Both divine artifacts unleashed their sacred power simultaneously.

Beside Lu Yuan, an intense radiance bloomed, a light so profound it resembled a divine nimbus or a Buddha’s halo, yet infinitely more advanced. This was the Aura of Civilization, the Halo of Civilization; the very luminescence of civilization bathed Lu Yuan, whose expression now mirrored that of an invincible deity, a timeless Buddha, an immortal of ages past.

And then, a light transcending all things pierced through the eons of ancient time, striking Lu Yuan’s body.

This was the Light of the Epoch!

Upon reaching the Civilization Realm, the elevation of one’s arcane power by an entire Epoch is sometimes accompanied by the Light of the Epoch.

The Light of the Epoch is famously known as the most beautiful of all lights.

However, witnessing the Light of the Epoch is no easy feat. There are only a few hundred masters in the Civilization Realm, and they rarely advance their strength; moreover, anyone even slightly distant cannot perceive this light. Furthermore, this light does not manifest with every advancement, meaning the vast majority of those in the World Realm have never seen it. Now, finally, this most exquisite Light of the Epoch had appeared.

No language could possibly describe the beauty of the Light of the Epoch.

No language could possibly capture the elegance of the Light of the Epoch.

Under the illumination of this light, Lu Yuan’s arcane power surged upward, climbing higher and stronger, ever stronger.

Boom! It sounded as if a dragon roared and a tiger howled simultaneously.

The Light of the Epoch slowly converged upon Lu Yuan’s body, then vanished.

Concurrently, Lu Yuan’s arcane power gradually stabilized. This marked the early stage of the Third Epoch.

Between heaven and earth, another Vice-Lord of Civilization from the Third Epoch had been added. Lu Yuan let out a mighty shout and ignited his Celestial-Grade Spiritual Veins. He currently possessed two hundred and sixty of these veins. They burned fiercely, ten by ten fed into the flame. This time, a full one hundred and eighty Celestial-Grade Spiritual Veins were consumed just to push his foundational power to the very peak of the Third Epoch.

In that instant, the feeling was that heaven and earth lay entirely within his grasp. The peak of the Third Epoch was indeed exhilarating!

Of course, this left him with only eighty Celestial-Grade Spiritual Veins remaining. These veins were being depleted at an astonishing rate.

The surrounding Vice-Lords of Civilization could only sigh in awe. Most of them had experienced advancements from the First to the Third Epoch, but for such paragons among Civilization Realm experts, achieving the leap from the First to the Third Epoch normally required a substantial duration and numerous fortunate encounters. For Lu Yuan to become a Third Epoch Vice-Lord so rapidly was truly astonishing.

When would Lu Yuan’s breakneck ascension finally cease?

The Vice-Lord of the Miao Civilization grew secretly furious. How could he not know that the divine artifacts and Celestial-Grade Spiritual Veins Lu Yuan currently possessed belonged to Miao Dao and Miao Gu? Lu Yuan had slain both of them and was now using their divine artifacts and spirit stones to advance his strength right before his eyes—this was utterly damnable. The Miao Civilization and Lu Yuan were now locked in an irreconcilable, death-or-glory feud.

Clang! The eighth chime of the Azure Sound Bell rang out.

The Contest of the Azure Maidens was about to commence.

The atmosphere instantly became taut with tension.

Indeed, the preceding battle between Lu Yuan and Miao Dao and Miao Gu had been breathtaking—a genuine clash of the Civilization Realm. However, for some within the World Realm, that fight was too esoteric, incomprehensible. No, search for updates on Baidu Huashan Immortal Sect. They couldn't watch. That battle, starting with Vice-Lord Miao Dao’s Epoch Collapse slash, forced every World Realm practitioner to shut their eyes; they simply could not watch. Therefore, the upcoming match between Little Qing and Qing Lian was the real engagement, and it promised to be extraordinarily splendid.

Furthermore, concerning the broader picture of the Central Celestial Dynasty, Lu Yuan’s fight against Miao Dao and Miao Gu might not even be as crucial as Xiao Qing versus Qing Lian. After all, this struggle directly impacted the future alignment and direction of the Feng Gu Civilization. Thus, this fight was worth watching even more than the last.

As for the impact of Lu Yuan’s victory over Miao Dao and Miao Gu, it had entirely evaporated upon the arrival of the Vice-Lord of the Miao Civilization.

Now, Yue Nu Xiao Qing and Miao Nu Qing Lian could both face each other with relatively calm minds.

It was time to witness this contest.

As the ninth chime neared, Lu Yuan, having just broken through to the Third Epoch, sent a private transmission to Yue Nu Xiao Qing, passing on his sword technique, "Azure." For some unknown reason, he sensed that this technique he had comprehended would prove exceptionally useful. Normally, it would take Yue Nu Xiao Qing a very long time to master a technique of the "Azure" caliber. Yet, inexplicably, she grasped it almost instantaneously.

Lu Yuan nodded slightly. Perhaps this was what was meant by the "Azure Maiden Disposition."

Clang! The melodious sound of the Azure Sound Bell resonated once more.

It had officially begun.

Princess Yunwu rose to her feet and proclaimed loudly, "The Contest of the Azure Maidens starts now. The two candidates are Yue Nu Xiao Qing from the Outer Domain, and Miao Nu Qing Lian from the Miao Civilization. Begin your fair fight; the victor shall claim the title of Azure Maiden." The surroundings fell silent.

Yue Nu Xiao Qing proceeded with light, delicate steps toward the center of the Azure Sandalwood Platform. Clad in azure robes, she was exquisitely graceful, her elegance tinged with a hint of martial spirit. Her hair was styled in the Twin Ring Immortality-Gazing Knot; her neck was long and slender, her waist narrow. She carried the Azure Yue Immortal Sword upon her back. Her entire bearing seemed to merge with the platform itself, causing onlookers to marvel inwardly: truly worthy of the Azure Maiden Disposition, capable of such perfect union with the Azure Sandalwood Platform.

Immediately, Miao Nu Qing Lian stepped onto the stage. She was slightly darker-skinned, dressed in sky-blue attire, adorned with various ornaments: a Phoenix Sparrow hairpin chain, a Silver Sparrow Phoenix Crown, silver combs and hairpins, silver chains woven into her hair, and silver sparrows tucked into her locks. Her forehead was decorated with silver Arhats, Bodhisattvas, the noble child Guanyin, and a silver-inlaid forehead band with jingling bells along the edges—she possessed a wild, untamed beauty. She, too, achieved a seamless integration with the Azure Sandalwood Platform, leading the surrounding crowd to murmur that she was also undoubtedly worthy of the Azure Maiden Disposition, resonating so perfectly with the platform’s essence.

In truth, both Yue Nu Xiao Qing and Miao Nu Qing Lian possessed the Azure Maiden Disposition.

Yue Nu Xiao Qing’s temperament was like the ethereal blue of a still mountain vista.

Miao Nu Qing Lian’s temperament was like the tenacious wild grass growing beneath a harsh stone.

Their auras differed, yet both could claim the mantle of the Azure Maiden.

And now, their battle was set to begin.

Miao Nu Qing Lian swept her hand through the air, conjuring a scimitar—a Grass-Cutting Miao Saber. This blade held immense power; it was the former sidearm of the Miao Civilization’s Vice-Lord before he ascended to the Civilization Realm, famously reputed to slice through men as easily as cutting grass, unstoppable in every endeavor. Miao Nu Qing Lian smiled faintly. "Little Sister Yue Nu, it is time for us to exchange blows. I claim the Azure Maiden position."

Yue Nu Xiao Qing offered a cool smile, her hand resting on the hilt of the Azure Yue Immortal Sword. "Who truly wins the Azure Maiden title will only be known after we fight."

"Is that so? Very well. Today, I will show you the strength of your elder sister and the profound foundation of the Miao Civilization." Miao Nu Qing Lian cried out sharply, releasing a torrent of arcane power. Rumor held that she was a World Realm Seventh Heaven master, raised to the Eighth Heaven with the aid of Miao Dao and Miao Gu. But now, it was clear her power far exceeded the Eighth Heaven.

Ninth Heaven of the World Realm!

Tenth Heaven of the World Realm!

Half-Step Civilization Realm!

What a Miao Nu Qing Lian, what a Miao Civilization! They had forcibly elevated her to the Half-Step Civilization Realm. Although her foundation might be slightly unstable, she was still operating at that level—a truly shocking and terrifying cultivation tier. After unleashing her full power, the Grass-Cutting Miao Saber carved an exquisitely intricate curve through the void, cleaving directly toward Yue Nu Xiao Qing. This strike seemed to embody the very essence and mystery of a curved blade, a formidable move within the World Realm. Miao Nu Qing Lian’s Half-Step Civilization Realm status was not an empty boast. Yue Nu Xiao Qing was rumored to be only at the First or Second Heaven of the World Realm previously; facing Miao Nu Qing Lian’s assault would not be easy.

Just as the spectators thought this, Yue Nu Xiao Qing thrust her sword forward diagonally. This strike was exquisitely wondrous, almost stealing the marvels of the world itself—a sword technique that stole the world’s subtlety even among World Realm masters. Based purely on technique, this move should be capable of parrying Miao Nu Qing Lian’s attack. But the disparity in arcane power was too vast; Miao Nu Qing Lian now wielded Half-Step Civilization Realm strength. What power could Yue Nu Xiao Qing possibly possess?

As everyone mulled this over, the Immortal Sword and the Miao Saber collided fiercely in the void. Yue Nu Xiao Qing was forced into continuous retreat, and yet, Miao Nu Qing Lian was also being pushed back.

What!

As the crowd felt utter disbelief, the hidden ring of arcane power surrounding Yue Nu Xiao Qing suddenly burst open. This concealing ring had been placed by Lu Yuan; without at least five or six Epochs of accumulated power, one truly could not discern Yue Nu Xiao Qing’s real strength. Her entire aura of power began to climb relentlessly.

World Realm Third Heaven!

World Realm Fourth Heaven!

World Realm Fifth Heaven!

World Realm Sixth Heaven!

World Realm Seventh Heaven!

World Realm Eighth Heaven!

World Realm Ninth Heaven!

World Realm Tenth Heaven!

Half-Step Civilization Realm!

Yue Nu Xiao Qing, she too was a Half-Step Civilization Realm master! An immense tide of power flowed around her.

How was this achieved?

How was this possible!

Yue Nu Xiao Qing was originally only at the World Realm Second Heaven. Her current Half-Step Civilization Realm strength had only one source: Lu Yuan.

Everything pointed back to Lu Yuan.

But wait—that didn't make sense. Even for a powerful faction with the deep reserves of the Miao Civilization, elevating someone from World Realm Second Heaven to Half-Step Civilization Realm in just three months was impossible. Never mind the Miao Civilization; even stronger powers like the Wind Civilization or the Artifact Civilization likely couldn't achieve such a feat.

Yet, Lu Yuan was merely a single individual. How could he surpass an entire Civilization in such a domain?