The Sword Sect Master's seclusion sparked a cascade of overt and covert schemes within the Sword Sect.

For the past few centuries, preparations have been underway, gathering momentum and crafting the perfect stage.

Now, the preparation is nearly complete, and the momentum has reached its peak. The major catch, Lu Yuan, has taken the bait.

It's truly perfect. Having hooked this great fish, Lu Yuan, and finished dealing with him, in due time, they can proceed to target the greater catch among catches: Grand Supreme Taishi. Everything is almost in place.

Of course, the true ambition is vast; Lu Yuan is merely the first in this sequence of plots, Grand Supreme Taishi the second, and behind him lurk even larger, super-sized fish.

The objective is grand, the vision long-term.

Duanmu Congrong, always trailing in Grand Supreme Duanmu’s shadow, only grasped the barest edges of this intricate web, filling in the rest with his own conjectures. Now, returning to the matter of the great fish, Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan’s words now were shockingly arrogant: "How about all thirteen of you attack me at once?" Duanmu Congrong offered a calm smile. This was merely a hooked fish putting on a brave front, struggling against the inevitable.

It wasn't just Duanmu Congrong who felt this way; the other twelve disciples under Grand Supreme Duanmu shared the same thought.

"…A ridiculous figure. A mere newcomer from an outer domain dares to contend with us?…"

"…Indeed. This person from the outer domain probably has no concept of the might of our Central Dynasty."

"…The profound skills of the Sword Sect are not something you can easily fathom."

"…Even if he learned some ultimate techniques from Grand Supreme Taishi, that is all they amount to."

"…To think some mere sword talent elevates him so high. Talent does not equate to actual strength…"

"…To challenge thirteen at once—utterly laughable."

"…A classic case of seeking death."

It wasn't just the disciples of Grand Supreme Duanmu; even those under Grand Supreme Taishi considered their junior brother rather presumptuous. No matter how much sword talent Junior Brother Lu Yuan possessed, matching thirteen opponents simultaneously was impossible. This false perception arose for two reasons: first, since entering the Sword Sect, Lu Yuan had only truly fought once—against Jian Zhixing (Sword Star); otherwise, he had remained reserved.

Second, Lu Yuan had recently advanced his cultivation to the Seventh Layer of the Great Dao Realm, a fact few were aware of.

Thus, the misconception persisted.

"…If you doubt my words, then let us test it," Lu Yuan said, his hand resting on his sword hilt, looking provocatively at Duanmu Congrong.

Duanmu Congrong let out a mirthless chuckle. This junior brother was truly amusing. Very well, he would teach this stubborn, 'dead duck' a lesson. Duanmu Congrong unleashed his sword: it was the Yinning Four Seasons Sword Art. As the sword momentum unfolded, it manifested as 'Spring Thunder of Yin.' For a moment, Lu Yuan felt enveloped in spring, but this was quickly replaced by the resounding shock of 'Spring Thunder,' this ultimate technique being a derivative of the Sword of Time.

It seemed as if the vastness of spring flowed around him, and within the very current of years, a spring thunder struck.

An interesting sword technique, but I have no time for games.

Lu Yuan, already privy to the Sword Intents of Spring and Thunder, subtly sensed the presence of the Iron Rule of Time woven into this technique. However, it was obvious his opponent had not truly mastered this style. If perfected, this sword art would be terrifying, but in its current state? He drew his Yangwu Spirit Sword with astonishing speed.

The moment the Yangwu Spirit Sword cleared its sheath, it pointed directly at Duanmu Congrong’s right flank. This strike was profoundly arcane, slicing through the incoming 'Spring Thunder of Yin.'

Duanmu Congrong paused in surprise and swiftly shifted his strategy, launching a different attack.

Lu Yuan remained unperturbed, delivering another seemingly simple thrust, again aimed precisely at Duanmu Congrong’s right rib, fixing on the exact same spot, deviating not a fraction. Duanmu Congrong was genuinely startled. His previous two attacks, though offensive, contained layers of defense. Yet, Lu Yuan had shattered both with such effortless strikes, his blade tip pointing consistently to the same location.

If the first time was coincidence, what about the second?

Duanmu Congrong changed his move again, but Lu Yuan’s strike pierced his defense once more. The Yangwu Spirit Sword locked onto the spot on his right rib, utterly unerring.

Three times!

Duanmu Congrong was forced back seven steps. Lu Yuan stood rooted to the spot, having moved only his hand, effortlessly pushing out three sword tips that shattered three of Duanmu Congrong’s moves, each one aimed at the identical point on his right rib. What manner of divine swordplay was this? If Duanmu Congrong had previously dismissed Lu Yuan as merely putting on a show, he now realized he was profoundly mistaken.

The twenty-odd onlookers also fell silent.

If this were a competition, Duanmu Congrong had already lost, overcome so easily by Lu Yuan.

Since Lu Yuan had never truly displayed his power before—even Grand Supreme Taishi’s disciples were witnessing his second demonstration—everyone present was shocked. Just how terrifyingly strong was Junior Brother Lu Yuan? His current combat power far exceeded the imagination of everyone under Grand Supreme Taishi. Previously, Qin Shuangcheng and the others believed that while Junior Brother Lu Yuan was highly talented, his current fighting capability was still inferior to their own.

Now, it appeared that Qin Shuangcheng and Zhou Nuchi, who couldn't defeat Duanmu Congrong, were no match for Lu Yuan at all.

Lu Yuan spoke lightly, "I mentioned earlier that I’m quite hungry and haven’t had lunch yet. I also have some wine I haven't finished. I'm craving it and somewhat rushed. All thirteen of you, perhaps you should attack together?…" This statement had been treated as a jest before, but now, it would certainly not be taken lightly.

The thirteen disciples under Grand Supreme Duanmu exchanged glances.

Then, they launched their collective assault.

Under the immense pressure exerted by Lu Yuan, Duanmu Congrong experienced a breakthrough. His Yinning Four Seasons Sword Art, which he had never managed to execute with the fluidity of 'Four Seasons Flitting,' suddenly manifested. In an instant, under his sword, the four movements—Yin Thunder of Spring, Gloom of Summer, Coolness of Autumn, and Chill of Winter—were all expressed within a single move.

This sword technique seemed to shuttle through the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, time passing like a shuttle, faintly echoing the Iron Rule of Time. It felt as if the years were a song, parting from the autumn waters, filled with boundless vicissitudes.

Duanmu Li was one of Grand Supreme Duanmu's favored disciples, possessing a striking beauty. However, she employed the Kongduan Sword Art (Void Severing): mountains can be severed, the heavens can be severed—every strike aimed to sever all things, to empty everything, possessing terrifying, immense power.

The other five disciples wielded the Five Elements Sword Arts: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

The three ultimate paths of the Sword Sect were the Star Dao, the Time Dao, and the Reincarnation Dao. Indeed, the sect possessed the Reincarnation Sword Art. Its highest profound meaning was reincarnation, but its method of practice differed significantly from Yan Cangtian’s. Yan Cangtian had originally studied the Star Sword Art under Grand Supreme Taishi Kong. However, his temperament was far better suited to Reincarnation. After observing others use Reincarnation numerous times, he devised his own method to achieve it: the Five Emperors Five Sovereigns Reincarnation Sword Dao. The Reincarnation practiced within the Sword Sect had a vastly different cultivation method than Yan Cangtian's.

These five disciples, naturally incapable of mastering true Reincarnation, each occupied a corner, executing the Five Elements Sword Arts. The Five Elements interacted, seemingly cycling in rotation, unleashing a powerful killing intent to crush their foe.

The remaining six disciples also employed their unique skills and ultimate techniques.

The thirteen disciples of Grand Supreme Duanmu were none of them weaklings.

This demonstrated the formidable strength of Grand Supreme Duanmu's faction.

At this moment, Lu Yuan moved. With a flash, he appeared beside Duanmu Li, and the Yangwu Spirit Sword, carrying boundless sword intent, swept down. Duanmu Li deployed the Kongduan Sword Art, but she was immediately overwhelmed by Lu Yuan's strike, thrown into disarray. When she first intercepted Lu Yuan’s sword, she noticed nothing unusual, but almost instantly, she detected something strange about it.

This single sword strike contained dozens of Sword Intents! Intents of Wind, Cloud, Thunder, Grass, Softness, Fire… Intents of Life, Death… Intents of Mist, Frost, Beast… A full fifty Sword Intents exploded forth simultaneously.

A Sword Marquis realm expert could fuse multiple Sword Intents into a single move, but fusing more became exponentially harder at higher levels. Yet, Lu Yuan had fully integrated fifty Sword Intents at this moment—a feat of terrifying difficulty. Before Duanmu Li could even react, she was swallowed by the great river of sword intent.

Lu Yuan then appeared next to Duanmu Congrong, unleashing another strike, still embedding fifty Sword Intents within that one blade. Before Duanmu Congrong could react, he was severely wounded by this overwhelmingly dominant sword technique.

Toward the five disciples using Reincarnation techniques, Lu Yuan launched five successive strikes, each one imbued with fifty Sword Intents, using the Intents of Life and Death as the vanguard. They were all easily and brutally struck down into a state of severe injury.

Seeing Lu Yuan advance toward him, Duanmu Zhu cried out in misery. He genuinely only desired a normal sparring match. Lu Yuan’s method—fusing fifty Sword Intents into one devastating blow—was too overwhelming. It prevented any semblance of a proper duel. No matter how many Sword Intents Duanmu Zhu employed, they would be consumed by Lu Yuan’s peerlessly dominating fifty intents. Alas, Lu Yuan gave him no chance.

Boom! Another fifty intents fused into a single strike, severely injuring the last disciple of Grand Supreme Duanmu.

Lu Yuan shrugged. "…That was a bit too violent, my apologies. I truly am pressed for time. I mentioned earlier I was hungry and hadn't had lunch, and I still have wine to drink. If I weren't so starved, I certainly would have taken my time playing with all you senior brothers." Lu Yuan wore a disarmingly sincere and harmless smile.

Silence descended upon the field. This was the first time Lu Yuan had revealed the full extent of his power since joining the Sword Sect. His true strength had been unknown even to his senior brothers like Qin Shuangcheng. Now they realized how terrifyingly potent Junior Brother Lu Yuan was, having so swiftly defeated all thirteen disciples of Grand Supreme Duanmu with utterly brutal sword moves.

Qin Shuangcheng and the others were already using restorative pills. After a short while, they recovered significantly. As for the thirteen disciples of Grand Supreme Duanmu, they had been completely battered into severe injuries by Lu Yuan’s violent methodology and could not move at all.

Qin Shuangcheng inquired, "…Junior Brother, the disciples of Grand Supreme Duanmu—how should we handle them?" He asked this because Qin Shuangcheng had essentially accepted Lu Yuan’s leadership among the nine core disciples. The previous leader was undeniably Qin Shuangcheng himself, but he admitted he was an unqualified leader—his strength wasn't exceptional, and his nature was indecisive. Since Junior Brother Lu Yuan was so overwhelmingly powerful, it was better to let him decide their fate.

Lu Yuan shrugged. "…How to handle them? Let me think of an interesting way."