Chapter 3797: How To Break

The elders of the Four Commands Sword Sect shared knowing smiles. Having even a nominal disciple of Greater Sancte Green Lotus in their clan was a blessing. Without Lu Siyu, how could they have had the face to invite Ming Zhuo?

Ming Zhuo was not merely an Immortal’s disciple; he was also the strongest expert of the Fourth Odyssey. He was one of the people with the potential to become an Odyssey Commander.

If an invasion was launched, Ming Zhuo not only had the potential to become the Fourth Odyssey’s commander, but given his power and status, he also had an extremely high chance of success. Being an Odyssey Commander was no ordinary honor.

While they were not Lesser Sancte, during wartime, the Odyssey Commanders stood equal to the Lesser Sancti. Apart from the Greater Sancti, no one could give an order to an Odyssey Commander. Wherever their sword pointed, nothing would survive. Mountains of corpses would be left in their wake. It was one of the greatest honors in the megaverse.

During times of war, not even the most powerful groups that were part of the Temporal Heavens would dare to openly defy an Odyssey Commander.

“Senior Brother, why are you here?” Lu Siyu asked curiously. She had not been informed that her sect had invited Ming Zhuo.

The man responded with a mysterious smile. “You’ll understand in a moment. Off you go, now. The competition to determine the Sword Master has already been delayed, and it’s time for it to begin.”

Lu Siyu murmured her assent and then left with a bow.

Ming Zhuo looked around at the four men standing at the corners of the Sword Altar. “Begin.”

The moment this word was spoken, sword intent shifted. Lu Bi’s blade rose instantly, his qi forming rows of stone walls, each scarred with deep cuts.

Lu Sizhan released a single slash with his sword, attacking Lu Bi.

At that exact same moment, the tip of Lu Jing’s sword leveled at Lu Feichen; that was Lu Jing’s only opponent.

Given the number of years that they had known each other, each of the four sect masters had a clear understanding of the others’ strength. There was no need for any sort of coordination. The competition naturally settled into two separate battles.

Lu Jing had a single attack that he had reserved for Lu Feichen.

Similarly, Lu Feichen wanted to witness the power of Lu Jing’s single technique.

Lu Bi intended to simply wait. He would allow the other three to exhaust themselves. In the past, one sect master from the West Command had succeeded in becoming the Sword Master in this exact same way. Lu Bi had to admit that his own chances were slim. To begin with, Lu Sizhan was simply too weak. It was rare for any contender for the position of Sword Master to be an Ortuser. In fact, Lu Bi felt nervous because of the other man’s weakness. Only if Lu Sizhan had already become a Dukkhan capable of fighting against Lu Feichen would Lu Bi have any hope. As things stood, everything depended on Lu Jing.

As for Lu Sizhan’s sword skills, Lu Bi did not even spare the man so much as a glance. There was no way the man could break Lu Bi’s defenses.

Lu Bi was not alone in his dismissive attitude, as everyone’s eyes were focused on Lu Jing.

Lu Jing possessed the most powerful attack technique in the entire Four Commands Sword Sect. This sole technique was also his only chance to become the Sword Master.

He had used famous artworks to refine his heart and observe the sky, the earth, and the boundless seas.

“Timeless Paintings.” Lu Jing’s eyes grew steely as he thrust his sword forward. As he did so, reality warped around the blade. It was as if one scroll after another was being unfurled. Mountains, rivers, flowers, and birds all came to life as countless phantoms shot forward with the sword intent. The presence of the phantoms made the single sword thrust capable of undergoing endless transformations.

The attack changed with every heartbeat.

Ming Zhuo exclaimed in surprise, “What impressive sword intent! No one before has managed to fill their sword intent with such endless alterations. This Timeless Paintings not only contains the artworks themselves, but also all those who observed them.

“There are few throughout the entire Nine Odysseys Megaverse who could withstand this attack.”

The man’s words caused the four elders to smile. Despite the internal competition between the Four Commands Sword Sect’s four directions, the sect was a solitary entity to outsiders. The Sword Master would command all four directions, not just one.

The fact that even Ming Zhuo uttered such praise was proof that Lu Jing’s sword was truly remarkable.

Within the crowd, Lu Yin remained calm. The endlessly changing sword intent and the profound heritage carried by Timeless Paintings had indeed allowed Lu Jing to comprehend a lethal strike. Given enough time and enough artpieces, his sword intent would continue to rise until none could match him.

However, did this sword intent truly belong to Li Jing?

Was this his own attack or another’s?

His sword intent had been far too strongly influenced by others.

Lu Feichen’s blade flashed from its sheath, its light cold like that of a shooting star. It sliced through sword intent, flesh, and artwork alike.

In the sky, the blurred scrolls were slashed apart. Lu Jing and Lu Feichen swept past each other, and a trickle of blood leaked from Lu Jing’s wrist. His hand lost all strength, and he released the hilt of his sword, which fell to the Sword Altar with a soft clang.

Sheathing his weapon, Lu Feichen turned to stare at Lu Jing’s back. “Your heart is too cluttered.”

The crowd erupted, people believing that they must have misheard.

Lu Jing, who observed the vast world with a tranquil mind, whose South Command welcomed academics and artists without restrictions, should possess the calmest heart of all.

Outsiders knew that Lu Jing was famous for his tranquil demeanor. He was regarded as being like a pool of still water that only great pieces of art could stir.

Despite all of that, Lu Feichen claimed that the man’s heart was cluttered.

On the observation platform, a smile touched Ming Zhuo’s lips. “While he wields 10,000 sword intents, he is unable to fully fuse them into his own path. Ultimately, the best way to describe his situation is indeed ‘cluttered.’”

“We’ve shamed ourselves before you,” the elder from the South Command answered in a bitter tone.

Ming Zhuo waved the comment away. “Not at all. Cultivating sword intent to this level is already quite impressive. Provided that he doesn’t encounter a supreme expert, his sword intent will encounter few equals. His method is cluttered, yes, but it also leaves much room for further growth. It’s an excellent sword intent, and he merely needs more time.”

The elder sighed and shook his head.

Atop the Sword Altar, Lu Jing turned around to face Lu Feichen again. “I hope that you will be able to remove the clutter. This sword intent now belongs to you.”

Lu Feichen retorted, “The Sword Master has not yet been determined.”

Lu Jing laughed freely. “Who else can challenge you? Those two?”

As he spoke, Lu Jing glanced at the other battle, only for his expression to abruptly change.

How can this be?

Lu Feichen frowned and also looked over.

Lu Bi, who should have blocked Lu Sizhan’s attack without issue, had already fallen. When had that happened?

Lu Feichen had not expected Lu Bi to fail, and he had been so focused on Lu Jing that he had ignored the other battle.

The truth was that no one had really cared about the match between Lu Bi and Lu Sizhan.

However, the results had defied all expectations; Lu Bi had actually lost.

Far across the Sword Altar, Lu Bi lay sprawled on the floor. He braced himself with his right hand and slowly rose to his feet while panting heavily.

There was a red stain on his chest: blood.

Teeth clenched, the man stared at Lu Sizhan. Both anger and disappointment blazed in Lu Bi’s eyes. “I was hoping that it wasn’t you, and yet it is. Why does this position mean so much to you that you would sacrifice your own honor to seize it?”

In front of the man, Lu Sizhan was chillingly calm. He offered no reply at all. Instead, he merely looked over at Lu Feichen.

Down on the ground below, the crowd started muttering. Most eyes had been glued to the battle between Lu Feichen and Lu Jing, so few had noticed how Lu Bi had been defeated.

On the observation platform, Ming Zhuo blandly commented, “For him to be able to instantly pierce the defenses of the Slaughter Wall is beyond all reason.”

Beside him, the elder from the West Command let out a roar of fury, “It’s that man! The attacker who injured the three sect masters has helped Lu Sizhan! Lu Bi suspected before that the man might have been hired by the East Command. I actually stopped him at that time, telling him that no one in our Four Commands Sword Sect would ever stoop so low! I never imagined that he would actually be right!”

Another elder’s face fell. “This should not be the way things are done.”

“Old man, that’s your East Command. Will you deal with this, or shall I? This is outrageous! Since ancient times, the competition to determine the Sword Master has always been open and upright! When has anything even close to this happened?”

“I will provide you all with an explanation.” With that, the elder from the East Command stood up. Looking across the Sword Altar, he called out, “Lu Sizhan!”

The man looked over.

“Tell me, how did you see through Lu Bi’s defensive sword intent?”

Everyone stared at Lu Sizhan. The man’s face remained perfectly calm. “Victory is victory, while defeat is defeat. If you all believed that it was impossible for me to win, why am I the one still standing?”

“You hired that attacker!” the western elder screamed, his accusation stirring the crowd.

The northern and southern elders also frowned. “Do not be rash with your words.”

“Do not lightly pass judgment, or else it will be our Four Commands Sword Sect that is mocked by the outside world.”

The western elder remained livid, and he glared fiercely at Lu Sizhan.

Down beneath the Sword Altar, Lu Siyu’s expression grew conflicted. It was only at this moment that she understood why Lu Yin had not returned to make trouble for the other three directions; he had focused on her own father, showing him the flaws in the other sect masters’ sword techniques so that Lu Sizhan could win.

It was no wonder why she had not seen her father for half a month. She had thought that the man had been studying the sword technique that her sisters had given him. The reality far exceeded anything that Lu Siyu had ever imagined.

Father, why did you agree to this? Your personality should have prevented you from ever doing such a thing.

Lu Sizhan’s gaze swept over the crowd. “Will the contest to determine the Sword Master continue?”

“Explain yourself first!” the western elder roared.

Others looked at Lu Sizhan, but he said nothing.

At that moment, Lu Feichen spoke up. The man’s cold had gone cold. “Brother Sizhan, do you wish to continue?”

Lu Sizhan looked over at Lu Feichen. “I must take the title of the Four Commands Grand Swordmaster.”

“Why have you become like this...” Lu Bi coughed up blood as he struggled to his feet. Disappointment filled his eyes.

Lu Jing was also taken aback as he observed Lu Sizhan. The three men had the impression that Lu Sizhan was a man of integrity while also being extremely open minded. He was the one who saw through the ways of the world and was exceptionally tolerant. That was why he had never been able to enter Dukkha; he had no painful obsession. It was no disgrace to only be an Ortuser. While Lu Sizhan was the weakest among the four sect masters, none of them had ever looked down on him.

But at this moment, Lu Sizhan felt like a stranger to them all.

The distant crowd was all muttering, many saying that Lu Sizhan was despicable for inviting an outsider to attack his own people.

Lu Yin’s hands were clasped behind his back as he watched in silence. He quite admired Lu Sizhan. The man had succeeded in preserving his original heart despite being immersed in the treacherous world of cultivators. He was gentle and understanding with his daughter, and yet he had also managed to cultivate to the Origin realm. Such people were rare. Forcing the man to fight for the position of the Four Commands Grand Swordmaster was cruel.

On the other hand, Lu Yin was burdened with the fate of the entire Tianyuan Megaverse, which had forced him to become scheming and calculating, ready to kill at every turn. Was Lu Yin’s own fate not cruel enough?

Lu Sizhan was similar to Lu Xiaoxuan, as well as the once-pure Greater Sancte Green Lotus. He possessed the pure beauty that the being in the Willbound Spire sought.

So... what will you do now?

“Father, let it go,” Lu Siyu called out.

Lu Sizhan did not move at all.

On the other side of the altar, Lu Feichen nodded. “Very well. Let’s continue.”

The western elder opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by Ming Zhuo. “If being taught a few techniques is enough for him to be able to defeat another expert, how can his opponent deserve to take on the title of Four Commands Grand Swordmaster?”

Just a few words silenced the crowd.

It was true that Lu Sizhan had been taught, but his cultivation had not changed, nor had he relied on any external power. He was still fighting with his own power. If this was enough for him to defeat Lu Feichen, then Lu Feichen was the one lacking. Why not continue the competition?

Ming Zhuo spoke wistfully, “Lu Cang was a ruthless man. If he were present, he wouldn’t care that an outsider had exposed his flaws. He would prefer to let it happen and simply fix them. I hope that the Four Commands Sword Sect can produce another Lu Cang.”

Lu Cang had been the previous generation’s Sword Master, and he had fallen during a war against a foreign megaverse.

Lu Cang was famous in the Four Commands Sword Sect, and he was especially well known to Lu Feichen, as Lu Cang had risen from the North Command.