CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 212: FIVE SWORDS

On the peak of Li Mountain, Lu Yuan stepped forward to fight, but Chu Zili chose to avoid the battle.

Later, Jiang Taie entered the fray, and Lu Yuan was defeated.

Back then, both Lu Yuan and Jiang Taie were at the same cultivation stage. Losing to Jiang Taie, an Innate Sword Body cultivator of Lingxiao Pavilion, was inevitable. *But that defeat deeply impacted Lu Yuan’s state of mind, and for a long time, she couldn’t recover from it.*

Before Li Fan, Lu Yuan was the most outstanding disciple of Li Mountain Sword Mountain. She was the hope of her master, and all the Li Mountain disciples held the highest expectations for her.

At the Lingxiao Pavilion’s Sword Inquiry, she was supposed to step forward and prove the might of the Li Mountain Sword by defeating Jiang Taie.

But she lost.

Fortunately, Li Fan was there. He defeated Jiang Taie and preserved the honor of the Li Mountain Sword.

It was because of this that Li Fan held a special place in Lu Yuan’s heart, *a mix of admiration, a hint of jealousy, and heartfelt gratitude. She was thankful to Li Fan for saving her; without him, she would have been a sinner of Li Mountain.*

*She was also grateful to the misunderstood youth who upheld the honor of Li Mountain at a crucial moment.*

*Because of these intertwined feelings, even though she wasn’t familiar with Li Fan, when she met him in Yun Meng City, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. It wasn’t long before they grew acquainted—something she had never experienced with others before.*

That youth represented the Li Mountain Sword.

And so, each time Li Fan referred to her as "Lu Yuan of Li Mountain," it stirred emotions deep within her.

She was Lu Yuan of Li Mountain Sword Mountain.

Even now, facing Ren Yuzhi, who was two realms higher than her and ranked third on the Green Cloud List, she unleashed powerful fighting intent.

She swung her sword, and the Power of Taiyin surged forth. Her movements seemed slow, sharply contrasting Ren Yuzhi’s swift blade, as if his fast sword could strike her in an instant.

Yet that seemingly slow sword created a Taiyin Storm as it swung, resembling the Taiyin Map. It caused the surrounding air currents to slow, frosting Ren Yuzhi’s rapidly attacking sword and diminishing its speed.

Lu Yuan’s sword slashed outward, unleashing a crashing tide of power that sent the incoming flying swords scattering away, unable to approach her.

At that moment, the sound of sword resonance echoed—two swords ringing out simultaneously.

"Three swords."

"Are those three swords ringing for Lu Yuan, overpowering Ren Yuzhi?"

Everyone looked up at the Seven Swords, their expressions turning strange.

Currently, only two swords rang for Ren Yuzhi.

Did Lu Yuan’s talent surpass Ren Yuzhi’s?

Their gazes grew increasingly solemn as they watched the battlefield. Previously, when they heard of Li Fan’s flamboyant exploits, they thought Lu Yuan was merely a great beauty. They hadn’t expected her talent to be so extraordinary.

And before, that wild coachman—the talents of this group seemed remarkable indeed.

"Power of Taiyin." Ren Yuzhi eyed Lu Yuan.

The intent of everything in heaven and earth emanated from nature’s forces. The Power of Taiyin was derived from the essence of ice, an extreme manifestation of the element that formed Taiyin.

He had underestimated Lu Yuan.

Initially, his aim was Li Fan, and so he attacked Lu Yuan, thinking it would be an easy victory. *But if Lu Yuan managed to block him, it wouldn’t just tarnish his reputation as the disciple newly taken in by the Shadow Inheritor Sword.*

*It would also destroy his chances of ever becoming Li Chengying’s direct disciple.*

His ultimate goal was to battle Li Fan. This was his motivation.

"Screeeech..."

A piercing whistle echoed as a destructive Sword Aura storm erupted within the Seven Swords Sword Domain. Inside Ren Yuzhi’s body, a sharp cry resounded, and a phantom appeared—a giant Peng Bird.

His eyes grew sharp as his Dharma Form revealed itself: the Peng Bird.

Ren Yuzhi had comprehended the power of wind and cultivated his Sky-splitting Sword Intent, granting him unparalleled speed and ferocious offensive capabilities. His ranking as the fastest sword wielder on the Green Cloud List was no idle boast.

The storm grew increasingly violent, tearing through space. As Ren Yuzhi raised his sword again, the entire battlefield seemed to transform into his Storm Sword Domain.

Within the raging storm, countless traces of sword intent lurked everywhere.

"Ren Yuzhi is taking this seriously. Although Lu Yuan has remarkable talent, there’s no way she can be Ren Yuzhi’s equal. Let’s see how many strikes she can endure," someone commented.

Li Fan’s gaze hardened as he sensed Ren Yuzhi’s sword intent.

Indeed, the top ranks of the Green Cloud List weren’t just boastful names.

Li Fan didn’t speak and had no intention of intervening. Even if Lu Yuan lost this battle, it ultimately belonged to her.

*She needed to move past the shadow of failure from the battle on the peak of Li Mountain.*

*After all, she was Lu Yuan—Lu Yuan of Li Mountain Sword Mountain. Li Mountain Sword Valley housed five ancestors’ sword dao legacies, and she was destined to inherit them and become a Great Sword Cultivator.*

If she couldn’t overcome the obstacle of Li Mountain’s peak, she wouldn’t be worthy of the title.

As for Ren Yuzhi—while his talent was considerable, his advantage lay in his higher realm. Were they at the same cultivation stage, he would never have the right to face her with such arrogance.

"Screeeech..."

The Sky-splitting Sword, tearing through space, charged toward Lu Yuan.

With an intent-driven motion, she seemed to be bathed in Taiyin Radiance, faint moonlight illuminating the Sword Domain. The falling light slowed the Sky-splitting Sword’s speed.

In an instant, the Sky-splitting Sword transformed into a whirlwind, closing in around her.

The Taiyin Radiance surrounding Lu Yuan intensified. Centered on her body, the space seemed to freeze into frost. The radiant Taiyin energy extended toward Ren Yuzhi, who felt a chill creeping over him.

With her sword spinning in hand, Lu Yuan channeled the Taiyin Radiance into motion, unleashing a thunderous surge of sword intent resembling crashing waves—this was her Surging Tide Sword Intent.

Her swirling sword aura condensed into a stormy tidal wave that collided with Ren Yuzhi’s whirlwind, scattering the sword aura into fragments.

"Buzz."

Ren Yuzhi moved like a Peng Bird, cutting through the storm and entering its heart, suddenly striking with his sword.

As his blade descended, Taiyin Sword Intent fell along with it, but Lu Yuan countered the strike with perfect precision, as if she could read everything in her surroundings.

One strike failed; Ren Yuzhi dissolved into the storm again and launched another attack from behind her.

Lu Yuan responded with a reflexive backslash, her sword emitting thunderous tides that roared fiercely as Taiyin energy froze the space.

"Bang..."

A layer of frost covered Ren Yuzhi, only to be shattered instantly by the sword aura emanating from his body. Once more, he merged into the storm, maintaining his control over the battle’s momentum.

The spectators only saw Lu Yuan trapped within the storm as Ren Yuzhi struck repeatedly, seeming to manifest countless clones.

Yet even under such pressure, Lu Yuan stubbornly held her ground, refusing to fall.

Her sword could withstand Ren Yuzhi’s rapid attacks.

Still, Ren Yuzhi’s sword continued increasing in speed. Within the storm, it was as though countless versions of Ren Yuzhi appeared. How much longer could Lu Yuan hold on?

*She had already earned their admiration, but ultimately, she was fighting in a compromised position.*

Suddenly, a sharp cry resonated. Within the storm appeared an enormous Peng Bird phantom. The ripping Sword Aura storm became even fiercer as Ren Yuzhi, frustrated at failing to conclude the battle, ignited an even higher fighting spirit. Ranked third on the Green Cloud List, could he really fail to defeat a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator?

Where was his honor?

"Buzz..."

The Peng Bird seemed to transform into a sword, tearing through space as it struck toward Lu Yuan—this single strike embodying Ren Yuzhi’s Sky-splitting Sword Intent taken to its absolute limit, aiming to kill in one decisive blow.

*Lu Yuan felt the overwhelming intensity of the sword intent bearing down on her. Within her, an endless radiance erupted outward. Bathed in Taiyin moonlight, she appeared divine, as if the surrounding sword aura had frozen into absolute stillness.*

Ren Yuzhi’s sword pierced the cold glow, yet frost enshrouded it immediately.

Lu Yuan thrust her sword forward, meeting Ren Yuzhi’s blade in a direct clash. His sword was instantly coated with frost and snow, and he felt an eerie shiver within his very soul—as though it might freeze and shatter. *The frigid energy carried an inexplicable sharpness; every moonbeam striking his body felt like it could obliterate him.*

"Bang..."

With a deafening boom, the frost exploded outward. Lu Yuan’s body was flung back, emitting a muffled groan.

Despite her breathtaking display of strength, her realm disparity remained too great.

"Has she lost?"

The crowd’s gaze fixed on Lu Yuan. Even if defeated, her tenacity in battle had been dazzling enough to take pride in.

Ren Yuzhi stared at her with sharp eyes, his Sword Aura storm still raging.

Lu Yuan raised her arm once more, her sword in hand, glowing in moonlight that lit up the battlefield. At that moment, her spirit was tranquil, free of all distractions, focused solely on her sword.

Suddenly, the sound of sword resonance surged, five swords ringing out.

Ren Yuzhi looked up and saw five of the Seven Swords radiating light toward Lu Yuan, while only three illuminated him.

Had he truly won?

The crowd, however, was utterly shaken.

Not long ago, Ying Ze, ranked first on the Green Cloud List, and the Xuantian Sect prodigy Ke Junlin had managed only four songs of sword resonance—not five.

Did this mean Lu Yuan’s talent in the Sword Dao exceeded both Ying Ze and Ke Junlin?

Previously, rumors claimed Li Fan boasted about controlling five parts of the world’s Sword Dao fortune, but it was later dismissed as exaggeration—he had only claimed one part.

Yet now, seeing Lu Yuan, whose talent had reached such astonishing heights, still willingly follow Zuo Tu...

Didn’t this suggest Zuo Tu himself commanded at least five songs of sword resonance?