Ye Jiuya said, "I came out of seclusion not long before the new year."

Lord Lanshan turned to lead the way for Ye Jiuya, saying, "I've long heard of Swordmaster Ye's reputation. Meeting you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

After passing through jade palaces, immortal forests, and spiritual pools, they arrived at a large empty space paved with ice stones in front of the Biyu Heavenly Pavilion.

Ye Jiuya walked to one side and stopped. Lu Lanshan arrived at the other side, his sword chiming clearly, engraved with the two characters "Feiguang*".

*T/N: Feiguang means 'Flying Light'

"Swordmaster Ye, please." His voice was like jade.

Because immortal cultivators follow different paths, it's difficult to compare their profundities and determine superiority. Thus, the three realm levels were established. Young disciples practice breathing techniques and quiet meditation daily. Although there are differences in levels, in the end it's just cultivating the body and mind, not considered entering the immortal gate.

The first heavenly realm borrows the power of heaven and earth. The second connects to the mysterious workings of fate. The third penetrates heaven and earth, on par with the sun and moon.

Later, as the martial path rose, cultivation levels became directly linked to martial prowess. The various immortal sects that prioritized quiet meditation and pill concoction, not exerting their bodies, also developed countless techniques and talismans, reversing their decline. Their combat power could rival martial immortal cultivators.

This started the trend of determining superiority through martial arts, passed down through generations.

When two people meet, unless the gap is too large, they will spar to prove their realms and determine who is superior - not unlike how mortals introduce their families to establish seniority, different approaches with the same effect.

Moreover, these two, one in the south and one in the north, are the most outstanding in the sword path. Immortal cultivators have long speculated about who would win between them. They are extremely curious about whether the Southern or Northern Sword has a better chance of glimpsing the Heavenly Dao. After this battle, a conclusion can probably be drawn.

Xie Lang pulled Wen Hui back a few steps to watch intently with Lu Hongyan.

In the pavilion to the side, several disciples in green turned their heads to watch, and a few more walked over.

For them, witnessing a battle at this level is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Feiguang left its sheath, like a clear pool under sunlight, its sharpness concealed.

The female disciple named Qin Wanqing beside Lu Lanshan held the sword sheath and stood to one side.

Seeing this, Chen Weichen raised his eyebrows and smiled, saying, "Master, give it to me."

In this situation, it was indeed more appropriate for Chen Weichen to attend to the sword - he happily took Jiuya's black sheath, imitating Qin Wanqing quite properly.

Jiuya's sword was forged from dark iron, quenched in the extreme northern cold spring waters. It was not the bright silver of ordinary weapons but had a deep luster, as if it brought a boundless silence that even sunlight could not touch.

It was not a sword of upholding justice, not a sword for pioneering, not even - a sword for killing.

It was a sword of indifference.

Once drawn, it must be used. Qi surged on the stone platform as they probed each other, the full picture profound and unfathomable.

The moment it tensed, it was as if a taut string in the void was suddenly plucked.

In an instant, the confrontational extreme stillness turned to extreme motion.

The wind rose and clouds billowed.

Lu Lanshan leapt into the air, his sky blue robe surrounded by countless sword shadows.

The sword shadows transformed, and observing with a calm mind, one felt as if falling into an illusion, evolving into countless scenes.

One moment lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, the next flowers bloomed and withered.

It was the result of day and night contemplation, comprehending the ways of heaven and earth, enlightening the sword, becoming a world within the sword.

The myriad shifting worlds, truly as praised by people, "having a zen meaning".

Yet that white-clothed figure did not move.

In past years' debates between the Southern and Northern Swords, besides truly profound seniors, there were quite a few disciples with mediocre skills who could only spectate.

The two sects' process of discussing the sword path and debating the sword heart was too abstruse for them to understand. The truly exciting part was the contest between the Southern and Northern Swords.

The Northern Sword Pavilion used one sword to break myriad swords, while the Southern Sword Platform used myriad swords against one sword. Putting aside the results of wins and losses, just watching the exquisite swordsmanship was dazzling, leaving people exclaiming "Amazing!" and at a loss for words.

The current situation was the same, but the two's realms were also ten times higher, so the spectacle was naturally extraordinary.

Facing the sky full of sword shadows, Ye Jiuya finally struck.

The qi of the entire heaven and earth was pulled.

In the eyes of mortals, it was just an ordinary horizontal sword.

Perhaps when the profundity reaches an ineffable level, if one has not reached that realm, they cannot see a hint of the mystery.

That one sword transcended myriad sword techniques, aiming to break the key turning point of the qi amidst the sky full of swords.

And those endlessly regenerating myriad swords all originated from the initial "Feiguang".

"One sword? Myriad swords? I actually can't tell." Chen Weichen heard Xie Lang behind him say, "The Southern and Northern Swords are completely different, yet subtly connect as they do now—when the path reaches the peak, they surprisingly converge, as if enlightened to the same truth."

Looking at the field again, after that sword struck, the atmosphere briefly froze.

The edge of Jiuya's sword drew a crescent moon. Smoothly and fluidly, it changed from defense to offense, slashing into the complex sword shadows.

It was like a sudden flash of lightning tearing through a curtain of rain or a killing cold wind blowing into lush flowers.

The sword shadows suddenly retracted, leaving only Feiguang in Lu Lanshan's hand. With a crisp clang, Jiuya's sword collided with Feiguang.

The two borrowed the momentum of their weapons clashing to turn around, returning to their initial confrontational stances. However, in the next moment they continued - Lu Lanshan's entire aura suddenly changed, pure qi pouring into his sword, magnanimous and detached.

Ye Jiuya's heartless sword intent also manifested at this moment. Within the sword intent was the vast indifference of heaven and earth, a chilling silence that shocked the mind and soul.

The sword path at this level, let alone mortals, even immortals could not comprehend.

The sky blue robe and snow white robe met again, Jiuya and Feiguang crossed again, and the two landed once more.

It was unknown who exactly won or lost.

Lu Lanshan still had the same gentle jade-like demeanor as before: "Swordmaster Ye lives up to his reputation."

Ye Jiuya said indifferently, "Many thanks, Lord Lanshan."

"I should be the one thanking Swordmaster Ye." Lu Lanshan continued leading the way.

Chen Weichen handed back the sword sheath.

Ye Jiuya unavoidably saw this person's eyes.