Chapter 86: Requesting the Human Emperor Sword to Behead Jiang Ming

When Ma Tiande arrived, Jiang Ming immediately sensed an underworld spirit lurking in the shadows, watching him. Outwardly, nothing showed, but within, he had already pushed his power to its utmost limit. His left hand flicked backward, and the space twisted—altering the trajectory of the flying sword, severing its connection with the spirit, and causing it to tumble down, warped. This was the power of spatial intent.

With his right hand, he grasped the Sword of the Bright Moon, which burst forth with dazzling brilliance. It was the Slaying Immortal Sword, cleaving through the celestial pressure from all directions, while simultaneously blocking Ma Tiande’s blade.

In the blink of an eye, he resolved the crisis.

The fallen sword was once again manipulated by the distant spirit, curling back in attack, ever waiting for the right moment.

“You aren’t of the Celestial Phenomenon realm, yet you managed to withstand our unexpected assault. Truly worthy of being the Great Demon from Beyond,” Ma Tiande’s expression grew more serious than ever.

“I never expected that the world’s most illustrious figure—the Lord of the Demon Suppression Bureau—would join forces with others to strike.” Jiang Ming did not counterattack, instead sensing the pressure formed as Ma Tiande’s intent fused with the world.

Its scope was vast, much broader than the blue-robed man within the Tower of Heaven. Yet it lacked the intensity, falling short by a significant margin.

“The rules of this world are weaker, which allows for greater range; and Ma Tiande is, in truth, not as strong as the blue-robed man. The pressure he forms after merging his intent with the heavens is weaker. But the destructive force is greater, for even my attacks are amplified here.”

As these thoughts flickered through his mind, Jiang Ming analyzed much. As for the spirit’s earlier attack, it was likely a being of the Manifestation realm.

Meanwhile, his true energy surged forth, transforming into revolving forces of yin and yang, establishing a defense first.

“Yin-Yang Dao Rhythm—what a technique!” Ma Tiande watched the sword energy spinning in a Taiji pattern, his pupils contracting as he asked, “May I ask, what exactly is ‘Beyond’?”

“Why, it’s a pit of demons,” Jiang Ming replied with a smile.

“Jiang, surely you jest!” Ma Tiande was speechless. Was the Great Demon from Beyond truly a demon? He didn’t believe it, thinking it merely a convenient excuse for the masses.

“It’s vast beyond, while here is small,” Jiang Ming said. “To make a simple comparison: this place is a puddle, while beyond is the boundless ocean.”

“Impossible!” Ma Tiande cried out. “Our world is the center of heaven and earth, the origin of all things—how could it be likened to a puddle?”

“Center yourself on the Great Yu Dynasty, and you stand above all; center on me, and you are but a frog at the bottom of a well,” Jiang Ming said with a touch of pity.

“Celestial Phenomenon realm!”

“Tonight, I will see if I can sever you.”

“Yin-Yang Sword Burst!”

“Kill!”

Boom—

The revolving forces of yin and yang suddenly surged, encircling Ma Tiande, spinning and grinding, delivering over three hundred attacks in an instant.

“Minor tricks!” Ma Tiande snorted, his blade whirling into a curtain that blocked all the sword energy.

“The sixth stage of the Divine Path is domain; but the true domain is the force of heaven and earth wielded by those of the Celestial Phenomenon realm. Within my reach, within my domain, I am invincible—I am the master.” Ma Tiande unleashed his full power, the pressure of the world descending, assaulting from all directions.

It felt as if Jiang Ming truly faced the wrath of heaven and earth.

Clang—

The blade’s light whirled, stirring endless winds, placing both men at the eye of the storm. The blade kept falling, slicing through the yin and yang, executing the path of slaughter.

In an instant, Jiang Ming was suppressed, his Taiji diagram of sword energy torn to shreds.

“Celestial Phenomenon!” Jiang Ming’s pupils shrank.

His thoughts spun countless times in a heartbeat.

The techniques derived from the yin-yang intent were powerful—extremely so—but the sword energy was too numerous, the force too dispersed, the Dao rhythm unfocused.

“To face such an opponent is far too lacking. Then—”

“Yin-Yang forces, kill!”

Humm—

The Taiji diagram of sword energy abruptly contracted, resisting and eroding the storm and blade light while transforming into two streams of black and white—not merely two colors, but two sword energies, one yin and one yang.

They spun, slicing the wild winds, parrying the blade light.

This was the result of accumulated insight and further refinement.

“Remarkably strong, beyond measure!” Jiang Ming controlled the two streams, still revolving in yin-yang, blocking all attacks outside.

For a moment, he matched his opponent.

“No wonder you’ve slain several Grandmasters. This yin-yang path isn’t merely strong—it’s absurdly so. Ordinary Grandmasters would be obliterated in an instant!” Ma Tiande was amazed, but said, “This is as far as you go!”

He leaped into the air. The gathered storm coalesced behind him, and boundless power condensed swiftly.

“Great Wind Slash!”

As his blade fell, it seemed as if the very heavens collapsed, converging upon the blade’s edge, carrying supreme might that shook the soul and shattered the will.

For a Grandmaster, the supreme Dao rhythm on the blade alone would destroy them, leaving them dead with terror.

“Heaven’s force, blade intent, human strength—three in one, piercing heaven and earth. What a Great Wind Slash!” Jiang Ming’s heart skipped violently. The Bright Moon Sword struck horizontally in midair, the spinning yin-yang sword energy joining the blow, but was forcefully knocked aside.

It could not be stopped.

At that moment, a sinister malice arose behind him.

The flying sword swept in.

Clang—

Suspended in midair, Jiang Ming spun abruptly. Sword light flashed, deflecting the flying sword, but Ma Tiande’s attack followed: the pressure of heaven and earth enveloped him, binding him, the blade light more terrifying than ever.

Jiang Ming could only defend, wary of the sword’s assault.

He was driven to the limit.

A careless moment, and the flying sword grazed his shoulder. Whatever divine weapon it was, it tore his flesh, drawing blood.

Though the wound healed in a blink, blood had been drawn.

“You truly are not just strong—you are extraordinary!” Ma Tiande’s gaze sharpened. He merged his intent: “Wind Shadow, Myriad Images!”

His body suddenly merged into the sweeping wind, and in an instant, countless shadows appeared all around.

Whether the wind became shadows, or shadows formed the storm, Jiang Ming knew that Ma Tiande had pushed the wind’s intent to its extreme, empowered by heaven and earth, making his speed unimaginable.

Even Jiang Ming could barely keep up.

Clang—

Blade light flashed incessantly, breaking through defenses, carving wounds across his body.

Celestial Phenomenon was indeed Celestial Phenomenon—too powerful.

Even more frightening, this was not the martial trial of the Tower of Heaven, but a real, brutal battle, with no holds barred.

Ma Tiande was not as strong as the blue-robed man, but far more terrifying.

Against such a formidable foe, prolonged defense would only lead to defeat.

Jiang Ming knew he could not continue like this.

“Slaying Immortal Second Sword!”

His vigorous blood surged forth. The intent of slaughter, destruction, and death all merged with the sword.

One strike severed the storm, cut through the force of heaven and earth, forcing Ma Tiande back a hundred meters.

“Remarkable swordsmanship!” Ma Tiande was stunned.

Had they been of equal realm, he would have died from that sword, without hope of survival.

His wariness of Jiang Ming only deepened.

His killing intent grew stronger.

Whoosh—

The flying sword seized its chance, attacking once more.

“I’ve been waiting for you!”

The sword was swift—but Jiang Ming was swifter. With a cold snort, his body spun, unleashing another sword strike.

This blow transcended convention, containing the fiercest blood force, the purest soul power, and three sword intents.

It was the Slaying Immortal Third Sword.

Bang—

At the critical moment, Jiang Ming’s sword struck the flying blade, pouring forth its power, destroying the soul imprint upon the sword.

A shrill scream echoed in his ear as the sword tumbled down.

Jiang Ming paused; the underworld spirit leapt from his crown, transforming in a turn into the manifestation of sun and moon.

“So you’re a cultivator, and have reached the Manifestation realm!” Ma Tiande was about to attack, but seeing this, he cried out in astonishment.

Utterly unbelievable.

His martial prowess was nearly equal to a Celestial Phenomenon expert, yet he was also a spiritual cultivator?

Impossible!

Was he even human?

No—he was a Great Demon. Nothing was impossible.

Ma Tiande prepared to attack, but Jiang Ming had already moved.

“Suppress!”

Within the manifestation of the moon, the laurel tree suddenly grew larger, not only bursting from the crescent but holding it amidst its branches.

For an instant, the void trembled, as if space and time froze, creating a terrifying force of suppression and confinement that even made Ma Tiande pause.

The celestial pressure seemed to solidify.

“Freeze!”

A jade rabbit leapt forth, exhaled softly, and cold air spread, freezing a hundred meters in an instant.

The temperature plummeted a hundred degrees.

Under the moonlight, the void was sealed in ice.

Ma Tiande was caught right in the heart of it.

Jiang Ming knew he could not overcome Ma Tiande, so his manifestation swept up his body, fleeing into the distance—not to escape, but to hunt the hidden spiritual cultivator.

If he did not kill the opponent first, it would affect his battle with Ma Tiande, perhaps even leading to his defeat.

“What exactly are you?” On a distant treetop stood an old man, his voice shrill.

His face twisted, clearly wounded by the destruction of the soul imprint on the flying sword.

He never imagined Jiang Ming would break the imprint with martial power, nor that he was a spiritual cultivator.

Impossible!

It was beyond reason.

Instinctively, he wanted to flee, but seeing Ma Tiande break free from the ice and pursue, he relaxed slightly.

“I am your ancestor!” Jiang Ming’s crescent moon manifestation expanded, enveloping the laurel and jade rabbit once more. The moon’s radiance rippled, drawing forth lunar power and forming a terrifying confinement, cold air spreading.

The jade rabbit in the crescent opened its mouth, shooting arrows of ice.

“Paltry tricks!” The old man spun, transforming into the Asura manifestation, with four arms, wielding a yaksha and bow, fierce and frightening.

Waving the yaksha, he shattered the ice arrows, though the intense cold slowed his movements.

Clang—

He drew the Xuan bow, firing an arrow wreathed in black flames.

It was a soul technique—a spell.

Meant to destroy the soul.

Manifestations clashed, souls contended, the most brutal of battles.

Any injury was a blow to the foundation.

The manifestation of the sun paused, the golden crow within cried and flew out, snatching the black arrow and burning it to ashes. This stunned the Asura manifestation.

Meanwhile—

The fusang tree from the sun, and the laurel from the moon, appeared together, left and right, forming a union of yin and yang, blending together into a forbidden domain.

A powerful force of suppression rippled out, freezing the Asura manifestation in place.

The jade rabbit leapt, joining the golden crow in the attack.

The Asura manifestation showed disbelief.

Manifestations could be used this way?

How many bodies had he split off?

Absurd!

He was utterly confused, despairing as he struggled, unable to shake the force of suppression.

Yin and yang, cold and heat, in an instant tore the old man apart, reducing him to nothingness.

The Manifestation realm expert—dead.

Far off, in the capital city, within the imperial palace.

In a pavilion, an elderly eunuch sat cross-legged, with several others standing nearby, including the old emperor.

Suddenly, the eunuch let out a shrill scream, then blood poured from his seven orifices, his head slumped, and his breath ceased.

“To be slain without even a chance to escape, and Ma Tiande is still out there!”

The voice rang out, and all were silent.

The oppressive atmosphere drove them mad.

“How can he be this powerful!” The old emperor was shocked, staring at the dead eunuch, his face twisted.

Abruptly, he turned and bowed: “Imperial Uncle, please wield the Sword of the Human Sovereign, go to aid Ma Qing, and slay Jiang Ming.”

“If I go, and am defeated, and the Sword of the Human Sovereign is lost, what then?” the elder replied coldly.

The old emperor’s breath caught.

Outside Bright Moon City.

After slaying the old man, Ma Tiande leapt from afar, unleashing a blade light three hundred meters long, splitting the night in two—terrifying.

The jade rabbit leapt onto the laurel tree, swiftly merging into the crescent moon; the golden crow returned to the fusang tree, rooting itself in the sun.

Sun and moon revolved, forming strange power that rapidly wore down the incoming blade light, then shattered it.

The scattered blade energy shredded the forest below, half the mountain was shorn away.

The destructive force was unparalleled.

The sun and moon manifestation descended, merging into the body that had remained suspended, supported by thought.

At this moment, Jiang Ming opened his eyes, still floating in midair.

“The interference is gone. Ma Tiande, now begins our true war!” He gazed down at his opponent, his voice booming, battle intent soaring to the stars.

“Die!”

Giving no chance for reply, he attacked fiercely from above.

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(End of chapter)