Chapter Fifty-Two: All Laid to Rest

Impossible to resist, utterly unstoppable.

No one could stand in his way.

Master Pudu was obliterated in an instant, and the monks of Dalin Temple went mad, launching wave after wave of suicidal assaults.

Clang!

Jiang Ming drew his long sword; with a single move, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect, countless lives were extinguished.

Blood flowed in rivers, staining the mountain peaks crimson.

Flee, flee, flee...

Some monks, terrified by the carnage, fled down the mountain in repentance; others who had come as guests or opportunists from the martial world also turned and ran.

The man before them was no longer human—he was a god of slaughter, a demon, a vengeful specter—no mortal could withstand him.

"Flee?"

Jiang Ming soared through the air, his sword light reaching a hundred meters ahead.

With a single sweep, sword energy shot out five hundred meters, making escape impossible.

Whoever tried to flee died first.

From the front mountain to the rear, Jiang Ming made several rounds.

Corpses littered the slopes, blood poured like waterfalls.

At last, he stood atop the highest peak, facing the mountain, his gaze sweeping over the watching martial artists. Those who met his eyes shuddered involuntarily.

Some even collapsed where they stood.

"From now on, before you act against me, consider carefully whether you can pay the price of my vengeance!" Jiang Ming's voice boomed like thunder, echoing through the mountains.

Today's massacre was also preparation for the third year.

When he would be rejected by the will of heaven and earth, the world's strongest would be swayed by that unseen force, and perhaps—or surely—they would unite to hunt him down.

Yes, it was certain.

At that time, the situation would be even more terrifying.

But after today's slaughter, any who considered striking would hesitate.

"Everyone!" Jiang Ming sheathed his sword and clasped his hands toward the distant crowd. "Many of you are disciples of renowned sects. Today, the masters of the Demonic Sect came and were all slain by me. Two months ago, their leader Yang Kaitai also died by my hand. In other words, the Demonic Sect is now at its weakest. This is your chance to challenge them."

"The Demonic Sect, having stood against the righteous path with the power of a single sect, must be hiding countless rare treasures, unimaginable wealth, secret manuals, divine weapons, miraculous elixirs."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Miss it, and you miss your chance to become a martial powerhouse!"

"Seize the moment—destroy the Demonic Sect, spread your name throughout the world, and secure your place in history. You will also grow stronger!"

With those words, Jiang Ming strode toward Dalin Temple’s scripture library.

That, too, was one of his goals.

The great battle ended with over eighty percent of Dalin Temple dead or wounded. The few remaining disciples were all below the innate realm, some fleeing down the mountain, others hiding in the deep forests. A handful of ordinary disciples and caretakers remained.

As the news spread, the world was shaken.

Most had believed Jiang Ming would perish at Dalin Temple. No one expected such an outcome.

Three grandmasters were slain, more than thirty martial masters fell, and many other strongmen died.

This battle was even more brutal than the famed assault by Elder Zhang on the Demonic Sect years ago.

Dalin Temple was finished.

Imperial Capital.

The Crown Prince, noble and imposing, radiated authority even without anger. He sipped tea as he listened to the reports: "He actually slaughtered Dalin Temple. How can there be such a powerful person in this world? Counting them all, seven grandmasters have died by his hand."

"Seven grandmasters!" Even the prince felt his scalp tingle.

"Your Highness, he said he would come to the imperial city!" An elder bowed and spoke.

"Come to the capital?" The prince smiled. "I hope he does. No matter how strong he is, he's just one man. Can he really stand against the army? If a thousand aren’t enough, then three thousand; if three thousand aren’t enough, thirty thousand; if thirty thousand aren’t enough, then three hundred thousand!"

"Your Highness, if he truly comes to the capital?" the elder mused. "I fear he might arrive in secret, which would be troublesome. Even if he comes openly, we can’t be too careful—he’s far too powerful, beyond reason. Your Highness, he hasn’t left the mountain yet. The city’s defense troops are assembled, and Commander Chang has brought the Black Banner Army. Shall we deploy them? If we can encircle and kill him, all the better; if not, it’s a test for a targeted strike next time."

"Kill!"

"Yes, Your Highness. And regarding His Majesty—"

"No matter!" The prince stood, his gaze sharp. "I’ve waited too long. Now the time is almost ripe..."

He said no more.

True Martial Sect.

"Dalin Temple has been slaughtered!" Elder Zhang stood at the cliff’s edge, gazing at the clouds, his brows furrowed deeply. "His killing intent is too heavy. If it were revenge, there’d be no need for such carnage. But... barely twenty years old, already at the pinnacle of martial arts. What is his origin?"

"Sigh, who knows whether this is fortune or calamity?"

Elder Zhang sighed.

"Master, I think he detests evil, repays every slight, and can’t tolerate any injustice—hence his wild vengeance. After all, he’s been targeted several times—anyone else would have died already," said a middle-aged man beside him. "Little Brother said he’s a good person. The first time, he traded secret techniques for main manuals; the second time, he openly shared his own collection of rare skills, even publicly revealed his reverse-engineered Nine Yin and Nine Yang. A martial artist of such breadth and generosity is a blessing for the martial world. After this, the world will surely be peaceful for a long, long time."

"Still, I have a bad feeling!" Elder Zhang’s voice drifted like mist.

Dalin Temple, inside a secluded courtyard.

Before Jiang Ming lay a wealth of martial manuscripts and Dalin Temple’s prized elixirs and medicinal herbs.

"Muscle Changing Classic, Marrow Cleansing Sutra, Divine Foot Scripture, Flower Picking Finger—my goodness, all top-tier martial arts," Lu Yuan’s eyes shone. "Great Rejuvenation Pill, Small Rejuvenation Pill, eighteen thousand-year ginseng roots—heavens..."

"You’re welcome to study the martial arts, but the medicines are mine!" Jiang Ming laughed.

"As the saying goes, you share half when you meet—Brother Jiang, I don’t want half, just a tenth, no, a twentieth, is that too much?" Lu Yuan drooled over the Great Rejuvenation Pill.

"Brother Jiang, what about the rest of us?" Chief Jin stepped forward, locking his arm around Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming’s mouth twitched. "All right, everyone gets a share!"

"By the way, if one day I become the enemy of the whole world, the enemy of heaven and earth, what will you do?" He asked an odd question.

"Enemy of heaven and earth? That’s nonsense—do you plan to blow up the whole world?" Lu Yuan laughed. "Of course, if you’re the enemy, then so be it. If not for you, I’d be dead at Black Wind Fortress!"

"Brother Jiang, I’ve already massaged your shoulders and fetched your tea—shall I warm your bed tonight?" Chief Jin joked, her cheeks flushed.

"Count me in, Brother Jiang!" The Ninth Princess entered, sweeping her gaze; Chief Jin quickly released Jiang Ming’s arm.

"Good!" Jiang Ming’s expression turned strange. "Why are you here?"

"I was worried. The Tianwu Manor is secured, so I came to check on you!" The Ninth Princess’s eyes were still filled with awe.

The vast Dalin Temple—leveled, just like that.

And by a single man.

She gazed at the young man before her, her eyes sparkling. She stepped closer, lowering her voice: "Brother Jiang, where will you go next?"

"The Demonic Sect is finished—only the capital remains."

"The capital houses two hundred thousand troops and countless powerful figures, far beyond Dalin Temple. Brother Jiang, are you really going?"

"Two hundred thousand? Let's see if I can cut through them!"

"All right. When the time comes, I’ll gather your remains, so you aren’t left to rot in the wilderness!" The Ninth Princess said gravely. "When will it be?"