And since Lu Yuan had the highest initial points, losing a match meant his points would drop slightly. This meant that the first person to engage Lu Yuan could earn significantly more points, while those who fought him later would earn much less. These circumstances caused everyone to clamor to be the first to fight Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan listened to their conversation, understood the implications, and let out a cold sneer. After practicing his swordsmanship for over four months, others actually saw him as a soft persimmon to be easily crushed—truly laughable. Lu Yuan placed a hand on his sword hilt: "Actually, there's no need for you all to argue. One, two, three, four, five... nine, ten. Ten people in total, correct? How about this: all ten of you attack me at once. You are nothing more than ten ignorant little insects anyway."

"Hah! He actually wants to challenge all ten of us," one cultivator remarked.

"Truly courting death," said another.

"You all, don't forget, this one is a peerless genius," said one cultivator, emphasizing the words 'peerless genius' with a sarcastic, yin-yang tone.

"Indeed, a peerless genius—a peerless genius ranked number two hundred," another cultivator burst into loud laughter.

Among these ten cultivators, some felt that something was amiss, but when they considered ten cultivators at the second layer of the Great Dao Realm facing one at the first layer, they felt it was impossible to lose.

These ten cultivators unleashed their respective ultimate techniques.

Each of their ultimate techniques was distinctly different.

For example, the one from the State of Da Yue had learned the Sword Style of Enduring Humiliation. In the State of Da Yue, there were four major sects. The introduction of the White Ape Sect and the Yue Nv Sect has already been covered. The remaining two great sects were the Yue Wang Sect, renowned for the Sword Style of Enduring Humiliation. Legend has it that the King of Yue, enduring immense disgrace, managed to restore the state of Yue, defeat the State of Wu, and thus created this technique. Within the Yue Wang Sect, there were also the Sword Style of Sleeping on Brushwood and the Sword Style of Tasting Gall, both ultimate, foundational techniques. Once his Sword Style of Enduring Humiliation was unleashed, a boundless tide of sword intent seemed to be fueled by Lu Yuan’s endless insults, as if needing to vent all that accumulated shame.

Endure humiliation to survive!

Shoulder humiliation and bear the burden!

The one from the State of Da Wu unleashed the Sword Style of Whipping the Corpse. The State of Da Wu also possessed several sects, one of which was founded by a celestial named Wu, who was none other than Wu Zixu from years past. It is said that in order to exact revenge, Wu Zixu mastered the Sword Style of Whipping the Corpse, which was terrifying in its own right. Now, the cultivator from Da Wu unleashed this style; endless sword shadows lashed out toward Lu Yuan, carrying a malevolent energy seemingly emanating from the depths of hell.

How deep must the hatred be to be poured into the Sword Style of Whipping the Corpse?

To treat Lu Yuan as a corpse to be whipped.

Nine Nether Yin energy, and the resentment of all the heavens, transforming into lash after lash.

The one from the State of Da Ye employed Da Ye's ultimate technique—the Sword Style of Fond Dragons.

In the State of Da Ye, there was once a man surnamed Ye who, in his youth before he gained any cultivation, was extremely fond of dragons. He carved dragons everywhere, on stone pillars and walls. Eventually, a true dragon descended, but this young man surnamed Ye was frightened away and fled. After the true dragon departed, the young man realized his fear was momentary; he genuinely loved dragons. To see a true dragon once more, he embarked on the path of cultivation. This Ye-surnamed youth possessed extraordinary talent, truly a super genius, and founded a school called the Good Dragon Immortal Sect.

This Ye-surnamed youth later became known in later generations as Lord Ye.

Simultaneously, the Ye-surnamed youth created various heart techniques and sword styles, including the Sword Style of Fond Dragons.

Once this Sword Style of Fond Dragons was danced forth, it was precisely like a true dragon soaring and moving, bearing some similarity to the 'Dragon Form' in swordplay.

The cultivator from the State of Murong also displayed the Southern Mountain Sword Style.

The State of Murong had many founders, one of whom was Murong Chong, also a man of great beauty. However, he was brutally violated by another powerful local chieftain of that era. The thought of a man forcibly violating another man was repulsive enough, but what made it even more unbearable was that the chieftain simultaneously violated both Murong Chong and Murong Chong's older sister.

Murong Chong remembered the humiliation of that period. Later, when opportunity arose, he encountered a fragment of the Lotus Blossom True Understanding scripture, achieving profound mastery in divine arts, and subsequently created the demonic and ghostly Southern Mountain Sword Style.

Plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely viewing the Southern Mountain.

Once the Southern Mountain Sword Style was executed, countless flowers of extreme (demonic/bewitching nature) seemed to bloom in the sky—these were blossoms of certain death; touch one, and it was over.

The one from the State of Yuan exhibited the Blood Hand Seal, one of the three great sacred arts of the Yuan State. Lu Yuan had witnessed the Blood Hand Seal before, but never one so terrifying. A massive blood hand sealed almost everything in an instant; heaven and earth dissolved into a single expanse of crimson.

The ten cultivators at the second layer of the Great Dao Realm all brought out their capabilities.

Each possessed a unique and extraordinary secret technique.

Towering sword styles, towering sword intent, poured into the initial sliver of space.

These were the secret techniques of the various nations, the lost transmissions of the various sects.

They surrounded Lu Yuan, determined to severely injure him—how dare he risk his life by challenging ten men, and how dare he insult the ten of them as mere little insects!

Unbearable!

These were also very interesting sword styles, and Lu Yuan felt quite moved. He had always enjoyed sword techniques, but in the territory of Jin State, he had essentially seen every style and could roughly grasp a fraction of their essence, losing the novelty. But now, the Sword Style of Enduring Humiliation, the Sword Style of Whipping the Corpse, the Sword Style of Fond Dragons, the Southern Mountain Sword Style, and so on—these were extremely fascinating techniques.

Under normal circumstances, Lu Yuan might have been interested in slowly dissecting their moves.

However, these ten men treated him as mere prey to be stepped on.

He must respond with the majesty of thunder to awe the four directions.

Now, he had no time to play games with these people.

After all, there were two hundred Upper-tier cultivators in this Yue Lu Mountain, hailing from seven nations, and they had to face challenges from cultivators of other nations twice a month. There would be ample opportunity to encounter these sword styles later, so he would not indulge them now.

With a flick of his hand, his Spiritual Sword Yangwu was already grasped in his hand.

The sword moved!

This strike was incredibly violent, yet it embodied the Sword Intent of Thunder. The Sword Intent of Thunder carried endless thunder and fire, roaring forth like a gigantic clap of heaven and earth thunder, smashing fiercely against the weakness of the Sword Style of Whipping the Corpse. The Sword Intent of Sand was raised, whipping up vast gusts of wind and sand. The Sword Intent of Mud manifested, turning the ground beneath everyone’s feet into a mire, trapping both legs, making it difficult to break free.

Sword Intent of Grass! Sword Intent of Mud! Sword Intent of Sand! Sword Intent of Thunder! Sword Intent of Softness! Sword Intent of Rage!

The six recently learned Sword Intents were continuously unleashed by Lu Yuan’s hand. Sometimes soft like grass, sometimes continuous furious thunder, sometimes mud and sand cascading down. Lu Yuan’s fundamental swordsmanship was already at a supreme level; utilizing only these six sword intents completely suppressed the opponents, leaving them with absolutely no strength to counterattack.

"Withdraw sword!" Lu Yuan commanded.

Following this command, a sword mark of profound mystery slashed across the air. Along this single mark, the right wrists of all ten cultivators at the second layer of the Great Dao Realm were struck at the exact same spot by the Spiritual Sword Yangwu. With a clang, Lu Yuan’s sword was already sheathed.

Victory!

Won so easily!

Moreover, looking at his points, he had gained a significant amount. His current ranking was one hundred and seventy-first.

These ten people originally held very low rankings, so defeating them only raised him to one hundred and seventy-first.

However, Lu Yuan paid it no mind; this was merely the beginning of his pursuit of ranking points.

The surroundings fell into absolute silence!

It was an unnerving quiet!

There were several onlookers. Some believed the ten were certain to win; others thought that if Lu Yuan was called a peerless genius, things might not be so simple, but absolutely none expected Lu Yuan to resolve the ten in fewer than ten moves. In fact, the entire exchange had lasted at most... five moves.

This...

Ancestor Blood Sword was right in the crowd, thinking to himself, this Lu Yuan is truly not simple, defeating ten Great Dao Realm figures in just five moves.

Shortly after, Tie Mu'er from the Great Yuan State received this news: "Lu Yuan, you truly are extraordinary. Unfortunately, the last day of the fourth month is fast approaching; the time for this month's final ranking is nearly here. Next month, you will still only have half an hour of usage time for the Insight Pavilion; that will not change."

Tie Mu'er's current rank was seventy-eighth.

Far above Lu Yuan’s one hundred and seventy-first.

When Murong Shi received this news, he could only sigh that Lu Yuan was indeed extraordinary; he hadn't misjudged him.

Yue Nv Qing did not receive this news.

Murong Huangfu did receive it, but he paid it no attention; a mere Lu Yuan was not worthy of his notice, Murong Huangfu.

Lu Yuan was already standing outside the Sword Dao Chamber.

The points from the Sword Dao Chamber, Dao Art Chamber, and Speed Chamber could also be used to boost his ranking.

Since Lu Yuan aimed to raise his rank, he naturally started here.

The Sword Dao Chamber was built plainly, lacking the soaring, celestial aura of the Insight Pavilion.

Lu Yuan flashed inside the first level of the Sword Dao Chamber. As soon as he entered, a voice announced, "Successfully entered the first level of the Sword Dao Chamber. Designating Jin State's Lu Yuan, current comprehensive points for Sword Dao Chamber, Dao Art Chamber, and Speed Chamber are zero." These were the points specific to the Sword Dao Chamber, which could also be converted into the overall ranking.

The first trial was to face six demonic beasts of equal magical power. Lu Yuan had already cleared the first level of the Sword Dao Chamber before, so he passed with ease.

Upon successful completion, his points immediately jumped to five points.

Looking at his overall ranking again, he was now one hundred and sixty-ninth.

Time to go to the second level. Let's see what the second trial in the Sword Dao Chamber entails. A virtual gate appeared before him; this large gate could now be opened.

(Tomorrow is National Day; I wish everyone a happy National Day! Tomorrow everyone is off work too—life is good when you have holidays! Pity me, I still have to keep writing tomorrow; envy, jealousy, hatred.)RA