Chapter 11: The Swordfiend Spirit

In the depths of the shadowy valley, the currents of sword energy grew ever more chaotic and piercing. Bai Yueqing advanced with utmost caution, each step landing firmly upon the rock, carefully skirting around energy vortices that were nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Ye Ming’s consciousness acted as the keenest probe, constantly correcting her path.
"The energy to your left is too erratic, go around."
"The sword energy ahead is flying about like headless flies—slow down there."
"Front right… hmm? Interesting. Go have a look."

Obediently, Bai Yueqing altered course, though she kept her guard up. Despite Ye Ming’s formidable senses, the valley harbored countless dangers; there was no guarantee of absolute safety. She tightened her grip on her new sword, spiritual energy flowing steadily within her, prepared to meet any sudden peril.

Skirting a cluster of black stone pillars that jutted upward like sharpened blades, Bai Yueqing hesitated at the sight before her. On a relatively open patch of ground, the air was thick with sword energy dust, far denser than elsewhere. Rather than drifting randomly, the energy circled a hidden core, slowly revolving to form a vague, humanoid silhouette.

This shape was composed of countless minute, dusky golden motes and violent sword energy, forever twisting and shifting, radiating a chaotic aura that made the heart race.

"Is that… a Sword Fiend Wraith?" Bai Yueqing recalled a few scattered notes from the sect’s records. In the Valley of Sunken Swords, sword energy lingered throughout the years, and on rare occasions would coalesce into such half-energy wraiths—mindless, driven solely by destructive instinct, and terribly difficult to handle.

The Sword Fiend Wraith seemed to sense the presence of the living. Its twisted body jerked to a stop, then, carrying a bone-chilling sharpness, lunged straight at her!

Its speed was terrifying; wherever it passed, the ground was scored with countless fine cuts by the trailing sword energy.

Bai Yueqing’s heart clenched. She dared not meet the attack head-on. As she retreated swiftly, she swept her sword in a defensive arc before her, forging a shield of sword light.

The clash between her sword light and the wraith’s body produced a sound like ripping silk. Bai Yueqing felt a tremendous force, laced with countless shards of sword energy, surge along her blade, numbing her wrist. Her protective aura flickered violently, nearly collapsing.

The wraith merely paused for an instant before attacking again.

"This thing is tough!" she thought in alarm.

Its body seemed formed entirely from condensed sword energy and metallic dust; ordinary attacks were nearly useless.

"This is what happens when sword energy stagnates—it’s no different from hacking at stone!" Ye Ming’s voice was urgent.
"Don’t fight it head-on. The energy at its core is the most unstable. Try striking there!"

Bai Yueqing focused her gaze, and indeed, within the endlessly twisting form, at the chest, there was a cluster of dark gold light, brighter and more violently fluctuating than the rest.

She dodged another lunge; the wraith’s claw-like energy tendrils grazed her sleeve, shredding a few threads. With a flick of her wrist, Bai Yueqing gathered her spiritual power at the sword tip and struck fiercely at the core.

But the wraith moved with unnatural speed, twisting its form so her sword only skimmed the edge of the light, scattering a small fragment of energy.

The wraith seemed enraged. It let out a silent roar, sword energy surging wildly, its speed increasing and its attacks growing even fiercer.

Bai Yueqing found the pressure mounting. Forced to rely on swift footwork and constant evasion, she parried blow after blow. The clashing of sword against energy rang out in a shower of sparks. Yet her spiritual energy was depleting at an alarming rate—this could not go on.

"This won’t do!" Ye Ming sensed her plight.
"Its movements follow a pattern. After each pounce, the core’s light pauses for a heartbeat. That’s your chance!"

After another narrow dodge, the wraith missed, and as Ye Ming had predicted, the golden core in its chest stabilized for a brief instant.

A glint of resolve flashed in Bai Yueqing’s eyes. She poured her energy into her sword, her body snapping forward like a drawn bow, the blade aimed precisely at the core.

This strike contained everything she had—strength, spirit, and will.

The blade pierced straight into the dark golden core.

The wraith’s frenzied movements froze. Its form twisted and swelled violently, as if something inside were about to explode.

"Something’s wrong—fall back!" Ye Ming shouted.

Her sword was wedged in the wraith’s body and refused to budge. Without hesitation, Bai Yueqing released the weapon and leapt back several yards.

The wraith’s body burst apart, erupting in a storm of chaotic sword energy and shards of metal that battered the ground into ruin.

Her new sword took the brunt of the blast and was shattered into several pieces, clattering to the earth.

As the dust settled, all that remained was a crystal, pigeon-egg in size, floating in midair and slowly spinning. It was a deep gold, within it countless threads of sword energy darted and flowed, radiating a pure and razor-sharp power.

"It’s a Sword Fiend Crystal!" Bai Yueqing recognized the treasure. This was the wraith’s condensed core, brimming with refined sword energy—an invaluable material for forging swords or mastering rare sword arts, priceless in the outside world.

She stepped forward to claim it, but the crystal, as if drawn by some force, transformed into a streak of dark gold light and shot straight for the gray-wrapped bundle on her back.

"Eh?" Ye Ming sounded both surprised and delighted.
"I didn’t even ask, and it delivered itself to me?"

The streak of light vanished beneath the gray cloth. Bai Yueqing could clearly sense Ye Ming’s sword body quiver faintly. A surge of energy, far purer and sharper than what he had absorbed from broken blades before, radiated from him, then quickly receded.

On the sword’s spine, the faint bluish-black pattern seemed to deepen in color, a dark golden luster flowing beneath the surface.

Ye Ming exhaled, deeply satisfied, as if savoring an exquisite delicacy. He even gave a contented, invisible "burp."

"I feel a bit sharper now," he remarked, as if intently sensing the changes within himself.
"And my perception of the stray sword energies around us is even clearer!"

The Sword Fiend Crystal had been absorbed by Ye Ming, and the spare sword was destroyed. Bai Yueqing looked helplessly at the fragments on the ground.

"It was just a scrap of iron. Broken is broken—out with the old, in with the new."

Ye Ming was utterly unconcerned, his attention wholly absorbed by the improvements brought by the crystal.

"Hurry, let’s search again. There might be more of those wraiths. If a few more show up, I might unlock new abilities."

Once more, he became lively and eager, scanning the surroundings with even greater enthusiasm.

Bai Yueqing shook her head, suppressing her lingering regret. Ye Ming’s progress was plain to see—a boon for them both.

She glanced at the spot where the wraith had dissipated, her vigilance growing ever keener. The dangers of the Valley of Sunken Swords far surpassed expectations.

Steeling herself, she attuned to Ye Ming’s guidance and pressed deeper into the heart of the valley.

Only this time, she had no sword in hand.

Her sole reliance now rested on the blade wrapped in gray cloth upon her back.