Across the Southern Realms, the neutral Qin State is set aside. We speak only of the two nations of Jin and Yuan.

The Huashan Immortal Sect is the foremost immortal sect in Jin. As the leading sect in Jin, Huashan faces numerous threats: Yuan State, the underground demons, and the Heaven-Upholding Alliance.

Furthermore, the hidden strengths of each peak within the Huashan Immortal Sect are secrets guarded with utmost secrecy, requiring repeated concealment. It would be a waste to deploy these hidden forces entirely just to contend with the underground demons.

Thus, the figures at the Grand Dao Realm within the Huashan Immortal Sect engage the Grand Dao Realm figures among the demons in a clandestine battlefield, separate from the overt formations in the void above. Naturally, the Huashan Immortal Sect must also maintain a contingent of personnel to guard against the Heaven-Upholding Alliance.

While Yuan State is held in check by Zu Qianqiu, Qingcheng, and Kunlun, the hidden machinations of the Heaven-Upholding Alliance cannot be underestimated. Meanwhile, the overt battle rages.

This open front of combat is ferocious. The top-tier forces on the Huashan side include the Lone Sword Immortal Shi Chongtian, the Sword Immortal Ling Luoshi, the Thousand Mists Sword Immortal Mo Chuichui, the Purple Haze Swordsman Baili Duanqingzhi, and Lu Yuan—these five—followed by cultivators at the Ninth Level of Longevity, such as the Spring Sword Immortal Nangong Hui, the Harmonious Sword Immortal Ye Yangrong, and the Miscellaneous Sword Immortal Ximen Luan, among others.

On the demon side, the pinnacle figures are naturally the Ten Great Elders: Elder Bat, Elder Tiger, Elder Snake, Elder Crane, and Elder Mosquito. The combat between these two factions is intensely fierce.

Lu Yuan, currently within the battle formation, sweeps his sword, the Yangwu Spirit Sword, dispatching over a dozen demons with one pass. He has no time to clean the battlefield or collect spoils.

Duels involving so many experts often escalate to battlegrounds involving thousands; fighting with just a few opponents is entirely different, leaving absolutely no spare moments for gathering loot. However, collecting spoils is unnecessary anyway.

If a known, named figure is slain, one must certainly strive to claim trophies, as notable figures yield significant rewards. For those without names or recognition, a dedicated cleanup crew will handle the remains later.

The distribution of spoils is calculated based on the rankings displayed on the Zhoutian Instrument; those ranked higher are deemed to have contributed more merit and, quite rightly, receive a larger share. Not a single opponent could withstand even one exchange.

As Lu Yuan reflected on this, he suddenly felt danger approaching from behind. Almost instinctively, his Zhenyue Spirit Sword was drawn, blocking the incoming strike.

Although the rearward attack was parried, the incredibly sharp sword qi still surged toward him. Lu Yuan shifted laterally, evading the astonishing energy, and turned to face his opponent.

It was a tall, thin man, perhaps around forty years old—perhaps too tall, and too thin. He showed not a trace of demonic features, yet Lu Yuan could clearly sense that this man was a demon, one saturated with sword qi.

"Not bad. You are Lu Yuan.

I am Elder Sword, one of the Ten Great Elders of the demons," the figure, thin as a stake—no, more accurately, thin as a sword itself—spoke slowly. Another of the Ten Great Elders!

Although he had defeated Elder Tiger among the Ten Great Elders, Lu Yuan dared not relax in the slightest. Every one of the Ten Great Elders was an extraordinary figure; Elder Bat, for instance, moved so fast Lu Yuan couldn't even track him.

Elder Sword regarded Lu Yuan. "I hear you are a genius of the Sword Dao.

I, too, am a Sword Dao genius among the demons. The two of us should have a proper bout." His entire body radiated flying sword qi, his fighting spirit soaring.

This Elder Sword had a profound origin. Fifteen hundred years prior, a renowned Sword Immortal descended into the underground with his accompanying spirit sword, slaying demons.

However, the demons proved overwhelmingly powerful, and the Sword Immortal ultimately perished within the depths. His spirit sword fell into the subterranean Blood Pool—a confluence of the blood of countless demons, the essence of all wickedness.

The Demon Matriarch Ji, the source of a certain demonic lineage, was born from this very Blood Pool. The spirit sword, immersed in the Blood Pool, was stimulated and nourished by the essence of all wickedness for over seven hundred years.

During this period, its spiritual energy grew ever stronger, though it was no longer the righteous spirit sword it once was, but one steeped in malevolence that intensified with time. Over eight hundred years ago, this spirit sword finally developed true sentience, evolving from a mere object into a demonic entity—a demon born from a sword.

After eight centuries, this spirit sword had transformed into the current Elder Sword, one of the Ten Great Elders of the demons. Elder Sword always considered himself a Sword Dao genius among the demons.

He possessed genuine innate talent in the Way of the Sword. His original master had mastered swordsmanship across multiple schools, and being a sword himself, how could his aptitude for the Sword Dao be lacking?

He was hailed as the foremost genius of the underground demons. Now, facing the foremost Sword Dao genius among the celestial cultivators above ground, a contest was inevitable.

Elder Sword flicked his wrist and thrust out a move called Ruo Xi Ruo Yi (Vague Yet Clear). This thrust shot forward, but Lu Yuan had dealt with this technique before and was unsurprised.

He parried it with his usual counter-maneuver, but just as he blocked Ruo Xi Ruo Yi, the opponent's sword suddenly transformed like a venomous dragon, aiming directly for Lu Yuan's throat. A near thing!

In that instant, Lu Yuan shifted to evade, intending to completely avoid the strike. Lu Yuan's swordsmanship was incredibly fast, but the opponent's spiritual power was heavy as a mountain, causing a slight pause in Lu Yuan's movement.

His right shoulder was scored by a line of blood. Elder Sword laughed heartily.

"I master the strengths of the Righteous Way, the Demonic Way, and the Demon Way in swordsmanship. My techniques are neither righteous nor evil." He followed up immediately, each move bizarre and subtly deceptive.

Having suffered a slight loss, Lu Yuan began to focus intently. While Elder Sword's techniques were strange, his overall cultivation in the Sword Dao was inferior to Lu Yuan's.

However, the most troublesome aspect was that Elder Sword's spiritual power surpassed even that of Elder Tiger. "You cannot defeat me, because I am Half-Step Grand Dao." Half-Step Grand Dao!

This realm exists between the Longevity Stage and the Grand Dao Realm. Some individuals must pass through this threshold, while others do not; the sensation of entering it is exceedingly vague.

Some might achieve it without realizing, while others struggle endlessly to reach it. The strength of a Half-Step Grand Dao expert surpasses the Tenth Level of Longevity, yet falls far short of the Grand Dao Realm.

Lu Yuan’s current strength allowed him at most to challenge those at the Tenth Level of Longevity by overcoming a level; facing someone at this Half-Step Grand Dao stage left him feeling quite helpless. Elder Sword grew wilder as the fight progressed.

Just then, the signal horn for retreat sounded. Once this horn blares, everyone must withdraw; no one remains on the battlefield.

Even a Tenth Level of Longevity expert, isolated against a host of opponents, would face certain death. Therefore, upon hearing the signal, Elder Sword frowned.

"Very well. I shall defeat you next time and show you that the Sword Dao geniuses among the demons far surpass the Righteous geniuses among your immortal heroes." He abruptly retreated.

Lu Yuan also frowned helplessly and withdrew back into the Huashan mountain protection formation. —————— After this recall, Lu Yuan was not overly frustrated.

In his exchange with Elder Sword, he had indeed been at a disadvantage. But being at a disadvantage was acceptable.

No one's life can be one of perpetual, unrivaled dominance. Yet, Lu Yuan understood the current situation was far from ideal.

The secret battle was reportedly stalled in a stalemate, and the overt battle had been evenly matched, but now that Elder Sword possessed Half-Step Grand Dao strength, things became very troublesome. Previously, he could rely on the taller figures to hold up the sky, but now he could no longer think that way.

He himself had become one of the "taller figures," a Sword Immortal in the Longevity Stage, a core pillar of the sect. He absolutely needed to find a way to reach the Ninth Level of Longevity so he could defeat Elder Sword and Elder Bat.

His motivation wasn't merely to win for winning's sake, but to protect Huashan. However, ascending to the Ninth Level of Longevity was far from simple.

While Lu Yuan was deep in thought, Miscellaneous Sword Immortal Ximen Luan happened to approach. Ximen Luan looked at Lu Yuan with a degree of contemplation.

When Lu Yuan was still at the Sigou Peak, having just entered the Longevity Stage, Ximen Luan had lost a pure sword duel to him. Ximen Luan knew that Lu Yuan’s current strength had completely surpassed his own—truly, a rapidly rising new star in the Sword Dao.

Ximen Luan greeted Lu Yuan. Their acquaintance wasn't particularly deep, and he might have left it at that, but Ximen Luan lowered his voice and said, "Lu Yuan, Senior Martial Uncle Zhou sent a message when you left Sigou Peak, asking you to return there when you have time." His "Senior Martial Uncle Zhou," and located at Sigou Peak.

Undoubtedly, this referred to Huashan's current true foremost sword master—Zhou Qingxuan, the figure whose strength once rivaled Yan Cangtian. Lu Yuan couldn't help but feel a surge of delight.

Reaching the Ninth Level of Longevity was difficult, but receiving guidance, especially from someone like Zhou Qingxuan, would drastically lower the hurdle. It was like finding a pillow just when he needed sleep.

In truth, Ximen Luan’s message was also somewhat odd. Senior Martial Uncle Zhou had long since distanced himself from Huashan's affairs; given the incident from his past, it would be more likely for him to hold animosity toward Huashan than to seek out Lu Yuan.

... It might not be easy for others to enter Sigou Peak, but Lu Yuan gained entry with ease, merely by asking his Martial Uncle Fang Ru for a favor.

Fang Ru was now the Lord of the North Peak and held such authority. Following the same path as before, upon entering Sigou Peak, a faint, ethereal voice reached his ears.

"Little brat Lu, I have no interest in the current affairs of Huashan. However, I owe Senior Brother Yan a favor from long ago.

Since I know you are Senior Brother Yan's true inheritor, I will lend you a hand and teach you a few techniques." Back then, Zhou Qingxuan, driven by emotional pain, had hunted down and slain members of Huashan’s Seventh Generation, causing immense chaos and heavy casualties, committing a crime of monumental proportions. It was Yan Cangtian who had stood firm to protect him.

That favor was indeed considerable. Lu Yuan was also deeply curious: what kind of peerless mastery would the foremost sword of Huashan display!

(I suddenly realize my updates this month have been lackluster; I must speed things up tomorrow. Also, a call out: subscribe, let's gain momentum!)