In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

Danger!

The man in black robes fixed his gaze on Su Han, a strange smile playing on his lips: "Qingyun Sect, Su Han?"

"Who are you?" Su Han asked in a deep voice.

"The one who will take your life," the man in black robes said hoarsely. "Of course, if you turn around and go down the mountain now, I can spare your life."

Ye Wuhen stepped forward: "How arrogant!"

The man in black robes laughed, a laugh tinged with chilling coldness. He raised his hand, and in it appeared a sword—a longsword entirely black, its blade covered in blood-red patterns.

The moment the sword was drawn, a cold and evil aura spread out.

Su Han's pupils suddenly contracted.

This aura... originates from the same source as the evil intent within Senior Sister's sword!
"Watch out!" he shouted urgently.

But it was too late.

The man in black robes thrust out his sword, the blade flashing like a venomous snake's tongue, aiming straight for Ye Wuhen's throat. This strike was swift, ruthless, and cunning, carrying an evil aura that eroded the mind.

Ye Wuhen hurriedly used his Dharma Form to defend himself, and the Azure Cloud Handprint struck down.

laugh!
The black sword easily pierced through the Dharma form, its momentum undiminished. Ye Wuhen was horrified and hastily dodged to the side, the sword's edge grazing his shoulder, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound. Even more terrifying, black energy emanated from the wound, actually eroding his star power.

"It's poisonous!" Ye Wuhen's face turned ashen.

Mu Qingxue hurriedly set up an array, and nine array flags flew out, transforming into a light shield to protect the three of them. However, when the black sword pierced the light shield, the shield trembled violently and cracks appeared.

"Late stage of Star Palace Realm, no, it's at its peak!" Mu Qingxue exclaimed in shock.

This man in black robes actually possessed the peak cultivation of the Star Palace Realm, and his swordsmanship was strange and far surpassed that of others of the same level.

Su Han drew his sword and stepped forward, the Tianya Sword slashing at the black sword.

The two swords clashed, producing a piercing screeching sound. Su Han felt a chilling, malevolent energy emanating from the blades, threatening to erode his mind. He hurriedly circulated his star power to defend himself, while simultaneously unleashing the sword intent of life.

A gentle sword light shone forth, barely dispelling the evil aura.

"Huh?" The man in black robes let out a soft exclamation. "You can actually withstand the 'Heart-Corroding Sword Intent'? It seems you are more troublesome than I thought."

His swordsmanship changed, and the black sword transformed into countless sword shadows, each carrying a corrosive power that enveloped Su Han's entire body.

Su Han unleashed the full power of his "Earth-Splitting" sword intent, creating a mountain phantom to protect his body. However, the black sword's evil energy was all-pervasive, and the mountain phantom was riddled with holes by its corrosion.

This can't go on!

Su Han's mind raced, and he suddenly sheathed his sword and retreated.

"Trying to run?" The man in black sneered as he gave chase.

It's now!

Su Han suddenly turned around, and the Tianya Sword emitted a dazzling sword light.

"The dawn breaks—the creation of the world!"

This sword strike embodied all his stellar power and sword intent. The sword was drawn like the rising sun, tearing through the darkness with a resolute determination to shatter all shackles.

The man in black robes' expression changed slightly, and he quickly blocked with his black sword.

boom!!!
The sword light exploded, and the man in black robes was blasted several feet away. His black robes were torn apart, revealing his true face—a face as pale as paper, with a blood-red tattoo below his right eye, shaped like a venomous snake.

"Excellent swordsmanship." He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a mad glint in his eyes. "But it's not enough!"

His aura surged, and a phantom appeared behind him—a blurry humanoid figure, yet exuding an overwhelming evil aura. The phantom merged into the black sword, causing the blood-red patterns on the blade to glow brightly, and it even emitted a shrill shriek.

"Nine Heart-Eating Swords - Devouring Ten Thousand Souls!"

With a single strike, ghosts wailed and gods howled. Countless vengeful spirits surged from the sword, rushing towards Su Han.

This is an evil sword technique, forging swords with the vengeful spirits of living beings; it is extremely vicious.

Su Han felt a jolt to his soul, and hallucinations flooded his vision, as if countless wronged souls were crying out in his ears. He bit his tongue, and the sharp pain brought him back to his senses.

We cannot retreat! Behind us are our senior brothers and sisters, the hope of the Qingyun Sect!

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on the sword.

My senior sister's voice echoed in my ears: "The true pinnacle of swordsmanship is to encompass everything."

The sword intent born of compassion
What is a sword?
It is a weapon of slaughter, and also a blade of protection.

What is sword intent?
It was the sharpness that cleaved through the void, and the compassion that nourished all things. At that moment, Su Han understood.

He opened his eyes, and the confusion was gone. He gently swung the Tianya Sword, without the slightest killing intent, yet a circle of warm sword light spread out.

Wherever the sword light passed, the illusory shadows of vengeful spirits melted away like snow, their mournful cries vanishing into nothingness. The black-robed man's soul-corroding sword intent crumbled before this sword light, like snow melting in the spring sun.

"This is impossible!" the man in black robes cried out in terror.

Su Han remained silent, and the second sword strike arrived.

This sword strike, simple and unadorned, contains his complete understanding of the way of the sword—it has the weight of splitting the earth, the decisiveness of opening the heavens, and the compassion of encompassing all things.

The sword light pierced through the body of the man in black robes.

There were no wounds, no blood. But the man in black robes was struck as if by lightning; his evil aura receded like a tide, and his face instantly turned ashen.

"You...you destroyed my cultivation?!" he hissed.

“Evil sword techniques harm both the user and others.” Su Han sheathed his sword. “Today, I’m crippling your cultivation to give you a chance to repent.”

The man in black robes collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with despair and resentment.

Su Han stopped looking at him and turned to help Ye Wuhen up. Mu Qingxue had already treated his wounds, but the corrosive evil energy was extremely difficult to remove, and Ye Wuhen remained unconscious.

"We must reach the summit as soon as possible and seek treatment from the elders," Su Han said in a deep voice.

The two helped Ye Wuhen up and continued upwards.

The pressure was greatest in the last hundred feet, but no one dared to stop them anymore. Many people had witnessed the battle just now, and no one dared to plot against them again.

Finally, they reached the top of the mountain.

Dozens of people were already gathered on the mountaintop platform. Upon seeing Su Han and his two companions reach the summit, and especially upon seeing the unconscious Ye Wuhen, the group displayed a variety of expressions.

Upon seeing this, the elder in charge of the assembly immediately stepped forward to investigate.

"Heart-corroding evil energy?" A white-bearded elder frowned. "This is a forbidden technique. Who could be so vicious?"

Su Han pointed to the mountain below and said, "I have already destroyed that person's cultivation."

The elder gave Su Han a deep look and nodded: "Well done. Hand this person over to us."

He took out a pill and gave it to Ye Wuhen, then used his internal energy to dispel the evil energy. Before long, Ye Wuhen slowly woke up; although still weak, he was no longer seriously injured.

"Junior Brother Su, thank you," he said weakly.

Su Han shook his head: "There's no need for thanks between fellow disciples."

By this time, the seats at the summit were gradually filled. In the end, exactly one hundred people reached the top, with the Qingyun Sect occupying three seats – a commendable achievement.

The white-bearded elder announced in a loud voice: "The ascent to heaven is over, and the top 100 have been determined. The arena battles will begin tomorrow at dawn. Everyone, please rest well today."

The crowd dispersed and returned to their respective cities.

On the way back, Su Han was preoccupied with worries.

The black-robed man's swordsmanship shared the same origin as the evil intent within the Tianya Sword. This was no coincidence.

As expected, my senior sister's enemies have come knocking on our door.

The Hundred Sects Conference is probably just the beginning.

Late at night, Su Han sat in meditation in his room.

A faint fluctuation emanated from the Tianya Sword, and Yuheng's voice rang out: "Did you unleash the Sword Intent of Compassion today?"

"It's just a prototype," Su Han said. "Senior Sister, what about the black-robed man's swordsmanship?"

“They are from the ‘Heart-Eating Sword Sect’.” Yuheng’s voice was solemn. “That is an ancient evil sword sect that forges swords with vengeful spirits. They are extremely vicious. I was tricked by them back then and was corrupted by their evil thoughts.”

Why are they targeting you?

Yuheng remained silent for a long time before saying, "Because I know a secret—the sect leader of the Heart-Eating Sword Sect is the same person as the current ruler of a top power in the Eastern Region."

Su Han was startled.

“This matter is too complicated, and I didn’t want to tell you,” Yuheng sighed. “But now it seems they’ve already set their sights on you. Su Han, after the Hundred Sects Conference, no matter the outcome, you must leave the Eastern Region and go to the Central State.”

"why?"

"Because only the 'Sword Tomb' in Zhongzhou can possibly purify the evil thoughts within my sword," Yuheng said softly. "And only when you reach Zhongzhou will you be truly safe." (End of Chapter)