The Western Regions are scorching at noon and bitterly cold at night. The mountains of the Western Regions are mostly frigid, capped with millennia of snow and ice.

In a nameless mountain range, within a snow valley, Lu Yuan lay back, attempting once more to dispel the poison in his body with his vital energy. Alas, this Blood Sea Fragrant Strange Toxin was simply too potent, utterly impossible to purge. If only he had succeeded in mastering the Azure Emperor Sword Dao; it specializes entirely in healing injuries and purging toxins. According to Ancestor Yan, once the Azure Emperor Sword Dao is mastered, no poison in the world could hold him back. It was a pity he had practiced the White Emperor Sword A back then, instead of the Azure Emperor Sword Dao.

Standing beside Lu Yuan was a young man cloaked in blood-red robes. An expression of utter delight played across the young man’s face: “Oh, the foremost figure of the Tenth Generation. Laughable, truly laughable. It turns out he’s nothing special. Fallen into my father’s hands, he’s no more than an earthworm. Now, the foremost figure of the Tenth Generation cannot even stand against me, the second true disciple of the Blood Sword Gate.”

This young man’s surname was Si, given name He. He was the son of the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal and concurrently the second true disciple of the Blood Sword Gate.

He had always been intensely jealous of Lu Yuan, believing Lu Yuan enjoyed great renown while he remained an obscure nobody. This jealousy had nearly driven him mad.

Who could have predicted that Lu Yuan would actually fall into his father’s clutches?

“Foremost figure of the Tenth Generation, let me speak plainly. If you honestly hand over the ultimate techniques of that old ghost Yan Cangtian, my father and I might spare your life. Otherwise, we will make you wish for death but find no escape.” Si He laughed heartily as he spoke. Although Yan Cangtian had ascended, Si Nan, a Ninth Generation Sword Immortal, had witnessed Yan Cangtian’s peerless divine might and dared not utter a single slanderous word, always referring to him respectfully.

But a brat like Si He had only heard of Yan Cangtian’s prestige without ever truly seeing him; now that Yan Cangtian had ascended, Si He naturally dared to openly call him an “old ghost.”

Lu Yuan paid him no mind, focusing instead on his own predicament. If he could expel the toxins from his body, he still had a decent chance of escaping, even under Si Nan’s watch.

“Still unwilling to speak?” A red robe flipped, revealing the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal, Si Nan.

Si Nan looked down at Lu Yuan: “For so long, I have tormented you, and you refuse to yield. I must admit, you are quite tough. Very well. Perhaps my methods are insufficient. How about this: I will imprison you in the Heavenly Prison of my Blood Sword Gate. Then, let’s see if you’ll talk.” As mentioned earlier, every renowned Sword Immortal of an immortal sect possessed their own domain, and Si Nan’s domain was guarding the Heavenly Prison of the Blood Sword Gate. Tormenting Lu Yuan here for a long time yielded no results, and now that the people from the Kunlun Immortal Gate were searching extensively for Lu Yuan’s whereabouts, Si Nan intended to move him into the Blood Sword Gate’s Heavenly Prison.

“Si He, ensure that Lu Yuan’s possession of Yan Cangtian’s ultimate techniques remains a secret from all others,” Si Nan instructed.

“Yes, Father,” Si He nodded.

The two were supremely confident in the Blood Sword Gate’s Heavenly Prison; it was Si Nan’s absolute territory.

Amidst the continuous snow mountains of the Black Sect of Qinghai in the Western Regions, there lay a certain mountain range.

This range was hidden behind the continuous peaks, seldom seen by the world.

And in an extremely concealed location within those snowy mountains resided a sect: the Blood Sword Gate.

The Blood Sword Gate was concealed deeply, fearful of discovery.

A significant reason why the Blood Sword Gate had not been wiped out was its unparalleled ability to hide. Others did not even know the sect’s precise location; they only knew of the continuous snow mountains of the Black Sect of Qinghai in the Western Regions. There were too many mountains; which specific peak held the sect, who could say?

Halfway up one of these snowy mountains, entering the belly of the peak, one saw countless restrictive formations lining both sides, guarded by men holding blood-red swords—truly a forbidden area. When the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal Si Nan captured someone and entered the Blood Sword Gate, those sect members dared not question him. What kind of figure was the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal? How could they possibly dare inquire?

Sects like the Blood Sword Gate were vastly different from orthodox immortal sects.

In the righteous path, elders could guide disciples, but disciples could not be slain unless they committed major offenses. Killing a disciple would invite a swarm of trouble.

But in heretical sects, figures like the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal Si Nan could kill disciples or elders, and no one would interfere. If they died, they died; it meant nothing.

Consequently, when the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal Si Nan brought someone back, no one dared to ask. After all, this was not the first time such a thing had occurred.

Si Nan led Lu Yuan into the depths of the Blood Sword Gate. Lu Yuan finally opened his eyes and sensed that the interior of the Blood Sword Gate reeked of chilling blood energy; it held not a trace of immortal sect grandeur—it was simply a hellscape. The entire sect was permeated with a dense, bloody stench, punctuated by occasional screams. Skeletons were frequently used as decorations nearby, making the place terrifying beyond measure.

Moments later, they arrived at the Heavenly Prison. Lu Yuan had visited the Heavenly Prison on the Northern Peak of Mount Hua; that place was bright and spotless. This Heavenly Prison, however, was dim and damp, lined with all manner of torture implements. Si Nan found a cell and threw Lu Yuan inside: “Lu boy, when you finally see reason, come find me. Until then, you will stay here obediently. There are endless guards, and I will be personally presiding. You won't leave this place while the Yuan Du Ling is out.” He knew Lu Yuan was exceptionally stubborn, unlikely to yield immediately upon being thrown into the prison. Thus, he turned to leave. He had plenty of time to extract the secret manuals Lu Yuan possessed.

Si Nan could afford to wait. Si Nan vanished into the darkness, and Lu Yuan began surveying his surroundings. The place was dark and humid, though Lu Yuan had always been adaptable to environments. The most frustrating part was the lack of wine. Initially, Si Nan hadn't cared about Lu Yuan’s drinking, but later, realizing Lu Yuan’s fondness for alcohol, he had confiscated it. The promise remained the same: if Lu Yuan surrendered the manual, any fine wine could be procured.

Not having wine was truly unbearable.

Lu Yuan was deeply vexed.

Surveying the area, he realized each cell housed one person. The cell to his left was separated by a short distance, and he recognized the occupant: Uncle-Master He Changfeng of the Sword Sect. He had heard that this Uncle-Master He Changfeng had also reached the Tenth Level of Body Refining. Lu Yuan had met him in the Longevity Cave and again in the Palace of the Lifeless Remains. He never expected to run into him here.

“Uncle-Master He?” Lu Yuan called out softly.

He Changfeng looked towards Lu Yuan, surprised: “Eh? It’s you. How did you end up captured here too?”

“I encountered the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal Si Nan by chance and fell into his hands,” Lu Yuan offered a wry smile.

Lu Yuan observed further and found that besides He Changfeng of the Huashan Sword Sect, there was another familiar face: Qiu Xing of the Wudang Immortal Sect. He had run into him in the True Martial Grotto Heaven a few months prior. It was bizarre that he too had ended up here. He Changfeng sighed bitterly: “People from all Five Great Immortal Sects are here…”

“The Blood Sword Gate is courting death,” Lu Yuan growled coldly.

“Indeed, they are courting death. But the Blood Sword Gate has always been an aberrant, heretical path. The armies of the righteous path cannot locate their stronghold to eradicate them. This sect’s continued survival naturally has its reasons,” He Changfeng explained. “Furthermore, this area of the Western Regions is too close to the Yuan Kingdom. The danger is real; they could flee into the Yuan Kingdom instantly. I’ve heard the Blood Sword Gate maintains unsavory ties with one of the three great holy lands of the Yuan Kingdom—the Great Snow Mountain Lantu Monastery.”

“Uncle-Master He, has your magical power also been sealed?” Lu Yuan inquired.

“Yes. The Blood Transformation Sword Immortal’s Blood Sea Fragrant Strange Toxin is renowned throughout the world, almost impossible to break,” He Changfeng sighed.

Clang—a sound echoed. Qiu Xing cursed coldly: “They’re here again.” Lu Yuan couldn't help but ask, “Who is here?”

He Changfeng explained: “Every day, the Blood Sword Gate sends an elder at the Longevity Realm to spar with us. If we refuse to use our ultimate techniques, we lose and are brutally humiliated. If we use our ultimate techniques and lose, we avoid humiliation, but if we win, we receive thirty spirit stones.”

Lu Yuan was confused: “Why do they do this?”

He Changfeng lowered his voice: “We estimate they want to learn the techniques of our various immortal sects and then devise countermeasures. This Blood Sword Gate might very well be Yuan’s spies within the Snow Peak Monastery, learning our sect’s moves here, creating methods to counter them, so they can win against us on the main battlefield.”

The maliciousness and venom in the Blood Sword Gate’s scheme were utterly appalling.

Now, those imprisoned were trapped: if they fought, they risked having their sect’s ultimate skills learned by the enemy; if they refused to fight, they would be severely injured and deeply disgraced.

While they were speaking, a torchlight illuminated the darkness of the Blood Sword Gate Heavenly Prison. The leader, also cloaked in blood-red robes, possessed a sinister appearance—a sharp, thin face that resembled a rat. This person sneered: “Forgive my intrusion, I am Yu Renhao of the Blood Sword Gate. Greetings to the esteemed figures of the various immortal sects. Today, I will be your sparring partner. I will provide an antidote for the time it takes one stick of incense to burn. You may strike with full force during this time. If you can defeat me, you will earn thirty spirit stones.”

Yu Renhao then opened the first cell, releasing the occupant and handing over the antidote. His opponent was a cultivator from the Qingcheng Immortal Gate, at the Tenth Level of Body Refining. The Qingcheng cultivator initially tried his best to avoid using his ultimate moves, but Yu Renhao continuously drew blood from him, clearly refusing to stop until the ultimate technique was revealed. Finally, the man deployed several stances from the Seventeen Stances of Speed and Slowness. Yu Renhao burst into laughter: “That’s more like it!” He unleashed a sword technique of his own but did not rush to victory, slowly waiting for his opponent to make his moves, clearly studying the techniques involved.

The people of the Blood Sword Gate were indeed experts at forcing out ultimate skills.

A moment later, Yu Renhao opened the second cell door, releasing the second prisoner, a cultivator from the Huanling Immortal Gate.