Lu Yuan was currently enjoying some rare leisure time. Having recovered his memories, his comprehension of the sword had deepened further, leading to a slight surge in his strength.

The immediate hurdle before him was elevating his power to break through to the third layer of the World Realm. The third layer of the World Realm, the Realm of Time, was a fascinating stage; once attained, one's personal domain would be fundamentally different from before.

However, even though he had already mastered the Iron Rules of Time, breaking through to the World Realm was no simple feat. “To advance to the third layer of the World Realm requires two things.

One is the insight into Time, which you have achieved by mastering the Iron Rules of Time. The other is the Primordial Stone of Time.

The Primordial Stone of Time is used to allow temporal flow within a space. Such stones are exceedingly rare, commanding astronomical prices on the market, and their acquisition also depends on destiny.

Sometimes, you can only obtain them when the opportune moment arrives; paying the price isn't a guarantee of immediate procurement. Furthermore, the nature of the Primordial Stone of Time is such that the deeper your foundation and the stronger your personal domain, the greater the necessary mass of the stone.

Given the profound strength of your foundation and your personal domain, you will likely require a truly vast quantity of the Primordial Stone of Time,” Ancestor Jian Mie explained to Lu Yuan. “Is that so?” Lu Yuan nodded, focusing on the Primordial Stone of Time.

After creation, a space without the passage of time requires this very stone. Frankly, Lu Yuan felt absolutely no urgency about his current level of advancement.

Being at the second layer of the World Realm, he was relatively close to the peak, which was around the tenth layer of the World Realm. As for the subsequent stages—Civilization—there were barely two realms remaining.

The Epoch Realm, moreover, consisted of only a single stage: the Lord of Epoch. Therefore, the higher realms were exceedingly few.

He had no reason to rush. Lu Yuan regained some of the easygoing nature he possessed back in the Jin Kingdom.

A person's mood naturally shifts with circumstances. Upon first arriving at the Central Heavenly Dynasty, he was in the Great Dao Realm, where his strength was insultingly low—truly like an ant.

Back then, desperate effort in cultivation was essential. Now, having reached the second layer of the World Realm, there was no need for such haste.

Of course, with the formidable enemy, the Son of the Sword, looming, he would not allow himself to slack off. Just as Ancestor Jian Mie and Lu Yuan were speaking, a figure flew in, shouting, “Report!” Ancestor Jian Mie waved his hand.

“Speak.” The messenger immediately relayed, “At Earth Dragon Star, our encampment was ambushed by the Desolate Beast Sect! Several figures in the Chaos Hole Realm were slain, and the Grand Elder Qiu Qingshan has been captured by members of the Desolate Beast Sect.” “What!” Ancestor Jian Mie was momentarily stunned.

“Damn the Desolate Beast Sect.” “Immediately summon the Grand Elders for a meeting.” Before the Grand Elders arrived, Lu Yuan pressed for details about the incident. Ancestor Jian Mie explained, “Our Sword Sect possesses vast resources, requiring many different resources.

At Earth Dragon Star, there lies an Earth-tier Spiritual Vein—the highest tier manageable by Sect-level powers. It generates Earth-tier Spirit Stones, which are quite precious.

Heaven-tier Spiritual Veins are only manageable by Civilizations. Even the ten strongest sects cannot control a Heaven-tier Spiritual Vein.” “The ten strongest sects, such as the Hegemon Blade Sect, Blood Sect, Arrow Sect, Puppet Sect, and so on—each controls a substantial number of Earth-tier Spiritual Veins exclusively.” “Our Sword Sect cannot compare to the ten major sects, but we are still respectable, sharing numerous Earth-tier Spiritual Veins with other sects.

That is the case on Earth Dragon Star, where six sects fiercely contest control over this single Earth-tier Spiritual Vein. Our Sword Sect aligns with the Imperial Fire Sect and the Thousand Water Sect, while the other three sects—the Desolate Beast Sect, the Peerless Sect, and the Thousand Mountain Sect—oppose us.” “This alignment exists because our six sects border Earth Dragon Star.” “With three sects on each side, whichever faction prevails gains control over that Earth-tier Spiritual Vein on Earth Dragon Star.” “Among them, the Desolate Beast Sect refines the souls of Great Desolate Beasts into their bodies.

They are a thorn planted by the Ancient Desolate Civilization here, essentially our bane sect.” “I did not expect our camp to be ambushed by the Desolate Beast Sect this time, and for Grand Elder Qiu Qingshan to be captured as well,” Ancestor Jian Mie frowned. Soon after, the other thirty-odd Grand Elders arrived.

The Son of the Sword was absent, reportedly having entered seclusion. Upon their arrival, these Grand Elders segregated themselves into two factions: one led by Ancestor Jian Xu, and the other by Ancestor Jian Yun—a clear demarcation that left much to be desired within the Sword Sect.

After Ancestor Jian Mie laid out the situation, he stated, “Grand Elder Qiu Qingshan and many Sword Sect disciples have reportedly been seized by the Desolate Beast Sect. Which of you will go to their rescue?” Disciples of the Sword Sect being captured naturally demanded a rescue mission.

However, assigning this mission was highly problematic. Ancestor Jian Mie’s own strength was more than sufficient, but he was the Sword Sect’s anchor, its stabilizing force; he could not easily depart.

Therefore, another Grand Elder needed to be dispatched. But the moment this request was made, the previously murmuring Grand Elders all fell silent.

It wasn't that they were unwilling to aid Qiu Qingshan; rather, this venture was exceedingly perilous. Qiu Qingshan himself was a third-layer World Realm cultivator, and his capture implied the enemy was formidable.

More troublingly, the opponents were the Desolate Beast Sect, whose ability to counteract the Dao of the Sword had always been a persistent headache for the Sword Sect. Otherwise, the faction advocating for capitulation—the ones terrified by the Ancient Desolate power—would not have gained such traction.

Setting out for Earth Dragon Star felt like a journey of uncertain life or death. Of course, there was another significant reason: Qiu Qingshan had always remained aloof from the three major factions—Jian Feng, Jian Yun, and Jian Xu—acting as a neutral party.

Why should they risk extreme danger to save a neutral figure captured by the enemy? Consequently, one by one, the Grand Elders began feigning ignorance of the matter, absolutely refusing to accept the assignment.

Ancestor Jian Mie understood their calculations perfectly. If he weren't the Sword Sect’s stabilizing pillar, the very pillar holding up the heavens, he would have gone himself long ago.

Seeing the current situation was genuinely frustrating. Ancestor Jian Mie declared, “Since that is the case, I shall select the personnel.

Whoever is named must go. Naturally, they must possess at least the cultivation of the third layer of the World Realm.” Sending anyone below that level would be pointless.

“I will go,” a clear voice suddenly rang out. This was clearly an undesirable task, so someone volunteering surprised the assembled Grand Elders immensely.

They turned to see who had spoken, and it was none other than Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan!

This was the epitome of a thankless chore! The opposition was the Desolate Beast Sect!

Lu Yuan shrugged. “Since none of you are willing, I will undertake the mission.” Lu Yuan’s volunteering was not without reason.

He had already confirmed that Qiu Qingshan was neither aligned with the Son of the Sword’s faction nor the faction advocating capitulation. While he wasn’t of the Jian Yun faction either, he was a cultivator of the Dao of the Sword.

If a fellow Daoist of the Sword faced hardship, and he possessed the ability, how could he refuse to lend aid? Where others hesitate, I advance!

In this age, cultivators of the Dao of the Sword were few; saving one was saving one. If comrades did not help each other, what camaraderie remained?

As for the Desolate Beast Sect, he truly held no fear of them; the Sword that counters Desolation was not merely an empty claim. Everyone looked at Lu Yuan.

Finally, Ancestor Jian Mie nodded. “Since you volunteer, you shall go.” Ancestor Jian Mie genuinely could not find a better candidate, having no choice but to rely on Lu Yuan.

The Sword Sect had suffered several setbacks recently, its prestige severely diminished. When would the Sword Sect rise again?

When would the Dao of the Sword be re-established? Son of the Sword, Lu Yuan—upon which of you rests the hope of the Dao of the Sword’s resurgence?

“Since no one else is willing to step forward, if Lu Yuan succeeds in rescuing Qiu Qingshan and securing Earth Dragon Star back to our side, then the entire yield of Spirit Stones from Earth Dragon Star over the next five years shall belong entirely to Lu Yuan.” Hearing Ancestor Jian Mie’s decree, the other Grand Elders felt a pang of envy, though few of them would willingly accept the extreme danger of going to Earth Dragon Star. Ancestor Jian Mie was, in fact, also arranging funds for Lu Yuan, hoping to enable him to acquire the Primordial Stone of Time sooner and reach the third layer of the World Realm swiftly.

No sooner said than done, Lu Yuan departed without delay. Traveling swiftly through numerous teleportation arrays, he reached the vicinity of Earth Dragon Star in only about a day.

Upon arriving at Earth Dragon Star, he learned that it was currently controlled by the Desolate Beast Sect, the Peerless Sect, and the Thousand Mountain Sect. The Desolate Beast Sect was, naturally, one of the Sword Sect’s primary enemies.

As for the Peerless Sect’s Fu Family, they were the very people Lu Yuan had previously antagonized; many members, like Fu Yi, had perished by Lu Yuan’s hand. He had clashed with members of the Thousand Mountain Sect at the World Volcano.

His own allied side consisted of the Sword Sect, the Thousand Water Sect, and the Imperial Fire Sect. The Thousand Water Sect and the Imperial Fire Sect were also well-known sects in the vicinity; Lu Yuan had encountered members of both during the special training under the Ancient Law Civilization and at the World Volcano.

When Lu Yuan reached the three-sect alliance site—though now it was only a two-sect alliance, as the Sword Sect personnel there had been virtually wiped out, leaving only members of the Thousand Water Sect and the Imperial Fire Sect—the arrival of Lu Yuan sparked a wave of discussion among the surviving members. “Did you hear?

The person coming from the Sword Sect this time is Lu Yuan.” “What? The envoy from the Sword Sect is actually Lu Yuan?” “The one who was unrivaled at the World Volcano, whose swordsmanship rivals that of the Son of the Sword, and who recently created an earth-shattering miracle at the Sword Forgetting Stele?” “That’s right, him.” “If it’s Lu Yuan, then we really should see what performance he can deliver this time.” “Indeed, let’s see if he can rescue the Sword Sect’s Qiu Qingshan and others from the Desolate Beast Sect.” “Let us witness whether this world-renowned great genius truly deserves the title, or if it is merely empty fame.”