Chapter Fifty-Four: A Single Sword Shatters a Thousand Armors

Several leaders were slain in the blink of an eye.

The army, arrayed in strict formation, was instantly thrown into chaos and confusion.

"Out of my way!" Jiang Ming shouted, his voice thunderous with murderous intent that surged forth like a tidal wave, sweeping across the vast expanse. The thousands of troops broke ranks in panic, many turning to flee at once.

This triggered a chain reaction; soon, everyone began to run.

"This is just pathetic!" Lu Yuan exclaimed in astonishment. "Shouldn't they be enraged and charge at us instead?"

"The city garrison has long since been corrupted; their fighting strength is weak. Most of them have probably heard tales of Brother Jiang's terrifying power. They were already nervous, and now, seeing him kill their leaders with a flick of his finger, who would stay and die with them? There's little loyalty among them," Head Constable Jin replied gravely with a sigh. "Across the entire nation, most city garrisons are like this—too deeply entrenched to change, and nothing can be done. Otherwise..."

Otherwise, no matter how powerful the sects were, they would not dare to openly defy the imperial court.

In the distance, on a broad open plain, a thousand Black Banner heavy cavalry waited. As soon as Jiang Ming and his companions descended the mountain, word reached them, and now they all mounted their steeds, gripping their heavy swords.

"Commander, Jiang Ming has killed seven grandmasters, one after another, and massacred a temple that had stood for a thousand years. With just our numbers, can we really surround and kill him?"

"People of the martial world are a rabble, loose and scattered; how can they stand against a military formation, let alone heavy cavalry? Rest assured, we are a thousand strong, all clad in heavy armor. No matter how formidable his sword energy, can he really pierce heavy armor? Perhaps one, perhaps ten, or a hundred—but a thousand? That would not be a man, but a god."

"But..."

"No buts! Grandmaster or not, today the world shall witness the might of our Black Banner Army, and the majesty of the imperial court. And do not forget, there are countless peerless techniques and untold riches atop the temple. If we kill Jiang Ming, we will achieve unmatched merit!"

At that moment, the city garrison soldiers began to retreat in droves, fleeing toward the Black Banner Army.

"Defeated? So quickly?" Commander Chang's face shifted, and he shouted loudly, "Those who retreat will die!"

"Those who retreat will die!"

A thousand Black Banner cavalry echoed his cry, their voices booming, echoing between the peaks, so thunderous that the city garrison soldiers nearly collapsed in terror.

Fortunately, the area was broad enough. With nowhere ahead and no retreat behind, they scattered to either side.

In a rush, the crowd split and dispersed.

"Commander, should we block them, force them to hinder Jiang Ming's advance?"

"Their morale is shattered; even if we drive them back, it would be of little use, and they would only hinder us from forming our battle array."

As the crowd split, Jiang Ming and his companions appeared at the front.

"Prepare!" Commander Chang raised his sword high, then slashed downward. "Charge! Kill!"

Thunderous hooves shook the earth.

A thousand heavy-armored cavalry advanced like an overwhelming mountain, far more terrifying than the five thousand city garrison troops.

Jiang Ming halted.

The murderous aura rushing toward him made even his heart tighten slightly.

"Murderous intent, killing intent, the scent of blood—fused together through years of rigorous training, forming a singular force, like a raging river, an unstoppable torrent capable of destroying all."

"This is the power of a military formation!" Jiang Ming's eyes gleamed, a realization stirring in his heart. His sword intent surged forth; already at the peak, it now leaped higher, reaching perfection.

Sword intent pierced the heavens and shook the mountains.

The aura of one man rivaled that of a thousand soldiers.

As his sword intent reached perfection, his body, will, and soul were all bathed in the rhythm of heaven and earth, growing stronger, his potential soaring. In his dantian, true qi surged violently, on the verge of transforming from gas to liquid, but at the critical moment, the barrier could not be broken.

Jiang Ming understood—it was the limitation of the world, the shackles of his realm.

He realized that with perfected sword intent, he could easily liquefy his true qi and step directly into the fourth stage of martial cultivation.

Once he returned to the main world, he would surely break through.

"You have helped me reach a small improvement; I shall repay you with the power gained," Jiang Ming whispered. With a light step, he soared into the air, wind swirling around him, granting him a brief ability to hover.

"Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!"

The Heaven-Splitting Sword flashed from its sheath. The murderous aura around Jiang Ming intensified, and his soaring sword energy tore open the clouds above. As his sword intent spread, primordial energy vibrated, and countless sword energies appeared all around.

Each strand of sword energy carried a trace of killing intent.

This sight startled the thousand Black Banner cavalry, their speed dropping instantly.

Even their warhorses neighed in unison.

Commander Chang finally changed expression: "How can he possibly reach this level?"

Fear arose in his heart.

"Die!"

Jiang Ming's shout echoed through the heavens. The sword energy from the Heaven-Splitting Sword reached a hundred yards in length, like a colossal sword piercing the sky—terrifying to behold, shaking the spirit.

As the sword light fell, countless strands of sword energy descended, faster and more urgent.

Boom...

The heavens exploded, the earth split, bodies flew, flesh and blood erupted, and screams echoed—before them, the scene was like hell incarnate.

With one sword, the front ranks were cleaved in two, countless Black Banner soldiers slain.

Sword energy, like rain, tore through armor and bodies with ease, killing instantly.

The screams came quickly, then vanished just as fast.

Even the horses' cries faded.

When the dust settled, the ground was littered with broken corpses; not a single body remained whole, and even Commander Chang was lying in a pool of blood.

"One sword to annihilate an army—how, how, how can you be this strong?" Commander Chang, not yet dead, struggled to lift himself, staring at Jiang Ming who landed before him. His voice was agitated, his gaze lost.

If men were all this strong, what use would the army be?

Before an answer came, his arm weakened and he collapsed, silent.

Jiang Ming glanced around. His sword's eruption hadn't killed them all; dozens survived, but they were gravely wounded.

"Let’s go!" he called, and with a tap of his toe, sped forward.

Lu Yuan, stunned, stared at the carnage ahead, feeling a chill crawl up his spine. After a long moment, he said, "Brother Jiang's strength has surpassed the grandmaster level, beyond the limits of mortal men."

"Like a god," Head Constable Jin's mouth was dry.

They had always known Jiang Ming was strong—so strong he seemed inhuman—but facing a thousand heavy-armored Black Banner cavalry, even if he could handle them, it should have taken half a day of fierce battle.

But the result—one sword!

It felt like a dream, unreal.

"Perhaps he really could cut through the twenty thousand troops of the imperial capital!" Lu Yuan's eyes shone. "I almost look forward to it!"

"If one man could suppress a nation..." Jin's expression was strange, torn between sorrow and excitement. "As citizens of Great Yan, how should we respond?"

Lu Yuan paused, then said softly, "Why not let him become the guardian deity of Great Yan?"

"That's a splendid idea!" Jin's eyes gleamed, and he rushed ahead.

"It truly is a good method!" Lu Yuan scratched his head and gave himself a thumbs-up. "I really am a clever fellow!"

"But once word spreads, who knows what will happen to the world..." He shook his head and hurried after.

Let it be.

After all, as long as he was fed, he had nothing to fear.