The Vice Lord of the Arid Warm Civilization was no ordinary deputy leader of a civilization.

He possessed the magic power of the Sixth Epoch.

Such profound magic power was truly no small matter.

And according to the rules of the Ancient Arid Civilization, once one achieved the magic power of the Sixth Epoch, they were entitled to wield the Great Seal of Aridity.

This in itself was not an issue.

The problem was that recently, Yao Ji Holy Mother, one of the seven daughters under the Lord of the Phoenix Ancient Civilization who commanded the energies of Yang and Fire, came to see her. Yao Ji Holy Mother was the second-ranked figure among the seven daughters, second only to the Queen Mother of the West, who commanded the energies of Metal of Heaven and Earth, and was on par with the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden, who commanded the subtle essence of Wind. When such a major figure as Yao Ji Holy Mother came calling, even the Vice Lord of the Arid Warm Civilization had to show some deference.

Yao Ji Holy Mother’s purpose was singular: to demand the Mark of Aridity.

The Mark of Aridity was naturally meant to deal with the Sword Dao Heavenly Tribulation, so the Vice Lord of the Arid Warm Civilization could not easily hand it over. However, when Yao Ji Holy Mother mentioned it was being requested for Yue Nu Xiao Qing, the Vice Lord found himself with no choice but to comply. Naturally, the Vice Lord had to ask for clarification: wasn't the agreement that they would remain strictly neutral and not assist either of the two candidates for the Azure Maiden position before the Azure Maiden Contest?

To this, Yao Ji Holy Mother’s only response was, "There is no other way."

The Phoenix Ancient Civilization’s principle was not to interfere, but they could not simply watch Yue Nu Xiao Qing be obliterated by the Heavenly Tribulation. It was necessary to request the Mark of Aridity; after all, the Phoenix Ancient Civilization’s principle dictated that neither candidate could perish.

Therefore, the Vice Lord of the Arid Warm Civilization could only oblige this one time to ease the tension, honestly handing over the equivalent amount of the Mark of Aridity for one person.

As a result, Yue Nu Xiao Qing’s Heavenly Tribulation passed with ease. It was nothing like Yan Cangtian, who still had not obtained the Mark of Aridity, or Lu Yuan, who only survived his tribulation by relying on the seemingly fatal Sword Oblivion Stele. Yue Nu Xiao Qing, however, sailed through the Sword Dao Tribulation of the Second Layer of the World Realm so lightly.

Yet, this incident also exposed the strength of Yue Nu Xiao Qing after a period of training: the Second Heaven of the World Realm.

Simultaneously, with the full assistance of the Miao Civilization, the strength of the Miao Maiden Qing Lian had reached the Eighth Heaven of the World Realm.

Just over half a month ago, Yue Nu Xiao Qing was at the First Heaven of the World Realm; half a month before that, she was at the Second Heaven of the World Realm—this progress was incredibly rapid.

Similarly, half a month ago, Miao Maiden Qing Lian was at the Seventh Heaven of the World Realm, and now, half a month later, she was at the Eighth Heaven of the World Realm—this pace was also quite fast.

Although both had advanced by one heaven, Miao Maiden Qing Lian’s progress was clearly faster.

If this trend continued, Miao Maiden Qing Lian would win by a significant margin. Even though Lu Yuan had reached the Civilization Realm, he still could not compare to the Miao Civilization’s advancement.

...

Inside the Azure Pattern Palace.

Lu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, and Yue Nu Xiao Qing stood behind him.

Xiao Qing was now at the Second Heaven of the World Realm. In her previous life, this cultivation level would have been satisfying. But this was not her previous life, and the great enemy this time, Miao Maiden Qing Lian, was clearly much stronger. Xiao Qing also desired to become stronger. She was intensely focused on securing her position as the Azure Maiden because she understood that if she were merely an ordinary outer domain maiden, she could not possibly help Lu Yuan. She desperately wanted to aid him.

Yun Xiu Xue was the Fourth Imperial Daughter of the Law Ancient Civilization, noble by birth.

Zhong Ling was Chang'e’s Jade Rabbit, intrinsically a reincarnation of a Civilization Vice Lord, destined to achieve that rank, with the future Civilization Lord, Chang’e, as her backer.

Only she had nothing. Thus, she was desperate to seize the Azure Maiden position and refused to let it go.

However, at the current rate of progress, she was certain to lose the Azure Maiden position.

Xiao Qing fell silent, and the atmosphere grew somewhat frigid.

Just then, a streak of white light shot inward. Xiao Qing didn't react immediately. By the time the white light stopped, she clearly saw what it was: a bird.

To be precise, it was an exquisitely formed, pure white swallow.

Swallows are common, but pure white ones are rare, and this one moved with the speed of light itself.

Huh, which senior sister does this swallow belong to? Why is it coming to my Azure Pattern Palace? The animals in the Phoenix Ancient Civilization are all quite intelligent; they wouldn't get the destination wrong.

The pure white swallow landed in Lu Yuan’s palm. Lu Yuan smiled slightly: "Finally, it’s here."

Xiao Qing started when she heard Lu Yuan speak, realizing Lu Yuan had been waiting for this pure white swallow.

Lu Yuan focused his gaze on the white swallow, condensed his intent, and snatched something from it—a book. "This is for you to practice."

Xiao Qing took it. It was a snow-white book, with a picture of a pure white swallow drawn on the cover, and inscribed on it in delicate script were the words: "Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra." Xiao Qing blinked in surprise. Lu Yuan explained, "I have some acquaintance with the Vice Lord of the Martial Swallow Civilization. This is the body-refining cultivation method she practices." Lu Yuan did indeed possess several body-refining methods; for instance, the Vice Lord of the Strength Saint Civilization had left behind the Heart Sutra of the Strength Civilization. That set of methods was undoubtedly high-grade, but the issue was that the Strength Civilization’s methods were utterly unsuitable for a woman to practice—turning Xiao Qing into a muscular woman would be ridiculous.

Lu Yuan didn't have one on hand, but he recalled that the Vice Lord of the Martial Swallow Civilization did. She was from the Martial Ancient Civilization, and the Martial Ancient Civilization should rank among the foremost in body refining throughout the Central Celestial Dynasty. Coincidentally, the Vice Lord of the Martial Swallow Civilization had left him her contact information, so Lu Yuan had been waiting for her heart method to arrive. This wait had stretched for over half a month.

Half a month passed quickly in the Central Celestial Dynasty. Fortunately, the Vice Lord of the Martial Swallow Civilization was in seclusion not too far from the Phoenix Ancient Civilization. Bound by the rules of the Martial Ancient Civilization, she couldn't give Lu Yuan their true supreme arts, so she provided her self-created body-refining method, the Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra. This Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra was genuinely an excellent method, capable of helping Xiao Qing refine her body, making it significantly more resistant to damage.

Lu Yuan then looked at Xiao Qing: "From now on, I must speak seriously. I have a way to raise your strength to the Half-Step Civilization Realm within half a month. However, doing so will make your foundation unstable, and you might never break through to the Civilization Realm for an extremely long time, perhaps not even before this Epoch ends. Moreover, your Half-Step Civilization Realm strength will be weaker than others who reached the same cultivation level through steady practice. Of course, Miao Maiden Qing Lian also advanced rapidly, so her foundation isn't perfectly stable either, and her combat power is weaker than someone of the same rank naturally. Are you certain about this choice?"

Xiao Qing pondered briefly, then nodded her delicate head: "I am certain."

"Good, since you're certain, this is easy. From this moment on, your special training officially begins.

"Your special training involves two things: first, practice this Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra to make your body stronger and more resilient to destruction. Second, spar with me whenever you have time to improve your combat skill," Lu Yuan stated, as sword fighting was paramount in real combat.

Xiao Qing didn't fully grasp the underlying reasons, but Lu Yuan was the only Civilization Realm expert currently helping her, and she already trusted him implicitly. The special training finally commenced in earnest.

As Xiao Qing began her training, Lu Yuan felt a mixture of amusement and frustration because there was a letter tucked into the back of the book—a letter from the Vice Lord of the Martial Swallow Civilization. In this letter, she had written some teasing remarks directed at him. Forget it, this Senior Martial Swallow is truly vexing. Forget it, let it go.

Lu Yuan casually took out an Earth-grade Spirit Vein. For Xiao Qing, an Earth-grade Spirit Vein was sufficient. Lu Yuan possessed an absurd abundance of Earth-grade Spirit Veins; they were practically worthless to him now. He currently had over a hundred Heaven-grade Spirit Veins, and one Heaven-grade Spirit Vein was equivalent to ten thousand Earth-grade ones.

As the Earth-grade Spirit Vein pulsed with energy, Xiao Qing sat down cross-legged and silently began circulating the Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra. This manual, the life's work of the Vice Lord of the Martial Swallow Civilization, truly contained the secrets of wondrous, heaven-defying power. From the moment Xiao Qing started circulating it, she felt an inexhaustible supply of vital energy pouring into her body.

This spiritual energy was not only increasing Xiao Qing’s magic power, but she could also distinctly feel it continuously reshaping her physique—her flesh, skin, bones, and viscera were growing harder with every breath. The Martial Ancient Civilization specialized in close-quarters combat, so having an unyielding body was essential.

However, Xiao Qing sensed that no matter how miraculous the Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra was, given the remaining little over two months, reaching the Third Heaven of the World Realm would be immensely difficult, let alone the Half-Step Civilization Realm.

But since Lu Yuan commanded her to do so, she could only continue her cultivation path.

Lu Yuan placed his hands in the air over her body. Xiao Qing immediately felt a slight warmth on her back, while simultaneously sensing that Lu Yuan’s palms were continuously feeding magical power into her body. However, this power was not meant to enhance her magic reserves, but rather to keep refining her physical body, making it increasingly tough and damage-resistant.

Why does Lu Yuan keep enhancing my body’s resilience like this? Xiao Qing harbored a few doubts.

...

After cultivating the Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra for a while, they would practice sword fighting for a while.

Lu Yuan did not use a physical sword; he manifested one with a mere thought, turning his finger into a blade.

Xiao Qing wielded the Azure Luan Immortal Sword, which was entirely jade-green.

Swords came and went; swords moved forward and retreated.

Lu Yuan’s finger-sword clashed and shifted continuously against Xiao Qing’s Azure Luan Immortal Sword in the air.

"This strike, you used it too high. Yes, lower it slightly."

"The essence of this strike lies in the concept of 'solitude.' Infuse it with the meaning of solitude."

"This strike must be fast, it requires the utmost variation; otherwise, it is useless!" Lu Yuan continuously offered pointers. Fortunately, Xiao Qing was herself a Sword Saint with considerable inherent sword mastery, making instruction easier. If he were teaching someone basic sword techniques from scratch, Lu Yuan suspected his teaching level wouldn't even surpass that of his own master, Li Yuanbai.

Time flowed by as Xiao Qing practiced the Spirit Swallow Heart Sutra and engaged in sword sparring with Lu Yuan.

In the blink of an eye, another two months passed.

Only half a month remained until the final Azure Maiden Contest.