The sun above was scorching.

The numerous constables who had just been complaining about the heat no longer felt it; instead, they felt as if the very heavens and earth had instantly turned cold with the appearance of the Asura, this monster. As for the so-called 'Iron Mouth Divine Calculator,' Wang Banxian, who could calculate 'five hundred years up, five hundred years down,' he had now collapsed onto the ground, unable to even move his feet.

The Asura cackled eerily, "Not bad, not bad. Apart from one whose flesh doesn't taste good, the rest are bursting with vitality. Especially the three—they are brimming with potent energy; they are cultivators. It's time for a grand feast." Undeniably, the Asura ate people, and in its eyes, the more vigorous the vital energy, the tastier the meal. Someone like Wang Banxian was naturally unpalatable. The constables, having practiced martial arts, had good bodies and abundant vital energy, making them quite delicious. As for the three cultivators, they were absolute tonics. The Asura relished the thought immensely.

Bichen and Biyi launched their attacks simultaneously.

The Asura was far too dominant right now; they had to strike first.

Daoist Bichen attacked immediately with his signature technique. He possessed the magical power of the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, one of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, practicing a set of Sword Stances known as the Left Yi Sword Style, which he had chanced upon. Daoist Biyi wielded the power of the Third Layer of Qi Refining, one of the Twelve Primary Meridians, practicing the Right Yi Sword Style. These two were originally mere mortals until they accidentally found a damaged Qi Refining manual and a damaged Sword Manual in a mountain cave. Relying on these fragmented texts, they cultivated their current strength. One practiced the Left Yi Sword Style from the fragmented manual, and the other the Right Yi Sword Style. Together, they formed the Liangyi Sword Style (Two Elements Sword Style). If they had possessed the complete Liangyi Sword Style, it would have carried significant power.

Unfortunately, they only had incomplete versions, leaving numerous flaws in the sword moves. Although they had managed to patch up some of these over the years, it was ultimately nothing compared to truly formidable sword arts.

Naturally, this was from Lu Yuan's perspective.

At least Daoist Bichen and Daoist Biyi were quite confident in this fragmented Liangyi Sword Style.

Daoist Bichen unfurled his sword forms with the Left Yi Sword Style, while Daoist Biyi utilized the Right Yi Sword Style. The two styles subtly hinted at a cooperative relationship. As the two streams of swordsmanship unfolded, the air filled with the chill of sword light, causing the constables of Dongye County to inwardly gasp in admiration. Truly worthy of immortal masters; their first move was extraordinary.

How profound were these sword arts?

Regrettably, the Asura paid them no heed. Its body moved swiftly, its elbow ramming toward Daoist Biyi. The Asura’s elbow was equipped with sharp spikes as hard as any precious sword. Daoist Biyi parried with his sword, but with that single block, bang—Daoist Biyi was sent flying, crashing somewhere out of sight.

Then, the Asura flashed like lightning toward Bichen. Bichen repeatedly counter-attacked, but he was no match for the Asura. The creature’s elbows ceaselessly hammered against Daoist Bichen’s longsword: Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang! "What immense magical power!" Bichen thought internally. "What kind of mighty force is this? It must be the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining—Qi Condensing to Form a Barrier."

Qi Condensing to Form a Barrier.

Lu Yuan was now certain as well. Indeed, it possessed the magical power of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, Qi Condensing to Form a Barrier.

In that case, a fight was possible.

While Lu Yuan was muttering to himself, the Asura had already exchanged several rapid blows, sending Daoist Bichen flying backward, causing him to vomit blood repeatedly. At this moment, both Daoist Bichen and Daoist Biyi inwardly cursed their luck. This Asura possessed terrifying offensive power and dreadful techniques, far surpassing their own capabilities.

The constables were already weak-kneed. Lu Ye, however, forced himself to remain calm and loosed an arrow.

But the Asura completely ignored this arrow; it didn't even register the impact.

This was a mortal's bow and arrow; it had no effect on a demon, just as if it hadn't been shot at all.

"Hahahaha!" the Asura roared, "Flesh sustenance! All of it, vital flesh sustenance!" The Asura lunged first for Daoist Bichen, as it perceived his vital energy to be the most potent. It naturally could not discern Lu Yuan's magical power. Lu Yuan practiced the Cloud Dragon Heart Method; its essence was unpredictable, ethereal, and most difficult to gauge. The Cloud Dragon Heart Method excelled at concealment; even those with higher magical power than Lu Yuan could not see through it.

Daoist Bichen had already been injured by the Asura in their brief exchange and was wounded not lightly. Now, already injured, and facing the Asura’s lightning-fast movements, how could he possibly dodge? In the time it takes to speak, Daoist Bichen felt the Asura’s terrifying, scaled head about to loom before his eyes, ready to swallow him whole.

"Clang!" A gleaming, long sword materialized.

This was a Flying Sword!

Flying Swords were exceedingly rare; rogue cultivators rarely saw them. It was rumored that a Flying Sword required not only extremely precious material like Nine Nether Profound Iron but also the spitting of the essence blood of a master at the Body Tempering Stage to forge. Yet, even Body Tempering experts were reluctant to part with their essence blood; every drop expelled meant one less to use.

Thus, Flying Swords were exceedingly precious.

The swords used by Daoist Bichen and Daoist Biyi were merely Precious Swords, a tier below a true Flying Sword.

This longsword, bright as autumn water, was actually a Flying Sword?

Daoist Bichen, having narrowly escaped death, immediately recognized the one who had intervened as Lu Yuan.

This damned disciple from a prestigious sect actually possessed a Flying Sword! The benefits of major sects were truly excellent. Alas, Daoist Bichen recalled how he and his brother had been rejected everywhere they went; this memory was deeply unpleasant. Stirred by painful recollections, Daoist Bichen even thought that Lu Yuan, a disciple of a great lineage, would at most withstand two moves before failing.

Daoist Bichen waited for Lu Yuan’s defeat, but waited, and waited, and it did not come.

Daoist Bichen grew puzzled.

What was going on?

Daoist Bichen looked over and saw Lu Yuan locked in combat with the Asura, and the two seemed evenly matched—how could this be? Daoist Bichen thought internally, Impossible. A person like Lu Yuan, born into a major sect, someone who should have it easy—when encountering such a troublesome demon as the Asura, I assumed he’d be struck down in a few moves. How can he fight the Asura to a standstill?

Indeed, the battle was presently deadlocked.

Judging by the situation, Lu Yuan hadn't gained any advantage; gradually, it was even trending toward a stalemate.

——————

The Yangwu Sword in Lu Yuan’s hand moved lightly, thrusting toward the Asura.

This Asura’s magical power surpassed his own.

In the cultivation world, surpassing even one minor layer of magical power represented an immense gulf. The Sixth Layer, Qi Condensing to Form a Barrier, could easily defeat the Fifth Layer, Lesser Heavenly Cycle, because the resulting barrier energy was far superior to energy that had not yet formed a barrier. After the initial exchanges, Lu Yuan realized fighting head-on was a severe disadvantage.

Moreover, the Asura’s attacks using the horns on its head, the sharp edges of its elbows, and the sharp points on its leg joints were truly bizarre. For a time, Lu Yuan could only defend, using the defensive move "Cloud Gathers Unpredictably" from the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud. However, gradually, he began to discern a pattern.

The Asura’s attacks were indeed strange. All his previous opponents used swords. This was his first time encountering a true demon.

But gradually, Lu Yuan had an idea: why couldn't he treat all the opponent's various attacks—elbows, horns, legs—as if they were swords?

If he viewed them as swords, things became much simpler.

After all, he had grasped the Sword Intent of Wind and Cloud, and his mastery of the Dao of the Sword was extraordinarily deep, far exceeding his peers.

"Fierce Wind Rages Past," "Great Wind Rises," ... "Clouds Pile Heavily," "Cloud Gathers Unpredictably"—move after move, sword technique after sword technique unfolded from Lu Yuan's hands. His swordsmanship grew increasingly fluid, and Lu Yuan slowly ascended to a truly marvelous state.

(Two chapters released; this is the first.)