending Sword moved as if an extension of his arm. Crimson and yellow sword energy sliced through the air, leaving scorching trails. By noon, fine sweat beaded on his forehead, and his Sword Intent was largely depleted. However, he had also mastered the "Fire-Earth Demon Suppressing Slash" to perfection. Now, when he used this move, he could create a rock armor barrier about ten feet wide at the sword mark, which could both protect himself and restrict his opponent's movement.

"Ling Yun, look what I brought!" Su Qingyuan's voice came from outside the door. She was carrying a bamboo basket containing a porcelain bottle of pale green medicinal liquid and several animal skin maps. "This is 'Soul Cleansing Dew.' It can neutralize the poison of Soul-Corroding Powder. I refined it using ten kinds of detoxifying herbs, so even if you get some Soul-Corroding Powder on you, it can be resolved within three breaths. And these maps were drawn by Medicine Immortal Valley's informants in Qingfeng Town. They mark the secret passages used by the Zhao Family and demonic cultivators. They might be useful to you."

Ling Yun took the porcelain bottle and uncorked it. A refreshing herbal scent wafted out, and the Sword Intent in his dantian actually calmed down a bit. He looked at the dense red dots on the animal skin maps—these represented the Zhao Family's hidden poison powder and demonic cultivator strongholds. A warmth spread through him. "Thank you. These things... are very important to me."

"We're friends, aren't we?" Su Qingyuan's cheeks flushed slightly as she said softly, "I also found out from my master that the Sword Devouring Art has a fatal weakness—it enhances its power by devouring Sword Souls, but the more Sword Souls it devours, the more chaotic the demonic energy in the dantian becomes. If you attack their dantian with power containing the origin of a Sword Soul, it can cause a backlash of demonic energy. The Remnant Soul Imprint of the Primordial Sword on your forehead contains the origin of a Sword Soul, so it might be useful."

A sharp glint flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. This was exactly the solution he had been looking for. He raised his hand and touched his forehead. The faint white imprint there felt slightly warm, clearly resonating with the Sky-Rending Sword in his dantian. It seemed the remnant soul of the Primordial Sword could not only enhance his sword techniques but also become the key to dealing with the Sword Devouring Art.

Just then, Murong Shuang rushed in, her face grave. "This is bad! The rules for the sect competition have changed! The Zhao Family, in collusion with Black Wind Village and Blazing Fire Sect, has pressured the Sect Master to add a 'Death Arena'—any disciple who reaches the finals can voluntarily choose a death match, with the victor deciding the fate of the loser. And... there are two more people from the Zhao Family on the judging panel, claiming to be 'special guests'."

"Death Arena?" Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, the crimson and yellow glow on its blade flashing coldly. "Zhao Kun wants to kill me openly in the arena, and he's afraid the judges will interfere, so he's bribed them."

"The Sect Master can't do anything. The Zhao Family has united with two major families. If they don't agree, they will unite with other forces to withdraw from the Qingyun Region's Sword Alliance," Murong Shuang gritted her teeth. "But don't worry, I've pleaded with several inner sect elders. They've agreed to keep an eye on the judges secretly, so the Zhao Family won't be too blatant. Also, I'll try my best to reach the finals. If I encounter you, I'll concede voluntarily, allowing you to focus on dealing with Zhao Hao."

Ling Yun looked at Murong Shuang's determined eyes, a sense of gratitude welling up within him. He knew Murong Shuang was extremely competitive, and for her to say she would concede voluntarily meant she considered him a true ally.

"No need," Ling Yun shook his head. "If you encounter Zhao Hao, you might not lose. He cultivates the Sword Devouring Art. While his sword techniques are powerful, they lack the true essence of the sword path. As long as you remain calm and use 'Wind Silk Slash' to break his technique's flow, you might have a chance."

Murong Shuang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Alright, then we'll each rely on our own abilities and see who meets Zhao Hao first!"

As the three were speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted from outside the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's mountain gate. Ling Yun walked to the window and saw a group of black-clothed cultivators surrounding a young man in brocade robes as he entered the mountain gate. The young man had a handsome face, but his eyes held a hint of malice. The sword at his waist emitted a faint black aura. It was Zhao Hao, the heir of the Zhao Family. Behind him followed two cultivators with powerful auras, one wielding a large saber, the other holding a flaming staff—clearly experts from Black Wind Stronghold and Blazing Fire Sect.

"Zhao Hao is here, three days earlier than expected," Sword Elder's voice was laced with caution. "The two cultivators behind him are both at the early stage of the Sword Master Realm. They must be here to intimidate people for him. You need to be extra careful before the competition and avoid being ambushed by them."

Ling Yun nodded, his gaze fixed on Zhao Hao. He could clearly sense that amidst Zhao Hao's aura, there was a dense demonic energy, even stronger than the black aura when Zhao Kun cultivated three years ago. He had clearly devoured quite a few Sword Souls, and his strength was likely approaching the peak of the late Great Swordsman Realm.

"I'll go take a look," Su Qingyuan said softly. "I'll disguise myself as an apothecary's apprentice and try to gather information about their movements. I'll also see if I can find out the specific usage of the Soul-Corroding Powder."

Ling Yun was about to stop her when Su Qingyuan turned and grabbed her medicine chest, changed into a gray cloth outfit, and quickly left Flowing Cloud Pavilion. Murong Shuang watched her retreating figure and said, "Don't worry, she learned disguise at Medicine Immortal Valley since she was young, so she won't be discovered. What we need to do now is seize the last few days to improve our strength a bit more."

Ling Yun took a deep breath and returned to the futon, gripping the Sky-Rending Sword again. The intertwined crimson and yellow sword energy lit up once more, and the speed of his sword technique practice increased. The air in the Sword Hut stirred by the sword energy, forming small whirlwinds. He knew that the sect competition three days later would not only be a contest of swordsmanship but also the beginning of a revenge. He had to win, not just for himself, but for his clansmen on Burial Sword Slope, and to protect those around him.

Meanwhile, in the Zhao Family's temporary residence outside the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, Zhao Hao was holding a long sword emitting black energy. Three wisps of pale white Sword Souls were entwined around the blade—they were ones he had devoured from three low-level cultivators just yesterday. A black-clothed demonic cultivator stood behind him, holding a black porcelain bottle. "Young Family Head, this is an upgraded version of 'Soul Corrupting Powder.' It explodes on contact with Sword Intent, instantly polluting the opponent's Sword Soul. Even the Chaos Sword Body will be affected. During the competition, just smear it on your sword, and Ling Yun will surely die without a burial place."

Zhao Hao took the porcelain bottle, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes. "Ling Yun? He's nothing but a stray dog. In the Death Arena three days from now, I will use his Sword Soul to mourn the deceased members of my Zhao Family!"

The demonic cultivator bowed and chuckled, "Young Family Head is wise. After you kill Ling Yun and seize the Chaos Sword Body, the Family Head will surely request merit for you from the Blood Fiend Hall Master. Then you can go to the Spirit Realm and cultivate even more advanced demonic arts!"

Zhao Hao sneered and swung his sword, unleashing a black sword energy that split the wooden table in front of him in two. The demonic energy within the sword energy spread, filling the entire room with a pungent odor—a conspiracy centered around the sect competition was quietly brewing, waiting to erupt fully on the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's arena in three days.