Chapter 41: The Sword in the Clouds

To the west of the Lingyuan Marsh stretched the endless Yanran Mountains, spanning the lands of Feng’an and Qiyuan. Majestic and vast, these mountains served as the shared domain of the local sects, teeming with rare spiritual herbs and brimming with both ferocious and mystical beasts.

Among the scattered minor sects nearby, only two were worthy of mention besides Ziyang Sect, where Ke Huai resided: the mysterious Xuanmiao Sect. Both boasted a cultivator at the Golden Core stage to anchor their ranks.

Disciples of each sect often ventured into the mountains to hunt beasts or gather spiritual plants, fulfilling sect tasks and commissions. Yet, except for the major Dongyuan Sect, the lesser sects harbored grudges and rivalries, making cordial encounters between cultivators a rarity.

“The disciples of Xuanmiao Sect are especially hostile toward us in Dongyuan Sect,” someone remarked beneath the radiant peak of Yanran, as a guileless-faced boy walked through the woods with a young man and woman, fellow disciples of Dongyuan Sect.

With earnest diligence, the boy explained the lay of the land. “Our senior sister warned us: when gathering herbs out here, we must be wary of cultivators from other sects—especially those of Xuanmiao. Their founder was once a disciple of a prominent sect in another country but was exiled for reasons unknown, traveling here to establish Xuanmiao Sect.”

The other young man nodded, picking up the tale. “I’ve heard as much myself. Xuanmiao claims to uphold the orthodox Dao, dismissing all other sects as inferior and heretical. Their disciples are all arrogance and disdain, inheriting none of their founder’s virtue, only his contempt.”

“In the past, the eastern stretches of Lingyuan Marsh were unclaimed, but Xuanmiao had long coveted them. It was then our sect master arrived, seeking to found our sect. Elders from several sects joined forces to challenge him, but our master, single-handed, slew a Golden Core cultivator with one stroke of his sword. Xuanmiao was nearly destroyed.”

“This enmity has lasted over three centuries…”

To this, the young woman among them grinned mischievously, revealing two pointed little canine teeth. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!” Her words were no idle boast; among the three, only she had reached the third level of Qi Refinement, while the two young men were at the second. In a real fight, the two together might not best this girl of thirteen or fourteen.

Their purpose was to find a low-grade medicinal herb called Lingyun Grass, which, according to the guileless boy’s map, grew in abundance on Mist-Drifting Peak. Chatting as they went, they soon reached the summit.

“Wow…” The three were struck speechless by the scenery. Encircled by dense forest and lying close to the marsh, the land was dank and wreathed in mist. A new rain had just passed, and the sun was rising. Clouds and radiant light mingled, transforming the mountain into a fairyland; hence its name, Mist-Drifting Peak.

Lost in the beauty, none of them noticed the cat demon lurking in the forest behind, already stalking them as prey.

A low growl rumbled from behind. They spun around, only to find themselves cornered at the cliff’s edge by two wolves and a cat—three demonic beasts.

“We’re in trouble! Mist-shadow Wolves and a Phantom-shadow Cat!”

The guileless boy cried out, instinctively shielding the young woman. Though these weren’t formidable monsters—each only at the early stage of the first tier—their physical prowess far surpassed that of human cultivators at the same level, giving them the upper hand in a fight.

Worse still, there were three of them.

“Ayu! Run!” Under the shadow of death, the girl’s mind was clear, her actions decisive. Three streams of water surged from the ground, coiling around the ankles of the beasts—minimal energy spent for maximum hindrance.

The boy was not idle; activating a white talisman, he launched it skyward, where it burst into a radiant light—a call for help. If any kind-hearted sect brethren saw it, they might rush to the rescue.

Crash! Crash! Crash! The beasts broke free with sheer force, but were slowed just enough by the watery restraints. The girl had conserved her energy.

“Run!” The trio scattered in a desperate bid for escape, but the summit plateau was too small. Agile as shadows, the three beasts leapt and circled, herding them back against the cliff.

Too fast!

Despair gripped their hearts as they readied their spells. Wind blades missed as the wolves dodged nimbly; a swipe of a claw snuffed out a fireball with ease.

The two wolves lunged, embroiling them in a chaotic melee. The other young man shouted, “Yuerong, just stall for time! Don’t risk your life—Ayu has already sent the distress signal. Reinforcements will come!”

But they all knew the chances of anyone arriving in time were slim. A wave of hopelessness swept over them.

A chilling, sinister voice hissed in Yang Yuerong’s ear, reeking with demonic malice.

Cold and the scent of death crept from her numb hands to the back of her head. Instinctively, she looked over her shoulder.

But there was nothing.

Still, the icy voice echoed behind her.

Her heart plunged into an abyss. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a glossy, jet-black claw slashing at her throat—so fast it seemed spectral, tearing through her protective aura with ease.

“Yuerong!!”

Just then, blinding sword energy burst forth.

With a hiss, the air rang as a beam of sword light severed the cat demon’s outstretched talon, and with it, the entire arm, sliced so cleanly the wound almost seemed painless.

Hot, crimson beast blood spattered before the stunned trio.

The cat demon collapsed with an anguished howl. Then, all three beasts were lifted by an unseen force, suspended in midair.

A dozen white sword lights, each trailing afterimages, spun in a dizzying dance around them.

In a flash, one sword shadow pierced the chest of a wolf demon and vanished. Then another, and another—the three monsters were skewered again and again as they dangled helplessly.

The remaining sword shadows spun ever faster, then suddenly shot skyward, merging into one above the clouds before plummeting toward the struggling beasts.

BOOM!

A tempest of sword energy exploded across Mist-Drifting Peak, sending mist and clouds rolling outward in a violent shockwave.

The three disciples shielded their eyes from the flying dust.

When the haze settled, they gazed toward the cliff—

There, whirling sword lights gathered in the air, converging at last into a single flying sword that hovered before a young cultivator.

Descending from the clouds, the sword’s master had arrived—it was Song Yan!