The wind blew softly over Mount Yuelu. Rain fell in a vast, misty sheet.

The newly established library pavilion seemed to sway slightly in the wind and rain, the lamps flickering and dancing under the gusts. In a corner of the pavilion, Lu Yuan closed a book.

Regarding the three elemental sword intents—Metal, Wood, and Earth—he now understood six kinds of Metal Sword Intent: the intent of Metal itself, the intent of Speed, the intent of Slowness, the intent of Autumn, the intent of Melancholy, and the intent of Solemnity. For Wood Sword Intent, he understood two: the intent of Wood and the intent of Wind.

For Earth Sword Intent, he grasped four: the intent of Earth, the intent of Stone, the intent of Defense, and the recently comprehended intent of Mountain. The Fire and Water Sword Intents, which he wasn't currently focused on, accounted for the rest.

In total, he had grasped sixteen types, meaning he now commanded twenty-eight sword intents—a truly respectable number. The book he had just closed was Three Hundred and Sixty-One Swords of Clay Dissolution and Falling Petals; using this sword technique, he had managed to reverse-engineer the rough outline of the Earth Mud Sword Intent.

Although he had deduced its shape, it was only a faint impression; his mind had been truly taxed lately. Lu Yuan let out a breath.

The task before him was monumental, capable of shaking heaven and earth—to comprehend more than ten sword intents in one go. The sheer difficulty of such a feat needed no mention.

However, the rare opportunity to examine several hundred sword techniques was not to be missed. Under normal circumstances, Lu Yuan’s brain would have shut down from fatigue long ago, but in this strange state of absorption, he felt no weariness whatsoever.

After finishing Three Hundred and Sixty-One Swords of Clay Dissolution and Falling Petals, he reached out from the shelves and took another book: Sword Technique of May Grass Growing and Orioles Flying, a rather eccentric manual. Lu Yuan turned the pages, studying it intently, hoping to deduce the sword intents contained within.

Lu Yuan gazed quietly; the wind swept the lamp, causing wax spatters to fall with a soft pop. The library pavilion was profoundly silent.

Suddenly, the door to the pavilion was pushed open. It was a group of high-level practitioners at the Great Dao Realm who had come for joint training.

They were searching for exceptionally powerful sword techniques. As they browsed, they inevitably glanced at the titles of the manuals Lu Yuan held.

“Sword Technique of May Grass Growing and Orioles Flying? What kind of technique is that?” one muttered.

“I skimmed through it earlier. It’s a Wood-element technique, standard second-rate stuff, nothing special.” “If it’s second-rate, why is he holding it?” “You guys don’t know?

This one is Lu Yuan, branded a peerless genius, yet ranked only 200th. I’ve watched him several times; he’s always here, looking at these second-rate sword manuals.” “No way.

Does he think he can master some peerless technique using only these mediocre arts?” “What an idiot.” “I really don’t know how someone like that gets called a peerless genius.” “That perfect score of six—wasn't that the Jin State pulling out all the stops just to promote him?” “Hahahaha.” They gossiped amongst themselves, but Lu Yuan heard nothing. Deep in that state of focus, striving to master numerous intents simultaneously—a task of unimaginable difficulty—the noise of those around him was utterly absent as he immersed himself in Sword Technique of May Grass Growing and Orioles Flying.

As the others continued their discussion, an elder dressed in a black robe entered the pavilion. The moment the black-robed elder stepped inside, the atmosphere instantly stilled.

The previous clamor vanished. This man was Murong Shi from the Murong State, ranked third among the two hundred gathered here.

Murong Shi was different from Murong Huangfu. Murong Huangfu achieved success young, reaching the peak of the fifth layer of the Great Dao Realm at a mere three hundred years old, earning the title of peerless genius, and likely to challenge the Central Heavenly Court this time.

Murong Shi, however, was different. He was nine hundred and fifty-three years old.

He, too, was once called a genius, but repeated attempts failed to grant him entry to the Central Heavenly Court. He deeply understood the difficulty of that ascent.

This was Murong Shi’s third and final chance to challenge the Central Heavenly Court—succeed or perish. Murong Shi’s temperament also differed from the early success of Murong Huangfu.

Murong Shi was cautious, meticulous, and possessed keen observational skills. Take Lu Yuan, for instance—labeled a peerless genius yet ranked extremely low.

Murong Shi had heard many rumors about Lu Yuan. The ‘peerless genius’ label might be true, but there must be another reason for the 200th ranking.

Murong Shi had entered the library seeking a specific volume, but upon seeing Lu Yuan so intently focused on his reading, he inwardly conceded: this youth is likely extraordinary. Vaguely, Murong Shi sensed that Lu Yuan might actually prove to be a worthy opponent for the worldly genius Murong Huangfu.

CRACK! A massive bolt of lightning struck, shaking the wind and rain inside the library pavilion.

The ranking system on Mount Yuelu involved two metrics: first, challenges between the two hundred high-level practitioners, where winners gained points and losers forfeited them. Second, challenging further within the Sword Dao Chamber, the Dharma Dao Chamber, and the Speed Chamber; progressing deeper earned more points.

These two factors constituted the overall ranking. Lu Yuan was currently heading toward the Sword Dao Chamber.

He had no immediate desire to earn points there; his cultivation cycle was at a critical juncture. He vaguely sensed numerous sword intents but struggled to truly solidify them into practice.

He felt that after so much observation, his theoretical understanding was sufficient; it was time for practical application. And the best place on Mount Yuelu for sword practice was undoubtedly the Sword Dao Chamber.

Following the map, Lu Yuan quickly located the Sword Dao Chamber. Above the entrance hung a plaque displaying a ledger of records.

“Murong Huangfu: Advanced to the Fourth Layer of the Sword Dao Chamber.” “Zhong Heming: Advanced to the Third Layer of the Sword Dao Chamber.” “Murong Shi: Advanced to the Third Layer of the Sword Dao Chamber.” Only the top ten names were listed—records for the Sword Dao Chamber alone. Among these, only Murong Huangfu had reached the fourth layer; reaching the third was exceedingly rare, with most stopping at the second.

This Sword Dao Chamber was unimaginably difficult to breach. As one of the two hundred practitioners, Lu Yuan received a bronze token upon entering Mount Yuelu, signifying his status.

Using this token, he entered the Sword Dao Chamber. “Successful entry into the First Layer of the Sword Dao Chamber.

Marker: Lu Yuan of Jin State. Combined integrated ranking for Sword Dao Chamber, Dharma Dao Chamber, and Speed Chamber: 200th.” As soon as he stepped onto the first layer, this information flashed on his bronze token, revealing its secondary function.

Lu Yuan found himself in a room that was not particularly large. Was this the first layer?

The space gave him a strange sensation, feeling not entirely real, but suspended between the illusory and the concrete. Text materialized in the empty space.

“In the Sword Dao Chamber, only swordsmanship is tested. All demonic beasts encountered will possess a cultivation level close to your own.” “The First Layer of the Sword Dao Chamber will feature six demonic beasts at the first layer of the Great Dao Realm.” Before Lu Yuan could react, the text vanished, and immediately, six demonic beasts materialized, surrounding him.

Directly in front of him was a fiercely ferocious, long-armed Golden-Haired Ape with a gray back and golden fur—a beast among beasts, known for preying on others, possessing boundless strength and astonishing combat ability. From the other five directions came five more: a Golden Spider that spat threads of gold and silver, a Thousand-Year Fire Eagle soaring above, wreathed in roaring flames, a fierce Golden-Eyed Roe Deer, and a White Cold Bat.

The six beasts encircled Lu Yuan. This Sword Dao Chamber was indeed incredibly challenging.

The first layer alone required confronting six beasts of equal magical power. For most cultivators, dealing with even one beast of equal power was extremely difficult.

The high-level practitioners training on Mount Yuelu were mostly geniuses, none weak, but facing six equal opponents simultaneously was no easy feat. This, naturally, did not apply to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan had always excelled at defeating opponents beyond his immediate rank. What difficulty was there in facing six beasts of the same rank?

Lu Yuan intended to use the chamber’s monsters as practice dummies. With a flick of his wrist, his Spirit Nurturing Sword was drawn, and the Spirit Nurturing Swordplay unfolded.

He was in no hurry to dispatch his opponents; instead, he continuously practiced the sword techniques he had recently studied: Three Hundred and Sixty-One Swords of Clay Dissolution and Falling Petals, Sword Technique of May Grass Growing and Orioles Flying, Lower Sand Sword Technique, and so on. Lu Yuan practiced these techniques against the monsters, executing each move slowly and deliberately.

While practicing, he sought to feel the multitude of sword intents. When the feeling of mastery arrived, he even brought forth his Heavenly Enlightenment Stone, allowing the various intents to swirl through his mind.

If he succeeded this time, he wouldn't just grasp one new intent, but several. How many he would manage to unlock at once, Lu Yuan himself could not say.

… “Ha, the person who just went in was that peerless genius, Lu Yuan. He’s still stuck on the First Layer of the Sword Dao Chamber and hasn’t come out.” “Impossible.

He’s known for his supreme swordsmanship; why is he lingering in the first layer?” “Perhaps his supposedly exceptional sword techniques aren't all they’re cracked up to be.” Several practitioners who had just escaped the Sword Dao Chamber’s first layer exchanged comments. Each entry into the chamber was completely independent, affecting no one else.

Having just exited, they checked the external display and saw Lu Yuan still within the first layer, causing them to shake their heads in disbelief. Amidst the gossiping crowd, Murong Shi stood silently, hands clasped behind his back.

Lu Yuan remaining in the first layer was indeed strange. Murong Shi felt with increasing certainty that this man was utterly unfathomable and his current displayed power did not reflect his true strength.

(Finally surpassed twenty-seven thousand collections, phew. But strangely, the subscriptions haven't increased since we hit sixteen thousand.

Tragic. Anyway, these last few chapters have set the stage; the plot is set to erupt starting next chapter.)