"It doesn’t matter who it is!" Wen Qingye sneered. With a flick of his wrist, the sword in his hand trembled, its cold glint aiming for Li Zhouyu’s throat.

Li Zhouyu’s mouth fell open, his eyes filled with terror.

But in that very instant, something unexpected happened.

CLANG!

Wen Qingye felt an immense force knock against his blade, the aftershock jolting him to the chest. Anyone else would have surely dropped their sword.

DRIP.

Blood trickled from the base of his thumb and dripped slowly to the ground. Wen Qingye’s gaze shifted to the distant Hidden Peak Steward. It was he who had just intervened, stopping Wen Qingye’s fatal strike.

This man’s cultivation was profound, definitely above the Yin-Yang Realm.

The Hidden Peak Steward looked at Wen Qingye, his gaze carrying a hint of pressure, and said softly, "Years ago, while traveling through the Luocheng Ancient Country, I incurred a debt to the Nangong Family. So, I hope that this martial nephew will see fit to spare Li Zhouyu. What do you say?"

Stewards were typically Third Generation Disciples, specifically those with outstanding cultivation. Elders, on the other hand, were usually exceptional disciples from the second generation. This was why the Hidden Peak Steward addressed Wen Qingye as martial nephew.

By this logic, Registered and core disciples were the fourth generation. Above them were Stewards of the third generation, and then Elders and Peak Masters of the second. Such was the hierarchy of the entire Celestial Profound Sect.

When Li Zhouyu heard the Hidden Peak Steward’s words, his eyes lit up with joy. "Martial Uncle, save me! Save me!"

Wen Qingye’s hand was still trembling, but his eyes grew even colder. "You want me to spare him? And I’m supposed to just do it?"

The Hidden Peak Steward frowned. Even the top ten Registered Disciples—who might one day surpass him—still had to show him some modicum of respect. With Wen Qingye, however, that didn’t seem to apply.

"Where you can forgive, you should," the Hidden Peak Steward continued, trying to reason with him. "If you kill him, you will completely offend the Luocheng Ancient Country."

Hearing this, Wen Qingye showed no fear. Instead, he laughed. "I’m really not afraid of the Luocheng Ancient Country."

Seeing Wen Qingye’s defiance, the Hidden Peak Steward finally grew angry and roared, "And what if I insist on protecting him?"

His booming voice shook the heavens, like a clap of thunderous rage. The hearts of all who saw it trembled.

"The Hidden Peak Steward is furious! A Third Generation Disciple is furious!"

"A Third Generation Disciple’s cultivation is far beyond us fourth-generation disciples. I bet Wen Qingye will have to back down this time."

"I can’t believe the Hidden Peak Steward is going to such lengths to protect Li Zhouyu. The backing of an Ancient Country is really something else."

...

"Then that depends on your ability," Wen Qingye said, his eyes growing even colder.

SWOOSH!

Wen Qingye raised his right hand, and the One Thought Sword pulsed with a terrifying cold light as it shot toward Li Zhouyu.

"Junior, you dare!"

Seeing Wen Qingye’s sword thrusting straight for Li Zhouyu, the Hidden Peak Steward’s body blurred as he shot rapidly toward Wen Qingye.

A wild wind howled and roared around them. The Hidden Peak Steward stood before the crowd, then charged at Wen Qingye with an overwhelming aura, like a mountain crashing down or a sea overturning.

"Is this the power of a Third Generation Disciple?"

"It’s terrifying! The sheer presence is suffocating!"

"This is definitely not the kind of power a Yin-Yang Realm expert has!"

...

GRIND!

Wen Qingye clenched his teeth, bearing a greater impact from the aura than anyone else present. The Primordial Qi inside him surged violently, like a flood bursting through a dam.

HISS!

The Hidden Peak Steward caught Wen Qingye’s sword directly between two fingers. Wen Qingye’s peerlessly sharp Sword Qi instantly vanished into nothingness. However, the Steward felt a jolt in his heart as a chill seemed to shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

"Tunnel Swordsmanship... Intent!"

The Hidden Peak Steward stared at Wen Qingye in astonishment, his eyes filled with shock.

Hearing the Hidden Peak Steward’s words, the surrounding crowd was stunned. Then, their eyes all turned involuntarily toward Wen Qingye.

"Someone from a small, backwater country actually comprehended the realm of Intent in Tunnel Swordsmanship?"

"Less than thirty percent of the Third Generation Disciples have grasped Intent in Tunnel Swordsmanship, yet he’s done it?"

"To think a remote little country like the Celestial Martial Country could produce such a genius of the Sword Dao."

The surrounding crowd erupted into discussion, and the way they looked at Wen Qingye changed completely.

Tunnel Swordsmanship is divided into three realms. The first is Intent. After cultivating Human Sword Technique to the point of Perfection, one can tap into the great momentum of heaven and earth.

The second realm is Spirit. Upon reaching this realm, one’s Swordsmanship is no longer limited by form, but possesses a trace of divine charm.

The third realm is Domain. Upon reaching this realm and forming a Sword Domain, one’s Swordsmanship can be unleashed to a state of absolute perfection within a certain area. This is the pinnacle of Tunnel Swordsmanship.

Wen Qingye took a small step back, looking at the Hidden Peak Steward, and said coldly, "You insist on protecting a disciple in a Hidden Peak duel, which violates the sect’s rules. Don’t bring trouble upon yourself."

The Hidden Peak Steward frowned. Wen Qingye was right. If he forcibly protected Li Zhouyu and Wen Qingye were to report him, he would definitely face severe punishment according to the sect’s rules.

But then, as if he had thought of something, the Hidden Peak Steward’s gaze became firm.

"Wouldn’t it be better to leave some face for each other? Why must you press the issue so hard?"

Wen Qingye heard him and said coldly, "If I were the one who had been miserably defeated today, would you still have stepped out and told him not to press the issue so hard?"

The Hidden Peak Steward’s lips parted, but Wen Qingye continued, "No, you wouldn’t. Because of the Luocheng Ancient Country behind him, you’re stopping me. Further words are useless. You don’t dare to kill me, either. Today, we’ll see if your hands are faster than my sword."

BOOM!

A sudden clap of thunder echoed from the heavens, shaking everything in all directions. In an instant, the sky seemed to grow dim.

Feeling the lightning-charged air around them, the Hidden Peak Steward thought in shock, ’What a terrifying aura! This Registered Disciple is no simple character!’

Wen Qingye strode forward. The sound of thunder mixed with the whistle of wind, swirling around the crowd’s ears and shaking their Heart Spirits. Everyone stared with wide eyes, their bodies tensing involuntarily.

"Four Symbols Sword Technique, Sixth Form! Lightning Flash!"

The light from the sword was like a rainbow, streaking forward like a bolt of lightning.

The very air seemed to freeze, leaving only a single streak of lightning.

The lightning streak spread toward Li Zhouyu, who stood there, stunned and unresponsive, his Heart Spirit long since shattered.

Suddenly, the streak of lightning shuddered. The sword tip extended infinitely, and a pair of withered fingers clamped tightly onto Wen Qingye’s Sword Body.

"Hah!"

Wen Qingye gave a great shout. Instantly, the surrounding Primordial Qi surged frantically toward him. In just a few breaths, the area around him seemed to become a vacuum.

Gripping the hilt with both hands, Wen Qingye gathered all the Primordial Qi in his body and thrust forward with all his might.

The Hidden Peak Steward’s expression was calm, and he didn’t retreat a single step, his two fingers still clamped firmly around the sword tip.

Wen Qingye felt his Primordial Qi begin to roil as if it were boiling, surging so violently it felt like it would break open his mystic pass.

HUM!

In an instant, Wen Qingye’s aura surged once more, seemingly reaching its absolute peak. Sunlight fell upon his face, making him look like an ancient, unadorned statue.

BANG!

A loud bang echoed in everyone’s ears.

The Hidden Peak Steward took a step back. His eyes, however, were fixed on Wen Qingye, a trace of astonishment in them.

"He broke through!"