Lu Yuan settled back onto the Three-Rank Enlightenment Ground. For others, this high-grade divine object required half a month before it could be consumed, but that restriction did not apply to him.

One hand held the brush, the other, the book.

The Book of Theorems, the Pen of Truth.

Lu Yuan roared, “My book is the theorem, my pen is the truth!”

“Theorem transforms into truth.”

Lu Yuan shouted again, “Divine objects of the myriad heavens, half a month, pass!” The characters for paper and pen merged into one, turning golden, then into the color of chaos. These became two more high-grade divine objects that he could consume immediately. However, Lu Yuan sensed that even consuming these two items would not elevate his current Thirteen Eras to the Fourteenth Era; he still lacked the necessary high-grade artifacts.

Then he would wait a while longer to snatch the other high-grade divine items.

Lu Yuan was in no hurry. He sat cross-legged on the Three-Rank Enlightenment Ground and began his quiet wait.

The Gate of Eternity began to tremble slightly once more.

The nineteenth and twentieth high-grade divine objects were about to appear.

The Lords of Civilization present, all below the Fifteenth Era, simultaneously tensed.

Everyone flew into the mid-air. At this moment, the two doors of the Gate of Eternity finally opened wide, and two high-grade divine objects shot out with a swoosh.

One of these artifacts was green, lacking a fixed shape, instead flowing and weaving in an intensely beautiful, variegated pattern. The other took the intersecting form of a cross. Neither of these high-grade divine objects radiated excessively dense auras, but a high-grade divine object was a high-grade divine object; even with a less potent aura, they were worth fighting for—a rare opportunity available only once in billions of years.

This time, the faction of 'Instantaneity' and the faction of 'Immortality' seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement: they would not impede the fastest individuals from the opposing group, instead engaging each other directly.

At this juncture, Lu Yuan and the Lord of the Civilization of Speed reached the absolute forefront simultaneously.

The Lord of the Civilization of Speed snarled, “Let us compete to see whose speed is greater.” He uttered this in one ten-thousandth of an instant, his voice projected on sound wave frequencies so high that only those with extremely sensitive auditory reception could perceive it. His ability to move was unimaginably swift.

Lu Yuan, too, gave a cold shout, “Then let us see.” His speed of movement was even more beyond imagination.

The two arrived beside the two high-grade divine objects in virtually the same instant. Was their speed evenly matched?

The Lord of the Civilization of Speed struck out with an ethereal palm, sending both divine objects flying tens of millions of li away. This was one of his ultimate techniques, famed as the 'Ten-Million-Mile Palm.' This strike repelled opponents while allowing him to remain safely protected. This had always been the Lord of Speed’s ultimate move. However, this palm could only push back a Deputy Lord of Civilization, not a Lord of Civilization, so the technique had gradually become less effective. But it was still perfectly capable of batting two high-grade divine objects out to distances of tens of millions of li.

The Lord of the Civilization of Speed instantly transformed into a streak of light, pursuing them toward the far distance.

Lu Yuan also transformed into a streak of light.

Tens of millions of li seemed vast.

But for a Lord of Civilization, it was no longer an immense distance.

For Lu Yuan and the Lord of the Civilization of Speed, tens of millions of li was even shorter.

They virtually transformed into light beams simultaneously, shooting forward together.

So fast!

Truly so fast!

Now, Lu Yuan channeled genuine ferocity, resolving to fight the Lord of the Civilization of Speed to a decisive end. Yes, he was indeed hailed as the fastest entity in the Eternal Star Domain, but so was he. On what grounds should he be slower? As Lu Yuan flew at high speed, he reveled in the sheer sensation of velocity.

There was an unparalleled thrill in flying at extreme speed, an overwhelming pleasure that pierced to the core.

It felt as if his entire body had dissolved into the wind, as if he were about to surpass the space and time of this current Era.

Of course, all of this was illusion.

Lu Yuan discovered he had fallen in love with the feeling of the wind.

He adored the high-speed wind, loved the leisurely clouds; it seemed he had merged with the elements of wind and cloud.

So fast!

A draw!

The Sword Step Lu Yuan had created was, in fact, slightly superior to the Speed God Step of the Lord of Speed. However, in terms of pure flight capability, Lu Yuan’s innate aptitude was slightly lesser. Consequently, their final speeds were nearly identical, proceeding neck-and-neck. This straight flight carried them finally to the distant location tens of millions of li away.

Tens of millions of li beyond, the two high-grade divine objects hovered silently.

Lu Yuan landed, and the Lord of the Civilization of Speed landed as well. The flight across tens of millions of li had clearly confirmed one fact: their speeds were truly equal. Lu Yuan carried no hint of worldly ambition; a tie was a tie. He shrugged and said, “It seems our speeds are matched. How about this: one artifact each.” If it came to an actual fight, Lu Yuan was confident he could destroy the other, but since his Sword Step was largely derived from his opponent’s Speed God Step, Lu Yuan felt it only fair to concede the point, allowing the opponent one artifact as repayment for the favor.

The Lord of the Civilization of Speed sneered, “Our speeds are equal, and we each take one artifact, dividing these high-grade objects! Haha, hahaha!” A chilling smile spread across his pale face. “How unfortunate, I have no time to play games of division with you. I intend to slay you and claim both these high-grade divine objects. A mere cultivator of the Fourteenth Era dares to contend with me for high-grade artifacts? How laughable. Furthermore, do you possess the qualification?”

The Lord of the Civilization of Speed struck instantly. As he moved, two exceedingly thin and long divine weapon claws pierced directly towards Lu Yuan. His claws were officially named the Wind-Tearing God Claws—his weaponry. These claws could accelerate his attack speed; he was always the paradigm of speed flow, encompassing both attack speed and movement speed. True, his attack speed was not as outstanding as his movement speed, but it was certainly fast enough.

Indeed, the Lord of the Civilization of Speed had always been perceived as lacking in attack power. Compared to other figures of the Fourteenth Era, his offensive strength was somewhat weak—this was his greatest vulnerability. Unfortunately, facing someone like Lu Yuan, merely at the Twelfth Era, his weakness ceased to be a weakness. If he could not even subdue a Twelfth Era cultivator, what legitimacy did the Lord of the Civilization of Speed have left?

Lu Yuan had not expected the Lord of Speed to attack so abruptly. Lu Yuan rotated his stance and evaded, looking at his opponent. “Lord of the Civilization of Speed, if you insist on fighting, I will grant you three moves. If you have not acted after three moves, I will counterattack.” This was Lu Yuan’s genuine sentiment. Debts must be repaid. Since the Sword Step was heavily inspired by the opponent’s Speed God Step, offering three free moves served as repayment.

The pale face of the Lord of the Civilization of Speed twisted. “You grant me three moves? You, a mere Twelfth Era entity, presume to let me have three moves?” The Lord of Speed clearly interpreted Lu Yuan’s goodwill as mockery and instantly launched a rapid assault. His Sky-Tearing God Claws immediately unleashed the move 'Shattering Meteorite.' Shattering Meteorite was exceptionally fast, perhaps his quickest technique. Faced with such a move, Lu Yuan utilized his Sword Step, subtly shifting aside to evade it.

Seeing Lu Yuan use the Sword Step to dodge, the Lord of Speed grew even angrier. He detested anyone possessing such speed, and Lu Yuan now using such speed to avoid his Shattering Meteorite was driving him close to madness. “Youngster Lu Yuan, if you have any guts, don’t dodge with speed!” Indeed, if Lu Yuan used his full speed in attack, the opponent’s moves would never connect. The Lord of Speed was accustomed to using this tactic to evade enemies; now that Lu Yuan was employing it against him, his rage intensified.

Lu Yuan smiled. “You forbid me from using speed to dodge? Very well. Two moves remain. I shall block instead.”

Contempt. This was utter, complete disdain.

At that moment, the Lord of the Civilization of Speed was genuinely infuriated. He had never imagined a day when he would be treated with such scorn, by a junior who, after granting him one free move, would offer two more. “Junior, take this!” This time, the Lord of Speed abandoned Shattering Meteorite, unleashing the absolute limit of his repertoire. He fused all thirty-three of his ultimate techniques into a single discharge. Facing this limit, Lu Yuan raised the scabbard of his Divine Sword of Nurturing Self—not even drawing the blade—and effortlessly, casually deflected the assault. A mere thirty-three ultimate techniques were far too easy for Lu Yuan to neutralize. While blocking, he applied subtle leverage to dissipate much of the opponent’s spiritual power. “That’s the second move. I grant you one more. Let me remind you again: if you strike again, I will let that final move pass and then retaliate.” Lu Yuan reiterated this warning with utmost seriousness; three moves were the limit for repaying the debt.

He was blocked so easily! The Lord of the Civilization of Speed went further into a frenzy. He was an extremist, and extremists often achieved greater success in cultivation. To be granted two free moves by a junior, and then be told of a third concession, was an immense humiliation. The Lord of the Civilization of Speed roared, “Lu Yuan, die!”

What the Lord of the Civilization of Speed threw out now was no ordinary technique, but his fastest method: Shattering Meteorite. It was still the Shattering Meteorite move, but Lu Yuan had agreed not to evade with speed. Moreover, Lu Yuan was now wielding the God-Slaying Spear. The tip of the spear carried an absolute aura of death, rumored to harm everything except the Gate of Eternity. This innate spiritual treasure, once it struck, could damage the victim’s primordial spirit, making it an exceedingly troublesome artifact. Even Lords of Civilization disliked facing such a treasure. The God-Slaying Spear had been kept aside due to a past homicide, which the Lord of Speed had always avoided engaging with, but now, tens of millions of li away, he could bring it forth. Combined with Shattering Meteorite, it possessed terrifying destructive power; a single strike meant severe trouble.

The Lord of Speed’s third strike lunged directly at Lu Yuan, intending to kill him right there. Did this person deserve to have the same speed as him? Die!

(Ugh, although it’s a bit late, the update is delivered on schedule. There will be a second update later.)