The Cloud Palace, the Dragon Cloud Palace. This place gave the impression of seriousness, strictness, and profound quietude.

This was where the Nine Generations Sword Immortals of the North Peak handled administrative affairs. The only element that lent a rare touch of spiritual agility and liveliness to the Dragon Cloud Palace was a lightly singing oriole perched above the pool situated before it; everywhere else was solemn, silent, and imposing.

The guards here were equally stern-faced, standing ramrod straight, like javelins set in the ground. Usually, only the renowned Nine Generations Sword Immortals, such as the Six Sword Immortals of the North Peak, were seen within the Dragon Cloud Palace.

Recently, the Decrepit Sword, Li Yuanbai, had visited less often due to health issues, while the Soaring Sword, Chu Fei, came more frequently. Generally, it was just these figures.

Today, however, the Dragon Cloud Palace was unusually crowded. Seated there were seven Sword Immortals—Venerable Yuanyuan, Decrepit Sword Li Yuanbai, Sun-like Sword Sima Changbai, Gentleman Sword Fang Ru, Lonely Heart Sword Dugu Ye, Harmonious Sword Ye Yangrong, and Soaring Sword Chu Fei.

All seven were present; not a single one was missing. It was rare for these seven to assemble, yet now they were all gathered.

Besides the seven Sword Immortals, standing were the Fifth Direct Disciple Sima Bo, the Sixth Direct Disciple Lu Yuan, the Ninth Direct Disciple Ye Fang, and the Tenth Direct Disciple Ye Yuan, all from among the core disciples. In addition were the ordinary disciples Sima Hao, Situ Zuo, Situ You, Sima Wen, and Sima Yan.

Furthermore, there were four guests from Mount Hua: Jin Qin Yi, Wei Qi Er, Zhao Shu San, and Han Hua Si. Wind howled outside the palace halls.

The gale roared. Silence—this was the primary sensation within the Dragon Cloud Palace now.

A deathly stillness. In this deathly quiet, Venerable Yuanyuan’s eyes were seemingly both open and closed.

A faint, unidentifiable smile played on Dugu Ye’s lips. Fang Ru’s face remained unchanged, set in a solemn mask.

Ye Yangrong carried a slight smile, always possessing the amiable look of a businessman concerned only with making a profit. Li Yuanbai’s white eyebrows drooped, his eyes seemingly shut.

Sima Changbai’s face held a trace of cold scorn, while Chu Fei sat farthest back, detached from the proceedings, his expression utterly blank. These seven Sword Immortals were all veterans who had weathered countless storms.

To discern their thoughts by reading their faces was to chase a dream. How deep were the reserves each of them held?

The specific thoughts brewing within their seven hearts could only be guessed at by those very seven individuals. Of course, in reality, Fang Ru, Dugu Ye, and Chu Fei were not contemplating much at all, as these three had only just received news: a conflict had seemingly broken out between disciples under Sima Changbai and disciples under Li Yuanbai, necessitating an urgent arbitration within the Dragon Cloud Palace, which was why they rushed over.

As for the other four, Venerable Yuanyuan, as the Lord of the Peak, naturally knew the situation. Li Yuanbai and Sima Changbai were the masters of the involved parties, so they were apprised, and Ye Yangrong, being in charge of intelligence, was also informed.

Returning to the main issue, Sima Changbai was beyond vexed; he was furious to the extreme. He truly had not anticipated such an event.

Lu Yuan, that junior with decent swordsmanship, had dared to be so audacious as to crash the opening of the Sima Sword Hall under his command, defeating the ten guards there and burning the entire structure to ashes. What nerve!

A mere junior daring to assault the Sword Hall under his authority—he must have the gall of a leopard and the heart of a bear. Sima Changbai had always been an overbearing individual, a fact his title hinted at: Sun-like Sword, the sword at the zenith of its power, the great sun in the sky, obscuring and overshadowing everything.

His swordplay was tyrannical, his cultivation methods domineering, and he himself was dictatorial. Even his ambition was vast.

His goal was to become the Lord of the North Peak, succeeding Venerable Yuanyuan. In his view, Venerable Yuanyuan was old and ineffectual, too conservative.

It was someone young and forceful like himself who should take the seat of the North Peak Lord to bring glory to the North Peak. His arrogance towards Lu Yuan manifested in the belief that he was entitled to covet Lu Yuan's position as a Direct Disciple, entitled to send the Three Great Swords of Xizhou to assassinate Lu Yuan—everything he did was permissible.

Yet, when Lu Yuan dared to retaliate, daring to actively attack the Sword Hall under his command, that was unacceptable. Therefore, inside him, rage was currently boiling over.

This brat didn't fear him and dared to strike at his faction’s assets proactively. Sima Changbai seethed internally, while simultaneously feeling his subordinates were utterly useless.

He had sent over ten people to the Sword Hall this time, including the Direct Disciple Sima Bo and the four guests of the Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua quartet. Yet, they were all defeated when they encountered Lu Yuan.

Utterly useless! That junior, Lu Yuan, certainly had some skill; his swordsmanship was good, but that was all.

Ye Yangrong suddenly smiled, "Lu Yuan, your strength is impressive; fighting the four of Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua alone and still winning." Ye Yangrong was usually the easygoing mediator, uninvolved and unconcerned, but now that his own disciple, Ye Yuan, was entangled, he had no choice but to step in. As Ye Yangrong spoke, Dugu Ye, Fang Ru, and Chu Fei, who had rushed over without knowing the full details, were all startled.

They were waiting to hear what had transpired when Ye Yangrong blurted out that Lu Yuan had fought the four—Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua—by himself. And he had actually won.

A junior worthy of shock; he could defeat them. If previously, people were debating whether Lu Yuan or the Tenth Generation's Eldest Disciple Yun Yi or Second Disciple Yun Ping was stronger after Lu Yuan fought the Three Great Swords of Xizhou, now, it was almost certain that this lazy fellow Lu Yuan was the superior.

Dugu Ye then smiled, "You summoned us, but haven't stated the issue. Speak plainly, what exactly happened?" "Very well." Ye Yangrong immediately explained Lu Yuan's attack on the Sima Sword Hall.

At this, Dugu Ye, Fang Ru, and Chu Fei all looked toward Lu Yuan in stunned realization. Daring to challenge a Sword Hall under Sima Changbai—this Lu Yuan was truly audacious beyond measure.

They had only known Lu Yuan as a disciple with excellent swordsmanship and great talent in the Way of the Sword; they never suspected that when it came to causing trouble, he was so fearlessly bold. Sima Changbai held the status of Martial Uncle and was currently at the height of his power, commanding many subordinates.

Yet Lu Yuan dared to proactively provoke Sima Changbai by causing mayhem. Audacious and reckless!

Dugu Ye let out a light laugh, "A man of such reckless boldness, yet I admire it." Known as the Lonely Heart Sword, Dugu Ye among the North Peak Sword Immortals had never cared for others' opinions, not even granting Sima Changbai any deference, stating her view directly, clapping her hands in amusement. Chu Fei watched Lu Yuan with a smile, full of appreciation.

(Another grand quintuple update on Monday; praise myself.)