Taishi Kong remained there. Although close to Sword Extreme Mountain, viewing the forms and conditions within the Sword Scroll was far clearer through the Water Mirror Art from this spot. Both Jian Liulei and Jian Shangxin were present, staring intently at the screen. Furthermore, news that the Sword Scroll was about to open had drawn others, including Fa Xiao Dizhi of the Fa Gu Civilization. Fa Xiao Dizhi had recently been tasked with guarding the Jianmen area; given the numerous recent events, his assignment had been somewhat dull, so he naturally came to witness the excitement. Several others accompanied him, including a disguised Jian Ruhai. Since Jian Ruhai was still near Jianmen and was the Sect Master of the Hidden Sword Sect, he dared not appear openly.
Among this group was another swordsman. This swordsman was clearly not a true physical body, yet his mere clone radiated immense power, possessing the aura of at least the third heaven of the World Realm. The clone's face was somewhat unfamiliar—that of a middle-aged man. This man possessed exceptional features and an air of sorrowful melancholy, resembling a melancholic, scholarly middle-aged scribe.
The appearance of this middle-aged scribe swordsman startled Jian Liulei and Jian Shangxin, both of whom commanded the formidable strength of the seventh heaven of the World Realm.
Yet, seeing this swordsman’s mere clone already at the third heaven of the World Realm, they wondered just how terrifying his true body must be. When had such a master arisen in the Dao of the Sword? Logically, supreme experts in swordsmanship were exceedingly rare; the strongest were Lu Yuan and the Son of the Sword. However, this swordsman’s true body was likely no weaker than either of them. Who was this man resembling a middle-aged scholar?
The middle-aged scholar swordsman found a secluded bluestone and sat down. Taishi Kong, also curious about the sudden appearance of such a powerhouse, approached him: “I am Taishi Kong, the current Sword Master of Jianmen. May I ask your esteemed identity?”
“So, the current Sword Master,” the middle-aged scholar swordsman smiled faintly. “My origin is not a profound secret. The Lost Land.”
The Lost Land!
That exceedingly perilous place!
Such a powerful swordsman had emerged from there!
Jian Liulei and Jian Shangxin immediately prepared to investigate this middle-aged scholar swordsman.
After settling down, the middle-aged scholar sighed softly: “The Sword Scroll, it has been many years since I last saw it. Lu Yuan, it has also been some time since I last saw you.”
The mysterious and powerful middle-aged scholar swordsman!
Meanwhile, high atop Sword Extreme Mountain, a light appeared within the pitch-black passage.
Ancestor Jian Mie stated, “Immediately, the two of you will enter the reverse side of the Sword Scroll. The reverse side contains over three hundred inscribed characters.”
Indeed, the front side was what Lu Yuan entered when he was in the Great Dao Realm, while the reverse side was covered in text; even now, at the World Realm, one could not enter the front. The Sword Scroll possessed two distinct sides.
“Then, enter now,” Ancestor Jian Mie commanded. “Once you enter, you will find yourselves in an entirely different space. If one person obtains the Scroll first, the other will be automatically ejected. If neither obtains the Scroll, one might die within, or emerge wounded.”
The Son of the Sword and Lu Yuan subsequently entered the Sword Scroll one after the other.
Finally realizing his long-held desire to seize the Sword Scroll, the Son of the Sword felt boundless elation!
Yes, he had always longed to possess the Scroll.
And now, not only could he gain the Scroll, but he could also severely thwart Lu Yuan—what a perfect opportunity.
The Son of the Sword surveyed his surroundings, finding himself in a void of darkness with virtually no source of light. As light appeared, the first character materialized in the emptiness: the character “Cut” (). This was a character belonging to the Wind element, specifically Wind Severance, a Level Two character.
The Son of the Sword let out a long cry, drawing his sword. His Tai'a Immortal Sword was instantly unsheathed.
The Son of the Sword swung the Tai'a Immortal Sword, counter-slashing at the ‘Cut’ character. His sword exhibited countless transformations, cycling through many moves before he managed to force the ‘Cut’ character to shift aside! This displayed the Son of the Sword’s inherent capability; even without external aid, he could handle a certain number of Level Two characters. The title of the Seventh Son of Fortune was not without basis.
Immediately, the second character appeared. This was the character ‘Split’ (), also a Wind element character. The Son of the Sword had initially intended to test his swordsmanship; he was someone who strived to improve at every moment, much like Lu Yuan in this regard. However, he reconsidered: this was the moment he contended with Lu Yuan for the Scroll, and Lu Yuan might seize an opportunity for a counterattack. Therefore, he decided not to waste any time.
Above the Son of the Sword’s head, a character was summoned.
It was an intensely sharp character.
“Sharp” ()!
Indeed, ‘Sharp’!
The character ‘Sharp’ was a primordial character born in the previous epoch, an exceptionally powerful one. Though not as mighty as the Sword character from the preceding epoch, it still ranked among the top five primordial characters of the Sword Dao. However, it was eventually seized by the Vice-Master of the Jian Civilization, who then refined it obsessively, transforming it into the strongest character of the Jian Civilization.
Yet, what the Son of the Sword summoned now was the character ‘Sharp’—no! It wasn't the character ‘Sharp’!
No matter how ruthless, the Vice-Master of the Jian Civilization would not casually hand over his ultimate character to the Son of the Sword. This was clearly a clone of the ‘Sharp’ character, and an exceptionally potent one at that. Such clones were exceedingly rare. The Vice-Master of the Jian Civilization had invested heavily in the Son of the Sword, ensuring his success.
And the character ‘Sharp,’ as its name implied, was best at piercing through things.
The Vice-Master of the Jian Civilization was formidable among the various civilization vice-masters; he had pierced the primordial characters of many others.
Now, the Son of the Sword invoked the ‘Sharp’ clone, instantly piercing through a significant number of Wind element characters.
Soon, Level Two Wind element characters appeared one after another, only to be pierced through sequentially. When the fifty-first Level Two character appeared after the fiftieth Wind character was breached, it was no longer of the Wind element but of the Earth element—a massive character for ‘Rock’ () descended from the sky.
It was highly probable that characters of one element numbered fifty, conforming to the Great Evolution Number (Dàyǎn zhī Shù), after which the element shifted.
But this ‘Sharp’ clone was truly extraordinary. The Vice-Master of the Jian Civilization had poured immense essence into it, and it instantly pierced through the ‘Rock’ character. Subsequently, Earth element characters were pierced through continuously. The Son of the Sword was now filled with self-satisfaction. How laughable that the likes of Lu Yuan dared to contend with him! He possessed the most powerful clone of the ‘Sharp’ character, boundless in might.
Outside, before the Water Mirror.
“No wonder the Son of the Sword is so confident; it turns out the Vice-Master of the Jian Civilization gave him the strongest clone of the ‘Sharp’ character.”
“With the ‘Sharp’ clone, his chances of obtaining the Sword Scroll have become significantly easier.”
“It seems this time, the Sword Scroll will fall into the hands of the Son of the Sword.”
“However, the Son of the Sword is a traitor,” a Jianmen member shouted loudly. In the original Jianmen, there was a faction that leaned toward Jian, but after several baptisms of iron and blood, that faction had nearly vanished. And it was understood that the Jian Civilization was the enemy of Jianmen. Moreover, when the Son of the Sword failed to intervene during the battle between the Mad Gate and Jianmen, the entire Jianmen, save for the faction led by Ancestor Jian Xu, largely refused to support him. Seeing the ‘Sharp’ clone now only spurred more condemnation.
“Traitor, traitor.” As these people shouted 'traitor,' Jian Liulei and Jian Shangxin swept a casual glance across the crowd. The casual sweep of their gaze instantly unleashed the auras of two Heavenly Venerables. Instantly, those caught in the gaze of these two Heavenly Venerables quieted their voices.
Heavenly Venerable level!
A Heavenly Venerable’s scrutiny was inherently terrifying.
Even experts like Taishi Kong, at the second heaven of the World Realm, were nearly struck speechless under the oppressive aura of the Heavenly Venerables, feeling as if an opponent could crush them to death with a single finger. How much more so for the Jianmen members present, whose strength generally did not surpass Taishi Kong’s.
As Jian Liulei and Jian Shangxin scanned the crowd, emitting their Heavenly Venerable auras, they remarkably noticed that only two individuals remained unaffected.
One was Fa Xiao Dizhi, whose immunity as an Imperial Son of the Fa Gu Civilization was expected.
The other was that middle-aged scholar swordsman. With only the third heaven of the World Realm aura, this clone should not have been immune. This could only mean his true body was so powerful that the clone was unaffected. Who exactly was this middle-aged scholar swordsman, about whom no legends had ever been heard?
Turning back, the focus shifted to Lu Yuan’s side. As the Son of the Sword greeted his fifty-plus characters, Lu Yuan was only facing his twenty-odd characters. The first characters to descend were of the Wind element. For Lu Yuan, this was not exceedingly difficult. Although he had never mastered the Dragon of Swallowing Wind, he had mastered the Dragon of Swallowing Wood and the Dragon of Swallowing Thunder. Wood, Thunder, and Wind all belonged to the broader Wood system, meaning his restraint over Wind was quite fierce. While he couldn’t absorb the Wind element characters, they generally inflicted minimal lethal damage upon him; their effects were nullified.
Lu Yuan’s Nourishing Origin Immortal Sword was already drawn, flashing wildly in the void, dealing with the Wind element characters. Lu Yuan was knocking down one Wind character after another, without expending his full strength. Facing Wind element characters now did not require him to utilize his Wind power. Although slower than the Son of the Sword, Lu Yuan’s speed in handling the Wind characters was still adequate. Lu Yuan clearly noticed that while the Wind characters were manageable initially, their power increased the further they progressed.
Finally, all fifty Wind element characters were dealt with.
The fifty-first character descended. It was the character for ‘Rock’ ().
Rock, a Level Two Earth element character!
Indeed, the element shifted after reaching the Great Evolution Number. Lu Yuan’s expression turned serious. Earth element characters were where his abilities could be fully exerted; he could not be careless! The true battle had begun.