The True Martial Grotto-Heaven, the area one could see within this grotto, was quite vast, perhaps ten zhang high. At the higher reaches, there were countless stalactites formed from coalesced spiritual energy, a rare sight indeed, as it required immeasurable spiritual energy accumulated over eons to form such condensations. The sheer quantity of these spiritual stalactites here testified to the density of the spiritual qi, likely a hundred, perhaps a thousand times greater than the outside world.

These spiritual stalactites had coalesced into every conceivable form: some resembled bamboo shoots, others bells, some rats, others spiritual serpents, some one-legged roosters, some sheep about to bleat—each shape unique, every form distinct.

Within this True Martial Grotto-Heaven, the third round of the competition was already more than halfway through.

The situation for the Wudang Immortal Sect was growing increasingly awkward.

Currently, the only member of the Wudang Immortal Sect who hadn't been eliminated from the individual matches was their hired help, Lu Yuan. Could Lu Yuan shoulder the entire burden? Unlikely. If Lu Yuan failed to hold the line, the individual matches would end in total defeat for Wudang. Even with the subsequent team competition, relying on sword formations and whatever meager scores they managed, they would likely still finish last.

If that happened, the Wudang Immortal Sect would truly forfeit this True Martial Grotto-Heaven.

Every Elder from Wudang present knew that their objective in coming to the True Martial Grotto-Heaven was never about reaping the rewards within, but about avoiding the last place. If they finished last again this time, according to an agreement made over four thousand years ago, they would lose this very Grotto-Heaven, this blessed land.

"Match Eleven: Wudang Immortal Sect's Lu Yuan versus the Great Dharma Flower Temple's Cultivator Yangfa."

Lu Yuan lightly leaped onto the stage, and his opponent was already there. This opponent! Lu Yuan couldn't help but frown. He had heard long ago that the Great Dharma Flower Temple produced eminent monks, but this monk before him stood nearly eight chi tall, immensely imposing. His short brow was bisected by two knife scars, and his entire being radiated ferocious hostility and palpable killing intent—qualities hardly befitting the image of a monk.

"The Great Dharma Flower Temple upholds Buddhist compassion, but we also have Demon-Subduing Monks. I am one such monk, dedicated to eradicating all fiends and devils." The monk Yangfa's voice boomed like a massive bell. "This is the True Martial Grotto-Heaven, belonging to the Great Qin Kingdom. It is laughable that people from the Jin Kingdom wish to snatch it. I shall treat you as a demon and subdue you." Before taking vows, this Cultivator Yangfa was a notorious rogue cultivator and a 'Killing Star' who had wreaked havoc across the Great Yuan Kingdom, killing countless people. However, he eventually offended the Great Snow Mountain Lantu Temple, one of the three great sacred sites of the Great Yuan Kingdom. Offending the Lantu Temple rarely ended well for anyone. Cultivator Yangfa fled to the Great Qin Kingdom and, through sheer luck, found refuge in the Great Dharma Flower Temple, which deterred the Lantu Temple from taking rash action.

In the entire region encompassing Great Qin, Great Yuan, and Great Jin, there were three famous temples: the Great Dharma Flower Temple, the Lantu Temple, and the Esoteric Budha Temple. The combined strength of the latter two temples did not equal that of the Great Dharma Flower Temple alone.

Even after countless years under the spiritual tutelage of the Great Dharma Flower Temple, Cultivator Yangfa’s murderous aura remained sky-high. He would frequently descend the mountain only to kill someone, forcing the temple to bring him back for more Buddhist teachings. Over the years, there was little improvement, so he was rarely permitted to leave the mountain. But when the matter of the True Martial Grotto-Heaven arose, his cultivation at the Fourth Level of Longevity combined with boundless killing power made him an essential choice to dispatch.

Lu Yuan merely stifled a yawn. "I've heard that among the Seventy-Two Peerless Techniques, only one is a sword art—the Damo Sword Technique. Do you happen to know it?"

Master Yangfa was momentarily confused. "The Damo Sword Technique, this humble monk certainly does not know. However, this monk knows the Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming Vajra Palm, and the Mighty Adamantine Palm." Master Yangfa followed the path of sheer dominance, naturally learning powerful Buddhist techniques like the Vajra Palm or the Mighty Adamantine Palm.

"Oh, then there’s no point. Let's settle this quickly, I aim to resolve this within ten moves," Lu Yuan stated casually. Hearing these words, Master Yangfa was inwardly furious. He had never imagined Lu Yuan would be so arrogantly dismissive, daring to claim victory within ten moves. Who was he? A monk from the Great Dharma Flower Temple tasked with exterminating demons. Yangfa had killed countless people in the Great Yuan in his past life, and even listening to Buddhist scriptures daily hadn't diminished his killing intent much. Now, hearing Lu Yuan boast of defeating him in ten moves enraged him instantly.

This surge of anger erupted violently.

"You seek death!" Master Yangfa flung out his palm. Instantly, his hand turned a vermilion-gold color and significantly increased in size. He drove the palm straight forward with immense power—it was the Mighty Adamantine Palm, also known as the Mighty Wrathful Vajra. It is one of the Wrathful Wisdom Deities in Buddhism, originally meaning a shattering sound, cleansing impurities from crossroads, and incinerating filth with great compassion. Given Master Yangfa's explosive temper, this palm technique was perfectly suited. As this strike approached, overwhelming flames burst forth, centered on his massive palm, threatening to incinerate heaven and earth.

If sin were to be judged, Lu Yuan was the sin beneath the palm, destined to be burned.

The Mighty Adamantine Palm strike itself was flawless, without a single weakness. To break through it, even with Lu Yuan’s power, would be courting death. However, while the strike was perfect, Master Yangfa himself was not perfect. Lu Yuan shifted to evade and countered with a sword thrust that was utterly bizarre, aiming directly for Master Yangfa's right shoulder. Yangfa attacked with his right hand, and the Mighty Adamantine Palm demanded an all-out forward commitment, naturally leaving his right shoulder exposed and spent. At this critical juncture, Lu Yuan thrust his sword toward that shoulder. Master Yangfa tried to evade but found himself lacking the leverage. Despite his best efforts to dodge, his right shoulder was grazed by the sword.

Struck by a sword from a backwater Jin cultivator, Master Yangfa felt immensely disgraced.

Immediately, he unleashed the Vajra Palm. Weituo (Vajra) is the Guardian Heavenly God of the Buddha, also known as Vajra Bodhisattva, a Bodhisattva who vanquishes demons. This Vajra Palm attack possessed a might several times greater than the Mighty Adamantine Palm, truly like a formidable Guardian Deity, sweeping majestically toward Lu Yuan. Furthermore, unlike the purely offensive Mighty Adamantine Palm, the Vajra Palm incorporated defensive aspects. Master Yangfa believed that in their initial exchange, he only suffered because his Mighty Adamantine Palm lacked defense and was exploited by this swordsman. Thus, as he unleashed the Vajra Palm, he was filled with confidence.

The result? He lasted only three moves before being struck by the sword again.

This pattern continued: he would be struck once every two or three moves.

"Tenth move." Lu Yuan let out a soft cry. Before Master Yangfa could react, Lu Yuan had placed his sword horizontally against his throat. Even with the astonishing defenses offered by Buddhist techniques, Master Yangfa knew that if Lu Yuan pushed the blade forward just a fraction more, his life would end right there.

"Match Eleven: Wudang Immortal Sect's Lu Yuan wins!" The referee's announcement made Master Yangfa’s heart turn to ash.

Lu Yuan shook his head and casually returned his sword to its sheath. "How could I let you last ten moves? One of my virtues is keeping my word." He hadn't taken this victory to heart at all; it would have been strange if he couldn't win. In fact, the previous match had dragged on because his opponent used the Emperor Sword Technique, which interested him. Before this match, he had asked the monk if he knew the Damo Sword Technique; if he had, Lu Yuan would have been interested in sparring with him. Since the monk knew nothing of the Damo Sword Technique and Lu Yuan had zero interest in palm arts, he naturally sought a swift conclusion. This was not about deliberately laying low or grandstanding; it was simply his instinctive style of operation.

Ten moves it was, exactly as he predicted.

The surrounding crowd was instantly aghast. Few present could have defeated the monk Yangfa, who hailed from the Great Dharma Flower Temple, within ten moves. Everyone had expected the Wudang Immortal Sect to be wiped out in the third round, yet unexpectedly, someone had advanced to the fourth round, and he had won so spectacularly.

In fact, when Lu Yuan declared he would win in ten moves, many cultivators began to watch intently. They observed that Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship, while seemingly ordinary on the surface, possessed the uncanny ability to find possibility in the impossible. They silently concluded that this man's sword skills must have reached an exceedingly high level.

As for the cultivators from the Wudang Immortal Sect, they were simply shouting their relief. They had never anticipated reaching the fourth round. Hong Ri, Hua Yue, and Qiu Xing—three masters at the Fourth Level of Longevity—had all been eliminated, crushing their morale. Yet, Lu Yuan had achieved what those three Fourth Level experts could not.

It was unbelievable!

Lu Yuan then went to collect his reward for this round, curious about what the prize for the third round would be. As he approached, the referee handed him a porcelain vial. Lu Yuan opened it and let out an "Oh." Inside was an extremely small, pale yellow pill. As soon as the seal was broken, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out.

"This is the True Martial Pill, a specialty of the True Martial Grotto-Heaven. It can enhance magical power, and its effect is immense for cultivators in the early to middle stages of the Longevity realm," the referee explained. It seemed to be a vital energy-boosting elixir. The referee's emphasis on its "immense effect" suggested it was truly extraordinary—a fine treasure indeed.

Only eighteen individuals passed the third round of matches. Lu Yuan was the sole representative from the Wudang Immortal Sect; the other seventeen belonged to the four great immortal sects. Each collected their respective rewards. Now it was time for the drawing of lots for the fourth round. Drawing an opponent at the Fifth Level of Longevity was considered terrible luck. However, with only eighteen contestants left, drawing a Fifth Level cultivator was now almost inevitable; it would be harder not to draw one. Lu Yuan was relatively fortunate; he did not draw a Fifth Level opponent. His opponent, too, felt lucky, having drawn a cultivator from the Jin Kingdom. Despite Lu Yuan’s impressive performance just now, they still considered him a relatively easier match compared to a Fifth Level expert, someone they could afford to slight.

And so, under these circumstances, the Fourth Round of the competition was finally set to begin.

Lu Yuan wasn't worried about the Fourth Round; it shouldn't be difficult to pass. However, the probability of facing a Fifth Level cultivator would only increase in subsequent rounds. If he truly encountered one, how would he fight?