My Spirit Sword instantly slipped out, like a fish in water! With a sword intent of the utmost profundity, I slashed toward Xuan Huazi, one of the two paramount masters of the Xuanming Sect, intending to challenge someone of the Great Dao Realm.

As Xuan Huazi struck out with his palm, even before the blow landed, Lu Yuan felt an intense, bone-chilling cold radiating outward.

What terrifying coldness! This was the most frightening cold energy he had ever witnessed. The Xuanming Extreme Ice was indeed extraordinary, yet it wasn't insurmountable. Lu Yuan quickly located the weakest point within the ice chill and thrust his sword toward it. Xuan Huazi was clearly taken aback, but immediately scoffed: "A commendable swordsmanship. I’ve heard your sword skills are remarkable, and it seems true." However, no matter how superb your swordsmanship, it's useless against me, for I am in the Great Dao Realm—"The Great Dao is in my hands." At that moment, Lu Yuan felt the surrounding Heaven and Earth elemental energy rapidly draining away, and a vacuum formed right beside him. In the next instant, a massive block of ice formed thickly around Lu Yuan, instantly freezing him solid.

So powerful!

This is the might of the Great Dao Realm!

Indeed, it was impossible for me, at my current level, to challenge the Great Dao Realm.

The gap between the Great Dao Realm and the Longevity Realm was utterly immense, like heaven and earth.

Xuan Huazi, standing at the first layer of the Great Dao Realm, could easily defeat a peak combatant like himself, who was in the Longevity stage.

Simultaneously, Lu Yuan pondered internally: that moment when the elemental energy fled and his surroundings became a vacuum—was this the true capability of the Great Dao Realm? He couldn't help but look forward to reaching that realm even more eagerly.

"Rest assured, I won't kill you yet. Your Water Elemental Spirit Bone is of immense benefit to me in mastering the ultimate supreme technique of the Xuanming True Scripture: the Extreme of Profundity." Xuan Huazi laughed heartily. Truthfully, he was somewhat alarmed; after all, Lu Yuan was one of the most crucial figures in Mount Hua. If he truly killed Lu Yuan, he feared he might meet a disastrous end himself. Thus, he wrapped Lu Yuan in a cloth and immediately utilized a costly transportation array, speeding toward the South Sea.

The location of the Xuanming Sect's Ice Lake had always been a secret.

Where the Ice Lake lay, no one knew.

And now, Xuan Huazi heading directly towards the South Sea seemed to reveal the location of the Ice Lake—the South Sea itself.

The best way to hide a drop of water is to conceal it within the ocean.

And the best way to hide the Ice Lake was also to bury it within the sea.

The vast, boundless South Sea—who could ever find it?

Xuan Huazi didn't take Lu Yuan back to the South Sea to cultivate his Water Elemental Spirit Bone; instead, he sought out an extremely hidden lair within the South Sea. The current Xuanming Sect had two paramount masters: him and Ming Jianzi. They were constantly at odds, and he feared Ming Jianzi might cause trouble precisely when he was reaching a critical stage in his cultivation.

As long as he mastered the Supreme of Profundity, one of the two supreme arts of the Xuanming True Scripture, he could surpass Ming Jianzi and unify the Xuanming Sect.

Xuan Huazi brought Lu Yuan to a secluded grotto within the South Sea.

This grotto was not one Xuan Huazi had established; it had existed long ago. When Xuan Huazi first found it, he discovered that the cave had been left behind by Duan Jingtao, the legendary Sword Master of the South Sea, who was famous in the region many years prior. He had been overjoyed at the discovery, thinking he might obtain the treasure left by the Sword Master of the South Sea. To his dismay, there was absolutely nothing inside—it was completely empty—which greatly frustrated Xuan Huazi. However, the location was extremely hidden, making it a secret base of operations. This was akin to the saying: a cunning rabbit has three burrows.

Upon entering the grotto, Xuan Huazi released Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan was still encased within the Xuanming Extreme Ice.

Xuan Huazi placed the block of Xuanming Extreme Ice in the center and began setting up an array nearby. As he laid out the formation, he declared: "Lu Yuan, don't resent me. This world operates on the principle of the strong devouring the weak. You will dutifully serve as the tribute for my attainment of the Extreme of Profundity in the Xuanming True Scripture. Two months—ha, in two months, it shall be done." He immediately began arranging the Xuanming Formation.

Xuan Huazi estimated it would take about two months to transform Lu Yuan's Water Elemental Spirit Bone into a Water Immortal Bone. Then, he could absorb the Water Immortal Essence to reach the Supreme of Profundity.

From then on, Xuan Huazi visited Lu Yuan daily, treating him as a genuine treasure.

Lu Yuan, trapped within the Xuanming Extreme Ice, remained perfectly conscious. Hearing Xuan Huazi's words made him deeply dejected. He wanted to struggle, but he couldn't break free. Lu Yuan now understood he likely only had two months, no more time than that.

A mere two months, trapped in the Xuanming Extreme Ice, unable to move a muscle.

Lu Yuan felt intense frustration.

His first step now was to break free from this Xuanming Extreme Ice. But escaping it was far from easy. There was only one way: cultivating the Fire Emperor Sword Dao. Once he mastered the Fire Emperor Sword Dao, unleashing its scorching intent to surge through Heaven and Earth, breaking the Xuanming Extreme Ice should not be difficult.

He had gained some understanding of the Fire Emperor Sword Dao while observing Chu Duan's movements, so there was a sliver of a chance he could grasp the Fire Emperor Sword Intent now.

A short span of time passed just like that.

"Damn it, trouble strikes at a time like this!" Xuan Huazi cursed.

Xuan Huazi had just received a secret report: Ming Jianzi's faction within the Xuanming Sect was causing an uproar.

Xuan Huazi's original plan was to stay here for another month and a half. By then, the Water Elemental Spirit Bone would have been transmuted into a Water Immortal Bone, allowing him to cultivate and achieve the Supreme of Profundity, completely crushing Ming Jianzi. Now, however, Ming Jianzi's agitation forced him to rush over there.

If he didn't go, he feared Ming Jianzi would seize control of the Xuanming Sect.

Xuan Huazi certainly did not wish for Ming Jianzi to unify the sect, so he had no choice but to leave for a trip back to the sect headquarters. Fortunately, the sect wasn't too far from here. He aimed to settle the internal strife within two days, hoping that since this location was so secluded, no one else would discover it or cause any mishaps.

Xuan Huazi activated his Black Extreme Cold Sword Light and hurried away.

As Xuan Huazi departed, Lu Yuan actually reached a critical juncture. Seven streams of Fire Sword Intent flashed continuously in his mind, accompanied by intermittent recollections of Chu Duan's movements—when the Sect Master Chu struck, his dominance overwhelmed Heaven and Earth, a sea of fire howling and surging across the heavens.

Lu Yuan pondered deeply, yet he could not grasp the true meaning of the Fire Emperor Sword Dao.

After all, a Sword Dao belonging to an Emperor was not something easily comprehended. He initially intended to draw his sword to find his bearing, but upon thinking this, he realized his entire body was frozen within the Xuanming Extreme Ice, utterly incapable of movement. He had no choice but to give up. He only had two days now.

If he couldn't escape during these two days Xuan Huazi was gone, he would surely perish here.

This urgency scrambled his thoughts, and he could find no clarity.

At the same time, his body felt an unyielding, bone-deep cold.

Cold!

Cold!

Cold!

No! I will not die! My fate is mine, not Heaven's! How could I perish at the hands of one of the two paramount masters of a mid-tier Immortal Sect? I still have the people of Mount Hua to protect! A powerful sense of heroism surged within his heart, and at that moment, he felt the seven Fire Sword Intents within his body burning fiercely.

It turned out that the Fire Emperor Sword Dao required self-confidence, a tyrannical dominance, just like Chu Duan.

Lu Yuan’s original nature was completely different from dominance, which was why he couldn't grasp it. But now, unwilling to simply die, a fierce rage ignited within him. This rage burned from his core, instantly scorching all seven Sword Intents throughout his body. Lu Yuan felt an intense heat enveloping him.

The Intent of Scorching, the Intent of the Sun, the Intent of Magma, the Intent of the Morning Sun, the Intent of Dusk, the Intent of Fire, the Intent of Joy—all fused together, transforming into a magnificent, blazing fire. This magnificent blaze instantly incinerated the surrounding Xuanming Extreme Ice to nothingness. Simultaneously, Lu Yuan stood up anew amidst the endless flames.

The Fire Emperor Sword Dao was finally achieved! He had comprehended extreme heat within extreme cold.

Of the Five Emperors and Five Emperors Sword Dao, Lu Yuan had now attained the Dual Emperor, Dual Emperor Sword Dao. Lu Yuan now understood the function of the Fire Emperor Sword Dao: the Water Emperor Sword Dao allowed one to attack like water, penetrating everywhere, but the Fire Emperor Sword Dao could completely incinerate the opponent. This terrifying offense was the highest in attack power among the Five Emperors Sword Dao, far surpassing the Water Emperor Sword Dao.

Finally free! Lu Yuan stretched and loosened his muscles. Being trapped in that Xuanming Extreme Ice for a full half-month had been excruciatingly uncomfortable. Since Xuan Huazi had left, it seemed best to wreck Xuan Huazi's lair before departing, just to vent his anger. After the battle just now, Lu Yuan understood he was no match for Xuan Huazi.

Lu Yuan looked around the grotto and found it vaguely familiar.

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed familiar. He hadn't noticed it while encased in the Xuanming Extreme Ice, but now that he was free, the familiarity struck him.

Wait, this is Xuan Huazi's grotto; why would it be familiar to me?

Lu Yuan frantically searched his memories. After a long while of not recalling anything, he began looking around, running his hands over the grotto walls. When he saw a sphere etched with a sword, a flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he understood why it seemed familiar: this was the grotto of Duan Jingtao, the Sword Master of the South Sea! That sphere depicted azure seawater and a sword wreathed in flame—precisely the unique emblem of the Sword Master of the South Sea.

He had once obtained some memories of the Sword Master of the South Sea at the Leshan Giant Buddha in the Divine Soul River—a mental exchange between two genius swordsmen across the flow of time, granting him knowledge of some of the Sword Master's memories. This grotto was an extremely important site for the Sword Master of the South Sea, housing one of his ultimate supreme tools—

—and corresponding cultivation methods.

This was truly a stroke of heaven-sent fortune.