Lu Sizhan stood in place, his head bowed as he stared at the ground. His pupils were fluctuating nonstop, and there was an expression on his face that he had never shown before.
Lu Yin observed the man. “If you truly want to atone, then carry the Four Commands Sword Sect on your shoulders. After all, you have genuinely become the sect’s Grand Swordmaster.”
With that, he slowly walked away from Lu Sizhan.
Everyone’s eyes remained fixed on Lu Sizhan, unable to understand what was happening to him.
Only Ming Zhuo stared at Lu Yin in a daze. No way... So this was the reason why I was sent here? Master, you really found one!
Lu Sizhan kept his head bowed as he blankly stared at the ground. A heart-rending pain seemed to be tearing his body apart. A sense of grief darkened everything around him, surrounding him in an endless deluge.
“Father?” Lu Siyu called out. Her voice was like a brook falling over a stone, dripping into Lu Sizhan’s heart and producing ripples that pushed the darkness away.
Still dazed, the man turned his head to look at his daughter.
She simply stared at Lu Sizhan with bloodshot eyes.
A ripple passed through Lu Sizhan’s eyes, and the emptiness faded from his pupils. Slowly, he smiled. “Suyu, Father will protect you.”
He then drew in a deep breath and flicked his thumb, sending out a sword slash. sword intent sliced into the sky, and as it did so, countless blades throughout the Four Commands Sword Sect shot upwards. Every swordsman stared blankly as their weapons flew into the sky, breaking free from their control. Every last sword turned, seemingly in worship as they faced the Sword Altar.
Countless people fell to their knees.
Lu Sizhan threw back his head and released a long howl. That single breath became a wave of swords that rang in the ears of everyone present. Dust was kicked up from the ground, producing a torrent of what seemed like countless miniscule blades that eventually twisted together to form a tornado. With a casual swing of his hand, Lu Sizhan dispersed the maelstrom, and the dust drifted back down like rain, sprinkling onto the crowd. It was frigid, not with cold, but rather with a sense of sharpness.
Xian Ding opened his hand and stared at the dust that fell onto his palm. The bone-deep chill of a blade sent a shiver down his back. He had only ever felt something like this from his master before.
This... was this really Lu Sizhan?
“Dukkha... Lu Sizhan has actually entered Dukkha!”
Everyone was stunned. They had just witnessed Lu Sizhan enter Dukkha. The man’s sword intent had metamorphosed.
When some people entered Dukkha, the process would be calm, while others’ advancements would be earth-shattering. Lu Sizhan’s advance belonged to the latter category, and it disrupted the entire Four Commands Sword Sect.
“Hahahaha! Good, good! Excellent!” An elder on the observation platform burst out with laughter.
The other three elders also let out sighs of relief. Lu Sizhan had finally entered Dukkha. This was truly excellent. With this breakthrough, even if he had not become the strongest Grand Swordmaster in the sect’s history, he would at least meet the standard, surpassing Lu Feichen and the other sect masters by a significant margin.
Lu Feichen and the other two men exchanged glances, smiling at each other as they also relaxed.
Lu Sizhan had just become the true Four Commands Grand Swordmaster. They had clearly sensed just how frightening his sword intent had become. It far exceeded any of them.
In fact, the change in Lu Sizhan stirred up an urge in Lu Feichen to challenge the new Grand Swordmaster, despite the fact that Lu Feichen still needed to restore his own sword intent.
Lu Yin smiled. This was his compensation to the Four Commands Sword Sect. Only by entering Dukkha could Lu Sizhan be their true Grand Swordmaster.
At that moment, Lu Sizhan’s obsession had been resolved.
Even Lu Yin grew curious as to just how strong Lu Sizhan’s sword intent had become. While the man was certainly not a peak Dukkhan, merging the four sword intents in the process of becoming the Grand Swordmaster had granted the man combat strength of that level. He was someone who stood at the peak of the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, only below the Sancti.
Lu Sizhan had become the master of one of the megaverse’s great powers in both name and spirit.
Ming Zhuo laughed. “Interesting! Now this is a Four Commands Grand Swordmaster! Show me just how great the gap between you and Lu Cang is.”
Still standing atop the Sword Altar, Lu Sizhan’s demeanor was completely different from before. If he had previously given off a carefree and debonair impression, he now possessed an otherworldly aura. It was impossible to sense even the slightest edge of sword intent from the man. In fact, he felt even more approachable than before, more in tune with his natural self.
It was possible that Lu Sizhan might be the most exceptional Grand Swordmaster in the sect’s history.
“Old Lu?” Lu Siyu asked nervously.
Lu Sizhan turned and smiled at his daughter. “Girl, don’t be afraid.”
She let out a breath and beamed with joy.
After that, Lu Sizhan finally looked over at Lu Yin. The Grand Swordmaster casually raised an arm, though he kept his sword sheathed. “Many thanks for your assistance, sir. I would also ask you for further instruction.”
Every eye stared at Lu Yin. No one could understand what he had done, or how he had helped Lu Sizhan enter Dukkha.
Lu Yin had just become shrouded in even greater mystery than ever before in the hearts of those in the Four Commands Sword Sect.
The members of the sect were especially nervous. While Lu Sizhan had just broken through, people felt that his chances against Lu Yin remained almost nonexistent.
Lu Yin slowly smiled. “You think that simply entering Dukkha will allow you to defeat me?”
Lu Sizhan shook his head. “That thought never occurred to me. You are neither right nor wrong in what you have done in this matter, yet you have nonetheless helped me to enter Dukkha. I will repay that favor another day. However, you have also separately defeated three sect masters of my Four Commands Sword Sect. As the sect’s Grand Swordmaster, it is my duty to fight you.”
“It might not be easy to become the Four Commands Grand Swordmaster, but I can tell you right now that you are no match for me,” Lu Yin calmly retorted.
All who heard his declaration felt their hearts sink. They did not doubt that statement. Any who was capable of helping another enter Dukkha and who had proven themselves capable of seeing through the flaws of the three sect masters’ sword techniques should be believed.
Lu Sizhan had only just become the Grand Swordmaster. If he lost at this moment, it would be a harsh blow to the Four Commands Sword Sect.
Even so, Lu Sizhan had no thought of retreating, and neither did anyone in the Four Commands Sword Sect.
The four elders atop the observation platform grew solemn. “Our Four Commands Sword Sect does not fear defeat. Sir, please feel free to offer your instruction.
"The sword is a weapon of slaughter, but also the weapon of a gentleman. And a true gentleman is not only refined in conduct, but also broad of heart; one who can tolerate others and still has the courage to fight, even in the face of certain defeat."
Lu Feichen and the others watched expectantly. Each of them had been defeated by a single move from Lu Yin, and they all longed to see his true strength.
Lu Yin met Lu Sizhan’s gaze. “Truthfully, I rather admire the spirit of your Four Commands Sword Sect. Such integrity is rare.”
Lu Sizhan responded with a faint smile. “To receive your praise is our sect’s honor. Please.”
Lu Yin nodded. “I’m also curious. Show me the strength of a Grand Swordmaster’s fused sword intent.”
The two men then stopped moving, but as they both froze, a chill swept across the Sword Altar, continuing on to race across the entire Four Commands Sword Sect. The sky high above the sect was split asunder as an invisible power shot upwards, startling everyone present.