Two figures strode in.

Neither walked quickly.

Lu Yuan looked up. He saw two men: one, a middle-aged man of extreme effeminacy, resembling a serpent, with a vague echo of Venerable Yuan Ling, yet clearly not him, as this man’s aura was vastly inferior to the dangerously powerful Yuan Ling.

The other man was plain-faced, quite tall, with a large, sturdy build. He carried a remarkably wide greatsword on his back, its scabbard faintly scarred as if scorched by fire. Both men’s power seemed substantial; their cultivation base was certainly not lower than Lu Yuan’s, and likely higher.

The serpentine, effeminate middle-aged man spoke: “I am Yin Wuji, a disciple of Venerable Yuan Ling. I did not intend to deal with Fellow Daoist Lu myself, but Venerable Yuan Ling stated that among the younger generation, you are the one he values most. Whoever can eliminate you will become his true successor.” Yin Wuji, a subordinate of Yuan Ling, possessed the cultivation of the ninth level of the Body Tempering stage. Hearing the promise of becoming Yuan Ling’s true disciple fueled his eagerness to confront Lu Yuan. This desire aligned perfectly with Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai.

The exceedingly burly man spoke next: “I am Cheng Zhongkuan, known as the Fire Swordsman. Recently, I have been following Senior Brother Sima Changbai.” Cheng Zhongkuan was originally an unaffiliated cultivator, also at the ninth level of the Body Tempering stage. Having recently secured the opportunity to follow Sima Changbai, he gained a high status that naturally required validation. Coincidentally encountering Shangguan Qing’s affair and knowing Sima Changbai desperately wished Lu Yuan dead, things led to this moment.

Thus, by now, Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai, those two rebels, had joined forces with Yin Wuji from Venerable Yuan Ling’s faction and the Fire Swordsman Cheng Zhongkuan from Sima Changbai’s faction.

Under normal circumstances, a true successor would face no significant hardship, with their masters and North Peak of Mount Hua shielding them from difficulties.

However, due to his master’s passing, Lu Yuan only had the looming presence of North Peak of Mount Hua. He faced three primary threats: the issue of his master’s rebellious subordinates, the problem posed by his old enemy Sima Changbai, and the threat to North Peak of Mount Hua posed by Venerable Yuan Ling.

And now, these three factions had finally merged.

Their convergence formed a monstrous surge of power.

Considering the current lineup—ignoring the minions of Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai whose cultivation was too low to interfere—we have Shangguan Qing (ninth level Body Tempering), Nangong Bai (eighth level Body Tempering), Yin Wuji (ninth level Body Tempering), and Cheng Zhongkuan (ninth level Body Tempering).

Now, three cultivators at the ninth level and one at the eighth level were arrayed against Lu Yuan alone. Anyone would deem Lu Yuan doomed.

Shangguan Qing, Nangong Bai, Yin Wuji, and Cheng Zhongkuan laughed heartily. Shangguan and Nangong stood to gain substantial property by killing Lu Yuan, though they planned to liquidate it quickly through the black market before seeking refuge in a safe haven. Yin Wuji, upon killing Lu Yuan, would become Venerable Yuan Ling’s true disciple and confidant. Cheng Zhongkuan would solidify his standing within Sima Changbai’s sphere of influence, silencing any dissent.

Everything hinged on killing Lu Yuan.

Of course, after Lu Yuan’s death, Cheng Zhongkuan’s involvement could never be revealed to Mount Hua; otherwise, he could never remain there.

Shangguan Qing laughed cruelly: “Do you understand now? Venerable Yuan Ling guaranteed that once we kill you, the Heaven-Sovereign Alliance will secure an absolutely safe place for us to hide, along with immense rewards. We will gain resources enough to cultivate to the Immortality stage.”

Yin Wuji also sneered: “Venerable Yuan Ling called you a peerless genius. Now, this peerless genius is about to be destroyed by my hand.”

Cheng Zhongkuan scoffed: “It is no fault of ours that you must perish.”

Nangong Bai added from the side: “You have no chance at all. We investigated your exploits in the Palace of No Life six months ago. You could slightly overcome those at the eighth level of Body Tempering, but you are no match for the ninth level. Otherwise, in the Palace of No Life, you wouldn’t be ranked twenty-something; you would be ranked first.”

Shangguan Qing nodded: “Furthermore, this hall of mine has long been rigged. The exterior has been laid with the Copper Wall and Iron Bastion Formation—a technique from an alien land. Even with our strength, we could not break this formation within an hour; we would be trapped. Your performance in the Palace of No Life showed you could evade attacks from ninth-level cultivators, but now, within this Copper Wall and Iron Bastion Formation, where can you possibly evade? You are fated to die here.”

Indeed, everything had been planned in advance.

This was a meticulously laid trap, waiting for Lu Yuan to step into it.

Essentially, they had brought out their strongest possible contingent. Cultivators at the tenth level of Body Tempering rarely emerge from seclusion. To gather three ninth-level cultivators here clearly showed their absolute resolve to kill Lu Yuan. Having gathered so many experts and collected so much intelligence, Lu Yuan seemed certain to die!

Shangguan Qing, Nangong Bai, Yin Wuji, and Cheng Zhongkuan, the four masters, gloated over their perfected plan. Uncle Song’s face changed drastically; he had not anticipated Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai collaborating with so many people, nor had he imagined their audacity.

But how did Lu Yuan react?

Lu Yuan merely shrugged: “Oh, just the four of you? If you four are seeking death, you are welcome to it.” His tone was extraordinarily arrogant, enraging Shangguan Qing, Nangong Bai, Yin Wuji, and Cheng Zhongkuan. They were all usually proud, and now, having cornered Lu Yuan, they were waiting to execute him.

For this man facing death to still dare use sharp words was truly courting death!

The four masters attacked in unison!

Shangguan Qing was known as the Green Swordsman; his forte lay in swordsmanship. He unleashed the Green Gauze Sword Art. This technique was illusory yet not illusory, veiled yet not veiled, misty yet not misty. Amidst this hazy obfuscation lay countless killing intents. While this sword art fell far short of the profound Hundred Changes Thousand Illusions Cloud Mist Thirteen Hundred Forms of a similar type—Shangguan Qing was not qualified to learn that level of mastery—his Green Gauze Sword Art was executed with perfect fluidity. His azure longsword unfurled like a blue dream, striking directly at Lu Yuan, enveloping over thirty vital points simultaneously, leaving him unable to properly defend or evade.

Nangong Bai was titled the White Swordsman, specializing in the One-Word Lightning Sword. The defining characteristic of this technique was speed. Yes, speed! Unbelievably swift! The core principle of the One-Word Lightning Sword was encapsulated in eight simple characters, yet this technique had produced many masters, earning considerable fame. As Nangong Bai executed the One-Word Lightning Sword, his blade flashed like lightning, aimed directly at Lu Yuan’s throat; the simple move relied entirely on speed.

Yin Wuji, a subordinate of Venerable Yuan Ling, had learned the Silver Serpent Sword Art under his master. This technique was a creation born from Yuan Ling’s deepest insight. To challenge the status of the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud, this sword art could not be simple. Venerable Yuan Ling was a man of grand vision; his Silver Serpent Sword Art was inspired by observing mountain ranges, seeing the towering peaks as coiling, dancing silver serpents, thus creating this sword art that merged the bizarre and the majestic.

Yin Wuji now deployed the Silver Serpent Sword Art: “Thousand Snakes Exit the Cave,” “Great Swamp Dragon Serpent,” “Twin Snakes Seize the Pearl,” “Silver Serpent Flicking its Tongue,” “Silver Serpent Coils and Bites,” “Silver Serpent Probes its Head,” “Spirit Serpent Roams Eight Directions…” “...Silver Dragon Ascends to Heaven.” Once unleashed, the technique truly resembled countless silver serpents writhing through the air.

Cheng Zhongkuan struck simultaneously. He was also a formidable expert, renowned among unaffiliated cultivators for his fierce Scarlet Fire Sword Art, summoning flames that lashed out aggressively. His reason for aligning with Sima Changbai was to acquire more fire-element sword techniques and stronger fire-element cultivation methods. His attack manifested as coiling fiery snakes.

The four masters joined forces. The Green Gauze Sword Art, the One-Word Lightning Sword, the Silver Serpent Sword Art, and the Scarlet Fire Sword Art merged into a thousand shifting forms, a torrential might that swept toward Lu Yuan.

The combined assault of these four experts displayed terrifying ferocity, their momentary power nearly capable of eclipsing the heavens. Amidst this tide of sword shadows, Lu Yuan felt the external world vanish.

Just as Lu Yuan prepared to counter, someone burst in, attempting to intercept the attack of the four masters. With a bang, the intruder was violently thrown back, already sustaining several severe sword wounds. Looking closer, Lu Yuan realized it was Uncle Song.

Uncle Song saw the combined might of the four masters and feared for Lu Yuan. Having served Li Yuanbai for years and watched Lu Yuan mature since his entry into the sect, he could not bear to see Lu Yuan die first. He had believed his seventh-level Body Tempering cultivation could at least offer some resistance.

However, he hadn't anticipated that the offensive formed by the four masters was an overwhelming wave, impossible for him to withstand. With his strength, he was instantly defeated and grievously injured!

Seeing Uncle Song lying injured to the side, and the four intending to kill him now pressing their attack, Lu Yuan’s hand tightened.

Now was the time to employ iron-blooded methods. Otherwise, they would think they could simply encroach upon his doorstep with impunity.