68: Sword Scars, Rifts, and Soul-Devouring Mist

Lin Feng transformed into a flash of Sword Light, moving extremely fast, yet always maintaining a speed that The core five people, including Wen Youyi, could keep up with. The group left the territory of the Qingxuan Sect and flew northeast for about half a day. The surrounding scenery gradually became desolate, and a faint, sharp aura began to permeate the air.

Ahead, a massive, bottomless black fissure appeared on the earth, looking as if a Heavenly God had fiercely cleaved it open with a Giant Sword. The edges of the fissure were smooth as a mirror, faintly resonating with residual Sword Qi, inspiring awe. This was the Sword Scar Fissure.

Before even approaching, they could feel the sharp Sword Intent rushing toward them, causing a faint stinging sensation on their skin.

"Stay close to me, restrain your aura, and do not easily use your Divine Sense." Lin Feng stopped his Sword Light and instructed them solemnly. "The chaotic Sword Qi inside the fissure is omnipresent. If you extend your Divine Sense, it can easily be cut and cause backlash."

The core five people, including Wen Youyi, nodded, circulating the Hibernating Dragon Art to restrain their own auras. Wen Youyi secretly kept the Star Domain in a state of readiness, prepared to deploy it at any moment.

Lin Feng led the way, slipping cautiously into the massive fissure like a swimming fish. The core five people, including Wen Youyi, followed closely, maintaining a tight defensive formation.

As soon as they entered the fissure, the environment changed dramatically!

The light suddenly dimmed. Only some Strange Moss emitting a faint glow on the rock walls provided weak illumination. Their ears were filled with the sharp shrieking sounds of countless Sword Qi traversing and colliding, disturbing their minds. Even more terrifyingly, the air was filled with a gray-white mist that flowed slowly like a living thing—the spirit devouring mist!

The mist seemed to be alive. Sensing the aura of living beings, it began to wrap around them thread by thread. A Disciple from the Work Hall, out of curiosity, inhaled a wisp, and his face instantly paled. He felt a small portion of his Spiritual Power drain away as if a floodgate had opened, and at the same time, a feeling of irritation and bloodlust surged into his mind!

"Be careful! Don't touch that mist!" Wen Youyi shouted, immediately deploying the Star Domain!

A light silver Light Barrier enveloped the six people. When the spirit devouring mist touched the Light Barrier, it made a "sizzling" sound, like water droplets hitting a red-hot iron plate. It was repelled and could not penetrate even slightly. Inside the Light Barrier, the shrieking of Sword Qi also weakened, and everyone's minds cleared.

Lin Feng glanced at the miraculous Light Barrier, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he said nothing, focusing only on leading the way.

The interior of the fissure was far larger and more complex than it appeared from the outside, resembling an inverted Underground World, filled with crisscrossing stone bridges, suspended boulders, and bottomless abysses. Residual Sword Qi acted like invisible Wind Blade, occasionally striking from unexpected angles. Were it not for the Domain protection, just dealing with this Sword Qi would be enough to exhaust them.

Lin Feng seemed quite familiar with this place, guiding the group through the intricate terrain, avoiding areas where the Sword Qi was particularly violent and some nests clearly occupied by powerful creatures.

"The place we are going is in the Middle Section of the Fissure, a location called the 'Sword Resonance Valley,' where the sword gallstone is being nurtured," Lin Feng explained briefly while leading the way. "But that place also has the densest spirit devouring mist and the strongest Sword Qi, and furthermore... it may be guarded by Sword Puppets."

Sword Puppets are said to be bizarre creatures born from the combination of residual Sword Intent left by Ancient Sword Cultivators and the special environment of this place. They possess no reason, only the Instinct for Slaughter, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

As they went deeper, the surrounding spirit devouring mist grew denser, almost solidifying into gray-white walls, frantically assaulting the Star Domain. The fluctuations of the Light Barrier clearly intensified. Wen Youyi had to increase his Spiritual Power output, and his face turned slightly pale.

At the same time, the Sword Qi in the air became denser and more powerful, striking the Domain Light Barrier and producing crisp clanging sounds, like heavy rain hitting banana leaves.

Just as they were about to reach a relatively open Valley, the gray mist ahead surged, and several blurry figures, condensed from pure Sword Qi and Evil Qi, slowly emerged!

They varied in form; some resembled humans, others beasts, but their commonality was that their entire bodies radiated unparalleled Sword Intent and a frantic Aura of Slaughter!

Sword Puppets! And more than one!

"Prepare for battle!" Lin Feng's gaze sharpened, and the Long Sword in his arms hummed, already drawn three inches from its sheath!

Wen Youyi also took a deep breath, knowing that the true test had arrived!

(End of Chapter)