Well done. ...Taishi Kong strode with the imposing gait of a dragon or tiger into the Qiankun Palace and sat down with a commanding air.
...Magnificently executed,” Xiahou Shang chuckled, hands clasped behind his back.
Taishi Kong waved his hand, tossing out a bottle of wine: “...Xiahou, today is a joyous occasion. This is a treasured vintage of mine. Have a bottle.”
...Many thanks,” Xiahou Shang roared with laughter, accepting it without pretense. He immediately smashed the mud seal, and instantly, the rich aroma of the wine permeated the entirety of the Qiankun Palace.
Lu Yuan couldn't help but twitch his nose. What a fine wine. He had long coveted the exquisite spirits his Master Taishi Kong possessed but never had the chance. Taishi Kong flicked the bottle towards him: “...You too, have a bottle.”
Lu Yuan accepted it unceremoniously and broke the seal! Such fragrance—in an instant, countless aromatic essences flooded into his chest and abdomen.
...Who prevailed against Duanmu Congrong?” Taishi Kong inquired.
All eyes turned toward Lu Yuan.
Taishi Kong and Xiahou Shang both looked at Lu Yuan, saying with disbelief: “You?”
...It seems so,” Lu Yuan nodded.
Le Shuang interjected: “More than that, Junior Martial Brother single-handedly defeated Duanmu Congrong and the other thirteen.”
...Thirteen?” Taishi Kong was momentarily stunned. Xiahou Shang also found it hard to believe. After a long pause, Taishi Kong finally spoke: “...The Sword Emperor is indeed the Sword Emperor.”
...Then who devised such a scheme to thoroughly humiliate the disciples under the Supreme Being Duanmu? That method was truly ingenious,” Taishi Kong laughed heartily: “...Qin Shuangcheng, with your indecisive nature, I doubt you'd pull something like this off. Zhou Nuchi, you are too fiery; you wouldn't conjure up such tricks either.”
...Perhaps Le Shuang? But although you are a bit mischievous, it’s only surface-level naughtiness; you wouldn't manage such a classic stratagem.”
Le Shuang smiled faintly: “...Master, this was also Junior Martial Brother’s doing.”
Taishi Kong and Xiahou Shang both started, then looked at Lu Yuan: “...You again?”
Lu Yuan nodded helplessly.
Taishi Kong burst into laughter: “Haha, excellent! Well done.”
Xiahou Shang said with profound envy: “...Strength, potential, and the means to execute. Such a disciple is truly formidable! I am incredibly envious.”
Taishi Kong casually conjured an endless stream of Spirit Veins: “This tier of Spirit Veins was the indemnity paid by the Supreme Being Duanmu. You nine can divide them up.”
Qin Shuangcheng spoke up: “...This entire battle was due to Junior Martial Brother's efforts. If not for him, we would have been manipulated by the Supreme Being Duanmu's faction. Therefore, it should all go to Junior Martial Brother alone.” The others agreed with this distribution, but Lu Yuan politely declined: “...It’s better if we all share equally.”
After some polite pushing and pulling, Lu Yuan received forty thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones, and the remaining eight shared the other forty thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones. This division brought universal satisfaction.
Taishi Kong asked Lu Yuan: “...Since you defeated Duanmu Congrong, you are considered to be at the Sword Emperor realm, pushing towards the Sword Saint realm. But your cultivation base should have reached the peak of the seventh level of the Great Dao Realm, the top of the (Qingyun)?”
...Yes, I just reached it not long ago,” Lu Yuan nodded.
...Very good. You have seven days to stabilize your cultivation foundation. After seven days, you will follow me to learn the new cultivation technique. Your original technique has reached its limit upon reaching the seventh level of the Great Dao Realm,” Taishi Kong instructed.
...Yes.”
During this back-and-forth exchange, Qin Shuangcheng and the others finally realized that Lu Yuan had reached the Sword Emperor level and was charging towards the Sword Saint realm. They themselves had mostly cemented their positions at the Sword King realm. This realization deepened their admiration for Lu Yuan even further.
Lu Yuan sat in meditation within the Huashan Residence, beginning to refine the Cloud Dragon Mind Technique. This was the time to completely perfect the Cloud Dragon Mind Technique to its utmost peak.
He should have refined the Cloud Dragon Mind Technique immediately upon achieving the seventh level of the Great Dao Realm, but right after reaching that stage, the entire affair with the Supreme Being Duanmu’s disciples had erupted. Only now, with everything settled, did he finally have the time to cultivate.
Meditating on the ground, the image of a cloud dragon materialized behind his back.
However, it was still the same eye-less dragon as before, its body subtly shifting and swimming in the void.
Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations, manifest for me!
Lu Yuan clapped his hands and forcefully swallowed the White Dragon Soul he had obtained during the assessment in the Hundred Kingdoms when dealing with Fu Chong. This White Dragon Soul was far harder than Diamond Stone. If an ordinary person had consumed it, they would have likely choked to death immediately, but Lu Yuan was currently at the seventh level of the Great Dao Realm, his body having been reinforced countless times. He had to digest this White Dragon Soul, which was harder than diamond stone.
As the White Dragon Soul was swallowed down, his entire body's Dharma power surged.
Behind him, a series of monstrous beasts manifested: Qiongqi, Chiwen, Pulau, Bi’an, Zuan Can, Pa Fu, Yazhi, Suanni, Jiaotu—nine forms appeared simultaneously. After these nine forms manifested, his Dharma power continued to elevate, and the True Dragon Soul coalesced into a phantom projection emerging from his back.
The Cloud Dragon on his body began to continuously open its eyes.
Finally, with a distinct pop, the Cloud Dragon opened its eyes.
This was no longer an eye-less dragon, but one with vision. Lu Yuan felt his entire Dharma power circulating with perfect ease.
The Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations were complete.
It wasn't easy. He had followed the path of the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations starting with his first Master, Li Yuanbai, and finally, he had actualized it. The nine transformations—Qiongqi, Chiwen, Pulau, Bi’an, Li Li (Zuan Can), Pa Fu, Yazhi, Suanni, Jiaotu—had consumed an immeasurable amount of his effort and gone through countless trials. Now, it was finally achieved.
In truth, now that the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations were perfected, Lu Yuan already possessed the strength equivalent to several dragons. His Great Dao Realm Seventh Level was vastly more potent than that of others at the same stage.
He decided to test the might of his Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations. His entire Dharma power surged, his hand forming a sword finger that he pointed outward. Roaring Dharma power erupted between his fingers. Within that single finger thrust, one could almost hear the roar of a dragon.
The Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations was not a technique primarily focused on attack; rather, it was exceptional for concealment and environmental adaptation.
Lu Yuan felt a touch of wistfulness now. Seemingly without intention, even with his eyes closed, he could recall every single event that transpired in the Jin Kingdom. This was the cultivation technique that had accompanied him for so long. Unconsciously, he seemed to see himself when he first began practicing the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations, recalling when the first transformation, the Chiwen transformation, was successful. Back then, he was only at the ninth level of the Qi Condensation realm—his master then, Huashan then, the Jin Kingdom then, and the self he was then—all thoughts rapidly flashed through his mind.
The limit of the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations was the seventh level of the Great Dao Realm; thereafter, he would need to learn other cultivation techniques.
Seven days. In seven days, it would be time to follow his current Master to learn other methods.
He felt an involuntary surge of excitement. He was genuinely curious about what sort of cultivation technique he would learn next.
But since he had nothing else to do now, he might as well try ascending the Chongxiao Sword Tower. Since he was idle, challenging the Chongxiao Sword Tower was a very satisfying endeavor; it would hone his sword skills and earn him corresponding points.
Lu Yuan arrived outside the Chongxiao Sword Tower and once again looked up at its imposing structure. He had heard it consisted of one hundred and eight floors. When would he reach the hundred-and-eighth? Just as he was about to step inside, he saw two other figures emerging from the tower.
...Brother Duanmu, which level did you manage this time?” someone nearby inquired.
...Still couldn't break through the ninth level,” Duanmu Congrong replied.
The ninth level pitted him against a hundred cultivators at the ninth level of the Great Dao Realm. Duanmu Congrong ultimately could not pass.
As he was speaking, he spotted Lu Yuan, and Lu Yuan also saw Duanmu Congrong, unable to help but smile: “...Isn’t this Senior Brother Duanmu of the Thirteen Cultivators? Long time no see. With Brother Duanmu’s cultivation, you should at least reach the thirteenth level, though you’d likely fail there due to body and mind exhaustion.”
Duanmu Congrong was instantly enraged, but recalling that he couldn't defeat Lu Yuan and had absolutely no means of fighting back under his hands, he could only suppress his anger. He had always prided himself on his composure and called himself a wise general, but his current demeanor lacked any trace of that wisdom.
In truth, Duanmu Congrong was stewing in frustration. Why? Duanmu Congrong had recently been called 'Thirteen Cultivators' so often that he came to the tower hoping to shake off his gloom by challenging the levels. Yet, he failed the ninth level and ran into this utterly detestable figure, Lu Yuan.
And then, a burst of laughter erupted from the side. Now, everyone in the Sword Gate knew of the moniker given to the Supreme Being Duanmu’s faction: the Thirteen Cultivators. It was infamous; when mentioned, people couldn't help but exclaim: “...Too exciting, too utterly ridiculous! Thirteen Cultivators, making dual cultivators bow in admiration.”
Hearing Lu Yuan mention 'Thirteen Cultivators' and 'Thirteen Levels' again, those nearby couldn't help but laugh.
Moreover, quite a few core disciples who had come to challenge the tower stopped to observe Lu Yuan. They had already received news that Lu Yuan had defeated the thirteen disciples under the Supreme Being Duanmu single-handedly. However, this was almost unbelievable. Duanmu Congrong was already a top-tier expert at the ninth level of the Great Dao Realm, and the other twelve were not easy opponents either. If Lu Yuan could do that, just how terrifying must his strength have reached?
Coincidentally, Lu Yuan was now here to challenge the Chongxiao Sword Tower, so everyone wanted to see how high he could ascend. A considerable number of people paused to watch.
Lu Yuan strode confidently into the Chongxiao Sword Tower. Using his identity token, he proceeded directly to the seventh level. Upon entering, a Yellow Turban Swordsman stood there coldly. This Yellow Turban Swordsman possessed the cultivation of the ninth level of the Great Dao Realm. In fact, Lu Yuan’s understanding of the Sword Gate sword techniques was much greater than before; for instance, he recognized immediately that this Yellow Turban Guardian was employing the Sword Technique of Time, and using it quite proficiently.
The Sword Technique of Time! It was rumored that the Supreme Being Xuanyuan had mastered the Iron Rule of Time!
The Iron Rule of Time was an extremely difficult rule to contend with. Back when Taishi Kong was not bound by the Immortal Chains, the Supreme Being Xuanyuan’s Iron Rule of Time suppressed Taishi Kong’s Iron Rule of Space, giving Xuanyuan supremacy among the Nine Supreme Beings.
While contemplating, Lu Yuan slowly familiarized himself with the moves of the Sword Technique of Time. He ultimately found that the Yellow Turban Guardian had no new tricks. Without further ado, Lu Yuan easily knocked the Yellow Turban Guardian unconscious and passed the seventh level.