Qingyun City Gathering, Soul Devouring Array's Shadow Covers Sword Meet

The morning mist on Sword Mound Mountain had yet to dissipate when Ling Yun tucked the Jade Slip containing the Zhao Family's crimes into his embrace. The Sky-Rending Sword was slung across his waist, its black and gold halo brighter than yesterday—last night, he had used his Chaos Sword Body to draw upon the Sword Soul essence of Sword Mound Mountain, fully awakening the Sky-Rending Sword's "Demonic Pre-warning" trait. As long as there was dense demonic energy nearby, the sword patterns would automatically light up, acting like an invisible compass to track demonic cultivators.

"Disciples from the seven great sword sects have already gathered in Qingyun City. The Zhao Family and the Blazing Fire Gate have likely already set up the Soul Devouring Array there," Su Qingyuan said as she divided the finished Soul Protecting Pills into porcelain bottles, handing them to Ling Yun and Murong Shuang. "These were refined using the 'Soul Awakening Flower' from Sword Mound Mountain. They are three times stronger than the previous Soul Protecting Liquid and can temporarily resist the demonic energy erosion of the Soul Devouring Array."

Murong Shuang took the porcelain bottle, her Wind Element Sword Intent stirring slightly as she sensed the flow of people approaching from the east. "We need to leave as soon as possible. Elder Bai of the Purple Haze Sword Sect promised to help us. If we're late, the Zhao Family might win them over first."

The three immediately set off. Ling Yun enveloped himself in his Chaos Sword Intent, suppressing the Sky-Rending Sword's warning halo to avoid revealing their whereabouts prematurely. Along the official road, cultivators became increasingly dense, most of them disciples from various sects heading to Qingyun City. They traveled in small groups, discussing who would win the Inter-Realm Sword Convention. When Ling Yun was mentioned, some admired his victory over Zhou Xiong, while others, misled by the Zhao Family, considered him a heretic who colluded with demonic cultivators.

As they reached the "Falling Sword Bridge" on the outskirts of Qingyun City, the Sky-Rending Sword suddenly vibrated, its black and gold halo flaring instantly—dense demonic energy was hidden beneath the bridge. Ling Yun raised his hand, signaling Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang to stop. He gathered a wisp of Gold Element Sword Intent at his fingertip and said softly, "There's an ambush."

As soon as he spoke, five black demonic shadows shot out from under the bridge. Leading them was an old man in a purple robe, holding a curved demonic sword. His cultivation had reached the late Great Swordsman Realm—it was Zhao Lie, the Great Elder of the Zhao Family and Zhao Kun's own brother.

"Ling Yun, hand over the Jade Slip you found on Sword Mound Mountain, and I can give you a quick death," Zhao Lie's voice was sinister, demonic energy swirling around him like a serpentine phantom. "The Inter-Realm Sword Convention is the Zhao Family's turf. Bringing the evidence in is like walking into a trap."

Ling Yun sneered, drawing the Sky-Rending Sword. The Sword Intent of the Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash instantly coalesced. "Zhao Kun is already dead, and the Zhao Family's doom is near. Do you still intend to resist?" He leaped forward, his sword blade carrying the black and gold halo, and struck directly at Zhao Lie's demonic sword—this strike not only contained the sharpness and heat of both Gold and Fire elements but also incorporated the Sword Soul essence of Sword Mound Mountain, specifically designed to counter demonic energy.

Zhao Lie dared not be careless, blocking with his demonic sword. Demonic energy formed a serpentine barrier. Clang! The moment the blades collided, the Gold and Fire Sword Intent ignited the stagnation points within the demonic energy. The serpentine barrier exploded, and Zhao Lie was blown back by the shockwave. A cut appeared on his purple robe, revealing black blood—a sign of demonic energy backlash.

"Attack!" Zhao Lie roared. Four Zhao Family cultivators attacked simultaneously, their demonic energy forming four Soul Devouring Swords that shot towards Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang. Murong Shuang immediately activated her Wind Element Sword Intent, her cyan airflow transforming into an invisible sword shield to block the attack. Su Qingyuan, meanwhile, circulated her Wood Spirit Body, a faint green spiritual light enveloping the bridge, preventing the demonic energy from approaching.

Ling Yun seized the opportunity, lunging forward. The Sky-Rending Sword swept across, severing Zhao Lie's demonic sword in a single strike, the tip pressing against his brow. "Speak, where is the Soul Devouring Array set up in Qingyun City?"

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Zhao Lie's eyes. He suddenly bit his tongue, spraying a mouthful of blood essence onto his palm, intending to detonate his own demonic essence. "You want to know the location of the Soul Devouring Array? Dream on!"

"Not good!" Ling Yun immediately circulated his Earth Element Sword Intent, forming a cage around Zhao Lie, while simultaneously using his Chaos Sword Body to absorb his dissipating demonic essence. "He's going to self-destruct, stop him quickly!" Su Qingyuan reacted swiftly, her Wood Spirit Body's spiritual light transforming into vines that bound Zhao Lie's limbs, immobilizing him. Murong Shuang sealed his dantian with her Wind Element Sword Intent, preventing the flow of demonic essence.

Zhao Lie was completely controlled, his eyes filled with unwillingness. "The Zhao Family won't let you go! The envoy from the Blood Fiend Hall is already in Qingyun City. He will use the Soul Devouring Array to refine everyone who opposes the Zhao Family!"

Ling Yun ignored him further, handing him over to the disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect who arrived shortly after to be guarded. He turned to Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang. "Let's go quickly. The appearance of the Blood Fiend Hall envoy is more dangerous than we anticipated."

The three quickly crossed the Falling Sword Bridge and entered Qingyun City—the most prosperous cultivator city in the mortal realm, now shrouded in an invisible layer of demonic energy. Banners of the Zhao Family and the Blazing Fire Gate hung on both sides of the streets. While the cultivators' faces showed excitement, a hint of apprehension lurked in their eyes. The main venue for the Inter-Realm Sword Convention, the "Qingyun Platform," was located in the city center. Faint black demonic patterns flickered beneath the platform's base; these were the array cores of the Soul Devouring Array.

"The array cores of the Soul Devouring Array are at the four corners of the Qingyun Platform, activated by the vital blood of cultivators. Once initiated, all cultivators in Qingyun City will have their Sword Souls absorbed," Sword Elder's voice echoed in Ling Yun's dantian, his illusory sword shadow displaying the layout of the Qingyun Platform. "You must destroy the four array cores before the convention begins, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

Ling Yun nodded and said to Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang, "Qingyuan, go to the inn and refine 'Demon Breaking Pills' that can break demonic arrays. Murong Shuang, go see Elder Bai and have him contact other righteous sects to prepare to expose the Zhao Family's conspiracy during the convention. I will go to the Qingyun Platform to scout the array cores and find a way to destroy them."

The three immediately split up. Ling Yun disguised himself as an ordinary cultivator and blended into the audience seats of the Qingyun Platform. The Sky-Rending Sword's warning halo guided him, and he soon found the array core in the southeast corner—it was a black stone tablet inscribed with the "Fiend" character pattern of the Blood Fiend Hall. Four black-robed cultivators stood around it, nourishing the array core with their own vital blood.

Ling Yun quietly approached, gathering a wisp of Earth Element Sword Intent at his fingertip, letting it spread along the ground to the base of the stone tablet, attempting to disrupt the array core's foundation. Just then, an icy gaze locked onto him—on the high platform of the Qingyun Platform, a black-robed cultivator was looking down at the entire venue. The "Fiend" pattern on his black robe was more concentrated than that of other Blood Fiend Hall cultivators, and the demonic energy around him was almost solidified. It was the envoy of the Blood Fiend Hall, his cultivation already reaching the early Sword Master Realm.

"An interesting Chaos Sword Body," the envoy's voice carried a sinister chuckle as he struck Ling Yun from afar with a palm. The black demonic palm, imbued with soul-eroding power, aimed directly for his back. Ling Yun reacted swiftly, dodging the demonic palm and simultaneously using his Gold Element Sword Intent to sever the Earth Element veins beneath the stone tablet. The demonic energy of the array core weakened instantly.

"You dare to destroy the Soul Devouring Array? You're dead." The envoy leaped from the high platform, conjuring a black demonic spear. Demonic energy condensed into the shape of a skull at the spearhead. Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, the Sword Intent of the Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash coalescing once more—this was his first encounter with a Sword Master Realm demonic cultivator and a crucial battle to expose the Zhao Family's conspiracy.

The cultivators on the Qingyun Platform noticed the commotion and began to gather, their discussions rising in volume. Ling Yun looked at the approaching envoy, then at Murong Shuang in the distance contacting other sects, and the refining spiritual light rising from the direction of the inn. A determined glint flashed in his eyes. "Today, I will not only destroy your Soul Devouring Array but also let everyone know the crimes of the Zhao Family and the Blood Fiend Hall!"

The black and gold halo of the Sky-Rending Sword surged, the Sword Soul essence of Sword Mound Mountain and the Chaos Sword Intent intertwining, forming a five-colored sword wheel around him—a battle for the survival of the righteous path in the mortal realm had quietly begun on the Qingyun Platform.