Chapter 161: Myriad Thread Flow, Achieved

The Ape Emperor’s face was filled with utter horror.

When it came to raw strength, he had never deferred to anyone, believing himself invincible under the same realm. Yet Jiang Ming’s single punch had nearly driven him to despair.

"Such rapid recovery!" As Jiang Ming stepped closer, he noticed that the granulation tissue on the Ape Emperor’s shoulder was writhing at a ferocious speed, having already grown back by two inches in just a short moment.

This recovery rate was utterly shocking.

"Are you truly a human? I don't believe it! Human bloodlines are inferior and their physiques weak. How could a single punch nearly obliterate me?" The Ape Emperor continued to retreat rapidly while manipulating the dominion's power to exert pressure, buying himself time to heal. "You must be a primordial monster wearing a human skin! Speak, what race are you really?!"

"Remember this: I am a human!" Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow, his killing intent growing even denser.

His Martial Arts Domain manifested, directly shattering the Ape Emperor’s dominion power into pieces. The domain rebounded to suppress the opponent, causing the Ape Emperor’s momentum to stall.

Boom...

The next moment, Jiang Ming threw a punch that completely blew apart the Ape Emperor's head.

Since he had blocked the first punch, how could he possibly let him live to see a second?

Sensing carefully, he was dead.

Opening the system interface, the count of slain alien emperors increased by one.

After collecting some flesh and blood, Jiang Ming returned to the city and began a massive slaughter.

Every single alien encountered was thoroughly exterminated, leaving none alive.

In the end, Chang'an City of the Great Sui ran with rivers of blood. After locating the treasury and gathering a large quantity of precious medicinal herbs like ginseng, Jiang Ming quietly departed.

A few days later, Song Que arrived, discovering the desolate scene, and was left utterly shaken.

From that day onward, the surviving remnants of the Great Sui launched a counteroffensive against the alien races.

Jiang Ming drifted along intermittently, continuing to refine his techniques while slaughtering any aliens he crossed paths with.

He also specifically hunted down alien emperors. These were all peak eighth-realm powerhouses, each immensely formidable. Figures like the Sword Saint of Mount Shu could at most put up a fight against just one of them.

Crossing through the Great Sui, he passed by the Great Song.

He met Yan Chixia, who had already stepped into the seventh realm of martial arts, as well as Sovereign Qiye, who had solidly reached the eighth realm.

Additionally, numerous powerful figures had gathered to resist the alien factions—such as the Twin-Headed Serpent-Foot clan and the Golden Centipede clan.

Even so, they were still suppressed.

After executing a number of aliens, Jiang Ming stepped into the Great Desolate territory and once again crossed paths with the Wine-Loving Sword Immortal.

Back then, Mount Shu had almost been completely destroyed. Fortunately, a Mount Shu disciple named "Jiang Ming" had emerged from the collapsed Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, launching a powerful counterattack that reversed the decline and established a stalemate with the aliens.

Just as he was about to leave the Great Desolate territory, amidst a sea of mountains, Jiang Ming caught sight of a vast, boundless forest.

The trees were exceptionally tall.

Giant trees towering a hundred meters high could be seen everywhere. He suddenly sensed a powerful wave of energy, followed by a sword Qi soaring into the sky that cleaved a distant mountain peak directly in half.

"Familiar sword Qi!"

Jiang Ming’s eyes lit up. With a single teleportation, he arrived at the scene and saw Ji Yunning engaged in fierce combat with a slender, handsome figure possessing emerald hair and long, pointed ears.

At a glance, he recognized them as the legendary elves.

There were many other elite elves surrounding them, every single one exuding an immensely powerful aura. Aside from them, there were quite a few treants—massive trees bearing human-like faces, looking as bizarre as could be.

He also spotted another familiar person: Tang Sanchui, who was standing intimately close to a female elf.

The other party also noticed him, pausing slightly before a cold smirk crossed the corner of his mouth. He whispered a few words to the person beside him and pointed right at Jiang Ming.

The rest of the elves and treants also detected Jiang Ming's arrival, and a web of powerful auras instantly locked onto him.

"Classmate Ji!" Jiang Ming called out loudly.

Clang...

Ji Yunning erupted with full force, forcing her opponent back before transforming into a streak of sword light that landed by Jiang Ming’s side. Her face was flushed, and she took a deep breath before saying, "Brother Jiang, thank goodness you came, or I would have been buried here today."

The elf who had been fighting her did not pursue, merely watching with an aloof and arrogant expression.

They completely disregarded the two of them.

"I was passing by and sensed a familiar aura, but I didn't expect it to be you," Jiang Ming said with a smile. "What on earth is going on here?"

"There is more than one eighth-realm entity among them. Do you have confidence in holding your ground?" Ji Yunning transmitted her voice. "If it weren't for the fact that they wanted to witness my swordsmanship, I would have been killed by them long ago. If you aren't sure, let's look for a chance to slip away."

"Don't worry!" Jiang Ming lifted his chin. "They're just lambs on a chopping board. I'll round them all up in a moment."

"Brother Jiang, you're this powerful now?" Ji Yunning stared in astonishment.

She certainly didn't think Jiang Ming was just boasting.

She knew the guy in front of her possessed immense strength and heaven-defying comprehension, yet remained extremely low-key. For him to utter such words now meant he clearly didn't take these people seriously at all.

"I wouldn't call it powerful. Luo Feng and the others have already reached the eighth realm, while I'm still lingering in the seventh realm," Jiang Ming sighed.

Ji Yunning rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking to herself: *If your seventh realm were normal, that would be one thing, but damn it, you are obviously anything but normal!*

Afterwards, she explained the origin of the situation.

In truth, it was quite simple. She had been wandering around, tempering herself while occasionally entering secluded cultivation. She had also heard about the commotion Jiang Ming caused and had even felt tempted to head to Chang'an in the Great Sui.

However, thinking that solitary tempering would be better for her cultivation advancement, she wasn't in a rush and figured it wouldn't be too late to go later.

Later on, the aliens descended, the world was thrown into chaos, rivers of blood stained the mountains and rivers, and no peaceful place remained anywhere. While hunting around, she also intended to head toward Chang'an, but she had some bad luck and encountered an incomparably powerful flood dragon during her travels, almost losing her life in the battle.

After barely escaping with her life, she found a secluded spot to heal from her injuries in seclusion. Once healed, her cultivation advanced further, and after slaying the flood dragon, she resumed her journey.

Passing through this area, she noticed something abnormal: the trees were toweringly tall, and there were even treants.

"They call themselves Ancient Tree Ents?" Ji Yunning spoke at a rapid pace. "That aside, I discovered a vast number of human beings enslaved within the forest, driven like slaves and even beaten or killed at will to be used as nutrients. I wanted to wipe these treants out, but a massive horde of elves poured out from the depths of the forest, along with Tang Sanchui."

"That brat actually defected to the alien races."

"I wanted to kill him, but my strength wasn't enough!"

Ji Yunning briefly recounted what had happened.

"Tang Sanchui, you've actually become a traitor to humanity." Jiang Ming's eyes narrowed, killing intent baring itself completely.

"No, this is called those who understand the times are wise men." Tang Sanchui stepped through the air and landed not far away. He sneered as he looked at Jiang Ming, then covertly transmitted his voice: *This is a secret realm world, and our only purpose for descending is to increase our strength. What traitor or no traitor? Don't slap grand labels on me.*

*And you, Jiang Ming, running into you today—heh, consider this your忌日 (anniversary of your death).*

*On the day of the grand examination, right in front of the entire Federation, you trampled my dignity into the dirt.*

*Today, watch how I deal with you!*

Tang Sanchui kept his expression nonchalant, but his voice transmission carried monstrous hatred.

"That's right, those who understand the times are wise men." The female elf soared through the air and landed beside Tang Sanchui, naturally and intimately wrapping her arm around his while looking at him with extreme tenderness. However, the moment her gaze shifted to Jiang Ming, it carried an aloof and disdainful expression. "Sanchui is a Son of Nature, already transcending the boundaries of humanity. What kind of thing are you to even compare to him?"

"I’ve heard that elves love peace and cherish nature; I’ve also heard that elves are proud. Seeing it today, I’ve truly broadened my horizons." Jiang Ming, however, ignored the two of them entirely.

Even if this was a secret realm world.

Even if it was purely for increasing strength.

Even if one was forced by circumstances.

None of that could change the fact that Tang Sanchui had betrayed humanity.

For such a person, he had no favorable impression whatsoever. Instead, he simply sized up the elf and said, "Your so-called closeness to nature is merely a way for the forest to grant you explosive battle power. Coupled with the surrounding Ancient Tree Ents, it pushes your combat strength in the forest beyond the ordinary. As for pride? You truly are arrogant!"

"I’ve also heard that wherever there are elves, there must be an Elf Empress and an Elf Tree, is that correct?"

Jiang Ming inquired.

"To think you actually know some things about our elven race; you do have some knowledge." The female elf lifted her chin. "Remember this: I am Alice. Given Sanchui's sake, I’ll give you and your companion a chance. Submit and follow by Sanchui's side henceforth. He will be your master. If he tells you to kneel, you are absolutely forbidden to stand; if he tells you to become a dog, you cannot become a pig. Do you understand?"

"Heh..." Ji Yunning let out a cold laugh. "Brother Jiang, listen to that. She really doesn't treat us as humans at all, heaping utter humiliation upon us."

"Pay her no mind; she will soon become fertilizer for the forest." As Jiang Ming spoke, he looked at Tang Sanchui and asked, "Brother Tang, have you completed your mission?"

Tang Sanchui's expression shifted slightly.

"Haha..." Jiang Ming naturally caught the change in his expression and burst into hearty laughter before his face darkened. "You provoked me, consider yourself unlucky! Ten years of cultivation time, and you've wasted it completely. A step slow means step-by-step slow. Let's see how you plan to compete with the rest of us in the future!"

"Die!"

Having confirmed the other party's status, Jiang Ming lost all interest in continuing the conversation.

Elves? Nothing more than proud lambs!

Tang Sanchui? He hadn't planned on paying him any mind, but since they crossed paths and he had become a human traitor, there was nothing left to say!

Rumble...

The Martial Arts Domain manifested, crushing the vault of heaven and distorting space-time. The vast majority of those surrounding them were pressed directly onto the ground. Quite a few had their livers and gallbladders ruptured on the spot under the pressure, dying instantly.

Even Tang Sanchui was pinned face-down on the ground, a look of shock plastered across his face. He struggled to raise his head to look at Jiang Ming, his mind trembling violently as a wave of despair washed over him.

Clang...

The Fire Kirin Sword appeared in Jiang Ming’s hand. With a sweeping roll through the air, he instantly executed the three remaining elves who were still standing, leaving none alive.

The vitality of the Ancient Tree Ents was extremely tenacious, and a few didn't die immediately, but a flash of sword light swept past, executing them on the spot.

"How dare you slaughter my clansmen! Such audacity!"

An angry roar echoed from the depths of the forest, followed by the eruption of an immensely powerful aura that impacted the firmament and shook ten thousand mountains.

This was a terrifyingly formidable powerhouse, one by no means weaker than the Ape Emperor.

"The Elf Empress!" Jiang Ming smiled, ignoring the arrival as he stepped directly onto Tang Sanchui's neck. "As a proud son of heaven in the Federation, I never expected you to grovel here, becoming a kept son-in-law—an alien son-in-law who tramples humans underfoot. Tang Sanchui, our past conflicts were merely matters of youthful pride and meant nothing. But now? I truly despise you!"

Crack...

Applying force with his foot, he snapped Tang Sanchui's neck directly.

Fearing he might not be dead, a shockwave of power completely obliterated the body, turning it into a mist of blood.

"Brother Jiang, you're a beast!" Seeing these events unfold, Ji Yunning was deeply shaken. "A dignified eighth-realm elven powerhouse couldn't even twitch a muscle under your Martial Arts Domain. For a martial arts seventh-realm practitioner like you to act so lawless... Brother Jiang, from now on, this little sister is truly going to hang out and follow your lead."

"Easily done!" Jiang Ming smiled. "Once the Elf Empress arrives, there won't be any overly powerful entities left in the forest. Go sweep through the place."

"Understood!"

Ji Yunning instantly transformed into a streak of sword light and charged into the forest.

Jiang Ming shifted his footing, blocking the path of the Elf Empress. Without a word of nonsense, he unleashed the God-Shattering Form, striking directly at her spiritual consciousness.

Teleportation, followed by the God-Shattering Form.

This caught the immensely powerful Elf Empress off guard. However, a brilliant flash of light bloomed between her brows as the phantom of a tree materialized, barely blocking Jiang Ming's spiritual soul attack, though it still caused her mind to tremble and her vision to blur.

"Martial Arts Domain!"

"Suppress!"

Jiang Ming’s combat experience was already exceptionally rich, and his methods unfolded back-to-back. Under his domain, he manipulated the power of heaven and earth to squeeze in from all directions, causing the slightly dazed Elf Empress to snap back to her senses with a wildly changing expression.

Her own power surged from within her body, resonating with the heart of heaven, manipulating dominion power in an attempt to break free from the shackles. The two formless, terrifying forces clashed, generating numerous bizarre phenomena.

Jiang Ming's sword had already descended.

Light flashed once more between the Elf Empress's brows, and a divine tree materialized before her, blocking Jiang Ming's sword strike. However, the divine tree was split in half and completely destroyed in the process.

"My elven divine tree!" The Elf Empress wailed in anguish. Utilizing the divine power released at the exact instant the divine tree was destroyed, she broke free from the shackles of the Martial Arts Domain and fled.

She was fast, but Jiang Ming was faster.

With a single teleportation, he arrived at the Elf Empress's flank, slashing out with his sword mid-air. The moment she moved to defend, his figure shifted to her other side, delivering yet another sword strike.

Swift and peerless.

Sword after sword after sword. Boundless sword light transformed into a curtain of swords that enveloped the firmament and trapped the Elf Empress in a desperate situation.

Deep within the forest, Ji Yunning abruptly halted, looking up to reveal a look of profound shock.

"Using teleportation techniques to drive sword dao divine abilities... Combining the two pushes his swordsmanship to the absolute extreme!"

"No!"

"Teleportation and swordsmanship have fused into one!"

"This..."

"He is actually forming a supreme technique!"

As Jiang Ming continuously teleported and fought, he unconsciously immersed himself in the flow, the concept of the Myriad-Thread Flow he had once deduced flowing through his mind.

He had the ideas before, but his realm couldn't keep up.

Now his realm was sufficient, but he had never had the leisure. Fighting the Elf Empress now allowed him to combine teleportation with swordsmanship, sparking a sudden flash of insight that deeply moved him.

Jiang Ming paused slightly, his pupils brimming with a sense of enlightenment. Following that, his figure shifted, splitting into two distinct figures while simultaneously launching attacks.

Those two sword strikes seemed to execute at the exact same instant—both were physical, both contained unimaginably terrifying power capable of splitting mountains, cleaving moons, and tearing apart wind and clouds.

The Elf Empress was sufficiently powerful as well. Though she had lost the initiative and fallen into a disadvantageous position, she was still able to put up a defense.

This provided Jiang Ming with a continuous stream of insights into his new technique.

His figures multiplied, increasing until nine distinct figures appeared before finally coming to a halt.

"The Myriad-Thread Flow—successfully entered the threshold!"

"Right now, it should be the Single-Thread Flow. The extreme realm of the Single-Thread Flow is the manifestation of nine figures!"

Jiang Ming smiled.

At this moment, the Elf Empress was completely enveloped by sword light, reduced to struggling frantically just to cope, completely unable to resist and even revealing a look of utter despair.

"Dust to dust, earth to earth. Since you originated from the forest, bury yourself within the forest as well!"

As Jiang Ming spoke, he executed Sword Nineteen—a single sword strike opening the heavens.

As his figures spun, nine swords converged, completely submerging the Elf Empress.