Blood Fiend Ambush: Formation Combines with Sword Might to Display Sharpness

The hoofbeats of the unicorn horse echoed dully on the demonized Gobi Desert, each step capable of shattering the thin layer of demonic frost that had solidified on the ground. Ling Yun sat on the horse's back, his fingertips gently tracing the cracks on the Sky-Rending Sword. The Sword Elder's voice slowly reverberated within his dantian, "Although the spiritual energy of the Spirit Realm is ten times more abundant than in the mortal realm, it is mixed with demonic essence. You must use your Chaos Sword Body to filter it during cultivation to prevent your Sword Soul from being contaminated."

He nodded in agreement and simultaneously circulated the basic cultivation technique of the Qiankun Sword Canon, drawing the sparse spiritual energy around him into his body. As expected, the spiritual energy carried a trace of pale black demonic essence. The moment it entered his meridians, it attempted to erode his Sword Intent. Fortunately, his Chaos Sword Sea circulated in time, breaking down the demonic essence into harmless energy and integrating it into the six-colored Sword Intent Bead. In just half an hour, his previously lost cultivation had recovered by thirty percent.

"Ahead is the 'Black Wind Pass,' the only route to the Sword Alliance headquarters and a common hunting ground for the Blood Fiend Hall's demonic cultivators," Lin Yue reined in the horse, his voice suddenly becoming solemn. "Everyone be on guard. The Blood Fiend Hall's demonic cultivators are masters of ambush. Once we encounter them, immediately form the 'Seven Star Guard Formation'!"

The ten cultivators from the Sword Alliance patrol team immediately dispersed. Seven of them formed a circle with their long swords, while the other three nocked arrows, their tips gleaming with silver-white spiritual light that suppressed demonic energy. This was a defensive formation specifically designed by the Sword Alliance against demonic cultivators, capable of condensing the Sword Intent of the seven individuals into a unified barrier, far exceeding the defensive capabilities of individual combat.

Ling Yun also tightened his grip on the Sky-Rending Sword, his Chaos Sword Intent quietly circulating as he vigilantly observed the rock walls on both sides of the pass. The rock walls of the Black Wind Pass were ink-black, covered in honeycomb-like holes. Demonic energy seeped out from these holes, condensing into a faint black mist above the pass, obscuring the dark red sky.

Just as the team stepped into the center of the pass, the holes in the rock walls suddenly spewed black demonic flames. More than a dozen black figures shot out from the black mist, their demonic swords carrying Soul Corroding Demonic Qi, lunging directly at the patrol team. They were indeed demonic cultivators from the Blood Fiend Hall. Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a black robe embroidered with three "Fiend" characters. His cultivation had reached the early Sword Master Realm, comparable to Lin Yue.

"You brats from the Sword Alliance, today you shall all perish here!" the black-robed cultivator sneered, sweeping his demonic sword horizontally. Black sword energy slashed towards the Seven Star Guard Formation of the patrol team. The sword energy collided with the formation's barrier, emitting a "sizzling" corrosive sound. The silver-white barrier instantly dimmed by a few shades.

"It's the Blood Fiend Hall's 'Soul Corroding Sword Cultivators'! Their sword energy can pollute Sword Intent, don't take it head-on!" Lin Yue roared, his long sword erupting with golden Sword Intent. "Seven Star Formation, transform into 'Big Dipper Sword Wheel'!"

The seven Sword Alliance cultivators simultaneously shifted positions. Their Sword Intent no longer condensed into a barrier but transformed into a rotating sword wheel, guiding the demonic cultivators' sword energy to the sides. Simultaneously, seven silver-white sword energies shot out from the sword wheel, directly piercing the demonic cultivators at the forefront.

Seeing this, Ling Yun also leaped up. The Sky-Rending Sword, imbued with dual Fire and Gold Element Sword Intent, slashed towards an isolated demonic cultivator. The demonic cultivator, only at the middle stage of the Great Swordsman Realm, had no time to react. His demonic sword was severed by the sword energy, and his dantian was pierced by Ling Yun's Chaos Sword Intent. A wisp of pure demonic essence escaped from the demonic cultivator's body. Ling Yun subconsciously absorbed it, and the Fire Element Sword Intent Bead in his dantian instantly brightened a bit.

"Brat, how dare you kill my men!" The black-robed cultivator's eyes flashed with ferocity upon seeing his subordinate killed. He turned and lunged at Ling Yun, the demonic energy on his demonic sword surging, condensing into a black ghost claw. "Soul Devouring Ghost Claw!"

The ghost claw let out a piercing shriek and lunged directly at Ling Yun's Sword Soul. Ling Yun's pupils contracted sharply. He immediately circulated his Clear Sword Heart, instantly seeing through the ghost claw's weakness. At the wrist of the ghost claw, the flow of demonic essence was noticeably sluggish, precisely the power gap when the black-robed cultivator activated the secret technique.

"Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash - Simplified Version!" Ling Yun advanced instead of retreating. Earth Element Sword Intent condensed into a shield, blocking the ghost claw's frontal attack. Gold Element Sword Intent transformed into a slender sword, precisely stabbing at the sluggish point on the ghost claw's wrist. With a "clang," the Gold Element Sword Intent collided with the demonic essence, instantly detonating the sluggish point. The ghost claw scattered with a roar. The black-robed cultivator was forced back three steps by the shockwave, black blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"I didn't expect a kid from the mortal realm to possess such strength!" The black-robed cultivator's eyes flashed with surprise. He then took out a black token from his embrace and injected demonic essence into it. "Brothers of the Blood Fiend Hall, come quickly to my aid!"

The token emitted a shrill demonic sound, and dense hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the pass. Over twenty more demonic cultivators from the Blood Fiend Hall arrived, including three at the early Sword Master Realm, their strength far surpassing the patrol team.

Lin Yue's face instantly turned pale. "I didn't expect them to set up such a large ambush! Ling Yun, you must break through and report to the Sword Alliance headquarters. We'll hold them off!"

"No!" Ling Yun immediately refused. "If I leave, you won't be able to stop so many demonic cultivators! Why don't we join forces? I'll break their formation, and you can attack while they're in disarray!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Sword Elder in his dantian suddenly spoke, "Use your Chaos Sword Body to draw upon the demonic energy in the pass, then use the Sword Alliance's Big Dipper Sword Wheel to detonate it. Although demonic energy can harm people, under the control of the Chaos Sword Body, it can temporarily be used as a means of attack!"

Ling Yun's eyes lit up. He immediately shouted to Lin Yue, "Captain Lin, have your men inject their Sword Intent into me. I have a way to repel them!"

Although Lin Yue was doubtful, he had no other options at this point. He immediately ordered, "Everyone, inject your Sword Intent into Ling Yun!"

Seven streams of silver-white Sword Intent poured into Ling Yun's dantian, merging with his Chaos Sword Sea. He leaped up, forming hand seals. His Chaos Sword Body drew upon the black mist above the pass, condensing the demonic energy within into a black pillar of energy. "Big Dipper Sword Wheel - Demonic Flame Version!" he grunted, slashing the pillar of demonic energy, infused with the Sword Alliance's Sword Intent, towards the Blood Fiend Hall demonic cultivators' formation.

The black pillar, carrying streams of silver-white Sword Intent, exploded the demonic energy of the demonic cultivators wherever it passed. The black-robed cultivator's face changed drastically. He tried to escape but was grazed on the shoulder by the pillar. His demonic essence instantly dissipated, and his cultivation dropped to the late Great Swordsman Realm. The other demonic cultivators suffered heavy casualties. The remaining dozen or so, seeing the unfavorable situation, turned and fled.

"Pursue!" Seeing this, Lin Yue immediately led the patrol team in pursuit. Ling Yun followed closely behind, his Sky-Rending Sword slashing out repeatedly, killing three more isolated demonic cultivators.

Half an hour later, the patrol team finished clearing the battlefield. Lin Yue walked up to Ling Yun, his eyes filled with admiration. "Ling Yun, you not only possess a special physique but are also skilled in tactics. You are truly a rare talent! If the Sword Alliance headquarters had more cultivators like you, they wouldn't need to fear the Blood Fiend Hall!"

Ling Yun sheathed the Sky-Rending Sword and shook his head with a smile. "It was everyone's Sword Intent cooperating well; I just provided some guidance. By the way, does the Sword Alliance headquarters have any methods to detect cultivator tracks? I'm looking for a friend from the mortal realm, her name is Su Qingyuan, and she has the Wood Spirit Body."

Lin Yue nodded. "The Sword Alliance headquarters has the 'Soul Breath Mirror.' As long as a cultivator's soul breath has been recorded, its location can be sensed. However, the activity of demonic cultivators in the Southern Region has been frequent recently, and the coverage of the Soul Breath Mirror has shrunk. It can only sense soul breaths within a hundred miles of the headquarters."

"It doesn't matter, as long as there's hope," Ling Yun felt a surge of anticipation. The cracks on the Sky-Rending Sword seemed to emit a faint silver-red glow due to the demonic essence and Sword Intent he had absorbed earlier. The journey in the Spirit Realm, though fraught with danger, also held hidden hope and opportunities.

As the sun began to set, the patrol team finally emerged from the Black Wind Pass. On the distant horizon, a massive city appeared. The city walls were built from golden-glowing stones, and the battlements were covered with runes that suppressed demonic energy. This was the "Golden Sword City," the location of the Sword Alliance headquarters. Ling Yun looked at the city, his eyes flashing with determination: Su Qingyuan, I will definitely find you; Blood Fiend Hall, our grudges from the mortal realm are not yet settled. We will settle our accounts in the Spirit Realm slowly!