Windyun Wuji was soaring through the sky when suddenly, a massive shadow loomed overhead, enveloping him. He looked up to see a monstrous bird-like demon, its body stretching over ten yards, its eyes glowing golden-red, and its fiery feathers blazing, diving swiftly from the clouds.
The creature let out a shrill cry, and its long, sharp beak opened wide. A massive fireball, about three feet in diameter, shot straight at Windyun Wuji.
The intense heat of the fireball approached rapidly. Before it even reached him, the air within a hundred-meter radius seemed to catch fire, crackling with a series of popping sounds.
In the past, encountering such a formidable demon bird would have sent Windyun Wuji running for his life. But now, there was no need for escape.
His robes fluttered in the strong winds as Windyun Wuji lifted his head, his gaze unwavering, showing no hint of emotion.
Just as the fireball was about to strike, Windyun Wuji stepped to the left, his body sliding smoothly with the motion. The fireball grazed past him, missing by mere inches.
"Die!" Windyun Wuji spat coldly, his right hand forming a sword-like gesture. With a swift slash, a faint white streak flashed through the air. The demon bird, spewing flames, was sent flying over fifty meters. A thin line of blood appeared across its neck, and with a sickening twist, its head was severed, tumbling to the ground while its body continued its flight, falling far away.
Blood poured from the severed neck, quickly attracting the attention of nearby bloodthirsty beasts in the Snow Shroud Forest. Roars echoed as massive creatures rushed toward the fallen bird's corpse, eager to feast.
Within moments, dozens of beasts surrounded the carcass, gnashing their jaws greedily. Many other powerful monsters, upon noticing Windyun Wuji hovering above, turned their gaze toward him. One massive beast, resembling a giant wolf covered in thick fur, threw its head back and let out a sharp cry. Then, with a powerful stomp, it shot toward Windyun Wuji like an arrow.
The death of You Wuxie still weighed heavily on Windyun Wuji's heart. Having just witnessed the demise of a powerful demon bird, the appearance of these beasts only stirred his bloodlust further.
"I need to let it out," Windyun Wuji muttered. His right hand rose, summoning an ice crystal sword that shimmered in the air. Bolstered by a million years of cultivation, the sword glowed with a faint white aura that pulsed with energy. With a swift motion, Windyun Wuji dived downward, charging directly toward the beast.
The roars and screams of the beasts, the clash of weapons, and the sounds of battle resonated through the Snow Shroud Forest for hours. Eventually, Windyun Wuji yanked his ice crystal sword from the skull of a giant beast, sending its massive body crashing to the ground, splitting into four parts. Surrounding the carcass were countless chunks of mangled flesh, too disfigured to identify which parts belonged to which beast.
The strong stench of blood filled the air, but rather than attracting the other bloodthirsty beasts, it drove them away. One by one, they retreated, disappearing deeper into the forest.
With a fierce roar, Windyun Wuji's voice echoed through the sky, lingering in the air for an extended moment. Though his body was covered in the blood of the beasts, his heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. Since coming to the ancient world, he had not felt such a sense of relief—finally, he no longer had to fear these beasts.
Windyun Wuji had no particular destination in mind. After dealing with the monsters, he wasn't in a hurry. He found a large mountain and carved out a cave halfway up, hiding within. The entrance was concealed by thick vines, and he shut off his senses, confident that no beasts would find him.
Inside the narrow cave, Windyun Wuji sat cross-legged. The vines outside swayed in the icy winds. Beyond the cave entrance lay hundreds of feet of cliff, a desolate, silver-white world of ice. But within his small world, the outside world mattered little.
Activating his Nine Turns Death Rebirth technique, he felt the powerful chill of the Qi coursing through his body, converting into the energy he needed. Despite the rapid flow, the immense power of a million years of cultivation proved difficult to fully absorb, even with the special attributes of the Nine Turns technique.
The Qi flowed naturally, requiring no conscious control. Windyun Wuji observed the movement of the Qi within his body for a while, sensing no issues. He then turned inward, practicing the Mind Sword Body technique.
The second level of the Mind Sword Body technique, the Demon Sword, flashed in his mind. Ancient, obscure symbols passed through his thoughts, but before he could fully grasp their meaning, he felt the Qi in his body stir, following an unfamiliar, almost otherworldly path. A subtle sensation washed over him, and Windyun Wuji felt he was on the verge of controlling some mysterious power.
A massive sword intent began to gather in his heart, growing more intense with each passing moment. Soon, it became too overwhelming, forcing Windyun Wuji to stop his cultivation entirely, struggling to suppress the uncontrollable sword intent.
His body trembled, and an overwhelming impulse to strike surged within him.
"This is bad," Windyun Wuji thought, his mind racing. "The surge of mental energy is too strong. I haven't fully condensed my consciousness yet. This sword intent's intensity is beyond my current control… I thought with a million years of power, I'd be able to manage this technique, but I see now that it requires more focus than strength. No wonder it's called 'Mind.'"
Suddenly, a powerful presence surged from the east, sweeping toward him like an endless tide, vast and unstoppable.
"Blade Qi!" Windyun Wuji recognized the powerful aura. It was a manifestation of blade intent, only achievable by someone with extraordinary skill in the blade arts. The blade Qi surged toward him, warping the very sky.
At that moment, the sword intent within Windyun Wuji exploded, surging forward to clash with the overwhelming blade Qi. The two forces collided in the air, a brutal and merciless struggle.
Harnessing the pressure from the blade Qi, Windyun Wuji finally managed to suppress the chaotic sword intent, watching as the once-color-changing sword Qi disappeared without a trace.
Opening his eyes, Windyun Wuji saw a towering figure standing in front of the cave entrance. The figure was a giant man, at least eight feet tall, draped in a long robe. His chest was embroidered with the words "Blade Domain" in ancient script, and beneath it, a golden blade was inscribed.
"Who are you?" the giant man asked with an air of arrogance. "Why are you here? Have you seen a man in black pass through here?"
Windyun Wuji immediately understood that this was the source of the blade Qi.
"I've been meditating here, and haven't seen anyone suspicious. May I ask your name?" Windyun Wuji replied, standing up. He sensed that his cultivation level was slightly inferior to the man's, and since the man was blocking the only exit, Windyun Wuji didn't want to provoke him unnecessarily.
The giant man looked him up and down with a hint of surprise, then spoke cautiously, "I am the 17th Patroller of the Blade Emperor's court in the Blade Domain. I've been sent to investigate the recent intrusion by demons into the Blade Domain. Are you one of the guards from the Destruction Hall under the Lord of Destruction?"
"No," Windyun Wuji replied, unwilling to elaborate. Hearing the name "Lord of Destruction" caused his heart to stir.
The man seemed to notice his reaction, scanning Windyun Wuji carefully before continuing, "Then I'll take my leave. May we meet again… By the way, you must be from the Southern Rising Northern Big Dipper Sword Sect. I have a piece of advice for you: this is the Blade Domain. It's not the Sword Sect. Hmph."
With that, the man vanished into the white expanse, disappearing like a fleeting shadow.
After a long while, Windyun Wuji exhaled a quiet breath. The man's swordsmanship was far too powerful, and even though he had tried to restrain himself, the blade Qi he unintentionally released had stirred Windyun Wuji's own Qi, making him want to fight. It was an uncomfortable sensation.
"So, this is what it's like to encounter someone from the Blade Domain?" Windyun Wuji mused. "Such powerful blade intent… but why does my sword intent always seem to clash with it?"
It was clear that the man had mistaken him for a disciple of the Southern Rising Northern Big Dipper Sword Sect. Windyun Wuji didn't bother to correct him.
He stood, gazing out at the desolate ice world, then took a deep breath before leaping from the cliff.
Determined, he decided to first return to You Ming Peak, then explore the nearby Blade Domain. Not long after ascending, Windyun Wuji had heard tales of both the Blade Domain and the Snow Domain. He was curious to see both for himself.
After taking a moment to orient himself, Windyun Wuji avoided the path leading to the Lord of Destruction's Void Destruction Hall and made his way toward the cave once belonging to You Wuxie.
This time, the feeling was completely different. The first time he came here, he had been captured by You Wuxie, and the mountain