Tracking Through Mist, Demonic Vines Block the Way and Encounter the Helmsman

The moment they stepped into the Misty Forest, a dense demonic energy surged like a cold tide. The dark red sky was obscured by black canopies, leaving only scattered specks of light filtering through the gaps in the branches, falling onto the rotten leaves on the ground and illuminating patches of glowing green demonic fungi. This was one of the most dangerous demonic forests in the Eastern Region of the Spirit Realm. Every plant in the forest had been corrupted by demonic energy, transforming into "demonic creations" that could actively attack cultivators.

"Everyone be careful. The demonic vines here can sense fluctuations in Sword Intent. Once you get close, they'll erupt from the ground to entwine their targets," Chu Feng circulated his Lightning Element Sword Intent, forming a barrier of faint purple lightning around him. "My lightning can temporarily disrupt the demonic vines' senses, but the range is limited. Maintain formation and stay within the barrier."

Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, the silver-red sword patterns on its body glowing faintly. Nurtured by the demonic energy of Black Wind Abyss, seventy percent of the sword's damage had been repaired. He could now clearly sense the flow of the surrounding demonic energy. He suddenly stopped, pointing a fingertip towards the bushes on his left. "There's the aura of a Wood Spirit Body there."

Everyone followed his gaze. Amidst the black bushes, a faint trace of pale green spiritual light remained, clinging to a broken demonic vine. The broken end of the vine exuded a fresh greenness—this was the mark of a Wood Spirit Body purifying demonic energy, clearly left by Su Qingyuan.

"Qingyuan has indeed been here!" Ling Yun rejoiced inwardly, his steps quickening involuntarily. However, Xiao Zhan grabbed him. "Kid, don't rush! This demonic forest is full of traps. That broken vine was fresh, she might have left not long ago. Let's follow the spiritual light and not alert them."

Ling Yun calmed down and nodded in thanks. The group followed the trail of pale green spiritual light. Along the way, demonic vines occasionally erupted from the ground, but they were repelled by Chu Feng's lightning or severed by stone spikes formed from Li Yan's Earth Element Sword Intent. Zhang Wei occasionally released her Water Element Sword Intent to nourish everyone's meridians, alleviating the sluggishness caused by the demonic energy. The Sword Alliance team's coordination was seamless, clearly honed through numerous battles on the border.

As they reached the "Withered Wood Valley" deep within the forest, the pale green spiritual light suddenly intensified, and faint sounds of fighting could be heard from the valley. Ling Yun's heart tightened. He leaped up, landing on a demonic ancient tree about thirty feet tall. In the valley, over a dozen demonic cultivators from the Blood Fiend Hall were surrounding a patch of glowing green Soul Awakening Grass. Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator in a purple robe, holding a curved demonic sword entwined with black chains. His cultivation had reached the late peak of the Sword Master Realm, even stronger than the scar-faced hall master from before.

"It's Wu Tao, the Vice Hall Master of the Blood Fiend Hall's Eastern Branch, 'Soul Locking Sword'!" Chu Feng also leaped onto the ancient tree, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes. "His Soul Locking Sword can entwine a cultivator's Sword Soul, preventing their Sword Intent from functioning. He's a mortal enemy of Sword Alliance cultivators!"

Ling Yun observed closely and noticed several severed spirit grasses on the ground near the Soul Awakening Grass. The pale green spiritual light was emanating from them. Su Qingyuan must have encountered Wu Tao's ambush while picking the Soul Awakening Grass here, forcing her to flee.

"These scumbags dare to bully Ling's friend!" Xiao Zhan roared, slinging his broad-backed saber over his shoulder, golden lightning surging. "Ling, Captain Chu, let's go down and kill them!"

"Wait." Ling Yun stopped him. "Wu Tao's Soul Locking Sword is troublesome, and there might be ambushes in the valley. Let's split into three groups: Captain Chu, you'll use your Lightning Element Sword Intent to attract his attention; Brother Xiao, you'll flank from the left and use your saber intent to sever his chains; I'll launch a surprise attack from the right, using Chaos Sword Intent to devour his demonic energy, preventing him from activating the Soul Locking Sword. Li Yan and Zhang Wei, you'll set up defenses outside the valley to prevent other demonic cultivators from reinforcing."

Everyone nodded and immediately acted according to the plan. Chu Feng was the first to leap from the ancient tree, his Lightning Element Sword Intent forming a lightning bolt about ten feet high, striking directly at Wu Tao. "Wu Tao, your death is near!"

Wu Tao's expression changed. He swept his Soul Locking Sword, and the black chains entangled the lightning bolt, but they were scorched by the lightning's demon-dispelling power, emitting crackling sounds. "It's Chu Feng of the Sword Alliance! Still have the guts to come to the Misty Forest to die!" He circulated his demonic essence, and the chains grew longer, coiling towards Chu Feng. "Today, I'll let you taste the power of the Soul Locking Sword and let your Sword Soul become nourishment for my blade!"

Just as Chu Feng and Wu Tao were locked in combat, Xiao Zhan launched a surprise attack from the left, his broad-backed saber unleashing golden lightning. "Savage Lightning Saber Art - Chain Severing Slash!" The lightning severed Wu Tao's chains, and his saber intent struck directly at his back. Wu Tao was forced to turn and defend, his Soul Locking Sword clashing with the saber. Golden lightning and black demonic energy exploded, the shockwave sending the surrounding demonic cultivators flying.

Ling Yun seized the opportunity, leaping from the right. The Sky-Rending Sword, imbued with Chaos Sword Intent, unleashed black and gold sword energy straight at Wu Tao's demonic sword. "Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash - Lightning Fire Version!" He fused Chu Feng's Lightning Element Sword Intent with his own Fire Attribute Sword Intent. The sword energy pulsed with faint purple and crimson light, capable of not only devouring demonic energy but also detonating demonic essence.

"What? Chaos Sword Intent!" Wu Tao's pupils constricted. He had heard of cultivators with the Chaos Sword Body in the mortal realm but never expected to encounter one here. He immediately circulated his demonic essence, and the chains on the Soul Locking Sword surged again, attempting to entwine Ling Yun's sword. However, they were instantly devoured by the black and gold sword energy—the Chaos Sword Body could directly absorb the demonic energy within the Soul Locking chains!

"Impossible!" Wu Tao's face turned pale. He turned to flee, but Chu Feng's lightning entangled his limbs, and Xiao Zhan's saber was already at his throat.

"Speak! Where did Su Qingyuan go?" Ling Yun stepped forward, pressing the Sky-Rending Sword against Wu Tao's dantian, Chaos Sword Intent ready to detonate his demonic essence at any moment.

Wu Tao trembled, not daring to hide anything. "She... she fled towards the Myriad Sword Cave! The Blood Fiend Hall's Grand Hall Master ordered her to be captured alive, to use her Wood Spirit Origin to refine the core of the Myriad Soul Banner, which is why we didn't kill her..."

"Myriad Soul Banner?" A cold glint flashed in Ling Yun's eyes. He had heard of this evil artifact in the mortal realm and was surprised the Blood Fiend Hall intended to use Su Qingyuan's Wood Spirit Origin to refine its core. "Where is your Grand Hall Master? How many demonic cultivators are in the Myriad Sword Cave?"

"The Grand Hall Master... the Grand Hall Master has already taken people to the Myriad Sword Cave, saying they want to find the Ancient Sword Soul to enhance the Myriad Soul Banner's power..." Wu Tao's voice grew quieter. "Besides us, there are two other patrols in the Misty Forest outside the valley. They'll be here to reinforce soon..."

A decisive look flashed in Chu Feng's eyes. "Ling Yun, let's kill Wu Tao first, then immediately head to the Myriad Sword Cave. Fellow Daoist Su has the Wood Spirit Body protecting her, so she won't be in immediate danger. But there are too many demonic cultivators in the Myriad Sword Cave. If we're late, it'll be too late!"

Ling Yun nodded, thrusting the Sky-Rending Sword into Wu Tao's dantian. Chaos Sword Intent devoured his demonic essence, and Wu Tao collapsed to the ground, dead. Just then, the sound of dense footsteps echoed from outside the valley; the Blood Fiend Hall's patrol demonic cultivators had arrived.

"Li Yan, Zhang Wei, retreat!" Chu Feng shouted, his Lightning Element Sword Intent forming a bolt of lightning that exploded the demonic vines at the valley entrance. "We're going to the Myriad Sword Cave!"

The group followed the pale green spiritual light left by Su Qingyuan, speeding towards the depths of the forest. The Sky-Rending Sword vibrated gently in Ling Yun's hand, the silver-red sword patterns on its body glowing brighter. The Sword Elder's voice echoed in his dantian: "The Myriad Sword Cave is the place with the densest Sword Soul origin in the Spirit Realm. It can not only repair the Sky-Rending Sword but also holds the inheritance of the Ancient Sword Venerable, which is a clue to the Heaven and Earth Sword Box. The Blood Fiend Hall wants to seize the Sword Soul to enhance the Myriad Soul Banner. We must find Su Qingyuan and obtain the inheritance before they do!"

Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, a determined glint in his eyes. The demonic energy of the Misty Forest grew fainter behind them, and ahead, a pure Sword Soul aura could be vaguely sensed—the Myriad Sword Cave was just ahead. There lay not only Su Qingyuan's trace and the Sword Soul origin to repair the Sky-Rending Sword but also the Blood Fiend Hall's conspiracy and the key clue to the truth behind the Ling family's annihilation. A confrontation between the righteous path of the Spirit Realm and the demonic cultivators was about to begin at the Myriad Sword Cave.