Generally, the most significant events at Sword Gate were held on the Sword Gate Star, and this time was no exception.

This Decade Commemoration had now commenced with solemn gravity.

The venue for the commencement was the Sword Star Palace, situated on the Sword Gate Star.

This Sword Star Palace was an exceptionally vast edifice.

It boasted tens of thousands of pillars, each one towering over ten zhang high.

The entire palace hall was expansive and capacious.

The Sword Star Palace had long since been elaborately prepared, its interior opulent.

Early that morning, numerous Outer Disciples began entering the Sword Star Palace. Usually, these Outer Disciples had little involvement in Sword Gate affairs, but they would never miss a Decade Commemoration. Sword Gate harbored a truly immense number of these general disciples; Lu Yuan himself had started as one upon first entering the sect. Following them came the True Disciples, whose status surpassed that of the Outer Disciples by a significant degree.

Naturally, whether they were standard or Outer Disciples, all they were permitted to do was stand.

In truth, it was not just them who were relegated to standing; even the Core Disciples were restricted to standing. Core Disciples were divided into two main categories: those at the Great Dao Realm, whose positioning was quite close to that of the True Disciples, and those at the Primordial Chaos Realm, who were allowed to stand in the very front rows.

Among these Primordial Chaos Realm Core Disciples, the central column was occupied by very few individuals. Under normal circumstances, this central column was reserved for the direct core disciples of the current Sword Master. Since the current Sword Master was Taishi Kong, the figures occupying the foremost ranks were naturally his direct core disciples. The strongest among this group was undoubtedly Taishi Bei, who had reached the fifth heaven of the Primordial Chaos Realm, and Song Di, who had only recently advanced to the same level. Furthermore, among them was a woman as ethereal and beautiful as an immortal, Shi Feixian, whose strength had also recently surged, reaching perhaps the third heaven of the Primordial Chaos Realm. Her pace of progress was certainly no less astonishing than that of Jian Xiu in her prime. Following the rebellion instigated by Xuanyuan Wang, the talented disciples of Sword Gate had been almost entirely wiped out. Originally, Jian Xiong and Lu Yuan held the highest potential, but both had ascended to the rank of Supreme Being. Consequently, the individual with the greatest potential among the current Core Disciples was strikingly Shi Feixian.

Next in line, of course, were the general Elders and the Supreme Beings.

The current Sword Gate had truly few Supreme Beings—only six in total.

They were the Eastern Wild Supreme Being, Gongyang Supreme Being, Baili Supreme Being, Xiahou Supreme Being, the Supreme Being of Wine, Lu Yuan, and the Supreme Being of Might, Jian Xiong.

The Six Great Supreme Beings made their entrance almost simultaneously.

“Ah, that must be the Supreme Being of Wine, Lu Yuan.”

“He truly is formidable. I heard he achieved over ten thousand consecutive victories at the World Volcano, earning the title of invincible below the World Realm.”

“Apparently, he is still quite young.”

“Indeed, this man is practically an idol figure within our Sword Gate.”

Undoubtedly, among the Six Great Supreme Beings, Lu Yuan was seated fifth, yet his strength ranked first. Moreover, he was an almost legendary idol, immediately drawing an extraordinary amount of attention. The Outer Disciples, True Disciples, and Core Disciples of Sword Gate were all discussing Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan’s gaze swept across the assembled disciples.

In that sweep, he spotted the Sword Spirit Empress. The exquisitely beautiful face of the Sword Spirit Empress was veiled by a light gauze.

Lu Yuan’s gaze passed over the Sword Spirit Empress; their eyes met across the air, holding a hint of lingering tenderness. Yes, it had been a long time since he had seen the Sword Spirit Empress since emerging from the Ancient Law Civilization. She, too, had only just returned to Sword Gate for this Decade Commemoration.

The Sword Gate Decade Commemoration was, after all, a major event.

Lu Yuan’s gaze swept further, spotting another woman nearby, as beautiful and pure as an immortal—Shi Feixian. This woman, who had entered Sword Gate with him from the Outer Domains, was also radiating brilliance. Simultaneously, Lu Yuan noticed several familiar faces among the Core Disciples—individuals who had also entered Sword Gate with him from the Outer Domains.

The Six Great Supreme Beings had taken their places. Next to appear were naturally the Grand Elders.

Sword Gate had dozens of Grand Elders, and half of them would typically appear for the Decade Commemoration.

However, for some unknown reason this time, the atmosphere felt unusually tense.

Of the forty to fifty Grand Elders of Sword Gate, the majority had shown up.

Lu Yuan observed them one by one.

He noticed that the three strongest among them each possessed a magical power as brilliant as a blazing star. As these three stood there, they were practically three suns. Lu Yuan knew that the three Grand Elders seated at the highest point were all at the fourth heaven of the World Realm: Sword Wind Ancestor, Sword Void Ancestor, and Sword Cloud Ancestor.

Furthermore, the Grand Elders were seated in three distinct factions. A group stood behind Sword Wind Ancestor, another behind Sword Void Ancestor, and a third behind Sword Cloud Ancestor. The former Sword Master, Zhuge Zhishang, was seated behind Sword Cloud Ancestor.

Every single one of these figures was extraordinarily formidable.

These were the true pillars supporting Sword Gate.

“The Son of the Sword arrives!”

A clear, resonant voice echoed.

The Son of the Sword was here!

Instantly, the crowd buzzed with excitement. Although Lu Yuan had recently gained fame, his renown was still somewhat less than that of the Son of the Sword. Moreover, the Son of the Sword was one of the Seven Heavenly Fates, his reputation spreading throughout the entire Central Heavenly Dynasty. There were countless people in the Central Heavenly Dynasty who did not know Lu Yuan, but very few who did not know the Son of the Sword.

The Son of the Sword is here!

Lu Yuan’s heart stirred. For various reasons, he had somehow missed meeting the Son of the Sword before. Was he finally about to face him directly for the first time?

Amidst the clamorous crowd, the Son of the Sword slowly revealed himself.

This is the Son of the Sword?

The young man who emerged among the masses wore white robes and a light fur cloak, walking with his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of effortless elegance. A single crimson mole at the center of his brow only enhanced his perfect handsomeness, and his entire being seemed to embody the sword—his hair was like a sword, his brows like a sword, his lips like a sword, his robes like a sword, even his shoes were like a sword.

This person resembles Yan Cangtian! This was Lu Yuan’s first impression. Of course, the similarity wasn't in facial structure; Yan Cangtian’s appearance leaned toward the cold and severe, while the Son of the Sword’s features were softer, possessing an almost unbearable sunlit handsomeness, coupled with an aura of looking down upon the world. Though their looks differed, their temperaments were strangely akin.

The Son! Of! The! Sword!

Within the countless faces in the crowd, Lu Yuan saw the Son of the Sword.

The Son of the Sword also saw Lu Yuan.

“Wow, that’s the Son of the Sword.”

“Yes, the inheritor of Heavenly Mandate’s Qi Luck.”

“One of the Seven Fates of Qi Luck, truly extraordinary; his entire body’s magical power shines like the morning sun.”

“Do you think Lu Yuan or the Son of the Sword is stronger?”

“Nonsense, of course the Son of the Sword is stronger; he is one of the Seven Fates of Qi Luck after all. Lu Yuan is still quite a bit weaker than him.”

“I heard Lu Yuan and the Son of the Sword have an eight-year pact. Almost four years have passed; only four remain. A battle stemming from such an eight-year pact—how spectacular will that be?” Around them, endless voices discussed who was stronger between the two most peerless geniuses Sword Gate had seen in ten thousand, perhaps even a hundred thousand or a million years.

Lu Yuan and the Son of the Sword gazed at each other. All the surrounding clamor failed to reach their ears.

Lu Yuan felt a sense of facing a destined adversary the moment he saw the Son of the Sword.

The Son of the Sword had initially assumed Lu Yuan was merely an ant, but now he perceived a hint of his own rival in him.

The Son of the Sword looked towards Lu Yuan: “You are Lu Bie?”

“Yes, I am Lu Yuan, and you are the Son of the Sword.” Lu Yuan raised his wine gourd and took a deep gulp. Even under the immense pressure of the Son of the Sword’s sword energy, Lu Yuan remained comfortably at ease.

“Correct, I am the Son of the Sword.” The Son of the Sword nodded. “You might not know my name yet. As your opponent in the eight-year pact, I shall tell you. My name is Jian Wenchang—the civilization of the Sword Dao shall flourish through me!” His younger brother was named Jian Wenhao, so naming himself Jian Wenchang carried significant weight.

However, the three words Jian Wenchang represented something immensely profound: the flourishing of the Sword Dao civilization through him.

This was an incredibly bold claim. In the entire history of Sword Gate, no one had ever dared to speak with such arrogance.

But the Son of the Sword dared, because he was the Son of the Sword; he truly possessed the qualification for it.

The Son of the Sword, Jian Wenchang, looked at Lu Yuan: “You possess considerable potential. After the battle in four years, I await you as my opponent, so I may utterly crush you and seize your Qi Luck to augment my own.” Jian Wenchang’s tone was exceedingly calm, as if addressing an ant he intended to crush.

“Is that so? I also look forward to four years from now.” Lu Yuan remained unconcerned.

Their gazes clashed across the air.

Yes, this was a rival, a great rival. He had encountered many formidable figures before, but this was the first time he felt this sense of a destined adversary, something none before could evoke. Lu Yuan took another pull from his wine gourd, and the surrounding noise began to swell once more.

The Sword Gate Decade Commemoration occurred every ten years.

In past years, the high point of the Decade Commemoration occurred later in the proceedings.

But at this current ceremony, the mere locked gaze between Lu Yuan and the Son of the Sword triggered the first peak of the entire event. Naturally, almost everyone favored the Son of the Sword, with the exception of Zhuge Zhishang, Jian Xiong, and a few others.

At this moment, the Sword Master of Sword Gate, Taishi Kong, finally made his entrance, taking the central seat.

Indeed, the Sword Master was not the strongest person in Sword Gate, nor even the most powerful, but as the visible foremost figure of the sect, he deserved respect.

As Taishi Kong was seated, all the necessary figures of Sword Gate had arrived. As for the Sword Gate’s Ancestor, the Old Ancestor Jian Mie, he rarely attended the Decade Commemoration, so his absence now was entirely expected.

Taishi Kong surveyed the assembled disciples and Elders below and declared: “It is now my honor to announce that the Sword Gate Decade Commemoration officially begins.”