Chapter 120: Master of the Soul, A Glance Across Ten Thousand Years

At the dining table.

Though they had only arrived a few days ago, they had already grown accustomed to sharing breakfast and dinner together.

They chatted and laughed, enjoying the tranquility.

“Brother Jiang, Yan Jiu, ranked tenth in the semifinals, is truly terrifying,” Qiang Jiu said gravely. “His true energy seems to have undergone some mutation; its quality is unprecedentedly high, and he possesses an incredibly fearsome cutting ability. Even my protective aura was easily shattered by him. His true energy almost seems sentient, effortlessly blocking my attacks. Even at the peak of my spear technique, I found it difficult to break through his defense in a single strike. That’s ultimately why I was defeated.”

A fatal blow that couldn’t penetrate the defense gave the opponent the chance to counterattack.

“Even Brother Jiang might not be confident in withstanding your spear, yet he can hold his ground against Yan Jiu…” Lan Xin remarked. “When facing him, I was completely overwhelmed. His true energy is truly extraordinary—beyond comprehension.”

“Every thread of his true energy is like a serrated blade, easily slicing through protective auras and even tendons and bones,” Long Aotian frowned. “The strongest impression he leaves is that his true energy feels alive.”

“Exactly! I sensed the same!” Qiang Jiu nodded.

“I noticed it too!” Jiang Ming nodded.

Having observed the matches, he was naturally aware of some background on the top ten semifinalists.

As for Yan Jiu?

He was Jiang Ming’s first opponent.

Watching the battle back then, he had found it strange—seemingly ordinary, yet his true energy was peculiarly strange. High in quality, powerful in destruction, and seemingly sentient.

“It’s like each particle is composed of tiny nanobots,” Jiang Ming offered an apt analogy.

“Like nanobots, but even more terrifying,” Lan Xin agreed. “Old Tang, Instructor Yu, what exactly is going on with him? It’s utterly unfathomable.”

“In all likelihood, he consumed some rare celestial treasure or fused with a supreme artifact, causing his true energy to mutate and gain special abilities,” Instructor Yu speculated.

Old Tang nodded in agreement, then sighed, “The world is full of wonders. When encountering new and strange abilities, don’t panic or fear. Stay steady, understand it thoroughly, and dealing with it becomes easier. Like Qiang Jiu—if he were to face Yan Jiu again, he’d have a sixty percent chance of victory. Of course, if possible, it’s best to finish the fight quickly. No matter the mutation, once he’s killed, it’s all over.”

Such reasoning was undeniably sound.

Afterward, Long Aotian and the others discussed the top ten finalists.

Each was extraordinary in their own right.

Ranked ninth was Ran Xin, the most enigmatic.

“She captivated me at first glance,” Long Aotian said with a wry smile. “Neither illusion nor reality, but something in between. In an instant, I was transported to the Dinosaur Empire, trampled to death in agony.”

The death was tragic and suffocating.

“I know what kind of ability she has. The moment she strikes, it’s a guaranteed kill. I clearly felt my attack pierce her, yet she dispersed like foam. Then I fell into a dreamlike realm—not truly a dream, but vivid and clear. It didn’t cloud past memories nor replay regrets, but instead unfolded an incredible world, causing despair, struggle, helplessness, and hopelessness,” Qiang Jiu recounted, twitching at the memory.

Lan Xin smiled bitterly; she had clearly experienced something similar.

A gaze that destroys, a single look that kills.

“That is the most mysterious and unpredictable path of the soul: the path of the mind,” Old Tang explained. “It’s a pure clash of willpower. If you cannot resist, you will be pulled into her mental world. There, she is sovereign; resistance or counterattack is nearly impossible. You may have noticed, if someone can withstand her, she is quickly defeated.”

“The path of the mind, huh? I never thought someone would master such a thing; it’s reputed to be one of the strongest auxiliary abilities,” Instructor Yu mused. “And the seventh-ranked Liu Ruyan, who excels in illusion, making her illusions affect reality, is even harder to deal with.”

“I feel the hardest is the sixth-ranked Yi Tianyan, more terrifying even than the first-ranked Ji Yunning. His aura is very strange,” Qiang Jiu said, his face contorting. “Every spear I throw, he seems to anticipate it, effortlessly dodging at the weakest point. When I unleash fully, making it impossible for him to evade, he activates some bizarre ability that deflects my spear tip. It’s as if fortune smiles upon him, as though fate itself protects him. He is extremely difficult to kill.”

“Yi Tianyan…” Old Tang furrowed his brow. “This young man’s future is boundless. The power he wields…” He hesitated, then shook his head and looked at Jiang Ming. “Although his methods are strange, his cultivation is not very strong, and his attacks are average. You should study him closely—perhaps you will gain something.”

Jiang Ming nodded thoughtfully.

Yi Tianyan? He was someone he paid special attention to.

Though Yang Jian, Ji Yunning, and Bai Bing ranked higher, in terms of strangeness, Yi Tianyan was undoubtedly first.

After breakfast, everyone entered the virtual battle network.

Jiang Ming appeared in his usual seat, aligned with the top ten in the rankings.

Opposite them, the top ten semifinalists appeared in the audience stands, facing them.

“Everyone, don’t get dragged down! That would be too embarrassing,” Fang Qinghan smiled. “Over the next nineteen days, fight with all your might. Use your opponents as your blade to sharpen yourself. This is the best cultivation opportunity, comparable to a rare chance of fate.”

Even Jiang Ming nodded in agreement.

Competing among peers, fearless of life and death—it was indeed the finest opportunity for growth.

Knowing the strength of others, recognizing one’s own shortcomings.

The host appeared.

After the opening remarks, the rules were reiterated.

The format was still round-robin.

But on the first day, each person fought only once.

There would be ten battles in total.

Each day would have ten matches, one at a time, each lasting up to two hours.

The first match pitted the ladder’s top-ranked against the tenth-ranked semifinalist; in other words, a fierce battle between first and twentieth.

The second match was second versus nineteenth.

And so on.

“Inviting Jiang Ming of Tianzhong Province to battle!”

“Inviting Yan Jiu of Shu Province to battle!”

As the host’s voice fell, both Jiang Ming and Yan Jiu were transported onto the arena.

At this moment, all eyes worldwide focused on them.

“Brother Yan!” Jiang Ming was the first to salute.

“Brother Jiang!” Yan Jiu was tall and slender, with pale skin, thin lips, and a long face—handsome yet sharp. He returned the salute, “I’ve long wanted to duel you. Today, at last, my wish is fulfilled. Brother Jiang, please hold nothing back and let me see the true style of the ladder’s number one.”

“Please give it your all too, Brother Yan!” Jiang Ming replied, flicking his hand to summon a virtual screen to select weapons.

After a moment’s consideration, he chose an eight-sided heavy sword.

Weighing eight hundred pounds.

He casually performed a sword flourish with ease, causing Yan Jiu’s pupils to contract.

Yan Jiu also chose a sword—a long blade flowing with azure light.

“Brother Jiang, I’m launching my attack!” Yan Jiu said with gentlemanly courtesy, then surged forward.

His sword was like flowing light, stabbing straight at the throat.

Around him, sword auras coalesced—bizarrely black, even the blue sword turning shadowy.

Jiang Ming felt a chilling cold.

Narrowing his eyes, he observed more clearly than from the viewing stand.

The black sword aura looked like countless tiny insects, faintly opening monstrous maws and emitting fierce sounds.

“What strange true energy!” Jiang Ming was amazed.

Beyond that, Yan Jiu’s sword strike was incredibly swift, embodying the essence of slaughter, death, and destruction, fused into a terrifying sword intent.

The sword’s momentum was overwhelming, annihilating all before it.

“Executioner’s Sword!”

Jiang Ming immediately countered.

His sword aura also fused the forces of slaughter, death, and destruction. The amount of true energy he wielded was vastly different from Yan Jiu’s.

Bang—

At their first clash, Jiang Ming’s sword aura was shattered.

“Brother Jiang, do you underestimate me?” Yan Jiu grew angry.

He had used the same realm of power as Jiang Ming—what did this mean? Was it an insult?

His attacks grew fiercer, and his body was soon cloaked in countless sword auras, dancing and swirling, enveloping Jiang Ming.

Dense and overwhelming, like a torrential downpour.

“Brother Yan, this is a duel, a trial, isn’t it?” Jiang Ming responded calmly. “Anyway, we have time.”

As he spoke, his form spun; his long sword transformed into a curtain of blades, provoking collisions of sword auras.

Boom—

The sky thundered; sword auras clashed, creating a dazzling spectacle.

Tiny sword auras expanded and exploded into brilliant lights, astonishingly precise and controlled.

Yet any keen observer would know Jiang Ming was on the defensive.

On a deeper level, they’d realize the horror: Jiang Ming wielded a sword momentum nearly identical to his opponent’s.

This was incredible.

Yan Jiu’s sword techniques unfolded, his body like lightning, relentlessly attacking Jiang Ming. Each strike was like a storm, tearing the heavens and obliterating everything before him.

Within destruction resonated the melody of death.

Jiang Ming focused on defense.

Suddenly, he reached out and grasped a sword aura that drifted into his hand.

The sword aura seemed sentient, struggling within his grasp while tearing at his protective aura.

“This true energy…” Jiang Ming’s eyes narrowed, his scalp tingling.

The same amount of true energy could not block this sword aura.

Even triple or quadruple the quantity couldn’t resist its cutting power.

Most astonishingly, the true energy forming the sword aura was composed of countless minuscule black dots, each resembling a tiny insect.

Neither fully alive nor dead.

So strange, so eerie.

“How do you do it?” Jiang Ming asked in astonishment.

“You have your fate; I have mine,” Yan Jiu replied, then sighed. “Brother Jiang, I know you are strong, but after dueling you, I realize you’re despairingly strong. Yet, I won’t admit defeat.”

While speaking, he suddenly leaped, sword in both hands, slashing downward.

A massive sword aura, over fifty meters wide, tore the sky as it descended.

Accompanied by numerous sword auras, the entire arena was engulfed.

Jiang Ming’s eyes narrowed; spinning his sword, he formed a river of sword aura around him, blocking and shattering the opponent’s sword energies.

Yet the scattered black sword aura did not dissipate; it rapidly converged toward him.

“Annihilation Storm!”

Yan Jiu’s body trembled as streams of true energy surged forth, engulfing the front.

The arena was instantly shrouded in black, chilling all who watched.

The sheer quantity and strangeness of the true energy moved the spectators deeply.

At the center, Jiang Ming furrowed his brow.

The surrounding black storm swept in, easily shredding his protective aura.

“Heavenly Sword!”

Jiang Ming knew he had to reveal some of his skill.

A supreme sword intent burst forth, solidifying his sword aura and strengthening it.

The black storm was slightly repelled.

“Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Ancestral Sect!”

Sword momentum rose, and the storm appeared.

The sword aura river around him transformed into a storm, colliding with the black torrent, unleashing terrifying energy fluctuations.

Boom—

Like thunder exploding and volcanic eruptions.

Collisions, entanglements, annihilation.

Strength against weakness, weakness against strength.

A life-or-death struggle.

The black storm was finally suppressed, and his sword aura river expanded rapidly.

“This is my ultimate move, which I didn’t even use in the semifinals, and yet you blocked it so easily,” Yan Jiu’s expression changed. “No wonder you’re Jiang Ming—the powerhouse who surpasses many prodigies. Brother Jiang, I have one more move. Let’s see if you can withstand it.”

“Annihilation Sword!”

He shouted the words, merging sword and soul, flashing through the air to break through the sword aura storm, closing in.

Jiang Ming’s pupils contracted sharply.

He clearly saw this was a forbidden technique; once unleashed, one either kills or dies.

Yan Jiu’s move was even more terrifying—it fused his entire mind, will, and spirit into the attack.

Even if he killed the enemy, he would die too.

A complete mutual destruction move.

Jiang Ming trembled his sword, the tip blocking ahead, but the opponent easily destroyed his sword aura.

The sword tips clashed.

Crack—

Jiang Ming’s long sword reached its limit and shattered.

A weapon breaking mid-battle—the first time in the entire arena.

It indicated the sword had reached its endurance limit.

Another reason Jiang Ming hadn’t unleashed full power was the lack of sufficient true energy support.

“Very strong, truly very strong!” Jiang Ming exclaimed, then pointed his finger like a sword, emitting sword light at the approaching sword tip.

“Black Hole Pierces Ten Thousand Laws!”

It was a manifestation of the path of space, barely blocking the strike.

The sword tips halted.

The sword aura flickered uncertainly.

“I didn’t even force you to use your full strength!” Yan Jiu lamented, then vanished like smoke, leaving only his sword falling.

“You are already very strong. You broke through my sword and even wounded me!” Jiang Ming raised his hand; a drop of blood appeared at his fingertip.

He had been cut by the opponent’s sword aura.

The wound had already healed.

“First match, Jiang Ming wins, earning one point!” The host appeared, triggering cheers.

Jiang Ming returned to his seat.

Feeling something, he glanced across to see Yan Jiu staring quietly, lips moving: “I’m strong? Wounded you? You call a single drop of blood on your fingertip a wound?”

He sneered in anger, yet seemed aggrieved.

Jiang Ming rubbed his nose.

“You’re all talk!” Shi Lei laughed. “After all, he’s ranked twentieth among prodigies. Not only did he fail to force you to unleash your full power, but under a mutual destruction forbidden technique, he only made you bleed one drop. Brother Jiang, you’re amazing. That sword—I wouldn’t dare face it head-on.”

“You’ll see how powerful he really is when you fight him,” Ye Bai said.

Shi Lei glanced at him, puzzled.

At that moment, he was transported onto the arena.

The second match: Supreme Bone Shi Lei versus Ran Xin.

The fight ended swiftly.

Ran Xin merely glanced at him, and Shi Lei’s expression changed drastically. His body staggered, he exhaled roughly, and showed fear, then a move ended the fight instantly.

The top ten students fought one after another.

Though there were ups and downs, most defeated their opponents.

Only Luo Qingchen, with his immortal spirit body, was narrowly defeated by Ji Yunning—not due to lack of strength, but because his opponent was stronger and skilled in the art of combat.

Clearly, Luo Qingchen lacked experience.

A pity.

By noon, the day’s battles concluded.

Jiang Ming returned to reality, digesting what he had observed and refining his inch punch technique.

The night passed in silence.

The next day, in the virtual battlefield.

“Ran Xin’s abilities are very strange. Brother Jiang, be careful!” Shi Lei warned. “If she can kill with a single strike, she will.”

“Knowing Brother Jiang, I bet he’ll want to experience Ran Xin’s abilities firsthand,” Wang Qiutong said. “Strong comprehension, high spirit—how could he resist tasting such a strange power?”

Jiang Ming glanced at her quietly.

(End of chapter)