And so, Lu Yuan entered the Blood Sword Sect's celestial prison, a place that was sinister, dark, and perpetually damp. Furthermore, every day, one of the Blood Sword Sect's elders would spar with numerous prisoners, seeking to pilfer their sects' ultimate techniques.

Smack!

In the gloom, the cultivator from the Wuling Immortal Sect was sent flying. This cultivator likely bore two or three dozen cuts across his body, yet, until the very end, he refused to use any of Wuling Immortal Sect’s true skills. Yu Renhao of the Blood Sword Sect let out a hearty laugh: "A brave soul, daring not to use your ultimate moves. But don't worry, you can live like this every day; keep it up, and I'll be back for you tomorrow."

The fourth cell belonged to Qiu Xing of the Wudang Immortal Sect.

"Your turn," Yu Renhao chuckled.

Qiu Xing accepted the long sword handed over by the Blood Sword Sect man and instantly countered with a move: Silk Thread Weaving into Softness, a peerless strike from the Softness of Entwining Fingers sword art, aimed directly at Yu Renhao. Unhurried, Yu Renhao dodged and weaved. Seeing this, Qiu Xing spun his sword and unleashed another move: Flying Dragon of the Spirit Gate, a supreme technique from the Thirteen Swords of the Spirit Gate. The sword tip darted straight for Yu Renhao's Shenmen acupoint. Yu Renhao remained unperturbed, waiting for Qiu Xing to commit, then simply shifted his palm to block the blade. Qiu Xing’s assault grew faster and faster; each subsequent strike from the Thirteen Swords of the Spirit Gate aimed more rapidly at the Shenmen point.

Qiu Xing’s intention was clear: defeat Yu Renhao first. However, Yu Renhao was not so easily beaten. He moved his sword as his heart dictated, and his heart followed his sword, resulting in a stalemate with Qiu Xing.

In truth, the power levels of Yu Renhao and Qiu Xing were nearly identical, both possessing the magic power of the Fourth Layer of Longevity.

But Yu Renhao had the advantage of fighting on home ground within the Blood Sword Sect.

As for Qiu Xing, his magic power had only just recovered. Had he faced a weaker opponent, it wouldn't have mattered, but encountering someone like Yu Renhao immediately upon restoration meant he quickly exposed a major vulnerability. Yu Renhao was in no hurry to defeat him; he waited until Qiu Xing had exhausted the Thirteen Swords of the Spirit Gate before decisively parrying Qiu Xing's sword and simultaneously kicking him back into the cell: "Hah! You thought you could fight me? Truly laughable."

Qiu Xing, who hoped to defeat Yu Renhao with his ultimate techniques, was defeated. The cultivator who tried to hold back his ultimate moves was left covered in wounds and deeply humiliated.

The current prisoners faced a dilemma: whether or not to deploy their sect's ultimate skills.

Yu Renhao continued opening one cell door after another until he reached Lu Yuan's. Beside him, He Changfeng had already been severely beaten. Lu Yuan stood up, took the flying sword handed by Yu Renhao, and stabbed out immediately. This strike was not any technique he had learned before; it was merely a casual move conjured on the spot.

At Lu Yuan's current level, he could effortlessly create all manner of techniques, guaranteed to be supreme skills.

Yu Renhao was inwardly delighted, surprised that this young man possessed such swordsmanship—a masterful technique he had never witnessed before.

He engaged Lu Yuan in combat while simultaneously attempting to learn Lu Yuan's swordplay.

As he studied, however, he realized something was amiss. Indeed, every strike from Lu Yuan was superb, yet each move seemed to originate from a different sword art, from entirely different schools of swordsmanship. These styles simply could not be connected. Learning just one move from a sword style does little good on its own.

While Yu Renhao pondered this, he realized the true danger: Lu Yuan's long sword was now attacking him like a raging tempest of lightning and thunder, pinning him within a confined space. This young man was this strong? Yu Renhao was inwardly alarmed and desperately wanted to counter using the Blood Sacrifice Sword Art, which, once unleashed, could boost his magic power by a minor realm to slay his foe. However, he discovered that Lu Yuan's relentless pressure prevented him from even initiating the Blood Sacrifice Sword Art.

Could he truly perish here?

Just as a sharp blade was descending towards his head, Yu Renhao's own blood sword was knocked away. In this moment of extreme peril, a distant blood sword shot over, deflecting Lu Yuan's blade—it was none other than the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal, Si Nan, intervening.

Yu Renhao, considering himself the overlord of the prison, had always managed to force everyone he encountered into submission. If you resisted, you'd be brutally beaten daily until you yielded. If you tried to fight back, your ultimate moves would be learned by the Blood Sword Sect.

But Lu Yuan never used any ultimate techniques; or rather, every effortless posture Lu Yuan adopted was an ultimate technique. Yu Renhao had recorded countless sword moves from Lu Yuan, but these were all fragmented techniques, none belonging to a complete style—utterly useless. Moreover, it seemed Lu Yuan possessed an endless supply of these scattered supreme skills.

Usually, facing someone like this, Yu Renhao would resort to treachery to kill them. But his superiors, the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal Si Nan, had given strict orders not to take Lu Yuan’s life.

And so, Yu Renhao was doomed to tragedy.

When fighting others, Yu Renhao relished the game, endlessly tormenting them.

But fighting Lu Yuan presented a genuine threat to his life. Continuing this way held no interest for Yu Renhao.

This, in turn, granted Lu Yuan some peace. He could remain quietly in the Blood Sword Sect's celestial prison. Simply put, the situation had devolved into a stalemate with the Blood Cultivation Sword Immortal, who desired Lu Yuan’s Five Emperors and Five Sovereigns Cycle Sword Dao, which Lu Yuan was determined not to yield.

In truth, during these days, Lu Yuan was undergoing various trials. He endured tortures and persecutions; the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal Si Nan spared no means to obtain the secret manual left by Yan Cangtian.

Lu Yuan, however, was capable of withstanding these methods, leading to a purification of his spirit.

The former Lu Yuan was like a floating cloud in the heavens.

The current Lu Yuan was still a cloud, but one forged, refined by heaven and earth.

While appearing similar to before, he had undergone substantial transformation.

Cultivation first requires the tempering of the heart.

This spiritual cleansing here would prove highly beneficial to Lu Yuan’s path of cultivation.

Of course, even with Lu Yuan's typically relaxed nature, he couldn't help but curse inwardly. If he ever found a chance to escape this cage and advance his strength further, he would certainly destroy the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal. It wasn't that he was inherently cruel, but his heart had been too soft for too long, making it impossible to stand firm on this path.

The Blood Transformation Sword Immortal had crossed a line Lu Yuan could no longer tolerate.

He naturally wanted to kill the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal, but currently, that was impossible. At least right now, he couldn't even dissolve the Fragrant Poison of the Sea of Blood afflicting him, rendering all his magic power useless. Lu Yuan let out a depressed, long sigh. His past had indeed been too smooth; this was the first real setback he had suffered.

To be targeted without restraint by a Ninth Generation Sword Immortal was terrifyingly extreme. He could only imagine how much more terrifying the methods of the Sun Sword Immortal, Sima Changbai—who was stronger than the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal—would be if he truly dropped all restraint. Once unleashed, it would be like a solar eruption. He realized he had underestimated his Uncle-Master Sima somewhat before.

Right, he wondered how Martial Uncle Chu Fei and Martial Uncle Dugu Ye were searching for him in Kunlun Mountain after he disappeared.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind.

He even inadvertently recalled a pair of charming faces, alternately pouting and smiling—one moment Senior Sister Ling’s, the next Junior Sister Liu Ye’s, then Miss Zhong’s, and finally, the image seemed to subtly lean towards Miss Zhong’s appearance. What on earth was he thinking about?

In the Blood Sword Sect's celestial prison, time blurred. Yu Renhao stopped seeking out Lu Yuan for spars.

During the day, faint candlelight offered some visibility in the prison, but at night, there was absolutely no light. He Changfeng, who had been nearby, was eventually separated by Yu Renhao after discovering they knew each other and talked, isolating Lu Yuan completely. Yu Renhao could not defeat Lu Yuan, so he decided to crush him with loneliness—for solitude, without a single word exchanged, was a terrifying thing. As long as Lu Yuan remained alive, the Blood Transformation Sword Immortal Si Nan allowed Yu Renhao his methods.

Damn it, and not even any wine, Lu Yuan thought to himself. His casual kick struck something yielding. There should be no soft spots in the black dungeon. He reached down and felt a piece of white cloth. Pulling it further revealed a jade slip buried beneath the ground, unearthed by Lu Yuan’s aimless kicking through the dust.

The jade slip itself turned out to be a space-type magic artifact. Lu Yuan was startled and curious before sinking his consciousness into it: "I am Zhou Ziheng, the Seventh Transformation Venerable of the Eighth Generation of Mount Hua's Northern Peak. I was betrayed by the junior disciple Yuan Ling and suffered grievous injuries. Yuan Ling pursued me, forcing me to flee tens of thousands of miles. Little did I expect to encounter the shameless villain, the Blood Sword Ancestor, who imprisoned me here. The Blood Sword Ancestor sought to steal my Northern Peak Heart Method and Sword Art, but I refused even in death. It is a pity that my life’s work, researching various secrets to break through the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations Heart Method, and a secret treasure, cannot be passed on. If any future Mount Hua disciple falls into this place, they can use the special methods of the Cloud Dragon Heart Method to open this jade slip and receive my inheritance."

Lu Yuan froze. It seemed even figures of the Great Dao Realm had once been imprisoned in the Blood Sword Sect's celestial prison—the Seventh Transformation Venerable Zhou Ziheng. Lu Yuan had never heard of him. Lu Yuan was the Tenth Generation; the gap to the Eighth Generation was vast. How could an elder from the Eighth Generation be remembered?

"This Yuan Ling, though a genius of the Northern Peak, is insidious and venomous. If any later disciple inherits my legacy, they must return to Mount Hua to reveal the truth and must absolutely prevent Yuan Ling from becoming the Ninth Generation Peak Master." Even on the brink of death, this venerated ancestor left instructions. Lu Yuan mused, "Respected Martial Uncle Ancestor, rest assured. Yuan Ling is already a traitor to the Northern Peak. If I have the chance, this junior will certainly slay that villain Yuan Ling, and the Blood Sword Ancestor as well."

Lu Yuan was naturally peaceable and rarely killed, but the actions of Yuan Ling and the Blood Sword Ancestor were crimes punishable by death.