Chapter 109: The Sixth Talent

"Yes!"

Instructor Yu pondered for a moment before giving a positive answer, adding that it would be delivered by evening at the latest. True to his word, right at lunchtime, he brought over two boxes. Jiang Ming took them straight back to his room.

The room was spacious, equipped with a bed and a virtual reality pod. Ignoring everything else, he opened the first box. It was small, etched with glowing, flowing runes. Inside lay a stone of absolute darkness. Instantly, he sensed an extraordinary aura emanating from it.

"A Soul Stone!"

"A magical stone nurtured by the heavens and earth, born only in places of extreme darkness and evil. It contains the Dao rhymes of the soul. Using it helps one grasp the concept of the Soul Domain, and absorbing it enhances soul power. It is a supreme treasure of the Divine Path!"

These were Instructor Yu's exact words. It highlighted the item's immense value; "priceless" would be an understatement. Had he not proven himself to be such a genius, they would never have given him such a thing.

"So this is the Soul Domain!"

Jiang Ming realized with a wry smile. Although the Soul Domain was unique, it was merely one of the ten great domains. He had already grasped many others, yet this one had always eluded him. Considering he possessed the Soul Sovereign talent and was a practitioner of the Divine Path, this was truly baffling. Now, as he contemplated it, he finally understood.

"Cognitive barrier!"

That was the root cause. It had been right before his eyes, yet he had been as if blind to it.

Jiang Ming closed his eyes and rapidly absorbed the power of the Soul Stone. His Dharma Image grew and transformed rapidly, and his Soul Domain improved by leaps and bounds. Dao rhymes radiated outward, expanding swiftly, but were contained within the room—clearly, the room itself was protected by some mechanism.

"Just this alone shows the terrifying foundation of the Sacred Academy," Jiang Ming thought, before immersing himself completely in his training.

His Yin Spirit leaped from the top of his head—a miniature version of himself. With a sudden shift, it transformed into the Yin-Yang Dharma Image.

A crescent moon embraced a golden sun. Within the moon, a laurel tree swayed, its flowers scattering fragrance, with a flawless white jade rabbit resting beneath. Within the sun, a Fusang tree burned with flames, upon which a three-legged Golden Crow perched. This was his Dharma Image—truly unique.

Now, with the comprehension of the Soul Domain, both the laurel and the Fusang tree radiated intense vitality; one contained the power of extreme Yin, the other the energy of extreme Yang. The jade rabbit became more agile, circling the laurel before leaping onto its branches; the Golden Crow spread its wings, erupting in roaring flames, while its cry resounded through the Sea of the Soul.

A strange power spread out, forming a terrifying force field.

"This is a domain!"

Jiang Ming understood instantly. He had broken through, entering the sixth stage of Soul Cultivation. The system's voice chimed in, but he ignored it; now was not the time. Jiang Ming remained fully immersed in his cultivation, his progress surging forward. The Divine Path relied on enlightenment. With his peerless talent and sufficient foundation, he had shattered the cognitive barrier and broken his shackles. He was like a dragon soaring into the clouds, cloaked in radiance, transforming into a heavenly dragon.

Outside.

"Will he succeed?" Instructor Yu asked, full of anticipation yet deeply hesitant. The sixth stage of the Divine Path was a massive threshold. The Soul Domain was not something one could grasp just by wanting to!

"If he says he can, he can," Elder Tang said, his voice low. "Don't forget, he has grasped Space, Yin-Yang, Life and Death, World, Lightning, Five Elements, and countless other domains. What kind of aptitude does one need to grasp so many terrifying domains? And don't forget that forbidden technique, the Inch Punch."

"It can only be called a miracle!" Instructor Yu, holding his teacup, watched Jiang Ming's room. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "The room's shielding has been triggered; it must be the result of a power surge. Could he have broken through?"

"Wait and see!" Elder Tang appeared calm, though he was deeply anxious. He knew the gap between the fifth and sixth stages was like heaven and earth. If Jiang Ming had broken through, he truly had the potential to suppress all other geniuses.

At dusk, Jiang Ming stepped out, a smile on his face.

"Did you succeed?" Instructor Yu stood up abruptly.

"Surely you did!" Elder Tang was equally excited.

"I did!" Jiang Ming laughed. "I did not fail the mission!"

"Good, good, good!" Instructor Yu was overjoyed. "It’s been so many years... I haven't felt this excited or happy in a very long time!"

"When he wins first place, you'll be even happier!" Elder Tang added, beaming.

"Haha, certainly!" Instructor Yu, being a seasoned powerhouse with a steady temperament, sat back down after his excitement settled. "Come, let us see!"

Jiang Ming sat down and released his sixth-stage Soul Domain. It was intangible and formless, as if it didn't exist. Yet, Elder Tang and Instructor Yu sensed it clearly. They nodded, finally feeling at ease and letting out long sighs of relief.

However, a moment later, their pupils constricted. The surrounding environment had changed. Trees appeared out of thin air, flowers and grasses condensed, a fragrant scent filled the air, and leaves rustled. Birds chirped. Beneath their feet, the floor had turned into fertile soil.

"The domain formed by integrating the Soul Domain is truly magical and inconceivable," Jiang Ming himself couldn't help but be shocked. "Within the domain, one can manifest all things, as if they were real."

"You reached this level directly!" Instructor Yu was stunned. He explained, "This is the essence of a sixth-stage domain: within it, with a single thought, you can manifest all things. It is the most realistic illusion. You can manifest various powers: illusions, suppression, binding, confusion, mind control, heart destruction—all sorts of Dao techniques at your fingertips. There is another power a domain can manifest; have you mastered it?" His breathing quickened slightly.

Elder Tang also looked on with anticipation.

"I have!" Jiang Ming nodded. The scenery vanished, and the domain seemed to disappear.

Elder Tang and Instructor Yu simultaneously felt a strange power penetrate their protective qi barriers, striking directly at their minds and spirits.

"Virtualizing the domain to penetrate most qi barriers—even pressure from celestial phenomena can hardly stop it. It strikes directly at the heart and soul." Elder Tang’s gaze sharpened as he blocked the power, yet he remained shocked. "The sixth-stage path is divided into the formation of a domain, the manifestation of all things, and the formless virtualization. You have reached the pinnacle already."

"The soul is the root and source of one's being, mysterious and unpredictable. From void to reality, from real to false, all in a single thought! At the sixth stage, integrating the Soul Domain makes it even more terrifying," Instructor Yu continued. "The Soul Domain is one of the ten great domains, yet it is extremely special. In a way, it is no weaker than Time or Space. With your current strength, you could directly erase anyone below the fifth stage if their will is even slightly weak—truly erase them. Within the fifth stage, unless there are special circumstances, they cannot resist. Even sixth-stage warriors will find it difficult to deal with."

"When a sixth-stage soul manifests reality, you can integrate the power of other domains, allowing physical damage to reach terrifying levels," Elder Tang advised. "For example, if the manifested trees are imbued with the Wood, Wind, Lightning, or Space domains, and combined, then..." He shivered at the thought.

"This method is fraught with difficulty. The key is integration. If done poorly, it leads to power clashes and backlash. You must be careful," Instructor Yu cautioned. "Others have tried, but after walking the path of the soul, it is hard to spare the focus to contemplate other domains. As far as I know, the most anyone has managed is integrating four domain powers, which makes their combat strength explode. If you integrate Yin-Yang, Space, and World—even just one of them... then..." He grinned.

Jiang Ming listened intently. This was invaluable experience. As the saying goes, a veteran is a treasure; these few simple words would save him a great deal of time.

Domains? Multiple? Integration? These were not problems for him at all. As he listened, sparks of wisdom flew in his mind, and he began to simulate various scenarios, evolving countless paths of battle.

After chatting for a long time, Jiang Ming gained a great deal. He looked outside and asked curiously, "I am the top of the preliminary selections, and it’s said this exam was called because of me, attracting terrifying geniuses. Why hasn't anyone come by to see me or cause trouble?"

The two men couldn't help but laugh.

"Do you think this is a game?" Instructor Yu smiled. "Those who can participate in the Grand Exam are all people of firm resolve; they wouldn't waste time causing trouble now. The weak are busy consolidating, and the strong don't bother. Besides, the exam is tomorrow. It's time to see who is a mule and who is a horse."

"I think you're just looking to show off," Elder Tang teased.

Jiang Ming laughed. After a while, he returned to his room to continue his contemplation. For him, time was precious. He sat on the bed, focused, and his information appeared before him.

Name: Jiang Ming
Qi Cultivation: 5th Level (Grandmaster, Yin-Yang Sutra)
Body Cultivation: 5th Rank (Blood Exchange, Dragon-Elephant Suppressing Heaven Art)
Spirit Cultivation: 6th Stage (Domain, Yin-Yang Refining Spirit Sutra)
Techniques: Myriad Swords Return to Origin, Executioner's Three Swords, Horizon Steps, Inch Punch (15th Layer), Yin-Yang Forbidden Technique, Spirit Controlling Art, Sword Control Art, etc.
Talents: Hundred-Fold Aptitude, Nirvana Rebirth, Soul Sovereign, Space Lord, Fate’s Favor (Temporarily Solidified), Infinite Genes (Temporarily Solidified)
Tasks: Become the Federal Martial Scholar in the final stage of the Martial Exam; grasp the Gene Technique within a year and succeed in its initial practice to evolve the genes.

Spirit Cultivation at the 6th stage—nothing more to say there. But this talent, Infinite Genes, was a bit unusual.

Infinite Genes: You possess a unique ability to clearly perceive your own genetic state: defects, directions for improvement, how to enhance them, the ability to perceive genes through biological information from other species, discovering advantages and disadvantages, and learning from them. At the same time, your genes have the potential for infinite evolution. Theoretically, you can rely on yourself to evolve your genes to perfection.

Jiang Ming was certain this was a miraculous talent. It didn't increase his cultivation or power, but his perception had greatly expanded, his will had become more refined, and even his Yin Spirit had undergone inexplicable changes.

Closing his eyes, Jiang Ming could perceive his genetic makeup with absolute clarity. Genes supported the basic structure and performance of life, storing all information regarding race, blood type, gestation, growth, and apoptosis. All life phenomena—birth, growth, aging, sickness, and death—were related to genes. It was the internal factor determining life's health, possessing dual attributes: material existence and the fundamental information of life.

Jiang Ming immersed himself, analyzing how genes were stored, replicated, transcribed, and operated. It was too magical, too incredible. He could perceive and discover, but he had no clue how to enhance or evolve them.

"Grasp the Gene Technique within a year and succeed in evolving the genes... this is going to be hard!"

It was truly difficult—harder than winning the Federal Grand Exam. As far as warriors were concerned, a 1st-stage warrior and an 8th-stage powerhouse shared the same genes. Their strength was vastly different, but their essence was the same. Even an 8th-stage warrior who could split mountains and seas hadn't changed their genes; it was merely the result of developing their own potential. Evolving genes meant breaking the shackles of bloodline and elevating the essence of life. This was forbidden power.

In the provincial capital, Jiang Ming had asked about Gene Techniques. It was a massive subject for the entire Federation, and there were no truly successful cases yet. Now he was tasked with completing it within a year. It was absolute nonsense.

"Infinite potential, but no hope in sight!"

"Forget it. I'll try after the exam. If it doesn't work, I'll have to give it up." Jiang Ming shook his head, pushing the thought aside. Losing one talent was nothing to him now. Any one of his many talents could lead him to the pinnacle of martial arts.

He opened the second box. Instantly, a sharp, killing sword intent assaulted him, chilling his soul. The cover was etched with four words, each like a sword: *Executioner's Sword Manual*.

Jiang Ming wore a strange expression. He had deduced the Executioner's Three Swords himself. Now, an actual *Executioner's Sword Manual* was placed before him. Could it be similar to his deduction? It was no wonder he thought so, as the sword intent contained the domains of destruction, death, ruin, and sharpness.

Jiang Ming picked it up and read carefully. There were nine sword forms in total, and he was shocked. The first form integrated Killing Sword Intent; the second integrated Death Sword Intent on top of the first; the third added another, and so on, until the sixth form, where six domains were fused to form a peerless sword intent.

Even without practicing, Jiang Ming could sense the terrifying sharpness. Killing, Death, Destruction, Sharpness, Suppression, Speed—the last three forms were different ways of fusing these six domains, each with different power.

"Different fusion, different power!" Jiang Ming memorized it.

At the very end, there were notes: "Domain power is the most superficial aspect of the heavenly Dao. The more you grasp of a single domain, the stronger the power. The fusion of domains can exhaust all possibilities; generally, the more integrated, the stronger, but it is difficult to grasp and prone to backlash. However, even the fusion of two domains can erupt with heaven-shaking power. A reminder: this is only theoretical. The path of fusion is the same. It is deep and difficult to describe, yet to deduce it is harder than ascending to heaven. The deeper truths of heavenly Dao have even more changes. Even a single truth can evolve into an ultimate technique. Dao is the foundation of heaven and earth; within the eighth stage, humans can only grasp the surface. Alas, human potential is finite!"

Light burst from Jiang Ming's eyes. Not only had he obtained a sword technique, but his vision for the application of domains had broadened, opening up a path to the heavens.

"Domain, single, fusion; Truth, single, fusion..."

Jiang Ming’s heart shook, and he closed his eyes. In his mind, he manifested a virtual space and began practicing the *Executioner's Sword Manual*, then re-deducing it, integrating more domain powers to let the sword forms grow in strength. Even his own *Executioner's Three Swords* were torn down and rebuilt. The sword intent radiating from him grew increasingly terrifying.

The next day, everyone emerged and ate breakfast together. Suddenly, a terrifying aura appeared, its pressure vast and covering all directions. Everyone looked on in horror. Under this pressure, even Jiang Ming felt as weak as an ant. Looking up, their pupils constricted.

A giant figure appeared in the sky, a hundred feet tall, standing between heaven and earth, its momentum reaching the clouds. Elder Tang and Instructor Yu were shocked, quickly standing up to bow and show their respect. Jiang Ming and the others followed suit.

The giant looked toward their peak, his voice rumbling: "I am Hong Xuanji, Dean of the Sacred Academy. Candidates, please enter the Virtual Battle Network at eight o'clock for the announcement of rules and rewards. The Grand Exam begins promptly at nine. Those who are late will be eliminated."

With those words, the giant figure vanished as if he had never appeared.

"It was Dean Hong!" Long Aotian was shocked. He looked at Elder Tang and the instructor. "What realm is he in? To be able to manifest a hundred-foot giant... it's incredible."

"What realm?" Elder Tang sighed. "He is truly at the peak of the mortal world."

"Eighth stage? Martial Golden Core?" Jiang Ming asked.

Elder Tang smiled but said nothing more. But everyone understood: he was at least an eighth-stage existence. Beyond the eighth stage? Perhaps!

After breakfast, Jiang Ming said, "Let's go, everyone! Aim for the top hundred!"

"Top hundred? Of course, I have to make it, or the old man will beat me when I get back," Long Aotian said, waving his fist. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I must make it and show off. I don't ask for the top twenty, just the top hundred."

"Let's do it together!" Lan Xin’s fighting spirit was sky-high. Compared to the provincial exam, her aura had increased significantly.

"Top hundred? Hmph, my goal is the top twenty, the top ten!" Gun Jiu's spear intent was enough to pierce the sky.

"Top hundred? I'll give it a try!" Qin Zhiyan clenched her fists, full of confidence.

At this moment, powerful auras erupted from the surrounding courtyards—some sword intents were heaven-shaking, others were deep and vast, and some were unfathomable. Everyone was filled with fighting spirit.

"Then go for it! I wish you all success and great results!" Elder Tang offered his blessing.

"When you come out, we'll celebrate for you!" Instructor Yu added.

The five of them nodded and returned to their rooms, lying down in the virtual pods. Once activated, their vision went black, and they entered the Virtual Battle Network.

The Grand Exam had officially begun.

Federal Grand Exam—the mortal world's college entrance exam. May you all succeed, perform beyond your limits, achieve great results, and start a new life.

Jiang Ming: My goal is first in the Federation. What about you?
Jiang Ming: Let's work hard together. I will pray for you with my good fortune!
Jiang Ming: Go for it—for yourself, for your parents, for your future, for your future lover, for your future children.

Go!