Song Chi’s swordsmanship leaned heavily toward intricacy! Indeed, the character for intricacy. His sword style was overwhelmingly complex.

In the Great Jin Dynasty, the sword technique boasting the most moves was unquestionably the Huashan South Peak’s Guardian Sword Style: The Cloud Mist of Ten Thousand Changes, with its one thousand three hundred forms. This style possessed thirteen hundred distinct moves, practically testing the very limits of human memory. Simply recalling thirteen hundred forms was difficult enough; mastering them was another realm entirely.

Though Song Chi’s sword style lacked the full thirteen hundred forms, it was still remarkably intricate, complex yet never trivial. “Flourishing Like Scenery…” This move appeared breathtakingly beautiful. Paired with his exquisite longsword, the “Fan Chi Sword,” it possessed an indescribable aesthetic quality.

One might feel as if witnessing a prosperous, bustling cityscape, but the more one felt this, the deeper they were ensnared by the move. Once caught within, the terrifying potency of this sword technique became increasingly apparent. “Rushing Strings of Intricacy…” If the previous move was one of beautiful complexity, this thrust was one of overwhelming vibrancy and noise.

“Tedious Detail…” This particular technique offered no aesthetic appeal but carried an inexplicable, commanding force, making the recipient instinctively feel discomfort under its assault. “Branching Foliage…” The movements were too fast, too numerous, too dense, creating so many residual shadows that distinguishing the real sword from the phantoms became nearly impossible. “Prolific Designations…” This form was highly mutable.

While ostensibly a single technique, it could spawn hundreds of variations within one strike, each variation maddeningly frustrating. It truly lived up to its name, which invoked endless complexity. Should Song Chi manage to execute all these intricate forms unimpeded, they would ultimately coalesce into a single strike: the Chi Form.

This was the true essence of the Fan Chi Sword Style. All preceding moves embodied only Fan (Intricacy), while the subsequent Chi (Blaze) was just one move. Of course, this solitary final move was the one with the greatest power.

Song Chi had always held absolute confidence in his Fan Chi Sword Style. This style was not his creation. Generally, one needed to reach at least the Sword Intent realm to be qualified to invent a sword style.

His Fan Chi Style was crafted by that renowned, beautiful female cultivator, Yu Chi Fanchui. That woman had endured a lifetime of restraint and suffering. Though she never fully erupted, ultimately ending her life amidst ancient temples and quiet scriptures, the fury within her was immense.

She refused to be treated as a mere plaything, leading to the creation of that final Chi strike. In truth, Yu Chi Fanchui had never reached the Sword Intent realm; she did not create the style based on supreme swordsmanship but rather forged it from the crucible of her entire existence. Previously, relying on this style, Song Chi rarely encountered a true peer, though he couldn't claim absolute invincibility.

Thus, when engaging Lu Yuan in close combat initially, he felt little apprehension. However, once the fight truly commenced, he realized something was terribly wrong. No matter how he shifted his Fan Chi Style, Lu Yuan’s casual sword stroke would dismantle it, effortlessly, with supreme simplicity—as if this profoundly esoteric style was somehow easily broken.

Damn it! When engaging in long-range sword attacks, he had sensed Lu Yuan’s formidable swordsmanship, but only in this close-quarters battle did he realize Lu Yuan’s skill wasn't just impressive; it was terrifying! Moreover, Song Chi gradually became aware that he was trapped within Lu Yuan’s sword perimeter, his very movements being dictated by Lu Yuan’s blade.

What manner of swordsmanship was this! Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai both wore expressions of utter disbelief. It seemed Lu Yuan was on the verge of victory—how could this be?

How could Lu Yuan be so powerful at such a young age? Nangong Bai privately doubted he could defeat Lu Yuan if he stepped in. Shangguan Qing, conversely, felt certain he could triumph; Song Chi had been his defeated subordinate back then.

But considering their respective ages, how could Lu Yuan possess such strength? The plan, which had been foolproof, was now on the brink of collapse, solely due to this young man’s martial prowess. Of course, Shangguan Qing remained unshaken.

He was a cultivator approaching the Longevity stage, his resolve ironclad; such sights wouldn't easily sway him. His original scheme was to seize Lu Yuan’s properties amidst this chaos, transforming himself from a mere manager into the ultimate owner. If these assets fell under his control, he would gain vast resources, possibly enough to challenge the Longevity stage himself.

Once successful, he would command considerable standing in the Great Jin, securing an industrial empire for his descendants, even if its acquisition wasn't entirely honorable. Nangong Bai’s thoughts mirrored Shangguan Qing’s. Managing assets for others was never as satisfying as owning them outright.

Naturally, such audacious moves usually only occurred when the master was weak and the minister strong. They hadn't dared act while Li Yuanbai was alive; his fury over the assassination attempt on Lu Yuan had forced them to offer up a scapegoat, Murong An. Once Li Yuanbai passed, they began making moves, only to discover that the current master was proving far from weak.

Situ Hong, initially incredulous seeing Lu Yuan dominate Song Chi, soon felt a surge of genuine joy. Why was Situ Hong so fiercely loyal? The reason was simple: Situ Hong secretly adored Li Yuanbai.

When Situ Hong was just a girl, her family suffered a catastrophe, leaving her utterly alone and helpless. It was then that Ji Yuanbai intervened, offering aid. From that moment, Situ Hong fell in love with Li Fangbai.

Alas, Li Yuanbai already had a wife, leaving Situ Hong only with silent devotion. Later, when Li Yuanbai’s wife passed, Situ Hong considered making a move, but she saw how deeply Li Yuanbai mourned his late wife, remaining utterly devoted, so she relinquished the idea. Though Li Yuanbai was gone, Lu Yuan was his appointed successor, his disciple.

Therefore, regardless of anything else, she had to offer her full support—this was the source of Situ Hong’s loyalty. The world is filled with countless threads of love and hate. Cultivators are not immune to the pull of the Six Desires and the mortal realm.

Only a select few, like the peerless Yan Cangtian, manage to escape its grasp, or perhaps a man as indolent as Lu Yuan, who might avoid entanglement with the desires and the dust of the world. The Six Desires and the mortal realm churn ceaselessly; once tainted, the path of cultivation becomes difficult. Meanwhile, Situ Hao stared wide-eyed.

Four years prior, his strength was comparable to Lu Yuan’s—Lu Yuan was at the bottom of the Ten Great True Disciples, while Situ Hao was the Eleventh. Over these four years, he had developed significantly, changed greatly. He could no longer fathom Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship nor gauge the height of his magical attainment.

But Situ Hao understood that Song Chi was one of the most formidable men serving his grandfather. If a man like that couldn't subdue Lu Yuan, just how powerful had Lu Yuan become? Situ Hao secretly seethed with frustration: Why, why didn't he possess Lu Yuan’s talent?

His own lineage was superior, and he worked harder than Lu Yuan. As for the other observing cultivators, they were merely enjoying the spectacle. Certainly, they were equally stunned by Lu Yuan's robust strength.

To possess such power at so young an age was like viewing a magnificent painting: anyone with normal appreciation could recognize it as exceptional art, even if they couldn't articulate precisely why it was superb, just as one recognized the Along the River During the Qingming Festival as a masterpiece. After their shock subsided, their emotions remained largely stable, unlike the handful of primary actors whose minds churned with various complex shifts. Thus, the onlookers remained just that—onlookers.

A demonic, blood-red longsword hovered before Song Chi’s eyes. If the tip advanced but a fraction more, it would pierce Song Chi’s throat. In the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering, only severed limbs meant death; a pierced throat now meant certain doom for Song Chi.

“Martial Uncle Song, your swordsmanship is nothing special,” Lu Yuan addressed Song Chi. Song Chi’s face twisted into a grimace mixed with profound disbelief. He, a renowned figure for many years, had been felled by a junior.

It was quite lamentable. Martial Brother Sima had sent him for this task, but he hadn't anticipated Lu Yuan’s magical power being so much stronger than rumored, nor his sword skills matching the legends. None of the prior intelligence mentioned Lu Yuan possessing the Sword Intent of Dusk.

Where had this come from? Perhaps Senior Brother Li had used some special method to help Lu Yuan comprehend it before his passing. How would he react if he knew Lu Yuan mastered the Dusk Sword Intent entirely on his own?

“Martial Uncle Song’s Fan Chi Sword... it seems it must remain here…” This was the customary rule of the Dojo. Generally, Dojos permitted challenges to their authority.

If the challenger won, proving no one in the Dojo could defeat them, they could claim the hall’s main plaque, resulting in a total loss of face for the Dojo. If the challenger lost, they were required to surrender their prized personal sword as a trophy to adorn the hall—such weapons symbolized the honor of the Dojo. Of course, this applied to open, resolute challenges.

In public confrontations, participants usually maintained some mutual decorum, preferring small, private bouts where victory was acknowledged only between the parties. Today you grant me face, tomorrow I grant you face, fostering wide connections. However, Sima Changbai had sent Song Chi specifically to deliver a crushing humiliation to achieve his scheme.

He never imagined Lu Yuan’s strength would so vastly exceed his expectations. Thus, instead of humiliating Lu Yuan, he ended up being publicly shamed, requiring Song Chi to surrender his Fan Chi Sword. Song Chi understood the rules and felt a wave of helplessness.

He had never considered defeat; if he had anticipated this outcome, he certainly wouldn't have used his beautiful Fan Chi Sword. Lu Yuan laughed heartily and tossed the Fan Chi Sword to Situ Hong: “Situ, this sword is for you. A beautiful weapon for a beautiful lady…” Situ Hong smiled softly: “Master, I shall keep it safe for now.

I will return it when the Master marries, so he can present such a beautiful sword, rich with legend, to the future Mistress of the Manor…” Lu Yuan laughed again. This battle was concluded, but Lu Yuan knew that while this fight was over, its impact certainly was not. On the North Peak, there would undoubtedly be more contention.

The physical contests were settled; now came the political wrangling.