When they left the Spiritual Grass Secret Realm, dusk had already spilled over the mountains of Medicine Immortal Valley. Ling Yun walked at the front with the Sky-Rending Sword in hand, the black-gold glow on its blade still lingering—the residual source power left behind after absorbing demonic essence. Su Qingyuan followed close behind, with three Hundred-Year Soul Awakening Grass plants wrapped in spiritual energy hanging from her herb hoe. Her Wood Spirit Body constantly sensed the surrounding auras, guarding against lurking killing intent. Murong Shuang walked at the rear, her Wind Element Sword Intent transforming into invisible currents as she probed the movements behind them—the people of Black Wind Stronghold had been driven back, but the Zhao Family would never let the matter rest.
"Sword Mound Mountain is still three days away. It is the Mortal Realm's only remaining Ancient Sword Cultivator Ruins, and it opens only once every hundred years, before the Inter-Regional Sword Convention." Sword Elder's voice rang out within Ling Yun's dantian. A phantom sword silhouette reflected the outline of Sword Mound Mountain. "Back when I was still in the Mortal Realm, I set up a defensive formation there with several sword cultivators to resist Blood Fiend Hall's first infiltration. Perhaps you can find ironclad proof there of the Zhao Family's collusion with Blood Fiend Hall."
Ling Yun's eyes lit up. Turning to Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang, he said, "We'll change course for Sword Mound Mountain. There are remnants of ancient sword cultivators there. We may find jade slips documenting the Zhao Family's cooperation with Blood Fiend Hall. Besides, the Sword Soul Origin of Sword Mound Mountain may allow the Sky-Rending Sword to awaken further."
Murong Shuang immediately nodded. "I once heard the sect elders say that Sword Mound Mountain contains the purest sword souls in the Mortal Realm. If I can absorb even a wisp, my Wind Element Sword Intent will surely break through its bottleneck." Su Qingyuan also agreed. "The spiritual herbs of Sword Mound Mountain possess greater spirituality than those in Medicine Immortal Valley. I can gather some and refine stronger Soul Protecting Pills."
The three immediately changed direction and raced toward Sword Mound Mountain in the eastern Qingyun Region. Along the official road, cultivators heading for Qingyun City, the site of the Inter-Regional Sword Convention, could be seen everywhere. Many were from the Zhao Family and Blazing Fire Gate. When they saw Ling Yun's group, their eyes brimmed with hostility, but intimidated by Ling Yun's reputation for defeating Zhou Xiong the previous day, none dared rashly step forward to provoke them.
However, when they reached Broken Sword Valley on the outskirts of Sword Mound Mountain, a black figure suddenly shot out from behind the cliffs on either side of the gorge. A Ghost-head Saber, carrying dense demonic qi, chopped straight at Ling Yun's back—It was Zhou Xiong, whose injuries had healed. More than ten black-robed cultivators followed behind him, their robes embroidered with Blood Fiend Hall's "Baleful Intent" insignia.
"Brat, you got lucky and escaped last time. This time, Sword Mound Mountain will be your burial ground!" Zhou Xiong's voice was savage as demonic qi condensed around him into black armor. "This is Lord Demon Fang of Blood Fiend Hall. He came specifically to take your dog life!"
The black-robed cultivator called Demon Fang stepped forward. His face was hidden beneath his hood, revealing only a pair of red-glowing eyes. The demonic qi around him was several times denser than Zhou Xiong's, and his cultivation had actually reached the peak of the Great Swordsman Realm. "Ling Yun, the Chaos Sword Body is what Blood Fiend Hall wants. Cripple your own dantian and return with me to the Spirit Realm. Perhaps you can keep a wisp of your remnant soul."
Ling Yun shielded Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang behind him. The Sky-Rending Sword left its sheath, its black-gold glow surging. "You want my Chaos Sword Body? Ask the sword in my hand first!" He activated the Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash. The six-colored Sword Intent pearls spun at once, while the Chaos Sea of Qi enveloped the demonic essence he had absorbed earlier. His Earth Element Sword Intent formed a heavy sword shield, while his metal and fire dual-element Sword Intents transformed into razor-sharp blades and slashed toward Zhou Xiong.
Zhou Xiong did not dare take the blow head-on. He held the Ghost-head Saber horizontally before him as demonic qi formed a barrier. With a deafening clang, the sword blade collided with the saber. The metal-fire Sword Intent instantly detonated the stagnant point within the demonic qi. The black demonic qi exploded with a boom, flinging Zhou Xiong away on the shockwave. He crashed to the ground, vomiting black blood—this was the first true battle of the Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash, and its power far exceeded Ling Yun's expectations.
A flicker of surprise crossed Demon Fang's eyes before he gave a cold laugh. "Interesting, but that little skill is still nothing worth seeing." He raised a hand and waved. The dozen or so black-robed cultivators attacked at once, their demonic qi condensing into more than ten Soul Devouring Swords that shot toward Ling Yun's group. These Soul Devouring Swords were stronger than Zhao Hao's, and fine soul threads coiled around their blades. Once struck, even one's sword soul would be devoured.
"Qingyuan, use your Wood Spirit Body to protect our sword souls! Murong Shuang, use your Wind Element Sword Intent to speed us up!" Ling Yun shouted. At the same time, he drove the Sky-Rending Sword into the ground. Earth Element Sword Intent spread through the earth and formed a circular sword wall, blocking the Soul Devouring Swords. Su Qingyuan immediately activated her Wood Spirit Body. Pale green spiritual light shrouded the three of them, and the soul threads dispersed the instant they touched it. Murong Shuang summoned her Wind Element Sword Intent, and azure currents lifted them into the air, evading the black-robed cultivators' encirclement.
"Trying to run?" Demon Fang leaped into the air, gathering a black demonic sword in his hand. Demonic qi flowed down its blade. "Today, I'll let you witness Blood Fiend Hall's Soul Devouring Demonic Art!" The demonic sword slashed out, and a massive black sword shadow blanketed the sky. Even the spiritual qi in the air was converted into demonic qi, pressing down on Ling Yun's group until they could barely breathe.
Determination flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. He poured all the power of his Chaos Sea of Qi into the Sky-Rending Sword. The sword's silver-red patterns intertwined with its black-gold glow, unexpectedly stirring the scattered ancient swords in Broken Sword Valley. Dozens of rust-covered ancient swords rose from the ground and revolved around the Sky-Rending Sword, forming a wheel of swords.
"This is... Sword Mound Mountain's sword-protecting formation!" Sword Elder's voice rang with excitement. "Ling Yun, guide the sword souls within these ancient swords and merge them with your Sword Intent. You can unleash the ancient sword cultivators' Myriad Swords Return to Origin!"
Ling Yun immediately did as instructed. The Clear Sword Heart secret technique circulated, allowing him to clearly sense the residual sword soul within every ancient sword. The six-colored Sword Intent flowed through the sword wheel. Rust peeled away from the ancient swords, revealing snow-bright blades. When Myriad Swords Return to Origin fully condensed, dozens of ancient swords shot toward Demon Fang's black sword shadow. Golden Sword Qi collided with black demonic qi, and a blinding radiance erupted across the sky.
"Impossible! How can a cultivator of the Mortal Realm stir an ancient sword formation?!" Demon Fang's expression changed drastically. He tried to withdraw his demonic sword, but the sword souls of the ancient blades tangled around it. Ling Yun seized that fleeting opening. The Sky-Rending Sword, wreathed in black-gold light, pierced straight through Demon Fang's dantian. Demonic qi surged from Demon Fang's body and was instantly absorbed by the Sky-Rending Sword, making the glow on its blade even denser.
Seeing Demon Fang slain, the dozen or so black-robed cultivators scattered in terror. Yet Murong Shuang's Wind Element Sword Intent trapped them, and Ling Yun ultimately defeated them one by one. Seeing that the tide had turned against him, Zhou Xiong tried to slip away, only for Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body to bind his ankle. Ling Yun stepped forward and pressed his sword tip to Zhou Xiong's brow. "Talk. What other plot do the Zhao Family and Blood Fiend Hall have?"
Zhou Xiong trembled all over, not daring to conceal anything. "The Zhao... the Zhao Family borrowed the Soul Devouring Formation from Blood Fiend Hall. At the Inter-Regional Sword Convention, they plan to refine every cultivator who opposes them into demonic essence and offer it to Blood Fiend Hall's envoy!"
A cold glint flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. With one slash, he severed Zhou Xiong's right arm. "Consider this information the price of your redemption. Get lost!" Zhou Xiong fled in a rolling crawl. Only Ling Yun's group, ancient swords scattered across the ground, and remnants of demonic qi remained in Broken Sword Valley.
Su Qingyuan walked over and handed Ling Yun a bottle of Soul Protecting Liquid. "You consumed a great deal just now using Clear Sword Heart. Drink this quickly and recover." Ling Yun took the porcelain bottle and tipped his head back to drink. The Chaos Sea of Qi within his dantian immediately regained its vitality. He looked toward the depths of Broken Sword Valley, where the outline of Sword Mound Mountain appeared and vanished within the morning mist. "Let's go. We'll find the evidence at Sword Mound Mountain and stop the Zhao Family's conspiracy."
When the three stepped into Sword Mound Mountain, the sight before them shook them to the core—ancient swords stood upright across every mountain and field, faint sword-soul halos gleaming on their blades. At the mountaintop stood an ancient stone stele carved with archaic writing. Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body suddenly sensed something. Pointing beneath the stele, she said, "There's a fluctuation of spiritual qi there. It seems like something is hidden below."
Ling Yun stepped forward and brushed the dust from the stone stele. Beneath it, he discovered a hidden compartment containing a jade slip. He infused the jade slip with Sword Intent, and its contents instantly unfolded in his mind—it recorded how Blood Fiend Hall had first invaded the Mortal Realm three hundred years ago. Ancient sword cultivators had fought desperately in resistance, only to be betrayed by a traitor. And that traitor's descendants were none other than the Zhao Family's ancestors!
"This is the ironclad proof that will expose the Zhao Family!" Ling Yun clenched the jade slip, determination shining in his eyes. The Sky-Rending Sword trembled softly in his hand, as though answering the sword souls of the ancient sword cultivators. The conspiracy surrounding the Inter-Regional Sword Convention was about to be unveiled, and a contest concerning the righteous path of the Mortal Realm was already close at hand.
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