Chapter 125: Cutting Through the Ranks, Shattering with a Single Punch

Tang Sanchui is terrifying.

No one can deny this.

To directly evolve an entire forest into existence is truly incredible. The forest seemed to come alive, its tangled branches and leaves weaving together into wood dragons that lunged forward, while vines covered in blood-red thorns coiled in to bind the target. Entrapment, restraint, and attack—all merged into one, forming a powerful, forbidden domain.

Boom!

Jiang Ming’s gaze sharpened. The energy of Yin and Yang erupted, manifesting as immeasurable sword qi that formed a Taiji diagram, beginning a frenzied shredding of everything in its path. Trees, wood dragons, vines—all were pulverized. They were simply unable to withstand the sword qi empowered by the forces of Yin and Yang.

"Go to hell!"

Simultaneously, Tang Sanchui swung his massive hammer down from mid-air, the destructive power contained within it causing the very void to collapse. Jiang Ming lifted his eyes, his sword humming as he cleaved upward with a single strike, sending Tang Sanchui flying. With a slight movement of his feet, he moved as if teleporting, catching up to his opponent in an instant. He gripped Tang Sanchui by the throat and slammed him heavily into the ground.

Bang!

The earth trembled, and Tang Sanchui spat out a line of blood. Jiang Ming raised his foot and stepped on his opponent's face, looking down coldly: "Trash! You, wanting to be classmate Qin’s fiancé? You don't deserve it!"

"You deserve to die!"

Tang Sanchui’s face was twisted, his eyes blood-red, but no matter how he struggled, he could not escape the weight of Jiang Ming’s foot.

"Die?"

Jiang Ming offered a cold smile, exerting force through his foot and directly crushing the skull beneath it.

Powerful. Brutal.

Since the start of the grand examination, this was the first time he had displayed such overwhelming strength, suppressing his opponent in the blink of an eye. It was an act of humiliating execution.

"Jiang Ming!" In the viewing gallery, Qin Zhiyan watched in a daze.

"When Brother Jiang gets vicious, he is truly terrifying!" Long Aotian exclaimed.

"Terrifying is an understatement; it’s downright frightening!" Qiang Jiu nodded in deep agreement. "You and I both know how formidable Tang Sanchui is, yet before Brother Jiang, he was like a child, vulnerable to a single blow. But what a kill—a wonderful, truly satisfying kill."

"Such an extraordinary man is rare in this world. I fear Zhiyan’s heart has been completely captured," Lan Xin said, looking at Qin Zhiyan with a hint of envy.

On the other side, Tang Sanchui was teleported back to his seat. Glancing at Jiang Ming, who had also been teleported back, he clenched his fists, his eyes spitting fire. His hatred had reached its peak. Feeling the strange gazes around him, he logged off and departed.

In the viewing gallery:

"Brother Jiang, that is what a real man looks like!" Wang Qiutong was the first to give a thumbs up.

"And a great man, at that!" Luo Qingchen nodded.

"I can only say, that was too cool," Ye Bai laughed. "It took me quite an effort to kill him; I didn't expect Brother Jiang to be so clean and decisive. Tell me, if you used your full-strength punch, would there be anything left of him at all?"

Jiang Ming only smiled.

The subsequent battles remained brilliant. While watching, he continuously refined his Inch Fist, contemplated the Ten Thousand Line Flow, and occasionally organized his understanding of the Gene Path. There was too much to master, but too little time. Once the grand examination ended, he planned to enter a secret realm to settle and consolidate his gains. Jiang Ming was confident that once he digested what he had learned, his strength would undergo an explosive increase.

The next day, his opponent was Zhou Tian.

This opponent was very powerful, at the fifth level of the Martial Path, having opened three hundred acupuncture points. He had developed the Zhou Tian Star Defense Technique, which was so strong that Jiang Ming almost couldn't break through it—it was the strongest defense he had ever seen.

"It’s a pity I haven't opened all my acupuncture points yet; otherwise, the vibration of the points forming the Zhou Tian Star Defense Technique would allow me to withstand a few waves of attacks even from the seventh level, the Heaven-Man Realm, let alone the sixth level, the Celestial Phenomenon Realm!" Zhou Tian was very confident.

Jiang Ming agreed, because the opponent's current defense was already outrageously strong.

"If I could realize the World Intent and integrate it into the technique, the defense would be truly invincible. Unfortunately, the World Intent is too difficult to comprehend; even now, I haven't the slightest clue!" Zhou Tian shook his head helplessly.

Jiang Ming’s eyes lit up: "Brother Zhou, I have perfected the World Intent. How about I help you comprehend it, and you teach me your Star Defense method?"

"You’ve comprehended the World Intent and perfected it?" Zhou Tian was instantly dumbfounded.

Jiang Ming nodded.

Zhou Tian became immediately excited and quickly sent a telepathic message: "That would be fantastic! Although my defense technique is a secret passed down by my family, it is far inferior to the World Intent. Brother Jiang, after the grand examination ends, I will seek your guidance."

"Haha, it's a deal then!" Jiang Ming couldn't help but be overjoyed.

In this battle, Zhou Tian was defeated.

In the eighth round, Jiang Ming faced Bai Bing, who possessed an Ice Body and had soul-path power that had reached the sixth rank. She was a truly terrifying existence. Once her freezing power was released, it encased the entire arena, causing even Jiang Ming to feel a biting chill. It also restricted his speed. Simultaneously, she used soul-path techniques, which were overwhelmingly powerful.

Jiang Ming used his soul-path techniques for the first time, and the two engaged in a collision within the soul realm. Bai Bing was suppressed—thoroughly suppressed. Her soul power and her Dharma Form were far inferior to Jiang Ming’s, on a completely different level, leaving her feeling incredulous. Especially when Jiang Ming integrated the World Intent, Bai Bing simply waved her hand.

"You are a freak!" she hummed softly and directly conceded.

The ninth battle: Three-Eyed Yang Jian.

"Please defeat me with all your might, Brother Jiang!"

He gripped his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade, his third eye faintly opening between his brows. No matter how arrogant he was, he understood he was no match for Jiang Ming and only sought a defeat by his opponent's full strength.

"Very well!" Jiang Ming chose not to use a weapon, gesturing with his hand, "Brother Yang, please!"

"Please!" As Yang Jian's voice fell, his third eye suddenly opened, instantly firing a beam of destructive thunder light. It was too fast, like the speed of light. But Jiang Ming reacted even faster, punching the divine light into pieces.

"This is possible?" Yang Jian was just about to leap forward to attack, but seeing this, he was left speechless.

"You’re a beast, you really are a beast, I used, I used..." Yang Jian couldn't finish his sentence, biting his tongue to spray a drop of essence blood into his third eye. This time, the divine light from the third eye was even more terrifying, containing the power to destroy everything. Simultaneously, he leaped into the air, and his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade descended.

Jiang Ming pointed a finger, space-force rippling. The air before him twisted, and the sharp edge contained at his fingertip forcibly blocked the divine light.

"Such strong attack power!" A wound appeared on Jiang Ming’s finger, with blood faintly seeping out. Watching the blade descend, his body trembled, and a vast, majestic Yang energy erupted. Behind him, it was as if nine suns had risen.

"Nine Suns Divine Fist!"

He stepped on the ground, rose into the air, and pounded his fists continuously against the blade, preventing Yang Jian from descending and instead blasting him hundreds of meters into the sky.

"Sword Twelve: A Flash of Coldness at the End of the World!"

Jiang Ming reached out, condensing energy into a sword, and pointed it into the air. It was as if it pierced through time and space, striking toward Yang Jian's brow from two or three hundred meters away.

"Space Sword!"

At this moment, Yang Jian’s arm was almost shattered. High in the air, he was horrified, but feeling the incoming attack, his pupils contracted.

"He has evolved the Path of Space to this degree!"

His expression changed in shock. Even though he had mastered some space-force, it was too late to dodge, and he was pierced by the flash of cold light.

In the viewing gallery:

"It’s not that Brother Yang isn't strong enough, but that Jiang Ming is too terrifying. He must be going all out now!" Ye Bai sighed.

"It must be an all-out effort. Haven't you noticed? The last few matches have been quick victories. Perhaps it’s because he already knows their foundations, and there is no point in dragging out the fights?" Jun Qiye speculated.

On the tenth day, Jiang Ming’s opponent was Ji Junning, a powerhouse who had returned from the battlefield of ten thousand worlds. Her strength was earth-shaking, and her swordsmanship was peerless. She also mastered techniques for controlling weapons.

"Brother Jiang, let’s fight!" Ji Junning’s sword intent soared into the sky.

"Very well!" Jiang Ming grasped his long sword, "Then let us decide the outcome through the sword!"

"Kill!" Ji Junning struck first, her sword qi menacing and murderous, one strike splitting the firmament, another severing the stars. She controlled her terrifying sword qi with the Heaven Sword Intent. Jiang Ming did the same, prioritizing the Heaven Sword Intent.

"First Sword of Immortal Execution!"
"Second Sword of Immortal Execution!"
"Third Sword of Immortal Execution!"

Jiang Ming held back, suppressing Ji Junning with just three strikes.

"First Sword of Immortal Slaughter!"
"Second Sword of Immortal Slaughter!"
"Third Sword of Immortal Slaughter!"

Three more strikes followed, but they were even more terrifying. The Immortal Execution Sword focused on integrating intents of slaughter, death, and destruction. The Immortal Slaughter Sword was based on the former but incorporated a massive amount of blood-energy, making every strike heavy and possessing the power to crush mountains and topple peaks.

"Good sword!" Ji Junning’s eyes brightened with admiration, though she retreated continuously, almost being struck by one of the swords. She was completely suppressed.

"First Sword of Immortal Trapping!"

This strike integrated soul-path power into the foundation of the Immortal Execution Sword. As the sword light descended, it shook the soul while simultaneously unleashing boundless slaughter. Ji Junning was momentarily distracted, but thanks to her rich combat experience, she managed to twist her body under the pressure of death. However, her left arm was nearly severed, blood streaming down.

"First Sword of Immortal Extinction!"

Jiang Ming had no intention of holding back. This strike incorporated true energy, blood-energy, and soul-power, joined with numerous intents. Although it was only the first sword of the Immortal Extinction series, its power was unimaginably terrifying. The sword tore through the sky, and under its suppression, Ji Junning felt her breath hitch; the air around her felt thick, as if she had fallen into a swamp. Immediately following, the soul-path power directly attacked her mind, causing even her iron-willed resolve to waver.

"I can't dodge it!"

Although she reacted quickly, the strike still left her in despair, and she was defeated by a single blow.

In the viewing gallery, after steadying herself, Ji Junning looked at Jiang Ming on the other side, her heart surging: "In swordsmanship, I didn't even force out his full strength. Just how powerful has he become?"

"He can be my lifelong rival!" Ji Junning clenched her palm.

On the eleventh day of the finals, Jiang Ming’s opponent was finally Luo Qingchen, ranked tenth on the Heavenly Ladder. She came from the Wood Emperor Star and possessed an Immortal Spirit Body. Throughout her previous battles, Jiang Ming had noticed clues; her recovery ability was terrifying, and her true energy seemed endless. Moreover, it was as if she could merge with the void at any moment, and the power of her every move was immense, as if she were aided by heaven and earth. Her Immortal Spirit Body manifested a pressure similar to a domain or a celestial phenomenon, which was the fundamental reason for her strength.

However, she was forcefully defeated by Jiang Ming, who displayed a myriad of sword techniques.

On the twelfth day, his opponent was the Great Wilderness Tyrant Body, Li Pingan.

"Brother Jiang, if you respect me, use your strongest power!" Li Pingan’s expression was serious.

"Really going all out?" Jiang Ming hesitated slightly.

"Of course. I want to see how much my physique compares to yours. If you have the ability, punch me into pieces!" Li Pingan cupped his hands. He chose no weapon. His pair of fists were the best divine weapons.

As his voice fell, he activated his Tyrant Body. His frame instantly grew to nearly three meters tall, his violent aura resembling that of an ancient giant beast. Dense blood-energy surged outward, forming armor on his body. Invisibly, a wave of crushing pressure swept out, shaking the soul and will.

"Brother Jiang, I’m attacking!" Li Pingan didn't stand on ceremony, pressing his hands downward and shouting, "Hundred-fold gravity, crush!"

This was his other innate ability: gravity manipulation. This alone was terrifying enough. Added to his combat body, he was despairingly powerful. Jiang Ming felt his body sink, a sensation of being unable to breathe. He swayed, his blood-energy vibrating, forcibly resisting the gravity. He didn't even need to activate his various intents.

"Your physique is amazing; there isn't a single flaw left!" Li Pingan’s pupils contracted. "Others would have to rely on true energy and intent as a barrier to resist my gravity. You, however, rely on your physical body to withstand it!"

"Brother Jiang, I’m really not holding back now!"

"Eight Wilderness Tyrant Fists, die!"

Li Pingan stepped forward. With every step, the earth trembled three times. He reached Jiang Ming in a flash, his fist exploding the air; one could see flames appearing around his fist due to the sheer speed.

Jiang Ming moved as well.

"Brother Li, then I won't hold back either!"

"Inch Fist, nineteenth layer!"
"Boundless Intent!"
"Explode for me!"

Jiang Ming was also going all out. Over the past few days, he had deduced two more layers for the Inch Fist, reaching the nineteenth layer, increasing the power of a punch by nineteen times and erupting with twenty times the force. His base strength was sixty Vajra-power, so twenty times that was 1,200 Vajra-power. After integrating the Boundless Intent, his power erupted five times over—this was a completely additive force, bringing his punch to the level of 6,000 Vajra-power.

An ordinary peak sixth-rank body refiner would only have five Vajra-power. He had erupted with 6,000. It was absolutely incredible.

Boom...

The moment their fists collided, Li Pingan’s complexion changed drastically. His fist exploded with a bang, followed by his arm, which turned into a mist of blood. Even half of his body was blasted away. He died on the spot.

This scene was too shocking. The incredibly powerful Li Pingan, who had almost never known defeat, had been blasted apart by a single punch?

The billions of viewers before the broadcast and the many prodigies in the viewing gallery were all stunned, unable to help but stand up straight. Even Ye Bai, who had somewhat anticipated this, felt his breath catch.

"This guy is getting stronger every single day!" Ye Bai’s spirit was shaken. "In terms of pure physical strength, none of us are his match. Brother Li isn't, Shi Lei isn't, and I’m not either!"

"Too terrifying!" After returning, Li Pingan was still feeling lingering fear. "I consider myself only slightly inferior to Ye Bai in physique. Once I continue to develop my Tyrant Body, I will definitely suppress the world in the future. But Brother Jiang... if he had a Tyrant Body, or a Saint Body..." He didn't dare continue.

"At the sixth rank of body refining, one can recast their body. With his talent, he could definitely turn a mortal body into a treasure body. Who knows, he might develop a physique comparable to a Tyrant Body or a Saint Body. By then..." Ye Bai couldn't help but smile bitterly as he spoke.

"I don't know whether to feel honored or sorrowful that we are in the same generation as him!" Li Pingan sighed, then cheered himself up. "His Inch Fist and Boundless Intent are things we can learn. Heh heh, the next step is to hollow out all his secrets, and then turn the tables and suppress him, rubbing his face into the dirt every day!"

"You want to learn? I can teach you anytime. As for rubbing my face in the dirt?" Jiang Ming had returned, smiling, "I await your challenge at any time!"

"Brother Jiang, are you really willing to teach?" Li Pingan was overjoyed, though still a bit nervous.

"This isn't much; of course I can teach you!" Jiang Ming laughed.

"Brother Jiang, you’re heroic! From now on, you’re my big brother. Through fire and water, just say the word!" Li Pingan let out a breath, secretly thinking: It was worth dying, truly worth it!

"Brother Jiang, what I admire most about you is exactly this—among your dominance, you have an even greater magnanimity!" Jun Qiye said, his fighting spirit soaring. "In tomorrow’s battle, Brother Jiang, you must be careful. My methods are not something that can be won just by physical strength!"

"I’m also very much looking forward to it. What kind of constitution is a Ghost Body, exactly?" Jiang Ming said. "I must study it well—I must study it very well!"

Jun Qiye felt an inexplicable chill.

"Pick an operating table for tomorrow. Once you suppress this guy Qiye, you should perform an autopsy on him in front of the entire Federation!" Chen Bei laughed.

"That’s an idea!" Ye Bai’s eyes lit up.

Jiang Ming also laughed.