The Grand Competition Begins: Sword Shadows and Demonic Lights Clash

The sect competition of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect finally commenced amidst widespread anticipation.

As the early morning sunbeams graced the sect's plaza, the three-tiered stone grandstand was already packed. Disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect occupied the east side, while the west was filled with guests from the Zhao Family, Black Wind Stronghold, and Blazing Fire Gate. The judges' seats were set up on a high platform to the north of the plaza, with Elder Liu and two other sect elders presiding. Flanking them were two "special invited guests" from the Zhao Family: a pale, beardless cultivator in black, and an elder holding a bone staff. Both were enveloped in faint demonic energy, their gazes sweeping across the plaza with a scrutinizing coldness.

"Ling Yun, be careful of those two 'guests'. Their bone staff and sleeves conceal Soul-Corroding Powder. I just saw them hand Zhao Hao a black porcelain bottle," Su Qingyuan's voice came from the edge of the grandstand. Disguised as an attendant from the Medicine Immortal Valley, she carried a medicine box, her eyes fixed on the judges' platform. "And Zhao Hao's sword – the blade is coated with a layer of dark powder. It must be an upgraded version of the Soul-Corroding Powder."

Ling Yun nodded slightly, his fingertips subtly tightening around the porcelain bottle containing Soul Cleansing Dew. He stood among the participating disciples in the southern section of the plaza, the Sky-Rending Sword slung across his waist. The silver-red sword patterns on its scabbarded body still emanated a faint tremor – the sword spirit's instinctive wariness of demonic energy.

"The first round of the sect competition is a draw-based duel. Winners advance!" Elder Liu's voice boomed across the plaza. The sect token in his hand glowed golden, and ten wooden slips inscribed with numbers flew out, hovering before the participating disciples. "All disciples, step forward and draw your slips. The matches will begin in half an hour!"

Ling Yun stepped forward and casually picked up a wooden slip, which bore the character "Seven." He looked up at Zhao Hao on the opposite side, who had just finished drawing his own slip, marked with "One." Their eyes met across the plaza. Zhao Hao's lips curled into a sinister grin, and the black longsword in his hand trembled slightly, the dark powder on its blade shimmering – a clear provocation to Ling Yun.

"First round, first match, Zhao Hao versus Lin Hao!" Elder Liu announced. Zhao Hao, sword in hand, strode onto the central stone arena. His opponent, Lin Hao, was an inner disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, his strength at the early stage of the Great Swordsman Realm. The hand holding his sword trembled slightly, clearly intimidated by Zhao Hao's imposing aura.

"Begin!" the referee's voice commanded. Lin Hao struck first, his sword technique straightforward, a move from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's "Seven Streams Sword Technique" called "Flowing Cloud Chasing Moon," attempting to use speed to evade Zhao Hao's sharp edge. But Zhao Hao remained still. As the incoming strike neared, he slowly raised his black longsword, which suddenly erupted with dense black energy – the "Soul Devouring Sword" from the "Sword Devouring Art"!

"Buzz—" The black energy-entwined blade easily cleaved through Lin Hao's sword strike and lunged towards his chest. Lin Hao hastily parried, but the black energy clung to his sword. He felt the Sword Intent in his dantian suddenly become chaotic, as if countless tiny insects were gnawing at his Sword Soul. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his sword clattering to the ground.

"I forfeit! I forfeit!" Lin Hao's face turned ashen, and he turned to flee, only to be grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Zhao Hao. Zhao Hao sneered, and black energy surged from his black longsword again. The blade grazed Lin Hao's dantian, and a pale white Sword Soul was forcibly extracted from Lin Hao's body, merging into Zhao Hao's sword – this was the core of the "Sword Devouring Art," devouring Sword Souls to strengthen oneself!

"Stop!" an elder from the east grandstand roared. "The competition is supposed to be a test of skill, not a duel to the death! How can you devour a fellow disciple's Sword Soul!"

But Zhao Hao ignored him. After absorbing the Sword Soul, he casually tossed Lin Hao off the stage and cupped his fists towards the judges' platform. "Lin Hao voluntarily forfeited. I win this match." The black-clothed cultivator at the judges' table immediately chimed in, "Young Master Zhao's strength is formidable. This match is ruled in Zhao Hao's favor!" Elder Liu's face turned ashen, but due to prior agreements, he could only suppress his anger and announce the result.

A commotion erupted in the plaza. The disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's eyes were filled with anger, yet they dared not speak out – the Zhao Family had allied with the Black Wind Stronghold and the Blazing Fire Gate. The sect could not afford to fall out with them at this moment.

"Seventh match, Ling Yun versus Wu Lei!" Finally, it was Ling Yun's turn. He walked onto the stage, Sky-Rending Sword in hand. His opponent, Wu Lei, was a top disciple among the outer sect, his strength at the early stage of the Great Swordsman Realm. Though his grip on his sword was tight, he did not flinch, cupping his fists towards Ling Yun. "Please guide me!"

"Begin!" As the referee's voice fell, Wu Lei struck immediately, his sword technique fierce. It was an advanced version of the "Mountain Splitting Slash" from the outer disciples' required curriculum, "Basic Sword Art," his Sword Intent carrying a hint of raw power. Ling Yun, however, remained unhurried. He activated his Chaos Sword Body, a faint six-colored halo emanating from him. Sky-Rending Sword was unsheathed, its Gold Element Sword Intent infused into the blade. With a "clang," he blocked Wu Lei's strike.

"Your sword technique is steady, but your Sword Intent transitions are too slow," Ling Yun said softly. His wrist flicked slightly, and Sky-Rending Sword gathered Wind Element Sword Intent. He drifted back three feet like a willow catkin, evading Wu Lei's follow-up attacks. Simultaneously, he condensed a wisp of Fire Attribute Sword Intent at his fingertips and flicked it. A crimson fire point landed on Wu Lei's sword, instantly neutralizing the force of his attack – a technique learned from Su Qingyuan's "Notes on Guiding Sword Intent," using subtle Sword Intent to break an opponent's move.

Wu Lei's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected Ling Yun to neutralize his sword technique so effortlessly. He took a deep breath and swung his sword again, his attacks becoming even more rapid, yet Ling Yun deflected them all. After over a hundred exchanges, Wu Lei's Sword Intent was largely depleted, his breathing grew ragged, and his sword began to tremble.

"It's time to end this," Ling Yun said softly. Sky-Rending Sword suddenly gathered Fire and Earth Element Sword Intent, its blade glowing with a crisscrossing red and yellow light. The "Fire-Earth Demon Suppressing Slash" was unleashed. The sword strike carried scorching airflow but no killing intent, merely skimming past Wu Lei's sword and knocking it out of his hand.

"I lose." Wu Lei looked at his sword on the ground, chuckled wryly, and cupped his fists. "Senior Brother Ling Yun's strength is too great. I am convinced."

Ling Yun sheathed Sky-Rending Sword, nodded at Wu Lei, and turned to walk off the stage. On the east grandstand, Su Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Murong Shuang also nodded at him, her eyes full of approval – the "Fire-Earth Demon Suppressing Slash" just now had demonstrated strength while showing mercy, winning both the match and the hearts of the onlookers.

The first round of matches concluded quickly, with sixteen disciples advancing, including Ling Yun, Zhao Hao, Murong Shuang, and three disciples sent by the Zhao Family. During the break, Su Qingyuan quietly approached Ling Yun and handed him a small jade bottle. "This contains concentrated Soul Cleansing Dew. If you encounter Zhao Hao later, apply it to your sword beforehand; it can neutralize the toxicity of the Soul-Corroding Powder. Also, I saw that black-clothed cultivator hand the same black porcelain bottle to the Zhao Family disciples. They are definitely planning to gang up on you in the later rounds."

Ling Yun took the jade bottle, a warmth spreading through his heart. "Thank you. I'll be careful."

"Second round, first match, Murong Shuang versus Zhao Feng!" Elder Liu's voice rang out again. Murong Shuang, Green Peak Sword in hand, walked onto the stage. Her opponent, Zhao Feng, was a disciple of the Zhao Family, his strength at the mid-stage of the Great Swordsman Realm. The hand holding his sword radiated black energy, indicating he had also cultivated the basic moves of the "Sword Devouring Art."

"Begin!" As the referee's voice fell, Zhao Feng struck first, his sword technique vicious, aiming directly at Murong Shuang's weaknesses. But Murong Shuang's Wind Spirit Physique was already active, a faint cyan halo surrounding her. Green Peak Sword drew an arc, the "Wind Silk Slash" as fine as a hair, directly breaking through Zhao Feng's sword technique linkage. Her sword moves were faster than before, and the interweaving wind blades formed an impenetrable sword net, trapping Zhao Feng within.

"Impossible! How can your Sword Intent be so strong!" Zhao Feng's face changed drastically. The sword in his hand suddenly pulsed with black energy as he attempted to use the "Sword Devouring Art" to devour Murong Shuang's Sword Intent. But Murong Shuang was prepared. Her Wind Element Sword Intent surged, forming a "Wind Barrier" around her, blocking the black energy. Simultaneously, Green Peak Sword drew another arc, the "Flowing Cloud Weaving Net" completely locking Zhao Feng's sword.

"Surrender. You are no match for me," Murong Shuang's voice was clear and cold. The sword's edge rested against Zhao Feng's throat; a slight advance would end his life. Zhao Feng's face turned ashen, his sword clattering to the ground. He gritted his teeth and said, "I surrender!"

Murong Shuang retracted her sword, turned, and walked off the stage, nodding at Ling Yun – she had proven with her strength that the Zhao Family disciples were not invincible.

In the subsequent matches, Zhao Family disciples won consecutively, employing methods similar to Zhao Hao's – using the "Sword Devouring Art" to devour their opponents' Sword Souls. The black-clothed cultivator and the elder with the bone staff at the judges' table consistently favored them. Even a Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciple who clearly had the upper hand was ruled "disqualified" and lost his chance to advance.

"Second round, final match, Ling Yun versus Zhao Hu!" Finally, it was Ling Yun's turn. His opponent, Zhao Hu, was a core disciple of the Zhao Family, his strength at the late stage of the Great Swordsman Realm. The hand holding his sword radiated dense black energy, and the dark powder on the blade was thicker than Zhao Hao's – clearly, he had been specifically arranged to deal with Ling Yun.

Zhao Hu strode onto the stage, sneering at Ling Yun. "Ling Yun, you killed our Zhao Family disciples. Today, I will use your Sword Soul to mourn them!"

Ling Yun tightened his grip on Sky-Rending Sword, his fingertips subtly smearing Soul Cleansing Dew onto the blade. The six-colored Sword Intent bead in his dantian spun rapidly, and his Chaos Sword Body operated at full capacity – he knew this match was not just a contest for advancement, but the first direct confrontation with the Zhao Family's conspiracy.

"Begin!" The referee's voice fell, and Zhao Hu struck immediately. The black energy on his sword surged, and the "Soul Devouring Storm" from the "Sword Devouring Art" swept towards him. The black energy was interspersed with countless tiny sword shadows, rushing directly at Ling Yun's face.

Ling Yun's eyes flashed with sharp light. He activated his Clear Sword Heart, instantly discerning the flaws within the black energy. Sky-Rending Sword gathered Gold, Fire, and Earth Element Sword Intent, its blade radiating a three-colored glow of gold, crimson, and yellow. The "Primordial Toxin-Dispelling Slash" was unleashed. The sword strike carried scorching airflow and a heavy Earth Attribute barrier, directly piercing the core of the Soul Devouring Storm – he wanted to show everyone that the "Sword Devouring Art" was not invincible!