Above the skies of Mount Hua. The Solitary Emperor Ren Du stood upon the sea of clouds with a single foot. Where he rested, the cloud-sea automatically demonized beneath him, coiling into two utterly black demonic dragons—dragons possessing true draconic might, not mere illusion. Above his head, his Congratulatory Cloud condensed into an immensity, while opposite him stood Zhou Qingxuan, clad in white, his long white hair seeming ready to ascend beyond the mortal realm.

Zhou Qingxuan sneered, “Defeated twice by this old man, do you intend to lose a third time? Last time, you compensated with the lives of four Boundless Dao Realm experts; how many lives of that caliber will you offer this time?”

Ren Du laughed heartily, “This assault on Wudang allowed me to obtain the supreme treasure, the Taiji Yin-Yang Fish. With its replenishment, the defect in my Blood Dissolution Great Art’s backlash has been mended. Now, the strength between us is separated by only a breath. However, this time you will surely fall before me, because witnessing the annihilation of Mount Hua will surely affect your state of mind. Is there anyone left on Mount Hua now who can withstand my subordinates?” Ren Du was employing a psychological attack, which Zhou Qingxuan clearly understood. Yet, this attack was deployed openly and grandly; the current Mount Hua truly struggled to resist the assaults of the Heaven-Challenging Alliance.

Mount Hua, is it truly to be extinguished just like this? Mount Hua, five thousand years of legacy! Mount Hua, the foremost sect of Jin during the era of Yan Cangtian! Will it truly perish? Though deeply unwilling, this seemed to be the stark reality.

Snow fell like goose feathers. This New Year’s Day was strangely frigid. The snowflakes drifted earthward, blanketing not just the ground but pressing down upon the hearts of the people, causing the morale of Mount Hua to sink. The icy wind, the damp and cold weather, the heavy, feather-like snow, and the layers of dark clouds—they mirrored the hearts of the Huashan disciples.

We refuse to yield! But the tide of events was overwhelming.

“I shall stand against you.” A steady voice resonated at that moment.

It was a voice filled with composure and, critically, with hope. The Heaven-Challenging Alliance detested the word 'hope' the most; Mount Hua could not be allowed to have hope. Everyone turned toward the source of the sound. Beneath the goose-feather snow, a figure in green robes, wearing a bamboo hat, descended onto the snow-covered ground. The green-robed figure then cast off the hat.

It was an exceedingly ordinary face, usually marked by languor, but now etched with profound seriousness. The wine gourd was gone from his waist; both hands rested firmly on the hilts of the Nourishing Life Spirit Sword and the Mountain Suppressing Spirit Sword.

“Sect Master.” “Chief Disciple.”

Lu Yuan, the Sect Master of Mount Hua, stepped forward, appearing at Mount Hua’s moment of deepest despair.

That single statement brought a flicker of hope to the people of Mount Hua, though only the faintest glimmer. Who were the figures arrayed opposite him? Bangzhuohua Fang Xie, who pursued the Dao by slaying his wife; Jing Huanzhen; the speed sovereign, the Crimson Wing Demon King; the ice-shielded, ten-thousand-mile Purple Qilin Demon King; the destiny calculator, Master Yuan Ling; the heartless, liverless Old Man Tian Chou; the formation grandmaster, Zhang Xuanxuan; the South Sea single-sword master, Qiao Feidu; and the broken-blade master, Zuo Heng. Which one among them was not supremely powerful? Lu Yuan might be able to contend with one, perhaps two, but facing so many simultaneously was impossible. Furthermore, Fang Xie and Jing Huanzhen were both Half-step Grandmasters capable of slaughtering Lu Yuan effortlessly.

From the ranks of the Heaven-Challenging Alliance came waves of cold laughter.

Fang Xie held his Bangzhuohua, paying no heed.

Jing Huanzhen maintained his eternal, frigid expression.

The Crimson Wing Demon King sneered, “Junior Lu Yuan, even if you are the Sect Master of Mount Hua now, you are still merely a junior. Defeating any single one of us here would be difficult; to think you can stop all of us is utterly laughable.”

Master Yuan Ling stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his silver hair whipping wildly. “Martial Nephew Lu Yuan, your growth is commendable. Sadly, you now face the ultimate convergence of demonic power. Even self-overestimation has its limits.” Old Man Tian Chou cackled sinisterly, “You certainly have a fine appearance, too bad you won’t live long to enjoy it.” The South Sea Single-Sword Master, Qiao Feidu, gazed at his blade. His sword was unlike others; it was unsheathed. A sword meant to kill required no sheath, did it? Traces of killing intent radiated from his weapon.

The Purple Qilin Demon King, the only female among them, smiled sweetly and charmingly, possessing infinite grace. However, though she smiled, her eyes were exceedingly cold. Her subterranean home had been destroyed; the Earthly Demon Marquis was effectively her younger brother, and she held no affection for Lu Yuan. Zuo Heng guffawed, “When I was in seclusion, the Sect Master of Mount Hua was still Yan Cangtian. I emerge to find the position held by a mere child. Well, let me see just how much weight this Mount Hua Sect Master carries.” In this breach, only one person could pass, meaning combat had to be strictly one-on-one.

And now, Zuo Heng stood ready.

Zuo Heng was someone who had once sought to apprentice under the Mount Hua Immortal Sect elders. At that time, the elders gave him a task: gather medicinal herbs with several companions. Such a task usually demanded cooperation. But this man had done the opposite: he slaughtered his companions, claimed all the herbs himself—murder and theft for treasure. Yet he still wished to join the Mount Hua sect. The elder involved had considered killing Zuo Heng but chose mercy, severing only his right arm. Little did they know that Zuo Heng later found a treasure cache from the Middle Ancient Era, mastered an unparalleled cultivation technique, and ascended to the fifth level of the Boundless Dao Realm. Though Zuo Heng had reached the fifth level of the Boundless Dao Realm, compared to Mount Hua, he had still been an ant.

Had he dared to act against Mount Hua, any true disciple bearing the peerless Heavenly Sword would have executed him. Thus, he remained in seclusion until Ren Du managed to invite him out. Only then did Zuo Heng learn that Yan Cangtian had long since ascended, and Mount Hua had fallen to this state. Now, the time was right to strike back.

Over these many years, a hatred of unfathomable depth had rooted itself in his heart towards Mount Hua.

To finally counterattack and crush Mount Hua now filled him with immense satisfaction. He had already resolved that once Mount Hua was conquered, he would torture and slay all its male members. As for the women? If any were attractive enough, they could serve to warm his bed.

Zuo Heng challenged Lu Yuan, believing a mere junior possessed little true strength. Yan Cangtian at thirty was not exceptionally strong; how could Lu Yuan possibly surpass the peerless Yan Cangtian? He did not spare Lu Yuan a second thought.

Lu Yuan took the place of the heavily injured King Wan Qing, standing before the breach. His horizontal sword was drawn, the three-foot azure blade in hand—one sword daring to block a million troops.

Zuo Heng, in turn, drew his Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber.

The sword is the gentleman among weapons; the saber is the king. The saber embodies domineering authority! Overbearing might!

Zuo Heng’s Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber was a jewel among sabers. Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, the supreme aura of the heavens! Zuo Heng held the saber in his left hand, raising the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow high in the void. At this moment, he was the god of the saber, the demon of the saber. He seemed to transform into a towering mountain, and the strike of the massive Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber was akin to the crushing impact of a peak.

This was a soul-shaking strike!

The saber cleaved down towards Lu Yuan’s head, like Mount Tai descending upon him—a strike perfectly integrating momentum, spirit, and sheer dominance.

Zuo Heng felt this strike was the pinnacle of his entire career, surpassing any other blow, because his opponent this time was the Sect Master of Mount Hua, the target of his deepest hatred. Damn it, let Mount Hua be destroyed under this single strike.

Whoosh!

Immense sword intent of fire coalesced—violent and overwhelmingly potent endless flames of sword intent gathered. This endless Fire Emperor Sword Dao transformed into roaring conflagration, instantly vaporizing every snowflake within ten miles. Not a single flake remained. If someone sought to be dominant, he would be more dominant still. The colossal Fire Emperor Sword Dao struck precisely at the strongest point of the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber’s edge and momentum.

While everyone else would naturally avoid the point of greatest strength, Lu Yuan deliberately targeted it.

What immense self-confidence!

Boom! A massive explosion rocked the air. Zuo Heng’s attack, which felt like a blow from a Saber God, was violently repelled, leaving him so shaken he nearly spat blood. Lu Yuan countered instantly, his sword thrusting out again, wielding the mighty Fire Emperor Sword Dao. With overwhelming dominance, he unleashed a strike that morphed into infinite Fire Gods relentlessly cleaving towards Zuo Heng. Zuo Heng raised his saber in defense.

The saber was a domineering saber; the sword was a domineering sword. Which was ultimately more overbearing?

Clang!, Clang!, Clang!, …… Clang! Zuo Heng was in no hurry. He always possessed absolute confidence in the authority of his saber, and the inherent advantage of the saber was its dominance—Unparalleled Saber Might. This junior Lu Yuan dared to compete with him on sheer dominance—this was suicidal! Moreover, Zuo Heng did not believe Lu Yuan could sustain this relentless contest. After all, Lu Yuan was essentially the last wall protecting Mount Hua; could he afford such a massive expenditure of spiritual power?

Compete! Keep competing! Continue the clash!

Zuo Heng realized his hand was growing numb from the vibrations. Worse still, his very heart hammered rapidly under the sheer might of Lu Yuan’s domineering saber. His blood felt on the verge of being burned dry by those domineering flames. What was this? Was he afraid? He was a hidden, ancient master; how could he fear a mere junior?

The domineering Fire Emperor Sword Dao surged forward. Zuo Heng moved to block. Damn it, how can this junior be so overwhelmingly dominant! More terrifying than I am!

Whoosh!

Not good! Zuo Heng immediately spotted the critical flaw. Under the intense heat, his Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber was actually softening, and then, it was being cleanly cleaved apart by the opponent’s overbearing sword. Zuo Heng tried to evade, but it was too late. The massive, dominant sword sheared down along his left arm.

Heaven-Challenging Alliance! Zuo Heng, severely injured.

Lu Yuan reached out his left hand in the void, grasping the Power of Balance within Zuo Heng’s cosmic laws, and swiftly absorbed it using the Myriad Transformations technique.

Simultaneously, his right hand returned the sword to its sheath and extended a single finger.

What did extending one finger mean at this juncture?

The members of the Heaven-Challenging Alliance understood instantly. Lu Yuan had previously claimed he would deal with every person present from the Alliance; this was the first one. What was humiliation? This was humiliation. What was a slap in the face? This was a slap in the face—blatant, uncompromising mockery. The people of the Heaven-Challenging Alliance instantly boiled over.

“Lu Yuan, I want you dead!” “Die, junior!”

The people of Mount Hua also instantly erupted. The Sect Master performed brilliantly, gravely wounding one enemy!

“Sect Master, well done!” “Long live the Sect Master!”

“Mount Hua will not fall!” Having ignited the fervor of both the Mount Hua faction and the Heaven-Challenging faction by holding up a single finger, Lu Yuan roared.

Usually, when fighting others, he favored peace and harmony. This time, he would allow himself one unrestrained burst of flame; let peace and harmony go to hell for now.