Mingtai looked at Lu Yang with increasing admiration. His own Sword Heart was already extremely rare in the world, yet he hadn’t expected Elder Brother Lu Yang’s affection for the sword to surpass even his own.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Perhaps in all of history, including the mysterious Ancient Times, and even counting the Zither and Sword Venerable from those times, no one was quite like Elder Brother Lu Yang.

The only uncertainty was the Qilin Immortal. It was said that the Qilin Immortal wielded a sword, but it was unknown if he simply used the sword as a weapon or if he was a true sword cultivator.

If the Qilin Immortal indeed was a sword cultivator, it remained a question whether Elder Brother Lu Yang or the Qilin Immortal had the superior Sword Heart.

Anyone who had cultivated to become an immortal would have a unique understanding of swordsmanship and Sword Heart.

"This Sword Heart is surely peerless throughout the ages," someone muttered softly, and immediately many others echoed the sentiment.

"Lu Yang’s Sword Heart is peerless throughout the ages!"

"The sword as the master and Lu Yang as the retainer, his Sword Heart is peerless throughout the ages!"

Even the Sword Tower Elder cast an appreciative glance at Lu Yang, feeling that just on the merit of his sword cultivation alone, he was worthy of eternal renown and an example for all future sword cultivators to follow.

Although the slogans differed, they were essentially similar, creating the momentum of a great thundering tide. Lu Yang, embarrassed, hung his head low and fidgeted with the tip of his shoe.

It felt as though everyone was proclaiming him to be a subject of Fairy Eternity.

Lu Yang now regretted attending the Inquiry of the Sword Grand Ceremony; there was no need to find an excuse to wander, as it was quite nice staying in the Seek Dao Sect.

Yun Mengmeng didn’t understand much about swordsmanship, but from everyone’s reaction, she could tell that Lu Yang’s Sword Heart was indeed formidable and felt somewhat proud.

"Have found a good teacher for Xiao Zhi," she thought.

"Grandma was worried about me having accidents outside, but with my luck, how could anything go wrong?"

With Lu Yang, possessing the peerless Sword Heart of all ages, any other sword cultivator’s response seemed pale and lackluster in comparison, completely incomparable to Lu Yang.

"You see, thanks to this immortal’s help, Little Yang, your Sword Heart is so formidable," Lu Yang ignored the Sword Spirit’s shameless self-aggrandizement.

"The Inquiry of the Sword in Heart has concluded. I believe everyone already knows whose Sword Heart is the most admirable without me saying," the Tower Master of the Sword Tower said with a smile. His gaze fell on Lu Yang, unintentionally revealing his wish to claim Lu Yang as his own disciple, if not for the fact that he couldn’t defeat Daoist Buyu.

However, upon reflection, it was said that Yun Zhi treasured this junior brother dearly—seemingly even if he could defeat Daoist Buyu, he wouldn’t be able to defeat Yun Zhi.

After all, it was quite fine for Lu Yang to stay at Seek Dao Sect.

"Now, we shall begin the Inquiry of the Sword in Intent."

The Inquiry of the Sword Grand Ceremony was held once every hundred years. If it were a one-on-one swordsmanship combat, inevitably the one with the longest time in cultivation would win, leaving no real meaning to the battle.

Therefore, the Sword Tower Supreme suggested compressing everyone’s cultivation level to the same stage, to compete purely based on Sword Intent.

Lu Yang felt an overwhelming pressure descending, covering the entire area and pressing down everyone’s realm, including his own, to the Golden Core Stage.

Then, the earth trembled as eighteen platforms emerged from the ground, encircling the Sword Tower.

"These eighteen platforms were forged by the first Tower Master," the Manager of the Tower explained. "You need only place a streak of Sword Qi on the arena, and the Sword Qi will evolve into a Sword Intent Silhouette, which you can control to battle."

"Is this the legendary Sword Intent Arena?" the sword cultivators marveled upon seeing the eighteen platforms, smooth as mirrors, gleaming with excitement.

This was a treasure left by the Sword Tower Supreme. If one were to practice on it over a long period, it could refine Sword Intent, making it even more sharp and fierce.

This was Lu Yang’s first encounter with this object, and from the discussions of those around him, he had a rough understanding of the incredible significance of the Sword Intent Arena.

Lu Yang drew the second group in the lot and had to wait for the first group to finish before it was his turn.

Lu Yang remembered the cultivators Mingtai had introduced as key competitors, and within the first group was the previously introduced Xuanxuan of the Black Tortoise Clan.

Xuanxuan carried a black sword, heavy and broad, with a little turtle painted on the hilt, and his presence felt Earth-shaking with every step he took.

Xuanxuan’s opponent was another Lu Yang had seen before: an octopus with tentacles coiled around eight swords.

"Wu’er, I didn’t expect to encounter you here," Xuanxuan smiled, showing eight pearly white teeth.

Both he and the octopus were sword cultivators from the East Sea, and while they had heard of each other, they had never crossed swords.

"Xuanxuan, they all say my swordsmanship is not as good as yours. I’ve been unable to find an opportunity before, but today I will dispel the rumors!"

"What rumors? They are simply telling the truth. How could you possibly compare to me!"

Wu’er was the first to attack, his tentacles wrapping around eight swords and spinning wildly. The speed was so fast that it was impenetrable; nobody could reach his true body before the ceremony started.

With a loud shout, Xuanxuan put all his strength into lifting his thick, black greatsword and struck a blow at the octopus Wu’er.

Clang——

That strike would cause trouble for any sword cultivator, but upon reaching Wu’er, it was simply swept away by the rapid spinning of his eight swords.

"There really is some skill here." Xuanxuan became interested. Sword cultivators were known for their attack power, yet Wu’er did the opposite, focusing on defensive power.

"Isn’t it just spinning in circles? Who can’t do the same!" Xuanxuan returned to his original form, transforming into a Black Tortoise with a snake’s body, flipping over so the raised part of his shell was against the ground.

His head retracted into the shell, biting the hilt of the sword with his mouth, and stabbed the ground with his tail, setting himself into rotation.

As the tail stabbed the ground with greater speed and force, Xuanxuan’s rotation sped up until it was so fast that it was impossible to tell head from tail.

Using his tail to accelerate and change direction, Xuanxuan charged at Wu’er and knocked him over.

Wu’er also got angry; he had always been unbeatable with this move, and this was the first time he had been knocked down.

"You think I’m scared of you!"

The two members of the Sea Clan were like spinning tops on the platform, rotating and colliding. If one was sent flying, they would gather strength and slam back into the fray.

Lu Yang watched Xuanxuan and Wu’er admiringly, not expecting to witness the Combined Battle Method here.

However, these two from the Sea Clan were even more impressive, no need for unification, they could spin on their own, which was far more convenient.

Lu Yang saw that the two spinning tops could not decide a victor in a short time, so he circled around the Sword Tower, checking the other arenas.

"Xiaofeng, you, how could you be here!" one sword cultivator said in shock upon recognizing the face and name of his opponent.

The one called Xiaofeng smiled, though his smile was very stiff: "Brother Lin, I always said we would meet again. Don’t think that by changing your name and identity, I couldn’t find you. You would surely participate in this once-in-a-century Inquiry of the Sword event!"

"A blood feud can only be settled with blood. Today, let our battle on this platform decide life and death!"

...

"Eldest Senior Brother, I did not expect us to meet on the arena. Do you remember our agreement, that only the winner has the right to confess to Junior Sister!"

"Junior Brother, who Junior Sister likes is her business. Do not let the outcome between us decide her marriage!"

"Talk is cheap, let’s battle!"

...

"Brother, twenty years ago, you took my Spirit Root and pushed me off a cliff. You never thought I’d still be alive, did you!"

"What does it matter if you are still alive? You are just a useless nobody without a Spirit Root, how could you possibly defeat me!"

"Heh heh, the phrase ’destroy and then establish’, you probably will never understand it!"

Lu Yang: "..."

When you in the Sword Tower drew lots to choose opponents, you really didn’t tamper with it, right?