Like water, the moonlight spilled outside the old ancestral hall of the Lin Family, making everything appear exceptionally quiet and eerie.
Lin Xinghe pressed herself tightly against the corner of the wall, listening intently as muffled voices drifted into her ears.
Her heart grew heavier and heavier; those two words—"others"—pierced her heart like needles.
"The time... is almost ripe... The Jade Pendant... must absolutely not... fall into... the hands of others..."
"Others?" Lin Xinghe’s heart gave a violent jolt, and fine beads of sweat oozed across her forehead.
This Lin Feng indeed harbored malicious intentions!
She gritted her teeth in secret, just about to make a move, when suddenly, a familiar voice carrying a trace of mockery yet laced with a lazy tone rang out by her ear without any warning: "Little girl, your skill at tailing people has improved, but your craftsmanship is still a bit lacking."
Every hair on Lin Xinghe's body stood on end in a sudden shock, yet her figure did not move an inch.
The knuckles of the hand gripping the sword hilt had already turned white.
She didn't even need to turn her head; purely from this flippant tone, she knew who had come—Yun Wufeng!
This guy came and went like a ghost; who knew when he had sneaked up right behind her!
Lin Xinghe's heart gave a violent leap, and countless questions instantly rushed to her throat, only to be forcefully pressed back down by his bottomless eyes.
"You've already done very well. Leave whatever comes next to me." Yun Wufeng lowered his voice, his tone carrying an unquestionable certainty.
Lin Xinghe's heart trembled. Although she was filled with questions, Yun Wufeng's profound eyes seemed to be telling her to trust him.
Lin Xinghe nodded, and a firm fighting spirit ignited in her heart.
Following Yun Wufeng, she quietly left the ancestral hall and headed deep into the Sword Tomb Secret Realm.
The night breeze brushed against her cheeks, bringing a trace of coolness that gradually dispelled the doubts in her heart.
Following Yun Wufeng through patch after patch of dense forest, she finally arrived at a place she had never seen before—the Sword Soul Cavern.
The entrance of the Sword Soul Cavern was sealed by a massive stone door, carved with ancient runes that emitted a faint glow.
Yun Wufeng stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at Lin Xinghe, and said, "Only by passing the trial here can you truly master the Power of the Sword Soul."
Lin Xinghe took a deep breath, fighting spirit kindling in her heart.
She nodded and said firmly, "I understand. I will meet the challenge head-on."
Yun Wufeng smiled slightly and pressed his hand against the stone door, which slowly opened to reveal the interior of the cavern.
A faint blue light pervaded the inside of the cavern, and a chilling aura filled the air.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xinghe stepped into the cavern.
The interior of the cavern was a huge circular space, with countless glowing gemstones embedded in the surrounding walls, forming winding belts of light.
In the center stood a massive stone platform, upon which hovered nine spheres of light, each radiating a different radiance.
"This is the Nine Heavens of Sword Soul. Every layer of the Sword Soul is a massive barrier; only by breaking through all the barriers can you truly master the Power of the Sword Soul." Yun Wufeng's voice echoed in the cavern, as if guiding the way for Lin Xinghe.
With burning eyes, Lin Xinghe stared fixedly at those nine spheres of light, a blazing fighting spirit igniting in her heart.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped toward the first sphere of light.
The moment she drew close, an invisible force field pushed her back.
Clenching her teeth, Lin Xinghe gathered the Power of the Sword Soul throughout her body and tried to break through once more.
This time, the resistance of the force field became even more violent; Lin Xinghe's body was thrown heavily backward and crashed to the ground.
Struggling to her feet, she was covered in multiple scrapes and bruises, the pain excruciating.
Yet she did not give up, an unyielding flame burning in her eyes.
Just as she was on the verge of giving up, an icy and cold voice rang out by her ear: "With just this little bit of strength, you expect to pass the trial?"
Startled, Lin Xinghe turned her head to look, only to see Baili standing not far away, a hint of mockery hidden within her indifferent gaze.
Lin Xinghe's heart jolted, but she quickly regained her composure: "I will prove it to you."
Baili smiled faintly, though her tone carried a trace of encouragement: "Then keep it up, little girl. Only by passing the trial can you truly master the Power of the Sword Soul."
Lin Xinghe nodded, feeling as though a surge of strength had been bestowed upon her heart.
She gathered the Power of the Sword Soul once again, this time more resolute and steady.
Step by step, pausing with each move, she approached the sphere of light once more.
This time, the resistance of the force field remained formidable, but relying on the persistence and conviction in her heart, Lin Xinghe finally broke through the first barrier.
Feeling the surging Power of the Sword Soul within her body, Lin Xinghe's fighting spirit grew even firmer.
Without stopping, she continued to launch challenges against the second and third barriers.
With every breakthrough, her Power of the Sword Soul continuously increased, and her body grew tougher as well.
Finally, when she broke through the fourth heaven of Sword Soul, a powerful force surged within her body; her Sword Intent became even more refined, and every cell in her body was brimming with strength.
Standing motionless, Lin Xinghe absorbed the baptism of this power, a resolute gleam flashing in her eyes.
Yun Wufeng nodded in satisfaction, walked to her side, and said softly, "This is only the beginning; there are even more challenges waiting for you ahead. Remember, the Power of the Sword Soul is not meant for conquering the world, but for protecting everything you hold dear."
Lin Xinghe nodded, her fighting spirit burning ever brighter.
Looking at Yun Wufeng, she said, "I will keep working hard."
Yun Wufeng smiled slightly and patted her shoulder: "Go on, the road ahead is still long. You've already done very well."
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xinghe turned and walked toward the next challenge.
Deep within the cavern, more trials awaited her.
An unyielding fighting spirit blazed in her heart as she stepped firmly forward.
Behind her, Yun Wufeng's gaze was profound, as if he were pondering something.
He muttered to himself, "The awakening of the Sword Soul is only a beginning. What follows is the true test."
Returning to the Lin Family as usual, Xinghe shed the sharpness of her newly born Sword Intent, squeezed herself back into rough linen clothes, and reverted to being that submissive, low-browed errand girl.
Yet this time, deep within her eyes, she harbored a resolve and sharpness that even the moonlight could not pierce.
The air drifted with the fragrance of food from the kitchen, mingled with an indescribable smell of decay. Lin Xinghe frowned slightly and shuttled unassumingly among the busy servants.
Her ears were sharper than ever, catching every faint rustle in the air.
What has that old fox Lin Xiao been up to lately? And what scheme is Lin Feng plotting?
Suddenly, a filthy servant boy bumped into her. Lin Xinghe almost failed to steady the food tray in her hands as the boy apologized repeatedly and fled in a panic.
Paying him no mind, Lin Xinghe continued walking, but the moment she turned, the corner of her eye caught a crumpled ball of paper lying quietly right where the servant boy had bumped into her.
Acting as if nothing were wrong, she walked over, kicked the paper ball into the corner with the tip of her shoe, and then, while no one was looking, quickly picked it up and tucked it into her sleeve.
Returning to her room, Lin Xinghe tightly shut the door and, by the dim candlelight, cautiously unfolded the wrinkled slip of paper.
"Beware of Lin Feng; he is not as simple as he appears on the surface."
That brief line of text split through the mist in her heart like a bolt of lightning, leaving her startled.
Lin Feng is not simple?
What else could there be about him that she didn't know?
Could it be that what she overheard outside the ancestral hall the other day was only the tip of the iceberg?
"It seems I'll have to find a chance to properly 'test' this good brother of mine..." she murmured to herself, her fingertips brushing against the paper. The candlelight flickered across her half-lit, half-shadowed face, reflecting in her bottomless eyes, deep and dangerous like a sword intent on the verge of erupting.