Chapter 124: Countless Threads Flow, Striking at the Heart

Ren Tianxing was extremely confident in his speed, even when facing Jiang Ming, who wielded the power of space. This was the fundamental reason he had fought his way to the finals.

On the battlefield, their figures flickered like flowing light, flashing incessantly and leaving behind countless tangible afterimages. Due to the principle of the infinitesimal, the entire arena, spanning millions of square meters, was filled with their shadows.

Their speed had reached an extreme, making it nearly impossible for most spectators to discern who was chasing whom. The live audience was left dumbfounded.

Even the candidates watching from the stands were shaken. They had anticipated Ren Tianxing’s speed, having witnessed many battles before, so there was little surprise. What shocked them was Jiang Ming.

His speed was astonishingly swift as well.

“Damn it, he’s hiding his strength too deeply!” Ye Bai cursed again. “Powerful, highly cultivated, mastering all three paths of cultivation to unfathomable depths. And now, facing Ren Tianxing’s terrifying speed, he’s actually competing with him on that front? This bastard—he’s slapping himself in the face!”

“Exactly, it’s a slap in the face. Your face must already hurt,” Shi Lei glanced at him. “Suppressing an opponent in their strongest aspect—I can’t help but curse. How can such a prodigy exist?”

“If he suddenly unleashes his speed in battle, can you block it?” Luo Qingchen spoke calmly. “One punch at this speed!”

Everyone shuddered.

“I’m already despairing,” Shi Lei sighed. “Fortunately, I have supreme bones and evolved transcendent arts, so in this regard, he absolutely cannot suppress me!”

“How do you know he doesn’t have some terrifying forbidden technique?” Ye Bai murmured. “I was just as confident before... nearly drove myself mad!”

Shi Lei’s breath caught sharply.

“He may master myriad methods, but in front of me, they’re all useless!” Fang Qinghan said with great confidence.

No one knew exactly how strong he truly was.

“Under the blade’s edge, I refuse to believe I can’t kill him!” Luo Feng was even more confident.

“I’m getting impatient,” Chen Bei’s eyes burned brightly. “Speed? Can be limited. Physical strength? Just brute force, easy to handle!”

“Heh...” Ye Bai sneered.

Though amazed at Jiang Ming’s power, none considered themselves weaker—least of all Ye Bai. This was the pride of the gifted.

On the battlefield, Jiang Ming and Ren Tianxing chased each other relentlessly. Though they struck repeatedly, neither could land a decisive blow.

“Grounding to the earth’s meridians, carried by the long wind, traversing space.” Ren Tianxing had begun to discern the secret. “You’re combining three realms of power into a divine footwork technique. Wait, you must have a special constitution—the Wind-Light Body? But your physique doesn’t seem to match!”

Jiang Ming was constantly studying Ren Tianxing’s footwork as well, gaining much insight. His speed grew ever faster.

“Stop...” Ren Tianxing’s voice fell as he halted 500 meters away. He looked at Jiang Ming, his expression twisted in frustration. He opened his mouth, unable to find the words, and finally sighed, “I admit it, Brother Jiang, I really admit it.”

“You’ve extracted all my old tricks in an instant.”

“My footwork indeed fuses space, earth, and wind, harnessing the earth’s resonance, stepping on spatial meridians and walking within the wind, ingeniously merging them into an unparalleled secret technique.”

“I call it Divine Footwork!”

“It’s my proudest achievement!”

“But you learned it all in a moment!”

“You not only comprehended space, but also the realms of earth and wind.”

“Fusion of realms is the hardest, especially three at once.”

“And you mastered it!”

“I feel like... damn it, I feel like I’m seeing ghosts.”

“It’s unnatural.”

“It’s devastating.”

Once brimming with confidence and pride, Ren Tianxing now looked utterly dejected.

He was truly crushed.

If his speed were limited or his power inferior, that would be one thing. But for his very trump card to be stolen and then surpassed—how could he not feel utterly defeated?

He felt more than just frustration; it was overwhelming despair.

“No, no, no!” Jiang Ming quickly waved his hands. “I haven’t fully comprehended it yet. How about running a few more laps?”

Ren Tianxing’s breath caught, his face flushing deeply. Clenching his fists, power surging to stir the winds, he sighed again, “You bastard, if I can beat you, I swear I’ll grind you mercilessly.”

“The purpose of this grand exam is mutual advancement, isn’t it? As you said, second place in the competition, friendship first,” Jiang Ming smiled warmly. “Run a few more laps. Once I fully grasp it, I’ll elevate it to an even greater height and then teach it back to you—that way, you improve too!”

“Well...” Ren Tianxing hesitated.

“Doesn’t that make sense?” Jiang Ming asked.

“Seems reasonable.”

“Exactly. You just run a few laps, I have to catch up, learn, comprehend, then extrapolate further. I do all the hard work, and you’re not happy about it!”

“I... I...” Ren Tianxing was tongue-tied, sensing something was off but unable to grasp it fully.

“What are you waiting for? Run!” Jiang Ming urged. “You benefit and still act coy!”

“Alright, I’ll run!” Ren Tianxing scratched his head, still feeling uneasy, but his feet moved.

His speed increased.

The audience couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“This guy really isn’t decent—he’s got Ren Tianxing tangled up,” Jun Qiye chuckled. “He steals techniques, but ends up making Ren Tianxing feel guilty.”

“Ren Tianxing’s been utterly shaken,” Ye Bai sighed. “Imagine your proudest skill learned after just a few looks—that feeling is utterly devastating. And the bastard wants to comprehend it fully and then extrapolate further!”

“How strong is his comprehension?” Wang Qiutong whispered.

Silence fell.

For ordinary people, better talent and special awakenings were blessings. But for them, sheer comprehension was paramount.

On the battlefield, Ren Tianxing abruptly stopped and charged at Jiang Ming. “You’ve gone too far! Die!”

Blade light flashed coldly.

Jiang Ming dodged swiftly.

Ren Tianxing’s blade fell like a waterfall, fast to the extreme, enveloping Jiang Ming, as if cleaving hundreds of pieces.

Yet Ren Tianxing’s face turned grim.

His blade was fast, but Jiang Ming’s speed was faster. In the nick of time, Jiang Ming evaded every close-range strike.

“You freak...” Ren Tianxing sheathed his blade, pointing at Jiang Ming’s nose and shouting, “You bastard, are you trying to shatter my resolve?”

“Once learned, it must be applied in combat. Look, my speed seems to have surpassed yours. Building on your footwork, I’ve improved it further. No, your technique has major flaws. I’ve refined and elevated it to the extreme, truly grounding on the earth’s pulse, merging with the wind, mastering the way of space. Shrinking distances to inches, turning near and far into one, a slight move and the universe is mine,” Jiang Ming smiled. “Divine Footwork pursues flexibility and variety, but in traveling, it still has shortcomings.”

Ren Tianxing’s mouth twitched fiercely.

“You’re incredible…” he ground his teeth.

“I plan to perfect it further, aiming for near-instantaneous teleportation. Even...” Jiang Ming’s heart stirred, and he blurted, “Myriad-Thread Flow!”

“Myriad-Thread Flow?” Ren Tianxing took a deep breath, suppressing his wild excitement, forcing a smile. “Brother Jiang, you said earlier, after perfecting it, you’d teach me the new method!”

“Of course!” Jiang Ming pushed aside his thoughts and immediately transmitted the perfected technique.

Ren Tianxing was stunned, dazed for a moment, then his eyes brightened. Twisting his blade tip, he cupped his fists, “I’m convinced!”

“Farewell!”

“Hope never to meet you again!”

“Wait, no, although you’re a pain, your progress is insanely fast!”

“Better see more of you!”

“Let’s go!”

He truly didn’t want to stay and immediately admitted defeat, leaving.

“I’ve gained new insights...” Jiang Ming wanted to stop him, but it was too late. He sighed.

With a flash of light, Jiang Ming returned to his seat.

Jun Qiye and the others all stared at him.

“Everyone, don’t ask, don’t say anything. Let me think—let me think deeply. I’ve had a revelation. I need to seize this inspiration!” Jiang Ming waved his hand and sat down.

Jun Qiye opened his mouth but silently spat out three words: “Damn bastard!”

Even Wang Qiutong clenched her teeth.

He learned Divine Footwork, then further improved and passed it back to its original creator.

That alone was enough.

But then he came back with new inspiration?

Damn it!

They all felt a bit defeated.

Jiang Ming paid no mind to the others. His mind split—half watching the battle, half simulating and extrapolating in his mind.

“Myriad-Thread Flow ultimately manipulates the way of space—distorting the void, at extreme speeds creating attacks like countless clones, appearing as thousands of strikes in an instant,” Jiang Ming pondered.

His mind exploded with thoughts.

The day’s match ended.

Back in reality, he continued his simulations.

Though making progress, completion remained elusive.

“Fusion of three realms isn’t enough, nor space alone—is it because the grasp of spatial power is insufficient?”

“Or...”

“What if I incorporate illusion path, the power of light?”

Jiang Ming’s thoughts roamed, endlessly extrapolating.

***

Day six of the finals.

Breakfast.

“Brother Jiang, today you’ll be ruthless, right?” Long Aotian laughed as he sipped porridge.

“If not now, when?” Lan Xin agreed.

“Be ruthless!” Qiang Jiu nodded approvingly.

Qin Zhiyan just lowered her head and ate quietly.

“Young blood should be bold. No fear!” Instructor Yu smiled. “The competition’s in a virtual battleground—do as you wish, fight as you will.”

“Follow your heart!” Old Tang nodded.

“You guys really have confidence in me!” Jiang Ming said wryly. “That opponent awakened the Wood Sovereign’s path.”

“Wood Sovereign, my foot—just some grass,” Long Aotian scoffed. “Set him on fire.”

“Burn him to ashes!” Lan Xin egged on.

They all seemed eager for chaos.

After breakfast, Jiang Ming returned to his room and entered the virtual battleground.

Though early, it mattered little; he continued refining his arts.

Jun Qiye and the others arrived one by one, wearing strange expressions.

“Brother Jiang, how will you fight?” Ye Bai came close, whispering, “Here’s advice: grab his neck, slam him to the ground hard, then use your stinky foot to stomp on his nose until he’s suffocated!”

“You’re disgusting! So disgraceful to the Sacred Body!” Jun Qiye snapped. “But Xiao Bai’s idea is good—use your stinky foot to stomp him, teach him the harshness of the world.”

“I’d say, control his mind with illusions, then make him the Federation’s laughingstock,” Li Ping’an grinned. “Like stripping him naked!”

Suggestions flew.

Wang Qiutong and Luo Qingchen instinctively stepped back. These guys were too vicious.

Jiang Ming just smiled.

Soon the battle resumed.

He appeared on the field, facing Tang San Chui, who chose a massive hammer.

Really huge.

“Brother Jiang, long time no see!” Tang San Chui fixed Jiang Ming with a cold gaze. “You and Qin Zhiyan are classmates, and thanks for looking after her during the martial exam. But you don’t have to anymore—I’m her fiancé.”

“Fiancé?” Jiang Ming sneered. “Did she agree?”

“The family elder of the Qin clan personally proposed!” Tang San Chui puffed out his chest.

“So she didn’t agree!” Jiang Ming mocked. “The Qin family—this is the Federation era, and arranged marriages are forbidden. Yet the Qin family drags history backward, trampling Federation law!”

“I know that Qin Zhiyan’s mother left the Qin family with her, severing all ties!”

“And Qin’s mother passed away because of it!”

“Now Qin Zhiyan has entered the Federation finals, and the Qin family shamelessly wants to claim her?”

“Without even meeting her, they arrange a marriage?”

“The Qin family’s arrogance knows no bounds!”

“And you, Tang San Chui, are shameless beyond measure!”

“Do you think your family’s power lets you do as you please?”

Jiang Ming moved, seemingly passing through space to stand before Tang San Chui.

His speed was too fast.

Even prepared, Tang San Chui couldn’t evade and was kicked a hundred meters away.

“You worthless trash, still coveting the class monitor!” Jiang Ming coldly said, watching him rise.

“Jiang Ming...” Tang San Chui clutched his chest, burning with rage, bloodshot eyes.

He was publicly insulted and kicked—an utter humiliation.

“You claim to be her fiancé before the whole Federation, without her consent? Tang San Chui, I’ve seen shameless people, but never someone as shameless as you,” Jiang Ming narrowed his eyes, each word like a blade. “Calling you shameless is praise.”

“You’re courting death!” Tang San Chui’s fury erupted. “I want you dead!”

“Tree Realm Descends!”

“Wood Dragon Technique!”

“Spirit Manifestation, Strangulation!”

He exploded with power.

***

Another four thousand words delivered.

It’s hot weather—don’t forget to rest by the roadside, enjoy the cool breeze and the colorful sights.

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(End of chapter)