The gentle drizzle persisted, scattering maple leaves that wove a delicate, fragmented curtain of rain in the air.

The battle between Sima Changbai, the pinnacle of Cloud Valley, and Ye Yangrong had lacked some of its expected splendor due to a coincidental mismatch in their strengths.

However, just when everyone assumed the dust had settled, a sudden shift seemed to be brewing.

Lu Yuan’s hesitation—what did that pause imply?

Sima Changbai stood on the platform, gazing at Lu Yuan with eyes full of the predatory amusement of a cat toying with a mouse. Lu Yuan, a mere junior, you wish to play games with me? How ridiculous. By what right do you think you can match me? You are a genius, yes, hailed as the greatest talent of the Tenth Generation, believing you can continually ascend and outmaneuver me? You never understood that no matter how long you strive to improve, I have been waiting. This waiting has brought us to this moment. One swift move, and I seized the position of North Peak Master. Now that I am the North Peak Master, you, the Tenth Generation's finest genius, must still be at my beck and call for me to mold. Lu Yuan, I admit you are a genius, but ultimately, you are far too green.

Many gazes turned towards Lu Yuan, eager to hear what he had to say.

After all, he was a genius among geniuses; his words carried considerable weight.

Lu Yuan cleared his throat slightly. "The challenge is not over."

"Oh? And who else dares challenge me?" Sima Changbai was momentarily surprised, his eyes sweeping across the assembly of Elders. None dared meet his gaze.

"I," Lu Yuan stated clearly. "Let me challenge you."

The utterance hung in the air, creating a sudden, stark silence.

What had Lu Yuan just said? He intended to challenge Sima Changbai? Was he joking?

Indeed, Lu Yuan was remarkable; his past achievements included forcing several cultivators at the Seventh Layer of Longevity to join forces against him—a feat truly astonishing for someone of the Tenth Generation. But what of it?

A Sword Immortal-level cultivator at the Eighth Layer of Longevity was vastly more powerful than one at the Seventh Layer. A Seventh Layer cultivator basically stood no chance against an Eighth Layer one.

Furthermore, the Ninth Layer of Longevity surpassed the Eighth Layer in might.

Setting aside these differences in spiritual power, there was a far greater gap: cultivators below the Eighth Layer of Longevity could not wield Spirit Swords, whereas those above the Eighth Layer could. A Spirit Sword could effortlessly sever a flying sword. Therefore, the gulf in combat strength between Lu Yuan and Sima Changbai was unequivocally immense.

Sima Changbai’s earlier strikes had been earth-shattering, fully displaying the terrifying majesty of a sun at its zenith. He was clearly at the peak of the Ninth Layer of Longevity, and his current aura was visibly at its absolute zenith. Sima Changbai’s combat power now was terrifying to the extreme, akin to an ancient fire beast from the primordial wilderness.

Given such a disparity, Lu Yuan daring to issue a challenge was utterly unbelievable! Foolish beyond measure!

The silence broke into outright laughter.

"Truly reckless, daring to challenge my grandfather," Sima Hao declared, and the few others nearby immediately nodded in agreement. "Yes, he is absolutely asking for death."

"Peak Master Sima's power is profound and unfathomable," someone began flattering him even before the title was secured.

Amidst the laughter and commotion, Lu Yuan looked towards Lu Qingtao. "Martial Uncle-Ancestor Lu, what do you say? This time, it seems there's no rule forbidding disciples of the Tenth Generation from taking the stage, is there?"

Lu Qingtao nodded. "It is true there is no such rule. However..." He had initially intended to cite precedent against such an unconventional match, but upon reflection, acknowledged the lack of a specific prohibition. Finally, he conceded, "Very well, you may challenge Sima Changbai, but swords have no eyes."

Lu Yuan leaped onto the platform in a single bound, confronting Sima Changbai.

The wind began to rise.

It grew stronger and stronger, a howling gale whipping Sima Changbai’s golden robes and Lu Yuan’s green robes into a frantic flutter.

Lu Yuan raised a hand and performed a swordsman's salute. Despite his utter disgust for Sima Changbai, fueled by long-held grievances, the rules of the righteous sects demanded respect for an elder. "I humbly request guidance from Martial Uncle Sima. Martial Uncle Sima dared to attack and seize assets when my Master was critically injured and near death. I never imagined such a day would arrive."

Sima Changbai smirked, "What if I remembered? What if I didn't? I took what I wanted; that is my way of operating. What can you do about it? Still, you truly dare to step onto this stage. Brave, I will grant you that. But if your Martial Uncle is unable to hold back his strength and injures you grievously, do not take offense." This was a naked threat.

Lu Yuan smiled back just as thinly. "Your nephew is still young. If I happen to strike Martial Uncle and leave you gravely wounded and near death, I hope Martial Uncle will not take offense either." This was a direct, provocative counter-jab, aimed squarely at Sima Changbai. To dare to counter-provoke someone like Sima Changbai was testament to extraordinary audacity.

Sima Changbai sneered, "If you have the ability."

Their opening words were already dripping with hostility and verbal sparring.

How interesting! The future North Peak Master clashing fiercely with the most outstanding genius in the North Peak’s history of several thousand years. Those who hadn't been satisfied moments ago now found the spectacle thrilling. Yet, clearly, no one believed Lu Yuan could possibly defeat Sima Changbai. The Ninth Layer of Longevity was the Ninth Layer of Longevity. A Sword Immortal-level master was a powerhouse; they weren't so easily vanquished.

Sima Changbai made a subtle movement, and his Sun Spirit Sword stirred, unleashing the move "Sun at Zenith." Once deployed, it instantly blazed forth like the sun at its peak. Lu Yuan felt his entire body engulfed in firelight, and amidst this infinite conflagration, he could barely discern the body of Sima Changbai’s sword.

Indeed, facing Sima Changbai in person was far more terrifying than observing him from below.

But Lu Yuan was not to be trifled with, or he wouldn't have dared issue such a challenge. Though he couldn't see the sword body, relying on his unique sensitivity to the blade, he located Sima Changbai's Spirit Sword. He enveloped his Yangwu Sword in a sheath of Ice Sword Intent, artfully evading Sima Changbai's Spirit Sword and thrusting toward Sima Changbai’s throat.

This thrust was perfectly timed, yet Sima Changbai was no weakling. He sidestepped to avoid the strike while simultaneously startled. Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship was indeed formidable, shaking even him. Fame was not undeserved.

Sima Changbai countered with a sweeping backhand, a strike that favored brute force over subtlety. He was certain Lu Yuan dared not meet it head-on, knowing the sharpness of a Spirit Sword far surpassed that of a flying sword. This strike was overwhelmingly dominant; if Lu Yuan blocked, his flying sword would surely be severed; if he dodged, Lu Yuan would immediately concede the advantage.

Clang! The Sun Spirit Sword collided with the Yangwu Sword.

Lu Yuan’s sword was finished!

Not just Sima Changbai, but everyone else believed the same. Yet, upon looking closer an instant later, they saw that Lu Yuan’s Yangwu Sword bore not a single chip.

This!

The explanation was simple: Lu Yuan had overlaid his sword with the Sword Qi Transformation Manifestation Technique, making it impervious to Spirit Sword cuts for a period, although this effect could not last forever.

It seemed Sima Changbai could not rely on exploiting the difference in sharpness between Spirit and flying swords. As a calculating hero, Sima Changbai did not panic over this minor setback. He remained perfectly composed and continued his sword strikes, each move in the Sun at Zenith Sword Style becoming more potent than the last.

"Great Sun Blazing!"

"Sunlight’s Furious Slaughter!"

"The Apex of the Great Sun!"

"The Great Sun Descends!"

The killing moves of the Great Sun Sword Style erupted one after another. Sima Changbai’s attacks grew increasingly violent. Sunlight, firelight, and intensely scorching heat saturated the stage—the same relentless barrage that had crushed Ye Yangrong earlier.

What terrifying power! Sima Changbai’s assault seemed to exceed Lu Yuan’s expectations. Deep within the onslaught, however, Lu Yuan remained calm. He parried each move, meeting force with counter-force, gradually dismantling these seemingly insurmountable techniques. When Sima Changbai’s relentless attacks failed to breach Lu Yuan, a shockwave of thought struck him: Could it be that this brat Lu Yuan already possesses the qualifications to contend with me in swordsmanship?

This thought immediately brought unease.

If he lost to Lu Yuan now, the shame would be monumental. More than just reputation, he could not allow the North Peak Master position, so close to his grasp, to slip away. With this in mind, he held nothing back, unleashing the final, devastating strikes left in the Great Sun Sword Style.

"The Great Sun is Me, I am the Great Sun!" This move was the true monarch’s technique, releasing violent strikes centered around himself. Almost everyone present could no longer see the swordplay clearly. However, just as Sima Changbai's move reached its climax, he realized something was fundamentally wrong.

At that instant, Lu Yuan’s sword moved like a dragon soaring; in a flash, he pierced through the infinite net of swords and shattered the boundless light. This move was broken with shocking simplicity—easier than any preceding technique. Sima Changbai was utterly horrified.

If previously he had only thought Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship qualified him to compete, now he realized Lu Yuan’s mastery was actually a notch above his own.

This...

Lu Yuan, too, found his rhythm at this moment. Ten years of accumulated resentment poured out in the incredibly fluid dance of his sword. The sword light erupting from Lu Yuan now was pure white, a seemingly gentle sword Qi that nevertheless forcefully suppressed Sima Changbai's overwhelmingly dominant sword Qi.

Sima Changbai, who had been relentlessly attacking, was now forced into a defensive posture. He admitted his defense was executed masterfully. But Sima Changbai’s disciples and followers were now pale with dread. They never imagined Sima Changbai would be suppressed by such a young man.

This was the future North Peak Master, yet he was being driven into a disadvantage by Lu Yuan!

The powerful figures from the various Peaks and Immortal Sects—those at the Great Dao Realm and the Longevity stage—were all deeply shaken. They knew Lu Yuan was a genius, that he was strong, that he was exceptional. But never in their wildest dreams had they imagined his strength reached this level.

He could actually overpower Sima Changbai, a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Longevity!

Ignoring the gap in spiritual power!

Ignoring the difference between Spirit Swords and flying swords!

Ignoring the age gap of over four hundred years!

Ignoring the disparity in decades of combat experience!

Such complete suppression!