"You are merely at the cultivation level of the Eight Meridian Secret Arts, yet you dare claim I am wrong! How can you be certain that the essence of the Jingyun Shenmie Sword Art isn't precisely what I embody—fierce and unyielding?"

As Zong Shou spoke, another phantom greatsword manifested in the void with even greater imposing might and savage intensity. Its blade was ice-blue, radiating a chilling glint.

Zong Shou was momentarily speechless, inwardly grumbling: what kind of Jingyun Shenmie Sword Art was this? It felt more like the Profound Ice Sword.

Seeing the blade descend, Zong Shou's eyebrow flicked up, and a cold laugh escaped him: "Debating sword arts is mere lip service. Since the Immortal Maiden claims your sword intent is the true essence of the Jingyun Shenmie Sword Art, then let me cross swords with you, Immortal Maiden, to test which of us is superior!"

Without another word, he placed another stone, landing in the upper right corner. Before Zong Shou's eyes, yet another sword materialized. This one, under the control of his consciousness, drifted like clouds and mist, its brilliance shifting, imbued with an ephemeral, ethereal quality. Within it churned countless ice particles, suspended inside. When it moved, it produced a rustling sound, a truly startling phenomenon.

It slashed through the void, colliding with the ice sword. The cloud sword instantly disintegrated, but in the next moment, it re-coalesced. In contrast, the Profound Ice Greatsword, impacted by the rapidly swirling ice particles, was riddled with countless holes, its core structure critically close to collapse in several vital areas.

Before the ice sword could recover, the cloud-and-mist greatsword returned with its 'shasha' sound, striking again.

When this exchange finished, the Profound Ice Greatsword shattered and disintegrated almost without suspense!

The cloud-and-mist sword, however, showed no sign of stopping. After a swift turn, it swept towards the opposite side.

Though appearing as mere cloud and mist, its momentum was earth-shaking, seemingly razor-sharp and absolute!

Taiyuan Immortal Maiden Shui Lingbo's expression shifted again. She quickly placed another stone on the board, finally causing the mist sword to completely dissipate!

Then, with disbelief, she stared intently at the area opposite her on the chessboard. She had expected the previous clash to result in a draw at best, but the outcome was a crushing defeat!

Although this second move successfully neutralized Zong Shou's offensive, the moment that stone landed, she knew she had lost. This half-demon youth had truly grasped the essential profound meaning of the Jingyun Shenmie Sword Art!

Even without the actual cultivation method for this art, the power he could wield when manifesting this cloud sword in the future would surely be no less than the true Jingyun Shenmie Sword Art!

Yan Fan, squinting, smiled broadly, his aged face nearly blooming like a flower. He cast a cold look toward Taiyuan Immortal Maiden, murderous intent hidden beneath, contemplating the idea of killing her and fleeing immediately. Then he reconsidered, deeming it unwise, and temporarily set the thought aside.

He glanced at the board, and suddenly, an idea struck him. He heavily placed another stone onto the chessboard.

"This endgame is concluded, and what the Young Lord has spoken has brought sudden enlightenment. With just a few moves, he has laid bare all the mysteries of the Jingyun Shenmie Sword Art. Truly, as my nephew said, his understanding of the Sword Dao is spiritual! However, the Immortal Maiden and I still have one unresolved question regarding the path of martial arts.

We wonder if the Young Lord might assist us in resolving it?"

As the words fell, Zong Shou felt the world around him transform once more.

He stood within a narrow cavern. Thick stone walls flanked him on both sides. Below raged fiery lava capable of melting everything; above whipped fierce astral winds able to tear anything apart!

Around him, countless shadowy souls and flashing swords and shadows struck in assault, as if intent on devouring or slicing him to pieces!

He couldn't help but grind his teeth, knowing this was the tactic of a True Form Realm Spirit Master, who used soul power to drag his consciousness into this illusion.

It was utterly real, just as if he were there in person!

Chu Xue, unaware of this shift, merely saw Yan Fan place an extra stone and immediately flared up in anger: "You placed an extra stone! How can you cheat?"

Yan Fan smiled without speaking, and Shui Lingbo shot him a cold glance, but she too watched with keen interest, waiting for Zong Shou's reaction.

Previously, they were merely testing Zong Shou's aptitude in the Sword Dao—a score worthy of full marks. No, perhaps two hundred percent, four hundred percent required for full evaluation!

Now, they were testing his character. The path of martial arts was like a winding mountain trail, a sheer cliff climb. The further one progressed, the more arduous it became. Above lay dangerous precipices, below, an abyss tens of thousands of feet deep—just like the illusion Zong Shou currently faced.

She was curious what kind of response this half-demon youth, possessing a Dual Meridian Physique and the Heaven's Barrier, yet possessing peerless talent in the Sword Dao, would exhibit. It was truly highly anticipated—Zong Shou, opposite the board, clutched a game piece, sweat pouring down him, soaking through his heavy robes.

In this cavernous abyss, facing the blade shadows of malevolent spirits, Zong Shou drifted slightly, involuntarily recalling his previous life.

The Heaven's Barrier that had nearly trapped him for half a lifetime; the vengeance and slaughter after achieving the Great Success in the Martial Path; the tens of thousands of sword duels in virtual illusions; the perilous battles experienced in the current world. Despite exhausting his strength, he couldn't reach the pinnacle of the Martial Path—truly, one wrong step meant tumbling into the lava hell. Even climbing with all his might, most would meet a gruesome end under the merciless might of heaven!

But this mere obstruction, this small danger, could it stop me? Could it stop him, the foremost of the Seven Sovereigns of the Cloud Realm, Sword Emperor Tan Qiu?

A cold sneer arose, and heroic spirit surged within Zong Shou's chest. His unyielding, vast will pierced the heavens!

In this life, what if he had the Dual Meridian Physique, the Heaven's Barrier, and a damaged divine soul?

He, Zong Shou, would ultimately reign supreme in this world and ascend to the pinnacle once more!

When Zong Shou's hand moved toward the chessboard again, he felt immense resistance, countless foreign forces constantly obstructing and pulling, trying to divert his hand sideways.

Yet, the white stone held between Zong Shou's fingertips seemed almost sentient, skillfully weaving through the interference. Then, the piece landed heavily right in the very center of the chessboard!

With a soft pat, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth abruptly surged and swelled several times. Finally, unable to bear the strain, the numerous pieces on the board shot outward, scattering in all directions.

On the board, only that single white piece remained, lying quietly in the very center of the nineteen vertical and horizontal lines.

As if declaring: within this chessboard, I alone am sovereign!

And this small shoreline fell into profound silence.

Regardless of the Sword Dao, at this moment, the mortals on both sides of the board were silenced and astonished solely by the surging ambition and heroic spirit Zong Shou had erupted with—"The mist seems lighter again, slightly!"

Dozens of miles away, Li Yunniang looked up at the sky. Earlier, this dense fog had been annoyingly thick and thin by turns.

Only now did it seem to show signs of gradually dissipating. A quarter of an hour ago, one couldn't see their hand in front of their face, but now, visibility had returned to about twenty zhang.

Xuan Yuan Yiren also frowned. Suddenly stopping, she looked ahead with a grave expression.

Li Yunniang followed close behind and stopped as well. When she clearly saw the situation ahead, cold sweat broke out on her brow.

Underneath the churning, dense fog, there was a massive pit, bottomless, resembling a sheer cliff thousands of feet deep.

"How is there a pit here? Thank goodness the Young Miss has keen senses, or we really would have fallen in!"

Xuan Yuan Yiren remained silent, gazing down into the pit. Li Yunniang was momentarily stunned, but when she listened carefully, she indeed heard a young man's voice emanating from deep below, tens of zhang down: "Is anyone up there? Can anyone hear me? I hear your voices! I am Zong Ling of the Qiantian Mountain Sect, the sworn disciple of the Demon King of Qiantian Mountain! Quickly pull us up! As long as you save us, Qiantian Mountain will surely reward you—"

Xuan Yuan Yiren blinked, exchanging glances with Li Yunniang. The latter frowned, showing confusion: "It's him? Zong Ling has several Innate Masters accompanying him, and he himself is a Secret Martial Master. This pit is only fifty zhang deep; how could he fall in and be unable to climb out?"

Looking down closely, the fog had dispersed a little more. But faintly visible below was the surface, which turned out to be entirely smooth, hard stone walls. More chillingly, the stone walls were coated with a thick layer of yellow grease.

Li Yunniang shivered. So this pit was not naturally occurring but man-made. She wondered who could be so vicious? Once someone fell in, escape would be impossible!

Then she heard Zong Ling cursing furiously: "Why are there so many mud snakes and wriggling eels! Truly despicable! Hey, can you people above hear me? Pull me up!"

The fog dispersed further. When Li Yunniang looked again, she felt a wave of nausea. Below, countless mud-colored loaches, eels, and small snakes churned and wriggled. Figures were trapped within, occasionally leaping up, but inevitably sliding back down the stone walls.

One person with sharp eyes seemed to spot the figures above the pit and quickly shouted: "Are those Miss Xuan Yuan, the Princess of Xuanshan City, and Miss Li Yunniang? I am Feng Xiao from Qiantian Mountain. My Young Master and His Highness the Young Lord are maternal cousins. Please, save us, for the sake of the Young Lord!"

Xuan Yuan Yiren smiled without a sound, not even bothering to reply. She glanced around, then stated faintly: "The fog is starting to clear. Let's go back!" Without hesitation, she turned and walked away.

Zong Ling below immediately panicked and cursed loudly: "You refuse to save me? When my brother ascends the throne as the Demon King of Qiantian Mountain, he will definitely wipe out your entire Xuanshan City clan! If our Qiantian Mountain hadn't repeatedly offered protection, your Xuanshan City would have been destroyed long ago. Do you think that useless fiancé of yours can still protect you? Sooner or later, my brother will slay him as a sacrifice for victory! You wretched girl, if you dare not save me today, I will make you my concubine in the future and torment you day and night..."

Xuan Yuan Yiren hadn't cared at first, but when she heard the latter part, her brow furrowed slightly. She retraced her steps. Just as Zong Ling cheered and Li Yunniang looked astonished, Xuan Yuan Yiren calmly took out some powder and sprinkled it casually. Then she clapped her hands and walked away without a second glance.

Li Yunniang found it strange and hurriedly followed, asking in confusion: "Young Miss, what was that powder just now?"

Xuan Yuan Yiren smiled upon hearing this, shaking her head lightly with effortless grace: "Nothing much. Just some Fire Scale Powder that makes those loaches and eels burrow."

Li Yunniang's expression froze, and then she felt goosebumps all over. It turned out her Young Miss could be so insidious and ruthless.

At that moment, inside the pit, Zong Ling was cursing frantically: "Who... who dug this pit? So insidious! When I get out, I will make him die without a burial place! Ah, damn it! Why are these loaches burrowing—"