Two Hundred and Fifty-Two Limits of Sword Techniques! How could there be so many! Lu Yuan lightly blew across his sword, which carried five centuries of profound solitude.

With a single strike, he managed to draw even with the Lords of the Four Great Civilizations. The Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization and the others were inexplicably stunned. Lu Yuan summoned another strike—this one still embodying the limit of two hundred and fifty-two techniques.

At this moment, the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization finally managed to grasp the essence of Lu Yuan's sword-play. His Halberd of the Great Dao violently crashed toward Lu Yuan; the might of eighteen Eons roared and bombarded Lu Yuan’s blade. With the power of eighteen Eons, he was confident it should be enough to crush Lu Yuan’s momentum.

Clang! The two weapons met! As the weapons clashed, the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization was forced back several steps.

He was overcome with shock, pointing a finger at Lu Yuan: "You—your might is that of eighteen Eons." Lu Yuan offered a faint smile. "Indeed. Precisely the might of eighteen Eons." The might of eighteen Eons!

Lu Yuan’s opening moves were undeniably extraordinary. The Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization was inwardly shaken to his core. Lu Yuan possessed such formidable power.

Five centuries ago, he was merely at the level of fourteen Eons. How could he have leaped to eighteen Eons in just five hundred years? Advancing four Eons in such a short span was simply too exaggerated.

The Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization trembled internally. It wasn't just him; the other three Lords of Civilization were equally shaken, especially the Lord of the Celestial Civilization. Over the past five centuries, the Lord of the Celestial Civilization had diligently flattered the Lord of Desolate Antiquity’s Eternal Being, finally managing to reach fifteen Eons.

He had thought his progression was exceptionally swift, but compared to Lu Yuan’s speed, the disparity was vast. A fierce hatred began to bloom in the heart of the Lord of the Celestial Civilization: Why? Why had Lu Yuan, after disappearing without a trace, reappeared wielding the power of eighteen Eons?

Advancement grew exponentially harder the further one progressed. This addition of four Eons of power for Lu Yuan was far more terrifying than any previous gains. "Encircle and attack," shouted the Lord of the Punishment Civilization.

Instantly, the Four Great Lords of Civilization joined forces, pressing their assault toward Lu Yuan. But their combined siege was meaningless against Lu Yuan, who possessed the Sword Steps. Lu Yuan wove in and out among them.

The Lord of the Punishment Civilization sneered, "If it's speed you rely on, then accept my Shackles of Punishment." The Lord of the Punishment Civilization had long known that Lu Yuan had reached the sixth tier of speed—the Realm of Swiftness. Data on Lu Yuan was always a priority for the high-ranking Lords of the Desolate Ancient Dynasty to study. His Shackles of Punishment were actually designed to suppress speed reaching the sixth tier, forcing it down to the invincible speed of the fifth tier.

If reduced to the fifth tier, he wouldn't be as fearsome, since the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization also operated at the fifth-tier invincible speed. Once Lu Yuan's velocity was checked, the four of them could coordinate a successful pincer movement, generating far greater lethality. But—this wasn't right.

Why was it having absolutely no effect on Lu Yuan? His speed remained just as terrifying. The Lord of the Punishment Civilization was exceptionally perceptive.

He immediately realized that Lu Yuan's speed wasn't just the sixth-tier Realm of Swiftness; it was approaching the Realm of Nothingness. While the Realm of Nothingness was once considered legend, it ceased to be so after Desolate Antiquity ascended to Eternity, for the speed of the Lord of Desolate Antiquity’s Eternal Being was undeniably that of the Realm of Nothingness. The Eternal Lord represented greatness transcending countless Eons, yet Lu Yuan now possessed speed nearly comparable to the Lord of Desolate Antiquity’s Eternal Being.

"That was the second strike. The third strike," Lu Yuan’s fair and slender fingers suddenly moved. One sword, one sword!

Again, the limit of two hundred and fifty-two embedded within a single execution. This strike’s full might was aimed directly at the Lord of the Earth Civilization. The Lord of the Earth Civilization manifested his strongest defense: fifty thousand Great Earths to block the attack.

This technique bore a strong resemblance to one used by the Son of Immortals in the past, though at his peak, the Son of Immortals could only summon three hundred Great Earths. Here, the Lord of the Earth Civilization waved his hand and conjured fifty thousand. After all, the Lord of the Earth Civilization was the senior apprentice-brother of Zhen Yuanzi; naturally, his mastery of this move surpassed Zhen Yuanzi’s.

If used offensively, these fifty thousand Great Earths would be enough to crush someone without recourse; defensively, breaking this barrier would not be simple, even for the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization, who would need time. Thus, even though the main thrust of Lu Yuan’s attack targeted him, the Lord of the Earth Civilization remained unconcerned, utterly convinced he could withstand it. The tip of the sword pierced the fifty thousand Great Earths.

What was happening! What was this strike! Instantly, one thousand Great Earths were pierced!

No, ten thousand Great Earths were pierced! Twenty thousand Great Earths were pierced! Thirty thousand Great Earths were pierced!

Forty thousand Great Earths were pierced! Fifty thousand Great Earths were pierced! The razor-sharp sword light directly pierced the heart of the Lord of the Earth Civilization!

The famed defense of fifty thousand Great Earths seemed as flimsy as mere parchment. "Third sword," Lu Yuan raised his finger. The third strike had already killed the Lord of the Earth Civilization.

At this point, the face of the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization changed drastically: "The complete 'Shatter'!" Shatter—this killing move, the ultimate secret technique of the former Lord of the Sword Ancient Civilization of nineteen Eons, had always inspired dread. When Lu Yuan first learned an incomplete version of Shatter, the Desolate Ancient Dynasty had convened a special research meeting to analyze the technique. That presentation sent shivers down the spines of those who had never witnessed Shatter's true power.

The briefing stated: No technique, artifact, or weapon short of the Gate of Eternity could withstand Shatter. In those days, the Lord of the Sword Ancient Civilization was invincible with this single move. Even the Lord of the Instant Civilization and the Lord of the Undying Civilization had to temporarily retreat from its edge.

Furthermore, it was through Shatter, coupled with various secret arts, that the Lord of the Sword Ancient Civilization eventually caused a fissure in the Gate of Eternity—how else do you think it was done? Of course, the presentation on Shatter also explicitly stated that under normal circumstances—no, under any circumstances—Shatter should be impossible for anyone else to master. Others could only attain the incomplete form; Shatter belonged solely to the Lord of the Sword Ancient Civilization.

Therefore, Lu Yuan's chance of mastering Shatter was one in a billion. Yet, here Lu Yuan was, openly displaying the complete form of Shatter. Had they made a mistake?

How could Lu Yuan have mastered the complete Shatter? Lu Yuan issued another strike, unleashing his full strength again. It wasn't that his opponents were strong enough to demand his absolute maximum effort—they were not worthy.

Rather, having not fought for five hundred years, since he was finally moving today, he might as well enjoy the combat thoroughly. After all, in the current era, few people could withstand ten of his strikes. Lu Yuan’s sword shot directly toward the Lord of the Punishment Civilization.

The attacks from the other two had long been left behind by his Sword Steps. The Lord of the Punishment Civilization remained unhurried; he never panicked. He represented the Great Tribunal of Judgment.

He summoned countless instruments of torture to use against Lu Yuan, but every tool was instantly shattered by the light of Lu Yuan’s surrounding sword energy. This incoming strike created a situation where escape seemed impossible. Although the Lord of the Punishment Civilization maintained his composure, he suddenly felt as if he were the one being interrogated, not the one doing the interrogating—this inverted and chaotic sensation caused him extreme distress.

The sword light plunged into the body of the Lord of the Punishment Civilization. Another civilization lord of fifteen Eons fell. At this moment, the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization finally confirmed it: Lu Yuan had mastered Shatter, and the complete version at that.

Any defense encountered by Shatter was doomed to fail, save for the Gate of Eternity itself. Although, rumor had it that even the Gate of Eternity suffered minor damage back then. Lu Yuan retracted his sword light back into its sheath, walking as if strolling in a garden.

"Lord of the Celestial Civilization, it is now your turn. You and I have crossed swords twice; this is our third engagement. You should be proud.

Few people ever manage to cross swords with me three times, because usually, after the first or second exchange, they are already dead. You should feel honored. However, your pride ends here.

You will not have a fourth chance to face me; you are about to die beneath my blade." Lu Yuan effortlessly dodged the converging attacks from the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization and the Lord of the Celestial Civilization. The Lord of the Celestial Civilization was truly panicked now. He had been aggressively seeking Lu Yuan’s death, convinced he had improved vastly over the last five centuries, only to find Lu Yuan terrifyingly stronger.

Lu Yuan had slain the fifteen-Eon Lord of the Punishment Civilization and the fourteen-Eon Lord of the Earth Civilization with a single strike each. They died absorbing one blow; how many blows could he withstand? He certainly wouldn't rate himself significantly stronger than those two.

Lu Yuan’s sword light flashed out again, still embodying the limit of two hundred and fifty-two techniques, still laced with Shatter. Shatter was simply too sharp, which was profoundly frustrating for anyone fighting Lu Yuan—their defenses were inevitably breached, no matter what. Otherwise, Shatter wouldn't have become the supreme, ultimate move of the Sword Ancient Civilization back then.

The sword light pierced the heart of the Lord of the Celestial Civilization. Another one was dead. Lu Yuan stated nonchalantly, "The fifth sword." Five strikes—the first two could perhaps be excused, but the last three each felled a figure of fourteen or fifteen Eons.

Everyone watching the battle was utterly stunned. Lu Yuan, reemerging after five centuries, was too ferocious. Those beings of fourteen and fifteen Eons were overlords of their entire world; figures whose stomps could shake the heavens, creators of ancient civilizations.

Yet, against Lu Yuan, they were finished in one strike, not even warranting a second move. Lu Yuan’s brutality knew no bounds. The World Realm beings from that lost territory who had never witnessed Lu Yuan’s prowess finally saw the true might of the second-ranked individual on the wanted list.

However, the immediate feeling this observer had was: How is this second-ranked Lu Yuan even more ferocious than the first-ranked Ancestral Dragon? Silence descended upon all things! (The second update is delivered.

The novel is expected to conclude in about one more week. Please continue to recommend my new book, Invincible Martial God.)

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