One by one, the Deputy Lords of Civilization stepped forward. These Deputy Lords were all figures of the Nine Epochs or Nine and a Half Epochs, each possessing incredible, unimaginable magical power, truly the overlords of heaven and earth. Yet, faced with this Star Domain Gate, they were utterly helpless. Very few could breach the first gate, and only one person managed the second—the Deputy Lord of the Ice Civilization. This Ice Civilization Deputy Lord finally reached the very entrance of the third layer, the Eternal Layer.

Those who followed ascended one after another, but the result was largely the same: most became stuck at the first layer, with extremely few reaching the second.

Finally, it was the turn of the Three Swordsmen of the Sword Civilization.

Zhou Qingxuan stood up, taking his erhu with him as he stepped forward. "Allow me to make the first attempt," he said.

For some inexplicable reason, the moment he appeared, everyone present sensed an aura of deep sorrow, as if gusts of sad night rain were gently drifting down.

Zhou Qingxuan straightened his posture and slowly drew his sword from the body of the erhu.

His hands were steady—long, slender, and pale. He drew the sword at a measured pace, a rhythm steeped in profound melancholy, and the blade itself held a hazy, indistinct quality.

The sword emerged from the erhu section by section.

During this process of drawing the blade, Zhou Qingxuan continuously gathered his power.

Suddenly, Zhou Qingxuan fully drew his sword.

It was the move known as: A Gallant Night Rain Leaves the Heart Broken. The sword light descended like rain, piercing directly into the Star Domain Gate. This strike drove straight into the gate, ultimately halting at the very end of the first layer. However, with a muffled peng, he broke through that final barrier and entered the second layer. For a figure of the Nine Epochs, this was an exceptional achievement.

Yet, he could advance no further once he reached the initial threshold of the second layer.

Zhou Qingxuan abruptly sheathed his sword and departed with the same easy grace. He had, it seemed, absorbed some swordsmanship he hadn't previously mastered. The discussions around him were clearly astonished by the sheer power displayed by the third-ranked figure of the Sword Civilization. If the third-ranked member of the Sword Civilization surpassed the top-ranked members of other Civilizations, just how formidable was this newly emerged Sword Civilization?

"Next is me."

Yan Cangtian stood tall, and his very stance exuded an aura capable of swallowing mountains and rivers.

He stood before the Star Domain Gate and began drawing his sword.

His sword was now the Yan Jing Sword.

He drew it forth.

His sword was distinctly different from Zhou Qingxuan’s.

His was one of fierce, unyielding arrogance. Arrogance taken to its absolute zenith, looking down upon everything.

This was the bearing of a sovereign surveying his domain!

Yan Cangtian unleashed his strike with sudden force!

This single sword strike carried an aura capable of overturning heaven and destroying the earth. This sword could reign supreme over all creation, blanket the lands, overshadow the Lost Lands, and strike awe into the Central Heavenly Dynasty. It held the power of ancient eons, an echo of time reversed, carrying the profound realization that the three realms—heaven, earth, and man—were all subject to its cycle of reincarnation. All living beings across the Six Paths rested within this one sword.

This was Yan Cangtian’s swordsmanship! Even among this assembly of Nine Epoch and Nine and a Half Epoch powerhouses, this single strike was terrifyingly breathtaking.

Yan Cangtian’s sword pierced into the Star Domain Gate.

The first layer, the Lost Layer, shattered into countless fragments of starlight!

The second layer, the Central Layer, attempted to resist his strike with myriad powerful forces and endless void, but Yan Cangtian’s sword cleaved through the void, causing the starlight of the second layer to explode as well. With this strike, the star system slightly reinforced Yan Cangtian’s fundamental principles. The sword then plunged into the third layer, the Eternal Layer.

Finally, the sword halted right at the beginning of the third layer, the Eternal Layer.

Yan Cangtian let out a slight hum, clearly dissatisfied with the result of this single blow.

Nevertheless, the performance of Yan Cangtian’s sword stunned countless onlookers. His current achievement now stood equal to that of the Deputy Lord of the Ice Civilization, far surpassing formidable figures like the Deputy Lord of the Arrow Civilization, or those such as the Deputy Lords of the Heavenly Mother Civilization and the Martial Saint Civilization. Truly an astounding feat.

It was remarkable that Yan Cangtian, possessing the magical strength of only Nine Epochs, could accomplish this.

This second-ranked figure of the Sword Civilization, the Deputy Lord of the Heavenly Sword Civilization, was truly exceptional. In the future, he likely possessed the material to become a Civilization Lord. If this came to pass, the Sword Civilization might produce two Civilization Lords, giving them nearly the strength to challenge the Ancient Civilizations. In fact, these estimations were likely correct: the Son of Darkness could already rival the Son of the Wilderness, and Yan Cangtian’s destiny was never lesser than the Son of the Wilderness, possessing the qualification for Civilization Lordship.

The Deputy Lord of the Ice Civilization stared at Yan Cangtian with sharp eyes. He truly had not foreseen such an incredible individual. A fierce desire to challenge rose within the Deputy Lord of the Ice Civilization. Being a direct man, he immediately walked up to Yan Cangtian. "Let us fight." He gripped his blade, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

"Good," Yan Cangtian replied, his eyes like swords.

The coldest blade meeting the sharpest sword.

The Deputy Lord of the Ice Civilization suddenly drew his blade, an edge honed to absolute sharpness. Yan Cangtian instantly responded with a move: Yan Hui Flash—High in the Sky, Let the Swallow Fly! The opening exchange between these two was extraordinarily brilliant; neither was simple, and the surrounding crowd naturally paused to watch.

However, after fighting for a long time, the two reached a stalemate, unable to determine a victor. As they exchanged hundreds of blows, the onlookers gradually lost interest and returned to observing the main event.

Zhou Qingxuan, third in rank in the Sword Civilization, halted his charge against the Star Domain Gate at the beginning of the second layer, the Central Layer.

Yan Cangtian, second in rank in the Sword Civilization, stopped his advance at the start of the third layer, the Eternal Layer.

So, what layer would Lu Yuan, the first-ranked figure of the Sword Civilization, halt at?

Everyone turned their gaze toward Lu Yuan, only to find him drinking. There were already seven wine jars beside him, and Lu Yuan was still consuming more, giving the distinct impression of someone wishing to remain perpetually intoxicated, never to wake. Someone from the Lost Lands scoffed, "We long heard Lu Yuan was a drunkard, and now it seems true. He drinks even while attempting to challenge the Star Domain Gate—a true lunatic." In this person’s view, a lunatic could hardly achieve great things.

Fa Yi, the Imperial Son, stated, "Lu Yuan is indeed drinking, but he is also accumulating momentum—a unique force belonging only to him. He will only draw his sword once that momentum is fully realized." It was normal to gather momentum before striking, but one who gathered momentum by drinking was likely unique to the entire Central Heavenly Dynasty and the Lost Lands combined—only Lu Yuan.

"It seems that is indeed the case," agreed the Deputy Lord of the Fa Yin Civilization.

"I wonder what Lu Yuan’s performance will be like this time? He will certainly surpass us old bones, but exactly how much remains to be seen," commented the Deputy Lord of the Wu Bo Civilization.

"I estimate he will reach the end of the third layer, the Eternal Layer," suggested the Deputy Lord of the Medicine Civilization.

"It should be the endpoint of the third layer, the Eternal Layer," the Deputy Lord of the Martial Saint Civilization added. "But he cannot possibly reach the fourth layer, the Layer. Rumor has it the difficulty of the Heng Layer is vastly greater than the Eternal Layer." "Perhaps he has a chance to reach the fourth layer, the Heng Layer," countered the Deputy Lord of the Dragon Civilization. "However, he absolutely cannot surpass Ancestral Dragon; Ancestral Dragon was the third Deputy Lord across countless epochs to break through to the fourth layer." The Deputy Lord of the Dragon Civilization was a staunch supporter of Ancestral Dragon and refused to believe Lu Yuan could surpass him.

"Lu Yuan practices the Formless Devouring Art created by Ancestral Dragon, and the Son of the Wilderness practices the Heaven Swallowing Earth Eating Art, also created by Ancestral Dragon. I too doubt Lu Yuan can surpass Ancestral Dragon," added the Deputy Lord of the Wind Civilization.

"Ancestral Dragon ranks among the top figures in heaven and earth today; Lu Yuan is still too immature." "Uh, Lu Yuan will likely stop at the endpoint of the Eternal Layer, at most the starting point of the Heng Layer." A consensus was generally reached, though this was merely the consensus of the Central Heavenly Dynasty. Those in the Lost Lands who had not witnessed Lu Yuan's power, like the Underworld Scholar, maintained an air of disdain.

Lu Yuan continued to drink, consuming potent Wan Jin Shao liquor. Lu Yuan consumed all manner of spirits, drinking with utter abandon.

Good wine!

That feeling of fiery exhilaration rushing through his chest and abdomen was an unparalleled satisfaction.

Indeed, Lu Yuan was gathering his momentum.

Lu Yuan dared not be careless regarding this trial of the Star Domain Gate, for his ambition was to pass beyond it and achieve the status of Civilization Lord. It was precisely for this reason he needed to build his force.

"New-pressed wine of green ants, a small stove of red clay. Evening approaches, snow is due—care for a cup with me?"

"Bells and drums, jade and wealth are not to be prized; I only wish for deep intoxication, never to wake. Since ancient times, sages have been lonely; only drinkers leave their names behind. Lord Chen once held a feast in Ping Le, indulging in ten thousand-cash casks of wine. Why does the host speak of little money? Bring more wine and I shall pour for you. Five-colored horses, thousand-gold furs—call the boy to trade them for fine wine, and together we shall dissolve the sorrow of ages.

"Carrying the pot, hanging it on the cold branch, gazing afar, I stop again and again. In a silent dreamlike space, why am I tethered to the dust of this world?"

"Passing the door, we call to one another, with wine to pour.

"Moreover, this is youth, the days drawing short, peach blossoms falling like crimson rain. I urge you to be drunk by the hundredfold elixir all day; let the wine never reach the soil above Liu Ling's tomb."

"Tasting wine, detaining the idle guest; serving tea with the young attendant. The leftover cup is refused; to whom shall I leave my lingering drunkenness?" At this moment, countless gods of wine, immortals of wine, saints of wine, buddhas of wine, drunkards, monsters of wine, demons of wine, and laughers of wine were resurrected in an instant. Lu Yuan understood that his momentum was nearly complete; only one final step remained before he could unleash his strongest move. Lu Yuan staggered with drunken steps to the front of the Star Domain Gate.

By now, Lu Yuan’s eyes were glazed, and he was silent. "Hahahaha, good wine, good wine." He was half-drunk, wine dripping down his chin and soaking his azure robes.

Lu Yuan drew his sword, then poured the wine from the top of the hilt, letting it flow down the length of the blade. The clear steel became even brighter after being washed with the liquor.

Lu Yuan tossed the wine jar aside, laughed heartily a few times, and thrust his sword out.

The moment this sword was thrust, it was neither strange nor precise, neither off to the side nor skewed; it seemed an utterly ordinary strike, lacking the overwhelming majesty of Yan Cangtian's preceding attack, devoid of the aura of world dominion.

This was an exceedingly carefree sword strike! A sword stroke like drifting clouds, like a wild crane.

The sword light, hazy and half-veiled in rain, pierced to the threshold of the Star Domain Gate.

(Second update delivered.)

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