After Jianfeng Zhongzu defeated the Wilderness Eye Lingyun Eagle in the sword fight, he questioned the arriving Grand Elders.

In his estimation, it should have been a perfectly simple, foolproof task for the twelve Grand Elders to capture and kill Lu Yuan.

One of the Grand Elders said, "Zhongzu, this is not good."

"Not good? What's not good! What's the panic!" Jianfeng Zhongzu's tone was stern.

"Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan killed Xuanyuan Qiang, Xuxing Feng, Ling Qiu, Du Yun, and five other Grand Elders," the Grand Elder stammered anxiously.

"What! How is that possible!" Jianfeng Zhongzu was stunned. He seized the Grand Elder: "Explain the entire process to me clearly." His expression was fierce; the usual Jianfeng Zhongzu would not act this way, but this incident was too significant, relating directly to his future, stripping even the venerable Zhongzu of his usual composure.

"It happened like this: the twelve of us pursued Lu Yuan to the Jianmen Star, but we were temporarily trapped by Lu Yuan's Jiuquan Mountain. Lu Yuan took the opportunity to break into the commercial city, plundered everything, and remarkably reached the second heaven of the World Realm. Only then did we immediately deploy the Twelve Swordsmen Great Array."

Jianfeng Zhongzu nodded repeatedly; an accident had occurred, and Xuanyuan Qiang immediately commanded the deployment of the Twelve Swordsmen Great Array—that response was correct. "What happened next?"

"Next, Lu Yuan unleashed Fusheng Ruomeng (Floating Life Like a Dream). Our Twelve Swordsmen Great Array trapped and attacked Lu Yuan, yet we couldn't land a hit."

"And what happened next was even more bizarre. As soon as we dissolved the Twelve Swordsmen Great Array, Lu Yuan immediately counterattacked. He killed Grand Elder Du Yun with one move, then killed Grand Elder Ling Qiu with another move, killed Grand Elder Xuxing Feng in five moves, and killed Grand Elder Xuanyuan Qiang in seven moves. The eight of us couldn't compete and were forced to flee, but he caught up and killed one more." The Grand Elder finally explained the entire sequence of events clearly.

After the full account was given, Jianfeng Zhongzu was utterly shaken.

One move to kill Du Yun, one move to kill Ling Qiu, five moves to kill Xuxing Feng, seven moves to kill Xuanyuan Qiang.

This record was somewhat terrifying.

Jianfeng Zhongzu was profoundly shocked.

"Hahahaha, hahahaha!" The heavily injured Taishi Kong laughed heartily: "You intended to kill Lu Yuan, but Lu Yuan is not so easily slain. Lu Yuan, you have truly brought great honor to me as your master." Taishi Kong judged himself to be somewhere between Grand Elders Du Yun and Ling Qiu, unable to match Xuxing Feng at the early stage of the third heaven of the World Realm, or Xuanyuan Qiang at the mid-stage of the third heaven of the World Realm. Yet, his disciple Lu Yuan accomplished the incredible feat of slaying them all, and against Xuxing Feng and Xuanyuan Qiang, it only took five and seven moves respectively—this indeed brought him immense glory.

Jianfeng Zhongzu glanced at Taishi Kong: "Taishi Kong, don't get smug. The Seal Star Formation will seal the Jianzu Star for the time of two sticks of incense. We are only halfway through; I still have nearly one stick of incense remaining. In this remaining time, I will kill Lu Yuan. He won't be able to play any tricks against me."

This was the plain truth; a figure of the Zhongzu level possessed an overwhelming advantage in killing Lu Yuan.

The first heaven of the World Realm was equivalent to the fourth heaven of the Shenhuang World Realm, essentially straddling the line between Mid-level Gods and High-level Gods.

Reaching the fourth heaven of the World Realm granted incomprehensible power.

For instance, Jianfeng Zhongzu immediately spread his divine sense outward, enveloping the entire Jianmen Star. As long as Lu Yuan remained on that star, he could not escape the sweep of his divine sense—this was the astonishing might of the fourth heaven of the World Realm. However, as Jianfeng Zhongzu scanned, he found the result empty.

Lu Yuan wasn't on this star?

He was rushing towards the Jianzu Star!

Jianfeng Zhongzu’s divine sense immediately located Lu Yuan as it expanded.

He rapidly pursued Lu Yuan, simultaneously unleashing a sword strike.

His Wind Immortal Sword was slender and long, not inherently known for dominance, but under the rampant activation of his fourth heaven World Realm mana, even his single strike appeared incomparably domineering, capable of shattering heaven and earth. Lu Yuan’s Yangwu Immortal Sword rebounded, slicing through the air in a flash of light, weaving a dense net of sword energy.

"What exquisite sword moves!" Jianfeng Zhongzu exclaimed in admiration. Lu Yuan's swordsmanship indeed surpassed his own, but his mana was too weak. Jianfeng Zhongzu brought his long sword down fiercely, shattering the sword net.

Jianfeng Zhongzu continued the pursuit: "Lu Yuan, your sword skills are refined, but your youth makes your deficient mana your greatest weakness. You must be defeated. By killing you, I will secure immeasurable merit, rising above all others in the Bronze Civilization. Then, those old ghosts like Jian Mie, Zhongzu Jian Xu, and Zhongzu Jian Yun can all go to hell! I will stand at the pinnacle of Jianmen."

Jianfeng Zhongzu's Wind Immortal Sword struck again; his swordsmanship was swift, and the fourth heaven World Realm mana contained within it was terrifying.

Facing Jianfeng Zhongzu's attacks, Lu Yuan was constantly forced back.

Finally, Jianfeng Zhongzu thrust his sword into Lu Yuan’s body: "I have finally achieved great merit... Wait, you are a fake."

His true body appeared not far away. Jianfeng Zhongzu narrowed his eyes at Lu Yuan: "Your Fusheng Ruomeng is bizarre, but it must be a technique combining illusion and your innate swordsmanship. That is to say, as long as my mana vastly surpasses yours, using area-of-effect attacks, your Fusheng Ruomeng cannot protect you."

This was the greatest flaw of Fusheng Ruomeng; it became useless against opponents whose mana far exceeded one's own.

Lu Yuan inwardly cursed, genuinely frustrated.

Lu Yuan had been invincible for a considerable time now.

But now, he finally encountered Jianfeng Zhongzu, facing the fourth heaven of the World Realm.

The gap of two realms in the World Realm was too vast. The second heaven of the World Realm like himself, no matter what methods he used, stood no chance against the fourth heaven. The difference was so immense that he possessed little power to fight back.

His weakness was indeed in mana, but then again, his mana had always been his weakness, with no real change over the years.

Of course, it wasn't that his mana was intrinsically weak; it was just that he rarely sparred with peers. Most opponents were significantly older, having cultivated for much longer, so deeper mana was only natural.

Jianfeng Zhongzu relentlessly pressed Lu Yuan, and Lu Yuan had basically exhausted all his techniques.

And the time elapsed was less than half a stick of incense.

This meant that Jianfeng Zhongzu needed, at most, half a stick of incense to kill Lu Yuan.

"You have no way out," Jianfeng Zhongzu looked at Lu Yuan. "This time, you will die by my sword." As he spoke these words, Jianfeng Zhongzu and Lu Yuan were practically pressed against the Seal Star Formation; they had fought their way there without realizing it. "Lu Yuan, let your life end here."

Jianfeng Zhongzu felt infinite elation at this moment!

Yes, success was finally at hand!

When he received the secret decree from the Bronze Civilization, he realized the price the Jian Civilization placed on Lu Yuan was unimaginably high.

But he also understood that Lu Yuan was worth that price.

By killing Lu Yuan, he could seize Lu Yuan's fortune and gain the focused cultivation of the Jian Civilization. In the future, perhaps he himself could become a Heavenly Venerate figure, dominating the entire Central Heaven Dynasty.

Haha, how exhilarating!

I, Jianfeng Zhongzu, finally have this day!

Jianfeng Zhongzu unleashed a strike as fierce and potent as a gale, a gale capable of annihilating stars, even more terrifying than the most dreadful Nine Heavens Demonic Wind of the Central Heaven Dynasty. At this moment, Lu Yuan seemed utterly unable to defend himself, yet Lu Yuan stood beside the Seal Star Formation: "Jianfeng Zhongzu, you are finished."

"I am finished?" Jianfeng Zhongzu was startled.

Lu Yuan suddenly plunged into the Seal Star Formation.

What was happening! The Seal Star Formation was a structure established by the Bronze Civilization using special profound methods. This formation was impregnable even to Ancestor Jian Mie; neither inside nor outside could it be breached. So what was happening now! Lu Yuan had actually burst into the interior of the Seal Star Formation!

Jianfeng Zhongzu checked the time; the two sticks of incense had clearly not elapsed—there was still half a stick left.

What was going on?

Lu Yuan had entered the Seal Star Formation and simultaneously activated the Sword Dao Gourd, ravenously absorbing the Jian Qi within.

In fact, immediately after killing Xuanyuan Qiang, Lu Yuan noticed a change in his Beast Sealing Token, realizing the Wilderness Golden Eye Lingyun Eagle had been severely injured. With one stick of incense remaining, facing the fourth heaven World Realm Jianfeng Zhongzu, he knew he likely wouldn't last even that long.

Therefore, he had decided from the start to maneuver the battle near the Seal Star Formation.

Formations, especially those unsupported by personnel, fundamentally relied on Sword Qi, Jian Qi, and similar energies for sustenance.

Coincidentally, back at the World Volcano, he had already tested that his Sword Dao Gourd could absorb Bronze Qi.

This meant that the so-called Seal Star Formation could be destroyed by his Sword Dao Gourd.

The Sword Dao Gourd was a truly rogue mechanism: as long as the array lacked direct support, no matter how profound the grand formation, it would absorb all the Sword Qi or Jian Qi, leaving nothing behind.

Thus, Lu Yuan had deliberately steered the battle toward the Seal Star Formation from the outset.

Jianfeng Zhongzu, unaware that he could destroy the Seal Star Formation and believing he could simply finish Lu Yuan, had paid no attention to this detail, leading to this sudden reversal.

Of course, while maneuvering Jianfeng Zhongzu closer to the Seal Star Formation, Lu Yuan had also realized something: his current strength was far from enough to fight someone at the fourth heaven of the World Realm. The two-realm gap in the World Realm was truly a chasm; even he could not leap across two full realms. He still needed to continuously enhance his power.

Recognizing the opponent's strength was, conversely, highly beneficial for his own advancement.

Fortunately, Jianfeng Zhongzu was now drawn into his game.

The trap was set, and Jianfeng Zhongzu had already stepped into it.

The tide had turned.

Lu Yuan happily absorbed the pervasive Bronze Qi with his Sword Dao Gourd while contemplating this.