The Sword Gate had recently quieted down considerably. The reason for this lull was the impending inspection visit from the Fagu Civilization.

The people from the Fagu Civilization, making their way across the lands, obviously could not inspect every single point; they could only focus on the most crucial locations. After all, this inspection tour spanned two thousand great states, meaning they would visit only one spot for every few major regions.

Among the surrounding great states, there was only one designated stop for the Fagu Civilization: the Sword Gate. Consequently, the various sects situated nearby were making their way to the Sword Gate.

In the adjacent great states, there were no Supreme Great Sects, but there was one considerably powerful sect called the Hunlei Sect. It was rumored that this sect specialized in the profound mysteries of lightning arts, placing them among the absolute apex, possessing strength potentially nearing that of a Supreme Great Teaching.

Apart from the Hunlei Sect, all others were minor factions, utterly insignificant when compared to the Sword Gate—a title worthy of a Supreme Great Teaching naturally implied immense power. The Sword Gate bustled with activity.

Disciples, whether core, true transmission, or general members, were quite exhilarated. Ordinarily, they couldn't leave the Sword Gate unless they reached the Hun-Dong Realm; now, with others arriving, even if they didn't know many of them, increased company meant more excitement.

As for Lu Yuan, he naturally continued his leisurely existence. His current cultivation stood at the peak of the Seventh Layer of the Great Dao Realm, with the Qingyun canopy above his head.

He had attempted to break through to the Eighth Layer, the Heaven and Earth Dharma Form, several times, but hadn't even brushed against the threshold; he was still far off. Forget about advancing his spiritual power for now.

The weather was so fine; failing to find a comfortable spot for deep relaxation would be a disservice to himself. Now, Lu Yuan felt as if he had returned to Mount Hua, reminiscent of his days spent secluded there.

It truly was an experience of supreme bliss. However, one day, just as he was about to begin his drinking ritual, perhaps from staring at the sun for too long, Lu Yuan vaguely sensed that the sun before him was profoundly different from usual.

This sun radiated an unparalleled majesty, an absolute solemnity, emanating vigorous vitality. At that moment, the Dawn Sword Intent, the Great Sun Sword Intent, and the Dusk Sword Intent flooded his mind simultaneously.

Within his consciousness, these three Sword Intents seemed to coalesce into a single sun. What majesty, what ferocious power, what life-giving radiance that sun possessed!

Lu Yuan was almost lost within the vision. Time slipped away unnoticed.

The sun within his mind grew larger and larger, almost merging with the physical sun outside. At this instant, Lu Yuan understood: he had comprehended the Sun Sword Intent!

The Sun Sword Intent! The Great Sun was merely a glimpse into one facet of the Sun Sword Intent—its boundless, sea-like majesty.

The Sun Sword Intent itself was an intent that embodied solemnity and seriousness while perpetually broadcasting life force. He had successfully forged his fifty-first Sword Intent!

Lu Yuan also knew that his practice was not yet complete. Having grasped the Sun Sword Intent, he now had to grasp the Moon Sword Intent.

Within the framework of Nine Yin and Nine Yang, one yin and one yang constituted the Sun and Moon. The next step was to discover the flaw in the Sun Sword Intent.

And the flaw in the Moon Sword Intent. The Nine Yin and Nine Yang required him to uncover the intents corresponding to the nine yins and nine yangs, and then expose the inherent weakness in each.

Since the Nine Yin and Nine Yang rule was meant to dismantle all techniques, every single component needed its flaw identified. What was the flaw in the Sun Sword Intent?

His mind plunged back into deep contemplation. He involuntarily looked up at the sun in the sky.

That sun burned ceaselessly, emitting infinite light and heat; from any angle, a flaw seemed impossible to find. Where precisely lay the weakness of the Sun Sword Intent?

Lu Yuan pondered. No, the Sun must have a flaw!

It was the night; when darkness descended, the sun was completely obscured, unable to reveal even a sliver of light. In an instant, Lu Yuan struck out with a swift, startling sword move.

As this strike flew, a moon seemed to appear upon the blade, and for a moment, the sky itself appeared to darken. At that juncture, Lu Yuan understood: not only had he realized the principle that the Sun is overcome by the Moon, but he had also elevated his comprehension of the Moon by another level, capable of manifesting an almost perfect moon within a single sword strike.

And the flaw of the Moon? Following the logic of Nine Yin and Nine Yang, the Moon's flaw must be the Sun.

The Moon’s light originated from the Sun; without the Sun, the Moon could not be the Moon—this was the Moon’s vulnerability. Lu Yuan swiftly drew his sword again, and this strike was as scorching as the Great Sun, as if a sun itself was burning upon his blade.

The Sun is overcome by the Moon, and the Moon is overcome by the Sun! The Third Yin and Third Yang of the Nine Yin and Nine Yang were successfully mastered.

From now on, when facing Moon-attributed or Sun-attributed sword techniques, he could instantly locate the flaw. He was only six Yin and six Yang away from forging the fundamental rule of Yin-Yang; then, there would be no move between heaven and earth that he could not see through.

Such was the tyrannical might of the Yin-Yang Iron Rule. When Lu Yuan opened his eyes, he realized Qin Shuangcheng was standing before him.

Qin Shuangcheng immediately spoke, "I was passing nearby and saw Junior Brother meditating, so I stopped to watch. I never expected Junior Brother to grasp a Sword Intent in a mere three days—truly admirable, truly admirable..." He was astounded.

He noticed the fifty-first ancient talisman ascending above Lu Yuan’s head, confirming that Lu Yuan had indeed grasped another Sword Intent. For Qin Shuangcheng, comprehending diverse Sword Intents was exceedingly difficult; even with great fortune, mastering one could take several months.

He didn't realize that during these three days, Lu Yuan had spent only the first day grasping the Sun Sword Intent, while the subsequent two days were dedicated to mastering the mutual restraint between the Sun and Moon, culminating in the comprehension of their opposition and forging the Third Yin and Third Yang. If Qin Shuangcheng had known that Lu Yuan had not only mastered a Sword Intent in three days but also perfected the principle of Sun-Moon restraint, forging the Third Yin and Third Yang, his eyes would surely have bulged out of his head.

When he next saw Shi Feixian, he found she had already reached the strength of the Eighth Layer of the Great Dao Realm. In fact, upon first entering the Sword Gate, Shi Feixian was already at the Seventh Layer.

After joining the sect, unwilling to be so far outstripped by Lu Yuan, she had cultivated diligently and recently broken through to the Eighth Layer of the Great Dao Realm. The ten new recruits selected this time were Lu Yuan, Jian Wenhao, Shi Feixian, Huo Yibu, and six newcomers from the Central Heavenly Dynasty.

Jian Wenhao had long lost the courage to confront Lu Yuan directly. Since even Duanmu Congrong had been defeated, what was he?

Of course, it was impossible for him to accept Lu Yuan's superiority. As the younger brother of the Son of the Sword, he possessed endless pride.

While he couldn't win against Lu Yuan head-on, he would certainly resort to sinister plots and machinations behind the scenes to harm Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan stood there, feeling somewhat numb.

It couldn't be helped; as one of the ten chosen novices, he had to stand here to formally welcome the Envoys of Civilization from the Fagu Civilization. The people of the Central Heavenly Dynasty referred to emissaries from outer domains as Angels, whereas the envoys from various civilizations on inspection tours were called Envoys of Civilization.

This time, even the foremost of the Nine Supremes, the Xuanyuan Supreme, had personally made the journey. The Xuanyuan Supreme, Xuanyuan Wang, was a handsome man, appearing to be around forty, with a full beard, handsome features, and extraordinary presence.

It seemed wherever he stood, that spot became the absolute pinnacle between heaven and earth. This Supreme's aura was significantly stronger than that of his own drunken master, Taishi Kong, Lu Yuan thought secretly to himself.

Xuanyuan Wang, the Supreme, cast a brief glance at Lu Yuan. Yet, with that simple sweep of his gaze, Lu Yuan felt his entire body plunge into an intensely terrifying ice cellar.

This was the might of the foremost of the Nine Supremes—unfathomable, capable of instantly killing him. However, Lu Yuan showed no sign of weakness.

I am the Sword Emperor; the Sword Emperor never bows his head, nor shall he ever yield to anyone. All preparations within the Sword Gate to receive the Envoys of Civilization had been completed.

And high above in the sky, tens of thousands of miles above, intricate Dao patterns materialized. Each of these patterns represented the ultimate truth of an arcane technique, its profound mystery, its formidable power, its ancient lineage, its immeasurable depth, and its supreme nobility.

And above these Dao patterns, dozens of True Dragons appeared. The True Dragons pulled a cloud chariot forward.

As they advanced, countless wind spirits and phoenix flames manifested near the wheels. Finally, the cloud procession pulled by the True Dragons halted.

As the chariot stopped, several fair-faced young Dao boys first emerged to draw back the curtains of the cloud vehicle. When the curtains were opened, a middle-aged man dressed in purple stepped out.

As this man emerged, he casually scanned the sky; his single glance seemed to contain the essence of countless arcane arts. This purple-clad middle-aged man, fair-faced with a short beard, seemed to be the embodiment of magic itself; he appeared to represent the true principles between heaven and earth, and one could almost perceive the existence of minor worlds upon his person.

Fagu Civilization, Envoy of Civilization, World Realm—Dugu Fa. Following him, numerous figures of breathtaking splendor emerged from the rear of the procession, each possessing boundless majesty.

The last ten to appear were clearly the representatives of the novices. These ten lacked overwhelming might, but they were at least at the Ninth or Tenth Layer of the Great Dao Realm.

Among them was a young, beardless, fair-faced man who, upon exiting the cloud vehicle, continuously scanned the figures awaiting him from the Sword Gate. Finally, he found the target he sought.

The young man in green robes from the Sword Gate finally appeared. Lu Yuan, I finally see you again.

Fu Chong nearly laughed aloud toward the heavens. Lu Yuan, do you know how despairing I felt after my crushing defeat by you in the Hundred Kingdoms Assessment?

Why was I, from the Great Yong Kingdom, inferior to your remote Jin State, to the extent that the dignity of the Great Yong Kingdom could not be upheld? But you gave me a chance to surpass you: you entered the Sword Gate, and I entered the Fagu Civilization.

Now, it is time to wash away the humiliation of the Hundred Kingdoms Assessment. A fierce fire burned in Fu Chong's eyes.