Lu Yuan settled down, perching on one side of the sword-edge. A substantial current of intent seemed to surge toward him at that moment.

Simultaneously, Lu Yuan noticed the section of the sword-bone visibly shrinking before his very eyes. Stilling every extraneous thought, Lu Yuan focused on the incoming consciousness, realizing that these countless intents coalesced before him into a distinct gate.

Instinctively, Lu Yuan knew that only by shattering this gate could he enter and partake in the Sword Annihilation Ancestor's sword intent. But how could this gate be broken?

Lu Yuan examined the gate's structure and discerned that it appeared to be woven from the myriad principles of the sword—principles so profound and esoteric that Lu Yuan faintly perceived the shadow of the Sword Annihilation Ancestor upon it. Suddenly, Lu Yuan grasped the core truth: to pass through, one simply needed to comprehend and dismantle the sword principles imbued within the gate by the Sword Annihilation Ancestor.

This was simple enough. In his state of focused determination, Lu Yuan’s consciousness unleashed the Big Dipper Prime Killing Sword Style—one world-ending technique after another.

Upon executing the third world-ending technique, the gate exploded open with a resounding crash. At that instant, the Sword Annihilation Ancestor, seated at the hilt of the sword-bone, started in shock.

So fast! The principles on that gate represented seventy percent of the Sword Annihilation Ancestor's comprehension of the sword arts.

In the past, individuals merely needed to display a certain level of swordsmanship before the gate to pass through, though this usually required an extremely long period of waiting. But now, Lu Yuan had not waited at all; he had directly blasted the gate open and proceeded inward.

Lu Yuan’s current striking skill was formidable, opening the gate so easily. The Sword Annihilation Ancestor knew that Lu Yuan was the fastest person ever to open this gate, quicker even than the Sword Child of yesteryear.

Naturally, the current Sword Child no longer needed to blast the gate open, as this was not his first time here; he already possessed permission to enter. Thus, Lu Yuan had set the record for the fastest gate opening.

Lu Yuan shattered the gate of consciousness and entered it with his own awareness. Upon entering, it seemed he had stepped into a vast world, filled with every conceivable form of intent, every variety of sword intent—all belonging to the Sword Annihilation Ancestor, shared with Lu Yuan and the Sword Child via the sword-bone of the Sword Fluctuation Divine Beast.

Lu Yuan was immediately stunned. This was the moment for sharing sword intents.

But what sort of sword intent should he share? He had already comprehended four and a half Iron Laws and was currently studying the Iron Law of Order.

Perhaps he should search here for the sword intents required by the Iron Law of Order. Lu Yuan began searching for sword intents related to the Iron Law of Order.

Lu Yuan’s consciousness roamed through the conscious world behind the gate. Suddenly, a thought stirred, and he discovered a sword intent connected to the Iron Law of Order—it was the Sword Intent of Decline!

Lu Yuan immediately reached out and grasped this fragment, simultaneously witnessing the history of the sword path’s decline; since this epoch began, the way of the sword had been in a state of recession. This was the Sword Intent of Decline!

The one hundred and forty-first sword intent was achieved. Then, Lu Yuan’s consciousness shifted again, locating another intent diametrically opposed to decline—this time, he saw unwavering faith, the firm desire for the prosperity of the sword path.

The Sword Annihilation Ancestor had persistently sought the flourishing of the sword way, even solidifying a Sword Intent of Prosperity within his heart based on this pursuit. This was the Sword Intent of Prosperity.

Since this was a direct sharing of intent, Lu Yuan’s innate sword talent was already maxed out, so he did not need the usual arduous process of enlightenment; he effortlessly grasped the one hundred and forty-second sword intent. Lu Yuan’s consciousness immersed itself once more in this world of awareness, searching for the next intent.

This search took a considerable amount of time before he finally captured an intent related to the Iron Law of Order—it was the Sword Intent of War! Yes, precisely the Sword Intent of War!

For the way of the sword to survive and continue in this world, it required unending combat, perpetual fighting without rest. This was the Sword Intent of War!

The one hundred and forty-third sword intent! Moreover, he also perceived the Sword Intent of Contention!

The sword had been retaliated against by this epoch, so the first opportunities were those fought for by sword cultivators—this was the Sword Intent of Contention! If one did not strive, one would be devoured by the heavens and the earth!

Contention was a spirit, a demeanor, an absolutely unyielding spirit and bearing. The Sword Intent of Contention!

The one hundred and forty-fourth sword intent! Up to this point, by utilizing the shared sword intents, Lu Yuan had comprehended a total of four sword intents.

What followed was not as simple. There were naturally many sword intents here, but finding those related to the Iron Law of Order was not easy.

Lu Yuan explored the intents, searching for a long time without finding a corresponding one. After much waiting, he finally located one: the Sword Intent of Balance!

A single sword stroke, utterly unremarkable, the sword moving like calm water! This was the culmination of the Sword Annihilation Ancestor’s many years of accumulation.

Five sword intents! After identifying these five intents related to the Iron Law of Order, Lu Yuan continued searching for others pertaining to that law, but he could find none.

He then realized that the Sword Annihilation Ancestor must also be cultivating the Iron Law of Order, thus possessing only these five specific intents and no others. Since that was the case, he might as well casually practice a few other intents; it wasn't urgent.

Lu Yuan’s casual approach led him to learn six more intents: the Sword Intent of Smoke, the Sword Intent of Willow, the Sword Intent of Constancy, the Sword Intent of Severance, the Sword Intent of Whiteness, and the Sword Intent of Pond. These six intents each had their uses and subtle applications, though they were not as crucial to him as the preceding five.

After mastering eleven sword intents, before Lu Yuan could fully react, a powerful force expelled his consciousness from the gate. In the next instant, blinking open his eyes, he was no longer in the world of consciousness but in the real world.

At the same moment, the Sword Child also opened his eyes. Lu Yuan looked over and saw the Sword Annihilation Ancestor looking profoundly exhausted.

Sharing sword intents, even with the aid of the Sword Fluctuation Divine Beast’s bone, was an exhausting endeavor. Upon awakening, a drastic change swept over their bodies.

Eleven Ancient Runes rose above their heads. Having comprehended numerous sword intents in the world of consciousness, their physical bodies naturally transformed as consciousness returned.

The ascension of these eleven Ancient Runes pushed their personal sword intent count to one hundred and fifty-one. At that moment, eleven Ancient Runes also rose above the Sword Child’s head.

Was the contest between the Sword Child and Lu Yuan a draw once more? The Sword Annihilation Ancestor looked on, utterly fatigued, but immediately realized it was not so.

He examined the intents shared with Lu Yuan and the Sword Child and discovered that the first five intents Lu Yuan had grasped were all related to the Iron Law of Order. This meant Lu Yuan had deliberately sought out those initial five intents tied to the Iron Law of Order—purposefully searching for the sword intents of a specific Iron Law.

Consequently, the number of intents he grasped was naturally lower, whereas Lu Yuan's final count, like the Sword Child's, was eleven. This indicated only one thing: Lu Yuan’s innate sword talent slightly surpassed that of the Sword Child.

The Sword Child was the Child of Destiny, possessing an unimaginable level of innate sword talent, nearly reaching a perfect ten. How could Lu Yuan surpass the Sword Child?

Had he reached a true ten? Lu Yuan—which great immortal being was he reincarnated from?

Such a perfect score in sword talent could only be achieved by the reincarnation of a supreme power. Normal geniuses rated six or seven, supreme geniuses eight or nine, and the level of the Seven Children of Destiny approached ten, perhaps even a perfect score.

The Sword Annihilation Ancestor inwardly trembled. He was unaware that Lu Yuan possessed a perfect ten talent because, during his previous fight with the Martial Life Emperor’s Son, Lu Yuan had counteracted the Emperor’s Son’s absorption technique (the Dao of Devouring from the Ten Supreme Martial Arts), backlashing and absorbing the Emperor’s Son’s sword talent, thus pushing his own innate talent to a full ten.

Previously, Lu Yuan’s talent had only been nine points, slightly lower than the Sword Child’s. Regardless of the reasoning, Lu Yuan had gained a slight edge this time.

However, the Sword Annihilation Ancestor had no intention of revealing this news; it was too earth-shattering. Lu Yuan had managed to slightly eclipse the Sword Child.

The Sword Annihilation Ancestor raised his hand: “You two may withdraw now.” He gestured for Lu Yuan and the Sword Child to leave. “Yes,” Lu Yuan and the Sword Child both withdrew.

However, news of the sword intent count shared between the Sword Child and Lu Yuan was leaked by a young attendant near the Sword Annihilation Ancestor, causing the entire Sword Ancestor Star to shake once more. The Sword Child was a deity upon the altar, a towering peak.

And now, Lu Yuan had not only matched the Sword Child in swordsmanship but also in innate sword talent, grasping the same number of intents. This sent the followers of the Jianyun faction into wild ecstasy.

The factions aligned with Jianxu and Jianfeng, however, turned ashen-faced. In the Jianxu faction's domain: The Sword Child and the Mid-Ancestor Jianxu were seated.

Mid-Ancestor Jianxu probed tentatively, “Is Lu Yuan really that strong?” “Yes, he is very strong. His swordsmanship and innate sword talent are now equal to mine,” the Sword Child stated grimly.

“This should have been impossible, but it has now become reality. This person’s origins are extremely bizarre; he is likely the reincarnation of some supreme being.” “Then what should be done?” Mid-Ancestor Jianxu, who acted as the faction leader outside, deferred to the Sword Child in private, as the Sword Child had defeated the Mid-Ancestor years ago.

“I don’t care which supreme being Lu Yuan reincarnated from—we will destroy him,” the Sword Child sneered cruelly. “But the Sword Annihilation Ancestor might not allow it.

Within the Sword Gate, he forbids mutual slaughter among disciples.” Mid-Ancestor Jianxu couldn't help but ask. “The Sword Annihilation Ancestor?

Do you truly believe he is my opponent now?” the Sword Child scoffed. “Though I am currently in the fourth level of the World Realm, defeating that old ghost, the Sword Annihilation Ancestor, in an over-level challenge is not impossible.

However, the old ghost currently controls the Sword Ancestor Grand Formation—the foremost array on the Sword Ancestor Star. With that formation in hand, I still cannot defeat him.” “But I am entering seclusion to break through to the fifth level of the World Realm.

It will take at most two years, perhaps only one, and I will reach the fifth level of the World Realm. Once I possess the power of the fifth level, even if the old ghost Sword Annihilation has the fifth level plus the Sword Ancestor Grand Formation, it will be useless.

I will first execute the Sword Annihilation Ancestor, and then kill Lu Yuan, turning the world upside down today.” “The way of the sword can only prosper in my hands,” the Sword Child murmured with a cold smile curling his lips. “Sword Annihilation Ancestor, Lu Yuan, go die.”