The wine was fine wine. This liquor, entirely the color of amber, possessed not a single speck of impurity, and when poured into the crystal goblet, its rich aroma could be clearly perceived.

The cup was also a fine cup. This type of vessel was made of crystal, inherently dust-repelling, utterly clear and transparent.

The sword was a fine sword. The blade measured three feet, three inches, and three fen, its body like autumn water, emanating an aura of righteous energy.

There was a young man dressed in azure robes. The azure fabric whipped and snapped in the wind, while the young man’s face was unremarkable, conveying a sense of gentle ease.

Wine, cup, sword, man. Truly, this was the apex of life’s pleasure.

Lu Yuan leisurely took a sip. Upon arrival at the Sword Ancestor Star, the first action taken by the various Grand Elders differed according to their nature.

Some sought out other Grand Elders for sparring, while others hunted the demonic beasts native to the Sword Ancestor Star—beasts unseen elsewhere, whose slaying yielded great treasures. Lu Yuan, having reached the Sword Ancestor Star, chose his first endeavor to be settling down quietly for a drink.

Why overthink? Why overdo?

It was simply exhausting. Oh, right.

Not long ago, he had received a notice summoning him to Sword Ancestor City. He heard the Sword Competition was about to commence.

Lu Yuan was in no hurry; he would finish this cup of wine first. Reaching the level of Grand Elder afforded immense freedom, so much so that participation in the extremely important Sword Ancestor City Competition was entirely up to him, without specific coercion.

Naturally, he would attend the competition; after all, his nemesis, the Son of the Sword, was said to hold the upper hand there. How could he not have a proper contest with the Son of the Sword?

The amber wine in the goblet was nearing its end. At that precise moment, an eagle’s cry echoed from the sky above.

Lu Yuan looked up. In the heavens hung a gigantic grey eagle, already exceeding ten thousand zhang in length, its wings like shafts piercing the sky, diving straight down.

The world darkened, as the terrifying grey eagle obscured the stars, the sun, and everything else. “Heavens, that’s the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle!” “A demonic beast born with Primordial Force!” “Isn’t that the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle that was at the third heaven of the World Realm?” “Yes, that’s the one.

The previous Sword Cloud Ancestor tried to subdue it but failed, and was even injured by its attack.” “Indeed, this Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle is utterly terrifying.” “Eagle attack! Eagle attack!” The Sword Competition hadn't even begun, yet within Sword Cloud City, numerous Grand Elders—individuals who were usually figures of utmost renown, top-tier beings within the Sword Gate—were now thrown into utter panic by the sight of the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle.

This creature was among the strongest, the most supreme demonic beasts on the entire star. And now, it had appeared at this moment!

Earth-shattering! The Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle swept toward Sword Cloud City, showing no fear of the assembled Grand Elders.

Its talons snatched directly toward a Grand Elder named Cang Yenming, who possessed the cultivation of the second heaven of the World Realm, no weaker than Kong Shangyi. Seeing the ten-thousand-zhang-long eagle attacking, Cang Yenming immediately drew his sword and counterattacked.

However, Cang Yenming’s immortal sword collided with the eagle’s talon, and he was swept up by the terrifying wind. Facing such a formidable beast, he lacked the power to retaliate effectively.

At that instant, a streak of white sword light flared, a light whose power was immeasurable—it cleaved down in a single, swift strike, and the eagle’s talon struck against this beam of light. Clang!

What an immense explosion of sound! A figure was violently thrown backward.

Who was that? Once the massive burst of vital energy subsided slightly, the other Grand Elders finally recognized the person: white hair, white robes, possessing the bearing of an immortal, kind-faced and benevolent, his white Daoist robe embroidered with white clouds.

It was the Sword Cloud Ancestor. The Sword Cloud Ancestor commanded the power of the fourth heaven of the World Realm, yet against the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle, which wielded Primordial Force, he gained no advantage; in fact, he was forced onto the defensive.

This was the restraint Primordial Force imposed upon the Sword! The Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle glanced at the Sword Cloud Ancestor, then suddenly ignored him.

Finding the Ancestor somewhat troublesome, it bypassed him and dove sharply toward the rear. Who was in that direction?

“No one should be living in that direction, right?” The Sword Cloud Ancestor had just saved Grand Elder Cang Yenming. “No, someone is living in that direction—Lu Yuan,” Zhuge Zhishang recalled.

“He requested lodging there just now.” “What!” “Lu Yuan absolutely cannot withstand the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle!” The Sword Cloud Ancestor shot forward, and the other Grand Elders followed suit. Lu Yuan was the most promising figure under the Sword Cloud Ancestor’s faction, destined perhaps to challenge the Son of the Sword later; naturally, they could not allow him to be harmed.

But rushing over now meant Lu Yuan would likely sustain a severe injury. As they arrived, they saw Lu Yuan’s wine nearing its dregs, and simultaneously, the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle hurtled directly toward him.

The Grand Elders watched as the azure-robed youth tossed his wine cup aside, simultaneously seizing the sword—as bright as autumn water—from the table and thrusting it sharply toward the soaring eagle. One person, brandishing a sword, lunged at one eagle!

The eagle was clearly far stronger than the man. The other Grand Elders, even those at the second heaven of the World Realm, would have to evade such an attack; a moment’s hesitation meant severe injury.

Lu Yuan charging directly at the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle—wasn't this courting death? Moreover, the Sword Cloud Ancestor could not reach him in time to intervene.

Was Lu Yuan destined to die here? Just as everyone assumed this outcome, A spurt of blood appeared at the point of contact between man and eagle!

Blood sprayed out like a waterfall! Was Lu Yuan injured in the first move by the eagle?

And so grievously, with so much blood erupting—was he near death from this single exchange? No, no, something was fundamentally wrong.

No matter how much blood Lu Yuan possessed, he couldn't bleed this much; his entire body shouldn't contain that volume of blood. Then what was the reason?

Was the one injured not the man, but the eagle? That seemed impossible.

A sword user at the first heaven of the World Realm clashing with a Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle at the third heaven of the World Realm—the latter should clearly prevail at the point of contact. How could the man win?

What was happening? After one move, the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle recoiled sharply.

It stared deeply at Lu Yuan. On this Sword Ancestor Star, few beings could inflict such injury upon it.

In truth, this time it had been careless; otherwise, it would have been unlikely for Lu Yuan to wound it so severely. But careless it was, because it assumed only the Sword Annihilation Ancestor could deal with it.

The gigantic eagle, exceeding ten thousand zhang, gazed at the azure-robed youth before it, who was smaller than its own eyeball. It would forever remember this young man.

And Lu Yuan gazed back at the colossal eagle. Man and eagle stood in confrontation.

The assembled Grand Elders, including the Sword Cloud Ancestor, could not have foreseen such a turn of events. This Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle was a fearsome demonic beast; only the Sword Annihilation Ancestor could truly contend with it on the entire Sword Ancestor Star.

Even the Sword Cloud Ancestor could not subdue it and had once been injured by it. Yet now, Lu Yuan had managed to wound the eagle severely.

Considering Lu Yuan was only at the first heaven of the World Realm—even with exceptional swordsmanship, his combat strength could, at best, equal the second heaven of the World Realm. The reality was this: creatures possessing Primordial Force could defeat sword users one full realm above them.

A normal Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle at the third heaven of the World Realm was fundamentally equivalent to a fourth-heaven sword user, holding a high chance of victory against such a foe. Lu Yuan’s cultivation was at the first heaven of the World Realm, allowing him to defeat opponents at the second heaven of the World Realm in swordplay.

However, he possessed the unique ability to suppress Primordial Force. Thus, when encountering beings from the Ancient Desolate Civilization, he could overcome those at the third heaven of the World Realm, exactly as he did against the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle, achieving something utterly inconceivable to the other Grand Elders.

The Sword Cloud Ancestor and the others were poised to intervene immediately, but they realized they might not need to. It might be unbelievable if spoken aloud, but looking at the current situation, that was precisely the case.

The standoff between man and eagle continued. Finally, the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle lost its patience.

It had roamed the Sword Ancestor Star without an equal, fearing only the Sword Annihilation Ancestor. Now, facing merely a young man who dared to instill fear in it, it suddenly lunged forward, whipping up a terrifying rush of wind.

Its talons, like five massive, supreme immortal swords imbued with the aura of Primordial Force, swept toward Lu Yuan. Although a demonic beast, its movements were nearly flawless.

Such a swift assault would have been extremely difficult even for the Sword Cloud Ancestor to meet head-on. At this moment, Lu Yuan’s sword light shifted and expanded again, instantly erupting like millions of dazzling beams, piercing the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle’s wings and drawing countless streams of blood-light from its talons.

Lu Yuan pressed forward at this moment! He charged into the eagle’s feathers amidst a sphere of swirling sword light.

Lu Yuan was so small, while the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle was so vast; upon collision, Lu Yuan immediately vanished from sight. The development of the situation was momentarily unclear.

However, the assembled Grand Elders could clearly perceive the Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle screeching incessantly in agony, evidently losing the upper hand. This Wilderness Golden Pupil Soaring Eagle, a being that could dominate almost the entire star, was now at a disadvantage against Lu Yuan.

This! This was too terrifying!

Lu Yuan was clearly only at the first heaven of the World Realm; how had he accomplished this? Undoubtedly, the moment Lu Yuan arrived on the Sword Ancestor Star, he accomplished something that left every Grand Elder in Sword Cloud City dumbfounded—an act that even the Sword Cloud Ancestor himself could never have achieved.

The difficulty of this feat was too high! Immeasurably high!