Amidst the peaks of Bei Ling Mountain. Lu Yuan continued his flight on his sword through the mountains of Bei Ling. Such a single, traversing stroke.

This, then, was agony for the personnel in Bei Ling Mountain’s central command center; they discovered, to their distress, that Lu Yuan’s unimpeded flight was unstoppable, throwing the entirety of Bei Ling Mountain into utter chaos. Furthermore, what enraged them even more was the fact that many invaluable research chambers existed within Bei Ling Mountain, such as the Human-Demon Hybridization Lab, and the Cultivator Detention Cells. In these chambers, countless precious documents were swept away by Lu Yuan in a single pass.

Paradoxically, though they desperately needed someone to deal with Lu Yuan, no one dared to move. A mere junior from Mount Hua, nothing more. So many people had gathered in the command center—not because they cared about the overall situation, but because this room was the most concealed and secure.

They had been utterly terrified by Lu Yuan’s actions. They were discussing why the Deputy Sect Master, the Elder Tian Chou, had not yet arrived, unaware that Elder Tian Chou was currently locked in the most intense confrontation with Lu Qingtao amidst the vast, snowy mountains, leaving him no time to be there. Lu Yuan, at this moment, burst into another research chamber.

This was… “Cultivation Method Research Chamber,” the five large characters announced clearly. Lu Yuan forced his way in, stepping into the heart of this methodology chamber. The guards stationed here had already fled; there was no alternative.

Lu Yuan was currently too formidable in his rampage. As he approached their sector quickly, fleeing became the only option. However, before escaping, the guard inflicted severe injuries upon himself—not out of self-harm for its own sake, but out of fear of subsequent punishment from Venerable Yuan Ling.

By leaving himself in a state of serious injury, if Venerable Yuan Ling pressed the matter later, the guard could claim he was heavily wounded by Lu Yuan and forced to retreat, likely reducing his culpability by six or seven tenths. Lu Yuan entered the Cultivation Method Research Chamber and found some imprisoned cultivators inside, all in a state of frenzy, roaring incessantly. Some cells were empty, but upon closer inspection, they weren't truly empty; only remnants of bone fragments remained.

Lu Yuan surveyed the scene and discovered research documents detailing Venerable Yuan Ling's studies on the techniques of various sects and factions. However, placed right at the very top was the research concerning the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations. The Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations was Venerable Yuan Ling’s foundation.

Indeed, Venerable Yuan Ling and Lu trained in the same foundational art, so naturally, he placed the utmost importance and conducted the most extensive research on it. These studies mostly contained no complete manuals, only long strings of disorganized notes. Lu Yuan couldn't decipher most of it, as the core techniques were missing, but he could understand the research on the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations.

After reading this, Lu Yuan had to admit that Venerable Yuan Ling's research aimed at rapid mastery of the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations, though some methods were dangerously accelerated, and others employed heretical arts that Lu disdained. Lu examined the rapid mastery methods that avoided evil arts, committing them to memory. The others, which relied on forbidden and evil techniques, he naturally incinerated to prevent them from spreading harm.

These evil and forbidden methods could indeed grant fast advancement with immense power, but his own resolve was firm enough that he wouldn't be affected; others might not withstand the consequences. Lu looked further at the introductions and realized that Venerable Yuan Ling had captured numerous cultivators to test his theories in this chamber. If the application went smoothly, the subject would advance; if not, they would suffer Qi Deviation and madness.

Once entering this chamber, very few managed to avoid falling into Qi Deviation. Lu observed the few cultivators still alive; all were maddened and shrieking incoherently. The only one not completely insane was suffering so intensely that he begged Lu to kill him—that person sought not life, but death.

Rage! Rage! Rage!

Lu Yuan was experiencing profound fury several times a day now, this overwhelming anger solidifying in his heart—something that rarely happened normally. Venerable Yuan Ling was truly utterly wicked, a complete antithesis to humanity, resorting to human experimentation at the slightest provocation. He fiercely downed a gulp of wine: “Yuan Ling, I swear I will execute you.” He couldn't save those afflicted by Qi Deviation, as he had no expertise in reversing such conditions; he could only wait for the arrival of the three Martial Uncles, hoping they possessed some remedy.

He then demolished this Cultivation Method Research Chamber and continued searching the remaining areas. Lu Yuan burst into a cave dwelling, shattering the sturdy door with sword energy, only to find the interior surprisingly vast. At the absolute center stood a barrier, either white or transparent, upon which white clouds seemed to drift.

This was… the Cloud Origin Limitless Barrier. He had finally found it. Lu Yuan approached the Cloud Origin Limitless Barrier, observing its immense, square shape.

The surface was utterly smooth, dotted with drifting white clouds. Lu struck the barrier with his sword and found it completely unmoved. Indeed, it could not be destroyed; if it could, the people of Bei Ling Mountain would have done so long before he arrived.

Lu investigated the surroundings for a while. The barrier completely isolated the interior from the outside world; no sounds from within could be heard, nor could anything inside be seen. It seemed he could not intervene and could only wait for the barrier to collapse.

Lu could only sigh. After fighting his way through and causing havoc across Bei Ling Mountain, he felt somewhat weary. Never mind; he would sit cross-legged here, recuperate his energy, and see if he could be of assistance later.

The moment before Lu Yuan reached this barrier. Inside the barrier. This interior was already a ruin.

After a continuous battle lasting over half a year, its current state was remarkable enough. And within the barrier, Venerable Yuan Yuan, his hair white and displaying deep age, gasped heavily, standing at the eastern edge of the enclosure. And Venerable Yuan Ling, his silver hair flowing, his clothes soaked with sweat, though not showing age, was also breathing heavily.

That’s right, both were peak figures of the Great Dao Realm, each having grasped the fundamental Laws of the Great Dao; their spiritual power was virtually inexhaustible. However, after fighting fiercely and evenly matched for over half a year, both were profoundly exhausted. Yet, no matter the fatigue, they had to persist.

Facing a sworn enemy, even a moment’s carelessness could cost them their lives. “Senior Brother, you are indeed tenacious, but tenacity is useless. You must have heard about my plan for the North Peak; Junior Brother Sima should be the current master of North Peak now.

North Peak is already under my control.” Although Venerable Yuan Ling was drenched in sweat, he still exuded an air of composure. “In a little while, the barrier will reach its breaking point. And we are inside Bei Ling Mountain; Elder Tian Chou must be waiting outside.

That will be the moment of your demise.” Venerable Yuan Yuan looked at Venerable Yuan Ling: “Junior Brother, we have contended for over four hundred years. For the last five centuries, you have used verbal manipulation to try and disturb my mind. Such petty tricks may work on others, but do they work on me?” “True enough.” Venerable Yuan Ling nodded.

“It seems I must bring out my true capabilities.” “Junior Brother, do you still have capabilities you haven’t shown?” Venerable Yuan Yuan chuckled dryly. “If you did, you would have used most of them during these past six months.” “That’s not necessarily true.” Venerable Yuan Ling adopted a look of unfathomable depth. Another fierce exchange ensued.

The figures of Venerable Yuan Yuan and Venerable Yuan Ling constantly crossed paths. Yuan Yuan’s two spirit swords, the Primal Origin Spirit Sword and the Harmonious Spirit Sword, clashed ceaselessly with Yuan Ling’s Transcendent Spirit Sword and Supreme Spirit Sword. Shadows flickered, and the clash of four spirit swords brought forth countless sword images in the air.

Both had achieved extraordinary mastery in the Way of the Sword. However, at this moment, they were only employing the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud. This was the sword technique they had learned in their youth.

Now, in this fated battle, they fought purely with this set, yet even with just this set, they produced untold variations. If the record of this battle were to circulate, countless North Peak Sword Immortals would feel as if they had never learned swordsmanship beyond that of a child. “Wind Blows, Clouds Roll.” “Wandering Wind, Scattered Clouds.” The four swords struck again.

Venerable Yuan Yuan and Venerable Yuan Ling met mid-air, gazing into each other's eyes. The contests of the past five centuries, beginning in their youth, culminated at this very moment. Suddenly, Yuan Yuan’s will to fight surged, and simultaneously, his spiritual power spiked—at this instant, his power far exceeded that during the previous six months of fighting.

At the same moment, the Primal Origin Spirit Sword and the Harmonious Spirit Sword unleashed a move together: the Ascending Dragon Transformation and Tail Lash—the North Peak Secret Sword: Cloud Dragon Wags Its Tail! This move was a North Peak Secret Sword, typically only practiced by the Peak Master, a truly hidden technique unknown to anyone else. Yuan Yuan had waited over half a year precisely for this final strike.

At this moment, a cloud dragon seemed to rise from within his sword, lashing its tail. Caught completely off guard, Venerable Yuan Ling was struck by the Cloud Dragon Wags Its Tail. He was startled and tried to retreat, but found he could not, for the dragon’s tail had locked onto him tightly.

He felt as if he were facing a true dragon—this was the North Peak Secret Sword. Yuan Yuan coldly sneered, wasting no words. He had been stalling for half a year, making Yuan Ling believe he had seen all his trump cards, all for this single attack.

With the barrier on the verge of collapse, having endured for so long, he finally struck for victory. The Harmonious Spirit Sword moved instantly, piercing toward Venerable Yuan Ling’s heart. Heart and throat, both pierced simultaneously.

A wave of exhaustion washed over Yuan Yuan. Yes, he had finally defeated his sworn enemy! The grievances of five centuries could finally end; the great foe of North Peak was finally dying.

As he executed his enemy, his momentum naturally waned. At this critical moment, Venerable Yuan Ling, who should have been fatally wounded by strikes to the heart and throat, instantaneously unleashed a move strikingly similar to the Cloud Dragon Wags Its Tail: the Blood Dragon Wags Its Tail, instantly striking Venerable Yuan Yuan’s heart and throat. “This battle, I have won,” Venerable Yuan Ling said, stepping gracefully as he looked upon the fallen Venerable Yuan Yuan.

“Perhaps you are very curious why I can survive being struck in the throat and heart,” Venerable Yuan Ling said, calmly revealing his final trump card. A trump card of immense magnitude.

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