Demon Trail Appears: Black Wind Stockade Master Blocks Killing Game

The voice shouting "Stop!" was hoarse like a broken gong, accompanied by a strong, bloody demonic aura, sweeping in from the front row of the west stands. Everyone looked towards the sound and saw a burly man in dark black combat attire, with a full beard, striding down from the stands. A Ghost-head Saber, covered in barbs, hung from his waist. With every step he took on the bluestone plaza, the ground vibrated with faint black lines – it was the chieftain of Black Wind Village, Zhou Xiong, a demonic cultivator whose cultivation had reached the late stage of the Great Swordsman Realm.

Zhou Xiong walked directly to the edge of the arena. Black demonic energy overflowed from his body, disregarding the restrictions around the arena's perimeter. He forcefully tore open a black rift in the air. He looked up at Ling Yun, his eyes full of ferocity, "Boy, you dare to touch someone from the Zhao Family, are you tired of living?"

Ling Yun's sword tip remained at Zhao Hao's brow, his Chaos Sword Intent condensed but not yet released. The silver-red halo of the Sky-Rending Sword tightly suppressed the demonic energy around Zhao Hao. He looked coldly at Zhou Xiong, his voice calm yet penetrating, "On the life-and-death arena, everyone fights by their own ability. Since when does Black Wind Village concern itself with the rules of the Qingyun Region?"

"Rules?" Zhou Xiong sneered, drawing his Ghost-head Saber halfway. The blade emanated soul-corroding black energy. "In my eyes, anyone who can protect the Zhao Family's people is the rule! If you know what's good for you, release Zhao Hao, then cripple your own dantian, and I might let you die a quick death; otherwise, not a single person from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect will leave here today!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciples from Black Wind Stronghold and the cultivators from Blazing Fire Gate in the west stands rose up. The weapons in their hands glowed with various demonic energies and flames, clearly having been prepared for this. Although the disciples from Flowing Cloud Sword Sect on the east side felt fear, they also drew their swords. Murong Shuang leaped to Ling Yun's side, her Wind Element Sword Intent surging, and a cyan airflow formed a sharp sword shield around her, "Zhou Xiong, you dare to openly disrupt the rules of the grand competition. Aren't you afraid the Seven Great Sword Sects will join forces to encircle and suppress Black Wind Stronghold?"

"Encircle and suppress?" Zhou Xiong burst into laughter, black energy spewing from his mouth. "With just your Flowing Cloud Sword Sect? Plus those neutral elders who only know how to put on a show? Let me tell you, today's events were pre-arranged by me, Black Wind Stronghold, the Zhao Family, and the Blazing Fire Gate. Even if we tear down the heavens, someone will cover for us!"

Just then, the neutral sect elders on the judges' platform could no longer sit still. Elder Bai from the Purple Haze Sword Sect stood up, flicked his whisk, and his pale purple Sword Intent dispersed the demonic energy around him. "Chieftain Zhou, the Qingyun Region's grand competition has rules passed down for a thousand years. The outcome of the life-and-death arena cannot be interfered with. If you forcefully intervene, you will be an enemy to the righteous path of the entire Qingyun Region!"

"Righteous path?" Zhou Xiong turned to Elder Bai, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "A bunch of trash guarding broken sword manuals, and you dare talk about the righteous path? Today, I will break this situation!" He suddenly raised his hand, and a black palm print of demonic energy shot towards Elder Bai. Wherever the palm print passed, the air crackled and corroded.

Elder Bai's expression changed. He swung his whisk, and his purple Sword Intent condensed into a sword net, but it was instantly pierced by the demonic palm print. Just as the palm print was about to hit Elder Bai's chest, a golden sword energy suddenly attacked from the side, shattering the demonic palm print with a "clang" – it was Elder Liu who had intervened.

Elder Liu held his long sword and flew to the front of the judges' platform. His cyan Sword Intent intertwined with Elder Bai's purple Sword Intent, forming a double-layered sword shield. "Zhou Xiong, you dare to attack a neutral elder. Do you really think no one can deal with you?"

Seeing his sneak attack fail, Zhou Xiong's expression grew even more grim. He turned to look at Ling Yun on the stage, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. He suddenly pulled out a black token from his怀. The token was engraved with a distorted character for "煞" (Sha), it was the identity token of the Blood Fiend Hall. He raised the token above his head, his voice suddenly rising, "The Blood Fiend Hall token is here! Whoever dares to stop me will be an enemy of the Blood Fiend Hall!"

The plaza instantly fell into dead silence. The name Blood Fiend Hall was like a taboo in the mortal world's Qingyun Region. Legend had it that it was a demonic cultivation force from the Spirit Realm, leaving behind fields of corpses of sword cultivators wherever it went. The expressions of several neutral elders changed drastically, their hands holding weapons began to tremble slightly, clearly intimidated by the prestige of the Blood Fiend Hall.

Seeing this, a trace of triumph flashed in Zhao Hao's eyes. He struggled to get up, but was firmly suppressed by Ling Yun's sword intent. "Ling Yun, did you see? My Zhao Family has the backing of the Blood Fiend Hall. If you kneel and beg for mercy now, I can ask Chieftain Zhou to spare your life!"

Ling Yun looked at the Blood Fiend Hall token in Zhou Xiong's hand, and the Chaos Sword Body within his dantian trembled slightly – the demonic energy on this token was exactly the same as the demonic energy left behind in the Ling Family's ancestral home during the massacre all those years ago! A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he tightened his grip on the Sky-Rending Sword. "So, the Blood Fiend Hall was also involved in the massacre of the Ling Family."

"What did you say?" Zhou Xiong's expression changed slightly, seemingly surprised that Ling Yun knew about this.

Just then, Su Qingyuan suddenly took out a bronze token from her bosom, quickly walked to the center of the plaza, and raised the token high. "This is a token I found in the ruins of the Ling Family ancestral home three years ago. The demonic energy on it is exactly the same as the Blood Fiend Hall token in Zhou Xiong's hand! The Zhao Family and Black Wind Village colluded with the Blood Fiend Hall to harm righteous sword cultivators. If Ling Yun is not given justice today, Medicine Immortal Valley will be the first to object!"

The character "Zhao" and the distorted character "Sha" engraved on the bronze token overlapped, glaring under the sunlight. The cultivators in the plaza immediately erupted into chaos. The onlookers, who had been neutral, began to condemn the Zhao Family and Black Wind Village. Even the disciples of the Blazing Fire Gate began to show hesitation – although they had cooperated with the Zhao Family, they were unaware of the Blood Fiend Hall's involvement.

Seeing that the situation was unfavorable and knowing that any further delay would lead to more trouble, Zhou Xiong suddenly leaped up, his Ghost-head Saber slashing towards Ling Yun with a sky full of black energy. "Boy, you don't know what's good for you! Today, I'll kill you first!"

Ling Yun was already prepared. He formed a sword seal with his left hand, and Earth Element Sword Intent instantly condensed into a sword wall about ten feet high in front of him. At the same time, he swept his Sky-Rending Sword with his right hand, and the "Five Elements Demon Breaking Slash" formed by multicolored Sword Intent erupted again. The sword shadow, carrying a pale green halo that purified demonic energy, met Zhou Xiong's Ghost-head Saber.

"Clang—!" The moment the sword and saber collided, golden sparks and black demonic energy splashed everywhere. Zhou Xiong felt an immense force transmitted from the saber, and the Chaos Sword Intent infiltrated his meridians through the saber, causing the demonic energy within his body to churn uncontrollably. His expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected Ling Yun's strength to be able to contend with him head-on. He quickly retreated, his Ghost-head Saber already covered in fine cracks.

"Go!" Zhou Xiong knew he couldn't succeed today. He grabbed Zhao Hao on the stage and turned to flee out of the plaza. Black demonic energy condensed into a barrier behind him, blocking the pursuit of Ling Yun and Murong Shuang.

Ling Yun did not pursue further. He put away his Sky-Rending Sword and looked in the direction Zhou Xiong and Zhao Hao had fled, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. The Blood Fiend Hall token in Zhou Xiong's hand just now, and the bronze token Su Qingyuan had found, both confirmed that the Ling Family's massacre was inextricably linked to the Blood Fiend Hall – this was no longer a simple act of revenge, but a contest between the righteous path and demonic cultivators.

Elder Liu walked to Ling Yun's side, looking at the residual demonic energy on the ground, his expression solemn. "I didn't expect the Zhao Family to collude with the Blood Fiend Hall. This matter will likely have to be reported to the Seven Great Sword Sects for joint deliberation on countermeasures."

Su Qingyuan walked up to Ling Yun and handed him a bottle of Soul Protecting Liquid. "When you fought Zhou Xiong just now, a wisp of demonic energy entered your meridians. Drink this quickly to dispel it."

Ling Yun took the porcelain bottle and tilted his head to drink. The Chaos Sea within his dantian instantly swallowed and purified the wisp of demonic energy. He looked at Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang, then at the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciples on the east stands with worried expressions, and slowly said, "The Zhao Family and Black Wind Village will not give up easily, and the demonic cultivators of the Blood Fiend Hall have already appeared in the Qingyun Region. Next, we must improve our strength as quickly as possible to deal with the upcoming crisis."

Murong Shuang nodded, a resolute look flashing in her eyes. "I will return to the sect immediately and request the elders to open the high-level sword scripture repository in the Scripture Depository. We will cultivate together, and we will definitely break through our realms sooner."

Su Qingyuan also said, "I will return to Medicine Immortal Valley to get more Soul Awakening Grass and Soul Protecting Liquid, and then refine some pills that can counter demonic energy to prepare for the upcoming battle."

Ling Yun looked at the two, a warmth surging in his heart. He clenched the Sky-Rending Sword in his hand, and the silver-red patterns on the sword body glowed faintly, as if echoing his resolve. The truth behind the Ling Family's massacre had begun to emerge, and the traces of the Blood Fiend Hall's demonic presence had also appeared. The road ahead might be even more difficult, but he was no longer alone – with close friends by his side and the path of the sword as his guide, even if surrounded by demonic obstacles, he would undoubtedly use his Chaos Sword Intent to carve a path towards truth and justice.

That evening, in a secret chamber of the Flowing Cloud Pavilion, Ling Yun entered closed-door cultivation once more. He introduced the wisp of demonic energy he had absorbed during his fight with Zhou Xiong into his dantian and meticulously analyzed it with his Chaos Sword Body. To his surprise, he glimpsed a deeper flaw in the Sword Devouring Art. The Sky-Rending Sword hovered before him, its blade occasionally flashing with multicolored halos, as if it were jointly deducing new sword moves with him – a preparation against demonic cultivators had quietly begun.