Upon the cover of this ancient, vast yellow book rested a single character. "Shatter"?

What was this? Lu Yuan couldn't help but wonder.

He had truly never seen a secret manual like this—just one word. Lu Yuan opened the cryptic tome, his eyes sweeping across the pages rapidly, finally grasping the true nature of this manual.

Swordsmen are known for their keen sharpness. And the book Shatter was precisely known for that very sharpness.

Shatter contained the legendary method for shattering defenses, famed throughout the Sword Ancient Civilization in days of yore. Its power was so immense that even the utterly unyielding defenses of the Buddhist sects crumbled before it.

Likewise, the defensive arts of the Immortal Ancient Civilization could not withstand it. Virtually no defense in the world could successfully block Shatter.

This set of techniques caused headaches for everyone who encountered it. And now, this technique was right here.

Lu Yuan immediately began to study it. Shatter—the power to break every fragile defense under the heavens!

This Shatter was frighteningly simple, entirely uncomplicated. But simplicity did not equate to ease of mastery; in fact, mastering this Shatter was immensely difficult precisely because it was so straightforward.

Lu Yuan drew his sword from its sheath. Shatter demanded only one thing: absolute, unwavering forward confidence.

Forward, forward, and ever forward, relentlessly pushing ahead regardless of what lay in the way. Without this heart, one should not attempt to practice Shatter.

Lu Yuan directed the tip of his sword straight ahead. There were three great hurdles to mastering this Shatter: First, one must never, throughout their entire life, have feared any form of authority.

To fear power would prevent one from moving forward relentlessly—a feat nearly impossible for most people. Second, one must never be tempted by fame or fortune, maintaining one's original intent steadfastly.

If one cannot dismiss all worldly gains, the path forward becomes obstructed. Third, achieving absolute unity between the person and the sword—to genuinely perceive nothing beyond the blade itself.

Sincerity! Utmost Sincerity!

Absolute Sincerity! As Lu Yuan practiced Shatter, he discovered that he himself was not pure enough.

The first hurdle was moot; he had indeed never feared any authority, he could manage that. The second hurdle, remaining unswayed by fame or fortune, viewing prosperity as mere clouds, was also achievable.

But the third point—nothing existing besides the sword—he could not attain. He had friendship, family bonds, and romantic love; he truly could not achieve a state where nothing existed but the sword.

This Shatter was a sword art demanding the severance of emotion and desire, a path of absolute nothingness. Lu Yuan turned to the final page and found further writing there: "This Shatter is the technique that once shook the eight directions for the Sword Ancient Civilization.

It is a pity that only the Lord of the Sword Ancient Civilization truly mastered it; all others only achieved a flawed, broken Shatter." So that was it; he wasn't the only one who couldn't master it fully. Nevertheless, even a flawed Shatter was still Shatter.

Lu Yuan practiced the technique, gradually mastering Shatter. Although it was only the incomplete version, it was better than achieving nothing.

After attaining this Shatter, Lu Yuan felt a slight increase in his combat power. At this juncture, gaining even a tiny bit of strength was a significant achievement.

On this Soaring Heavens Sword Tower, there was another book: Supreme Footwork. Yes, the title was simply Supreme Footwork.

This was the personal movement technique of the Lord of the Sword Apex Civilization, who was famed for his speed. Lu Yuan had previously learned the Myriad Transformations Footwork from the Lord of the Law Transformation Civilization, which excelled at change but was rather mediocre in pure speed.

With the addition of this Supreme Footwork, his speed would surely improve from now on. Having now reaped almost all the benefits housed within the Soaring Heavens Sword Tower, Lu Yuan deposited some of his own insights on the Way of the Sword across several of the tower’s levels.

The one hundred and eighth level remained empty, as he currently possessed nothing worthy of that tier. In the future, this Soaring Heavens Sword Tower was intended to stand firm in the Sword Civilization, allowing its people to hone themselves there and advance, just as he himself had done in the past.

Having completed these tasks, Lu Yuan calmly swapped his true body with his clone and returned to the First-Grade Enlightenment Ground. The third match underway there was an incredibly fierce confrontation between the Lord of the Limitless Civilization and the Lord of the One Civilization, two figures from the Twelve Eras.

Limitless begets Taiji, one and zero interchange, reality and illusion interweave, half-virtual and half-real, nothingness confuses the tangible, the virtual becomes the real, and the real becomes the virtual. Boom!

The Lord of the One Civilization landed a heavy blow upon the Lord of the Limitless Civilization. The Lord of the Limitless Civilization was instantly injured, yet he immediately counterattacked, striking the Lord of the One Civilization solidly.

Both spat blood; their exchange was so evenly matched that neither could gain a clear advantage, both landing blows constantly. Boom!

Finally, the Lord of the Limitless Civilization managed to strike the Lord of the One Civilization with a margin so narrow it was almost negligible. Yet, that single strike from the Lord of the One Civilization contained the slightest error.

A near miss leads to a thousand-mile deviation; the Lord of the Limitless Civilization abruptly seized the upper hand. Their power levels were nearly identical, and the Lord of the Limitless Civilization gave the Lord of the One Civilization no chance to recover, systematically expanding his advantage.

Slap! Under a palm strike, the Lord of the One Civilization was sent flying backward, nearly tumbling into the adjacent Eternal Turbulence.

In the void near the Gate of Eternity, all areas outside the First, Second, and Third-Grade Enlightenment Grounds were known as Eternal Turbulence; even a Civilization Lord could only linger for a fleeting moment before being forced to shift location, unable to stay put. The third battle thus finally concluded, with the Lord of the Limitless Civilization emerging victorious.

The first battle had been won by the Instantaneity faction; the subsequent two had been won by the Immortality faction. Having won two of the five duels, the Immortality faction needed only one more victory to secure the overall win, negating the need for a fifth match.

However, the combatant sent out by the Instantaneity faction for the fourth match would be Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan was merely a figure of the Tenth Era, meaning his loss was certain, and with it, the certain defeat of the Instantaneity faction.

The Lord of the Law Transformation Civilization sighed inwardly, regretting the turn of events, but what was done was done. The Lord of the Net Civilization could not blame Lu Yuan for being a liability now, as he himself had already lost and had no ground to criticize anyone.

The Lord of the One Civilization sighed deeply, "Then let's go. We’ve lost this match." He clearly implied abandoning the fight before it began, conceding early.

The Immortality faction knew their opponents conceded. They had won the contest for the First-Grade Enlightenment Ground.

While the other side might not accept it, the prospect of Lu Yuan fighting the fourth match meant their defeat was inevitable, leaving them no choice but to yield. The Lord of the Primordial Chaos Civilization spoke up, "Oh, why leave so soon?

Lu Yuan, won't you stay for a round with me?" Of course, he didn't truly expect Lu Yuan to accept; the Thirteenth Era challenging the Tenth Era—that was nothing short of one-sided slaughter, without any suspense. However, the thought of not being able to utterly crush Lu Yuan in a massacre was a pity.

Remembering how Lu Yuan had caused the failure of the Central Imperial Dynasty’s Great Decisive Battle, the Lord of the Primordial Chaos Civilization felt a deep-seated killing intent rise within him. Alas, this was a prime opportunity to slay Lu Yuan; should he seize this moment to turn hostile and execute Lu Yuan now?

Their side currently held a superior advantage in strength. The representatives of the Instantaneity faction—the Lord of the Law Transformation Civilization, the Lord of the Net Civilization, and the Lord of the One Civilization—were all preparing to depart.

At that moment, the Lord of the Law Transformation Civilization paused, looking at Lu Yuan, "Lu Yuan, why haven't you left?" Hearing this, the Lord of the Net Civilization and the Lord of the One Civilization finally noticed that Lu Yuan remained rooted to the spot. Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and asked with a puzzled expression, "Five matches for three wins; we've only fought three so far—that’s two losses and one win for us.

Why are we leaving?" The Lord of the Net Civilization couldn't help but ask, "Are you perhaps intending to fight?" "Indeed. The Lord of the Primordial Chaos Civilization has extended such a gracious invitation for me to spar before we go; I feel it would be impolite to refuse," Lu Yuan replied, shrugging his shoulders with an air of genuine embarrassment and awkwardness.

Silence! Profound Silence!

Did Lu Yuan truly not know the immensity of the heavens and the depth of the earth? He was merely a figure of the Tenth Era; what did he think he was doing, challenging the Thirteenth Era?

In the Eternal Star Domain, among the level of Civilization Lords, even overcoming an enemy across a single minor boundary was considered impossible, let alone spanning three minor boundaries—this was something that had never occurred. The Lord of the Net Civilization roared, "Are you insane?

You are courting death! This is hardly a gentle place; if you wish to die, don't be so hasty." Lu Yuan shrugged, appearing utterly helpless, "It's really not that much of a big deal." His attitude left the Lord of the Net Civilization feeling utterly drained.

The Lord of the Law Transformation Civilization looked at Lu Yuan, "Let me be clear with you first: he is Thirteenth Era, and you are Tenth Era. He will not hold back during the fight, and you lack a life-ending ultimate move to damage him.

Since he has no reservations, he can kill you. Decide whether you still wish to fight." "I have decided.

I will fight," Lu Yuan stated crisply. "My life has never included dragging anyone down, and I do not wish to set that precedent today." The Lord of the Law Transformation Civilization gazed deeply at Lu Yuan, sensing his resolve was firm, and said no more.

However, he resolved that if Lu Yuan were endangered, he would use the fastest means possible to rescue him, not hesitating to deploy his ultimate secret weapon if necessary. Against the Lord of the Buddhist Origin Civilization, the Lord of the Law Transformation Civilization had indeed concealed some hidden methods; the claim that no one could truly see through all his means was not an exaggeration.

The Lord of the Buddhist Origin Civilization and the Lord of the Limitless Civilization simultaneously transmitted a message to the Lord of the Primordial Chaos Civilization. The content of the telepathic messages was unified: Eliminate Lu Yuan.

An Eternal genius within the Instantaneity faction was too dangerous; allowing him to develop further was unpredictable. It would be best to utterly destroy Lu Yuan now.

The Deputy Leader of the Needle Civilization, however, sent no message; she was busy embroidering her tapestry. The Lord of the Primordial Chaos Civilization burst into laughter.

Even without the telepathic communication from the other two, he intended to kill Lu Yuan; the grudge from the Central Imperial Dynasty’s Great Decisive Battle had remained in his heart. Furthermore, the danger posed by an Eternal genius siding with the Instantaneity faction was indeed too great.

The Lord of the Primordial Chaos Civilization looked at Lu Yuan, raising one finger toward the heavens and one toward the earth, exuding an aura of absolute invincibility. "If I decree life, the person lives; if I decree death, the person dies." "Lu Yuan, you are fated to die here today, with no other path open." "Today, I will slaughter you completely, in an utterly one-sided victory." (Recommending my new book, Invincible Martial God.

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