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**
While Ling Xiao was enjoying his carefree studies at the Spirit Hall Academy, the Douluo Continent was far from peaceful.
In truth, Ling Xiao was quite fortunate.
Within the walls of the Spirit Hall Academy, his growth was shielded from any external interference.
Though he would encounter various hardships and setbacks, he did not have to face the carnage of the world prematurely, nor was he forced to shoulder excessive pressure and responsibility.
Others were not so lucky.
Even powers as formidable as the two Great Empires or the Seven Sects had their respective rivals. The Star Luo Empire hoped to annex Heaven Dou and unite the continent.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hoped to surpass the Clear Sky Sect to become the world's number one; and the Sword Sect, once the leader of the Lower Four Sects, also had its mortal enemy.
In the southern part of the Douluo Continent, west of the Star Luo Empire's capital, lay a massive valley. Thousands of bizarre peaks and jagged rocks rose abruptly from the earth, standing in dense arrays within the valley—a truly wondrous sight.
At the heart of these peaks stood a gargantuan mountain, soaring majestically into the sky like an unsheathed sharp sword piercing the clouds. Faint sounds of sword cries occasionally echoed from within.
This was the headquarters of the Sword Sect.
Because the West Sea lay at the extreme western edge of this region, the area was named the West Sea Forest of Peaks. Atop the central Heavenly Sword Peak, palaces stood in clusters.
They were not particularly ornate or exquisite, but they possessed a solemn, grand aura that complemented the magnificent scenery of the forest of peaks.
In the center was a massive square paved entirely with blue stone.
Along the edges of the square, towering stone seats extended upward in tiers; the higher the tier, the fewer the seats. At this moment, thousands of Sword Sect disciples were sitting cross-legged in the square, immersed in meditation.
A vast, sharp aura gathered atop the Heavenly Sword Peak, possessing a terrifying momentum.
The disciples were divided into six colors based on their attire: Red, Blue, White, Cyan, Purple, and Yellow, corresponding exactly to the Sword Sect's Five Lineages and Six Swords.
On the stone seats extending from the edge of the square, only one elder sat. He wore a simple white robe and had an aged face, yet he possessed a transcendent and ethereal air.
This man was an Elder of the Sword Sect's Wind Lineage, the current master of the Whirlwind Sword, Yun Shan.
Seeing the disciples cultivating steadily with smooth, flowing breaths that seemed to merge into one, Yun Shan nodded in satisfaction.
The Sword Sect had been severely wounded in that great war years ago, but they had finally endured their most difficult period. Currently, the sect possessed three Soul Douluo level powerhouses.
While they could not compare to the Sword Sect's peak, they were only a notch weaker than the Imperial Feather Sect among the Lower Four Sects. There were several good prospects among this generation of disciples.
If nurtured carefully, they might be able to restore the Sword Sect to its former glory.
Just as Yun Shan was lost in thought, the sky suddenly darkened. Though the morning sun had only recently risen, it now felt as if dark clouds were blanketing the world.
Massive black clouds surged across the sky, looking as though some gargantuan creature was swimming within them. Simultaneously, fierce gales erupted, the howling wind mirroring the turmoil in the hearts of the Sword Sect members.
"Hahahaha!"
A laugh, utterly arrogant and filled with oppressive weight, echoed from within the black clouds.
"Hmph! Who dares to run wild at my Sword Sect!" Yun Shan roared, standing up from his stone seat.
He reached out with his right hand, and with a burst of cyan light, a longsword appeared. The blade was two feet nine inches long, emerald green in color, and emitted a faint cyan glow.
This was the Wind Lineage Martial Soul: the Whirlwind Sword.
As a black Soul Ring released from Yun Shan's body, his Soul Power surged, and the Wind-attribute energy of heaven and earth swarmed toward him.
Yun Shan swung a strike toward the black clouds.
Cyan light exploded as a massive sword qi extended from the Whirlwind Sword, tearing through the air.
Dense wind energy, condensed and compressed, attached itself to the blade qi, adding a layer of lethal sharpness to the already keen attack, even fracturing the surrounding space.
Yun Shan intended to use his sixth Soul Skill to cleave the black clouds and force the intruder to show themselves. Unexpectedly, a hole opened in the clouds, but no brilliant light shone through.
Instead, a massive beast claw radiating black light lunged out.
The claw was enormous, a single digit measuring a hundred meters in length. The sword qi that seemed so imposing was easily crushed by the black claw, leaving behind massive gashes that tore through the void.
"This...?" Yun Shan's eyes widened, and his breath hitched for a moment.
The reason wasn't just that his attack had been easily broken, but because he recognized the owner of that massive claw.
The Sect Leader of the Black Tiger Sect, Situ Kuang.
Over thirty years ago, Yun Shan's senior brother—the previous master of the Whirlwind Sword, Yun Kong—had been heavily wounded by Situ Kuang and subsequently died from his injuries.
His senior brother's cultivation and strength had both been superior to his own, yet he had still died at Situ Kuang's hands.
That event had crippled the Sword Sect's vitality. Now that the enemy had staged a comeback, how could he not be shocked? How could he... not be afraid?
Just as Yun Shan was suppressed by Situ Kuang's momentum and the disciples were crushed by the weight of the black clouds, a streak of crimson light shot through the air from behind the palaces of Heavenly Sword Peak.
The red light was as scorching as fire, leaving a trail across the horizon and injecting a ray of hope into the oppressive atmosphere. Seeing this light, the disciples and Yun Shan felt their spirits lift.
The crimson streak came to a sudden halt above the square. The red glow receded to reveal an elder dressed in grayish-white robes. His hair and beard were white, but his features exuded a majestic and solemn dignity.
The elder looked at the black clouds without a word.
He flipped his right hand, and a scarlet longsword appeared. Pointing the sword upward, he didn't even release a Soul Ring; with the blessing of heaven and earth energy, a scorching crimson sword light shot forth.
It instantly slammed into the vast black clouds. The black tiger claw lunged out again but was instantly pierced through by the sword light. After piercing the claw, the sword light did not exit the clouds.
Seeing this, Yun Shan's heart sank, thinking that even Elder Bai had no way to break the phenomenon. However, a sudden explosion of red light erupted within the black clouds.
Crimson flames surged, burning furiously from the inside out, incinerating the massive cloud bank filled with dark power.
The dense fire and dark energies clashed, and the sky was completely overtaken by the two colors—a magnificent spectacle, were it not for the invading enemy.
Bai Hu descended from the sky, sword in hand. He spoke calmly, "Black-Hearted Tiger, we are old acquaintances. There is no need for these theatrics!"
As soon as he finished speaking, arrogant laughter rang out from the burning clouds.
"Master of the Red Flame Sword, you still remember this King?"
"It has been over thirty years. I thought your old eyes had gone dim. Let me test your Red Flame Sword once more!"
The sinister voice echoed again.
Simultaneously, a colossal dark power exploded from within the burning clouds, as if a terrifying beast of doomsday was about to be born. With a thunderous boom, thick black light shattered the burning clouds.
A massive black tiger leaped out, its entire body radiating black Soul Power—inky as coal, yet condensed into a physical form. Only on its forehead was there a flamboyant purple "King" (王) mark.
This was Situ Kuang's Martial Soul Avatar.
Looking closely, atop the head of the massive black tiger stood a man with his hands behind his back. He wore purple-black robes and a golden crown, exuding an overbearing aura, his eyes filled with aggression.
Looking at Bai Hu, Situ Kuang's lips curled.
With a long howl, he leaped down toward the square. The massive black tiger roared, following him and arriving first. The thousand-meter tiger, brimming with dark power, quickly enveloped Situ Kuang's body.
As the two merged, purple-black radiance pulsed, and the tiger rapidly transformed into a humanoid tiger form. Standing a thousand meters tall, it loomed over the void without restraint.
In this moment, Situ Kuang had clearly converted his Martial Soul Avatar into a humanoid possession form—transforming from beast to man-shape, yet still remaining in the state of a Martial Soul Avatar.
**
Enjoying the story? Support the translation and get early access to future chapters here: www.patr eon.com/c/FanficTranslator
Thanks for reading!
I have 70 advanced chapter now on Patreon. I will post 5 advanced chapter on Patreon everyday except Sunday