By the time they left Myriad Sword Cave, dusk had already spread across the Spirit Realm's dark-red sky. Ling Yun held Su Qingyuan as they sat atop the flying sword artifact, the Sky-Rending Sword slung diagonally at his waist. Silver-red sword patterns and pale-golden Sword Soul radiance intertwined across its blade, automatically dispersing the scattered demonic qi around them from time to time—nourished by the Sword Soul Origin within Myriad Sword Cave, the Sky-Rending Sword had not only been completely restored, but had also gained the trait of "actively dispelling demons." It was no longer the Mortal Iron Ancient Sword that could barely defend against enemies back in the Mortal Realm.
Su Qingyuan leaned against Ling Yun's shoulder, some color having returned to her face. A wisp of pale-green spiritual light gathered at her fingertips as she gently brushed the Sky-Rending Sword. "The Sword Soul aura of this sword is so much stronger now. My Wood Spirit Body can sense the Will of the Ancient Sword Cultivators hidden within it. Perhaps it will help you fight even stronger demonic cultivators in the future."
"It's all thanks to you, Qingyuan." Ling Yun clasped her hand tightly. "If not for the guidance left behind by your wood spirit aura, I wouldn't have found Myriad Sword Cave."
"There's no need for such words between us." Su Qingyuan smiled, but a trace of worry flashed through her eyes. "Still, Blood Fiend Hall will not let this go. They lost the Wood Spirit Body Origin, so they will surely set an ambush along the way."
The moment her words fell, a patch of black clouds suddenly appeared in the sky ahead. More than a dozen black figures shot out from within—the pursuers from Blood Fiend Hall. At their head stood Liu Cang's deputy, Black Scorpion, whose cultivation had reached the late Sword Master Realm. He gripped a pair of scorpion-tail swords glowing with poisonous light, while corrosive poisonous mist mingled with the demonic qi around him.
"You little brats from the Sword Alliance, leave behind the Wood Spirit Body, and I'll spare your lives!" Black Scorpion's voice was shrill and grating. His scorpion-tail swords slashed in a cross, and black poisonous mist condensed into two Poison Blades that hacked toward the flying sword artifact.
"Brother Xiao, Captain Chu, protect Qingyuan and Zhang Wei. I'll deal with them!" Ling Yun leaped into the air, the Sky-Rending Sword leaving its sheath as silver-red Sword Qi intertwined with pale-golden Sword Soul radiance. "Myriad Swords Return to Origin!" He did not summon too many ancient swords, only drawing forth more than ten of the sharpest ancient shortswords. They revolved around the Sky-Rending Sword, forming a small sword wheel as they met the Poison Blades head-on.
Clang! The sword wheel collided with the Poison Blades, and the poisonous mist was instantly purified by the Sword Soul radiance. The Poison Blades shattered into black fragments. Black Scorpion's expression changed. He had not expected Ling Yun's sword to counter his poisonous mist. "A bunch of trash, get him!" More than a dozen demonic cultivators attacked at once, their demonic qi condensing into more than ten Soul Devouring Swords that shot toward Ling Yun.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhan rested his broad-backed saber on his shoulder as golden lightning surged around him. "Kid Ling, I'll help you! Savage Lightning Saber Technique—Lightning Net!" Lightning condensed into a gigantic net that blocked the Soul Devouring Swords. The demon-breaking power of the lightning net scorched the demonic qi until it hissed and crackled.
Chu Feng also controlled the flying sword artifact to dive downward. His Lightning Element Sword Intent condensed into a lightning sword over ten feet long, stabbing straight at Black Scorpion. "Black Scorpion, how many righteous cultivators have you slaughtered at the border? Today, it's time to settle old scores!" Accompanied by the howl of tearing wind, the lightning sword ripped apart every strand of demonic qi in its path and drove straight toward Black Scorpion's face.
Black Scorpion did not dare receive it head-on. He raised his scorpion-tail swords before him, and poisonous mist condensed into a shield. With a deafening clang, the lightning sword pierced through the shield and numbed Black Scorpion's arms from the impact. He turned to flee, only to be ensnared by Ling Yun's sword wheel—the ancient shortswords drawn by the Sky-Rending Sword clung to him like maggots on bone, ceaselessly stabbing at his openings and forcing him back again and again.
"Five Elements Demon Devouring Slash—Poison Break!" Ling Yun seized the opportunity. Chaos Sword Intent merged with the metal and earth elements, and his blade, trailing pale-golden radiance, thrust directly toward Black Scorpion's dantian. The instant Black Scorpion's poisonous mist touched the blade, it was purified by the Sword Soul radiance. The blade then pierced through his dantian, and the black demonic qi and poisonous mist collapsed at the same time. Black Scorpion fell to the ground, dead.
When the remaining demonic cultivators saw their leader slain, they scattered in terror, only to be trapped by Chu Feng's lightning net. In the end, Ling Yun and Xiao Zhan killed them one by one. After clearing the battlefield, everyone boarded the flying sword artifact again. Su Qingyuan suddenly said, "Just now, my Wood Spirit Body sensed an aura of water-element Sword Soul within Black Scorpion's demonic qi. It seemed to come from Clear Water Pool in the Spirit Realm Southern Domain—it is a secret realm at the border, said to contain a pure water-element Sword Soul. But it has now been occupied by a branch hall of Blood Fiend Hall."
Ling Yun's eyes lit up. "Clear Water Pool? We can go there next! Alliance Leader Chen said Blood Fiend Hall has been highly active at the border. If we support the border war, we can fight the demonic cultivators and search for the water-element Sword Soul at the same time—killing two birds with one stone."
Xiao Zhan slapped his thigh. "Good idea! I've long wanted to have a proper fight with the demonic cultivators at the border. And while we're there, I can see whether Clear Water Pool has plenty of lightning-pattern wood. It'll be perfect for forging a new saber!"
Chu Feng nodded as well. "The border is the Spirit Realm's first line of defense. If Blood Fiend Hall breaks through it, cultivators throughout the Southern Domain will suffer. Once I return, I'll apply to Alliance Leader Chen and have our team sent to support the border."
The flying sword artifact continued speeding toward Golden Sword City. In the night, the stars of the Spirit Realm shone brighter than those of the Mortal Realm, spilling through the clouds onto everyone as if safeguarding their righteous path.
Early the next morning, the flying sword artifact finally arrived at Golden Sword City. Ling Yun settled Su Qingyuan in a Sword Alliance guest room to recover, then went with Chu Feng and Xiao Zhan to the main headquarters to see Chen Cang. Upon learning what had happened in Myriad Sword Cave, Chen Cang's expression turned grave. "Blood Fiend Hall actually intended to forge the core of the Myriad Soul Banner. Fortunately, you stopped them in time. Otherwise, the inheritance of the Spirit Realm's sword path would have been in danger."
He turned, took a parchment scroll from the bookshelf, and handed it to Ling Yun. "This is a battle report from the border. Recently, Blood Fiend Hall has stationed heavy forces in secret realms such as Clear Water Pool and Black Wind Abyss. Not only are they seizing Sword Soul Origins, they are slaughtering nearby villages and refining the villagers' souls into demonic essence. The Sword Alliance has already dispatched three teams to reinforce the border, but all have suffered devastating losses. Are you willing to go?"
"We are!" Ling Yun, Chu Feng, and Xiao Zhan answered at the same time. Ling Yun added, "Alliance Leader Chen, Clear Water Pool contains a water-element Sword Soul. It can help me unlock the second aperture of the Heaven and Earth Sword Box. With the Sword Box's support, our chances against Blood Fiend Hall will be greater."
"Good!" A trace of relief flashed in Chen Cang's eyes. "I will assign twenty Sword Alliance cultivators to you, along with ten Demon Breaking Pills and three sets of Lightning Repelling Armor. You will depart at dawn tomorrow. Remember, the border war is not only about protecting the Spirit Realm, but also preserving the Spirit Realm's Sword Soul inheritance—Blood Fiend Hall wants to rule the Spirit Realm with demons. We cannot let them succeed!"
As he left the main headquarters, Ling Yun touched the Sky-Rending Sword at his waist. The Sword Soul radiance on its blade trembled faintly, as though answering his determination. He lifted his head toward the skies of the Spirit Realm and silently vowed, Father, my clansmen, I am drawing ever closer to the truth behind our clan's destruction. I will avenge Blood Fiend Hall's crimes, and I will protect the righteous path of the Spirit Realm.
When he returned to the guest room, Su Qingyuan was sitting by the window refining pills. When she saw Ling Yun enter, she raised the porcelain bottle in her hand. "These are Sword Soul Pills, refined from the Soul Awakening Grass of Myriad Sword Cave and my Wood Spirit Body. They can help stabilize your Sword Intent. Perhaps they can even help you comprehend Great Completion Sword Intent early and break through to the Sword King Realm."
Ling Yun accepted the porcelain bottle, warmth surging through his heart. He knew the coming border war would not be easy. Blood Fiend Hall's demonic cultivators would be stronger, and the secret realms would hold even greater dangers. But with Su Qingyuan's spirit medicine, Xiao Zhan's saber intent, Chu Feng's Sword Intent, the Sky-Rending Sword, and the Heaven and Earth Sword Box that he was about to unlock, he was confident he could face every challenge—the struggle for supremacy in the Spirit Realm had only just entered its most crucial stage.
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