Sword Alliance Ordered to the Border

As they left the Myriad Sword Cave, twilight had already spread across the Spirit Realm's dark red sky. Ling Yun held Su Qingyuan as they sat on a flying sword, the Sky-Rending Sword slung across his waist. The silver-red sword patterns on its body intertwined with the flowing light of its faint golden Sword Soul, automatically dispelling the scattered demonic energy around them. Nourished by the Sword Soul's origin from the Myriad Sword Cave, the Sky-Rending Sword was not only completely repaired but also gained the trait of "active demon expulsion," no longer the mere antique sword from the mortal realm that could barely fend off enemies.

Su Qingyuan leaned against Ling Yun's shoulder, her complexion regaining some color. She condensed a wisp of faint green spiritual light with her fingertip and gently brushed it across the Sky-Rending Sword. "The Sword Soul's aura within this sword is so potent now. The Wood Spirit Body can sense the will of an ancient Sword Cultivator hidden within. Perhaps it can help you fight stronger demonic cultivators in the future."

"Thanks to you, Qingyuan," Ling Yun clasped her hand. "If it weren't for the trace of Wood Spirit aura you left behind to guide me, I wouldn't have found the Myriad Sword Cave."

"We don't need to say such things between us," Su Qingyuan smiled, a flicker of worry in her eyes. "However, the Blood Fiend Hall won't let this go. They've lost the origin of the Wood Spirit Body, so they'll surely set up an ambush along the way."

As soon as she finished speaking, a patch of black clouds suddenly appeared in the sky ahead. Several black figures shot out from the clouds—they were indeed pursuers from the Blood Fiend Hall. Leading them was Liu Cang's deputy, "Black Scorpion," whose cultivation had reached the late stage of the Sword Master Realm. He wielded a pair of scorpion tail swords emitting poisonous light, and the demonic energy surrounding him carried corrosive poisonous mist.

"Sword Alliance brats, leave the Wood Spirit Body behind, and we'll spare your lives!" Black Scorpion's voice was sharp and piercing. He crossed his scorpion tail swords, forming two poison blades from the black poisonous mist, slashing towards the flying sword.

"Brother Xiao, Captain Chu, you two protect Qingyuan and Zhang Wei. I'll deal with them!" Ling Yun leaped forward, drawing the Sky-Rending Sword. Silver-red sword energy intertwined with the flowing light of the faint golden Sword Soul. "Myriad Swords - Return to Origin!" He didn't summon many ancient swords, only over a dozen of the sharpest ancient short swords. These short swords rotated around the Sky-Rending Sword, forming a small sword wheel that met the poison blades.

"Clang!" The sword wheel collided with the poison blades. The poisonous mist was instantly purified by the flowing light of the Sword Soul, and the poison blades shattered into black fragments. Black Scorpion's expression changed; he hadn't expected Ling Yun's sword to be able to counter his poisonous mist. "A bunch of trash, attack!" The dozen or so demonic cultivators attacked simultaneously, their demonic energy condensing into over ten Soul Devouring Swords, shooting towards Ling Yun.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhan shouldered his broad-backed saber, golden lightning surging. "Kid Ling, I'll help you! Savage Lightning Saber Technique - Lightning Net!" The lightning condensed into a massive lightning net, blocking the attack of the Soul Devouring Swords. The net's demon-breaking power scorched the demonic energy with a sizzling sound.

Chu Feng also controlled his flying sword to dive down, his Lightning Element Sword Intent condensing into a lightning sword about ten feet long, stabbing directly at Black Scorpion. "Black Scorpion, how many righteous cultivators have you harmed on the border? Today, we settle the old scores!" The lightning sword tore through the demonic energy along its path with a whistling sound, heading straight for Black Scorpion's face.

Black Scorpion dared not meet the attack head-on, blocking with his scorpion tail swords in front of him, the poisonous mist forming a shield. With a loud "clang," the lightning sword pierced the shield, making Black Scorpion's arm go numb. He turned to flee, but was entangled by Ling Yun's sword wheel—the ancient short swords summoned by the Sky-Rending Sword were like maggots on a bone, constantly stabbing at his weaknesses, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.

"Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash - Poison Break!" Ling Yun seized the opportunity, his Chaos Sword Intent merging with the Metal and Earth elements. The blade, carrying a faint golden flowing light, stabbed directly at Black Scorpion's dantian. The moment Black Scorpion's poisonous mist touched the blade, it was purified by the flowing light of the Sword Soul. The blade then smoothly pierced his dantian, and the black demonic energy and poisonous mist dissipated simultaneously. Black Scorpion fell to the ground, dead.

The remaining demonic cultivators, seeing their leader killed, were terrified and scattered, but they were trapped by Chu Feng's lightning net and eventually killed one by one by Ling Yun and Xiao Zhan. After clearing the battlefield, everyone boarded the flying sword again. Su Qingyuan suddenly spoke, "The Wood Spirit Body just sensed that Black Scorpion's demonic energy carried the aura of a Water Element Sword Soul, seemingly from the 'Clear Water Pool' in the southern region of the Spirit Realm. It's a secret realm on the border, rumored to contain a pure Water Element Sword Soul, but it's now occupied by a branch of the Blood Fiend Hall."

Ling Yun's eyes lit up. "Clear Water Pool? That's a good place to go next! Alliance Leader Chen said the Blood Fiend Hall has been very active on the border. We can go support the border war, fight demonic cultivators, and search for the Water Element Sword Soul—killing two birds with one stone."

Xiao Zhan slapped his thigh. "Good idea! I've been itching to have a good fight with the demonic cultivators on the border for a long time. And I can see if there are plenty of Thunder-Patterned Wood in the Clear Water Pool, which would be perfect for refining new saber weapons!"

Chu Feng also nodded. "The border is the Spirit Realm's first line of defense. If it's breached by the Blood Fiend Hall, cultivators in the southern region will suffer. I'll report back and apply to Alliance Leader Chen to have our team sent to support the border."

The flying sword continued to speed towards Golden Sword City. In the night, the stars of the Spirit Realm shone brighter than in the mortal realm, casting their light upon everyone through the clouds, as if escorting their righteous path.

The next morning, the flying sword finally arrived at Golden Sword City. Ling Yun settled Su Qingyuan into a guest room at the Sword Alliance to recuperate, then went with Chu Feng and Xiao Zhan to the main headquarters to meet Chen Cang. Upon hearing about the Myriad Sword Cave situation, Chen Cang's expression turned grave. "The Blood Fiend Hall actually intended to refine the core of the Myriad Soul Banner. Fortunately, you stopped them in time, otherwise the sword dao inheritance of the Spirit Realm would have been in danger."

He turned and took a sheepskin scroll from a bookshelf, handing it to Ling Yun. "This is the battle report from the border. The Blood Fiend Hall has recently deployed heavy troops in secret realms like the Clear Water Pool and Black Wind Abyss. They are not only seizing Sword Soul origins but also slaughtering nearby villages and refining the villagers' souls into demonic essence. The Sword Alliance has already sent three teams to support them, but all suffered heavy losses. Are you willing to go?"

"We are willing!" Ling Yun, Chu Feng, and Xiao Zhan said in unison. Ling Yun added, "Alliance Leader Chen, the Clear Water Pool contains a Water Element Sword Soul, which can help me unlock the second aperture of the Heaven and Earth Sword Box. With the sword box's assistance, our chances of defeating the Blood Fiend Hall will be greater."

"Good!" A hint of relief flashed in Chen Cang's eyes. "I will assign you twenty Sword Alliance cultivators and prepare ten Demon Breaking Pills and three Lightning Repelling Armors. You will depart tomorrow morning. Remember, the border war is not just about protecting the Spirit Realm, but also about preserving the Sword Soul inheritance of the Spirit Realm—the Blood Fiend Hall wants to rule the Spirit Realm with demonic power, and we absolutely cannot let them succeed!"

As they left the headquarters, Ling Yun touched the Sky-Rending Sword at his waist. The Sword Soul's flowing light on the sword trembled slightly, as if echoing his resolve. He looked up at the Spirit Realm's sky and silently recited, Father, clansmen, I am getting closer to the truth of our clan's destruction. I will surely avenge the Blood Fiend Hall; I will also protect the righteous path of the Spirit Realm.

Returning to the guest room, Su Qingyuan was sitting by the window refining pills. Seeing Ling Yun enter, she held up the porcelain bottle in her hand. "This is a Sword Soul Pill, refined using the Soul Awakening Grass from the Myriad Sword Cave and the Wood Spirit Body. It can help you stabilize your Sword Intent, and perhaps even help you comprehend the perfected Sword Intent ahead of time and break through to the Sword King Realm."

Ling Yun took the porcelain bottle, a warmth surging in his heart. He knew that the upcoming border war would not be easy, the demonic cultivators of the Blood Fiend Hall were stronger, and the secret realms held more dangers. But with Su Qingyuan's spiritual medicine, Xiao Zhan's saber intent, Chu Feng's sword intent, and the Sky-Rending Sword and the soon-to-be-unlocked Heaven and Earth Sword Box, he was confident in facing all challenges—the struggle for the Spirit Realm had just entered its most crucial phase.