Sword Tomb Origin Exploration: Demonic Cultivator Interception Reveals Sharp Edge

As they left the Spiritual Grass Secret Realm, dusk had already settled over the mountains of Medicine Immortal Valley. Ling Yun walked at the forefront, carrying the Sky-Rending Sword, its black and gold halo still lingering on the blade—the residual power of its origin after absorbing demonic essence. Su Qingyuan followed closely behind, her herb hoe adorned with three Hundred-Year Soul Awakening Grasses wrapped in spiritual energy. Her Wood Spirit Body constantly sensed the surrounding atmosphere, guarding against hidden killing intent. Murong Shuang walked last, her Wind Element Sword Intent transforming into invisible currents of air to scout their rear. Although the people from Black Wind Village had been repelled, the Zhao Family would not let this matter rest.

"Sword Mound Mountain is still three days' journey from here. It's the only remaining Ancient Sword Cultivator Ruins in the mortal realm, and it only opens once every hundred years before the Inter-Regional Sword Convention," Sword Elder's voice echoed in Ling Yun's dantian. A phantom sword image depicted the outline of Sword Mound Mountain. "Back when I was still in the mortal realm, I set up a defensive array there with a few Sword Cultivators to resist the initial infiltration by the Blood Fiend Hall. Perhaps you can find irrefutable evidence of the Zhao Family's collusion with the Blood Fiend Hall there."

Ling Yun's eyes lit up. He turned to Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang and said, "We're changing course to Sword Mound Mountain. It holds the Ancient Sword Cultivator Ruins, where we might find Jade Slips detailing the Zhao Family's cooperation with the Blood Fiend Hall. Moreover, the Sword Soul origin of Sword Mound Mountain can further awaken the Sky-Rending Sword."

Murong Shuang immediately nodded. "I've heard our sect elders mention that Sword Mound Mountain hides 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 chimed in, "The spiritual grass on Sword Mound Mountain is more spiritual than that in Medicine Immortal Valley. I can gather some to refine stronger Soul Protecting Pills."

The three immediately changed direction, speeding towards Sword Mound Mountain in the eastern part of the Qingyun Region. Along the official roads, cultivators heading to the Inter-Regional Sword Convention venue, Qingyun City, were everywhere. Among them were many from the Zhao Family and the Blazing Fire Gate. When they saw Ling Yun and his companions, their eyes were filled with hostility, but they dared not provoke them rashly, intimidated by Ling Yun's reputation for defeating Zhou Xiong the previous day.

However, as they reached Broken Sword Valley, on the outskirts of Sword Mound Mountain, a black figure suddenly leaped out from behind the rock walls on both sides of the canyon. The Ghost-head Saber, carrying a dense demonic aura, slashed directly at Ling Yun's back. It was Zhou Xiong, who had recovered from his injuries. Behind him followed more than ten cultivators clad in black robes, embroidered with the character "Sha" of the Blood Fiend Hall.

"Brat, you were lucky to escape last time. This time, Sword Mound Mountain will be your burial ground!" Zhou Xiong's voice was fierce, demonic energy condensing into black armor around him. "This is Lord Demon Fang of the Blood Fiend Hall, who has come specifically to take your dog life!"

The black-robed cultivator addressed as "Demon Fang" stepped forward. His face was hidden beneath his hood, revealing only a pair of red-glowing eyes. The demonic energy surrounding him was several times more potent than Zhou Xiong's, and his cultivation had actually reached the peak of the Great Swordsman Realm. "Ling Yun, the Chaos Sword Body is something the Blood Fiend Hall wants. Cripple your own dantian obediently and return to the Spirit Realm with me, and perhaps a sliver of your soul can be spared."

Ling Yun shielded Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang behind him, drawing the Sky-Rending Sword. Its black and gold halo surged. "You want my Chaos Sword Body? Ask my sword first!" He activated the "Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash," his six-colored Sword Intent orbs spinning. His Chaos Sea of Qi enveloped the absorbed demonic essence. Earth Element Sword Intent condensed into a heavy sword shield, while Gold and Fire Element Sword Intents transformed into sharp sword blades, slashing towards Zhou Xiong.

Zhou Xiong dared not meet the attack head-on, blocking with his Ghost-head Saber, demonic energy forming a barrier. With a deafening "Clang," the sword blade collided with the saber. The Gold and Fire Sword Intent instantly ignited the stagnation points within the demonic energy. The black demonic energy exploded, and Zhou Xiong was sent flying by the shockwave, spitting black blood as he fell to the ground. This was the first practical application of the "Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash," its power far exceeding Ling Yun's expectations.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Demon Fang's eyes, followed by a cold laugh. "Interesting, but this skill is not enough." He raised his hand and waved, and the more than ten black-robed cultivators attacked simultaneously. Demonic energy condensed into over ten "Soul Devouring Swords," shooting towards the three of them. These "Soul Devouring Swords" were stronger than Zhao Hao's, with thin soul threads wrapped around their blades. Once struck, the Sword Soul would be devoured.

"Qingyuan, use your Wood Spirit Body to protect our Sword Souls! Murong Shuang, borrow your Wind Element Sword Intent to accelerate!" Ling Yun shouted. At the same time, he thrust the Sky-Rending Sword into the ground. Earth Element Sword Intent spread across the ground, forming a circular Sword Wall that blocked the attack of the "Soul Devouring Swords." Su Qingyuan immediately activated her Wood Spirit Body, a pale green spiritual light enveloping the three. The soul threads dissipated the moment they touched the spiritual light. Murong Shuang then invoked her Wind Element Sword Intent, and green currents of air lifted the three into the sky, evading the encirclement of the black-robed cultivators.

"Trying to escape?" Demon Fang leaped forward, conjuring a black demonic sword in his hand. Demonic energy flowed along the blade. "Today, I'll let you witness the Blood Fiend Hall's 'Soul Devouring Demonic Art'!" The demonic sword slashed out, a massive black sword shadow engulfing the sky. The spiritual energy in the air was transformed into demonic energy, pressing down on Ling Yun and his companions, making it difficult to breathe.

A resolute glint flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. He poured all the power of his Chaos Sea of Qi into the Sky-Rending Sword. The silver-red patterns on the sword and the black and gold halo intertwined, actually drawing out the ancient swords scattered in Broken Sword Valley. Dozens of rusty ancient swords rose from the ground, rotating around the Sky-Rending Sword, forming a sword wheel.

"This is... the Sword Mound Mountain's Sword Protecting Array!" Sword Elder's voice was filled with excitement. "Ling Yun, guide the Sword Souls of these ancient swords and fuse them with your Sword Intent. You can unleash the Ancient Sword Cultivators' 'Myriad Swords Return to Origin'!"

Ling Yun immediately followed suit, activating the Clear Sword Heart secret technique. He could clearly sense the residual Sword Souls in each ancient sword. Six-colored Sword Intent flowed along the sword wheel, and the rust on the ancient swords fell off, revealing their gleaming blades. When the "Myriad Swords Return to Origin" was fully formed, dozens of ancient swords shot towards Demon Fang's black sword shadow. Golden sword energy collided with black demonic energy, and a blinding light erupted in the sky.

"Impossible! How can a mortal realm cultivator summon an ancient sword array!" Demon Fang's face changed drastically. He tried to retract his demonic sword, but it was entangled by the Sword Souls of the ancient swords. Ling Yun seized this momentary opportunity, the Sky-Rending Sword, with its black and gold halo, piercing through Demon Fang's dantian in a single strike. Demonic energy surged out from Demon Fang's body, instantly absorbed by the Sky-Rending Sword, making the halo on its blade even more intense.

Seeing Demon Fang killed, the more than ten black-robed cultivators were terrified and scattered, but they were ensnared by Murong Shuang's Wind Element Sword Intent. Ultimately, Ling Yun defeated them one by one. Zhou Xiong, sensing the unfavorable turn of events, tried to sneak away, but his ankle was caught by Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body. Ling Yun stepped forward, placing the tip of his sword at his brow. "Speak, what other schemes do the Zhao Family and the Blood Fiend Hall have?"

Zhou Xiong trembled, not daring to hide anything. "The Zhao... the Zhao Family borrowed the 'Soul Devouring Array' from the Blood Fiend Hall. They plan to refine all cultivators who oppose them into demonic essence during the Inter-Regional Sword Convention and offer it to the Blood Fiend Hall's envoy!"

A cold glint flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. He severed Zhou Xiong's right arm with a single strike. "Consider this news your atonement. Scram!" Zhou Xiong crawled and scrambled away. Only Ling Yun and his two companions remained in Broken Sword Valley, along with the scattered ancient swords and the remnants of demonic energy.

Su Qingyuan stepped forward and handed Ling Yun a bottle of Soul Protecting Liquid. "You expended a lot of energy operating the Clear Sword Heart just now. Drink this quickly to replenish yourself." Ling Yun took the porcelain bottle and tilted it back, drinking it down. The Chaos Sea of Qi within his dantian instantly regained its vitality. He looked towards the depths of Broken Sword Valley, the silhouette of Sword Mound Mountain faintly visible in the morning mist. "Let's go. We'll head to Sword Mound Mountain to find evidence and stop the Zhao Family's conspiracy."

As the three stepped onto Sword Mound Mountain, the scene before them left them stunned. The mountainside was covered with upright ancient swords, their blades emitting a faint Sword Soul halo. At the summit stood an ancient stone tablet, inscribed with ancient text. Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body suddenly sensed something and pointed below the stone tablet. "There's a spiritual energy fluctuation there. It seems something is hidden."

Ling Yun walked forward and brushed away the dust from the stone tablet, discovering a hidden compartment beneath it. Inside lay a Jade Slip. He infused his Sword Intent into the Jade Slip, and its contents instantly appeared in his mind—it recorded how, three hundred years ago, the Blood Fiend Hall first invaded the mortal realm. The Ancient Sword Cultivators resisted desperately but were betrayed by a traitor, and the descendant of that traitor was none other than the ancestor of the Zhao Family!

"This is the irrefutable evidence to expose the Zhao Family!" Ling Yun clenched the Jade Slip, a determined light flashing in his eyes. The Sky-Rending Sword trembled slightly in his hand, as if echoing the Sword Souls of the Ancient Sword Cultivators. The conspiracy of the Inter-Regional Sword Convention was about to be revealed, and a battle for the righteous path of the mortal realm was imminent.