Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Surge of Deadly Intent

As for the so-called alliance, Jiang Ming cared nothing for it. Their arrival was merely a chance for him to warm up, and to let them witness the terror of the “Great Demon Lord.”

He remained immersed in his reading and cultivation.

At Moonwatch Lake, on the central island, he was alone, seated atop a massive slab of blue stone. His body rose and fell gently; with a single inhalation, a torrent of vital energy surged into him, and with an exhalation, a tempest swept across the skies.

Within him, his blood roared like a raging river, thundering incessantly, never ceasing its mighty flow. His heart beat like a war drum, each pulse causing the air to tremble. The formidable power of his blood had already shattered the surrounding rocks, and above his head, a column of blood energy rose like wolf smoke, piercing the heavens. Even the pores across his body opened and closed, exchanging energy with the world.

With every breath, his blood energy grew richer and denser.

Just then, a figure sped across the lake, feet skimming the water, arriving swiftly and landing nearby. Feeling the terrifying aura emanating from Jiang Ming, he was deeply moved. “Like the collapse of the heavens, like a tsunami—how is it that I feel he could kill me with a casual blow?”

It was Lu Yuan.

“This monster has grown stronger.”

“No, I sense he’s ten times—no, more than ten times—stronger than when he slew the Lord of Xuanming. Even I, standing at the peak of Grandmaster, find it hard to withstand his pressure!”

“Is he about to defy the heavens?”

Lu Yuan grinned.

“When we first met, he was stronger than me, but only by so much. Yet each day since, he has advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, under his full might, I doubt I could even approach him.”

“I am, after all, a peerless genius!”

Lu Yuan sighed.

Facing such a person, one truly felt powerless, with not even the heart to contend.

Jiang Ming had already stopped, opening his eyes to look at Lu Yuan, and smiled. “I used the Dragon Elephant Dominant Body technique as reference, studied dozens of body-refinement arts, and created my own forging method. How does it fare?”

He rose, stepping down from the stone, which silently cracked and crumbled behind him.

“Incredible!” Lu Yuan could only offer a thumbs-up.

Jiang Ming laughed, “Of course it’s incredible. Now, having cultivated it to the same level as the Dragon Elephant Dominant Body, my strength has increased severalfold.”

This was no idle boast, but a tangible improvement.

He had developed this forging art entirely based on his own physique, even risking self-injury to push his limits—tempering skin and flesh, training muscles and bones, strengthening organs, refining blood and marrow, unlocking every ounce of his body’s potential step by step.

Fortunately, thanks to the “Nirvana Rebirth” talent, even if his organs were damaged through forceful cultivation, they would recover swiftly, making him unafraid of injuries.

He also used immense true energy to nurture his body, and let the power of true intent purify him. In just a few months, his physique had reached a limit unimaginable to ordinary mortals.

“Damn!” Lu Yuan could only utter a single word.

Jiang Ming’s gaze sharpened as he studied Lu Yuan, frowning. “Your face is dusty, hair in disarray—have you been pursued?”

“No, with your current strength, few in the world could chase you. And within this city, I sense no Grandmaster’s presence.”

“Then, you’ve come because of me.”

“Something happened? Does it concern me?” Jiang Ming’s brows furrowed further, and he closed his eyes, releasing a murderous intent so intense it seemed tangible. Yet his voice remained calm, “If it concerns me and has made you so anxious, it must be the Tianwu Army or Blackwind Stronghold. I’ve already asked the Ninth Princess to watch over the Tianwu Army; if something happened, she would have informed me immediately. So, it must be Blackwind Stronghold. I recall you said last time you were heading southwest, which is precisely the stronghold’s direction.”

“Was it slaughtered?”

“Almost certainly.”

“It wouldn’t be difficult to investigate the connection between me and Blackwind Stronghold.”

“I’ve already been labeled the Great Demon Lord. Many forces in the martial world have allied to hunt me down. They provoke my wrath by attacking the stronghold, hoping I’ll go on a killing spree? Or perhaps they intend to wear down my strength through the alliance?”

“Heh…”

Jiang Ming opened his eyes, shooting out two beams of tangible light. “Lu Yuan, am I right?”

Lu Yuan opened his mouth, then nodded in dejection. “I went for a look—it wasn’t far, so I checked in. The mountain was covered in corpses, not a single survivor. Brother Jiang, my condolences.”

“Did you find any clues?”

“None. They used common techniques, but every kill was swift and clean.”

“Interesting—whether it’s sowing discord or forcing me to exhaust myself in madness, I’ll make them regret it.” Jiang Ming folded his hands behind his back and turned to gaze at the rippling lake. “Whoever it is, they’ll eventually show themselves. Sigh, though I never felt much attachment to the stronghold, it was once my home, and I managed it with care. I thought, with my cultivation at the Grandmaster level, even if someone wanted to target me, they wouldn’t attack the stronghold first. If discovered, the wrath of a Grandmaster is unbearable. I underestimated the depths of human nature.”

“Lu Yuan, I must ask something of you: guard Tianwu Manor these days!” Jiang Ming’s voice was somber.

Lu Yuan felt a chill in his heart. “Alright!”

He hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.

Guard Tianwu Manor?

As its master, with Grandmaster-level cultivation, why would he need someone else to guard it? There was only one possibility—Jiang Ming was about to go on a killing spree. If things got out of hand, others might seize the opportunity to massacre the manor.

Just then, another figure appeared on the lake, stepping lightly on the water, resembling a celestial maiden, though not nearly as graceful as Lu Yuan.

It was Chief Jin.

She landed beside Jiang Ming, glanced at Lu Yuan, then felt the overwhelming murderous aura from Jiang Ming, shaking her to her core. She pursed her lips and said, “Brother Jiang, you already know?”

“Yes, Blackwind Stronghold was slaughtered.” Jiang Ming nodded, his tone calm. Yet this very calmness made Chief Jin shudder. She hurriedly said, “They’ve already sent people to investigate. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Help me guard Tianwu Manor, will you?” This manor lay on the north bank, currently managed by Xiao Lan, with Old Ma and several servants.

“Alright.”

“And monitor the Demon-Slaying Army for me!”

“Alright.”

“You’re free to browse any martial arts manuals in the study.”

“Brother Jiang, I’m not—well, thank you.” Chief Jin instinctively wanted to explain, but quickly agreed.

Though their acquaintance was brief, she knew Jiang Ming’s character.

He truly cared nothing for so-called secret arts.

“Brother Jiang, they’ve already set out for this place, in great numbers. But typically, no matter how many, few would dare take on a Grandmaster. Yet they’ve come anyway. Besides being blinded by the allure of secret arts, they must believe they have a real chance of killing you. So, there must be Grandmasters behind them—perhaps more than one!” Chief Jin voiced her worries.

“Grandmasters? Whoever comes, dies!” Jiang Ming closed his fist, and true energy surged forth, condensing into a weapon—a sword a hundred meters long appeared in his hand.

Condensing energy into weapons—a hundred-meter sword?

This was not mere sword energy, but a tangible weapon made of pure energy.

Chief Jin and Lu Yuan nearly had their eyes pop out in shock.

The sword fell, splitting the lake in two and raising towering waves.

“Not human!” Chief Jin exclaimed.

“When I can split the city of Kaoshan in two with a single sword, then I’ll have truly stepped onto the path of the non-human,” Jiang Ming replied, making Chief Jin want to curse: Split the city with one sword? Are you serious? Do you really think you’re an immortal?

Lu Yuan gazed wordlessly at the heavens.

Three days later, five miles east of the city gate, there was a mound of earth, and Jiang Ming stood atop it.

On his back, he carried a blade and a sword.

They were divine weapons gifted by the Ninth Princess, named by Jiang Ming as the Heaven-Slashing Blade and the Sky-Splitting Sword.

There was special meaning behind them.

But today, blood would be spilled.

“They’re here!”

Ahead, shadows gathered—a vast crowd approached, their murderous aura dense as fog, rolling across the land, threatening to swallow him whole.