The second level of the Heavenly Prison was brightly illuminated by the hundred-year lamp. The Yangwu Sword, three feet and three inches long, its white, slender, and steady right hand—this was precisely the hand best suited for gripping a sword. The youth in green robes smiled faintly, shaking his head, as the gleaming blade of the Yangwu Sword in his right hand slowly vanished into its sheath. "You really aren't worth my effort. To think that with this level of strength, you’d come looking for trouble with me. What a pity." At this moment, amidst the flickering candlelight, other than the youth's words and the sound of the Yangwu Sword sliding back into its scabbard, there was not another trace of sound. The others all had their eyes wide open. They had been terrified. Just now, Zi Shu had fought against Lu Yuan and lost. This first defeat could perhaps be called an accident, but the second, third, and fourth matches could not.

In the second match, Chou Niu stepped up, using the Heavenly Deficient Sword Technique. It was rumored he also possessed the Earthly Lacking Sword Technique; when these two techniques were combined, they supposedly unleashed unpredictable, uncanny power. These two sword styles were said to have been passed down from over five thousand years ago. The situation on this continent five millennia past was vastly different from today; Immortal Sects existed then, but they weren't the Five Great Immortal Sects like Huashan or Qingcheng, but entirely different powers. The Heavenly Deficient and Earthly Lacking sword techniques were reputedly the two supreme skills of the Ailao Mountain Immortal Sect from that era. Everyone had great confidence in Chou Niu's Heavenly Deficient Sword Technique. As a result, Chou Niu's technique only held an advantage at the very beginning. Soon, just like Zi Shu, he was enveloped by that strange sword circle, unable to escape, and ultimately defeated.

...

The third match featured Ben Lei. He was nicknamed "Rushing Thunder," not because he used lightning magic, but because his strikes were so swift they were likened to a clap of thunder. His swordsmanship was indeed fast, but unfortunately, it was only marginally faster than Lu Yuan's, and Lu Yuan countered it precisely with the move Endless Cloud Intent, neutralizing his speed advantage. Among the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud, many maneuvers held profound and critical functions. Take Endless Cloud Intent, for instance; within a specific area, it caused the opponent’s sword to involuntarily slow down, as if hacking through a dense, endless cloud. Speed became impossible. Ben Lei’s initial speed advantage was only marginal against Lu Yuan, and with his speed reduced, he naturally could not overcome Lu Yuan.

...

The fourth match was taken by Yin Xu. Yin Xu specialized in water-elemental magic. However, Lu Yuan had already overcome two opponents utilizing water magic. Breaking through Yin Xu’s water magic this time was not particularly difficult. Although there was a minor unexpected hitch, Lu Yuan ultimately managed to break through Yin Xu’s spells. Four losses in a row—how could they possibly endure such a blow? Initially, these prisoners had been ecstatic upon hearing Lu Yuan was Li Yuanbai's disciple, fully expecting to torture, cripple, and kill Lu Yuan to vent their hatred for Li Yuanbai. But as the matches progressed, the four cultivators at the Tenth Level of Qi Condensation in the Second Level of the Heavenly Prison—Zi Shu, Chou Niu, Yin Xu, and Ben Lei—were all left severely injured by Lu Yuan. This led directly to the scene at the beginning. Under the lamp’s glow, Lu Yuan, having crippled four opponents in succession, slowly sheathed his Yangwu Sword.

"Sword Intent Level." At this moment, in a dark corner of the Second Level of the Heavenly Prison, a lean middle-aged man with sparse, goat-like whiskers suddenly blurted out these words. This man with the patchy beard was no ordinary cultivator; he hailed from the Gate of Comprehension. In the Great Jin Kingdom, there existed a peculiar sect known as the Gate of Comprehension. This sect had very few members. Furthermore, they did not augment their spiritual power through conventional methods. They used a strange doctrine: the more you knew, the deeper your power became. In this sect, a novice was called a One-Comprehension Scholar (); upon mastering extensive knowledge, they became a Ten-Comprehension Scholar (). When one knew a great deal and was familiar with all the renowned figures of the world, they were called a Hundred-Comprehension Scholar (). When there was little in the world you didn't know, you were a Thousand-Comprehension Scholar (). When there was nothing in the world you were ignorant of, you were a Ten-Thousand-Comprehension Scholar (). The man trapped in the Second Level of the Heavenly Prison was a Ten-Comprehension Scholar. Being affiliated with the Gate of Comprehension, this scholar finally recognized Lu Yuan's sword style's rank after Lu Yuan had fought four continuous matches: Sword Intent Level. The moment the words "Sword Intent Level" were uttered, most occupants of the Second Level of the Heavenly Prison gasped in unison. Those confined here were all cultivators ranging from the Eighth to the Tenth Level of Qi Condensation, many of them seasoned veterans, mostly rogue cultivators. Having wandered the cultivation world, they were widely experienced. A significant number among them understood the concept behind the Sword Intent Level. The Sword Intent Level was something the Tenth Generation True Disciples could never attain; even most average Ninth Generation Elders had not mastered Sword Intent. Only the renowned Ninth Generation Sword Immortals of the Five Great Immortal Sects had achieved Sword Intent. The rarity of Sword Intent was self-evident. Everyone had heard of the Sword Intent Level, but no one had ever witnessed it, nor did they know what it truly meant. That was why no one had identified Lu Yuan’s attainment during his rapid succession of fights. However, after the Ten-Comprehension Scholar from the Gate of Comprehension provided the clue, everyone instantly understood: Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship had actually reached the Sword Intent Level. Upon hearing this, many instinctively refused to believe it; Sword Intent was notoriously difficult to cultivate. Yet, the Ten-Comprehension Scholar's judgment would not be wrong. Damn it, Li Yuanbai himself took over a hundred years to reach Sword Intent. How could his disciple, barely twenty years old, achieve it now? Everyone remembered that Li Yuanbai had accepted Lu Yuan as a disciple eight years ago, meaning Lu Yuan had only taken a mere eight years to comprehend Sword Intent. A monster, an absolute prodigy. They also knew the average standard of the Tenth Generation True Disciples. Take the First True Disciple, Yun Yi; when he came here to train his swordplay, he couldn't handle it after a short time. If Yun Yi was like that, what about the other True Disciples? This Lu Yuan, clearly only the Sixth True Disciple, how had he become such a freak?

—————— The food in the Heavenly Prison isn't as bad as imagined. Lu Yuan looked at the dishes on the table: a plate of sliced pork with garlic paste, a plate of steamed fish, a plate of stir-fried fatty intestines, a plate of sour and spicy shredded potatoes, a small dish of peanuts, and two bottles of wine resting on the table. He couldn't help but muse inwardly, "Perhaps staying in the Heavenly Prison for a while isn't so bad; at least the food is decent. These are all home-style dishes typically eaten, and judging by the presentation, they are quite authentically prepared."

Lu Yuan was a True Disciple sent to the Heavenly Prison for tempering. Eating alongside the regular prison guards wouldn't have bothered him; Lu Yuan didn't particularly care. But since Martial Uncle Chu Fei had summoned him, and with such excellent food available, he naturally came along. Chu Fei was already seated, waiting for him. This meal involved three people: Chu Fei, Lu Yuan, and Ling Yuzhu. Chu Fei had called over the two True Disciples. Lu Yuan and Ling Yuzhu accepted without ceremony and sat down. Chu Fei smiled and pushed a pot of wine over: "Lu Yuan, you are the epitome of someone who can’t enjoy life without wine. Have this pot." The other pot on the table was clearly not for Ling Yuzhu, but for Chu Fei himself. Chu Fei enjoyed a small drink occasionally, though he wasn't overly fond of it—just standard. Lu Yuan, of course, made no ceremony and began eating and drinking heartily. Over there, Ling Yuzhu seemed visibly tired; her spirit looked rather low. Chu Fei remarked, "What's wrong, Martial Niece Ling? Is the First Level of the Heavenly Prison difficult?" "Yes," Ling Yuzhu nodded. "I am clearly at the Seventh Level of Qi Condensation, and there are others at the Seventh Level in the First Level of the Prison. My sword techniques are clearly superior, but these prisoners all have their own unique killer moves, coupled with a willingness to fight desperately. Dealing with them is quite arduous." Chu Fei nodded. "It should be difficult. Only in such challenging battles can you grow swiftly. By the way, Lu Yuan, what about you?" "It was alright," Lu Yuan replied, nodding. Chu Fei let out a soft laugh. "Too modest. News just arrived that you injured the four strongest individuals in the Second Level of the Heavenly Prison, immediately subduing the numerous prisoners upon entry." Chu Fei found Lu Yuan more and more agreeable the more he observed him. "Sixth Junior Brother is still this formidable," Ling Yuzhu said with a sigh. The first time she noticed how powerful Sixth Junior Brother had become was during the North Peak Grand Competition, but even then, he wasn't this strong. It seemed that subsequently, he became stronger with every encounter. Ling Yuzhu tried hard to close the gap; she was always diligent. But it remained futile. Ling Yuzhu felt a pang of emotion. She struggled so hard in the First Level, yet on his very first day in the Second Level, Sixth Junior Brother had subdued the prisoners there. The prisoners on the Second Level were significantly stronger than those on the First. Ling Yuzhu was actually a competitive person. Before Lu Yuan rose to prominence, she had been ranked third among the Ten Great True Disciples, trailing only Eldest Senior Brother Yun Yi and Second Senior Brother Yun Ping. This was due to her master’s guidance, her own good aptitude, and her tremendous personal effort. Lu Yuan, meanwhile, paid no mind to Ling Yuzhu’s internal reflections, focusing instead on conquering the wine and dishes. Savoring every moment of life and making one's existence more comfortable had always been Lu Yuan's guiding principle. And now, with good wine and good food, why wouldn't he seize the opportunity to enjoy himself? "Martial Uncle Chu, I didn't bring much wine into the prison with me. When this is finished, could I ask you for more?" Lu Yuan asked with a smile. This demonstrated how much closer he had become to Martial Uncle Chu Fei. Among the Ninth Generation Sword Immortals, Fang Ru was stern and pedantic; Sima Changbai was an enemy; Dugu Ye was a woman; Ye Yangrong felt too slick; and Venerable Yuanyuan held too high a station. Apart from his master, only this Martial Uncle Chu Fei, with whom he was becoming increasingly familiar, allowed for the occasional friendly jest. Chu Fei chuckled and scolded him, "You lazy fellow, fond of good food and wine! Daring to ask your Martial Uncle for a drink? This is the Heavenly Prison, a restricted area. There is no liquor here." (Didn't post the third chapter last night. Do you all miss me? Get your monthly passes and subscriptions ready. Three chapters today.) V