71: Chapter 71 Sword Tomb Enlightenment, Hidden Dangers

Lin Ye's thoughts raced like lightning, and he made a decision in an instant.

He first checked his current status and all his equipment.

The yan jun token, ancient ring, bone ring, flame sovereign sword (already initially refined and barely usable), and various Medicinal Pill and Talisman were all accounted for.

He then tucked the "lingyun token" close to his body; this was the Sect Master's token, which might prove useful at a critical moment.

Then, instead of setting off immediately, he returned to the Purple Bamboo Court.

In his meditation room, he quietly set up a few secret warning and messaging Restriction (obtained from the Flame Lord's Legacy on Formations) and linked them to the warning jade pendant gifted by Elder Liu.

If he did not return for a long time or encountered an accident, these Restriction would be triggered, sending an alert to Elder Liu.

After making these preparations, he left Danxia Peak and flew on his sword toward the "Sword Tomb," a Forbidden Ground in the back of the Sect.

The Sword Tomb was located in a valley surrounded by several steep sword Peaks, shrouded year-round in sharp Sword Qi mist, and ordinary Disciple were not allowed to approach.

Holding the lingyun token, Lin Ye successfully passed the outer perimeter guard and arrived at a cliff near the entrance of the Sword Tomb—the "Sword Comprehension Cliff."

The cliff was bare, with only a few grey-black boulders and a simple stone pavilion.

The mountain wind was biting, carrying a piercing Sword Intent.

Everything around was silent, save for the faint sound of swords humming from the direction of the Sword Tomb in the distance.

There was no sign of the Sect Master, nor anyone else.

Lin Ye's vigilance deepened; he unleashed his Spiritual Sense to the fullest while quietly activating his "Fiery Golden Eyes" to scan the surroundings.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened and landed on the stone table in the center of the pavilion.

There lay a simple, ancient-looking black Jade Slip, and beside it, an Image Recording Stone.

He approached slowly. Without touching it directly, he used his spiritual power to lift the Jade Slip from a distance and cautiously probed it with his Spiritual Sense.

From within the Jade Slip came the dignified voice of Master Lingxiao, containing only a short sentence:

"Lin Han, the Image Recording Stone contains secret information regarding the survival of the Sect, as well as further arrangements for you. Destroy it after reading; do not spread it. Wait here, and you will be met."

Regarding the survival of the Sect? Further arrangements?

Lin Ye frowned deeply.

This didn't sound fake; the Sect Master seemed to have a truly important matter.

But why so mysterious? And who was the person coming to meet him?

He looked at the Image Recording Stone.

This stone required a specific technique or token to activate; otherwise, forced probing would cause it to self-destruct.

To watch, or not to watch?

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Ye decided to watch.

Since he had come this far, there was no reason to back down.

Holding the lingyun token, he followed the usage method he had obtained earlier and injected a sliver of spiritual power into the Image Recording Stone.

The Image Recording Stone flashed faintly, and an image was projected into the air.

In the image sat the phantom of Master Lingxiao in Lingyun Hall, but his face seemed somewhat blurred, and his aura appeared slightly unstable.

"Lin Han, that you could reach this point shows your cautious Heart-Nature."

In the image, Master Lingxiao spoke, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion and gravity, "The Sect is currently in a troubled autumn; there are traitors within who have not been cleared, and strong enemies surrounding us from without. The matter of the Yinkui Sect is far more complex than it appears. Zhao Kun, Chi Yang, and even the Golden Flame Valley are merely pawns. The mastermind has already infiltrated the high levels of the Sect, and I am also being controlled by them, making it difficult to investigate clearly."

What?! The Sect Master is being controlled? The mastermind has infiltrated the high levels?!

Lin Ye was shocked to his core!

"I left this message because there is a heavy responsibility concerning the Luck of the Sect that must be entrusted to you."

Master Lingxiao continued, "Deep within the Sword Tomb lies a piece of 'Sword Bone' left behind by the Sect's founding ancestor, 'Sword Immortal Lingyun,' along with half of the true interpretation of the 'Lingyun Sword Canon.'

This is the true core of the Sect's Legacy and the key to restraining the Yinkui Sect and the Devil Head behind them.

However, the Sword Tomb has the ancestor's Restriction; unless one possesses the Most Yang and Most Rigid attributes and is a sword-path seed with a firm and pure Heart-Nature, it is difficult to approach the core."

"You possess the Great Sun Golden Flame, and your will is tough; perhaps you can try.

I have temporarily opened part of the Restriction; you can use the lingyun token to try and enter the core area of the Sword Tomb to obtain the Sword Bone and the true interpretation.

If you succeed, there is hope for the Sect's revival; if you fail... I fear your life will be in danger."

"Once obtained, you must immediately send the items to the 'Northern Region Heavenly Sword Sect' and hand them over to my old friend, 'Immortal Master Heavenly Sword.'

Only he can resolve the Sect's crisis and ensure your safety.

Remember, do not trust anyone within the Sect, including... Elder Liu."

The image stopped abruptly, and the Image Recording Stone crumbled into dust.

Lin Ye stood frozen on the spot, his heart churning with stormy waves!

The amount of information was too vast and too shocking!

The Sect's traitors had reached the high levels, the Sect Master was controlled, and he, a newly promoted Core Disciple, had to risk entering the Sword Tomb's core, retrieve the ancestor's relics, and send them to the Northern Region Heavenly Sword Sect?

And he wasn't to trust anyone, including Elder Liu?

All of this sounded unbelievable, yet it seemed logically self-consistent.

He possessed the Great Sun Golden Flame and indeed met the condition of being "Most Yang and Most Rigid."

The Sect had been in constant turmoil recently, with the heavy shadows of the Yinkui Sect, and the Sect Master being controlled seemed to explain some of his abnormal behavior.

But... was all of this true?

Could it be another trap aimed at him?

Using the Sect Master's name to lure him into the Sword Tomb's core and using the Restriction or an ambush to eliminate him?

He carefully recalled Master Lingxiao's expression, tone, and that slightly unstable aura in the recording... With his powerful Divine Soul perception and the insight of his "Fiery Golden Eyes," he found it hard to distinguish absolute truth from falsehood.

It was either real or disguised to the extreme.

To go, or not to go?

If he went, he might fall into a trap, or he might truly shoulder the heavy responsibility of saving the Sect.

If he didn't go, and this matter was true, the Sect would be in danger, and he, a "Core Disciple," would not escape the disaster of a collapsed nest; if it were fake, disobeying the "Sect Master's" order was also a grave crime.

A dilemma!

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and analyze the pros and cons.

First, the Sword Tomb was a Forbidden Ground of the Sect, full of danger, but also a place of Opportunity.

If he could really enter the core, perhaps there were indeed ancestor relics.

Even if not, the Sword Intent of past generations contained within would be of great benefit to his deduction of the sword path.

Second, if the mastermind really wanted to kill him, there were many simpler ways within the Sect; why go to such great lengths to lure him into the Sword Tomb?

Unless... there was something in the Sword Tomb they could only accomplish with his help?

Or, did they want to use the Sword Tomb's Restriction to kill him and create an "accident"?

Finally, regarding "not trusting anyone," especially Elder Liu... this made him vigilant.

Elder Liu had always treated him well, but if the Sect's high levels were truly infiltrated, did Elder Liu know about it?

Was he reliable?

After thinking for a long time, a flash of determination crossed Lin Ye's eyes.

Go!

But he would do it on his own terms!

He did not rush to the Sword Tomb entrance immediately.

Instead, he found a place behind a hidden boulder on the Sword Comprehension Cliff and sat cross-legged, holding the lingyun token, attempting to communicate with his Spiritual Sense to find any other information or permissions the Sect Master might have left behind.

At the same time, he activated the "Fire Fusion Spirit Refining Art," pushing his Divine Soul perception to the limit, and drove his "Fiery Golden Eyes" to carefully observe every trace of Spiritual Qi fluctuation and Sword Intent flow around the Sword Tomb entrance and the surrounding environment.

He wanted to find out if there were other eyes hidden behind this "summons" and "mission," or other arrangements.

Time passed second by second.

The mountain wind howled, and the Sword Intent was piercing.

Lin Ye was like an old monk in meditation, but his mind was like the most precise radar, scanning everything.

Suddenly, he "saw" it.

Near the entrance of the Sword Tomb, within that seemingly ordinary Sword Qi mist, were hidden several extremely faint, cold auras that were completely out of place with the surrounding Sword Intent!

These auras were disguised extremely well; if not for his powerful Divine Soul and his "Fiery Golden Eyes," he would absolutely not have been able to detect them!

They were Yinkui Sect Cultivator!

At least three of them, and all of them were above the Foundation Establishment Stage!

They seemed to have used some kind of Formation or treasure to hide their figures and auras, lurking near the entrance!

Further away, in some direction deep within the Sword Tomb, came a faint, strange fluctuation that sounded like the wailing of countless sword weapons.

It was somewhat similar to the description of the "temporarily opened Restriction" mentioned in the recording, but within that fluctuation, there seemed to be a hint of... blood and evil?

There was indeed an ambush!

That recording was likely fake!

At least, it was half-true and half-false!

Perhaps there really were ancestor relics in the core of the Sword Tomb, but the reason they were willing to expose their hidden forces just to lure him in was definitely not as simple as just killing him!

Did they want to use his hands to obtain the Sword Bone and the true interpretation?

Or did they want to use him to open some kind of Restriction?

Lin Ye sneered in his heart.

Since you have set a trap, don't blame me for playing along and turning the tables on you!

He remained calm and rose slowly, pretending to check the lingyun token and looking hesitant, pacing back and forth on the spot.

At the same time, he quietly guided a sliver of extremely weak energy—mixed with Evil Qi and the aura of starfall cold iron—from the ancient ring yuan sha, simulating a fluctuation of "anxious" and "hesitant" emotions and radiating it outward.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, he gritted his teeth and strode toward the entrance of the Sword Tomb!

One step, two steps...

He walked very slowly, but his Spiritual Qi and "Fiery Golden Eyes" were running at full power, firmly locking onto those few hidden icy cold auras, as well as the changes in Spiritual Qi in every inch of space near the entrance.

Just as he was less than ten zhang away from the entrance and about to step into that cloud of Sword Qi—a sudden change occurred!

Those few hidden icy cold auras suddenly erupted! Three chains, pitch-black as ink and emitting sinister ghost Qi, shot toward Lin Ye from three different directions like poisonous dragons emerging from a cave, silent yet incredibly swift! On the chains, hideous ghost-face runes appeared, carrying the terrifying power to imprison the Divine Soul and devour Spiritual Qi!

At the same time, the Sword Qi cloud at the Sword Tomb entrance churned violently, transforming into countless sharp Sword Qi that shot toward Lin Ye from the front, covering the sky and earth! An attack from front and back, a fatal trap!

"I was waiting for just you!"

Cold light flashed in Lin Ye's eyes, and the "Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation" he had long been preparing was unleashed at full power! His figure left an afterimage in place, while his true body had already retreated several zhang to the side and rear like a teleportation, narrowly avoiding the three ghost chains and most of the frontal Sword Qi.

At the same time, the yan jun token in his left hand shone brightly, and an aura of "Great Sun Golden Flame," vast, majestic, and capable of suppressing all evil, erupted with a boom. Like a scorching sun melting snow, it sizzled against the ghost-face runes on the three ghost chains, greatly reducing their power!

"Great Sun Golden Flame?! He was prepared!" A roar of shock and anger came from the clouds, and three black shadows were forced to reveal themselves. They were all elderly men in black robes with sinister expressions—two in the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage and one in the Early Stage!

"Junior, how did you see through it?!" the leading black-robed elder in the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage shouted sharply. A pitch-black soul banner appeared in his hand, and as he waved it, countless fierce ghosts and vengeful spirits roared and lunged out.

"Go ask the King of Hell!" Lin Ye sneered. No longer holding back, he grasped the air with his right hand, and the crimson-gold flame sovereign sword appeared in his hand! The sword body hummed, and a wisp of pure Great Sun Golden Flame coiled around it!

"Slash!"

He swung his sword horizontally, and a magnificent Sword Qi, crimson-gold with azure starlight, swept out like an erupting volcano or a reversing galaxy, carrying the terrifying implication of burning the eight wildernesses and freezing the ages!

[Ice-Fire Calamity · Sword Style]! Fusing his insights into the "Starfall Ice Soul Sword" with his own path of Ice-Fire, its power far exceeded what it had been before!

Wherever the Sword Qi passed, the fierce ghosts and vengeful spirits melted like snow in spring. The expressions of the three black-robed elders changed drastically, and they hurriedly brought out defensive Magic Treasures. However, the Sword Qi was too sharp and violent, instantly shattering two Magical Artifacts and sending all three flying backward while vomiting blood. The elder in the Early Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage was even grazed by the aftermath of the Sword Qi, turning half his arm into charcoal!

"This brat is fierce, form the Formation!" the leading elder roared. The three quickly huddled together, their soul banners connecting, and black Qi billowed, transforming into a giant skeleton ghost head that opened its mouth to devour him.

Lin Ye was just about to use another technique when he suddenly felt something and abruptly looked up toward the depths of the Sword Tomb.

There, he saw a silver Sword Qi, incomparably brilliant and seemingly capable of slicing open heaven and earth, shoot into the sky! Following that was the resonance of countless swords, excited, submissive, and yet filled with sorrow!

The core of the Sword Tomb seemed to have truly been triggered?!

At the same time, an aged, cold voice, carrying supreme majesty, seemed to come from above the Nine Heavens, resounding throughout the entire Sword Tomb: "What kind of petty thief dares to disturb the tranquility of the Sword Tomb?!"

Along with the voice, a terrifying Sword Intent, vast as a sea of stars and sharp as the might of heaven, crashed down like a tangible canopy!

Pfft! The three Yinkui Sect Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators who were forming the Formation were like eggs smashed by a giant hammer. Their Formation collapsed instantly, and all three screamed simultaneously, bleeding from their seven orifices, collapsing to the ground, pinned down by the Sword Intent and unable to move!

Lin Ye also felt an irresistible pressure descend upon him, and the circulation of his Spiritual Qi became sluggish. However, the Great Sun Golden Flame seed within him automatically protected its master, emitting a gentle yet tenacious scorching aura that neutralized most of the Sword Intent's pressure, leaving him only with churning blood but no injuries.

A blurry silver figure, seemingly condensed from countless rays of sword light, appeared above the Sword Tomb entrance. Its face could not be seen, only a pair of eyes that seemed to contain the stars of the ages and the endless Dao of the Sword, coldly looking down from above.

"Sword... Sword Tomb Guardian Spirit?!" The leading Yinkui Sect Foundation Establishment Stage elder gasped in shock, his eyes filled with despair.

The silver figure's gaze swept over the three Yinkui Sect Cultivators, and it let out a cold snort: "The evil ghost path is worthy of stepping into the Sword Tomb? Die!"

The words became law! The vast Sword Intent suddenly condensed into three silver Sword Qi as thin as hair, instantly piercing through the foreheads of the three Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators!

The eyes of the three dimmed instantly, their Divine Souls were extinguished, and their bodies were ground into powder by the residual Sword Intent, drifting away with the wind.

Instant kill!

Lin Ye watched, his heart pounding. Is this the strength of a Sword Tomb Guardian? I fear it is at least the Peak of the Golden Core Stage, perhaps even the Nascent Soul level!

The silver figure's gaze finally fell upon Lin Ye.

"You possess the Great Sun Golden Flame, yet you are not a pure Sword Cultivator... Little one, why have you come here? Why did those people just now ambush you?" The Guardian Spirit's voice remained cold, but it lacked a hint of killing intent.

Lin Ye did not dare to be slow, quickly bowing and saluting. He briefly and concisely recounted the "Sect Master's" summons via shadow projection, the content of the shadow stone, and how he had detected the ambush and used their own trick against them, then presented the lingyun token.

The Guardian Spirit was silent for a moment, seemingly sensing something. After a long while, it slowly said: "Master Lingxiao has indeed encountered trouble, but he is not restrained. This token is real, but the shadow projection is fake. Someone imitated his aura and the fluctuations of the lingyun token, forging the shadow stone to lure you into a trap, utilizing the fact that you possess the Great Sun Golden Flame to forcibly impact a weak Restriction at the core of the Sword Tomb, opening a passage for them to steal the Ancestral Master's relics. Hmph, what a clever plan!"

Just as I thought!

"That Ancestral Master's relic at the core of the Sword Tomb..." Lin Ye asked.

"It is true. But it cannot be obtained unless one is a fated Sword Dao seed with a pure Heart-Nature. You carry the Great Sun Golden Flame, which is extremely Yang and rigid, capable of suppressing evil, and your insight into Sword Intent is also extraordinary; you do have some qualifications." The Guardian Spirit said, "Since you have come here with the lingyun token and helped me ferret out the lurking evil, you can be considered to have rendered service. Are you willing to enter the Sword Tomb and accept the 'Sword Heart Trial'? If you can pass, you may receive part of the Ancestral Master's Legacy and truly discern loyalty and treachery within and outside the Sect."

Sword Heart Trial?

Lin Ye's heart stirred. This might be an excellent Opportunity to quickly improve his strength and clear up the fog within the Sect!

"This Disciple is willing!" Lin Ye did not hesitate.

"Good. Follow me." The Guardian Spirit waved its hand, and a streak of silver sword light swept up Lin Ye, submerging him into the churning Sword Qi clouds deep within the Sword Tomb.

The light and shadow before his eyes shifted, and when they stabilized, Lin Ye found himself in a strange space.

All around was an endless Void, and floating in the Void were countless ancient swords of various shapes and different auras. Some were covered in rust, some shone with cold light, some were wrapped in flames, and some were frozen in frost... Every sword emitted an intense Sword Intent—some sharp, some heavy, some ethereal, some murderous.

And in the center of the Void floated a bone about three feet long, jade-like, crystal clear, with what looked like a galaxy flowing inside—a Sword Bone! And half a scroll, neither gold nor jade, emitting a vast Sword Dao aura—the True Explanation of the "Lingyun Sword Canon"!

"This place is the core of the Sword Tomb, the 'Ten Thousand Sword Void'. The trial is simple: sit here in meditation for three days, comprehend the Sword Intent of the ten thousand swords, and communicate with the Sword Bone using your own Sword Heart. If you can trigger the Sword Bone's resonance, you pass. If not, you will be sent out after three days with nothing to show for it." The Guardian Spirit's voice echoed in the Void.

"Remember, only when the Sword Heart is clear can one obtain the true meaning. Do not be misled by external objects, and do not force it."

As the voice faded, the Guardian Spirit's aura disappeared.

Lin Ye sat cross-legged and looked toward the ten thousand swords in the endless Void, as well as the Sword Bone and the true explanation in the center.

He knew that this "Sword Heart Trial" was by no means easy. The Sword Intent of the ten thousand swords was complex and vast; one careless move could result in being injured by the Sword Intent, or even losing himself.

But he had no other choice.

The Sect was facing internal and external troubles, surrounded by powerful enemies. Only by quickly improving his strength and mastering more trump cards could he protect himself and even break the deadlock.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slowly spread out his Spiritual Qi, attempting to touch and feel those strands of Sword Intent, some familiar and some strange.

At the same time, the Ice-Fire Taiji within his body slowly rotated, the insights from the "Starfall Ice Soul Sword" flowed through his heart, and a wisp of the Great Sun Golden Flame's scorching light protected his Divine Soul.

Gradually, he immersed himself in that vast and endless ocean of Sword Intent...