The Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's Sect Grand Competition finally opened beneath the gaze of countless spectators.
The morning sun had barely flooded the sect plaza when the three-tiered bluestone stands were already packed. Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciples occupied the eastern stands, while guests from the Zhao Family, Black Wind Stronghold, and Blazing Fire Gate sat to the west. The judges' seats stood atop a raised platform directly north of the plaza. Elder Liu sat in the center with two other sect elders, while on either side sat the Zhao Family's "special guests": a beardless black-robed cultivator and an old man holding a bone staff. Faint demonic aura lingered around both of them, and when their gazes swept across the plaza, they carried a chill of scrutiny.
"Ling Yun, be careful of those two 'guests.' They have Soul Corrupting Powder hidden in their bone staff and sleeves. I saw them hand Zhao Hao a black porcelain vial just now." Su Qingyuan's voice came from the edge of the stands. Disguised as an attendant from Medicine Immortal Valley, she carried a medicine case in her hand, but her eyes remained fixed on the judges' platform. "And Zhao Hao's sword has a layer of pale black powder on its blade. It must be an upgraded version of Soul-Corroding Powder."
Ling Yun nodded slightly, quietly tightening his fingers around the porcelain vial containing Soul Cleansing Dew. He stood among the competing disciples on the southern side of the plaza, the Sky-Rending Sword slung diagonally at his waist. The silver-red sword patterns on its blade were concealed by its cloth sheath, yet he could still feel its faint tremors—it was the sword spirit's instinctive vigilance toward demonic aura.
"The first round of the Sect Grand Competition will be decided by drawing lots. Winners advance!" Elder Liu's voice echoed across the plaza. The sect token in his hand shone with golden light as ten numbered wooden lots flew from it and hovered before the competing disciples. "Each disciple, come forward and take a lot. The matches will begin in half an hour!"
Ling Yun stepped forward and casually took a wooden lot. The character "seven" was carved upon it. He looked up at Zhao Hao across from him. The other man had just finished drawing as well, with the character "one" carved on his lot. Their gazes collided in midair. Zhao Hao's lips curled into a sinister smile, and the black longsword in his hand trembled faintly. The pale black powder on its blade glimmered—it was a provocation aimed at Ling Yun.
"First match of the first round: Zhao Hao versus Lin Hao!" As Elder Liu's voice fell, Zhao Hao carried his sword and slowly stepped onto the bluestone arena in the center of the plaza. His opponent, Lin Hao, was an inner disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect at the early Great Swordsman Realm. The hand gripping his sword trembled slightly; clearly, Zhao Hao's aura had intimidated him.
"Begin!" At the referee's command, Lin Hao attacked first. His sword technique was steady and conventional: Flowing Cloud Chasing Moon from the Seven Streams Sword Technique. He attempted to use speed to avoid Zhao Hao's edge. Yet Zhao Hao remained still. Only when the sword strike drew near did he slowly raise his black longsword. Dense black aura abruptly surged across its blade—Sword Devouring Art's Soul Devouring Sword!
"Bzzzt—" The black-aura-wreathed blade easily cleaved apart Lin Hao's sword technique and stabbed straight toward his chest. Lin Hao hastily raised his sword to block, but the black aura coiled around the blade. He felt the sword intent within his dantian suddenly fall into chaos, as though countless tiny worms were gnawing at his Sword Soul. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
"I concede! I concede!" Lin Hao's face turned deathly pale. He turned to flee, only for Zhao Hao to seize him by the back of the neck. Zhao Hao sneered as black aura rose from his longsword once more. The blade swept past Lin Hao's dantian, and a pale white Sword Soul was forcibly drawn from Lin Hao's body and absorbed into Zhao Hao's sword—this was the core of the Sword Devouring Art, devouring Sword Souls to strengthen oneself!
"Stop!" An elder in the eastern stands roared. "The competition is supposed to stop at the proper point. How dare you devour a fellow disciple's Sword Soul!"
But Zhao Hao turned a deaf ear. After absorbing the Sword Soul, he casually threw Lin Hao off the arena and cupped his fists toward the judges' platform. "Lin Hao voluntarily conceded. I win this match." The black-robed cultivator on the judges' platform immediately chimed in, "Young Master Zhao is exceptionally powerful. This match is ruled in Zhao Hao's favor!" Elder Liu's face turned ashen, but due to their previous agreement, he could only swallow his fury and announce the result.
An uproar swept through the plaza. The Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciples' eyes burned with rage, yet they dared to be angry but not speak it aloud—the Zhao Family had joined forces with Black Wind Stronghold and Blazing Fire Gate, and this was not the time for the sect to tear all ties apart with them.
"Seventh match: Ling Yun versus Wu Lei!" At last, it was Ling Yun's turn. Carrying the Sky-Rending Sword, he slowly walked onto the arena. His opponent, Wu Lei, was one of the finest outer disciples, also at the early Great Swordsman Realm. Though his grip on his sword tightened, he did not retreat. He cupped his fists to Ling Yun. "Please instruct me!"
"Begin!" As the referee's voice fell, Wu Lei immediately attacked. His sword move was fierce: an advanced version of the outer disciples' required Basic Sword Art, Mountain Splitting Slash. Its momentum carried a fierce and forceful might. Ling Yun, however, remained utterly unhurried. He activated the Chaos Sword Body, and a faint six-colored radiance emerged around him. The Sky-Rending Sword left its sheath as Gold Element Sword Intent flowed into the blade, blocking Wu Lei's strike with a clang.
"Your sword technique is steady, but the transitions in your sword intent are too slow," Ling Yun said softly. With a slight turn of his wrist, the Sky-Rending Sword gathered Wind Element Sword Intent. His body drifted backward three feet like willow catkins, evading Wu Lei's follow-up attack. At the same time, he gathered a wisp of Fire-Attribute Sword Intent at his fingertips and flicked it lightly. A crimson spark landed on Wu Lei's sword, instantly dissolving the force behind his technique—this was a technique he had learned from Su Qingyuan's Notes on Guiding Sword Intent, using minute sword intent to break an enemy's move.
Wu Lei's pupils contracted. He had not expected Ling Yun to dissolve his attack so effortlessly. He drew a deep breath and swung his sword again, his attacks becoming even swifter and fiercer, yet Ling Yun neutralized every one of them. After more than a hundred exchanges, over half of Wu Lei's sword intent had been depleted. His breathing grew ragged, and even the sword in his hand began to tremble.
"It is time to end this," Ling Yun said softly. The Sky-Rending Sword suddenly gathered Fire and Earth sword intent, its blade glowing with intertwined scarlet and yellow light. Fire-Earth Demon Suppressing Slash came down in one sweeping stroke. The sword move carried scorching currents of air, yet held no intent to injure. It merely passed alongside Wu Lei's blade, jolting his sword from his grasp.
"I lost." Wu Lei looked at the sword on the ground and gave a bitter smile as he cupped his fists. "Senior Brother Ling Yun is too strong. I concede wholeheartedly."
Ling Yun sheathed the Sky-Rending Sword, nodded to Wu Lei, and turned to leave the arena. Su Qingyuan, seated in the eastern stands, let out a breath of relief. Murong Shuang also nodded at him, her eyes full of approval—the Fire-Earth Demon Suppressing Slash had displayed his strength while still showing mercy. He had won the match, and he had won hearts as well.
The first round soon ended. Sixteen disciples advanced, 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 vial. "This contains concentrated Soul Cleansing Dew. If you encounter Zhao Hao later, apply it to your sword beforehand. It can neutralize the poison of the Soul-Corroding Powder. Also, I saw that black-robed cultivator give identical black porcelain vials to the Zhao Family disciples. They must be planning to gang up on you in the later matches."
Ling Yun accepted the jade vial, warmth rising in his heart. "Thank you. I will be careful."
"First match of the second round: Murong Shuang versus Zhao Feng!" Elder Liu's voice rang out again. Murong Shuang carried the Green Peak Sword and stepped onto the arena. Her opponent, Zhao Feng, was a Zhao Family disciple at the middle Great Swordsman Realm. Black aura seeped from the hand gripping his sword; he had clearly cultivated the foundational moves of the Sword Devouring Art as well.
"Begin!" At the referee's command, Zhao Feng attacked first. His sword technique was sinister and vicious, stabbing directly at Murong Shuang's openings. But Murong Shuang had already activated her Wind Spirit Physique, and a faint cyan radiance glowed around her. The Green Peak Sword drew an arc through the air, and Wind Silk Slash, thin as a strand of hair, struck directly at the transition in Zhao Feng's sword technique. Her attacks were even faster than before. As wind blades interwove, they formed an impenetrable net of swords that trapped Zhao Feng within.
"Impossible! How can your sword intent be this strong?" Zhao Feng's expression changed drastically. Black aura suddenly rose from his sword as he tried to use the Sword Devouring Art to devour Murong Shuang's sword intent. But Murong Shuang had long been prepared. Her Wind Element Sword Intent surged, forming a Wind Barrier around her that blocked the black aura. At the same time, the Green Peak Sword drew another arc, and Flowing Cloud Weaving Net completely locked down Zhao Feng's sword.
"Concede. You are no match for me." Murong Shuang's voice was cool and clear. Her blade rested against Zhao Feng's throat; if it advanced even an inch further, it could take his life. Zhao Feng's face turned pale, and his sword fell to the ground with a clang. Through gritted teeth, he said, "I concede!"
Murong Shuang put away her sword, turned, and walked off the arena. She nodded at Ling Yun—she had proven with her strength that the Zhao Family's disciples were not invincible.
In the next several matches, the Zhao Family disciples won one after another. Their methods were identical to Zhao Hao's, all using the Sword Devouring Art to devour their opponents' Sword Souls. Yet the black-robed cultivator and the bone-staff elder on the judges' platform continued to favor them. One Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciple had clearly held the upper hand, yet was ruled "in violation" and stripped of the right to advance.
"Final match of the second round: Ling Yun versus Zhao Hu!" At last, it was Ling Yun's turn again. His opponent, Zhao Hu, was a core Zhao Family disciple at the late Great Swordsman Realm. Dense black aura seeped from the hand holding his sword, and the pale black powder on its blade was thicker than Zhao Hao's—he had clearly been specially assigned to deal with Ling Yun.
Zhao Hu stepped onto the arena and gave Ling Yun a sinister smile. "Ling Yun, you killed disciples of my Zhao Family. Today, I will use your Sword Soul to honor their memory!"
Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword tightly, secretly applying Soul Cleansing Dew to its blade with his fingertips. The six-colored sword intent pearl within his dantian spun at high speed, while the Chaos Sword Body operated at full force—he knew that this match was not merely a fight to advance, but the first head-on clash against the Zhao Family's scheme.
"Begin!" As the referee's voice fell, Zhao Hu immediately attacked. The black aura on his sword surged explosively as Sword Devouring Art's Soul Devouring Storm swept forward. Countless tiny sword shadows mingled within the black aura as it bore straight toward Ling Yun's face.
A sharp light flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. Activating Clear Sword Heart, he instantly saw through the flaw within the black aura. The Sky-Rending Sword gathered Gold, Fire, and Earth sword intent, its blade shining with gold, scarlet, and yellow radiance. Primordial Toxin-Dispelling Slash came down in one fluid stroke, carrying scorching air currents and a heavy Earth Attribute barrier as it smashed straight through the core of the Soul Devouring Storm—he would show everyone that the Sword Devouring Art was not invincible!
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