Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Spatial Extremes, the Ultimate Showdown

Jiang Ming’s first battle shocked the entire world.

Countless people looked on in disbelief.

That was the Yin-Yang realm of intent, one of the ten great realms of intent. To comprehend even one of them meant one had the qualification to step into the very peak of martial cultivation. In each generation, no, even across several generations, a single person might not appear.

And yet he displayed it so easily.

“He really did comprehend Yin-Yang!” Long Aotian ground his teeth. “How did he do it? He’s only a high school senior. Even after entering a secret realm world, how many years could he have possibly spent? How can he have grasped such a heaven-defying realm of intent? I know very well that to comprehend Yin-Yang, one must first comprehend Dark Moon and Sun.”

“That is precisely why he is a heaven-defying genius,” Lan Xin said with a sigh, though her eyes burned brightly. “Jiang Ming can serve as a lifelong rival.”

“Mm, absolutely!” Long Aotian nodded gravely. “For us to be in the same class as him, I wonder whether it is our fortune or our misfortune.”

Fortune, because such a rival could temper oneself at every moment. Misfortune, because with such a rival, it was almost impossible to suppress an entire generation.

At the City Lord’s Manor.

“He started with Yin-Yang realm of intent? This boy is going to defy the heavens!” Elder Tang was astonished. “After passing through two secret realm worlds in succession, his mind is no ordinary thing. It is certain this is not his strongest move.”

“If this is only an ordinary move...” Elder Song was utterly incredulous. “This is not merely defying the heavens. He is truly about to shock the world! There will be something worth watching next. I believe even more strongly now that he can suppress all the chosen prodigies.”

“I still find it hard to believe!”

“Who wouldn’t?”

The two old men sighed repeatedly. Behind them, Teacher Chen and Principal Chang were already staring blankly.

“Yin-Yang realm of intent? He stood there and killed his opponent without moving? Principal, am I dreaming?”

“You are dreaming. I am dreaming with you.”

“Who are you dreaming with?”

“Uh—tch, tch, tch, a slip of the tongue. It is just, just too unbelievable, Teacher Chen. Our student actually comprehended one of the ten great realms of intent? In all the years before, has there ever been such a thing in our city?”

“Principal, you should ask whether there has ever been such a thing in all of Storm Province.”

The two of them fell silent.

The outside world was in even greater uproar.

Especially the people of Pingyang City, who were cheering wildly. In an era where martial cultivation was universal, everyone knew exactly what the Yin-Yang realm of intent meant.

This was clearly a hidden dragon on the verge of soaring into the sky.

The martial arena.

Jiang Ming had also returned. Sensing the resentful gaze from afar, he turned his head and saw that it was none other than Zhu Yuanyuan.

He smiled apologetically.

“You really don’t know how to cherish a beauty,” Qin Zhiyan beside him could not help laughing.

“I literally just stood there and didn’t move,” Jiang Ming said innocently.

“I’ll stand there and not move too!” Long Aotian gave a thumbs-up without even turning back, then his figure vanished.

In the preliminaries, he was second in the province.

Lan Xin was third.

“Standing still, that kind of method of yours...” Lan Xin frowned. “I’m afraid I might not even be able to break it. Brother Jiang, Yin-Yang Tai Chi, without beginning or end, endlessly circulating, represents the ultimate in defense. But from the form of your Yin-Yang Tai Chi, it seems your true qi can at any moment become sword qi, correct? That was also the key to killing Zhu Yuanyuan.”

“That’s right.”

Jiang Ming was slightly surprised.

The outer layer revolved while the inner core was concealed.

Without exceptionally sharp perception, no one could detect that within the Yin-Yang Tai Chi, his true qi could, with a single thought, transform into a terrifying storm of Yin-Yang sword qi.

This was the turbulent wave hidden beneath still waters.

“Tai Chi Yin-Yang is meant for protection, yet you turned it into sword qi. How did you do it?” Lan Xin’s knowledge was extraordinary, and she naturally understood the difficulty involved.

Yin and Yang were all about balance.

Once transformed into sword intent, how could that balance be maintained?

She waved a hand. “Wait until the fight begins. I’ll feel it for myself!”

At that moment, Long Aotian returned.

“Too weak,” he said smugly. “I really couldn’t bear to end it in one blow, so I gave her five exchanges. Still, the quality of our cohort is truly unusual. The top twenty have all stepped into the fourth martial realm. In previous years, it would have been impressive to see even one or two.”

“That’s what makes it interesting, isn’t it?” Lan Xin stood up, and in the next instant she vanished, reappearing on the platform.

Jiang Ming sat quietly.

He had watched Long Aotian’s battle. The other man was strong, extremely strong. What he had comprehended was an exceptionally rare realm of intent: pressure.

If Jiang Ming had not specifically looked up the various forms of true intent, and if his senses had not been keen, he really might not have noticed it.

Pressure, somewhat akin to the oppressive force of heavenly phenomena.

Yet it was much weaker. Still, paired with his powerful physique, he had actually battered his opponent to death with nothing but his fists in just a few exchanges.

He really was no ordinary powerhouse.

“His body is strong, and his cultivation is strong too.”

“That pressure realm of intent should be a power inherited from dragon bloodline. Further up the line, could it be imperial dominion? Tyrannical dominion? Sovereign dominion?”

Jiang Ming considered it.

A worthy opponent.

His heart stirred, and he turned to look, only to see Gun Nine shift his gaze away from him. He did not sit down, but stood straight as a spear, chin raised, looking quite proud.

“He was definitely aiming at me!”

Jiang Ming could not help but smile.

During the selection matches, he had watched nearly every battle Gun Nine fought, especially the one against Qin Zhiyan. The piercing realm of intent he displayed had been dazzling even to Jiang Ming.

At the same time, Jiang Ming had been silently pondering whether he could comprehend that piercing intent himself.

Piercing, the extreme point...

He was a little tempted.

As he thought, he also looked toward the arena.

Lan Xin was very strong, extremely strong. As Long Aotian had said, although she had taken second place in the provincial preliminaries, if he truly fought her, he might not necessarily win.

Her whole body crackled with lightning, like the descent of a thunder goddess. Dominant, overbearing, and unrelenting, she forcibly blasted her opponent to death.

Very soon, she was transported back.

“Brother Jiang, what do you think?” Lan Xin asked with a smile.

“Impressive,” Jiang Ming said, raising a thumb.

“If it were based on that performance just now, how long do you think I could last against you?” Lan Xin asked.

Long Aotian, Qin Zhiyan, Tian Tian, and the classmates around them all looked over.

Jiang Ming only smiled without answering.

“I understand!” Lan Xin sighed, and then her fighting spirit soared. “This is what a true rival looks like. Brother Jiang, I can’t wait!”

One battle after another continued.

In the ninth match, Qin Zhiyan took the stage.

In the selection rounds, she had been second, losing only to Gun Nine.

“She is strong, truly strong!” Lan Xin said with absolute solemnity. “I watched every one of her battles, and with each one she improved. Her integration of water and fire also became more and more natural. The path of water, the path of fire—comprehending even one of them would already be remarkable, yet she comprehended both and even grasped the path of fusion. Against her, I have no confidence of victory at all.”

“Neither do I!” Long Aotian said gravely. “And I feel there is still more in her sword intent, as though she can manifest even more terrifying sword techniques. She is a worthy opponent!”

“Dragon versus tiger!”

“If you don’t win, you lose!”

“If you do not advance, you fall behind!”

Long Aotian’s fists collided, power surging forth. Fortunately, a special force field here dissolved the impact of his clash into nothing.

Soon, Qin Zhiyan returned victorious.

She was the first student to reverse-kill someone in the top ten.

“How was it?” Qin Zhiyan looked at Jiang Ming, quite expectant.

“Very good. You’ve improved quickly,” Jiang Ming said sincerely. “You absorb experience in actual combat and grow steadily through caution. But the top five is not yet secure. I have some insights into the paths of water and fire. Let me help you a little.”

As his words fell, he touched a finger to Qin Zhiyan’s brow.

She did not dodge.

“Transmitting teachings by thought? Damn!” Long Aotian burst out in crude language, pointing at Jiang Ming with a trembling hand. “You, you, you... are you really human?”

“Beyond human,” Lan Xin could not help saying with a bitter smile.

That single finger revealed many things.

He was actually also a soul cultivator, or rather a divine cultivator, a seeker of the Dao.

And his realm was not low.

“Little Dragon, still struggling?”

“How could I not struggle? I am a dragon, with true dragon bloodline!”

“Then why is your face twisted so badly?”

“Twisted? No, this is joy. My muscles are exulting, my face is cheering, my heart is leaping.”

“Ha...”

Lan Xin could not help laughing.

Qin Zhiyan also absorbed what Jiang Ming had transmitted. Her eyes were full of delight. She did not say thank you, only said, “I will 반드시 enter the top five!”

Jiang Ming nodded.

After all, they were classmates, and their relationship was fairly good. Naturally, he hoped she could go farther.

It had been done casually, nothing worth mentioning.

In the next match, Gun Nine was even more dazzling. With only a few thrusts of his spear, he killed the student who had originally been tenth.

Then he lifted his brows toward Jiang Ming, the challenge unmistakable.

One battle after another unfolded, each more brilliant than the last.

In the second match, Jiang Ming still stood motionless. Yin and Yang revolved, and the other side only circled the perimeter launching attacks. Helplessly, the Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram suddenly expanded, enclosing the opponent inside.

And then, there was no then.

In the matches that followed, no one could break through his Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram.

He merely stood there and defeated every genius.

At last, he stepped up again.

His opponent was Qin Zhiyan.

“Brother Jiang, please instruct me,” Qin Zhiyan said with clasped fists.

“Then let water and fire meet water and fire,” Jiang Ming replied, returning the salute. With a point of his words, true qi surged forth, water and fire intent merging into it. As it turned, it still formed the shape of a Tai Chi diagram.

Only this time, it was made of the power of water and the power of fire.

“Thank you,” Qin Zhiyan said gratefully.

Jiang Ming’s water-and-fire Tai Chi diagram suddenly expanded, covering an area of a hundred meters and enclosing her within it.

Only then did Qin Zhiyan begin to move. Facing the layers of sword qi, she defended while also sensing the paths by which the sword qi circulated, as well as the concealed charm of water and fire around her.

She knew Jiang Ming was teaching her, and naturally she seized the opportunity, fully immersing herself as she fought the sword qi he had evolved.

This scene, however, caused many people to grin.

“Publicly teaching on the arena—this, this, this... they’re showing off their love right in front of the entire federation. Brother Jiang is incredible. That kind of romance is absolute perfection, and with the added teaching, wouldn’t Qin classmate be devoted to him for life?” Long Aotian’s eyes burned. “I’ve learned something. I truly have.”

“Men really are all the same, none of them good,” Lan Xin muttered, then frowned. “But don’t you see it? Brother Jiang has fused the power of water and fire to the extreme. Though it carries the way of Yin-Yang, it is still unbelievable. And the area covered by the true qi he is driving is far too vast, isn’t it? A hundred meters across, with such dense true qi that it can evolve endless sword qi. Just how vast is his reserve of true qi? How large is the space he opened in his dantian?”

“The ten great realms of intent already have heaven-defying effects, much less...” Long Aotian’s expression turned serious. “He has already stepped into the fifth martial realm and opened his acupoints. Naturally, the amount of true qi he possesses is terrifying.”

“Fifth realm, Yin-Yang realm of intent—who can contend with that?” Lan Xin could not help shaking her head.

At the City Lord’s Manor.

“Teacher Chen, those two are dating?”

“Practicing? Aren’t they practicing right now?”

“No, I mean... are they in love? And in front of the entire federation at that! To actually teach on the platform—this really is, really is...”

“Principal Chang, I don’t think that is the case between them! Before the martial exam, Qin Zhiyan had always been the class monitor. She was good to her classmates and had guided many of them. As for Jiang Ming? He had always been a little nobody.”

“Jiang classmate must have admired her for a long time, but in the past his cultivation was too low and he was somewhat insecure. Now that he has soared to the heavens, he has confidence too, so he gave Qin classmate a romantic surprise. That must be it. Definitely it. Excellent, excellent, truly excellent—perfect golden boy and jade girl, a match made in heaven, absolutely perfect!”

Teacher Chen’s mouth twitched as she listened.

She knew the situation: in the past, Jiang Ming and Qin Zhiyan had only been classmates.

As for now?

It seemed possible, after all.

Geniuses attract one another.

Outside, those with weaker strength only felt that the two of them were fighting brilliantly, while those with greater strength could naturally see the subtleties. In an instant, the whole world was astir, and who knew how many girls were dying of envy.

Showing affection to the world at large.

Was there anything more romantic than that?

“If someone did that for me once, I’d be willing even to die.”

That was the inner voice of many.

“This is the highest realm of courting girls!”

A number of boys had flames in their eyes, but then they all shook their heads.

“That kind of game is not something just anyone can afford. Even money won’t help.”

In the martial arena.

Qin Zhiyan received Jiang Ming’s further transmission of the Dao, and then she remained within the path of water and fire to verify it, her improvement plainly visible.

Her water-and-fire intent grew stronger and stronger.

Her swordsmanship became ever more seamless, ever more powerful.

At last she stopped, her face flushed, and looked at Jiang Ming with a gaze full of brilliance. In a low voice, she asked, “Would this be inappropriate?”

“We’re not violating any rules,” Jiang Ming said with a smile. “That’s about enough now. As long as you don’t make mistakes, reaching the top five should not be a problem.”

“Thank you,” Qin Zhiyan whispered, and then she took the initiative to admit defeat.

The two of them left.

Back in their seats.

“Brother Jiang, I’m convinced. You’re the real deal, unbelievably so.” Long Aotian gave him a thumbs-up. “I dare say that in the future there will definitely be students who imitate you two, and some girls will force the boys to put on such a show.”

“Anyone who does that for me is my true destined one.” Tian Tian cupped her little face in her hands, looked at Jiang Ming, then at Qin Zhiyan, and puffed out her cheeks.

Jiang Ming was speechless.

Long Aotian laughed heartily and teleported away.

Beside him, Qin Zhiyan’s face turned red again.

It was only a small interlude.

At last, Jiang Ming stepped onto the platform once more.

“I’ve finally been waiting for you!” Gun Nine carried his silver spear behind his back and stared at Jiang Ming, his entire aura surging forth as though he intended to pierce the heavens and shatter the sun and moon.

The sharpness of his presence was terrifying beyond measure.

But then his brow rose and anger appeared in his eyes. “You are humiliating me!”

“No, I am learning from you!” This time, Jiang Ming changed weapons. A long spear appeared in his hand.

With a slight shake, it blossomed into countless spear flowers.

Space itself seemed to ripple.

“Power of space!” Gun Nine’s pupils contracted, and then his face was filled with excitement. “The world says space is king, time is sovereign, but the point is the strongest form of ultimate offensive power! What a pity that I have only comprehended the lower intent of the point—piercing. Good. Today, I shall use you to ignite my potential.”

“I hope you can comprehend the power of the point. I would also like to see what the strongest ultimate offensive power truly is!” Jiang Ming said, spear in hand. His aura also condensed to the absolute limit, sharp and imposing.

Their auras crashed together, and it was obvious that Gun Nine was at a disadvantage, a complete disadvantage.

Jiang Ming’s might pressed down on him by several degrees.

“You really do look down on me!” Gun Nine raged again.

“I do look down on you!”

If you refuse the face I offer, then I will beat you. Beat you hard. Beat you underfoot.

“How arrogant! First place in the preliminaries? Today I’ll trample you beneath my feet!” Gun Nine was exceedingly proud. Before his words had even fallen, his spear had already thrust forward.

Swift as a meteor.

Its edge pierced through everything.

Please show your support.

Nine hundred monthly votes already. Is there still hope for a thousand?

The End.