Chapter 76: The Earth-Shattering Battle of Blood, An Unrivaled Heavenly Phenomenon

At this moment, the entire Federation was in an uproar, for Jiang Ming’s point tally was staggering—already one million.

“A million points means he's reached the final stage of the fifth level. Incredible, utterly extraordinary.”

“Yes, words can hardly describe his prowess. This is not merely outstanding—it defies reason. He’s a phenomenon.”

“Wasn’t it last year, during the Martial Champion preliminary, that he only reached the fourth level?”

“Exactly, the fourth level. But the finals, broadcasted live, were truly astonishing. Two formidable experts at the fifth stage of martial arts appeared.”

“Formidable? Can anyone compare to Jiang Ming now? He’s reached the final challenge of the fifth level in the preliminary. After this, with the experience and insight gained, plus a few days of special training, he’ll only grow stronger. If he advances directly to the sixth stage, the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Is it possible he’s already at the sixth stage? Without such power, how could he reach the final challenge of the fifth level?”

The discussion abruptly ceased, replaced by looks of utter disbelief.

It wasn’t impossible—it was, in fact, highly likely.

This was the true soaring of a hidden dragon—no, he was already transforming into a true dragon.

At Second High, even as noon approached, the playground and classrooms were abuzz. Each surge in points brought waves of cheers.

“He’s from our school!”

“He’s from our class!”

“He used to sit next to me!”

It was more than pride—it was a profound sense of honor.

“He really was my desk-mate, my best friend!”

Fatty Wang, who had long since left the competition, looked at Jiang Ming’s name, ranking first in the city, province, and Federation, and could barely contain his excitement.

“How did this guy become so terrifying?”

“He actually dared to enter the secret realm world.”

“And he didn’t even tell me! That’s not what friends do.”

Fatty Wang kept grinning.

“No, when he comes out, I’ll make him treat me to a day of luxury at the Foot Massage Palace. It’ll be a full-on extravaganza.”

“Actually, with his results, maybe I’ll get lucky and enjoy a year’s free service there.”

“A year? Could I even handle that?”

His thoughts wandered, nearly making him laugh aloud. Then he sighed, “With such a desk-mate, such a friend, the pressure is enormous. If we hang out in the future, will he blow me away with a mere breath?”

That image made him shudder.

He couldn’t help but wonder: if Jiang Ming ever found his other half, and in a moment of passion lost control of his strength, would she be blown away as well?

Fatty Wang’s lips twitched involuntarily.

At that moment, Qin Zhiyan also emerged.

She had stopped at the third level, her points surpassing ten thousand, dropping her from the top ten to fifteenth place.

“There are too many geniuses!” she sighed.

Were it not for the secret realm expedition, she could at most make the city rankings, let alone the province—she wouldn’t even dare to dream.

The bigger the city, the more wealth, power, and talent it held; the resources were far beyond what a small town could provide, and so were the geniuses.

This was an indisputable fact.

“I wonder if I’ll make the top twenty in the end.”

“The second stage—provincial exam—shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But in the finals, I’m afraid I’ll be outclassed.”

She pondered.

Every year, the martial arts exam’s third stage was the real spectacle. The strong emerged, countless prodigies appeared, forcing the arrogant to recognize the gulf between themselves and true talent.

“The strongest is still Brother Jiang. He…”

Even knowing Jiang Ming was powerful, seeing him break into the fifth level was still hard to believe.

“I thought the gap was closing, but it’s still so vast!”

Qin Zhiyan’s gaze burned bright; she clenched her fists.

In another classroom, the principal and Teacher Chen, having acclimated to their excitement, tried to remain calm, but watching the relentless rise in their student’s points, their hearts still pounded wildly.

“Teacher Chen, what level is he really at?” the principal couldn’t help but ask again.

“Principal, I truly don’t know!” Teacher Chen gave the same answer.

No matter how many times they repeated it, neither grew tired.

Most unsettled were Elder Tang and Elder Song.

They had been composed.

But now, their calm was steadily unraveling.

“Tang, he’s only at the fourth stage, right?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“Fourth stage—how could he reach the last challenge of the fifth level? It doesn’t make sense. Others may not know, but you and I understand how terrifying the fifth level of the Tower of Ascension is. The further you go, the stronger the guardians. Peak body refiners appear, even psychic masters and soul cultivators.”

“Song, even I feel unreal about this. The lower the level, the greater the chance for cross-tier battles. But at higher realms, cross-tier fighting becomes nearly impossible, let alone crossing an entire major realm, especially within the Tower of Ascension during the martial exams. There’s only one explanation: not only has he comprehended one of the Ten Great Intents, but he’s grasped it deeply—perhaps even learned the path of fusion of intents. Otherwise, such achievement is impossible.”

“Ten Great Intents, fusion path…” Elder Song clicked his tongue. “A true dragon is about to emerge!”

“Indeed. But Central Divine Martial University won’t be able to keep him.”

“Isn’t that better?”

“Yes! The higher and farther he goes, the better!”

Inside the Tower of Ascension.

Jiang Ming sat cross-legged before the man in white, listening to his explanation.

“The Ten Great Intents are Time, Space, Soul, Causality, World, Yin-Yang, Life and Death, Light and Darkness, Infinity, and Reincarnation,” the man in white said. “These ten intents are the most powerful. Comprehending one brings immense fortune, such as the secondary expansion of the dantian. But this only occurs upon first comprehension—this is a gift granted by the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.”

Jiang Ming’s heart stirred.

Of the Ten Great Intents, he had already touched four: Yin-Yang, Space, Life and Death, and Light and Darkness.

He had no clue about Time.

Causality was even more obscure—far too profound.

He had some sense of Reincarnation, but couldn’t find its path.

“There’s a Soul Intent?” Jiang Ming asked.

He genuinely didn’t know.

He possessed the talent of soul mastery; logically, he should have comprehended Soul Intent long ago.

Yet, up to now, he hadn’t.

“Perhaps I seldom use it, and haven’t encountered the path of soul?” he wondered.

“Yes!” the man in white nodded. “Causality is elusive; soul is even harder to grasp. Generally, Soul Intent is easier to comprehend in special secret realms.”

“Special secret realms?”

“Yes. For example, realms where ghosts, undead, and eerie phenomena appear, or upon contact with corresponding races. But for a martial artist at the fourth stage, these are too distant. It’s not a problem if you don’t encounter them; but once you do, death comes easily and without warning.”

“This…”

Jiang Ming’s lips twitched, his heart more shaken.

This was a sci-fi world—yet ghosts, undead, and the bizarre had emerged.

He’d heard of the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Worlds, which should have only included mechanical race, insect race, demon race and the like.

Now things were becoming increasingly strange.

Jiang Ming felt a chill crawl over his scalp.

It was just as the saying goes: the less you know, the happier you are; the more you know, the more insignificant you feel, and the more terrifying the world outside becomes.

“Senior, could you explain each intent?” Jiang Ming asked.

“Time is short!” The man in white rose, pointing to the countdown.

Ten minutes remained.

Jiang Ming showed an expression of helplessness.

He truly wanted to keep asking, but time was insufficient. He hadn’t yet unleashed his full power, and he was unwilling to stop.

As for the Ten Great Intents, Elder Tang and Elder Song probably understood them. He’d ask them later and surely get a detailed explanation.

“Senior, please!”

Jiang Ming drew his long sword.

Facing this opponent, caution was essential.

After all, this was the final guardian of the fifth level, and he wielded the intent of darkness. By Jiang Ming’s understanding, this intent was of the second tier—truly formidable.

“One sword, darkness descends!”

The man in white merely raised his sword in midair, and Jiang Ming felt the world suddenly darken—no sun, no moon, no light. Even his mind seemed about to sink into endless darkness.

Only the swordlight ahead remained.

“So this is the power of darkness!” Jiang Ming retreated.

His comprehension of darkness intent was shallow, let alone its application.

“The path of intent—you’ve only touched its surface. Even if you’ve grasped it, your use is shallow. Take this darkness intent—not only does it affect the senses, but also the mind.” The man in white attacked and instructed simultaneously.

Yet showed not a trace of mercy.

“One sword, no light!”

Another sword pressed forward.

All five senses seemed stripped away; under the influence of darkness, he faced a sky-shrouding black curtain, with not a hint of brightness.

This was not an illusion, but an assault on his senses.

Jiang Ming retreated again, activating his Sword Eight to parry, all the while sensing the opponent’s swordsmanship.

It appeared to be swordsmanship, yet it contained infinite mysteries.

Just as the opponent said, his own application of intent was far too crude.

No matter how many he’d comprehended, even among the Ten Great Intents, his use remained coarse.

“One sword, hope severed!”

Another sword came, sealing the way forward and cutting off all retreat.

As the sword fell, Jiang Ming was seized by despair, as if he’d reached the cliff’s edge, with nowhere to go.

Advance, and the cliff awaited; retreat, and the abyss beckoned.

“This affects the mind!” Jiang Ming was shocked.

Unconsciously, his Sword Eight slowed; fortunately, his mind was strong, with a soul-based talent. He awoke at the crucial moment, but the sword tip was already before him.

He retreated explosively, twisting his sword to block, cold sweat breaking out down his back.

“One sword—eternal abyss!”

The man in white moved neither fast nor slow, but with each step, he easily caught up to Jiang Ming, wielding his sword with almost casual grace, yet each strike carried unfathomable power.

As the sword fell, darkness enveloped, light vanished.

Hope was cut off; vitality extinguished.

It was as if everything had been severed, consigning one forever to the depths of hell.

Even Jiang Ming, mentally prepared, was shaken to his core. In his mind, his soul blazed with light, his spirit shone brilliantly. A flash of radiance became a crescent moon and a sun, illuminating his consciousness, lighting his inner world, banishing all darkness and despair.

Jiang Ming had grasped the opponent’s rhythm; he flicked his sword tip, deflecting the attack.

“Not bad, your comprehension is impressive,” the man in white said calmly. “But this is only the appetizer. As the final challenge, I am at my strongest—for example, I have opened all three hundred and sixty-five acupoints.”

As he spoke, his body radiated light, three hundred and sixty-five luminous points appeared, orbiting him like stars.

He truly seemed the lord of the stars.

His aura surged to unimaginable heights, stirring the wind and clouds.

“Acupoints contain endless mysteries. With the right secret arts, I could stand motionless and still destroy you with ease,” the man in white said meaningfully. “Acupoints correspond to the stars of the heavens. If fully developed, each can become a cave world, a star, nurturing divinity!”

“These are too far beyond you yet!”

As he spoke, he unleashed another sword—again, darkness descended, but the power contained made Jiang Ming’s heart tremble.

It was the ultimate.

“Ordinary means cannot withstand this!”

“Slayer’s Sword—First Strike!”

Jiang Ming exploded with power.

Slayer’s Sword fused the intents of slaughter, death, and destruction, three formidable forces. After refinement, its power was even more terrifying.

Boom—

Swordlight clashed, radiating world-destroying brilliance.

Rocks shattered, peaks split.

Even a hundred meters away, the stone walls bore deep sword scars.

“Slayer’s Sword—Second Strike!”

He infused his blood power, multiplying the sword’s might.

His physique was stronger, his understanding of swordsmanship deeper.

Boom—

Swordlight soared to the heavens, swaying the stars, finally forcing the man in white back—and back again.

“Slayer’s Sword—Third Strike!”

With this strike, the man in white’s brows twitched.

“Excellent, now that sword is truly impressive!”

A flash of admiration crossed his face.

His three hundred and sixty-five acupoint shadows trembled, merging into his swordlight, making his strike heavy as mountains. He swept his sword, unleashing endless radiance, like stars in the night.

Then the stars exploded, becoming boundless darkness.

Boom—

The man in white was blasted a hundred meters away, his clothes torn, his body covered in countless wounds.

His aura plummeted.

“I didn’t achieve total victory!” Jiang Ming panted, surprised. He took a deep breath, circulating his energy, fatigue vanished, and he returned to peak condition.

He stamped his foot and charged forward.

“Sword Eight—Yin-Yang Unity, a single cold beam pierces the heavens!”

On his sword, yin and yang energies flowed, finally merging into a single cold point, embodying the logic of the Star Point Technique.

This was yin-yang brought to its limit, all power converged into a single attack.

Compared to before, his technique was much more refined.

The man in white tried to resist, but was slain in one stroke.

“Senior, I hope to meet again on the sixth level!”

Jiang Ming exhaled a deep breath, calmed himself, quickly made some simple repairs, and at the last moment stepped into the sixth level of the Tower of Ascension.

To the left, a forest; to the right, a pond.

The environment was beautiful.

Jiang Ming was still contemplating the spatial mysteries hidden in the shifting battle, when a young man in blue walked toward him, carrying a long sword.

He was relaxed.

Yet at a glance, Jiang Ming’s heart pounded.

A nameless aura filled the air, making him feel invincible, as if the powers of heaven and earth pressed in from every direction, weighing him down until his knees bent.

At that moment, he felt the urge to kneel in worship.

He shook it off, leaping up, his power resisting the pressure.

He looked up, faintly seeing the sky above pressing downward.

It was as if he faced the entire firmament.

Unshakable, invincible.

How could man challenge the heavens?

“So this is the Celestial Phenomenon Realm!” Jiang Ming was stunned.

Chapter Three delivered.

A little warm-up—next comes frenzied writing.

For the sake of life, onward.

Fellow cultivators, esteemed patrons, revered sages—please continue to support.

Thank you.

(End of chapter)