It was something profound and mysterious.

Even the Ninth Generation Sword Immortals were quite eager. For a junior so young to have grasped Sword Intent—even the renowned Sword Immortals of the Ninth Generation held considerable interest. Yet, along the way, Lu Yuan had dismissed his opponents with only a few casual strikes, preventing the Ninth Generation Sword Immortals from witnessing it. It was a pity. Everyone had anticipated seeing Lu Yuan’s Sword Intent once the competition reached the Fourth Round, the bracket where the top seven moved to the top four. However, the esteemed Sword Immortals soon realized they still wouldn't see it, because in the Fourth Round, one out of seven was guaranteed a bye, and Lu Yuan received it.

What a disappointment.

Unexpectedly, at this critical juncture, Lu Yuan was granted a bye.

The audience could not behold Lu Yuan’s Sword Intent again, resulting in a wave of frustration.

One could only say that events are perpetually full of variables, things beyond anyone’s control. Although variables were omnipresent, Lu Yuan getting a bye felt somewhat absurd. Nevertheless, the final four remained largely unchanged: Shi Chaoyang from the Sword Sect’s East Peak, Mo Qianbian from the Sword Sect’s South Peak, Song Nanshan from the Qi Sect’s West Peak, and Lu Yuan from the Sword and Qi Sect’s North Peak. The new semifinalists were finally set.

These four had been the frontrunners before the competition, and now they were indeed the last four. One had to admit, trying to spring a dark horse upset was not an easy feat.

This time, the North Peak had salvaged some pride by reaching the semifinals. In the previous Five Peak Grand Competition, the North Peak had failed to secure a true disciple spot in the final four.

After the Fourth Round, there was naturally a period of rest before the Fifth Round commenced. During this respite, Lu Yuan was comfortably drinking when Li Yuanbai approached him. Lu Yuan immediately showed deep respect: “Greetings, Master.”

Li Yuanbai waved his hand, signaling Lu Yuan to relax: “Did you notice that your Martial Uncle Chu Fei was just here, but is now gone?”

“Ah, I think so,” Lu Yuan nodded.

Li Yuanbai inquired, “Do you know where your Martial Uncle Chu Fei went?” Lu Yuan naturally shook his head in ignorance. “Cough, cough…” Li Yuanbai, about to speak further, was seized by a sudden, violent coughing fit, causing Lu Yuan considerable worry. After a moment, Li Yuanbai’s coughing subsided, and his breathing eased. “Wasn’t it mentioned earlier that Yuan Ling released the prisoners to test this generation of true disciples, to see if they had any interesting juniors? He couldn't possibly have been in the Heavenly Prison at that moment. Therefore, he must have a man inside the Heavenly Prison. Chu Fei leaving now to watch the East Peak’s Five Peak Grand Competition was a strategic move to lure the snake out of its hole. Now, he has naturally gone back to catch it.”

Lu Yuan instantly understood. His Master brought this up to cultivate his ability to think strategically across the board. This was something that should have been taught slowly later, but since his Master’s lifespan was drawing short, he seized every opportunity to train him.

When the pairings for the Fifth Round were announced, many were momentarily stunned. The results—Shi Chaoyang versus Mo Qianbian, and Lu Yuan versus Song Nanshan—truly caught some people off guard.

The universally acknowledged number one was Song Nanshan, possessing the cultivation base of the Body Refinement stage. However, Lu Yuan was the only true disciple who had mastered Sword Intent. Everyone had assumed the clash between Lu Yuan and Song Nanshan would be the grand final, but instead, their battle was brought forward. The only Sword Intent level true disciple, Lu Yuan, against the only Body Refinement stage practitioner, Song Nanshan—this could only be called the caprice of fate.

“Lu Yuan was truly lucky last time, getting a bye to advance from seven to four. He caught the only bye available.”

“So, his luck has run out, and now he meets Song Nanshan here.”

“Indeed, luck is a strange thing.”

“Perhaps not. Lu Yuan is, after all, a master whose swordsmanship has reached the Sword Intent level.” “It is the Sword Intent level!” Some disagreed, believing this would be a clash of titans. But the person next to them immediately shook his head: “You truly don't understand the situation. Do you know what Body Refinement means? Sword Intent level can compensate for a gap of one or two, or even two or three minor realms, but how can it bridge a gap between major realms? The power of a Body Refinement stage cultivator is incomparably formidable; it’s simply beyond what the Qi Condensation stage can match. Moreover, the greatest ability of the Body Refinement stage is flight. If Song Nanshan flies up, what use is Lu Yuan’s superior swordsmanship?”

“It can be said that Song Nanshan is guaranteed to win.”

“Naturally. Lu Yuan’s good fortune ends here.”

“Senior Brother Song Nanshan was the champion of the previous Five Peak Grand Competition’s individual event, and he will be the champion again this time. It’s only right,” the Ninth Generation elders and Tenth Generation disciples murmured amongst themselves. Yet, clearly, no matter their lineage, they all believed that although Lu Yuan was powerful and his Sword Intent level was remarkable, he could only face defeat against Song Nanshan of the Body Refinement stage. The true disciples whispered amongst themselves, and while the renowned Sword Immortals of the Ninth Generation didn't state it outright, their expressions indicated that most thought Song Nanshan would win.

Venerable Zixia stroked his beard, narrowing his eyes at Venerable Yuanyuan. Though he spoke no words, his expression was clear: he believed Song Nanshan of the West Peak was certain to win.

The battle between Shi Chaoyang and Mo Qianbian was about to commence. Shi Chaoyang’s Chaoyang One Qi Sword technique was grand; he had managed to embody about sixty percent of its essence. Do not underestimate sixty percent; to execute a sword technique of the rank of Chaoyang One Qi Sword with such proficiency was already extraordinary. Most disciples of the East Peak could barely manifest twenty percent of its power.

Mo Qianbian, utilizing the Hundred Changes, Thousand Illusions Cloud Mist Sword Style’s thirteen hundred forms, had grasped the very spirit of that sword style. His sword emerged from his Erhu (a two-stringed Chinese fiddle), sometimes the sword appeared from the instrument, sometimes the sword resided within the instrument, rendering his movements endlessly variable and elusive. Though the surrounding crowd was vast, even many general elders couldn't pinpoint the exact location of his blade.

This match was exceptionally brilliant.

Both Shi Chaoyang and Mo Qianbian, the top true disciples of the Sword Sect’s two peaks, displayed the expected level of their abilities. Not only did they meet expectations, but both seemed to perform slightly above their usual peak. The fight was incredibly spectacular, yet, for some inexplicable reason, the spectators felt something was slightly off.

However, upon reflection, the audience realized why the battle felt somewhat lacking: the next match, Lu Yuan versus Song Nanshan—a Body Refinement cultivator against a Sword Intent swordsman—was destined to be even more dazzling. Because a more spectacular fight loomed later, this one felt less exciting by comparison.

Although everyone believed Lu Yuan was already doomed, certain to lose despite his Sword Intent level against Song Nanshan, the duel between the Sword Intent Lu Yuan and the Body Refinement Song Nanshan was still guaranteed to be astonishing.

Summer skies, they change on a whim.

When Shi Chaoyang of the East Peak and Mo Qianbian of the South Peak were fighting, the weather was bright and sunny. Yet, as soon as their bout concluded, the sky immediately shifted. First, dense, dark clouds rushed in as if blown by a gale, rapidly covering the area. Despite it being daytime, the surroundings became intensely gloomy.

Gusts of cold wind howled, immediately chilling the common disciples who moments before had felt the heat. Whoosh! A long, wide bolt of lightning sliced across the sky, appearing almost as if it were splitting the heavens apart. BOOM! A deafening thunderclap followed almost immediately, threatening to shatter the universe.

Venerable Yuanyang of the East Peak, Venerable Huifeng of the South Peak, Venerable Yuanyuan of the North Peak, Venerable Zixia of the West Peak, and Venerable Yuzhen of the Central Peak—the five venerable masters exchanged glances, finally confirming that the match between Lu Yuan and Song Nanshan would proceed.

Lu Yuan had already stepped onto the platform, and his opponent, Song Nanshan, also took his place. Song Nanshan was a middle-aged man with a stern expression, clean-shaven and grim-faced. “Junior Brother Lu, I hear you’ve reached the Sword Intent level. Too bad. Facing me, you don't stand the slightest chance…”

Song Nanshan moved, floating up to a height of ten feet. From this altitude, his longsword could not reach him. Hovering in the air, Song Nanshan, whose temperament was exceedingly steady and risk-averse, chose this tactic against Lu Yuan: floating high where his sword was useless, and attacking Lu Yuan with spells from above. This approach was virtually foolproof.

Song Nanshan raised his hand, and the spell Wood Leaf Art shot rapidly toward Lu Yuan. The leaves he summoned were far faster than Zhao Nan’s, and the spiritual energy contained within them was clearly in a different league. The development of the Qi Sect was highly uneven; Song Nanshan, thanks to cultivating the Purple Qi Coming From the East mind technique and an external fortuitous encounter, possessed outrageously potent strength, while other Qi Sect disciples were mediocre, often inferior to the Sword Sect disciples.

Lu Yuan dodged aside.

However, Song Nanshan didn't care. He never intended to defeat Lu Yuan at the very start; that was impossible. Confident in his abundant spiritual reserves, Song Nanshan was unafraid of depletion, so he maintained a continuous offensive against Lu Yuan.

Song Nanshan wasn't worried about Lu Yuan dodging either. He was using wood-element spells, which, upon striking the ground, would instantly take root and gradually cover the entire arena. Once the platform was fully occupied, Lu Yuan would have nowhere to flee and would naturally fall into his grasp.

This was, by all accounts, a sure-win strategy. What use was Sword Intent level swordsmanship against the flying Song Nanshan?

If you couldn't strike the one floating in the air, everything else was meaningless.

Except for those few insiders from the North Peak, everyone believed Song Nanshan was guaranteed victory. Venerable Zixia was quite pleased; Song Nanshan’s choice of such a stable tactic was excellent. Winning the match and securing the individual championship was the ultimate goal.

At this moment, few noticed the faint smile curling at the corner of the lips of the young man dodging the attacks.