On the shores of Taihu Lake, the setting sun cast its final rays.

A thin beam of light pierced through the thin layer of ice and shot into the tavern.

His opponent before him was Tong Bainian, known as the weakest among the Nine Heavens of Longevity—a Sword Immortal who could not wield a spiritual sword.

Lu Yuan's thoughts raced.

He had never held any grudge against the Xuanming Gate; this was the first time he was meeting Tong Bainian.

Why would he want to capture him? Could Sima Changbai be behind this? No, impossible.

Sima Changbai’s strength definitely surpassed Tong Bainian’s, yet he absolutely could not command Tong Bainian.

After all, both Tong Bainian and Sima Changbai were at the Nine Heavens of Longevity.

Although Tong Bainian was certainly no match for Sima Changbai, Sima could not possibly order him around either.

That left few possibilities.

Yuan Ling! It had to be that man.

However, Yuan Ling usually remained hidden and never sought trouble with him.

Why provoke him now? Could it be that Venerable Yuan Ling was about to make his move? If so, this was not good news.

Venerable Yuan Ling was an exceptionally difficult figure to deal with; once he acted, he could not be underestimated.

Of course, there was no need to worry too excessively.

Venerable Yuan Yuan appeared ordinary, but he was also an immensely formidable figure.

He had long prepared to counter Venerable Yuan Ling.

These two were locked in a destined struggle; watching their conflict unfold, it was hard to tell which one would ultimately prevail.

Venerable Yuan Yuan was not his concern right now.

He was currently facing Tong Bainian. "Was it Venerable Yuan An who sent you?" Tong Bainian let out a sharp, cold laugh. "You only need to know that you are about to be captured by me." With another sharp laugh, Tong Bainian moved his hand and drew forth a streak of sword light.

This cold gleam was intensely biting.

As the sword light moved, the entire tavern was instantly frozen over—such a terrifying attack that Lu Yuan was instantly immobilized.

However, Lu Yuan immediately stirred his Sword Intent of Fire, melting the thin ice covering his body, and simultaneously counterattacked with the Sword Intent of Ice and the Sword Intent of Snow.

Tong Bainian, too, found himself momentarily frozen.

Seeing this, Tong Bainian expressed surprise. "Unexpected.

You can actually freeze me.

Not bad, not bad.

But when it comes to playing with ice, you dare compare yourselves to our Xuanming Gate? Ridiculous." He brandished his sword light, sending countless layers of ice stacking upon one another to ensnare Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan activated both his swords, clashing repeatedly with Tong Bainian.

The more they fought, the more Lu Yuan realized something was deeply wrong.

Every time he exchanged blows with Tong Bainian, the chill within his body intensified.

The supreme technique of the Xuanming Gate, the Xuanming True Analysis, specialized in freezing the body’s interior; contact alone could inflict harm.

He was already no match for Tong Bainian, and continuing like this, becoming weaker with every exchange, made him even less capable of fighting back.

The Nine Heavens of Longevity—it was truly the Nine Heavens of Longevity.

Even Tong Bainian, acclaimed as the weakest, was something he could not handle.

A chilling dread settled in Lu Yuan’s heart.

He knew he could not continue fighting; he had to find a way to escape.

But escaping the grasp of a subordinate of Tong Bainian was incredibly difficult.

Right—he could try intimidation.

Lu Yuan flicked his wrist and executed the move, "Flying Swallow Startling the Immortal" (Feiyan Jingxian).

This technique, Feiyan Jingxian, was a signature ultimate move created by Patriarch Yan.

With this move, the sword slid from its sheath, swept past the right flank, and rose in a magnificent upward flick, completing a perfect assassination strike.

This move possessed nearly infinite power.

And it was immensely famous throughout the Jin Kingdom.

Long ago, Yan Cangtian had used this very move to slay the previous sect master of the Xuanming Gate, Xuanming Zi, leading to the current division of the Xuanming Gate into two factions, commanded by Xuan Lu and Ming Biweng, after the death of their former leader.

Furthermore, this move had eliminated numerous notorious demons and evil cultivators.

Lu Yuan had witnessed the decisive battle between Patriarch Yan and Xiaoyaozi, from which he had learned many sword techniques—though they were merely superficial forms, incapable of unleashing their true power.

Although Yan Cangtian taught Lu Yuan the Five Emperors Five Sovereigns Reincarnation Sword Dao, he refused to teach him the actual sword moves.

Yan Cangtian’s reasoning was: "Lu Yuan, I teach you the Reincarnation Sword Dao because it is a method of swordsmanship, but I do not teach you the moves.

The reason is simple: if I truly teach you the moves, it will completely restrict your own swordsmanship.

This Flying Swallow Sword Art carries too much of my personal style and will hinder your growth." "The most perfect sword move a person uses is one they create themselves, not one learned from another." Therefore, Lu Yuan did not know it.

Now, facing Tong Bainian and clearly at a disadvantage, escape seemed impossible.

He was forced to consider using the shock value of Feiyan Jingxian to frighten Tong Bainian.

The previous master of the Xuanming Gate, Xuanming Zi, had died by Yan Cangtian’s sword.

It was rumored that Tong Bainian had witnessed the event.

He would certainly be utterly astonished.

Indeed, just as Lu Yuan predicted, Tong Bainian was indeed taken completely aback. "Flying Swallow Startling the Immortal!" Tong Bainian seemed to see Yan Cangtian himself.

He recoiled in terror, taking a massive step back, and the icy chill instantly dissipated.

In that instant, Lu Yuan activated the White Emperor Sword Dao and fled swiftly.

Tong Bainian finally remembered that Yan Cangtian had already ascended.

He snorted coldly. "Brat, still trying to run?" He pursued like a bolt of lightning, also utilizing a flying sword, but he was faster than Lu Yuan using the White Emperor Sword Dao.

After all, he was at the Nine Heavens of Longevity, while Lu Yuan was only at the Sixth Heaven.

The distance between them continuously closed.

Their speeds were like streaks of light.

Lu Yuan felt the biting cold from behind growing heavier.

Escaping the clutches of a Sword Immortal at the Nine Heavens of Longevity was proving exceedingly difficult.

The might of the Nine Heavens of Longevity was truly terrifying.

The chill was overwhelming.

Even activating the Sword Intent of Fire, Lu Yuan felt his speed rapidly declining.

No, if this continued, he was finished! Lu Yuan had no intention of being captured.

Just then, a cave mouth appeared ahead.

It looked dusky gray, and beside it stood a stone stele. "Myriad Poison Cave" (Wandu Dong) was inscribed in large characters at the center of the stele, accompanied by a line of smaller script: "Let the living never enter this place; all manner of white bones shall turn to dust within..." Lu Yuan remembered: Myriad Poison Cave.

This was a notorious perilous site in the Jin Kingdom.

Rumor had it that the toxins within the Myriad Poison Cave exceeded anyone's imagination; even a Sword Immortal entering it would meet only a dead end.

No one knew what truly lay inside.

Lu Yuan had no other choice now.

Seeing he was about to be captured by Tong Bainian, he had no option but to rush into the Myriad Poison Cave.

Simultaneously, a cyan sword light circled above his head, carving a path through the myriad poisons as he entered.

Who knew what fate awaited him inside this cave? In the two breaths after Lu Yuan entered the Myriad Poison Cave, Tong Bainian landed before the entrance.

Gazing at the variegated, colorful haze emanating from the cave, although Tong Bainian longed to achieve great merit by capturing Lu Yuan, he dared not enter.

He knew that stepping inside would likely spell certain death for him as well.

Having no other recourse, Tong Bainian sat down at the cave mouth, intending to wait for Lu Yuan to emerge.

Naturally, he would not simply wait idly.

He sent out a message, requesting that Yuan Ling’s main base construct a Myriad Poison Cold Light Barrier (Wandu Hanguang Zhang).

This barrier was theoretically impossible to create, but three years prior, Yuan Ling’s faction had acquired the ancient exotic beast, the Myriad Poison Rainbow Worm (Wandu Caichong), which could be used to forge the barrier.

Now that Lu Yuan had entered the Myriad Poison Cave, he would wait for the barrier to be made.

The construction of the Myriad Poison Cold Light Barrier would take half a year. "Lu Yuan, hide well.

Six months from now, I will enter this cave to claim your life." North Peak, the Hall of Central Harmony and Peace.

The moon had already risen.

Venerable Yuan Yuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

The intelligence received moments ago confirmed the success of the skirmish near Taihu Lake.

Lu Yuan had achieved great merit and advanced further.

However, at the same time, Yuan Ling and Sima Changbai were likely about to make their move.

Venerable Yuan Yuan turned around and saw a silver-haired, handsome man standing at the entrance of the Hall of Central Harmony and Peace.

Venerable Yuan Yuan’s expression remained calm, seemingly unsurprised. "Junior Brother Yuan Ling, you have finally arrived." "Indeed, Senior Brother Yuan Yuan, I have finally arrived." Venerable Yuan Ling smiled, a remarkably handsome smile. "Senior Brother Yuan Yuan seems unsurprised by my arrival." "Why should I be surprised?" Venerable Yuan Yuan smiled. "This destined confrontation has reached its appointed time." "Oh, is that so?" Venerable Yuan Ling nodded. "It is time for you to die, and for me to live." "Who dies and who lives remains to be seen." Venerable Yuan Yuan moved his hand, and the Primordial Spirit Sword (Yuanshi Lingjian) resting beside him fell into his grasp.

Venerable Yuan Ling gently caressed the hilt of the Transcendence Spirit Sword (Lingjia Lingjian). "The Primordial and the Transcendence Spirit Swords shall finally clash again after several centuries." As he spoke, infinite emotion laced his voice. "By the way, Senior Brother...

seeing you now, you don't seem curious about my plan," Venerable Yuan Ling smiled. "If Venerable Yuan Yuan were to suddenly vanish.

By convention, the current Eighth Generation cannot become a Peak Master.

And the North Peak cannot remain vacant for long; after all, it holds such immense assets." "Thus, a new Peak Master must be elected." "The election for the new Peak Master naturally falls to the Ninth Generation Sword Immortals.

There is no other way.

Among the Ninth Generation, the strongest is the Gentleman Sword Fang Ru.

Next are Sima Changbai and Ye Yangrong, whose strength is equal.

Chu Fei is too green, and Dugu Ye is merely a woman.

If Fang Ru were to be severely injured before the election, and Ye Yangrong poisoned with something that reduces his power, who would become the next North Peak Master?" "Oh, and that Lu Yuan, who possesses great fortune—I sent Tong Bainian to capture him.

Although Tong Bainian is the weakest of the Nine Heavens of Longevity, capturing a mere Lu Yuan should be effortless." "What happens to the North Peak next?" Venerable Yuan Yuan shook his head, his expression placid. "Your plan requires my disappearance.

Can you achieve that? As for Lu Yuan, I am not worried.

Capturing him is not easy.

Furthermore, let me mention, I have also prepared extensively while waiting for you to emerge.

You have your plan, and I have mine." "Clap, clap." Venerable Yuan Ling burst into laughter. "This is perfect.

As expected, Senior Brother, you are never easy to deal with." "The destined duel has begun.

We shall see whose calculation is superior—yours or mine." The two who had been contending for five centuries stood facing one another.

The destined duel...

had begun!