The structure of the Five Immortals Alliance roughly breaks down as follows: the Alliance Leader, beneath whom are two Vice Leaders, followed by the Ten Great Halls. With the exception of the Tenth Hall, which is dedicated solely to training new recruits, the other nine Great Halls are purely combat divisions. Each Great Hall is further subdivided into ten Branch Sects, and within each Branch Sect, there are ten Incense Sanctuaries.

Lu Yuan is currently situated within the Tenth Incense Sanctuary of the Tenth Branch Sect of the Seventh Hall.

The reason he is in this particular sanctuary is solely because its location is the closest to the Crimson Maple Forest.

Oh, and a brief introduction to the Tenth Incense Sanctuary is in order. Only two figures here are truly worth noting: the Sanctuary Master, Gu Chenzi, and the Vice Sanctuary Master, Gu Yunzi. The only reason their Daoist appellations are so similar is that they are martial brothers. Both men regard Lu Yuan with considerable coolness; this stems from their origins in the Kunlun Immortal Sect, whose relationship with Lu Yuan is currently far from amicable. Gu Chenzi’s cultivation has reached the Fourth Level of the Body Tempering stage, while Gu Yunzi is at the Third Level. Their power levels are thus roughly comparable to Lu Yuan’s.

Within the Five Immortals Alliance, attaining the rank of Branch Sect Master requires reaching at least the Seventh Level of the Body Tempering stage, the level where one hammers the brain. As for Sanctuary Masters—there are ten per Branch Sect Master—the requirements are naturally lower. Therefore, it is quite normal that the Tenth Sanctuary Master, Gu Chenzi, is only at the Fourth Level of the Body Tempering stage, the Blood Tempering Realm.

Aside from these two brothers, the other members of the Tenth Incense Sanctuary are pitifully weak; Lu Yuan paid them little mind.

This was Lu Yuan’s assessment of the cultivators in the Tenth Incense Sanctuary. As for how the other cultivators in the Tenth Incense Sanctuary viewed Lu Yuan? Only two words applied: fluff piece.

Generally, the first-place victor of the Tenth Branch Sect trials would, in the subterranean demon testing, struggle to place within the top ten. Securing a spot in the top twenty was always a sure thing.

Only Lu Yuan had ever placed as low as forty-third.

Truthfully, Lu Yuan couldn't help it. The first-place winners of the Tenth Branch Sect trials in previous generations simply did not possess his terrifying strength or his unique swordsmanship. When confronting demons, he didn't need to bother identifying their weaknesses; he simply needed to draw the demons into his sword intent. His surging sword intent flowed like a river under the setting sun. The previous first-place winners, however, could not operate this way; they had no choice but to thoroughly understand a demon's weakness before engaging. Furthermore, the previous trial winners were always intensely dedicated individuals; people so diligent would have already memorized every demon weakness during their regular cultivation sessions, unlike Lu Yuan, who would simply stare blankly when faced with such theoretical questions.

Therefore, when confronted with demon testing heavy on theory, Lu Yuan could only sigh. If the tests were based almost entirely on actual combat, Lu Yuan would easily secure victory.

The saying, "Theoretically incompetent, practically perfect," perfectly described Lu Yuan.

But this reality was known only to Lu Yuan and the Tenth Branch Sect Master, Song Jianjiu. Those below them did not know, which is why their assessment of Lu Yuan remained fixed on those two words: fluff piece. Given this view, their judgment was, in a way, understandable.

Of course, these people wouldn't voice these opinions directly to Lu Yuan’s face, but privately, the gossip was unavoidable.

“I think this Lu Liu is overrated…”

“Yeah, I wonder how he even managed to win the Tenth Branch Sect trials?”

“I strongly suspect foul play. After all, he comes from one of the Five Great Immortal Sects’ direct disciples; even the Five Immortals Alliance has to give face to the Five Great Sects. It must have been rigged…” Sometimes, those who fail suspect success is always due to rigging, and while it’s true that some things in this world are rigged, not everything is.

“Exactly, it’s as rigged as it gets…”

“I think he realized he didn’t have much strength, so he hid away here in our Tenth Branch Sect. If he were truly strong, wouldn’t he go to the Fourth Branch Sect where the combat is fiercer?”

The verdict of fluff piece was rampant, yet Lu Yuan showed not the slightest reaction to hearing these comments. Let them talk. It was their business to gossip. Should he run around trying to prove he wasn't a fluff piece?

Lu Yuan lazily stretched. In this era, he only cared about living freely, unconcerned with others’ thoughts or words.

I want what I want, I live as I wish, my will is free.

A single person, a single sword, a single flask of wine—a life lived with unrestrained joy.

Speaking of a tangential matter, his most recent minor setback had only served to further clarify and purify his heart, leading him to a clearer understanding of himself. With his mind more serene, his blood felt connected, causing his very essence to become clearer, like fine silk being drawn. Since he was currently positioned in the Fourth Level of the Body Tempering stage, the Blood Tempering Realm, this had unintentionally caused his cultivation to advance from the early phase of the Blood Tempering Realm to the middle phase—a wholly unexpected benefit.

Several days passed in this manner. During these days, Lu Yuan lived a life of utter ease. He paid no heed to the myriad discussions labeling him a fluff piece within the Tenth Incense Sanctuary. With his sword and his wine, he remained free and unrestrained, simultaneously mapping out the terrain of the Crimson Maple Forest completely, giving him greater confidence for the future.

These days passed peacefully. Of course, major events had occurred, but they were too far removed from this location.

It was rumored that Fang Xie, the Bright Demon Emperor, the second-in-command among the billions of demons dwelling in the subterranean caves, was celebrating his two-thousandth birthday. Many people were traveling to offer gifts. It was speculated that Elder Fox, one of the Ten Great Demon Elders, was attempting to gather the 'Huā' flower precisely because of the Bright Demon Emperor Fang Xie’s birthday. Recently, a directive had come down from above, ordering all Halls, Branch Sects, and Incense Sanctuaries to be especially cautious; some demons, hoping to present the flesh and blood of cultivators as birthday offerings to the Emperor. During this period, if vigilance lapsed, being captured by demons would likely mean becoming a gift for the Demon Emperor’s celebration.

Demons were just that—demons. To offer the flesh and blood of cultivators as a birthday gift! The subterranean world truly defied conventional logic.

Change arrived in an instant.

Just as everyone in the sanctuary was finishing lunch, a strange, cackling voice rang out: “Excellent. We shall take the flesh and blood of the cultivators from your sanctuary. It will make a perfect birthday gift for our Lord, the Bright Demon Emperor.” As the words faded, a streak of crimson light appeared at the sanctuary entrance, slicing forward, unstoppable.

It was a Great Asura, whose Asura bone saber struck with lightning speed, cleaving through everything in its path. Seeing that the Great Asura was virtually unchallenged, the Sanctuary Master of the Tenth Sanctuary, Gu Yunzi, drew his sword to meet the attack. The Asura’s bone saber flashed like lightning, driving directly at Gu Yunzi, forcing him into a defensive retreat. It was clear that Gu Yunzi was no match for this Great Asura. The Vice Sanctuary Master, Gu Chenzi, panicked upon seeing this and immediately joined the fray. Now, with Gu Yunzi and Gu Chenzi fighting together against the Great Asura, they managed only a precarious stalemate.

However, the attacker was clearly not alone. There were also Earth-Crawling Spider-Men, advancing relentlessly. Standing on two legs while wielding weapons with their other six, they charged forward like a cascading waterfall of blood, proving exceptionally terrifying.

In addition, there were two Sand Demons. These demons rolled across the ground, constantly slashing at the legs of the cultivators, causing them to fall immediately.

Worse still, at that moment, more than twenty Bone Demons stormed the sanctuary entrance. Bone Demons resembled human-sized skeletons; their defenses were not high, their attacks lacked power, and their movement speed was slow, but their greatest asset was sheer numbers. Bone Demons were perhaps the most numerous creatures among the subterranean demons—their sheer quantity was startling.

Once these demons burst into the Tenth Incense Sanctuary, they held an absolute advantage. The cultivators of the Tenth Incense Sanctuary fell continuously under such an onslaught, largely unable to fight back. Yet, they resisted desperately. None of them wished to lose; defeat meant capture and transformation into flesh and blood offered to the Bright Demon Emperor. Which of them could endure such a tragic fate? Thus, the cultivators fought back with all their might, but their resistance was futile. The disparity in strength between the two sides was immense—a chasm separating heaven and earth.

Despair spread like a contagion. Dying was not terrifying, but the prospect of being processed into flesh as a birthday gift was something none of them could accept.

They had witnessed cultivators prepared as birthday offerings: using specialized magical artifacts to press the entire cultivator into a container, then crushing them into a bloody pulp. Trapped inside, their life or death unknown, treated like mere pork—such a horrific scene was unbearable for anyone.

Just as the feeling of utter hopelessness reached its peak—

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

A series of metallic sounds, yet it was only a single sword strike. The coldness emanating from this sword strike was profound. As the sword flashed out, twenty-one Bone Demons were sent sprawling.

Bone Demons, though famed for having lower defenses, lower attacks, and slower movement, were speaking only in comparison to the more battle-hardened demons. Bone Demons themselves were troublesome, especially in large numbers. But now, twenty-one of them felled by a single sword indicated that the swordsman’s power was likely no less than that of the Sanctuary Master, Gu Chenzi; even the Vice Sanctuary Master, Gu Yunzi, would struggle to unleash such a strike.

Who was this?

Could it be a master sent down from the Branch Sect? But that seemed unlikely. The attack on the Tenth Incense Sanctuary had occurred only moments ago; the Branch Sect could hardly have been notified in time.

Then who could have delivered the strike?

Everyone turned to look and saw the person who had struck the blow standing there with a lazy smile, leaning casually, right hand resting on his sheathed sword, left hand still gripping his wine gourd.

It was… Lu Liu, or rather, Lu Yuan.

Now, everyone in the Five Immortals Alliance knew that Lu Liu was Lu Yuan; that was no longer a secret.

But… could Lu Yuan be this strong?

Everyone had assumed Lu Yuan was a fluff piece, that his victory in the Tenth Branch Sect trials was due to rigging. No one had expected Lu Yuan’s strength to be so formidable. The power displayed in that single strike seemed comparable to that of Sanctuary Master Gu Chenzi. Could a person like this truly be a fluff piece? Everything suggested otherwise.

In truth, these people had misjudged. Lu Yuan’s strength wasn't merely comparable to Sanctuary Master Gu Chenzi’s. How could Lu Yuan’s strength be on par with Gu Chenzi, who was at the Fourth Level of the Blood Tempering Realm?

(Three updates today! My network connection has been poor lately, causing a slight dip in my momentum. I hope to speed up the updates and regain my flow.)