Lu Yuan summoned the fourth stance of his strange Sword Dao—the Cloud Form! As this sword manifested, it seemed as if the world had shifted into a realm of clouds.

Facing this Cloud World, Hua Fasheng was present, and his heart estimated the situation; he realized that even unleashing his full strength might not be enough to shatter this Cloud Form. What a formidable sword strike!

Then, the Vice-Lord of the Fagang Civilization pointed a single finger forward. Boom!

Clouds coiled, mists swirled and obfuscated. But instantly, the clouds scattered like flowing breezes.

That single finger, with almost no delay, pierced through countless layers of cloud, shattering the Cloud Form! The Cloud Form, which he had used for defense, was broken so easily; it truly lived up to its name as the touch of a Civilization Vice-Lord.

Lu Yuan was inwardly stunned, and at the same time, he summoned Sword Seven: One Small World strike! This Sword Seven, One Small World strike, infused the power of two minor Thousand Worlds; just recently, employing this move had easily defeated Emperor Di Zi Li Xiong.

Lu Yuan directed this very sword to collide violently with that finger! Rumble!

Crash! The sword met the finger!

But in that instant of collision between sword and finger, Lu Yuan shockingly perceived that the power contained within that single finger was immense, overwhelmingly great. His proud Sword Seven, Small World!

This attack, carrying the power of two minor Thousand Worlds, collapsed immediately upon contact with that finger, utterly routed. This was the power of the Civilization Realm!

Could it be that he couldn't even block a single finger from a Civilization Realm master? Just then, Lu Yuan felt the Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin Great Law rapidly circulating throughout his body.

It seemed the meridians within his form had turned into ten thousand streams, and that Civilization Realm power also divided into ten thousand strands. After being reduced by this massive influx, the mighty Civilization Realm power flowed into Lu Yuan’s body, continuously weakened by the Cloud Form's magical energy, before finally converging within the Dao of the Sword Black Hole.

Lu Yuan suffered a severe, sudden injury! However, this heavy blow had significantly reduced its potency.

The finger energy from the Fagang Civilization Vice-Lord was not yet exhausted and continued its assault. Lu Yuan continuously utilized the application of the Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin Great Law, systematically dismantling the opponent's magical power into ten thousand portions, transforming them into ten thousand tributaries.

After attenuation, they gathered in the Dao of the Sword Black Hole, further injuring him in the process. The finger’s magical power kept pouring in.

Lu Yuan realized that although the Great Law was shouldering much of the pressure for him, he might not be able to hold out much longer. Meanwhile, the Fagang Civilization Vice-Lord let out a soft 'Yi?' He noticed that Lu Yuan had absorbed the bulk of his finger force, yet still hadn't fallen.

The Fagang Vice-Lord was a man concerned with reputation; for such a distinguished Vice-Lord to be held off by a mere World Realm cultivator with a single finger would indeed damage his standing. For the sake of Civilization Realm dignity, the Fagang Vice-Lord released the remaining residual force of his finger—a torrent of finger energy, boundless sorcery erupted in a final blast.

Lu Yuan, at the same time, pushed his intrinsic abilities to their absolute extreme. In swordsmanship, he had already summoned Sword Eight: Myriad Swords Unite!

Innumerable ultimate techniques instantly manifested within his sword. As for the opponent’s power invading his body, he continued running the Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin Great Law to effectively neutralize most of the enemy energy that breached his defenses.

The Fagang Vice-Lord’s finger attack was reaching its conclusion, and Lu Yuan had exerted everything within him. Who would exhaust first: the Fagang Vice-Lord’s finger, or Lu Yuan’s endurance?

In that fleeting moment, the spectacle was astonishingly brilliant. At this instant, Lu Yuan was like a small boat tossed on a vast wave, moving only as the wave dictated, moments away from being capsized by this massive, world-spanning surge.

The wave stopped! Yes, the great wave suddenly ceased.

The world abruptly returned to normal! This was because the Fagang Vice-Lord’s finger attack had expended its force.

If he had launched a second finger strike, Lu Yuan would certainly have been defeated, but the Fagang Vice-Lord saw no need for a second strike; having delivered one, there was no reason to follow up. The Fagang Civilization Vice-Lord looked at Lu Yuan: “Congratulations, you actually withstood my single finger.

From now on, you can be called the strongest below the Fifty Heavenly Rankings, sufficient to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hua Fasheng.” He praised Lu Yuan sincerely, the commendation of a senior to a junior. While letting Lu Yuan withstand the strike certainly cost him some face, witnessing such strength and potential in a younger generation, the Fagang Vice-Lord admitted he had seen several truly brilliant aspects during that single blow—for instance, Lu Yuan’s swordsmanship was truly too exquisite; at its peak, even the Fagang Vice-Lord felt slightly inferior.

Therefore, the Fagang Vice-Lord offered his praise from the heart. Lu Yuan drew a deep breath into his abdomen.

Having survived that moment, he had truly expended every ounce of his energy. Thankfully, he had finally endured the single finger strike from a Civilization Realm master.

He had done it. This was merely a small success in his life, but achieving success through his own hard work brought an indescribable sense of elation and satisfaction—yes, this was an intensely exhilarating triumph.

The onlookers, the Vice-Lord of the Treasure Ship Civilization, the Vice-Lord of the Heavy Axe Civilization, and other Civilization Realm masters, all secretly commended him in their hearts: Lu Yuan actually surviving a single finger strike undefeated—truly remarkable. And among those in the World Realm, such as Hua Fasheng, Emperor Di Zi Fa Huang, Saint Son Di Zi Fa Sheng, and many others, all felt a deep sense of submission.

To withstand a Civilization Realm master’s single finger strike without defeat was an event worthy of renown across the myriad heavens. Lu Yuan stated in a deep voice, “I request that Vice-Lord Fa Gang grant me another lesson.” Having withstood the first strike without losing, he now requested a second.

The Fagang Vice-Lord was slightly taken aback, but Emperor Di Zi Fa Yi understood the underlying reason and offered a brief explanation, though he omitted mentioning the Hundred Defeats True Scripture. After hearing Fa Yi Di Zi’s clarification, the Fagang Vice-Lord nodded; if there was a reason, there was a reason.

For him, it wasn't a troublesome request, so the Fagang Vice-Lord cleanly and readily launched another finger strike, defeating Lu Yuan. This was Lu Yuan's tenth defeat!

In the following several days, Lu Yuan, still bearing injuries, challenged the Vice-Lord of the Treasure Ship Civilization and the Vice-Lord of the Heavy Axe Civilization. Both were visitors here, and missing the opportunity now might mean never encountering them again—what a pity.

These were crucial resources. He needed to accumulate thirty-three defeats.

The Heavy Axe Vice-Lord and the Treasure Ship Vice-Lord learned of Lu Yuan’s peculiar obsession—seeking out and being defeated by Civilization Realm masters. Coupled with the fact that they needed to show some deference to Emperor Di Zi Fa Yi, both Civilization Realm masters obliged, promptly defeating Lu Yuan.

Instantly, his tally of losses accumulated to twelve defeats. Originally, the Fagu Civilization had another Vice-Lord against whom he could have achieved a thirteenth defeat, but unfortunately, that Vice-Lord seemed occupied with a mission in a distant timeline, one that might require a thousand years to resolve.

Lu Yuan couldn't wait a millennium in the Fagu Civilization, so that matter was dropped. Twelve defeats—this was the record Lu Yuan accumulated in the Fagu Civilization.

Accumulating from zero to twelve defeats toward his goal of thirty-three was quite good. At this pace, it seemed it wouldn't take too long before he could complete the Hundred Defeats True Scripture.

Lu Yuan remained in the Fagu Civilization for some time thereafter. During this period, he spent just over half his time with Yun Xiuxue, occasionally sparring with Hua Fasheng and the Son of Fa.

He remained in a stalemate with Hua Fasheng, but the Son of Fa was far from his match, although Lu Yuan had to admit that the Son of Fa’s progress was exceptionally rapid, befitting one of the Seven Sons of Fortune. After some more time, Lu Yuan bid farewell to Emperor Di Zi Fa Yi, Saint Son Di Zi Fa Sheng, Yun Xiuxue, and the others, planning his departure for the Ru Civilization.

Naturally, he requested Emperor Di Zi Fa Yi to generate some fabricated intelligence suggesting he was still within the Fagu Civilization. If Lu Yuan vanished the moment Li Taishi appeared elsewhere, it would draw too much suspicion.

Thus, he needed the Fagu Civilization to maintain the illusion that Lu Yuan remained present, preventing unwarranted speculation from certain interested parties. Now, he was heading to secure twenty-one more defeats.

The Ru Civilization had three Vice-Lords, which could account for three defeats. Of course, to enter the Ru Civilization, he needed to adopt the visage of Li Taishi to proceed under that identity.

Lu Yuan sped towards the Ru Civilization, taking several tens of days to finally arrive. The Ru Civilization was heavily fortified, but Lu Yuan, operating as Li Taishi, could enter with ease.

Upon entering the Ru Civilization, Lu Yuan immediately encountered Kong Mingde and his entourage. Kong Mingde, a master at the Half-Step Civilization Realm, showed surprise upon seeing him: "Junior Brother Li, thank you for our time at the Sacred Land of Civilization." Back at the Sacred Land, he and Kong Ni had been trapped by the Son of Demon, and their killing points were nearly claimed by him.

Fortunately, Lu Yuan, disguised as Li Taishi, had managed to defeat the Son of Demon and save their lives; they were naturally indebted to Li Taishi. Lu Yuan smiled faintly, “We are all fellow disciples of the Ru Civilization; there is no need for such ceremony.” To Kong Mingde and the others, Li Taishi remained intensely mysterious.

He appeared in the Ru Civilization very rarely, yet possessed achievements like defeating the Son of Demon, but his public appearances within the sect were infrequent. Lu Yuan exchanged courteous pleasantries with Kong Mingde and the others before heading directly to seek out the Vice-Lord of the Ru Civilization.

After meeting the Ru Civilization Vice-Lord and explaining the matter of the Hundred Defeats True Scripture, the Vice-Lord was among those he absolutely trusted, as without him, Lu Yuan would have surely perished under the halberd of the Son of the Wild. Hearing the explanation, the Ru Civilization Vice-Lord showed no reserve.

He lifted his hand and unleashed a finger strike. Lu Yuan sensed that the power of this strike was not significantly greater than that of the Fagang Vice-Lord.

It seemed the current Ru Civilization Vice-Lord was indeed weakened; otherwise, in his prime, he could have instantly annihilated the Fagang Vice-Lord. And in a blink, Lu Yuan had secured his thirteenth defeat, with only twenty more needed to complete the thirty-three defeats required for the Hundred Defeats True Scripture.

(Apologies for the late update today.)