This was a dim passage, the flickering torchlight casting shadows on the walls. Lu Yuan pressed his nose against the nearby stone, sniffing—it was freshly dug earth. At the Huashan Immortal Sect, there was much to learn, extending far beyond cultivation techniques and swordsmanship; knowledge of the Underworld was equally vital.

The Underworld was treacherous beyond measure, a fact that had to be taught, lest one perish easily beneath the surface.

Lu Yuan had carefully observed that the soil here was new, indicating the passage had been excavated only recently. This route to the surface was clearly not long established. Continuing downward, he noted the tunnel wasn't overly wide, perhaps just enough for four or five people to walk abreast. The ceiling was high, near two men's height, necessary because the subterranean demons were generally much taller than average humans, requiring taller tunnels.

The passage descending into the earth was sloped, winding slowly downwards.

Lu Yuan, Ye Fang, and Ye Yuan pressed onward.

They walked for an indeterminate time, the darkness ahead absolute, when suddenly a sharp, grating laugh echoed from the front: "Interesting, interesting. Juniors from the Huashan Immortal Sect dare trespass into the territory of our Moon Demon Sect. Truly seeking death. Submit now and die obediently." A towering demon began to emerge from the gloom.

The demon was entirely black, its skin appearing like a hard carapace covered in scales. Two sharp horns jutted from its head. Its form was broadly humanoid but significantly larger than a human—about one and a half times the size. Every joint was tipped with vicious, sharp horns, like blades. They looked chillingly cold, appearing sharper than ordinary swords, perhaps rivaling even a flying sword.

Shura The Underworld Monster, Shura.

Moreover, Lu Yuan immediately sensed this Shura’s power was considerable, even stronger than the one encountered previously in Dongye County. It possessed the magic of the seventh layer of Qi Condensation—Yù Qì Líng Tǐ (Controlling Qi to Command the Body). Lu Yuan instantly felt the opponent’s magical energy, but Ye Fang did not, as his own power only reached the fourth layer of Qi Condensation—Qí Jīng Bā Mài (Extraordinary Meridians and Eight Channels). The disparity in magical strength was too great for him to detect. Ye Fang brought his longsword up, aiming its tip directly at the opponent, executing a stance from the Jūnzǐ Jiàn Fǎ (Gentleman’s Sword Style)—"Unyielding Integrity." Ye Fang executed this move with growing proficiency, faintly imbued with righteousness.

Ye Fang had improved; this single sword stroke revealed it. But unfortunately, his opponent was a Shura powered by the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. The Shura sneered, casually unleashing a sweeping palm strike that slammed into Ye Fang's square-aimed blade. Ye Fang felt an overwhelming force rush through him. Before he could react, he released his sword, flying backward as if launched from a sling.

Ye Yuan stood beside Ye Fang and quickly stepped to intercept, fearing the Shura would press the attack. The Shura delivered another palm strike, hitting Ye Yuan’s Huà Yuán Jiàn (Circle-Forming Sword). Although Ye Yuan channeled the Yuán Róng Xīn Fǎ (Round Harmony Mental Method) taught directly by Master Ye Yang to deflect the immense force, some power could not be shed. With a resounding thwack, he tumbled into Ye Fang in a heap.

In a single exchange, Ye Fang and Ye Yuan were both injured internally.

Now, both Ye Fang and Ye Yuan understood this Shura was exceedingly formidable.

Damn it. They had barely entered the Underworld, and already they were being forced to use protective talismans, requiring Martial Uncle Chu to rescue them, thereby forfeiting this opportunity for tempering? Must this journey into the Underworld end like this? The Shura cackled menacingly and suddenly lunged toward Ye Fang and Ye Yuan.

Shuras coveted the blood of humans; cultivators like Ye Fang and Ye Yuan, with their vigorous vital energy, were their prime targets.

But just then, a sword shot forward from the west.

This thrust seemed both artful and clumsy, yet it positioned itself precisely at the Shura’s neck. If the demon advanced further, the blade would pierce it. The Shura violently recoiled, turning its head: "Another Huashan junior. Very well, today I shall show you what a true demon is."

The Shura rushed Lu Yuan, intending to eliminate this junior first.

The Shura’s entire body was an arsenal—its elbows, hands, and feet were all weapons. The Shura always felt its elbows were far more convenient than human swords. In its estimation, dealing with a mere sect junior should be effortless. But it immediately realized it was mistaken.

This human junior’s swordsmanship could only be described as exquisite.

"Clouds Ever-Winding," "Great Wind Surging," "Cloud Entanglement," "The Great Wind Rises"... "Heavy Clouds, Urgent Wind," "Wind Passes Over Mountains and Rivers Without Trace"...

A continuous torrent of sword moves erupted, each one targeting the Shura's weaknesses. The Shura couldn't even complete its own offensive moves; often, halfway through an attack, it found the latter half thwarted, its opening exposed. It felt its entire being besieged by pointing sword tips, becoming intensely uncomfortable.

The Shura realized its magical cultivation was slightly higher than this human junior's, yet because of this damned junior’s strange, exquisitely precise swordsmanship—every casual slash pointing directly at a vulnerability—it was completely forced onto the defensive. Gradually, the Shura understood it was losing the advantage, and the very rhythm of the battle had been seized by the junior.

Damn it, what is this? How could Huashan produce a youth with such flawless swordsmanship? Could this junior belong to the Sword Sect? I hear the Huashan Sword Sect’s techniques are pure, but even they rarely achieve this level of perfection. This is too terrifying.

This doesn't resemble the swordsmanship of a youth; it should be the art of a masterful Sword Immortal from the Ninth Generation.

The Shura had initially believed it found three delectable meals—three cultivators brimming with vital energy. Now, it realized it had truly kicked an iron plate—and a massive one at that.

Once trapped within Lu Yuan's sword net, escape became exceedingly difficult. Lu Yuan's net tightened, restricting the Shura’s movement area further. Periodically, injuries erupted on its body, the blood flowing faster and faster. Finally, with a dull thud, the Shura fell beneath Lu Yuan’s blade.

For a moment, the ground was slick with the Shura's deep, copious blood.

At this moment, Ye Fang and Ye Yuan were nearly stunned into silence. They certainly knew Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship was sublime—the foremost of the Tenth Generation of the North Peak—but previously, whether in the North Peak Grand Competition or the Cloud Mist Valley, Lu Yuan had only sparred casually, never deploying his full capability.

Now, facing a Shura whose magical power surpassed his own, Lu Yuan had unleashed nearly the entirety of his sword art, giving Ye Fang and Ye Yuan a thorough appreciation of his skill. Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship flowed like the wind across the sky, unbound by fixed patterns, every strike aimed at the opponent's weakness. How could such a strange fighting style, where a simple parry exposed a flaw, allow him to slay a Shura—a race renowned for combat and possessing superior magical strength—through sheer technique alone?

Ye Fang and Ye Yuan thought they understood Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship after witnessing the North Peak competition and the Cloud Mist Valley trials. Now, they realized they understood nothing. Unbeknownst to them, their Sixth Senior Brother’s art had reached this terrifying height.

To win a battle across cultivation levels purely by swordsmanship, defeating such a powerful Shura!

As for Lu Yuan, he had no time to contemplate the thoughts of Ye Fang and Ye Yuan; it was time to scavenge for loot. This Shura was at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation—Yù Qì Lí Tǐ (Controlling Qi to Command the Body)—stronger than the last one, meaning the spoils should be richer. With this thought, Lu Yuan searched, only to be disappointed: the Shura carried no personal belongings whatsoever.

It seemed they would have to eradicate the entire Moon Demon Sect to find any worthwhile loot.

However, one trophy would certainly not be forgotten: the Shura’s head. A Shura's head could be presented for merit at Huashan, or presented to the Great Jin Imperial Court for commendation. This could not be missed.

—————— Meanwhile, on the surface.

Chu Fei, the Flying Heaven Sword, frowned. "Someone has used a protective talisman." He shot off on his sword instantly, rushing to rescue the True Disciple who had encountered danger. His flying sword light moved with intelligence, transforming into a streak of white light and vanishing in an instant.

On the other side, Gu Fei, the Flying Goose Sword, smiled. The True Disciples under Chu Fei ran into trouble first, requiring his rescue, effectively withdrawing from this South Peak/North Peak competition right at the start—a good thing, he thought. But before his smile could settle, he realized he, too, needed to rush to aid someone.

"No way. Does the Moon Demon Sect have this many experts this time?" Gu Fei ascended instantly, his sword transforming into a streak of light; man and sword merged into a single dark beam that shot directly into the earth.

(The next chapter will utilize a different method of practicing the sword—a rather unique chapter. The hallmarks of this novel are many duels and much sword practice. Perhaps this is somewhat novel in the current climate? I wonder if anyone can guess the special method I will use for sword practice? Right, the early bird gets the worm—it’s only midnight, very early. Summoning recommendation tickets.)