Facing the ultimate move of the Sword Sect, the Three Extremes Return to One, Lu Yuan had clearly fallen into a disadvantage.

Yet, even as he was losing ground, Lu Yuan suddenly realized he could replicate the Three Extremes Return to One.

How was this possible! This was the Three Extremes Return to One, the Sword Sect's ultimate technique, notorious for its difficulty to master.

He couldn't learn a World-Ending level sword move after just one viewing, but the Three Extremes Return to One was even more troublesome, a step above the World-Ending level moves, yet he could master it after seeing it only once.

But then he reconsidered: the World-Ending moves required starting entirely from scratch, so taking several viewings to learn was normal.

The Three Extremes Return to One was different. The three iron laws it required—the Law of Reincarnation, the Law of Time, and the Law of Space—were all skills he already possessed. Therefore, learning it in one viewing was entirely reasonable. Since he could copy and master the Three Extremes Return to One, he immediately did so, unleashing his Yang Wu Immortal Sword to intercept the edge of the Three Extremes Return to One.

Naturally, it was highly unlikely the Yang Wu Immortal Sword could truly block the full might of the Three Extremes Return to One; his opponent was simply too powerful. All he could do was delay the incoming attack.

Lu Yuan secretly calculated: if he didn't replicate and master the Three Extremes Return to One within twenty breaths, he would be in serious trouble.

Twenty breaths? No, only nineteen breaths remained now.

Three Extremes Return to One—first, copy the state of the Law of Reincarnation! He knew the Law of Reincarnation; this was merely copying its state within the technique. Lu Yuan replicated the state of the Law of Reincarnation incredibly fast, taking only five breaths.

With the fourteenth breath counting down, Lu Yuan began copying the state of the Law of Time as utilized within the Three Extremes Return to One.

With the ninth breath counting down, Lu Yuan started replicating the state of the Law of Space within the Three Extremes Return to One.

With the fourth breath counting down, the three states were copied. Fusion time—the three states, the three iron laws.

The second breath counting down.

In that instant, the edge of the Tai'a Immortal Sword was less than a few inches from Lu Yuan's face. At that exact moment, the Disk of Reincarnation spun rapidly in the void. The River of Time and the River of Space intersected upon the Disk of Reincarnation, as if ancient truths were manifesting beneath the Tai'a Immortal Sword.

This was no mere technique; it was the principle of the Great Dao.

Such swordsmanship had transcended mere technique; it had reached the level of the Great Dao itself.

This was the Sword Sect's ultimate, supreme secret art.

Watching this supreme secret art of the Sword Sect, almost all the Grand Elders were captivated. To master the Three Extremes Return to One was the dream of every Grand Elder—but dreams remained only dreams.

The Child of the Sword sneered inwardly. Lu Yuan, you are destined to lose, for I am the Child of the Sword.

At that very instant, Lu Yuan lifted his head, saying nothing.

The time was too tight, too urgent; only the last two breaths remained, not enough time for words.

The Yang Wu Immortal Sword struck out, attempting to steal the initiative, carving out streaks of brilliant sword light.

The Child of the Sword sneered. Only two breaths left, and Lu Yuan still dared to resist? Ridiculous. No, only one breath remained.

But in that split second, the sword move Lu Yuan carved across the sky was astonishing.

Within Lu Yuan’s strike, a massive Disk of Reincarnation flashed in the void. But that wasn't all—the River of Time and the River of Space were also appearing. This, too, was no ordinary swordsmanship, but a sword art nearly touching the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, the Great Dao itself. This was unmistakably the Three Extremes Return to One!

The Three Extremes Return to One!

What Lu Yuan manifested was precisely the Three Extremes Return to One!

Had Lu Yuan also mastered the Three Extremes Return to One?

The Child of the Sword’s heart was filled with inexpressible shock, yet he remained calm. His Three Extremes Return to One had launched earlier; its momentum was already fully charged. Lu Yuan’s version launched later, lacking momentum. Therefore, Three Extremes Return to One versus Three Extremes Return to One, he was still the victor.

Boom! Zero breath time!

The Child of the Sword’s Three Extremes Return to One violently collided with Lu Yuan’s Three Extremes Return to One.

In that moment, the Child of the Sword realized his Three Extremes Return to One had not gained the upper hand. It was true; his move launched earlier and had amassed greater momentum, but Lu Yuan’s version was more refined, slightly more exquisite, closer to the ultimate Dao of heaven and earth.

Lu Yuan’s sword path could actually improve upon his opponent’s sword techniques!

A draw!

Even after the Child of the Sword deployed the Three Extremes Return to One, the result was still a stalemate.

All the assembled Grand Elders were stunned. It was already remarkable that the Child of the Sword knew the Three Extremes Return to One, but now Lu Yuan also knew it—this peerless, ultimate secret art of the Sword Sect, virtually impossible for anyone else to grasp.

Lu Yuan gripped the Yang Wu Immortal Sword. "What do you think, Child of the Sword? My Three Extremes Return to One isn't bad, considering I just learned it. Please forgive any clumsiness."

The Child of the Sword's expression shifted slightly. "You learned my Three Extremes Return to One?"

"Is that not allowed?" Lu Yuan questioned innocently.

The Child of the Sword felt an unprecedented surge of frustration. He had spent a long time mastering the Three Extremes Return to One, only for Lu Yuan to learn it just by watching. How could he not feel vexed? This instantly strengthened his desire to annihilate Lu Yuan.

The nearby Grand Elders were again shocked. The Child of the Sword took ten years to master the Three Extremes Return to One, which was already astonishingly fast.

Lu Yuan, however, learned the entire technique after seeing it performed just once—this was terrifying. Of course, this rapid learning was only possible because Lu Yuan had already mastered the three core iron laws as a foundation; otherwise, he couldn't have learned the Three Extremes Return to One so quickly.

Lu Yuan and the Child of the Sword remained locked in confrontation.

The Child of the Sword, clad in flowing white robes, possessed an imposing, handsome demeanor and supreme arrogance. Holding the Tai'a Immortal Sword, he radiated the aura of a sovereign, carving out his own world and claiming kingship.

Lu Yuan, in his fluttering green attire, moved fluidly, appearing gentle and self-possessed. Holding the Yang Wu Immortal Sword, its righteousness shone as bright as autumn water, accepting the true energy of heaven and earth.

The battle had now reached a spectacular climax.

But who, between the Child of the Sword and Lu Yuan, would ultimately prevail? Whose swordsmanship would reign supreme in the Central Dynasty?

"Let this battle be declared a draw," Ancestor Jian Mie stated. "You two shall both proceed to the Sword Relief Sculpture and share the insight from it. How much sword intent you gain will depend on your own capabilities. What say you?" Although Ancestor Jian Mie’s voice wasn't booming, it carried an aura of world-shattering power. He was, after all, the foremost figure in the Sword Sect, and his word carried weight. Furthermore, after the fighting they had displayed, it seemed pointless to continue the contest.

A stalemate!

Was this the final outcome of the battle?

The Child of the Sword moved, sheathing the Tai'a Immortal Sword. "Fine. Lu Yuan, we'll call this a draw. We shall compete again when the opportunity arises." Having deployed his trump card, the Three Extremes Return to One, and only achieving a draw against Lu Yuan, the Child of the Sword currently lacked any follow-up moves. He was now deeply wary of Lu Yuan, completely unprepared for Lu Yuan to have grown to this level; it was truly frightening.

Simultaneously, the Child of the Sword’s intent to kill Lu Yuan intensified. If this were a fight to the death now, the Child of the Sword was one hundred percent confident he could kill Lu Yuan. His magical power was overwhelmingly superior to Lu Yuan's, and furthermore, the sword dao characters he wielded were far more useful than anything Lu Yuan possessed, in addition to his secret arts and magic artifacts. The Child of the Sword sneered internally. Lu Yuan, don't get complacent. In a true life-or-death battle, I can defeat you easily. His murderous intent grew stronger; he had no interest in waiting four years. He planned to seize any opportunity, by any means necessary, to utterly destroy Lu Yuan.

The Child of the Sword glanced towards Ancestor Jian Mie, seated nearby, his eyes conveying an inscrutable emotion.

Lu Yuan, too, moved, sheathing the Yang Wu Immortal Sword. "Child of the Sword, we call this a draw. We will fight again in four years to definitively determine who is weaker." Having fought this far, Lu Yuan had also reached the limit of his known techniques. While his Three Extremes Return to One was more refined than the Child of the Sword’s, the difference wasn't significant, and the Child of the Sword's version was certainly more practiced. Thus, a draw was the only conclusion possible, especially since Ancestor Jian Mie, the foremost figure of the Sword Sect, had spoken, and Lu Yuan felt obliged to show some respect.

Lu Yuan knew the Child of the Sword surely held back other killing moves, but Lu Yuan also had his own hidden trump cards, including the ultimate technique prepared specifically for the Child of the Sword: the Gate of the Sword Dao, which, once unleashed, promised unparalleled dominance in sword arts! What he currently lacked was sheer magical power, which he needed to boost immediately.

Lu Yuan was also inwardly cautious. This Child of the Sword, one of the Seven Blessed by Fate, was truly extraordinary. Since emerging, he had never lost to anyone of his generation. This was the first time he had drawn with a peer. He absolutely could not be careless; he had to strive relentlessly to defeat the Child of the Sword, who was now his destined rival.

Without a doubt, Lu Yuan had set his short-term goal squarely on the Child of the Sword.

When Lu Yuan returned to the vicinity of Ancestor Jian Yun, the dozen or so Grand Elders of the Jian Yun faction immediately surrounded him.

"Remarkable, Lu Yuan."

"Indeed, to fight the Child of the Sword to a standstill in swordsmanship."

"That's the Child of the Sword of the Seven Blessed by Fate! Haha, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a young cultivator manage a draw against one of the Seven Blessed by Fate."

"Even if it's just in sword technique and not other aspects, it is still incredibly impressive."

"The Jian Xu faction always believed the Child of the Sword was superior. Now, our faction has Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan’s future will not be inferior to the Child of the Sword’s." Zhuge Zhi Shang was almost speechless. Lu Yuan was so incredibly strong that he could draw evenly with the Child of the Sword; who could have imagined this beforehand?

The Jian Xu faction, on the other hand, found it hard to believe. The Child of the Sword had always stood on a pedestal, and his previous narrow victory over Ancestor Jian Xu had only elevated him higher. Now, Lu Yuan stood on that same pedestal, which was a massive blow to the Grand Elders of the Jian Xu faction.

The Jian Feng faction, whose representative Xuanyuan Wang had been killed by Lu Yuan, and whose Steel Civilization also sought Lu Yuan’s life, had paid special attention to this fight.

After this battle, Lu Yuan and the Child of the Sword co-existed upon the same divine altar.

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