Sword Soul Awakening, Blood Fiend Ambush

The miasma of Sword Mound Mountain was thicker than the rumors claimed. Pale gray fog curled between the ancient trees, and even the morning light struggled to pierce it. Ling Yun crushed a Miasma Avoiding Pill Su Qingyuan had given him. The pill turned into a crisp current of air around his nose and mouth, barely suppressing the rotten, fishy stench in the air. He gripped his Iron Sword, his steps light as a cat's. The Breath Concealing Steps suppressed his aura to its lowest point—there were not only demonic beasts in these mountains, but also many Rogue Cultivators coveting sword souls. One careless move, and he would become someone else's prey.

"There's a second-tier demonic beast, a Miasma Snake, a hundred zhang ahead. Its venom can corrode spiritual power, so be careful," Sword Elder's voice sounded in his sea of consciousness. "The Sky-Rending Sword's resonance is growing stronger. The Sword Soul should be at the heart of this area."

Ling Yun nodded. Crimson Sword Intent flickered at his fingertips as the scorching currents of the Fire Attribute quietly spread, forcing back the surrounding miasma. Sure enough, moments later, a dark green snake shadow shot from a tree hollow. Its venomous fangs gleamed with black light as it lunged for his throat. The Miasma Snake had concealed its entire body within the fog. If not for the Clear Sword Heart seeing through its trajectory in advance, an ordinary cultivator would have had no time to react.

"Flowing Fire Seven Forms: Burning Thorns!" Ling Yun lightly turned his wrist, and the Iron Sword carved a crimson arc through the air. Flames burst along the blade like a wildfire sweeping the plains, wrapping around the snake's body. The Miasma Snake let out a miserable hiss. Its dark green scales were instantly scorched black, and it struggled to retreat into the tree hollow, only for Ling Yun to step forward and pierce its vital point with his sword.

After dealing with the Miasma Snake, he continued deeper in the direction indicated by the Sky-Rending Sword's vibrations. The farther he went into the mountain's belly, the more ancient and rugged the trees became. Rusted broken swords lay scattered across the ground, some still bearing dried bloodstains. This was clearly a place where ancient sword cultivators had fallen.

"Stop." Sword Elder suddenly spoke. "There's the aura of a third-tier demonic beast ahead. It's a Sabertooth Bear. This beast feeds on sword bones. Its hide is thick, and it can even absorb sword force. You must be careful."

Ling Yun had barely stopped when the ground suddenly shook violently. A black bear as tall as a man charged out from behind the dense forest. Its body was covered in dark brown mane, and its two ivory-like fangs glinted with metallic light. Bloodthirsty red shone in its pupils—it was indeed a Sabertooth Bear. Even more startling, it held half a broken sword in its claws, and the residual force on the blade had actually been incorporated into its attacks.

"Roar!" The Sabertooth Bear roared and slammed its paw into the ground. Two earth-yellow sword marks rose from the earth and shot straight at Ling Yun's face. This attack even carried the rudimentary shape of a sword technique. Clearly, it was the result of devouring sword bones year after year.

Ling Yun didn't dare let down his guard. The Sky-Rending Sword in his dantian grew faintly hot as gray chaos aura intertwined with Fire and Wind Sword Intent. He unleashed Universe Three Forms: Wind Fire Wheel. Crimson flames and azure wind marks twisted into a wheel, forcibly cleaving apart the earth-yellow sword marks. At the same time, his figure flashed as he circled to the Sabertooth Bear's side, thrusting his Iron Sword toward its ribs—the beast's weak point.

Clang! The sword tip struck the Sabertooth Bear's hide and left only a shallow mark. The Sabertooth Bear roared in pain, turned, and swiped a claw at him. The fierce wind carried shattered stones with it, snapping the surrounding ancient trees cleanly in half. Ling Yun hurriedly leaped backward. As he evaded the attack, his Fire Attribute Sword Intent erupted at full force, and the flames on his Iron Sword surged three feet high. "Flowing Fire Seven Forms: Meteor Fall!"

The crimson sword shadow fell like a meteor, carrying the force of burning mountains and boiling seas as it smashed viciously into the Sabertooth Bear's shoulder blade. With a squelch, flames pierced through its mane and seared its flesh. The Sabertooth Bear gave a pained roar, but instead of retreating, it became even more frenzied. The broken sword in its claws glowed earth-yellow as it swept horizontally at Ling Yun.

"Chaos Sword Body, open!" A trace of resolve flashed through Ling Yun's eyes as the gray aura in his dantian instantly spread through his entire body. He no longer dodged. Instead, he charged directly at the broken sword. The moment the Iron Sword collided with it, chaos aura silently seeped into the broken blade, unraveling the Earth Attribute sword force within. At the same time, his left hand clenched into a fist, carrying the power of fire and wind as it slammed into the Sabertooth Bear's wound.

"Roar—" The Sabertooth Bear's roar came to an abrupt halt. Its enormous body crashed to the ground, and the red glow in its pupils gradually faded. Ling Yun panted heavily as he put away the Iron Sword—this was the first time he had actively activated the Chaos Sword Body. Though it consumed a great deal of energy, its power far exceeded his expectations.

"Not bad. Your use of the Chaos Sword Body has grown a little more skilled." Sword Elder's voice carried approval. "Hurry on. The Sword Soul is in the sword cultivator's tomb ahead. If you're any later, someone else may set their sights on it."

Following the sensation, Ling Yun soon arrived at a hidden valley. At its center stood a blue stone grave, its tombstone engraved with the words "Sword Maniac." The strokes were vigorous and forceful, yet had not faded despite a thousand years. Before the grave was planted a rust-covered ancient sword—the very sword he had sensed in Chapter 7. At that moment, it was trembling faintly, and the rust on its blade gradually peeled away, revealing dark golden metal beneath.

"This is the personal sword of the ancient sword cultivator Sword Maniac. It contains an Earth Attribute Sword Soul." Sword Elder's voice was slightly excited. "It shares the same origin as the Sky-Rending Sword. It can absorb this Sword Soul and push your Sword Intent another step forward."

Ling Yun stepped forward and reached for the ancient sword's hilt. The instant he touched it, a heavy aura flowed from the hilt into his dantian. The Sky-Rending Sword trembled violently, gray aura winding around the ancient sword and slowly drawing out the Earth Attribute Sword Soul within. The Sword Soul turned into an earth-yellow stream of light and merged into Ling Yun's Fire and Wind Sword Intent. The originally intertwined crimson and azure Sword Intent gradually gained a sense of weight and solidity.

"With the fusion of Fire, Wind, and Earth Attribute Sword Intent, your strength has reached the Peak Early Stage Great Swordsman, and your Sword Intent has broken through to forty percent." Sword Elder's voice was full of gratification. "With this Sword Soul, you'll have a few more chances of victory against Zhao Kun's men."

Just as Ling Yun was consolidating his Sword Intent, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the valley. He immediately concealed his aura and hid behind the blue stone grave. Five cultivators in black robes entered the valley, blood-red skulls embroidered on their hems—they were people from the Blood Fiend Hall!

"The Black Crow Emissary said that brat Ling Yun will definitely come to Sword Mound Mountain for a Sword Soul. As long as we wait here, we'll surely be able to kill him." The leading Blood Fiend Guard sneered. "Once we kill him, we'll receive the fragment of the Sword Devouring Secret Record when we return."

"Big Brother, is that Ling Yun really so formidable? He defeated Zhao Lei?" another Blood Fiend Guard asked.

"So what if he's formidable? He's only an Early Stage Great Swordsman. All five of us are at the Early Sword Master Stage. If we join forces, he'll undoubtedly die!" A vicious glint flashed through the leading Blood Fiend Guard's eyes. "Search! Search carefully. Don't miss a single corner!"

Ling Yun tightened his grip on the Iron Sword, coldness flashing through his eyes. He had intended to avoid conflict and return to the sect as quickly as possible, but he hadn't expected the Blood Fiend Hall to have laid an ambush here in advance. Since he couldn't avoid it, he could only fight!

He took a deep breath. Fire, Wind, and Earth Attribute Sword Intent quietly circulated, and crimson, azure, and yellow light shone from the Iron Sword. Taking advantage of the Blood Fiend Guards scattering to search, he suddenly charged out from behind the blue stone grave. His sword move targeted the leading Blood Fiend Guard directly. "Universe Three Forms: Three Talents Break!"

The three-colored sword shadows intertwined into a net, instantly enveloping the leading Blood Fiend Guard. Caught off guard, the guard hurriedly raised a black shield, but the sword shadows shattered it in an instant. The Iron Sword pierced through his chest, and blood sprayed forth.

"Who is it?!" The other Blood Fiend Guards turned pale with shock. They all drew their weapons, black demonic aura winding around their blades as they surrounded Ling Yun.

Ling Yun remained utterly calm. The Breath Concealing Steps unfolded, and he moved like a ghost among the Blood Fiend Guards. Fire Attribute Sword Intent was responsible for fierce offense, Wind Attribute Sword Intent increased his speed, and Earth Attribute Sword Intent served as defense. The three attributes worked in perfect harmony, every sword strike carrying the force to break his enemy.

One Blood Fiend Guard swept his sword, and demonic aura turned into sharp claws that lunged for Ling Yun's throat. Ling Yun twisted aside to evade it, while Earth Attribute Sword Intent condensed into a shield to block another Blood Fiend Guard's attack. Then he turned his wrist, and the Iron Sword, carrying the power of fire and wind, pierced the first guard's lower abdomen.

"Retreat! This brat is too powerful!" Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, the remaining two Blood Fiend Guards turned to flee. How could Ling Yun give them the chance? He activated Wind Attribute Sword Intent, and his speed suddenly soared. Catching up to one of them, he smashed the flat of his sword hard against the back of the man's head, knocking him unconscious. The other was pierced through the thigh by the Iron Sword Ling Yun threw, screaming as he collapsed to the ground.

Ling Yun walked over to the unconscious Blood Fiend Guard and pointed his sword at his throat. "Speak! Where is the Black Crow Emissary? What is Zhao Kun's plan?"

The Blood Fiend Guard woke in terror. Seeing Ling Yun's icy gaze, he hurriedly said, "The Black Crow Emissary... is gathering forces at the Zhao Family. The plan is to launch a night raid on the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect three days from now and kill you and Sect Master Ye Chen!"

Ling Yun's heart sank—just as expected, Zhao Kun was unwilling to accept defeat and had joined forces with the Blood Fiend Hall against the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect! He hesitated no longer, knocking the Blood Fiend Guard unconscious with a single strike before turning and running toward the valley's exit.

"I must return to the sect as quickly as possible and warn the Sect Master to prepare!" Ling Yun's Figure vanished into the dense forest, leaving only three afterimages behind. Within the valley, only the fallen Blood Fiend Guards and that dark golden ancient sword remained. The glow on its blade gradually dimmed, as though it had fulfilled its mission.

At that moment, within the Zhao Family residence, Zhao Kun sat facing a cultivator dressed in a black cloak. Beneath the hood, a pair of scarlet eyes glimmered with eerie light. It was the Blood Fiend Hall's Black Crow Emissary.

"Emissary, that brat Ling Yun has gone to Sword Mound Mountain. My men have already laid an ambush there," Zhao Kun said respectfully. "As long as he dies in Sword Mound Mountain, our night raid on the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect in three days will succeed in one stroke."

The Black Crow Emissary sneered, his voice hoarse as a crow's cry. "If Ling Yun were so easy to kill, he wouldn't be worthy of becoming the Blood Fiend Hall's target. But rest assured, I've sent ten Blood Fiend Guards to Sword Mound Mountain. Even if he returns alive, he'll still surely die three days from now."

A vicious glint flashed through Zhao Kun's eyes. "Good! As long as Ling Yun is killed and the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect is flattened, my Zhao Family is willing to offer half our wealth!"

The Black Crow Emissary rose to his feet, his cloaked figure gradually disappearing into the shadows. "In three days, I will personally lead the force. Remember your promise. Otherwise, the wrath of the Blood Fiend Hall is not something your Zhao Family can bear."

Zhao Kun stared in the direction where the Black Crow Emissary had disappeared, clenching his fists. He knew that the night raid three days later was not merely to kill Ling Yun. It was also to seize the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's territory and become the true overlord of the Qingyun Region.

Meanwhile, Ling Yun was rushing toward the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect at the fastest speed possible. His sword was meant not only to avenge his clansmen, but also to protect the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect and those at his side. A greater storm was about to descend.