Golden Sword Enters the City, Soul Breath Tracks a New Path

The city gates of Golden Sword City were thirty feet high, built from "Sword Soul Stones" that emitted a faint golden luster. Within the stones, tiny streams of sword soul light could be vaguely seen – a unique ore from the Spirit Realm that naturally suppressed demonic energy. On the battlements flanking the gates, cultivators of the Sword Alliance held "Demon-Breaking Crossbows," their bolts wrapped in silver-white Sword Intent. Their sharp gazes swept over every person entering the city. After the ambush at Black Wind Pass, the Sword Alliance's vigilance was even tighter than usual.

"Captain Lin, who is this?" the city guard asked, a flicker of confusion in his eyes as he saw Ling Yun. Ling Yun's attire, a commoner's green sword robe from the mortal realm, clashed starkly with the silver armor of the Spirit Realm cultivators.

"This is Ling Yun, a cultivator from the mortal realm with the Chaos Sword Body. He helped us repel the Blood Fiend Hall's ambush at Black Wind Pass just now," Lin Yue said, taking out his identification token and handing it to the guard. "I need to take him to see Alliance Leader Chen to register his entry."

The guard took the token for inspection. As his gaze fell upon Ling Yun, a hint of awe entered his eyes. The name "Chaos Sword Body" was known even to ordinary cultivators in the Spirit Realm; it was a legendary physique capable of accommodating all kinds of Sword Intent. He immediately stepped aside, clearing the path. "So it's fellow Daoist Ling Yun. Please, come in. Alliance Leader Chen is currently at the main headquarters handling affairs."

Stepping into Golden Sword City, Ling Yun felt a surge of pure spiritual energy wash over him, tens of times denser than in the mortal realm's Qingyun Region. Although a trace of faint demonic essence was mixed in, it was neutralized by the spiritual light emanating from the Sword Soul Stones, posing no obstacle to cultivation. The buildings lining the streets were mostly low stone houses, their roofs covered with "Lightning-Resisting Crystals" to withstand the occasional demonic lightning that appeared in the Spirit Realm. Cultivators bustled through the streets like shuttles, most clad in the Sword Alliance's silver armor, though a few wore the robes of other sects, clearly representing righteous factions visiting the Sword Alliance for exchange.

"Ahead is the Sword Alliance's main headquarters, and the center of Golden Sword City," Lin Yue pointed towards a massive building at the end of the street. The entire structure was built from Sword Soul Stones, topped with a thirty-foot-tall stone sword sculpture, its blade pointing towards the dark red sky. "The 'Soul Breath Mirror' in the headquarters is on the top floor. As long as a cultivator's soul breath has been recorded, it can sense their general location."

Ling Yun's heart tightened, and his steps unconsciously quickened. He hadn't seen Su Qingyuan in three years. Although he knew her Wood Spirit Body protected her, he couldn't help but worry. The Sky-Rending Sword at his waist trembled slightly. The cracks on its blade seemed to be nourished by the Sword Soul aura of Golden Sword City, emitting a faint silver-red halo – a sign of the blade's gradual repair.

Inside the grand hall of the Sword Alliance headquarters, dozens of Sword Alliance elders sat around a circular stone table, discussing matters. At the head seat sat a white-haired old man, clad in a black robe embroidered with golden sword patterns. His face was stern, and the Sword Intent surrounding him was as steady as a mountain. He was Chen Cang, the Southern Region branch leader of the Sword Alliance, his cultivation having reached the early Sword King Realm, a renowned righteous expert in the Spirit Realm's southern region.

"Lin Yue, you're back," Chen Cang said, his gaze falling on Ling Yun with a hint of surprise. "Is this the mortal realm cultivator Ling Yun you mentioned? The Chaos Sword Body?"

"Indeed, this junior is Ling Yun. I pay my respects to Alliance Leader Chen," Ling Yun said, cupping his fists in greeting, his attitude humble yet neither servile nor overbearing.

Chen Cang nodded slightly, condensing a wisp of golden Sword Intent on his fingertip and gently placing it on Ling Yun's shoulder – a test of his physique. When the golden Sword Intent touched Ling Yun's Chaos Qi Sea, it was not repelled. Instead, it was absorbed and transformed by the Chaos Sword Body, becoming a wisp of pale golden energy that merged into his dantian. Chen Cang's surprise deepened. "As expected of the Chaos Sword Body! It's truly rare to see a genius like you emerge from the mortal realm. I heard that at Black Wind Pass, you used your Chaos Sword Body to draw in demonic energy and, combined with our Sword Alliance's Big Dipper Sword Wheel, repelled the Blood Fiend Hall's ambush?"

"It was merely by chance. It was mainly due to the cooperation of the Sword Alliance cultivators' Sword Intent," Ling Yun said modestly, not taking credit. "This junior has come not only to report my entry to the Alliance Leader but also to request a favor – my companion, Su Qingyuan, and I were separated while traversing a spatial rift. She is a successor of Medicine Immortal Valley and possesses the Wood Spirit Body. I hope to use the headquarters' Soul Breath Mirror to find her whereabouts."

Chen Cang pondered for a moment, then nodded. "The Soul Breath Mirror is meant to provide convenience for righteous cultivators. Follow me." He rose and walked towards the stairs at the back of the hall. "However, you must be prepared. Recently, the Blood Fiend Hall has been spreading demonic energy throughout the four regions of the Spirit Realm, interfering with the Soul Breath Mirror's sensing range. Currently, it can only cover the Southern Region and parts of the Eastern Region."

Ling Yun followed Chen Cang to the top floor of the headquarters. In the center of the top floor stood a three-foot-tall ancient bronze mirror, its surface emitting a faint silver light. The frame was inscribed with ancient sword patterns – this was the Soul Breath Mirror. Chen Cang placed his hand on the mirror's surface, injecting golden Sword Intent. "Ling Yun, drip a drop of your blood onto the mirror's surface, then recall Su Qingyuan's soul breath. The Soul Breath Mirror will sense based on your memory."

Ling Yun immediately complied. He condensed a wisp of Gold Element Sword Intent on his fingertip, lightly pricked his skin, and a drop of blood landed on the mirror's surface. He closed his eyes, recalling the faint green spiritual light of Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body and her unique scent of herbs. The blood merged into the mirror, and the silver surface began to ripple. Faint green light spots slowly moved across the mirror – it was Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Body's aura!

"It's reacting!" Ling Yun's heart leaped with joy, and he stared intently at the light spots on the mirror. The spots moved on the mirror for a moment, finally stopping in the direction of the Spirit Realm's Eastern Region. However, they suddenly dimmed, as if obscured by something.

"Her aura is near the 'Misty Forest' in the Eastern Region, but it's being interfered with by demonic energy, making it impossible to determine the exact location," Chen Cang said with a frown. "The Misty Forest is one of the Blood Fiend Hall's branch strongholds in the Eastern Region. Fellow Daoist Su may be in danger."

Ling Yun's expression instantly turned grave, and he clenched his fist. "Thank you, Alliance Leader Chen, for informing me. This junior will head to the Eastern Region to find her immediately!"

"Don't rush," Chen Cang stopped him. "The demonic energy in the Misty Forest is even denser than at Black Wind Pass, and the Blood Fiend Hall has set up a 'Soul Devouring Array' there. It's too dangerous for you to go alone. Coincidentally, the Sword Alliance has a mission to investigate the Blood Fiend Hall's branch in the Misty Forest. You can join the mission team and go with other cultivators."

He turned and took a scroll from a bookshelf, handing it to Ling Yun. "This is the mission detail. The team leader is the Sword Alliance's 'Thunder Sword' Chu Feng, who is in the late Sword Master Realm and excels in Thunder Element Sword Intent, which is effective against demonic energy. Additionally, a Barbarian Blade Cultivator has been active near Black Wind Abyss recently, reportedly also investigating the Blood Fiend Hall's movements. You might encounter him on your journey. His blade path complements the sword path and might be of assistance."

Ling Yun took the scroll. When he saw the information about the Barbarian Blade Cultivator marked at the end, his heart stirred. The description of the blade cultivator bore a resemblance to Xiao Zhan, whom Sword Elder had mentioned earlier. He looked up at Chen Cang. "Thank you, Alliance Leader Chen. This junior is willing to join the mission team!"

"Very good," Chen Cang nodded. "The mission team departs in three days. You can rest in Golden Sword City during these three days, or you can visit the 'Sword Soul Pavilion' at the headquarters to select some suitable sword techniques. Your Chaos Sword Body can accommodate all kinds of Sword Intent, so learning more sword techniques will benefit you."

After leaving the headquarters, Ling Yun did not go to the Sword Soul Pavilion but returned to the lodging arranged by Lin Yue. He sat by the window, looking at the scroll in his hand, then at the Sky-Rending Sword at his waist. The cracks on the blade had healed a bit more under the nourishment of the Sword Soul aura from the Soul Breath Mirror.

"Misty Forest in the Eastern Region, Barbarian Blade Cultivator..." Ling Yun murmured to himself, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "Qingyuan, wait for me. I will find you! And if anyone from the Blood Fiend Hall dared to harm you, I will make them pay!"

Sword Elder's voice echoed in his dantian. "That Barbarian Blade Cultivator is likely Xiao Zhan. His blade path contains the 'Demon-Breaking' characteristic, which complements your Chaos Sword Intent. After you meet, you can explore the Myriad Sword Cave together. The Sword Soul origin there can not only repair the Sky-Rending Sword but also allow you to comprehend Great Accomplishment Sword Intent and break through to the Sword King Realm."

Ling Yun nodded, put away the scroll, and began circulating the Qiankun Sword Canon to cultivate. The pure spiritual energy of Golden Sword City surged into his body, and the six-colored Sword Intent Bead in his dantian spun faster. The demonic essence absorbed at Black Wind Pass was completely decomposed, and his late Great Swordsman Realm cultivation stabilized further. Although the journey in the Spirit Realm was fraught with danger, he had to become stronger to find Su Qingyuan and uncover the truth behind the destruction of his sect.