Lu Yuan's temperament was, generally speaking, like this. Usually quite harmless, languid, projecting an air of merely eating and waiting for death.

Even if someone mildly offended him, he generally wouldn't press the issue, essentially being the good old boy of North Peak. He’d greet everyone with a grin and exchange a few jokes, letting others have their fun if they wished.

However, once truly provoked, pushed past his absolute limit, he transformed entirely into another person. Those under Sima Changbai should certainly have a deep understanding of this.

Sima Changbai’s faction had angered him, resulting in Lu Yuan mercilessly humiliating them during the North Peak Grand Competition, an embarrassment that even Sima Changbai deeply felt. This was actually a mild outcome, given that Mount Hua Immortal Sect was a reputable, orthodox sect that forbade internal slaughter.

Otherwise, one couldn't be sure what Lu Yuan might have done, as that was simply his nature. Furthermore, one shouldn't judge Lu Yuan by his usual lazy demeanor.

When he became serious, he was an entirely different person. Once focused, he would forget almost everything except sword practice, sinking wholly into the realm of honing his blades.

When immersed in that state, his speed of practice accelerated dramatically, leading to immense improvement. And it didn't stop there.

Previously, only Li Yuanbai had witnessed this side of his disciple; Ye Fang and Ye He had never seen this serious Lu Yuan, only the usual languid, drifting figure. It was now Ye Fang and Ye Yuan’s turn to see this aspect of Lu Yuan for the first time.

Ye Fang and Ye Yuan had very similar personalities; they enjoyed joking around, naturally including Lu Yuan. However, in recent days, Lu Yuan had been completely absorbed in his sword techniques and hadn't joined their merriment.

Ye Fang and Ye Yuan now understood that Lu Yuan’s success was not purely down to luck; his own efforts played a massive role. Of course, Lu Yuan’s success also contained a significant measure of fortune.

Another Asura approached. This Asura arrived swiftly, accelerating into a nimble dash.

Ye Fang and Ye Yuan knew Lu Yuan was currently practicing his swordsmanship, so neither intervened, allowing Lu Yuan to handle it. The Yangwu Sword moved, and a sword light, bright as flowing water, flashed in the pitch-black tunnel.

With a single strike, he had encircled the Asura within his sword technique. The Asura had actually intended to attack Ye Yuan, who appeared chubbier, but once caught in the circle of the sword technique, it was trapped, as if an invisible current was forcing it to remain within the boundary.

The Asura grew irritated. The Asura lunged toward Lu Yuan, but at that moment, Lu Yuan flicked his Yangwu Sword; its force was so sharp it compelled the Asura to dodge left.

Good, the sword momentum shifted again, and the Asura continued to dodge left. ...

The battle raged on. After an unknown duration, the Asura suddenly realized that it had only been dodging left, unable to take even a single step to the right.

Moreover, the directions for its leftward movement were rigidly fixed. How could this be?

The Asura immediately tried to sidestep right, but the sharp, chilling edge of the Yangwu Sword met it head-on. Helplessly, it could only dodge left again, moving precisely where it had been forced before.

... Until its very last breath, this Asura never managed a single rightward dodge, perpetually flinching left, and left again, under Lu Yuan’s blade.

In that instant, Lu Yuan understood within his heart that he could completely dictate which direction the Asura moved, and what kind of maneuver it performed. He instinctively felt that the enemy's life and death rested entirely within his control.

A sword in hand, complete control over the opponent. That was the sensation.

Lu Yuan suddenly paused his long sword, staring blankly at the Yangwu Sword for a time. His gaze was lost in reverie, then suddenly cleared with intense brilliance.

He roared: "I understand now." At that moment, Lu Yuan finally grasped how to achieve complete comprehension of Sword Intent. Though profound and mystical, to put it plainly, it meant using the sword to force the opponent where he wanted them to go, making them execute the exact movements he desired.

Once one fully comprehends Sword Intent, it could be said that the opponent, in one’s eyes, is nothing more than a puppet. Now, against any opponent whose magical power did not vastly exceed his own, victory was virtually assured.

This was complete comprehension of Sword Intent! Of course, this did not mean Lu Yuan had reached the apex of comprehending Sword Intent; he had merely grasped this fundamental point, and refinement would come through subsequent battles.

Back then, Li Yuanbai had comprehended Sword Intent at the age of one hundred and sixteen, taking eighty-four years to fully grasp the Dusk Sword Intent by the age of two hundred. Now, Lu Yuan comprehended Sword Intent at sixteen, and in just one year underground, he had completely grasped the Wind and Cloud Sword Intent.

If Li Yuanbai knew, one could only wonder how he would react—perhaps with a wry smile tinged with frustration. But overall, he would likely feel deeply gratified.

Ye Fang and Ye Yuan stared at each other, unsure how to react. They had watched Lu Yuan achieve complete comprehension of Sword Intent, and even now, they found this level of swordsmanship terrifying.

Ye Fang murmured, "Did I see that wrong? From beginning to end, that Asura couldn't move even one step right; it only moved left." "It was completely forced into constant leftward evasions by the sword technique," Ye Yuan nodded.

"Sixth Senior Brother, your swordsmanship is getting more insidious, more agonizing to face. I’m definitely not sparring with you anymore; it would be sickening." Lu Yuan laughed, "Tch, not sparring with me?

Are you suggesting a drinking contest instead? You two couldn't possibly beat me at that." When immersed in sword practice, Lu Yuan ignored everything else; only upon exiting that state did his usual cheerful demeanor return.

In terms of swordsmanship, Ye Fang and Ye Yuan conceded defeat to Lu Yuan now, but when it came to drinking? They were hardly willing to back down.

Ye Fang immediately burst into laughter: "Hah! I am the reincarnation of the previous generation's God of Wine; daring to challenge me to a drinking contest is seeking death!" Ye Yuan interjected, "Stop calling each other out.

In this underground world, all the delicious food and fine wine are gone. It's fine if you don't mention it, but now that you have, I’m growing ravenous.

We’ve been surviving on Bigu Pills lately; those pills taste absolutely bland." Immortal cultivators usually carry Bigu Pills with them, but they are exceedingly flavorless. Normal cultivators rarely consume them, usually only during secluded cultivation or when provisions are scarce in places like the underground world.

It was better that Ye Yuan brought it up, as Lu Yuan and Ye Fang nodded repeatedly in agreement. Of course, they couldn't return to the surface world just yet.

This expedition underground was a rare opportunity for tempering, and the more Asuras they could slay, the better. —————— The surface of Donglu County.

At this moment, the Ninth Generation Sword Immortal, Flying Heaven Sword Chu Fei, frowned deeply, while the equally senior Sword Immortal, Wild Goose Sword Gu Fei, laughed heartily, clearly pleased with himself. Up to this point in the underground expedition, four of North Peak’s eight direct disciples had activated their protective talismans, requiring Chu Fei to rescue them and thus forfeiting their participation qualification.

Among South Peak’s seven direct disciples, only one had used a protective talisman, rescued by Gu Fei, thus losing qualification. This expedition for the direct disciples of North Peak and South Peak had a noticeable undertone of rivalry, and clearly, North Peak was already behind by one exchange.

The ratio of lost qualifications stood at four to one. It was precisely because of this disparity that Chu Fei frowned while Gu Fei laughed triumphantly, showing considerable self-satisfaction.

Even within orthodox, prestigious sects, internal struggles existed. Humans are creatures predisposed to contention.

Even Immortal Cultivators are human, and they are no exception. However, thankfully, being a major, reputable sect meant that their disputes were limited; there was a clear boundary that no one could cross.

Crossing that line would invite judgment from higher echelons within the Mount Hua Immortal Sect. (The update is a little late today.)