Traces in Sword Mound Mountain, Demonic Shadows Lurk

The clamor on the Training Ground hadn't yet died away when Ling Yun sheathed his sword, and thunderous cheers suddenly erupted around him. Outer disciples surged to the edge of the field, their eyes filled with awe and fervor—the wind-and-fire sword shadow from moments ago had not only shattered Zhao Lei's arrogance, but also broken the iron rule that an Early Stage Great Swordsman could never defeat a peak-level opponent, becoming a new legend in everyone's hearts.

"Senior Brother Ling is incredible! That Three Forms of Qiankun move was simply divine!"

"We thought he was crazy before, but it turns out our horizons were too narrow!"

The discussions rose and fell, and even several elders known for their severity nodded in approval. Ye Chen stepped forward and patted Ling Yun's shoulder. There was less gravity in his voice now, and more satisfaction. "Good lad, you didn't disgrace the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect. But Zhao Kun is narrow-minded and won't let this go. You can't afford the slightest slack in your cultivation from here on."

Just as Ling Yun was about to respond, Sword Elder's voice suddenly sounded in his sea of consciousness. "When you activated the Chaos Sword Body just now, the Sky-Rending Sword showed a new reaction—it seems to have sensed the aura of a Sword Soul, in the direction of Sword Mound Mountain in the Qingyun Region. If you can find a compatible Sword Soul, your Sword Intent can advance even further."

"Sword Mound Mountain?" Ling Yun's heart stirred. It was a famous dangerous land in the mortal world, said to contain the remains and Sword Souls of ancient sword cultivators. Yet with demonic beasts entrenched there and miasma filling the air, few dared venture deep inside.

At that moment, Su Qingyuan hurried over with a medicine pouch in hand, lingering worry still in her eyes. She took out a lustrous white pill and held it before Ling Yun. "This is the Sword Intent Condensing Pill I just refined. It can help stabilize the Fire-Wind Sword Intent you just broke through to, and neutralize the remaining bloody poison. When you fought Zhao Lei just now, I was so afraid you'd get hurt..."

"Thank you, Sister Qingyuan." Ling Yun accepted the pill, his fingertips brushing her slightly cool hand. They both froze for a moment. Su Qingyuan's cheeks flushed faintly, and she quickly pulled her hand back before adding in a soft voice, "Sword Mound Mountain has seen frequent strange phenomena lately. My father said the miasma there has thinned somewhat—perhaps a Sword Soul is about to emerge. But there are third-rank demonic beasts there, Sabertooth Bears. If you're going, be sure to bring more talismans."

Before her words had even faded, a blue-clad figure swept over. It was Murong Shuang. She gripped her Wind Chant Sword, her gaze carrying an unyielding sharpness. "Ling Yun, you defeated Zhao Lei today. I'll admit you're formidable. But your Fire-Wind Sword Intent still isn't condensed enough. If it were me, I might not have given Zhao Lei the chance to use Blood Drink. Want another spar? Consider it a way to help you temper your sword techniques."

Ling Yun understood Murong Shuang's good intentions. Her Wind Sword Intent excelled most at breaking deadlocks, making it perfect for helping him uncover flaws in his sword techniques. He nodded in agreement, and the two moved to an open space on the western side of the Training Ground. Murong Shuang struck first. The Wind Chant Sword cut through the air, leaving behind a transparent sword scar as it drove straight at Ling Yun's left shoulder—this move, Wind Sweeping Clouds, was as fast as lightning, three parts faster than their spar three days ago.

Ling Yun calmed his mind, and his Clear Sword Heart instantly saw through the trajectory of her technique. He used Breath Concealing Steps, retreating like willow fluff drifting in the wind. At the same time, his Iron Sword swept out, Fire-Wind Sword Intent weaving into a crimson curtain of light that blocked the wind scar at just the right moment. With a crisp clang, the two swords collided. Ling Yun's arm went slightly numb, and he secretly sighed. Murong Shuang's Wind Sword Intent had already reached nearly forty percent mastery. If he hadn't fused with the Fire Attribute, he probably couldn't have received that strike.

"Your footwork is nimble enough, but the transitions between your sword moves are too slow!" Before Murong Shuang's words had finished, her sword momentum abruptly changed. The Wind Chant Sword became a skyful of sword shadows, enveloping Ling Yun within them. This was Flowing Clouds Covering the Sky from the Seven Streams Sword Technique. Driven by her Wind Sword Intent, it was even more elusive and uncanny than the original.

Ling Yun's gaze sharpened. The Sky-Rending Sword within his dantian trembled slightly, and a gray aura of chaos quietly flowed into his sword. He no longer tried to block head-on. Instead, he turned his longsword with the wind, his Fire-Wind Sword Intent wrapping around Murong Shuang's sword shadows like a wildfire sweeping across the plains. Borrowing the force of her wind, he guided her sword technique into empty air. "Three Forms of Qiankun—Soft Wind Break." This was the new move Sword Elder had just taught him in his sea of consciousness, designed specifically to counter swift swords.

Murong Shuang's pupils contracted. She felt the force on her sword suddenly dissipate, and hurriedly withdrew her blade as she retreated. There was now a trace of surprise in her eyes as she looked at Ling Yun. "You can actually borrow my wind momentum to break my move? Who taught you that?"

"It was Sword Elder's guidance from a fragment of the Qiankun Sword Canon." Ling Yun answered honestly. Knowing how devoted Murong Shuang was to the sword, he took the initiative to say, "Your Flowing Clouds Covering the Sky may be fast, but too many sword shadows scatter your Sword Intent instead. If you can focus the wind's momentum on a single point, its power will be even greater."

Murong Shuang paused, then nodded thoughtfully and sheathed her sword. "Thank you for the advice. The next time we spar, I won't lose again." With that, she turned and left, her blue figure soon disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Watching the two spar, Su Qingyuan smiled. "Senior Sister Murong may refuse to yield with her words, but she actually recognizes your strength in her heart. Oh, right—the map of Sword Mound Mountain is already drawn, and I've brought some Miasma Avoiding Pills as well. When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning." A glint of determination flashed through Ling Yun's eyes. "Zhao Kun won't give me much time. I have to increase my strength as quickly as possible."

At the Same Time, in a secret chamber within the Zhao Family residence in the Qingyun Region, the atmosphere was oppressively grim. Zhao Lei lay on a stone bed, his chest wrapped in thick bandages and his face pale as paper. Looking at the furious Zhao Kun before him, he gritted his teeth and said, "Father, Ling Yun is too cunning! If he hadn't ambushed me with his Fire-Wind Sword Intent, I never would've lost! You must avenge me!"

Zhao Kun slammed his palm onto the table, and the stone table instantly shattered into powder. His eyes were full of venom as he pinched a black token between his fingers, the words "Blood Fiend" carved upon it. "I've already contacted the Black Crow Emissary of the Blood Fiend Hall. In three days, he'll bring men to the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect. By then, not only will Ling Yun die, we'll flatten the entire Flowing Cloud Sword Sect and make Ye Chen and Lin Feng pay the price!"

"The Blood Fiend Hall?" A trace of apprehension flashed through Zhao Lei's eyes. "Father, the people of the Blood Fiend Hall have always been greedy. Will they really be willing to help us?"

"As long as the benefits are great enough, they'll do anything." Zhao Kun sneered and took out a yellowed ancient book from his robes. The cover bore the four words Sword Devouring Secret Record. "This is the advanced volume of the Sword Devouring Art. The Black Crow Emissary has wanted it for a long time. Trading it for Ling Yun's life is worth it!"

From the shadows of the secret chamber, a black figure silently emerged. His voice was hoarse as a crow's cry. "Sect Master Zhao is certainly straightforward. In three days, I'll bring ten Blood Fiend Guards here. I guarantee Ling Yun will die without a burial place. But if you dare play tricks, you won't be able to bear the consequences."

Looking at the black shadow that had appeared without warning, fear flickered in Zhao Kun's eyes, though he forced himself to remain calm. "Rest assured, Emissary. I won't break my word."

The black figure gave a cold laugh, flashed away, and vanished from the secret chamber, leaving behind only a pungent stench of blood. Zhao Kun clenched his fists, his eyes overflowing with killing intent. "Ling Yun, three days from now will be your day of death!"

The next morning, when the sky had only begun to brighten, Ling Yun arrived outside the mountain gate of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect with a sword pouch on his back and an Iron Sword in hand. Su Qingyuan was already waiting for him. She handed him a cloth bundle containing Miasma Avoiding Pills, healing medicine, and a detailed map of Sword Mound Mountain. "At the center of Sword Mound Mountain is a Sword Cultivator's Tomb. Legend says it contains an ancient Sword Soul, so you must be careful. If you encounter danger, crush this communication talisman. I'll immediately notify the sect master to send people to save you."

Ling Yun accepted the bundle, warmth surging through his heart. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. When I return, I'll take you to a restaurant in Qingfeng Town for your favorite osmanthus cakes."

Su Qingyuan's cheeks reddened, and she nodded. "I'll wait for you to come back."

Ling Yun said no more. He turned and sped toward Sword Mound Mountain. His blue figure quickly disappeared among the mountain forests, leaving behind only a faint sword scar reflecting the rising morning sun. He knew this journey to Sword Mound Mountain was not only for the sake of increasing his strength, but also to protect those by his side—only by becoming stronger could he shield the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, Su Qingyuan, and everyone he cared about in the coming storm.

And deep within Sword Mound Mountain at that very moment, in a valley shrouded in miasma, a rust-covered ancient sword stood embedded in a crevice between rocks. Faint golden patterns flickered across its blade, as though it were waiting for a new master.