Chapter Ninety: A Breakthrough in Cultivation, the Kingdom of Light

The greatest delight in the human world is peace and ease. No, that is not right. The greatest delight in the human world is sleeping beneath one vast quilt with all one’s lovers.

Boundless vigor, a bewitching body, swaying and swaying and swaying, from dusk until dawn.

Beautiful.

Jiang Ming stood by the lake, gazing toward the great sun in the east, his spirit bright and refreshed.

“It is time to break through.”

“To open the acupoints and step into the fifth realm of martial cultivation.”

At last, Jiang Ming made up his mind.

Even if advancing now would create some hindrance when he later comprehended the path of true intent, it would not matter much to him. After all, he possessed one hundred times the comprehension.

After adjusting his condition, Jiang Ming went to the seclusion chamber, sat cross-legged, and stilled his heart and mind. At the same time, the contents of opening acupoints flowed through him.

Acupoints do not reveal themselves. They are one of the great mysteries of the human body, beyond what any fully perfected true intent can measure or fathom.

When true intent reaches perfection, the acupoint’s position can be fixed. Then, with the power of true intent, one can lock onto it, open the ten-odd hidden meridians around it, and then force the acupoint open, transforming it into a small sea of qi.

“At the beginning, both the hidden meridians and the acupoints are so fine they cannot be seen, cannot be checked, and are extremely fragile. After locking onto them, one must use true intent to guide true qi and open them with the utmost caution. If a hidden meridian is destroyed, at the least the corresponding acupoint cannot be opened; at worst, one’s cultivation will stagnate.”

This was recorded in the books, and Old Tang had also instructed him of it.

Once the acupoint is successfully opened, a baptism of self-origin power is triggered. As the acupoint becomes a small sea of qi, it rapidly expands, while the hidden meridians are remade and no longer fragile, forming a node connecting the inner and outer passages.

“The opening of an acupoint draws on true intent as its source. The stronger the intent, the larger the acupoint that can be opened. At most, it can reach one-tenth the size of the dantian sea of qi; calling it a small sea of qi would be no exaggeration.”

“Especially the first acupoint, which is the most crucial. However large it is opened, the later acupoints will be fixed at the same size. Perhaps this is also why Old Tang wanted me to remain at the fourth realm a little longer: to accumulate, to settle, and to prepare the foundation for a leap into the heavens.”

“The mysteries of the human body are truly endless and wondrous.”

The more he cultivated, the more he felt that the human body contained boundless potential.

According to the acupoint chart Old Tang had given him, Jiang Ming had already fixed on one point. With true qi circulating, true intent as the root, and his soul guiding it, he proceeded with extreme caution.

Under the illumination of true intent, he readily discovered a full eleven hidden meridians, fine beyond sight. Jiang Ming did not act immediately. Instead, he calmed his heart further and used the might of his soul to guide a trace of true essence fused with intent, slowly opening them.

Step by step, as if walking on thin ice.

Steady, as well.

And in one breath, without pause.

With his powerful soul, there were no mishaps. The first hidden meridian was successfully opened, then the second, the third...

Once all had been opened, he then had to guide eleven streams of true qi through each meridian, ultimately merging them together to open the terminal acupoint.

That was the true test.

Without exquisite control over true qi, without a mighty spiritual will, without a steadiness that could keep the face unchanged even as a mountain collapsed before one’s eyes, failure was almost certain.

Boom...

The eleven streams of true qi fused together, sinking into a minute point. The next instant, as if heaven and earth had first been split apart, that point—once nonexistent, then reduced to the tiniest imaginable speck—suddenly swelled and expanded at astonishing speed.

This was expansion from within.

At the same time, a flood of primal creative force surged back and merged into the hidden meridians, strengthening and opening them at breathtaking speed.

Jiang Ming grew even more cautious. Only after the acupoint had been fully opened did he allow the yin-yang true intent to transform into dao rhythm and flow into it.

The acupoint space expanded once more, and only after reaching a radius of about three zhang did it slowly stop.

“Still too small. It has not yet reached even one-tenth of the dantian sea of qi’s limit.”

“World intent.”

“Space intent.”

“Life-and-death intent.”

“Light-and-dark intent.”

“Boundless intent.”

“Five Elements intent.”

“Thunder intent.”

“Heavenly Sword intent.”

And many more...

The various dao rhythms of these true intents were fully integrated, and the acupoint space violently expanded once again, stopping only when it reached a radius of ten zhang.

The limit.

The true limit.

Jiang Ming had a sudden realization.

“A ten-zhang acupoint space.”

He could not help but bare his teeth in amazement.

Who would believe such a thing if he told them?

Not even Old Tang or Old Song would believe it, no matter what.

They had never even seen a dantian ten zhang across, much less an acupoint.

Utter nonsense.

“This is going to defy the heavens.”

After the shock came wild joy.

Once all three hundred and sixty-five acupoints were opened and the inner and outer passages were fully connected, it would be equivalent to removing every limiter. With his unimaginably vast true qi, who in this world could stand against him?

Heavenly Phenomena pressure?

He could smash it apart with a single slap.

Law Manifestation domain?

He could blow it dead with one breath.

He checked carefully once more. Even though only one acupoint had been opened, the quality of his true qi had, under the influence of some mysterious force, undergone another transformation.

It had become purer, and also stronger.

Moreover, the acupoint could communicate with the outside world of heaven and earth. With a faint circulation within, it drew boundless vitality of the world surging in.

“Using the acupoint to reflect the outside world, and thereby further merging intent with heaven and earth—that is the entry into the sixth realm of martial cultivation.”

Jiang Ming finally understood.

Without opening acupoints, it would be impossible to reach the Heavenly Phenomena stage at all.

Heavenly phenomena, heavenly phenomena: the inner as foundation, reflecting the heart of heaven.

The acupoints were the key.

He steadied his mind and made a rough calculation. Half a day had already passed.

“Truly slow.”

Jiang Ming could not help but shake his head.

But there was no helping it. Opening acupoints could not be done carelessly, and his true qi was far too massive; naturally, he had to handle it with the utmost caution.

He closed his eyes and once again immersed himself in cultivation.

Beyond cultivation, he did not neglect tempering his physique or refining his inch punch and the like.

Every day was packed from dawn to dusk. When he felt overwhelmed, he would sleep beneath one quilt with Yun Shuang and Yan Hongyi and enjoy himself at leisure.

Once, he took the two women flying on swords, rising straight into the sky. He condensed clouds into a bed and tumbled about beneath the sun’s light. In the heat of the moment, he nearly lost control and plunged downward.

Even so, after that great battle, Jiang Ming was exhausted nearly to death.

Having gained experience in opening acupoints, the later ones became somewhat quicker, but it remained a long-term endeavor. After all, once an acupoint was opened, it still had to be filled with boundless true qi. Only then could it be truly complete.

Time flowed on slowly.

One evening, several days later:

“Little Lapis, how is your cultivation progressing?” Jiang Ming asked, looking at Lapis, who had grown much taller beside him.

“I’ve already condensed the yin spirit,” Lapis said, bobbing her head. “Brother Jiang, am I impressive or what?”

“Impressive. Truly impressive!” Jiang Ming gave her a thumbs-up.

“Of course. Do you think I’m just anybody?” Lapis said smugly, skewering a piece of fruit with a toothpick and offering it to him.

Jiang Ming took a bite. Just then, Yan Hongyi approached with a grave expression.

“Brother Jiang, something big has happened.”

“A big matter?” Jiang Ming smiled. “Has the Emperor of Jade died? Or are all sides besieging Bright Moon City?”

Yan Hongyi rolled her eyes and sat down beside him.

She had already reached the grandmaster realm. Originally, she was already a peerless genius, and with Jiang Ming’s wholehearted and intimate guidance, her progress was naturally astonishingly fast.

“The ghost domain has expanded,” Yan Hongyi said. “It has occupied another city. None of the common people or anyone else inside managed to escape.”

“With the ghostly invasion spreading, the court still has no reaction?”

“None at all.”

“They could pretend not to see it when it was infiltrating in secret, but now it is an open invasion and they are still hiding their heads? Damn it, they’re all useless.”

Jiang Ming could not help but grow angry.

“The Emperor of Jade. I’ll cut him down sooner or later.”

He truly meant to kill.

Although he was not a native of this world and did not consider himself a good person, seeing cities turn into ghost domains and the multitudes suffer still made him feel ill at ease.

After all, he was human. He had conscience.

“He really deserves to die,” Yan Hongyi said, her face dark with hatred, then added anxiously, “We are rather close to the ghost domain. I’m afraid we’ll be next. Just thinking of a city surrounded by ten thousand ghosts gives me a shudder. Brother Jiang, what should we do next? Prepare for war? Or...”

“I’ll go myself.”

Jiang Ming rose and looked toward the northwest.

“More than three years of secluded cultivation—it’s time to move.”

“Brother Jiang, that is a ghost domain. It has concentrated the majority of the ghostly forces, and there are even ghost kings among them. If you get trapped inside...” Yan Hongyi became anxious. “It is truly dangerous. Otherwise, why would the court not eradicate it?”

“No matter.”

Jiang Ming lifted his head to the vast sky and said with an odd smile, “If I wipe out the ghost domain, will ‘heaven’s will’ bestow a reward? Will it still say that I am a great demon from beyond the realm? Hongyi, after I leave, immediately send people to clean up the battlefield. I know very well that you have nearly worried yourself to death trying to buy me nourishing medicines. This is the perfect chance to gather some spoils.”

Yan Hongyi’s mouth twitched.

Night fell. After dinner, Jiang Ming stepped onto his sword and vanished into the night sky.

“Flying with a sword...” Yan Hongyi looked a little envious. “I’ve learned sword flight too, but I still can’t do it. It’s too difficult, and it consumes too much.”

“Sister Hongyi, once my cultivation advances, I’ll take you with me to stay by Brother Jiang’s side, and we’ll all fly together!” Lapis said.

“Without taking me?” Yun Shuang said softly.

“Hmph...” Lapis wrinkled her nose.

“Auntie, you guard Bright Moon City. I’ll take people to clean up the battlefield. Hopefully we really can clean it up.”

Yan Hongyi spoke in a low voice, and Yun Shuang said nothing.

The three of them gazed into the night sky for a long time without moving.

The night stretched across the heavens, silver frost over ten thousand li.

Riding a sword through the air, one could move with the freedom of heaven and earth.

The slightly suppressed mood that had built up through long years of cultivation suddenly opened wide.

“A man should stand upon the peak of the highest heavens and look down upon the rivers and mountains for ten thousand li!”

The higher one stood, the farther one saw, and naturally a heroic spirit arose.

Soon, a vast mass of darkness appeared ahead.

Black mist billowed upward, filling the high sky.

Ghostly qi seeped the air, cold and sinister.

That was the first ghost city. Just as Jiang Ming approached, even with his cultivation and blood energy, he felt a chill.

Ghost mist spread everywhere, and all kinds of strange sounds rang without end.

A woman appeared ahead in midair, dressed in blood-red robes, intellectual and seductive. She drifted toward Jiang Ming, her voice soft and tender, like a cat’s paw lightly scratching at the heart: “My lord, do you seek pleasure? Do you seek transcendence?”

She turned, revealing flawless jade-like arms, and pressed herself close, as if to nestle into his embrace.

Jiang Ming even felt his eyes brighten. The moment a trace of his aura leaked out, the other woman stiffened, then black mist burst from her entire body and she transformed into a hideous ghost form.

Her flesh was rotted through, maggots writhing. Half her face was gone, and her eyeballs drooped down. As hideous as could be, as terrifying as could be.

Even though he had been prepared, Jiang Ming was still startled.

This thing was truly frightening.

Hoo...

He blew a breath. Yang and blazing, it easily reduced her to flying ash.

“Pure yang energy really is the nemesis of ghosts.”

Jiang Ming’s speed suddenly increased. He arrived directly above the city, where several powerful auras shot into the air and locked onto him.

He did not care in the least.

At that moment, he unleashed his full aura.

A dense column of blood energy rose like wolf smoke straight into the highest heavens, while true qi spread outward and merged with the intent of light, filling his true qi with supreme purifying power.

Countless ghosts below looked up at once and saw a sun in the sky.

Blazing beyond measure.

Some weak ghosts were vaporized on the spot.

As the purifying true qi radiated outward, all ghosts within range wailed miserably and vanished.

Jiang Ming descended slowly. Within a hundred meters, the area was instantly cleared.

Two hundred meters. Three hundred meters.

No spirit or fierce ghost could escape.

Even ghost generals that retreated a little too late followed the same fate.

None could withstand him.

It was like an autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves.

“Human, courting death!”

A furious roar came from afar, and a ghost claw tore through the sky to strike at him.

Jiang Ming casually grabbed, condensing qi into a sword. With a flash in midair, he executed the ninth sword, Light Is Born, and severed the ghost claw directly.

“Damn it!”

The enraged voice carried chilling killing intent. “You dare to trespass into this king’s territory? Die!”

Black mist converged and formed a ten-zhang-tall fiendish ghost with horns growing from its head. Its icy aura forced back even the true qi Jiang Ming had released.

“Ten Thousand Ghosts Bow to the Supreme, Domain Descend!”

The ghost king roared. In an instant, darkness covered the heavens, the moonlight vanished, and countless ghostly souls and specters darted through the air.

A bizarre heavenly pressure descended, turning this stretch of space into a forbidden domain.

This was already within the ghost domain, the other side’s lair, and now that it had even activated domain arts, it was indeed terrifying beyond the ordinary.

“This is the advantage of terrain,” Jiang Ming’s gaze flashed. “If I had only the strength I possessed when I first faced Ma Tiande, I might truly suffer today. But now...”

“World Domain, Kingdom of Light, appear!”

Jiang Ming exploded with power.