Team Assembles, Encountering Xiao Zhan Before Black Wind Abyss

Three days later, at dawn, five cultivators in silver armor from the Sword Alliance had assembled on the plaza north of Golden Sword City. Leading them was a stern-faced young man holding a long sword that pulsed with faint violet lightning. Tiny currents of electricity crackled around him – it was Chu Feng, the mission team captain, a top talent among the Sword Alliance's younger generation, renowned for his "Demon Breaker" Lightning Element Sword Intent and a cultivator at the late Sword Master Realm.

"Ling Yun, are you the cultivator with the Chaos Sword Body from the mortal realm?" Chu Feng sized up Ling Yun, his gaze lingering on the Sky-Rending Sword at his waist, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. "Your sword... seems to be damaged?"

"It was injured by spatial turbulence when I traversed a spatial rift earlier." Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword. The cracks on its blade had already faded considerably under the nourishment of the Sword Souls' aura in Golden Sword City. "But it's gradually being repaired and won't affect combat."

Chu Feng nodded slightly and turned to introduce the other team members. "This is Li Yan, Earth Element Sword Intent, skilled in setting up defenses. Zhang Wei, Water Element Sword Intent, capable of providing healing support. And Wang Hao, Gold Element Sword Intent, specializing in breaking defenses. This mission is to investigate a branch of the Blood Fiend Hall near Black Wind Abyss, confirm if they are preparing to attack Golden Sword City, and simultaneously search for your companion – the Soul Breath Mirror indicated her aura appeared near the east side of Black Wind Abyss."

Li Yan and the others nodded at Ling Yun. Zhang Wei even handed him a porcelain bottle. "This contains a Demon Cleansing Pill. It can temporarily suppress demonic energy intrusion. Keep it for backup."

Ling Yun accepted the bottle and thanked them, a warmth surging within him. Though he had just met these Sword Alliance cultivators, he could feel their sincerity towards the righteous path. The group immediately set off. Chu Feng summoned a flying sword artifact, and the five stepped onto it, speeding towards Black Wind Abyss.

The sky in the Spirit Realm was vaster than in the mortal realm. Beneath the dark red clouds, demonic birds of prey occasionally swoared past, emitting piercing shrieks. Chu Feng controlled the flying sword artifact, his Lightning Element Sword Intent forming an invisible barrier that drove the birds of prey far away. "Black Wind Abyss is the border between the southern and eastern regions of the Spirit Realm. The demonic energy concentration is ten times that of Golden Sword City. The Blood Fiend Hall has established three branch halls there, with demonic cultivators stationed year-round."

Ling Yun looked down, observing the land gradually transform from desert to dark brown wasteland. Deep, bottomless fissures covered the ground, and black demonic energy surged out from them, condensing into grotesque demonic shadows in the air. This was the outer perimeter of Black Wind Abyss. Even a lone cultivator at the Sword Master Realm might not escape unscathed if they entered.

"Ahead is the 'Bone Shattering Cliff' of Black Wind Abyss. The western branch of the Blood Fiend Hall is at the bottom of the cliff." Chu Feng guided the sword artifact to descend. "We'll infiltrate and scout first. If the number of demonic cultivators inside is small, we'll destroy it directly. If there are too many, we'll mark the location and report back to the Sword Alliance."

As the five landed, a fierce battle erupted from the bottom of the cliff, accompanied by rough shouts and the screams of demonic cultivators. Ling Yun's heart stirred, and he activated his Chaos Sword Intent to sense the sounds. The shouts contained a powerful saber intent, which in turn carried a trace of righteous aura, completely different from the demonic energy of the Blood Fiend Hall.

"Someone is fighting demonic cultivators?" Chu Feng's eyes flashed with vigilance. "Let's go and see. If they're righteous cultivators, we can offer assistance."

The group descended along the stone steps of the cliff face. Upon reaching the bottom, they witnessed a shocking sight: a burly man in animal skins wielded a broad-bladed saber crackling with golden lightning. Each strike shattered several streams of demonic energy. Around him lay over a dozen corpses of demonic cultivators. The demonic energy at the cliff bottom was scattered and fleeing from the saber intent. This burly man was none other than the Barbarian Blade Cultivator, Xiao Zhan!

"These scoundrels dare to steal my 'Thunder Vein Ore'!" Xiao Zhan roared, sweeping his saber. The golden lightning struck a demonic cultivator attempting to escape, shattering his dantian. As he turned, he saw Ling Yun and his group. His eyes flickered with vigilance, and he held his saber defensively. "Who are you? Are you from the Blood Fiend Hall?"

"We are a mission team from the Sword Alliance, not demonic cultivators." Chu Feng stepped forward, retracting his Lightning Element Sword Intent. "I am Captain Chu Feng, and this is Ling Yun, a cultivator from the mortal realm. Thank you for your assistance just now in eliminating so many demonic cultivators."

Upon hearing "mortal realm," Xiao Zhan's vigilance lessened slightly. He sized up Ling Yun. "From the mortal realm? Your sword carries a chaotic aura, quite interesting." He sheathed his saber, grinning and revealing a set of white teeth. "My name is Xiao Zhan, a Barbarian Blade Cultivator. I came to Black Wind Abyss to find Thunder Vein Ore to forge a new saber. I didn't expect to encounter these Blood Fiend Hall scoundrels."

Ling Yun's heart leaped with joy. It was indeed Xiao Zhan from the outline! He stepped forward. "Brother Xiao, I have a question for you – have you seen a woman with the Wood Spirit Body near Black Wind Abyss? She's my companion, named Su Qingyuan. The Soul Breath Mirror indicated her aura appeared here."

"Wood Spirit Body?" Xiao Zhan frowned and pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands. "Oh! Three days ago, in the 'Withered Wood Forest' east of Black Wind Abyss, I saw a woman. She had several moving spirit grasses following her. She must be the Wood Spirit Body you mentioned! However, there were Blood Fiend Hall demonic cultivators chasing her at the time. She fled towards the Misty Forest. I wanted to help, but I was entangled by another group of demonic cultivators and couldn't pursue."

Ling Yun's heart clenched. The Misty Forest was a stronghold of the Blood Fiend Hall's eastern branch. Su Qingyuan venturing deep within would be extremely perilous. Seeing this, Chu Feng said solemnly, "In that case, we'll adjust our plan. We'll head through Black Wind Abyss first and then to the Misty Forest. This way, we can investigate the Blood Fiend Hall branch and search for your companion's trace – killing two birds with one stone."

Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up. "Misty Forest? I was planning to go there anyway. I heard there's 'Thousand-Year Thunder Vein Wood' inside, excellent material for forging sabers! How about I join you? My Savage Lightning Saber Technique can break demonic energy, which will be useful against these Blood Fiend Hall scoundrels!"

Chu Feng looked at Ling Yun. Seeing him nod, he agreed, "Alright! Brother Xiao's saber intent is fierce. With you joining us, our chances of victory will be greater."

Just as the group was about to move, the demonic energy at the cliff bottom surged violently. Over twenty demonic cultivators in black robes rushed out from a cave on the west side. Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator with a scarred face, wielding a bone staff topped with a black skull. He was the leader of the Blood Fiend Hall's western branch, his cultivation at the late Sword Master Realm, comparable to Chu Feng's.

"A bunch of suicidal fools, daring to kill my Blood Fiend Hall's people!" the scarred leader roared. He waved his bone staff, and the skull spewed dense demonic energy, transforming into over a dozen black chains that snaked towards Ling Yun and the others. "Today, I shall turn all of you into nourishment for my 'Soul Devouring Staff'!"

"Excellent!" Xiao Zhan charged forward first, his broad-bladed saber unleashing golden lightning. "Savage Lightning Saber Technique - Thunderous Slash!" The lightning collided with the demonic energy chains, instantly severing them. Chu Feng was not to be outdone, his Lightning Element Sword Intent surging. "Thunderous Demon-Breaking Sword!" Violet lightning coalesced into a long sword, stabbing directly at the scarred leader's chest.

Seeing this, Ling Yun also drew his Sky-Rending Sword, activating his Chaos Sword Intent. His Gold and Fire element Sword Intents combined into the "Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash," striking at a lone demonic cultivator. The blade sliced through the demonic cultivator's demonic sword, instantly devouring his demonic energy and piercing his dantian. A wisp of pure demonic essence was absorbed into his dantian, and the cracks on the Sky-Rending Sword faded further, with faint silver-red sword patterns emerging.

"This sword can devour demons?" Xiao Zhan's eyes flashed with surprise as he witnessed the change in the Sky-Rending Sword. "Kid, your sword is quite interesting!"

Ling Yun smiled and said nothing, turning to continue engaging the demonic cultivators. Chu Feng's Lightning Element Sword Intent and Xiao Zhan's Savage Lightning Saber Technique complemented each other, their lightning interweaving into a net that firmly suppressed the demonic energy. Li Yan set up an Earth Element defensive formation, protecting Zhang Wei and Wang Hao. Ling Yun, relying on his Chaos Sword Intent and Clear Sword Heart, focused on attacking the demonic cultivators' weaknesses. In just half an incense stick's worth of time, he had slain five demonic cultivators.

The scarred leader, sensing the unfavorable turn of events, attempted to activate the Soul Devouring Staff to detonate the demonic energy in a mutual destruction, but Chu Feng's Thunderous Sword pierced his dantian, causing his demonic energy to dissipate instantly. He fell to the ground, his eyes filled with unwillingness. "The Blood Fiend Hall will not let you go... Lord Blood Demon Venerable will soon..."

Before he could finish, he breathed his last. Chu Feng stepped forward and collected the Soul Devouring Staff. "This is a mid-grade evil artifact of the Blood Fiend Hall. Bringing it back to the Sword Alliance will allow us to research methods to break demonic energy."

Ling Yun walked to the demonic energy fissure at the bottom of the cliff. The Sky-Rending Sword suddenly trembled, its blade automatically absorbing the demonic energy seeping from the fissure. The silver-red sword patterns lit up completely – the damage to the blade was seventy percent repaired! The voice of Sword Elder echoed in his dantian, "The demonic energy in Black Wind Abyss is purer than that in the mortal realm, which is perfect for accelerating the Sky-Rending Sword's repair. Continue moving forward. Once we reach the Misty Forest, perhaps it can fully awaken."

After the group cleaned up the battlefield, Chu Feng looked in the direction of the Misty Forest. "Rest for a moment, then we'll continue our journey. Fellow Daoist Su is still waiting for us, and it's time we properly deal with the Blood Fiend Hall's Soul Devouring Array."

Xiao Zhan hoisted his broad-bladed saber and grinned. "Perfect, my saber is hungry too. Let these Blood Fiend Hall scoundrels taste the might of the Barbarian Saber Technique!"

Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, a determined glint in his eyes. Black Wind Abyss was behind them, the Misty Forest lay ahead. Su Qingyuan, I'm coming! And it's time to settle the score with the Blood Fiend Hall!