Chapter Thirty-Six: Sword Intent of the Great River, Scheming for the World

Master Xuanming’s face was ashen, his expression unspeakably grim. He had realized something terrifying: he was utterly suppressed, not simply bested, but completely trapped within this bounded space. Jiang Ming’s comprehension of true intent was even more formidable and overwhelming, pressing down on him with a suffocating sense of oppression. What he found hardest to accept was that Jiang Ming had consecutively grasped three types of true intent.

Gaining insight was one thing.

But, damn it, not only had Jiang Ming grasped three types, he could seamlessly switch between them, forming a flawless cycle: ice turned to mist, mist condensed into rain, rain fell and froze anew, and ice once more summoned the mist.

He was hemmed in by this closed loop, unable to break free no matter how he charged in any direction.

Master Xuanming further discovered that these three forms of true intent were rapidly fusing and transforming, flowing like circling streams converging into a mighty river.

“The power of water?”

He cried out in shock.

“Exactly, the power of water,” Jiang Ming nodded. “Whether it is ice, mist, or falling rain, all are but different states of water’s transformation. Now, by reversing the current and merging these three true intents, it becomes the force of water itself. Master Xuanming, as it happens, this has allowed me to derive a new sword technique. I invite you to witness it.”

“From the heavens a torrent plunges three thousand feet, as if the Silver River descends from the Ninth Heaven!”

“With water as the river, merged into my swordsmanship—I call this the Great River Sword Intent!”

As Jiang Ming’s voice fell, his long sword swept through the air. The powers of ice, mist, and rainwater converged, transforming into a surging current that gave the impression of an unstoppable, tidal force, vast and majestic.

It descended from above, as if a swath of the Milky Way itself were falling, completely irresistible.

The supreme might condensed within caused Master Xuanming’s body to sink, leaving him struggling to breathe.

“My Ice True Intent is being completely suppressed… how can this be? There shouldn’t be superiority or inferiority among true intents, only differences in level!” His face was contorted with dread, fear flickering in his eyes.

Bathed in this pervasive aura, he could barely maintain the power of his Ice True Intent.

“Xuanming Devour, Boundless Calamity Finger!” Sensing death was near, Master Xuanming unleashed his ultimate technique. His body seemed to morph into a black hole, gathering endless power to a single finger, which then struck out with razor-sharp force.

Boom—

The sky exploded, the earth trembled.

“My fate is sealed!” In that instant of collision, Master Xuanming’s heart was filled with utter despair. His Ice True Intent was utterly shattered by this overwhelming force.

The opponent’s strength surpassed all imagination.

For a fleeting moment, he thought he glimpsed the old Zhang Daoist of the past.

The sword fell. Fingers shattered, his arm burst apart, and then Master Xuanming himself was cleaved in two.

A grandmaster, once the head of a great sect, was slain then and there.

Jiang Ming cast him only a cool glance, then turned his gaze to the other battlefield. Perhaps sensing the demise of Master Xuanming, Situ Ming, after forcing back Chong Erlian, swiftly retreated into the distance.

Another hidden expert, lurking in the shadows, also quietly withdrew as Jiang Ming’s attention shifted their way.

He did not pursue, instead closing his eyes to attune his mind to the changing realms, immersing himself in the evolution of his newfound insights.

With the realization of water’s intent, Jiang Ming’s entire being—from blood and flesh, to bones and organs, to soul and will—was baptized by the mighty power of the heavens and earth.

Even the quality of his true qi was elevated.

His perception sharpened, his spirit became more refined.

His vitality surged, brimming with life, and his inner resilience grew immensely.

Such were the immense benefits brought by the awakening of intent.

“The path of intent is vast and profound. I have only just set foot upon it.”

The deeper he comprehended, the more he felt the boundless expanse of nature and the universe.

Those who had been watching the battle were all left dumbfounded.

No one had favored Jiang Ming at the outset. After all, he had fought several exhausting battles in succession, and his opponent was a grandmaster—an old powerhouse, once a rival of the Daoist Zhang.

And yet, the outcome?

He not only held his own, but in the end, comprehended the power of true intent and stepped into the realm of grandmasters in a single bound.

“Incredible!” Bai Yunfei’s mouth was dry, but his eyes burned with excitement. “He actually slew Master Xuanming. Brother He, Brother Tang, am I dreaming?”

“Not only you, I’m dreaming too,” Tang Xiaotian replied in a daze.

“We’re all dreaming—sharing a single dream,” He Qianshan murmured, shivering. “The tides of the world are about to shift. The youngest grandmaster, the most terrifyingly powerful grandmaster—an invincible grandmaster?”

“He may be a monstrous genius beyond reason, but with the old man of my family still around, invincibility is still out of reach for him,” Bai Yunfei said, pursing his lips, but then sighed, “Yet faced with such a talent, the rest of us… will only fade into obscurity.”

Not just fade into obscurity—there was barely even the right to serve as a supporting cast.

Elsewhere—

“Is he… is he even human?” the woman in black exclaimed in utter shock. “Can a person truly be this gifted?”

“Of course,” Lu Yuan replied with a wry smile. He had watched Jiang Ming’s rise all along. Though he had grown used to such miracles, he could not help but feel deeply shaken.

To break through to the grandmaster realm on the battlefield and slay Master Xuanming—this was the stuff of legend.

“It was truly an eye-opener,” the black-clad woman said, removing her veil to reveal a breathtaking, proud beauty, a rare commanding aura radiating from her. “Brother Lu, you must introduce me.”

“He’ll definitely be happy to meet you, Miss Yan!” Lu Yuan replied, his expression tinged with amusement.

Beside them, Chang Qing’s face was filled with admiration.

Their commander had slain a grandmaster—such a feat was nothing short of miraculous.

“Commander!” Seeing Jiang Ming open his eyes, Chang Qing hurried over to him.

Lu Yuan and the woman in black also approached.

Chief Jin arrived, offering a respectful salute to the woman.

“Congratulations, Brother Jiang. Not only have you ascended to the grandmaster realm, but you’ve also slain a formidable villain. From now on, you’ll have a place of true prominence in this world,” Lu Yuan said as he returned two secret manuals.

“Brother Lu, that’s not quite right!” Miss Yan interjected. “Brother Jiang now stands at the pinnacle of the martial world. Not just a place—but the power to command the wind and clouds. Given time, true invincibility may not be beyond reach.”

“Brother Jiang, this is Yan Feng, titled Phoenix Dancer, also known as Princess Feng Wu, the Ninth Princess,” Lu Yuan introduced. “She came here to deal with Zhang Tong and then to confront the Xiao and Liang families. By chance, she arrived just as you handled things. By the way, if not for the Ninth Princess leading her forces to help against the Xiao family’s Black Iron Army earlier, our losses would have been grave. Haha, fate indeed.”

“Many thanks, Ninth Princess!” Jiang Ming cupped his hands in salute. Her beauty was striking enough to make his heart skip a beat. “Would you care to join me in the city for a conversation?”

“Gladly!” The Ninth Princess replied with cheerful ease, showing not a hint of royal airs.

“Gentlemen,” Jiang Ming turned to Bai Yunfei and the others, “I’ll be staying by Moonwatch Lake in the city. Would you care to join me for a drink?”

“To be invited by a grandmaster—what an honor!” Bai Yunfei and the others were overjoyed.

None of them could have imagined that Jiang Ming, now a grandmaster, would show such humility and invite them. Who would refuse? Who would dare refuse?

They hurried to join him.

“Chang Qing, arrange for the battlefield to be cleared.” With a few simple instructions, Jiang Ming entered Koushan City surrounded by his companions.

Liang Dashan watched his departing figure and sighed dejectedly. “I still remember the ancestral admonition: no matter how vast the clan, no matter how great our power, we must always remain humble and cautious, for one never knows if among those we offend, there might be one who will rise to greatness. If not, all is well; if there is, it means calamity for the clan. For years we’ve stood aloof, allied with the Xiao family, turned Koushan City into a fortress, even bought off Zhang Tong. Life and death inside the city were at our whim. Unwittingly, we forgot the ancestral warnings, and so we suffer today’s disaster.”

Sighing, he cursed inwardly: “Damn heavens, curse you and your ancestors! How did we end up offending such a peerless genius who only appears once in a millennium? This is not a calamity wrought by man, but by fate itself—it’s as if the heavens themselves have forsaken the Liang clan!”

Within the city, by Moonwatch Lake.

The place had been meticulously maintained by the Xiao family: willows draped like mist around the lake, white jade railings encircling the shore, pavilions everywhere, flowers blooming in riotous color, and songbirds singing sweetly.

The waters were clear, lotus leaves rippling on the surface.

At the heart of the lake was an island, surrounded by bamboo groves and elegant manors, with a lakeside pavilion, a fishing terrace, and a secluded courtyard.

On the north shore stood a grand estate, where Jiang Ming now took residence.

Though it had fallen to him without effort, he felt not the slightest embarrassment.

Servants provided by the Xiao family, along with a contingent sent over by the Liang family, attended to all the estate’s needs.

After bathing and changing into white robes, he radiated an air of otherworldly grace.

The banquet ended; the cups and dishes were cleared, replaced by fragrant tea.

Jiang Ming took a sip, set down his cup, and glanced around with a smile. “Gentlemen, you are all disciples of great sects and heirs to profound legacies, each versed in supreme arts. I have obtained the Lesser Yin and Lesser Yang Classics, and I am willing to put them forward for exchange—especially for core inner teachings.”

Seeing their brows furrow, he continued, “I only require the general outlines, not the specific cultivation methods.”

“Moreover, I possess more than ten peerless techniques—fist, palm, leg, blade, sword, and more.”

“Would you be willing to trade?”

Jiang Ming placed the Lesser Yin and Lesser Yang Classics on the table.

“I often wonder, is there a realm beyond grandmaster? What heights did the creators of the Nine Yin Divine Art and Nine Yang True Classic attain? At the pinnacle of martial arts, can one shatter the void and transcend?”

“Yet today, sectarianism is rampant; many hoard their arts jealously, unwilling to share them even at the risk of their extinction.”

“If things continue this way, how can the martial path thrive? How can the younger generation surpass the old?”

“My only wish is to glimpse the scenery beyond the realm of the grandmaster.”

“I hope that the strong throughout the world will pool their knowledge, share their insights, and together usher in a golden age of martial arts.”

“Today, I offer these two classics and more than ten peerless techniques as a beginning—a declaration of intent to you, and to all the mighty of the land. I hope to attract kindred spirits.”

“Once I have consolidated my cultivation, I will devise several more martial methods that lead directly to the awakening of intent, and I will share those as well.”

Jiang Ming’s words left Bai Yunfei and the others deeply shaken.

“Brother Jiang, what spirit! What vision!” The Ninth Princess exclaimed in admiration, her eyes bright with curiosity and respect.