Wood Spirit Trial, Sword Manual Unsealed, Encountering Crisis

The candlelight in the secret chamber of Flowing Cloud Pavilion had burned down to the third stick, causing the oil in the bronze lamp to ripple—this was an anomaly triggered by the fluctuations of Ling Yun's surrounding Sword Intent. He sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, a wisp of faint black demonic energy swirling around his fingertips. It was demonic essence he had intercepted from Zhou Xiong's palm strike yesterday, and it was now being slowly decomposed by his Chaos Sword Body, transforming into strands of energy that merged into the six-colored Sword Intent Pearl within his dantian.

"The core of the Sword Devouring Art is to forcefully absorb Sword Souls using demonic energy and then convert the Sword Souls into demonic essence, but this conversion has a fatal flaw," Elder Sword's voice echoed in his dantian. A phantom sword shadow drew an arc within his sea of qi. "Look at the flow of this demonic energy; every three cycles, there's a moment of stagnation. This is because the righteous power of the Sword Soul is counteracting the demonic energy, but it's being forcibly suppressed by Blood Fiend Hall's secret technique."

Ling Yun followed Elder Sword's guidance and looked inward. Indeed, he saw a faint white light flash and disappear as the demonic energy circulated—the trace of the Sword Soul's residual power. His heart stirred, and he injected Earth Element Sword Intent into the demonic energy, attempting to amplify this stagnation. "If I attack this point of stagnation during combat, can I make the demonic essence backfire on its owner?"

"Precisely," Elder Sword's voice carried a hint of praise. "Your previous 'Five Elements Demon Breaking Slash' focused on purification. Now, you can incorporate the characteristic of 'demon devouring'—temporarily store the demonic energy with your Chaos Sword Body, then use the Earth Element Sword Intent's heaviness to trap it, and finally use the dual sword intents of Metal and Fire to detonate the stagnation point, causing the demonic energy to devour itself. This move can be named 'Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash,' specifically designed to counter demonic cultivators who practice the Sword Devouring Art."

Ling Yun immediately followed suit. The six-colored Sword Intent Pearl spun simultaneously, and the faint black demonic energy was enveloped by the chaotic sea of qi. Earth Element Sword Intent formed a cage, while the Metal and Fire dual sword intents wove a net within it. As he condensed the new sword move onto the tip of the Sky-Rending Sword, the silver-red patterns on the blade suddenly lit up. It unexpectedly absorbed the residual demonic energy in the secret chamber, and a faint black and gold halo appeared on the blade—this was the Sky-Rending Sword's "demon devouring" characteristic, displayed for the first time after absorbing demonic essence.

"The Sky-Rending Sword was originally forged by an ancient Sword Venerable to fight against demonic cultivators. Now that it has absorbed demonic essence, it has awakened its origin power," Elder Sword's voice was filled with emotion. "However, the demonic energy in the mortal realm is too thin. If you want it to fully awaken, you will need the Sword Soul origin of the Spirit Realm."

Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, his longing for the Spirit Realm growing even stronger—not only to uncover the truth behind his family's annihilation but also to restore the Sky-Rending Sword to its true power. Just as he was about to continue deducing sword moves, a faint tremor suddenly came from his dantian. It was a connection to Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body—three years ago, when they went through hardship together on Burial Sword Slope, they had inadvertently planted a spiritual connection mark, and this mark was now issuing a warning.

"Qingyuan is in trouble!" Ling Yun's eyes snapped open, and he quickly got up, rushing out of the secret chamber.

Meanwhile, at Medicine Immortal Valley, Su Qingyuan stood at the entrance of the "Spiritual Grass Secret Realm" with a grave expression. After returning to the valley, she had explained the situation to the Valley Master and requested access to the "Thousand-Year Soul Awakening Grass" within the secret realm. However, she was blocked by the valley elders. Medicine Immortal Valley had always maintained neutrality, and the elders, fearing they would offend Blood Fiend Hall, only allowed her to obtain ordinary Soul Awakening Grass through the "Wood Spirit Trial," refusing to provide the thousand-year spiritual medicine.

"Qingyuan, it's not that the elders are heartless," Valley Master Su Muyan sighed, waving her whisk. The vines at the secret realm entrance glowed green. "Blood Fiend Hall's influence has already infiltrated the mortal realm. If we openly support Ling Yun, Medicine Immortal Valley could face annihilation. Although this Wood Spirit Trial is difficult, as long as you can awaken the Wood Spirit origin within the secret realm, you can obtain three Hundred-Year Soul Awakening Grasses, which is better than nothing."

Su Qingyuan bit her lip. She understood the Valley Master's concerns but was even more aware of the crisis Ling Yun was facing—the protective effect of Hundred-Year Soul Awakening Grass was far from enough to counter the soul-corroding demonic energy of Blood Fiend Hall. However, she did not argue. She merely tightened her grip on the medicine hoe at her waist. "Disciple understands. I will definitely pass the trial."

The Spiritual Grass Secret Realm was filled with poisonous vines that actively attacked, and the air was permeated with miasma that numbed the senses. Su Qingyuan activated her Wood Spirit Body, and a faint green spiritual light emanated from her. Under the glow, the poisonous vines slowly retreated—the Wood Spirit Body naturally communicated with plants, giving her a unique advantage. She ventured deep into the secret realm and soon found the valley where the Soul Awakening Grass grew. Just as she bent down to pick it, a black blade energy suddenly attacked from the other side of the valley, heading straight for her back.

"Miss Su, hand over the Soul Awakening Grass obediently, and you won't have to suffer any physical pain!" Hei San, Zhou Xiong's subordinate, emerged with a Ghost-head Saber, followed by over ten disciples from Black Wind Village. "Young Master Zhao ordered that you must not give the spiritual medicine to that brat Ling Yun."

Su Qingyuan turned, her Wood Spirit Body's spiritual light surging. The vines in the valley instantly wrapped around Hei San's ankles. "You dare trespass into Medicine Immortal Valley's secret realm. Aren't you afraid the Valley Master will hold you accountable?"

"Accountable?" Hei San sneered, his blade energy severing the vines. "After we kill you, we'll disguise this as a trial accident. What can Medicine Immortal Valley do to us then? Attack!"

The Black Wind Village disciples unleashed their demonic energy, and the miasma became even more potent under its catalysis. Although Su Qingyuan could control plants, she was not skilled in close combat. She was quickly forced to the edge of the valley, her arm grazed by demonic energy, oozing black blood. Gritting her teeth, she took out a detoxification pill and was about to burn her Wood Spirit origin to fight to the death when a sword energy, a blend of gold and black, suddenly pierced through the air, splitting Hei San's blade energy in two.

"Who dares touch her!" Ling Yun's figure landed in front of Su Qingyuan, the black and gold halo on his Sky-Rending Sword flaring. "Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash!"

The five-colored sword intent, carrying the absorbed demonic energy, formed a massive sword shadow. The demonic energy of the Black Wind Village disciples was instantly absorbed the moment it touched the sword shadow. Hei San's expression changed drastically, and he turned to flee, but the sword shadow caught up to him, shattering the demonic essence within his dantian. He spat black blood and fell to the ground. The remaining Black Wind Village disciples, terrified, scattered and fled. However, Murong Shuang, who had arrived shortly after, trapped them with her Wind Element Sword Intent. She had sensed Ling Yun's abnormal aura when the Sword Manual Library of Flowing Cloud Sword Sect was opened and had rushed over immediately.

"Are you alright?" Ling Yun helped Su Qingyuan, seeing the black blood on her arm. He immediately took out a bottle of Soul Protecting Liquid from his embrace. "Drink this quickly; it can dissolve demonic energy."

Su Qingyuan took the porcelain bottle, her eyes filled with worry. "The Zhao Family dares to trespass even Medicine Immortal Valley. They definitely won't stop here."

Murong Shuang walked over to them, holding a yellowed sword manual. "I found the complete version of Flowing Cloud Demon Breaking Style in the high-level sword manual library. It contains sword moves that counter demonic energy. Also, Elder Liu sent word that the Qingyun Region Inter-Sect Sword Convention will be held next month. The Zhao Family has already joined forces with Blazing Fire Gate and plans to make a move against you at the convention."

Ling Yun looked at the two of them, then at the black and gold halo on the Sky-Rending Sword. He had made up his mind. He carefully put away the Soul Awakening Grass Su Qingyuan had picked and said with a firm voice, "The sword convention is precisely an opportunity. I will expose the truth of the Zhao Family's collusion with Blood Fiend Hall in front of all the sects, to avenge the Ling Family and all Sword Cultivators who were harmed by demonic cultivators."

Elder Sword's voice echoed in his dantian. "The Inter-Sect Sword Convention is not only a passage to the Spirit Realm but also a place where Blood Fiend Hall selects its pawns in the mortal realm. Ling Yun, you must remember that the struggles in the mortal realm are just the beginning. The Blood Fiend Hall in the Spirit Realm is the true formidable enemy."

Ling Yun nodded, gripping the Sky-Rending Sword tightly. The setting sun cast dappled shadows through the leaves of the Spiritual Grass Secret Realm onto the three of them. A battle between the righteous path of the mortal realm and demonic cultivators was about to unfold at the Qingyun Region Inter-Sect Sword Convention. And his steps were now moving, one by one, towards the Spirit Realm, towards that vast world hiding the truth of his family's annihilation, moving forward with unwavering determination.