Before the Tiandian Meng attacked Mount Hua, anyone would have sworn that Mount Hua was destined to fall, that the Tiandian Meng had no conceivable way of losing.

And it made sense. What was the Tiandian Meng before the war? Before it annihilated Kunlun, razed Qingcheng, burned Wudang to the ground, and suppressed the Nanhai Xianmen, it was merely the foremost power in Jin. Back then, when people mentioned the Tiandian Meng, they equated it with the combined might of the five Upper-Tier Immortal Sects.

In fact, most people believed that the current Tiandian Meng surpassed the combined strength of those five sects.

Ren Du, Fang Xie, Jing Huanzhen, the Red Winged Demon King, the Purple Scaled Demon King, Venerable Yuan Ling, Zhang Xuxuan, Qiao Feidu, Zuo Heng, the Old Man Tian Chou—and so many others. Which one of them was not a towering figure of the Demonic Path renowned throughout Jin? And those slightly lesser, like the Old Ancestor of the Blood Sword or the Old Immortal of the Star Constellation, were also intensely famous.

Such a coalition was practically invincible.

And what was the state of Mount Hua before the war? Yan Cangtian had fled, Zhou Qingxuan had vanished, Chu Duan was dead, Zhuo Budang had died. If that weren't enough, they were then afflicted by the Chaos of the Three Sects. In the end, they barely had a single Half-step Grandmaster, and those at the fifth level of the Great Dao Realm were exceedingly rare—precious commodities, almost. The most absurd part was appointing a tenth-generation true disciple as the Sect Master.

Mount Hua at that time was pitifully weak; even a Middle-Tier Immortal Sect harbored ambitions for its position.

Tang Shichuan had charged forward willingly, and there was one or two other Middle-Tier Immortal Sects that had the notion, even if they hadn't attacked.

In the eyes of the common people of Jin, Mount Hua was a fallen noble house, a massive piece of fat meat ripe for the taking. How could the ascendant Tiandian Meng possibly fail to conquer the setting sun of Mount Hua?

Before the battle, everyone was certain Mount Hua was doomed.

Yet, against all expectations, in that situation, Mount Hua actually managed to win.

It was a colossal miracle! A miracle so incredible that even recounting it made few people believe it!

To this day, many who heard of Mount Hua's victory felt as if they were walking through a dream.

Impossible! Impossible! Impossible! Countless exclamations of How could this be! echoed everywhere.

The achievements of the Mount Hua personnel were seared into public memory.

Mount Hua’s Earth Sword, Peerless Zhou Qingxuan, reappeared and, in the ultimate confrontation, challenged Ren Du, severely wounding him.

Mount Hua’s new Sect Master, Lu Yuan, critically injured Hengdao Zuo Duan.

Lu Yuan slew the Red Winged Demon King.

Lu Yuan slew the Old Immortal of the Star Constellation.

Lu Yuan slew Venerable Yuan Ling.

Lu Yuan fought four opponents single-handedly—Fang Xie, Jing Huanzhen, the Old Man Tian Chou, and Qiao Feidu—and in that engagement, he killed the Half-step Grandmaster, Fang Xie.

Lu Yuan’s string of victories was chilling. Even more astonishing than the reappearance of Earth Sword Peerless Zhou Qingxuan and the wounding of Ren Du, people had tended to overlook the Mount Hua Sect Master due to his youth. But today, they finally understood his terrifying nature. Slaying fifth-level Great Dao Realm Demonic Path titans was as easy as slaughtering chickens. Zuo Duan, the Red Winged Demon King, Venerable Yuan Ling—all fell by his hand alone.

What followed was even more horrifying. Facing four—Fang Xie, Jing Huanzhen, Old Man Tian Chou, Qiao Feidu—a combined force that even a Grandmaster-level Yan Er would struggle against, Lu Yuan managed to kill the Half-step Grandmaster Fang Xie among them, scattering the other three in their flight. This filled everyone with dread.

Lu Yuan, this Sect Master, was clearly not a Half-step Grandmaster, yet he could casually slay one. This seemed utterly exaggerated and astonishing.

The primary reason Mount Hua was deemed weak for so long was the absence of truly top-tier figures.

In the cultivation world, battles often hinged not on group efforts but on individual combat prowess. Without top-tier fighting strength, a sect could not be considered a top-tier faction.

But now, who dared claim Mount Hua was not a top-tier sect? Who dared suggest Mount Hua lacked supreme fighting power? Earth Sword Peerless Zhou Qingxuan and Drunken Sword Unfathomable Lu Yuan—both were supreme fighting strengths.

In an instant, the fame of the "Three Peaks of Mount Hua" resonated throughout Jin.

Heavenly Sword Unrivaled Yan Cangtian, Earth Sword Peerless Zhou Qingxuan, and Drunken Sword Unfathomable Lu Yuan—the term Unfathomable denoting immeasurable depth.

What shocked the people of Jin even further was the scene during the later stages of the Mount Hua battle: the unified eruption of power from Mount Hua's Venerables, Elders, and Disciples. This display could rival Lu Yuan’s astonishing performance, perhaps even surpass it. At the moment of crisis, Mount Hua as a whole erupted, an explosion that struck terror into the heart.

That invincible Mount Hua had returned once more.

Shortly after, the five Upper-Tier Immortal Sects and numerous Middle-Tier Immortal Sects of Jin convened another meeting. This time, the position of the Sect Master Supreme of Mount Hua Immortal Sect was placed proudly in the first position, followed in order by the Wudang Immortal Sect, Kunlun Immortal Sect, Nanhai Immortal Sect, and Qingcheng Immortal Sect.

Mount Hua's primacy was restored.

And who dared object? Even if the other four sects banded together, they likely couldn't defeat the Tiandian Meng, yet Mount Hua had single-handedly toppled it. Moreover, this was Mount Hua after the Chaos of the Three Sects. The notion of Mount Hua being number one was now ingrained in everyone’s mind.

Lu Yuan sat high upon the foremost seat, towering above the multitude below—the heroes of every peak and range. A wave of emotion washed over him.

Mount Hua, you have regained the first position.

With a mere wave of his hand, he could command the countless heroes of Jin to bow their heads and pledge their lives. The position that had fallen to Wudang after the Chaos of the Three Sects was back in his grasp. Ah, the irony.

"Now, we invite the Hua Shan Sect Master, Lu Yuan, to speak." In the eyes of everyone in Jin now, Lu Yuan was no longer some young junior but the true hegemon of Jin, the Nine-Five Supreme of Jin, the Immortal Sect Master Supreme. Yet, Lu Yuan was overcome with too many feelings.

It felt as though he were back in Donglin Town.

It felt as though he were back practicing the sword as an ordinary true disciple on Mount Hua.

It felt as though he were back vying for dominance at the Hundred Mines Province branch.

It felt as though he were back when his Martial Uncle of the Underground passed away.

It felt as though he were back in the Wusheng Legacy Palace, studying with Ancestor Yan, in the Longevity Cave.

It seemed he was back on the Reflection Peak, in the True Martial Grotto-Heaven, in the Tianlao prison of the Blood Sword Gate, in the Divine Soul River, fighting Sima Changbai on the North Peak.

It seemed he was back during the siege of Mount Hua by the hundred thousand demons, at the Nanhai Xuanming Immortal Sect, destroying the underground demons, at Mount Yuelu, and finally, in the act of defending Mount Hua.

His thoughts returned to the present: he now stood at the pinnacle of Jin's power, though the pinnacle of strength remained with Martial Uncle-Ancestor Zhou.

More than a year had passed. During this time, the Tiandian Meng and the five Upper-Tier Immortal Sects had engaged in frequent skirmishes, but they always held the disadvantage. In the battle against Mount Hua, the Tiandian Meng had suffered crippling losses to its vital energy, and its morale had been shattered. Now, the mere sight of Mount Hua made the Tiandian Meng wilt.

What pleased Lu Yuan most was that the vestiges of the Three Sects division on Mount Hua had vanished entirely. The sect had truly grown stronger.

As for himself, he had reached the peak of the fourth level of the Great Dao Realm, the Convergence of Laws, yet had delayed breaking through to the fifth level, the Nascent Soul Incarnation. However, breakthroughs at the Great Dao Realm were inherently difficult, so being stuck at the summit of the fourth level was entirely normal.

Lu Yuan now sat before the graves of his Master, Li Yuanbai, and his Martial Mistress, Zhou Lishi.

"Master, Martial Mistress, your disciple has finally resolved the issue of the Five Peaks and Three Sects of Mount Hua. I have not failed you. You need not worry in the spring of the Nine Springs." Lu Yuan picked up his wine gourd, poured two cups, took a sip from his own, and then filled the cup meant for his Master, placing it before the tomb.

"Master, your disciple is about to leave Mount Hua, to leave Jin, to participate in the Hundred Kingdoms Assessment. I hope you will watch over yourself." As Lu Yuan spoke, he felt his voice catch, and his eyes grew moist. What was this? This urge to weep.

Lu Yuan could no longer restrain himself, bursting into deep sobs before Li Yuanbai's grave.

"Master, your disciple cannot forget the scene when you brought me into Mount Hua." "Master, your disciple cannot forget the sight of you teaching me swordplay, stroke by stroke."

"Master, your disciple cannot forget the scene when you used your own vital power to establish the foundation of my cultivation."

"Master, your disciple cannot forget you gifting me the Yangwu Sword and teaching me to nurture the vast righteous energy of heaven and earth within myself."

"Master, your disciple cannot forget how, even severely wounded and near death, you sought to avenge me." "Master, your disciple cannot forget the scene when you were talking while dying."

Too many things he could not forget. Before his Master, Lu Yuan, the Immortal Sect Master Supreme, was merely a child.

Before departing, Lu Yuan spent a considerable time at Li Yuanbai's grave, and also returned home for a while, enjoying a period of familial bliss with his parents. He did not know how long it would be before he could return after this Hundred Kingdoms Assessment.

At the foot of Mount Hua, Lu Yuan, Venerable Yuanyang, Venerable Lieyang, Venerable Huifeng, and Venerable Zixia stood together. Many others from Mount Hua were also present—Venerables, Elders, and Disciples. Each of these individuals raised their hands: "Farewell, Sect Master. Go well."

Yes, it was time to depart.

Lu Yuan had not given many instructions. Everything on Mount Hua was now on the right track, and there was no internal strife. Even if he left, he could depart with peace of mind. Mount Hua was safe. As for the possibility of Ren Du attacking again, Lu Yuan truly didn't worry much. The united front of Mount Hua now would not be easy to attack, and besides, they had the top-tier figure, Martial Uncle-Ancestor Zhou Qingxuan, presiding.

Lu Yuan faintly sensed that Martial Uncle-Ancestor Zhou’s strength far surpassed Ren Du’s. If Ren Du attacked three times, he could be defeated three times. If he attacked again, he could be defeated four or five times.

Regarding this, Lu Yuan had once asked Martial Uncle-Ancestor Zhou. His answer then was: "If I kill Ren Du, who will serve as the external threat? Without an external enemy, the arrogance within Mount Hua will surface, and that will be the time of defeat. Therefore, Ren Du's life must be spared." Hearing that tone and that answer, it seemed Ren Du could never truly escape the grasp of Martial Ancestor Zhou.

Pulling his thoughts back, Lu Yuan raised his hand.

Farewell, for now, to the place of his growth—Mount Hua.

I will return, to the place of his memory—Mount Hua.

The wind stirred the corners of Lu Yuan's azure robes.

The young man's expression was one of carefree ease mixed with deep attachment.