Chapter Seventeen: Sudden Surge in Cultivation

"There are many grandmasters in the world, but there is indeed one universally acknowledged as the strongest!" That is Zhang Quanyi, the True Man of the True Martial Sect, who, at the venerable age of ninety-nine, has never met his match in battle.

Lu Yuan’s spirits lifted.

"In those days, when the Sun and Moon Demon Cult killed one of his disciples, Old Daoist Zhang single-handedly stormed the cult’s headquarters. He unleashed a massacre, dyeing Cang Mountain with blood, striking terror into the hearts of all in the cult. He slew the sect master, cut down elders, nearly exterminating the entire cult, leaving the Demon Sect in ruins and forcing them into hiding ever since."

Aside from him, there is the Pure Yang Master of the Pure Yang Sect, the Cold Moon Fairy of the Cold Moon Palace, the Sword God He Yiming of Divine Sword Manor, the current sect master Yang Kaitai of the Sun and Moon Demon Cult, and the Invincible King who commands the Six Gates for the imperial court—all recognized as grandmasters of supreme might.

"The Great Forest Temple surely has grandmasters as well, perhaps more than one. As for others, it’s hard to say."

In the small courtyard, Lu Yuan took a sip of wine, counted on his fingers, and finally couldn’t help but say, "Shouldn’t you already know all this?"

"I’ve been in seclusion for so long that I know little of the outside world. Brother Lu, we hit it off at first sight, let’s drink three hundred cups to our friendship—cheers!"

"Ha, cheers!"

The two chatted idly as they drank.

When Hu Lao’er approached, Jiang Ming turned to Lu Yuan and asked, "Brother Lu, as a grandmaster and a man of righteousness, you must have many friends?"

"Of course! I’m known as the most charming, renowned, and warmhearted man in the martial world." Lu Yuan patted his chest. "Pure Yang Sect, True Martial Sect, Great Forest Temple, Six Gates—across the land, my friends are everywhere."

"Brother Lu, your network is truly impressive!" Jiang Ming raised his thumb in admiration, then continued, "I am about to descend the mountain to seek out friends through martial skill, to battle across the land. But I worry about the stronghold I leave behind. This place used to be a bandit’s den, but after I subdued it, its nature changed—now everyone here just wants a peaceful life. I fear that once I leave, trouble might come knocking. Brother Lu, could you help me out and ease my concerns? Think of it as me owing you a favor."

Hu Lao’er grew excited and even more grateful upon hearing this—Jiang Ming was securing a future for the stronghold. He looked at Lu Yuan with anticipation.

"Brother Jiang, you are a man of true character," Lu Yuan replied with unusual seriousness. "But with your strength, if word of last night’s battle spreads, who would dare cause trouble? Still, your concerns are valid—there are always scoundrels to worry about. Let me think... A stronghold generally falls under local jurisdiction with the Six Gates overseeing things. How about this: since I have ties with King Invincible of the Six Gates, I’ll send him a letter asking him to look after this place."

"Thank you, Brother Lu. Now I can leave without worry!" Jiang Ming clasped his hands in gratitude.

"Brother Jiang, I’m very curious. With your skills, you shouldn’t be hiding out here, and I’ve never heard your name. Are you perhaps from some hidden family?" Lu Yuan asked again.

"I come from the heavens above," Jiang Ming replied, pointing skyward.

Lu Yuan was left speechless, a look of helpless frustration on his face.

Two days later.

On the official road to Kaoshan City, there was a large carriage driven by an elderly coachman. Despite being pulled by two horses, they obeyed his every command as if they were extensions of his own limbs.

Beside the carriage rode Lu Yuan on horseback, grumbling, "Brother Jiang, this is far too slow."

"Slow travel allows one to savor the beauty of rivers and mountains!" Jiang Ming’s voice drifted from within the carriage as he rolled up the curtain.

Inside the carriage was Xiao Lan, tending to daily affairs. In Jiang Ming’s view, life was meant to be enjoyed—why rush, why suffer the elements?

"Oh, come off it!" Lu Yuan sat up straight. "I’ll go ahead and find a place to rest. I’ll wait for you there."

"Very well," Jiang Ming nodded. "Brother Lu, give me another wisp of true energy!"

"Stop dreaming. The grandmaster’s realm is attained through enlightenment, not through sampling different qualities of true energy. If it were that simple, grandmasters would be everywhere!"

Yet Lu Yuan still shot out a wisp of true energy before speeding off ahead.

Jiang Ming grasped the true energy in his palm, restraining it to carefully sense the differences from his own.

"It doesn’t work for others, but that’s because they’re not me!"

He closed his eyes to focus.

Xiao Lan quietly sat nearby. With nothing else to do, she was about to begin her own cultivation when she suddenly sensed a change in Jiang Ming’s aura—a faint, awe-inspiring feeling that left her shaken.

"Has Young Master broken through again?" Xiao Lan’s beautiful eyes widened in astonishment.

At that moment, Jiang Ming gained sudden insight.

"The third stage of martial arts—the transformation of true energy."

There were, in fact, two paths: one was to truly comprehend the transformation of true energy’s quality; the other was to compress the true energy within the sea of qi and dantian, forcing a breakthrough by sheer power—a hazardous method, for a misstep could shatter the dantian completely.

Yet by comprehending another’s true energy and drawing analogies, he had achieved enlightenment directly.

Within his qi sea and dantian, true energy abruptly collapsed and transformed, triggering a chain reaction that swept through the vast qi sea like an invisible storm.

The transformation was both violent and swift, simultaneously refining his body and tempering his organs, muscles, and bones.

Jiang Ming’s aura surged ever higher.

The carriage continued along the road uninterrupted, undisturbed by anyone.

As noon approached, a teahouse appeared ahead. Jiang Ming finally opened his eyes, a smile blooming on his lips.

"It’s done!"

"In the main world, I am at the third stage—the Astral Qi realm."

"In this world, I have ascended to the rank of grandmaster!"

Even he was surprised at the speed of his own advancement.

Within his dantian and qi sea, his true energy had diminished to a third of its former volume. Though the quantity had lessened, its power had soared, and its affinity with the world had grown even deeper.

He raised his hand, summoning a point of light at his fingertip.

It was sword energy—solid, tangible sword energy.

"A hallmark of the Astral Qi realm: condensing energy into weapons, or the materialization of true energy!"

As Jiang Ming contemplated this, streams of true energy surged forth, winding around his arm until it was completely sheathed—like armor.

Whether forging energy into weapons or wrapping his limbs with astral qi, most needed years of honing to succeed. But his true energy was so profound, his insight so extraordinary, that he mastered it instantly upon breaking through.

"If I were to face Tan Feng now, I could end him with a single punch!"

"Even Quan Wu’er—if I went all out, one punch might not kill him, but two certainly would."

"Incredible!" Jiang Ming gave himself a thumbs-up.

"Congratulations, Young Master!" Xiao Lan exclaimed joyfully. "Young Master is invincible!"

Jiang Ming laughed heartily.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed—this breakthrough had not triggered any gift from the system.

"Is it because of uncertainty?" Jiang Ming pondered. After all, everything gained here might not truly belong to him. If he failed to achieve the corresponding accomplishments, once he returned to the main world, his cultivation and even his memories from here could be wiped away.

The carriage ground to a gentle stop.

"Young Master, there’s a teahouse up ahead. Hero Lu is waiting—shall we stop?"

"Old Ma, pull over. Let’s rest for a bit!"

The coachman, surnamed Ma, was an old hand from Black Wind Stronghold—a skilled driver and a formidable fighter, now accompanying them on their journey.

As he sipped his tea, Lu Yuan caught sight of Jiang Ming and his pupils shrank. He sprang to his feet in disbelief. "Brother Jiang, you—did you really break through?"

"Just a stroke of luck!" Jiang Ming replied with a cheerful smile as he approached.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Lu Yuan was in turmoil.

Even if he hadn’t asked Jiang Ming’s age, his youthful features suggested he was barely twenty—yet he’d already slain two grandmasters, an achievement defying the heavens.

By analyzing a grandmaster’s true energy, he’d managed to break through in just two days? Utter nonsense.

But the unique aura of one who had just broken through—unmistakable and emanating from Jiang Ming—said otherwise.

A twenty-year-old grandmaster?

He could slay veteran grandmasters before this breakthrough—what about now?

Could he already be the equal of a supreme grandmaster?

Lu Yuan was left confounded and even more dispirited.

After a simple meal, they continued on their way.

Lu Yuan rode on, also beginning to cultivate.

As Jiang Ming refined his true energy, he continued to explore the subsequent transformations of the Dragon Elephant Tyrant Body Art, seeking understanding and refinement to prepare for further cultivation.

So, traveling with stops and starts, two months passed in the blink of an eye, and they drew near to Kaoshan City.

It was then that Jiang Ming received a message from Changqing.