A civilization, a power structure, had always existed, possessing an infinitely deep foundation. This foundation was not something one individual could possibly match. Yet now, Lu Yuan, a mere single person, was achieving something absolutely impossible. He had only recently entered the Civilization Realm, so how could he accomplish something even an average civilization could not—how could he facilitate such a massive power boost for Xiao Qing? Countless people found it unbelievable; what Lu Yuan had done was truly inconceivable. Only those within the Civilization Realm managed to glean a fraction of the truth. Firstly, Lu Yuan must have employed some exceedingly rare methods. Secondly, Lu Yuan possessed the character 'Yuan' (Circle/Origin). Regardless of his methods, this initial character, 'Yuan,' was critically important. Without the buffering effect of the 'Yuan' character, Yue Nu Xiao Qing would have surely suffered explosive disintegration long ago. But regardless of the means, Lu Yuan had definitively succeeded in this heaven-defying feat.

As the Miao Maiden Qing Lian retreated, she couldn't suppress her shock. "You... you... Half-Step Civilization Realm, how could you possibly advance this quickly?" Her cherry lips gaped wide. The Yue Maiden Xiao Qing offered a slight smile. "Sister Miao Maiden, please favor me with your guidance once more." Miao Maiden Qing Lian regained her composure and returned a faint smile. "Then I shall ask Sister Yue Maiden for your instruction." The Grass-Cutting Miao Blade in her hand swung forth again, carving series after series of curves as it drove toward Yue Maiden Xiao Qing, while Xiao Qing met it sword strike for sword strike. In terms of technique, the two were fundamentally evenly matched. The previous life of Yue Maiden Xiao Qing was too extraordinary; the foremost figure of the Outer Domain, Yue Nu Ah Qing, was not just a title. Her past incarnation was the greatest legend of the Outer Domain, renowned for defeating the three thousand Chaos Realms of the Central Heavenly Dynasty with a single sword technique. At that time, she was already in the Chaos Realm, which spoke volumes about the marvel of her swordsmanship. However, gradually, Miao Maiden Qing Lian began to gain the upper hand. The advantage stemmed from her superior magical power; one strike from her Grass-Cutting Miao Blade threatened to send Yue Maiden Xiao Qing's Azure Luan Immortal Sword flying. The reason for this was actually simple. Indeed, Miao Maiden Qing Lian's sudden leap in cultivation caused her magical power to be unstable, but Yue Maiden Xiao Qing had also instantly elevated her realm, making her own power unstable as well. Relatively speaking, Xiao Qing’s advancement in realm was greater, and her magical power and state were even less stable. Miao Maiden Qing Lian smiled faintly; if she continued this offensive pace, victory was assured.

Just then, Yue Maiden Xiao Qing’s expression turned solemn, and in the next instant, the sword light she unleashed was a piercing azure. Azure Bamboo Hat. Verdant trees and trailing vines. Frogs croaking everywhere amidst the green grass ponds. The mirror’s cinnabar dust reflecting brilliantly, invaded by smoke of azure breath. Moss traces climb the green steps, grass hues spill into the curtain's azure. The Azure Sword! Yes, it was the Azure Sword technique she learned from Lu Yuan. Although it lacked the all-encompassing azure hue Lu Yuan could summon, it was still a supreme killing move of the World Realm. Moreover, this Azure Sword technique could channel the innate power residing within the Green Cypress Terrace, unleashing a torrential force that slammed heavily into Miao Maiden Qing Lian. Miao Maiden Qing Lian was violently repelled by this overwhelming azure wave, and in the blink of an eye, the advantage swung back to Yue Maiden Xiao Qing. Miao Maiden Qing Lian attempted to use other moves with her Grass-Cutting Miao Blade, but Yue Maiden Xiao Qing ignored everything else, using only the Azure Sword technique repeatedly, inflicting several wounds upon Miao Maiden Qing Lian.

Miao Maiden Qing Lian looked at Yue Maiden Xiao Qing. "You forced me to do this; do not blame me." As she spoke, her left hand moved with lightning speed. A brilliant radiance of Civilization began to emanate from her left hand—the Great Dao of Civilization, the Classics of Civilization, the ebb and flow of Civilization. And it wasn't just her left hand; her left foot also began to shimmer with the glory of Civilization—the Great Dao of Civilization, the traces of Civilization, the allure of Civilization. "Her left hand and left foot are displaying the feeling of Civilization. This is a part of a Civilization Relic Body." "Heavens, possessing even a fragment of a Civilization Realm Relic Body allows one to become immensely powerful. Given a little more time, Miao Maiden Qing Lian might climb into the Heavenly Ranks." While the Heavenly Ranks were insignificant when Lu Yuan was in the World Realm, they were still a monumental achievement; even Hua Fa Sheng failed to secure that position, which underscored her true strength.

Miao Maiden Qing Lian looked at Yue Maiden Xiao Qing. "Sister Yue Maiden, it seems you are about to lose this battle. The Hand of Civilization commands the firmament; the Foot of Civilization treads the earth. Heaven and Earth are both in my hands. What can you use to fight me?" In that instant, the heavens flipped and the earth overturned; all of existence was now within her grasp. Miao Maiden Qing Lian raised a hand, grasping the sky; she stamped a foot, holding the ground. The Heaven and Earth Convergence Strike! The heavens and earth slowly began to contract around them. Yue Maiden Xiao Qing deployed the Azure Sword technique once more, but it was utterly useless against the Heaven and Earth Convergence Strike. Xiao Qing launched several more moves, yet still, they had no effect. Seeing the Convergence Strike about to crush Yue Maiden Xiao Qing into dust, Miao Maiden Qing Lian revealed a triumphant smile. The Civilization Relic Body—one hand, one foot, the Heaven and Earth Convergence Strike—this was Miao Maiden Qing Lian’s ultimate trump card.

Just as Yue Maiden Xiao Qing was about to be flattened into a meat patty, a terrifying sword qi erupted from her body. A single thread of sword qi—what was that? Miao Maiden Qing Lian sneered inwardly. Then, Yue Maiden Xiao Qing's entire demeanor became solemn as boundless sword qi began to surge forth. Ridiculous! Ridiculous! What is your sword qi to me? Die! Miao Maiden Qing Lian felt an overwhelming killing intent toward Yue Maiden Xiao Qing. The Heaven and Earth Convergence Strike had reached its final phase. Die for me! Heaven and Earth slammed down simultaneously. From this moment forward, there should be no more Yue Maiden Xiao Qing in this world; the position of the Azure Maiden would be hers.

But at that very moment, boundless, frenzied sword qi began to rage and soar. This crazed sword energy pierced the sky and tore through the earth. The Heavens and Earth Shattered! And that was not all; it instantly shot toward Miao Maiden Qing Lian. Miao Maiden Qing Lian hurriedly summoned the Hand of Civilization to govern the heavens and the Foot of Civilization to control the earth—governing the heavens and controlling the earth, the Heaven and Earth Convergence Strike. However, her sky-governing and earth-controlling forces were pierced once more by the frenzied sword qi. That energy was too wild, too untamed; within that sword qi lay the profundity of Civilization, the essence of Civilization, the grandeur of Civilization, the immensity of Civilization, the majesty of Civilization, the magnificence of Civilization, the sharpness of Civilization, the utter arrogance of Civilization. This was the sword cultivation of the Civilization Realm! Moreover, Miao Maiden Qing Lian quickly realized that her application involved only one hand and one foot of the Civilization Realm, whereas the sword qi emanating from Yue Maiden Xiao Qing represented a complete Civilization Realm sword cultivation—nothing lacking, far superior to the mere hand and foot she possessed. Furthermore, Miao Maiden Qing Lian realized this torrent of sword qi was heading for her with insane momentum. Miao Maiden Qing Lian considered begging for mercy, but it was too late. Just as she was about to perish under Yue Maiden Xiao Qing’s blade, utterly incapable of resistance, a sudden, immense force swept in. The Deputy Master of the Miao Civilization reached out, shattering Yue Maiden Xiao Qing’s power and pulling Miao Maiden Qing Lian back. "In this contest for the Azure Maiden position, our Miao Civilization has lost." Originally, the Deputy Master of the Miao Civilization was a cold-blooded man; what was one Miao Maiden Qing Lian? But after losing Miao Dao and Miao Gu, he realized the Miao Civilization had few talents left, and Miao Maiden Qing Lian was one such talent worth keeping and cultivating properly.

With the Deputy Master of the Miao Civilization making this declaration, the contention for the Azure Maiden position finally concluded. Miao Maiden Qing Lian’s face was ashen. She had entered the contest with absolute confidence, holding back the great ultimate move of the Civilization Relic Body—one hand, one foot. She never anticipated such a crushing defeat. In fact, it wasn't just Miao Maiden Qing Lian; everyone else on the Green Cypress Terrace, regardless of whether they were in the Civilization Realm or not, never expected the Azure Maiden battle to be so fiercely contested. Initially, Miao Maiden Qing Lian revealing the magical power of the Half-Step Civilization Realm drew gasps of shock. Immediately following that, Yue Maiden Xiao Qing displayed Half-Step Civilization Realm power, causing an even greater tremor. This was because Lu Yuan had accomplished something an ordinary civilization could not. Of course, this was also because Lu Yuan benefited from having the initial character 'Yuan' as a buffer; otherwise, Lu Yuan could not have achieved it either. The result was swift: Yue Maiden Xiao Qing demonstrated extraordinary aptitude, quickly mastering the Azure Sword technique that Lu Yuan had only recently created, gaining a slight edge. Who could have imagined that at this crucial juncture, Miao Maiden Qing Lian would unleash the Civilization Relic Body—one hand, one foot, the Heaven and Earth Convergence Strike. Just as everyone assumed Yue Maiden Xiao Qing was about to lose, she unveiled Civilization-level sword cultivation, surpassing Miao Maiden Qing Lian. The entire process was exceptionally turbulent. Furthermore, on the Green Cypress Terrace, whether they were Civilization Realm practitioners or not, whether they belonged to the primeval side or the forces of the Dharma and Martial Ancients, everyone understood that this contest for the Azure Maiden was, in essence, a duel between the Miao Civilization and Lu Yuan. Everyone had assumed that no matter how Lu Yuan, a newcomer, played his hand, he could not overcome an established power like the Miao Civilization. But now the result was clear: Lu Yuan had won; he had fiercely triumphed in this struggle. This was truly astounding! Extraordinarily remarkable! The Miao Civilization had completely lost face, while Lu Yuan’s reputation soared. In the circle of the Civilization Realm, no one could afford to look down on Lu Yuan any longer. ..................

Miao Maiden Qing Lian stood pale-faced beside the Deputy Master of the Miao Civilization, while Yue Maiden Xiao Qing stood lightly, gracefully apart, her Azure Luan Immortal Sword already sheathed. The Lord of the Phoenix Ancient Civilization finally spoke. "Yue Maiden Xiao Qing is the victor in this contest for the Azure Maiden. Henceforth, Yue Maiden Xiao Qing shall preside over the Azure Maiden position, titled Princess Qing Jing, taking charge of the Wood Messenger among the Seven Maidens." Her voice seemed to descend from the highest heavens; though her tone was mild, it carried an irrefutable authority. Finally, finally, finally, it was established. Among the Seven Maidens, the position of the Azure Maiden would be held by Yue Maiden Xiao Qing. The surrounding crowd reacted in varied ways upon hearing this news. Yue Maiden Xiao Qing did not know what countless people beside her were thinking; her gaze was fixed solely on Lu Yuan. Yes, she had succeeded; she had secured the Azure Maiden position. With this title, she could help Lu Yuan in the future, and be closer to him. (The second update is delivered. I finished writing quite early today, so I’m posting sooner. Congratulations to the new Azure Maiden Xiao Qing. Also, I made a mistake in the previous chapter; the Azure Maiden’s immortal sword is the Azure Luan Immortal Sword. Finally, if you have monthly votes, please cast them as we push for the top ten in the category monthly votes.)(To be continued)