While everyone was at lunch and their guard was lowest, a prisoner actually escaped from the Third Layer of the Heavenly Prison, and this escapee even managed to reach the First Layer, running straight into the core disciples who were eating. Fortunately, he hadn't been imprisoned for too long, and he recognized a few of the core disciples. Overjoyed, he was just worrying about how to break out—the outermost defenses of the prison were the tightest—when suddenly, an opportunity dropped from the sky. This silver-haired elder, a formidable opponent, captured Yun Ping in fewer than ten moves, knocking the Dragon Head Sword aside.

Seeing this, Yun Su’s expression shifted instantly. He recognized the silver-haired elder’s power, but at this juncture, retreat or escape was impossible. When paths cross, the brave one prevails. With a sharp roar, Yun Yi unleashed the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud, charging toward the silver-haired elder.

Following his fierce cry, Ling Yuzhu, Fang Dan, and Sima Bo, the three closest to the action, attacked simultaneously.

Ling Yuzhu’s vermilion sword cut a stunning arc through the air. Through recent trials, Ling Yuzhu’s swordsmanship had shed much of its unnecessary flourish, leaning towards practicality. Twirling her Jade Crimson Sword, she too launched the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud against the silver-haired elder, her assault electrifyingly swift.

Fang Dan unleashed the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud as well. Fang Dan differed from other core disciples; he could never master his master’s Gentleman’s Sword Style, their temperaments being too disparate. Thus, his strength lay in the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud, which he deployed just the same.

Sima Bo’s sword intent blazed like fire. Clearly, at this critical moment, he was not using the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud, but the Great Sun Sword Style personally created by Sima Changbai. This Great Sun Sword Style truly possessed extraordinary qualities; once unleashed, the surroundings brightened considerably, hinting at the heat of a blazing sun. This effect was merely from Sima Bo, whose cultivation was still lacking; if Sima Changbai himself had used it, the effect might have been true, scorching midday heat.

Lu Yuan, who was about to intervene immediately, paused in surprise.

If he were to face Sima Changbai in the future, how would he counter this Great Sun Sword Style?

In Lu Yuan’s moment of shock...

The four—Yun Yi, Ling Yuzhu, Fang Dan, and Sima Bo—attacked. Three used the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud, instantly stirring up a great gale. At the very same moment, the silver-haired elder struck with terrifying ferocity. His figure darted like lightning, and the water-hued sword energy in his hand swept across the expanse unmatched. This sword energy, fueled by overwhelming magical power, sliced through the combined assault of Yun Yi, Ling Yuzhu, Fang Dan, and Sima Bo.

Water breaking the Wind! What a fierce strike!

Cultivators at the Body Refining stage truly possessed frightening levels of magical power. The elder’s water-hued sword energy swept across, repelling all four of them. Only Yun Yi, due to his superior skill, managed to retreat just three steps; the others were blasted an unknown distance away.

It seemed unlikely that the four of them could overcome the silver-haired elder with their combined effort. After shattering their defense, the elder shot toward Ling Yuzhu like lightning. It wasn't strictly necessary to target her, but it was a spontaneous decision to seize her first. Just as Ling Yuzhu was about to fall into his grasp, a long sword, bright as water, materialized before her.

A flash of brilliant, water-like light clashed with the elder's water-hued sword energy. The silver-haired elder had expected that shattering the opposition with his strength would be trivially easy. He had seen that the one who drew the sword was a youth in green, seemingly just another tenth-generation core disciple. For an undeveloped core disciple to dare stand in his way was utterly laughable. When he launched his water-hued sword energy, victory seemed assured.

Instead, he found that the opponent’s magical power was not significantly weaker than his own. His body staggered slightly, and similarly, the green-clad youth only swayed a little.

The other core disciples, though not yet fully mature, had all been meticulously trained, and none lacked sharp eyesight. They naturally witnessed the exchange.

The Body Refining stage prisoner, the silver-haired elder, and Lu Yuan—one clash—and both bodies swayed simultaneously. Could it be that Lu Yuan’s magical power had also reached the grand realm of Body Refining? If not, how could Lu Yuan withstand the elder’s blow? But Lu Yuan was only nineteen. To reach Body Refining at that age seemed utterly unbelievable.

The assembled core disciples were utterly aghast.

They dared not believe their eyes. But immediately, the strength Lu Yuan displayed in the subsequent few clashes with the silver-haired elder—where he was never at a disadvantage—forced them to accept the truth: Lu Yuan’s magical power had indeed reached the Body Refining stage.

Yun Su and Yun Ping both felt a bitter, dry taste in their mouths. Their Sixth Junior Brother had reached the Body Refining stage without them realizing it.

The battle had only just begun; Lu Yuan and the silver-haired elder had only exchanged a few moves. The elder felt a strange sense of unease. Even if one were a core disciple, reaching Body Refining at such a young age was too monstrously gifted. The silver-haired elder was a veteran of countless battles.

Although the opponent’s magical power was formidable and no less than his own, the man was incredibly young—at most twenty years old. Such prodigious power at that age suggested he had poured all his focus into cultivation, meaning his swordsmanship must be lacking.

The silver-haired elder judged Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship to be subpar. He reasoned that having fought countless battles, his own swordplay was still quite refined. Even with equivalent magical strength, defeating this opponent would be very difficult for Lu Yuan. The elder immediately resolved to compete with Lu Yuan in terms of technique.

However, this contest of skill proved to be the beginning of a nightmare.

“Wind of Coming Clouds...” “Wind Passes Over Rivers and Mountains, Leaving No Trace...” “Clouds Lock Deep Mountains, The Wind Forbids Passage...”

“Wind of Coming Clouds...” “Wind Passes Over Rivers and Mountains, Leaving No Trace...” “Clouds Lock Deep Mountains, The Wind Forbids Passage...”

“Cottony Cloud Intent...” “Wind Cannot Be Chased...”

Lu Yuan executed one move after another, in no rush to force his opponent's surrender, but subtly drawing the elder into the net of his sword circle. While a violent, quick victory like the one against Li Feng was effective, it prevented him from truly appreciating the opponent’s swordsmanship. To become a Sword Dao Grandmaster required exposure to more techniques.

Furthermore, given his temperament, slowly and calmly drawing the opponent into his sphere of influence felt right.

Lu Yuan executed his moves with serene composure, but the silver-haired elder was anything but calm. Initially, he intended to rely on his seasoned experience to outmaneuver the younger man, but after a dozen exchanges, he realized the opponent’s swordsmanship was extraordinary. He then attempted to break out of the sword circle to target the other core disciples, never expecting that he couldn't escape at all. Damn it. The experienced Body Refining elder had once fought against famous ninth-generation Sword Immortals who possessed Sword Intent, and he recognized it now. He cursed inwardly—what kind of freak was this?

So young, with immense magical power, and sword skills already at the level of Sword Intent. It was utterly bizarre, pathologically unnatural.

The silver-haired elder felt like vomiting blood. He had assumed the current generation of core disciples was underdeveloped and temporarily easy prey. Capturing one could allow him to negotiate with the ninth-generation Sword Immortals, securing his escape from this terrible prison. Everything had gone according to plan, but now he had run into such a monstrous talent among the tenth generation. He had truly kicked an iron plate.

To be honest, the defenses of the Northern Peak Heavenly Prison were airtight. He had planned this jailbreak for nearly ten years, seized a rare opportunity, and even had aid from a powerful outside party just to succeed once. Was breaking out so easy? And yet, at this moment, he struck solid iron.

The silver-haired elder wished for death.

The Northern Peak Heavenly Prison could not possibly be lax in its security.

Barely a moment after the silver-haired elder’s escape, the news reached Flying Sword Immortal Chu Fei. Chu Fei’s face darkened. If there were no core disciples imprisoned, he wouldn't have believed the elder could breach the prison defenses. But he immediately thought of the disciples on the First Layer. If the escapee captured a core disciple as a hostage, the Northern Peak might have to temporarily submit and escort the elder out of prison, resulting in a colossal loss of face for the Peak.

Chu Fei was just about to merge with his sword and fly out when he received word that the silver-haired elder had already engaged the core disciples. Damn! Too late. Chu Fei knew the prisoners at the Body Refining stage were not weak; it seemed they were destined to suffer a setback this time. Just as he thought this, new intelligence arrived. Upon reading it, Chu Fei’s expression became incredibly strange.

Had he misread something? The previous report stated that Lu Yuan single-handedly resisted the silver-haired elder? The elder was Body Refining; for Lu Yuan to hold him meant Lu Yuan must also be Body Refining. But was that possible?

By now, Chu Fei had to accept the news that Lu Yuan was Body Refining. Though shocking, he could barely manage to process it. Chu Fei immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate the source of the error that allowed the silver-haired elder to escape successfully. This must be thoroughly investigated.

Chu Fei could tolerate one mistake.

But repeated failures, he would not endure.

Subtly, Chu Fei felt that this entire jailbreak hinted at something deeply strange.