Chapter Twenty-One: Spreading the Dharma Through Divine Means

At the foot of the mountain.

Jiang Ming stood silently atop a tree, observing the battle. He would not act unless confronted by someone below the innate level.

“The Seven Kill Blade Technique I once deduced is ultimately imperfect, its flaws too great.” As he watched, he pondered, quietly studying the methods of those attacking the mountain—their blades, swords, fists, and feet—all flowing into his heart.

He analyzed and reconstructed, deducing and evolving. He even guessed the operation of their internal cultivation techniques, nearly to completion.

Suddenly, he shifted sideways, blocking the path of a man.

This was an innate-level expert, who had concealed his presence and sought to ascend the mountain amidst the chaos.

“Get out of my way!”

Upon being discovered, the middle-aged man flew into a rage, slashing fiercely at Jiang Ming’s head. The blade was charged with true energy, deadly and savage.

Jiang Ming dodged, engaging the man in battle. He handled the fight with ease, suppressing his opponent and forcing him to reveal his ultimate skills.

“Mediocre.” Having exposed the man’s full repertoire, Jiang Ming tapped his heart with a finger, killing him instantly. He returned to the tree, gazing down, surveying the battlefield.

The sounds of battle gradually faded. This round was over.

Changqing approached the tree, bowed, and said, “Commander, if these raids continue, I fear we won’t hold out much longer.”

“What do you suggest?” Jiang Ming replied. “The next few days won’t be peaceful.”

“Well…” Changqing considered. “Defending like this won’t suffice, but our ranks are uneven. Only combat can quickly forge and strengthen the team. Commander, what if we divide into waves? Pair veterans with novices, and rotate teams when they grow fatigued.”

“Go ahead.”

“Yes, sir!”

Changqing departed respectfully.

Lu Yuan arrived, standing on another branch. He asked, perplexed, “I don’t understand why you don’t directly manage the squad you created. Most of the team, besides the original members, only know Captain Changqing, not you as their commander. Aren’t you worried?”

“Worried about what?” Jiang Ming smiled. “Strength is mine alone; I fear no upheaval. As for the Heavenly Martial Army? I formed it casually. As long as they help me collect martial arts techniques, the rest can develop as it will.”

“Your talent is unmatched, but your actions are so odd—impossible to fathom or predict. Why bother thinking about it? I’d rather have a good sleep and watch the spectacle.” Lu Yuan yawned, lay back on the branch with his legs crossed, and continued, “The rear of the mountain is a cliff; it’s too difficult to climb from there. I’ll check it now and then. Ah, my fate is to toil, yet I don’t even get paid.”

Jiang Ming merely smiled, not bothering to respond.

He closed his eyes slightly, letting the scenes of battle replay in his mind. Every blade technique, angle of attack, and force collided endlessly within his thoughts.

He recalled the many martial arts and secret skills he’d observed, the ultimate techniques displayed by the mountain’s attackers, all flashing through his mind and merging into a torrent of martial wisdom that ignited the flames of insight.

Clang…

After a long while, a surge of blade energy shot from above Jiang Ming’s head, severing all the branches overhead. Lu Yuan, who had been resting, felt a chill crawl over him and quickly moved to another spot, staring at Jiang Ming in alarm.

“What terrifying blade energy—filled with slaughter, ruthlessness, decisiveness, death, and a relentless will to kill or be killed.” Lu Yuan licked his dry lips. “This is the Seven Kill Blade Technique, but no, it’s even more terrifying. This kid has reinvented the Seven Kill Blade Technique and advanced it to the level of a supreme art.”

“If this new blade technique were taught to the Heavenly Martial Army…”

Lu Yuan shuddered, his expression changing.

Changqing also noticed the disturbance and hurried over, sensing Jiang Ming’s aura and the blade energy above him. He was elated.

He could feel the true energy within him rejoicing, yet also suppressed.

“This must be the advanced version of the Seven Kill Blade Technique. The commander is truly extraordinary!” Changqing gazed at Jiang Ming with burning admiration.

Back at Black Wind Fortress, he had only been a third-rate practitioner. After joining Jiang Ming, he became the third chief and was taught various supreme arts.

The commander even found his abilities lacking and personally used true energy to cleanse his marrow and muscles, forcefully enhancing his strength.

Otherwise, even with the Seven Kill Blade Technique, he could never have reached his current first-rate level.

After a long while, the blade energy faded, and Jiang Ming’s formidable aura was fully restrained.

Jiang Ming opened his eyes; a flash of sharpness flickered and vanished. In a blink, he appeared before Changqing and, without a word, pressed a finger to his brow.

Changqing made no attempt to dodge.

“Focus your mind and comprehend carefully!” Jiang Ming’s voice echoed.

“Brother Jiang, what are you doing?” Lu Yuan asked, puzzled.

“Passing on a technique.”

“Passing on a technique? Just by touching with a finger?”

Lu Yuan was astonished.

What kind of supernatural skill was this?

Jiang Ming offered no explanation.

As his cultivation advanced, though he had not acquired a third innate talent, his soul’s dominion grew accordingly.

The most direct effect was a surge in mental power—his “spiritual domain” expanded, allowing him to observe a wider area and manipulate objects weighing ten times more than before.

As for passing on techniques with his spirit, it had become a natural skill he understood instinctively.

There were other abilities yet to be explored.

In truth, this was the real reason he feared no powerful adversary in the world.

Changqing sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and his aura became unstable, but soon steadied, growing sharper and more refined.

He seemed to transform into a blade, ready to cut down anything at any moment.

After a while, he sprang up and drew his long blade to practice.

His moves were crisp and decisive, the killing aura concentrated, each strike fierce and resolute, making Lu Yuan’s heart race. The blade technique’s baleful energy filled him with dread.

“What a terrifying blade technique, to fuse baleful energy within! If a whole squad wielded this, a single blow…” Lu Yuan’s heart pounded.

“My newly deduced Seven Kill Blade Technique has reached the level of a supreme art. Want to learn it?” Jiang Ming asked with a mischievous smile.

“You really are… a monster among prodigies.” Lu Yuan was at a loss for words.

The talent before him was unparalleled, unseen in any age.

A supreme art—he could deduce and create it at will.

It was enough to make Lu Yuan despair. Otherwise, with his roguish nature, why would he follow Jiang Ming around?

“Will concentrating baleful energy affect one’s mind?” Lu Yuan exhaled and asked.

“The old version would, but the new one is much improved!” Jiang Ming smiled. “This is a method of killing to quell killing, cultivating through slaughter, tempering the spirit with each kill. The baleful energy constantly tempers the mind. As long as one’s resolve isn’t too weak, the impact is minimal—at least up to master level. Still, excessive baleful energy isn’t a long-term path. In time, I’ll refine it further, striving to integrate the art of inner calm—wielding slaughter with a pure heart. With light in one’s heart, use killing to pacify the world.”

“You’re incredible!” Lu Yuan gave a thumbs-up.

If anyone else said such things, he would scoff and call them braggarts.

But this man truly accomplished whatever he said.

“I know I’m extraordinary; no need to praise me every day. Are you learning or not? This is an opportunity.”

Jiang Ming spoke with deep meaning.

“Learn!” Lu Yuan’s expression shifted, then he nodded.

If the man called it an opportunity, it surely was.

Jiang Ming pressed his finger to Lu Yuan’s brow, unleashing his spiritual power, letting it flow into Lu Yuan’s mind.

With his master-level cultivation, Lu Yuan could sense the mental fluctuations and might gain more, at the very least seeing a new world.

Such was the opportunity.