By your temperament, you should not have entered the Myriad Sword Reincarnation. Zhou Qingxuan said, "Because the Myriad Sword Reincarnation requires enduring countless pains, and your nature is of the scattered, unrestrained type—you cannot bear so much suffering.

However, seeing your protective spirit is strong, you may enter the Myriad Sword Reincarnation for a trial." "Very well, I will now take you to where the Myriad Sword Reincarnation is located," Zhou Qingxuan stated. The Myriad Sword Reincarnation!

Zhou Qingxuan led Lu Yuan straight into the heart of Siguo Peak. Lu Yuan followed on his sword, and before long, they arrived before a secret chamber.

Standing before the chamber were four middle-aged men. These four possessed distinct auras; they were known only by their titles: Qin Guard, Qi Guard, Shu Guard, and Hua Guard.

In those days, Zhou Qingxuan was skilled in everything—music, strategy, calligraphy, and painting—mastering all without excelling in any single one. His swordsmanship was peerless back then, and his status was high.

Through many fortuitous encounters, he had taken in four young attendants, who were now these Four Guards. The Qin Guard carried a yaoqin on his back; the Qi Guard held a set of Go pieces with an easygoing demeanor; the Shu Guard held a book, swaying his head like a venerable scholar; and the Hua Guard bore a roll of painting silk.

The Four Guards looked toward Lu Yuan with curiosity. Indeed, they were very curious.

Having followed Zhou Qingxuan into seclusion, they were long detached from the current cultivation world. They had been hidden away for ages, yet each had their own pursuits—the arts of Qin, Qi, Shu, and Hua—ensuring they were never lonely.

But when they heard the news that their Master was actually instructing a junior, it piqued their interest. What kind of junior could inspire the disheartened Master to take an interest in teaching?

They had long admired Lu Yuan's reputation. What surprised them even more was that this junior, Lu Yuan, intended to challenge the Myriad Sword Reincarnation.

Interesting, profoundly interesting. The Myriad Sword Reincarnation was an esoteric artifact.

Back then, the Master obtained this fortuitous chance, the Myriad Sword Reincarnation, before his schism with the Sword Sect. When he acquired it, countless disciples from both peaks of the Sword Sect entered the Reincarnation for a test, but none could endure it; all retreated eventually.

Only the Master and Yan Cangtian managed to hold on; even Chu Duan at the time did not last until the end. And now, the Master was sending Lu Yuan to brave the Myriad Sword Reincarnation.

Interesting, truly too interesting. The Qin, Qi, Shu, and Hua Guards had all entered the Myriad Sword Reincarnation in their time, only to be forced out.

Lu Yuan also observed the four middle-aged men, noting their distinct demeanors. He found their strengths profound; for a moment, he couldn't see clearly through them.

Figures he couldn't fully discern were rare indeed in the current cultivation world. Behind the Four Guards stood a colossal gate of profound iron.

Inscribed upon this iron gate were four large characters: "Myriad Sword Reincarnation!" "The Myriad Sword Reincarnation!" Lu Yuan started. So this was it.

Zhou Qingxuan explained, "Within lies a Sword Dharma Wheel. This artifact is engraved with the sword techniques of the ancient Sword Sect.

These techniques constantly emit sword qi. Once the Wheel begins to turn, endless sword moves are unleashed from it." "And you must discern the sharpest instant of every single sword move, directing the peak of its sword qi against your own flesh and blood." What!

To withstand the sharpest moment of every sword qi with one's own body? Wasn't this courting death?

"This sword qi is seemingly real yet not entirely so. If it were completely real, you would have long since been utterly annihilated by the sheer volume of sword qi you suffered.

Yet, it is not entirely false either; if you fear these sword moves and your heart falters, the qi from these countless swords can very well take your life." "The so-called Longevity Ninth Heaven, Three Extremes Return to One, is about merging Mana, Physical Body, and Divine Soul into a single entity. Once unified, Mana, Physique, and Soul are tightly interconnected, with no major distinction between them," Zhou Qingxuan lectured.

"There are many ways to achieve Three Extremes Return to One, but few methods for rapid attainment." "And the Myriad Sword Reincarnation can draw all manner of sword qi into your body—using the sword qi to stimulate the body, using the sword qi to stimulate your Mana, and using the sword qi to stimulate your Divine Soul, constantly provoking the three until, at a certain point, they can be perfectly interwoven." "This process will be agonizing. You will constantly be tested by ten thousand streams of sword qi.

If your willpower wavers, you might even collapse. Have you now decided to accept the Myriad Sword Reincarnation?" Lu Yuan nodded heavily: "Certainly." Once a decision is made, there is no regret.

Although his nature tended towards indolence, sometimes, choices were not entirely his to make. Because he had to protect Mount Hua!

"Excellent. You may enter the Myriad Sword Reincarnation," Zhou Qingxuan proclaimed.

"Furthermore, the Myriad Sword Reincarnation holds immense benefits. If you endure it, you will not only reach Longevity Ninth Heaven but also have your Mana, Physical Body, and Divine Soul tempered by ten thousand streams of sword qi.

Afterward, your talent in the Way of the Sword can ascend yet another level." Lu Yuan stepped forward and pushed open the profound iron door. What did the Myriad Sword Reincarnation look like beyond that gate?

Lu Yuan stepped through the profound iron door. The first thing that met him was an exceedingly sharp sword qi.

Lu Yuan instinctively wanted to draw his own sword to block, but then realized this was incorrect; he was here to endure the Myriad Sword Reincarnation, not to resist it. With his naked eye, he instantly judged when this streak of sword light held its maximum qi.

As the sword qi peaked, reaching a length of one zhang, Lu Yuan moved to meet it. He bore the brunt of the sword qi with his physical body.

Instantly, he felt an incredibly sharp energy surge into him. This sword qi was different from external sword qi.

External qi entering the body would cause damage; this internal qi, while seemingly tearing at his body and bringing immense pain, also carried a sensation that the suffering was both real and illusory, tangible yet phantom. Lu Yuan looked around and saw a space suffused with dim light.

In the center of this faint space spun a massive wheel, studded with at least ten thousand swords of varying designs. The great wheel rotated continuously, and the second streak of sword qi shot toward him.

Here it came again. Judging that the qi of the sword would peak near his brow, he confirmed it was aimed directly at him.

Lu Yuan physically braced himself, allowing the sword qi to pierce his chest—continuing to endure the strike. Immediately, a second streak of sword qi pierced his body.

Streak after streak of sword qi pierced his body, seemingly destroying it. It hurt!

Lu Yuan gritted his teeth. He had always been accustomed to ease and had never endured such pain.

But now, he had to ignore it. These sword qi circulated within his body, subtly stimulating his physique.

Under this stimulation, his Mana began to circulate at the optimal pace according to his Cloud Lineage technique. Simultaneously, the latent potential within his physical body started to manifest, and his Divine Soul, too, was forced to release immense potential amidst the suffering.

Both energy and soul felt a surge of growth. He couldn't tell how long had passed, nor how many streaks of sword qi he had endured.

They were swift and relentless, ceaselessly stimulating his body, Mana, and soul. Suddenly, Lu Yuan noticed his Mana beginning to change.

He had to endure the sword qi attacks while simultaneously focusing on the transformation within his Mana—a task requiring dual concentration. Focusing his attention on the Mana within his body, he realized the transformation was indeed underway.

This change seemed to be coalescing his Mana into a different nature—a nature of Metal! Yes, clearly the Metal element!

Lu Yuan regarded the changes occurring within him with serious attention, finding the transformation peculiar. Meanwhile, behind him, the surging Mana was no longer the white of the Cloud lineage but the gold of Metal.

The Mana gathered behind his form, condensing into a strange beast—a beast resembling the Yazi. The Yazi is one of the Nine Offspring of the Dragon, known for its love of conflict and slaughter, often depicted on dagger hilts and pommels.

These decorations imbued the dragon image with a more terrifying power. In truth, having been struck daily by sword qi, and since the sword itself inherently belongs to the Metal element, the sword qi involuntarily tended toward Metal.

So much Metal-attributed qi flooding his interior intensely stimulated his Mana, finally compelling the transformation of his Cloud Lineage Mana into Metal. This step was perhaps the easiest transition for Lu Yuan.

The Yazi Transformation of the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations was finally complete. This was the sixth transformation he had mastered.

Mastering three more would allow him to challenge the ultimate realm of the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations: the Cloud Dragon Transformation. He retracted his Mana, drawing the Yazi Transformation back into his body.

He was still within the Myriad Sword Reincarnation, and his body continued to accept the stimulation of various sword qi. The later streams were increasingly terrifying and sharp, far surpassing the initial ones.

While they looked similar, the density and concentration of the current sword qi were more than ten times greater than before, and their speed was blinding—one strike immediately followed the next, giving no time to react. Moreover, the sword qi began to combine, as if facing the most terrifying swordsman imaginable.