At the Three Factions Alliance post, the ones who came to welcome Lu Yuan were Ji Qianyu, the Grand Elder of the Thousand Water Sect, and Zhu Yan, the Grand Elder of the Fire Control Sect.

Ji Qianyu, the Grand Elder of the Thousand Water Sect, was a woman of mysterious bearing; her countenance was like gazing at water through water, or viewing a flower through mist—the result of cultivating the Thousand Water True Scripture. Zhu Yan, the Grand Elder of the Fire Control Sect, was a small, thin, white-bearded elder with reddish skin, yet he exuded a feeling as if a volcano were brewing within him, ready to erupt with terrifying consequence.

In truth, it wasn't just these two who had come; quite a number of people had turned out to see Lu Yuan.

It couldn't be helped; Lu Yuan's fame was too vast, renowned throughout the entire Central Celestial Dynasty. Lu Yuan’s current renown was almost comparable to that of a Celestial Venerable, though his actual standing naturally could not compare.

"You came alone?" Ji Qianyu couldn't help but be taken aback. She had heard of Lu Yuan’s arrival earlier and was curious, but she hadn't expected him to arrive by himself, intending to settle matters here solo. Perhaps the Sword Sect could no longer spare many personnel. She had indeed heard about the Sword Sect’s recent internal conflicts and the mass attrition of Grand Elders, compounded by severe infighting. Still, she understood that the Sword Sect differed from typical Supreme Great Sects; the Sword Sect had the shadows of several civilizations vying for influence behind it, something other Supreme Great Sects lacked.

"Yes," Lu Yuan nodded.

Zhu Yan looked at Lu Yuan. He had encountered many Sword Cultivators before, but this was his first time meeting one like Lu Yuan. He sensed an incomparably pure essence emanating from him—this Lu Yuan certainly possessed genuine skill to earn such renown. "Your sect brother, Qing Shan, who was your enemy, is currently held captive in the Void Beast Soul Mountain on the Earth Dragon Star."

Lu Yuan nodded.

Upon entering the Three Factions Alliance station, they found an immense screen at the entrance. Displayed on the screen were the names of various individuals, followed by a long string of data, and finally, the sect to which they belonged.

"First place, Zhu Yan, thirty-five thousand points, Fire Control Sect."

"Second place, Ji Qianyu, thirty-three thousand points, Thousand Water Sect."

Ranking down this list, the top ten were almost entirely composed of members from the Thousand Water Sect and the Fire Control Sect.

Seeing Lu Yuan examining the roster, Zhu Yan explained, "This is the Individual Contribution Ranking. We are the Three Factions Alliance... If we secure the Earth-tier mineral veins of the Earth Dragon Star, we naturally need to distribute the spoils. But how to divide it is a quandary. We certainly cannot simply split it evenly. Each faction contributes differently, and if we treat it like a communal pot, everyone will slack off. Thus, this Individual Contribution Ranking exists. Upon defeating an opponent of sufficient standing, one can submit their contribution. The more contributions amassed, the greater the share of profit from the Earth-tier reserves. Distribution occurs once per year."

Zhu Yan approached the board and swiftly manipulated the interface.

After a while, he nodded. "There. Your information has been input."

Lu Yuan looked over and saw his name appear at the very bottom of the list.

"One hundred sixty-third, Lu Yuan, zero points, Sword Moon..."

Beside the Earth Dragon Star, there were actually not that many people stationed—only one hundred sixty-three in total, with an even smaller number of Grand Elders among them.

Lu Yuan acknowledged this.

He then began searching for more data this time, looking for the location of the Desolate Beast Sect members. Their area was the Beast Soul Mountain, where they guarded one corner of the entire Earth Dragon Star. Lu Yuan took the dossier handed to him by Zhu Yan and began studying the location.

While Lu Yuan studied, Zhu Yan arranged living quarters for him. Lu Yuan’s quarters were considerably spacious, originally set aside for the numerous members of the Sword Sect, and they were quite spread out.

The three factions were scattered, each occupying a corner, forming a triangle.

And without a doubt, the corner where Lu Yuan was stationed held only him.

Lu Yuan had intended to immediately proceed to rescue Qing Shan and the others.

However, at that moment, a feeling suddenly washed over his heart—a sensation difficult to articulate. Lu Yuan felt as if he had achieved a moment of profound enlightenment, specifically concerning the Sword. More accurately, this enlightenment should have surfaced after the Sword Forgetting Stele, but following the Stele, he had been immersed in an intimate, clinging existence with Yun Xiuxue, caught up in youthful romance, preventing his mind from returning to its usual ethereal clarity.

But now, his mind was utterly clear.

Thus, the insights regarding the Sword returned to his consciousness, piercingly sharp.

Lu Yuan vaguely sensed that this was the moment he was meant to forge his own Sword Dao.

The first path of the Myriad Manifestations Myriad Forms Sword Dao was the Copper Sword Dao, focusing on the essence of copper. The second was Ephemeral Life Like a Dream, a Dao focused on evasion. Now, he faintly perceived the third Sword Dao taking shape.

Lu Yuan momentarily forgot everything else and immersed himself entirely in studying the Sword Dao.

The cultivation path’s greatest obstacle is the concept of sincerity.

Yet, almost everyone fails to achieve that level of sincerity, burdened by countless worldly and extraneous thoughts that prevent true earnestness. Even the Lu Yuan of the past struggled with it. He had managed it during his sixteenth year on Mount Hua, but the recent Sword Fury Stele experience had cleansed all his memories, sweeping away the dust from his heart and allowing his state to remain one of absolute purity.

The third path of the Myriad Manifestations Myriad Forms Sword Dao should be an offensive technique he created himself. Previously, none of his ultimate skills were truly original; he had mostly replicated the techniques of others. Now, he had to forge his own ultimate sword move.

Lu Yuan wielded his Immortal Nurturing Sword.

It seemed like meaningless flourishes, but as he moved the blade, he gradually, gradually found the feeling.

"Sword One, Life’s Glory is Fleeting Like a Dream!" This strike contained his entire life within it—endless existence, boundless prosperity, flashing before the eyes like illusory blossoms in a dream.

"Sword Two, Memory of Emotion!" This strike encompassed all sensation, the seven emotions and six desires, channeled into a single point.

"Sword Three, Forgetting the Dust!" This was a strike of utter oblivion, a complete letting go of everything.

"Sword Four, Void!" This was an exceedingly empty strike, designed to sweep away everything in the mind, leaving only emptiness.

"Sword Five, Only Sword!" This could be described as the clearest, purest strike—devoid of any trickery, nothing but the singular act of the sword. It was as if everything learned upon the Sword Forgetting Stele had been perfectly retained, leaving only the state of the sword itself. In this era, only Lu Yuan, having endured the trials of the Sword Forgetting Stele, possessed the qualification to possibly forge such a strike.

"Sword Six, Awe Heaven!" This was the strike born from the memory of everything being forgotten on the Stele, a sword meant to command the heavens and earth into submission.

Having created these six strikes, Lu Yuan’s mind was utterly clear. He knew these six represented the utmost limit, the pinnacle of what he could create right now. As for naming this Sword Dao, an ancient name from the Elder Sword Masters suddenly flashed through his mind, leading him, almost involuntarily, to name the third path of his Sword Dao the Ancient Sword Dao.

The first Dao: Copper Sword Dao. The second Dao: Ephemeral Life Like a Dream. The third Dao: Ancient Sword Dao.

Finally, having forged these six strikes, their power was unimaginably immense. These six strikes were absolutely World-Extinguishing level sword techniques. This should be Lu Yuan’s first set of World-Extinguishing techniques.

Furthermore, when it came to sword techniques, even those created by others could never perfectly suit oneself, nor could they be endlessly upgraded to grow ever stronger.

Only sword moves created by oneself could be perfectly tailored to the user and would strengthen as the user grew stronger.

World-Extinguishing grade maneuvers!

In normal circumstances, Lu Yuan could never create World-Extinguishing grade maneuvers. To forge such a technique required, at the very least, the level of a Celestial Venerable. Even the Son of the Sword had not created a World-Extinguishing move; being able to use one and being able to create one were entirely different concepts.

Back when Lu Yuan created the Star-rank Yangwu Sword Art, he had already shocked a vast crowd. If Lu Yuan claimed he could create Star-Extinguishing level sword arts, it would likely stun the Sword Ancestor Star, as even the Grand Elders there found forging Star-Extinguishing techniques quite difficult. But Lu Yuan went further, directly creating World-Extinguishing grade moves.

This was absolutely SHOCKING!

Of course, no one witnessed this world-shaking scene.

Wait, not no one!

Someone did!

Ji Qianyu! Precisely. The Grand Elder of the Thousand Water Sect. She was deeply curious about Lu Yuan and had come to observe. She happened to witness Lu Yuan forging his sword techniques. Initially, she thought he was merely practicing a form, but she quickly realized something was amiss. Practicing a form requires no alteration; one repeats the established motions.

But forging a technique requires constant revision, modifications made during the creation process.

Ji Qianyu couldn't help but rub her eyes. What was she seeing? Lu Yuan! Lu Yuan was actually creating a sword technique, and not just any technique—a World-Extinguishing level one! The Thousand Water Sect's strength was comparable to the Sword Sect’s, perhaps slightly superior. The Thousand Water Sect did possess one set of World-Extinguishing maneuvers, but that set had been preserved through generations, held as supreme treasure, limited to fewer than five practitioners within the sect.

Her only thought regarding World-Extinguishing maneuvers was profound preciousness.

But now, before her eyes, Lu Yuan had forcefully created an entire World-Extinguishing sword technique, and it appeared even more formidable than the Thousand Water Sect’s ultimate lineage technique.

This!

Ji Qianyu did not know how to express the astonishment surging through her.

When Lu Yuan ceased forging the moves, she finally asked, "Did you create this?"

"Yes," Lu Yuan nodded. He vaguely felt that the third path of the Myriad Manifestations Myriad Forms Sword Dao, the Ancient Sword Dao, could serve as his ultimate weapon upon ascending to the Civilization Realm. He sensed there might be a Sword Seven following Sword Six, but he couldn't quite deduce what that move would entail just yet.

That was enough for now. He prepared to make his move! Time to rescue his people!