The Formation Core Is Broken, The Sword Gathering's Final Battle Begins The Path to Enlightenment

The night was as dark as ink. Beside the formation eye stone tablet in the northwest corner of Qingyun Platform, five cultivators from the Zhao family sat cross-legged, nourishing demonic patterns with their own essence and blood. Leading them was Zhao Meng, the second elder of the Zhao family. He was even more burly than Zhao Lie, holding a broad saber covered in demonic patterns. His cultivation had reached the late stage of the Great Swordsman Realm, and the demonic energy surrounding him was several times denser than that of ordinary demonic cultivators—this was the Zhao family's last trump card and the final defense line for the formation eye.

"Second Elder, the formation eye in the southeast corner just went silent. I'm afraid it was destroyed by that brat Ling Yun!" a Zhao family cultivator suddenly opened his eyes, his voice filled with panic. "Should we activate the Soul Devouring Formation in advance?"

Zhao Meng slammed his palm onto the ground, the demonic energy shattering the surrounding bluestones. "What's the rush! The envoy is dead, but the formation eye is still here. As long as we guard the remaining three, and wait for the Sword Convention to begin tomorrow, we can lure the people from various sects to the center of Qingyun Platform and activate the grand formation just the same!" As soon as he finished speaking, a green wind blade suddenly attacked from the darkness, striking directly at his wrist—it was Murong Shuang. Her Wind Element Sword Intent had reached the point where "wind blades were invisible," specifically countering demonic cultivators who lacked sufficient defenses.

Zhao Meng reacted extremely quickly, blocking with his broad saber. Demonic energy condensed into a shield to block the wind blade, but he didn't notice the Earth Element Sword Intent spreading stealthily beneath his feet. "Earth Element Confinement Formation!" Ling Yun's voice came from behind the stone tablet. He formed seals with his hands, and the Earth Element Sword Intent bead in his dantian surged. Five earth spikes suddenly rose from the ground, firmly trapping the ankles of the four Zhao family cultivators. Only Zhao Meng broke free with his demonic energy, but he was forced back three steps.

"Ling Yun! You destroyed my Zhao family's formation eye and killed my brother. Today, I will tear you to shreds!" Zhao Meng roared, slashing his saber. The demonic patterns on the broad saber lit up, and black saber energy, carrying the power to devour Sword Souls, chopped down at Ling Yun.

Ling Yun advanced instead of retreating. He pointed the Sky-Rending Sword diagonally at the ground, and the Sword Soul origin of Sword Mound Mountain surged along the blade into the earth. The earth spikes that had trapped the cultivators instantly transformed into sharp earth swords, shooting towards Zhao Meng. "Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash!" he grunted, his Gold and Fire dual-element Sword Intent condensing into a blade. His Water Element Sword Intent transformed into chains that bound the broad saber, while his Wind Element Sword Intent accelerated the sword body. The moment the black and gold sword energy collided with the saber energy, it directly devoured the demonic energy within the saber energy and continued to slash towards Zhao Meng's broad saber.

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing echoed through the night sky. Zhao Meng felt a tremendous force coming from the saber, and demonic energy surged back up his arm. The demonic essence in his dantian began to dissipate—this was the result of the combined effects of the Demon Breaking Pill and the Demon Devouring Sword Intent. His face changed drastically. He wanted to withdraw his saber and retreat, but was entangled by Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body. "Elder Zhao, your demonic energy has dispersed. Why don't you surrender?" Faint green vines rose from the ground, wrapping around Zhao Meng's limbs and firmly trapping him.

Seeing their second elder captured, the remaining four Zhao family cultivators instantly lost their will to fight and surrendered their weapons. Ling Yun walked forward and thrust the Sky-Rending Sword into the formation eye stone tablet. Black and gold sword energy spread along the demonic patterns, completely destroying the core of the stone tablet. The formation eye in the northwest corner also became ineffective.

"Only the southwest and northeast formation eyes are left. Let's split up and meet in the center of Qingyun Platform in half an hour," Ling Yun said to Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang. The three then split into three paths. Relying on the Sky-Rending Sword's demonic premonition warning and the protection of the Demon Breaking Pills, they destroyed the remaining two formation eyes in just the time it took two sticks of incense to burn. When the last stone tablet shattered, the invisible demonic energy above Qingyun City completely dissipated, and the night sky became clear again.

The next morning, the Inter-Domain Sword Convention commenced as scheduled. Qingyun Platform was surrounded by cultivators from various sects. The elders of the Seven Great Sword Sects sat on a high platform, while the cultivators of the Zhao family and the Blazing Fire Gate were surrounded, their faces ashen. Elder Liu stepped forward, holding a green token in his hand—this was the reward for the Inter-Domain Sword Convention champion, and also the teleportation token to the Spirit Realm.

"The primary task of today's Inter-Domain Sword Convention is to settle the crimes of the Zhao family!" Elder Liu's voice, amplified by Sword Intent, spread throughout the venue. "The Zhao family colluded with the Blood Fiend Hall, practiced evil arts, and attempted to harm righteous cultivators with the Soul Devouring Formation. The evidence is conclusive. Does anyone have any objections?"

All the cultivators in the venue shouted in unison, "No objections!" The Zhao family cultivators wanted to retort, but they were suppressed by the surrounding Sword Intent, unable even to speak. Just then, Zhao Hao suddenly rushed out from the crowd, holding a black demonic sword—this was the Zhao family's last demonic sword, and he had found it among the envoy's belongings from the Blood Fiend Hall.

"Even if my Zhao family is destroyed, we'll take you all down with us!" Zhao Hao's eyes were filled with madness. He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of essence blood onto the demonic sword. "Soul Devouring Burst!" The demonic sword instantly erupted with dense demonic energy, and its body began to crack, intending to follow Zhao Hu's previous example and perish together by self-detonating the demonic sword.

"Ling Yun, be careful!" Su Qingyuan immediately activated her Wood Spirit Body, and faint green spiritual light condensed into a barrier in the center of Qingyun Platform. Murong Shuang, meanwhile, invoked her Wind Element Sword Intent, pushing the surrounding cultivators backward to avoid the range of the demonic energy.

Ling Yun leaped up, the silver-red sword patterns on the Sky-Rending Sword surging. He activated his Chaos Sword Body, channeling all the medicinal power of the Demon Breaking Pills into the sword: "Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash—Final Style!" Black and gold sword energy condensed into a giant sword over ten feet tall. The sword was entwined with the five elements of Gold, Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind Sword Intent, as well as a faint green Soul Protecting halo. It slashed towards Zhao Hao's demonic sword.

"Clang!" The moment the giant sword collided with the demonic sword, the demonic energy was instantly devoured by the sword energy, and the self-detonation power of the demonic sword was completely neutralized. Zhao Hao was sent flying by the shockwave, crashing heavily onto the ground. The demonic essence in his dantian completely dissipated, and his cultivation was crippled. He looked at Ling Yun, his eyes filled with unwillingness, but he was powerless to resist any longer.

Ling Yun walked forward, handed Zhao Hao over to Elder Liu for disposal, and then turned to face Elder Liu on the high platform. "Please continue the Inter-Domain Sword Convention matches. I want to compete for the championship and go to the Spirit Realm."

The subsequent matches were without suspense. Relying on his Chaos Sword Body and the Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash, Ling Yun successively defeated the young master of the Blazing Fire Gate and the genius disciple of the Purple Haze Sword Sect, advancing through the ranks and ultimately winning the Inter-Domain Sword Convention championship. Elder Liu handed him the green teleportation token, which pulsed with spatial fluctuations of the Spirit Realm—the gateway to a broader world.

"Ling Yun, the Spirit Realm is dangerous. The Blood Fiend Hall's influence is far greater than that of the mortal realm. You must be very careful," Su Qingyuan walked up to him, handing him a medicine box filled with Soul Protecting Pills and Demon Breaking Pills, her eyes filled with worry.

Murong Shuang also stepped forward and handed Ling Yun a silk booklet. "This is the complete version of Flowing Cloud Demon Breaking Style. I've written my insights on using Wind Element Sword Intent in it. It might help you fight against demonic cultivators in the Spirit Realm. If there's a chance, I'll find a way to go to the Spirit Realm and meet up with you."

Ling Yun took the medicine box and the booklet, a warmth surging in his heart. He clenched the teleportation token in his hand and glanced at the Sky-Rending Sword at his waist. The silver-red sword patterns on the sword were resonating with the spatial fluctuations of the token—the Sword Soul origin of the Spirit Realm was summoning him, and the truth of his sect's destruction awaited him.

"Qingyuan, Murong Shuang, thank you," Ling Yun's voice was filled with determination. "Once I uncover the truth in the Spirit Realm, I will definitely return to meet you. I entrust the protection of the righteous path in the mortal realm to you."

Sword Elder's voice echoed in his dantian. "The Myriad Sword Cave in the Spirit Realm holds clues to the Heaven and Earth Sword Box, which is key to your fight against the Blood Fiend Hall. Go, Ling Yun, your path of the sword has just begun."

Ling Yun nodded, turned, and walked towards the teleportation array in the center of Qingyun Platform. He infused the teleportation token with his Sword Intent, and the formation eye instantly lit up. A green spatial rift unfolded in the array, the passage to the Spirit Realm. He cast one last look at Su Qingyuan and Murong Shuang, then leaped into the rift—the grudges of the mortal realm were settled, and the struggle in the Spirit Realm was about to begin.