Chapter 92: The Defiant Fifth Talent

The world of the Secret Realm was extraordinary.

Unless one accomplished the corresponding achievements, no matter how much one’s strength advanced, not a trace could be brought out. This was a restriction, and also a clear method of filtering for true genius seeds.

Upon Jiang Ming’s arrival, one of his achievements required him to slay a demon king and a ghost king—now completed. This meant he could leave at any time, bringing with him all his gains—his cultivation realm now thoroughly solidified.

Divine Cultivation: Fifth Tier, Manifestation Realm.

This was a step into the fifth realm, and with it, a new talent emerged.

“Ding: Congratulations, Host, for stepping into the Fifth Tier of the Divine Path. The ‘Favor of Destiny’ talent is temporarily solidified.”

“Ding: Please open three hundred sixty-five acupoints in the fifth level of Martial Qi Cultivation, or the ‘Favor of Destiny’ talent will disappear.”

As the notification faded, Jiang Ming seemed to sense a mysterious aura merge into his body. Yet his cultivation did not rise, his soul did not change, and the quality of his true qi did not increase.

It seemed as though nothing had changed.

But as he carefully comprehended this ‘Favor of Destiny’ talent, he couldn’t help but suck in a breath—then was overcome with joy.

[Favor of Destiny]: A strand of the supreme rules of fate has fused into your being. From this moment, you are favored by destiny: turning calamity into blessing, surviving hopeless situations, reversing fate itself, blessed with great fortune, deep destiny, accompanied by miracles—all these are but a fraction of its effects. Note: Even if you wish to die, it will be difficult.

“There’s no direct increase to strength or potential, but this sort of conceptual power is truly the most defiant of all!”

Letting out a turbid breath, he immediately felt clear and refreshed.

Difficult to die from now on?

Is there any talent greater than this?

None. Absolutely none.

Turning calamity to blessing, surviving in desperate straits, even reversing fate itself...

Is this because I’m not strong enough?

Blessed with fortune, deep destiny, miracles at every turn...

Marvelous!

Unparalleled!

“Am I the favored son of Heaven?”

Jiang Ming lifted his head, thoughts drifting.

No!

Heaven itself isn’t so powerful.

He must be the favored son of the Great Dao.

His gaze sharpened, locking onto another demon king that had appeared atop a distant mountain—named Lu Dali, a stag demon known for its fondness for human flesh.

“Human, you actually killed Yang Dali—who are you?” Lu Dali, sensing Yang Dali’s aura vanish, was utterly shocked.

After all, that was the stronghold of Myriad Demon Mountain, home to countless demon experts, yet someone had invaded their lair and slain its master.

How strong must this person be?

If not for sensing he’d been targeted, Lu Dali would never have shown himself.

“I’m the one who wants to eat venison!” Jiang Ming bared his teeth, face turning grim, and without another word, charged forward.

Step to the Horizon—distance collapsed in a blink.

“Sword Three: Nine Suns Burn the Rivers and Seas!”

As his sword swept forth, even the void trembled; minds wavered, as if witnessing nine suns rising and then falling in unison, burning the heavens, boiling the seas, annihilating all—fearsome beyond measure.

“Courting death!” Lu Dali roared in fury and struck out.

With a single palm, he sought to shatter the sky and sever the path, but it was powerless to halt Jiang Ming’s attack.

“Open!”

With a grim expression, he beckoned, summoning a trident forged from his own shed antlers, crafted over three years by captured human smiths—a weapon akin to a divine armament.

Trident in hand, he barely withstood Jiang Ming’s blow.

“Sword Four: A Slash Shakes Mountains and Rivers!”

“Sword Five: Golden Radiance Pierces the Heavens!”

Jiang Ming closed in; as his sword spun, sword qi soared, falling to annihilate all.

Mountains were cleaved in two.

Nearby minor demons were shredded by the surging sword qi.

This was his intent: to hone his sword style while slaughtering every demon in this place. Since this was not human territory and Yang Dali had already been slain, he could cast aside all restraint and unleash his full fury.

Every sword stroke sent sword qi spanning three hundred meters, condensed to a tangible force, so overwhelming that Lu Dali was filled with dread.

“Sword Six: The Milky Way Cascades from the Heavens.”

“Sword Seven: Winds Sweep the World’s Remnants.”

“Sword Eight: Yin and Yang Revolve Without End!”

“Sword Nine: With One Sword, Light is Born!”

“Sword Ten: With One Sword, Heaven and Earth Fall into Darkness!”

One slash after another, relentless as a tide—even as Lu Dali unleashed the pressure of the Celestial Phenomena Realm, he could do nothing; he was forcibly suppressed.

Even his aura was torn to shreds by the sword light.

He wished to flee, but it was impossible.

In no time, several surrounding peaks were cleaved open, and Lu Dali’s body was covered in hideous wounds, blood streaming.

“Sword Eleven: In the Realm of Light and Darkness, a Sword that Annihilates the Mind!”

This was the fusion of light and darkness; sword raised, light and dark merged, sword lowered, a barrier was formed—sealing all, striking deep into the sea of consciousness, affecting the soul.

Sword raised, sword lowered—mind and spirit annihilated.

This was the most terrifying strike, capable of reaching the spirit and will, with unimaginable power.

Lu Dali shuddered, his eyes growing dazed before filling with terror.

Jiang Ming’s sword swerved, merely severing one of his arms.

To let him die now would be too merciful!

“Sword Twelve: A Single Point of the Black Hole Shatters All Techniques!”

This sword carried terrifying destructive force, striking directly at Lu Dali’s lower body—who, just regaining awareness, let out a shrill, miserable scream.

Looking down, his face changed drastically, then he went berserk with rage.

“I want you dead! Dead! Dead!”

Lu Dali reverted to his true form—a sika deer—lowered his head, and charged straight at Jiang Ming.

This charge seemed to collapse even space itself.

“Sword Thirteen: Reincarnation of Life and Death, Fate is Uncertain.”

Sword light fell, blasting Lu Dali away.

“Sword Fourteen: Five Elements Sword Array Enacts All Laws!”

Truly, it enacted all laws.

The sword light transformed into the five elemental attributes, combining to form a sealing force, scattering and recombining into a great array, sweeping through the air with terrifying destructive power.

It displayed endless transformations.

It was incomparably strong.

It could even become a defensive sword light of the five elements.

Remarkable indeed.

“Sword Fifteen: With One Sword, a World is Formed to Imprison All Beings!”

This sword style was evolved from the concept of worlds, focused on trapping and suppressing.

“Sword Sixteen: Thunder Light Strikes Down Demons and Evil!”

“Sword Seventeen: Ten Thousand Swords Bow to the Sovereign!”

Especially the final sword, enlightened from the intent of the Heavenly Sword—one slash, and all swords submit, its attack power ultimate.

These were the myriad sword styles he had deduced.

Each one was a profound set of sword techniques, peerless in their own right.

Splurt—

Despairing, Lu Dali was split in two by a single stroke.

“Too weak!” Jiang Ming flicked his sword with a cold snort.

Turning, he began another massacre.

Slashing his way in and out seven times, he left Myriad Demon Mountain strewn with corpses and its peaks stained crimson with blood. The pervasive sword intent shredded all plant life.

In the end, only a few captive humans remained.

“I am Jiang Ming, the Outer-Domain Demon. Today I have slain the demons of Myriad Demon Mountain; none remain. You are free!”

Looking at the pitiful survivors in the valley, Jiang Ming stood atop his sword, crescent moon on his back, his voice thundering, echoing among the mountains.

There were more captives than just these.

Stupefied, they all fell to their knees.

They had long noticed: sword light split the skies, flying back and forth, slaying demon after demon.

Even around them, many minor demon corpses lay.

This sight did not frighten them; instead, it felt like a dream.

Rubbing their eyes, pinching their legs, slapping their faces until blood ran from their lips, they still could not believe.

Only now, with Jiang Ming explaining, did they become truly excited, kneeling and worshipping him.

“You, you, you are not an Outer-Domain Demon, you are our savior! We are finally saved, saved!”

They wept as they spoke, kneeling still.

After a long time, someone looked up and found Jiang Ming already gone. Bowing once more, he gazed at the demon corpses.

He grinned, his expression twisted between laughter and tears, and then fell upon a corpse, gnawing and swallowing like a wild beast, sobbing, “Xiaoyu, Xiaohu, Father has avenged you, avenged you…”

He devoured flesh and blood.

The others pounced around as well.

Hidden, Jiang Ming witnessed this scene, his heart heavy.

“Demons, great or small, all deserve death!”

“Ghosts, strong or weak, all must be slain!”

He exhaled, turned to leave, but paused before the outermost peak, spinning his sword to carve a line of words:

Jiang Ming, the Outer-Domain Demon, destroyed the Myriad Demons here!

Each character was branded with the intent of slaughter.

At dawn, he returned to Bright Moon City.

Yet his mood was still poor.

“Brother Jiang!” Seeing him return, Little Liuli disregarded the blood on his body and leapt into his arms with delight.

“As long as you’re back!” Yunshuang finally breathed a true sigh of relief, immediately ordering hot water prepared.

As for Yan Hongyi?

She had already gone to Ghost City to clean up the battlefield.

As for Myriad Demon Mountain?

It was too far, unreachable.

“Yunshuang, spread the news: say that I flew a thousand miles in one night, first annihilated Ghost Abyss, then flattened Myriad Demon Mountain. I slew both ghost kings of Ghost Abyss and Yang Dali and Lu Dali of Myriad Demon Mountain—not a single one spared. Let it be known to all: I, in my own name, declare to the world—I slay demons and exterminate evil, leaving none alive!” Jiang Ming downed a cup of tea.

“Truly all exterminated?” Yunshuang’s heart trembled.

That Ghost Abyss was something even the Imperial Court could not handle.

And Myriad Demon Mountain, openly raising humans for food.

All destroyed in one night?

Though she had great faith in Jiang Ming, it was still hard to believe.

Jiang Ming cast her a calm glance—the killing intent he had yet to fully repress sent a chill through her heart.

The next day, the news spread.

Yet few believed it.

By afternoon, word returned: Ghost Abyss had vanished, the City Lord’s men were clearing the battlefield. Still, most refused to believe and set out to see for themselves.

Upon arrival, the black mist was gone; everywhere lay desiccated bones.

Once convinced, their shock grew, as did their hatred for the evil spirits.

Three days later, news arrived: Myriad Demon Mountain had been flattened.

All demons, minor or major, even demon kings, were dead.

Ghosts left little behind when slain, but Myriad Demon Mountain was heaped with corpses, its peaks dyed red—impossible to fake.

The words carved into the rock, the testimony of the captives, and the two demon king corpses found—all pointed to one thing: Jiang Ming, the Outer-Domain Demon, had destroyed Myriad Demon Mountain in a single night.

Was he truly a demon?

If he were, were there any good men left in the world?

While in awe of his strength, many could not help but shake their heads.

The world was shaken, and the masses worshipped him.

Many even set up ancestral shrines in his honor.

High officials of the Imperial Court looked in the direction of Bright Moon City, faces complex. After their sighs, they began to conspire in secret: Bright Moon City was growing too powerful—it must not be allowed to remain! As for Jiang Ming? He had to die.

On this, the court was united.

Because he was the Outer-Domain Demon.

Because he had killed Ma Tiande.

Most of all, because he now threatened the court’s power.

If you accomplish what the court cannot, does that not make them appear useless? Does it not make the Emperor look incompetent?

Then you must die!

There was another reason: with Ghost City and Myriad Demon Mountain gone, they could now free up manpower to deal specifically with Bright Moon City.

Xuanxin Orthodox Sect, Pure Yang Hall, and Diamond Temple all fell silent.

The Lunar Palace shivered in fear.

The Demon King Sect vanished without a trace.

Jiang Ming ignored the outside world completely. As Bright Moon City grew ever livelier and more martial artists flocked to it, he openly released some cultivation methods and declared he would spread the martial way across the whole world, allowing these martial artists to pass on the arts freely.

He even threatened: whoever obstructs, dies.

These were universal techniques he had specially developed.

For a world plagued by demons and ghosts, only universal cultivation for all could change the fate of being slaughtered and enslaved.

Otherwise, in time, demons and ghosts would rise again, repeating history. This was not a possibility—it was inevitable.

Just as the world unites after long division, and divides after long unity.

When the Dao waxes, demons wane; when the Dao wanes, demons wax.

Amidst the tumult outside, Jiang Ming paid little heed. Besides his secluded cultivation, he would sometimes take Little Liuli or Yan Hongyi out into the bustling streets to taste delicacies and join the festivities.

Time flowed quietly.

“Body refinement is too slow, but fortunately, the Jade Bones have been cultivated to completion, and the second phase of refining muscles and bones has reached its limit!”

“Next, temper the organs!”

“This will be a slow process, needing powerful medicines to bolster blood and qi.”

“Of the two hundred forty acupoints, only a few remain unopened. The methods I’ve collected in this world have only added twenty-two more. As for the rest? It’s up to me—what a headache!”

Jiang Ming was truly troubled.

Cultivation had slowed to a crawl.

Whether body refinement or opening acupoints, neither could be rushed—it required long, patient effort.

Then, one day, Destiny descended.

Yunshuang and Yan Hongyi, both strong in this world, sensed it immediately and sought Jiang Ming out.

“Brother Jiang, Destiny has decreed that whoever slays the Outer-Domain Demon will receive Heaven’s favor, deep fortune, breakthroughs in cultivation, shattering shackles, and countless other benefits. Even by participating, one gains unseen rewards,” Yan Hongyi said anxiously. “Brother Jiang, are you about to face attacks from the strongest in the world?”

“Then let’s slaughter them all!” Yunshuang, ever unafraid of chaos, declared, “So what if it’s the whole world? With your strength, what is there to fear? Hongyi, don’t forget Ghost Abyss and Myriad Demon Mountain!”

She had utter confidence in Jiang Ming.

“Relax!” Jiang Ming smiled, “Whether they attack or not, it doesn’t matter. If they come, I’ll kill them; if not, all the better. What matters most is your own cultivation—train hard, because in a year, I will leave.”

“Leave?” Yan Hongyi’s heart clenched.

“Master, you can’t abandon me!” Yunshuang pressed close.

“Brother Jiang, me too! If you leave, you must take me with you!” Little Liuli clung to his arm.

“That’s why you must work hard—otherwise, you won’t be able to keep up!” Jiang Ming said. “Achieve the Martial Celestial Phenomenon and Divine Domain, and you’ll have the chance to transcend this world. Otherwise, you’ll be trapped here forever.”

Jiang Ming then explained the concept of the Outer Heavens, and even ascension.

The three of them were stunned.

“From today, I’ll do nothing but cultivate, cultivate, cultivate!” Yunshuang was greatly inspired.

Ascension? That was desirable!

Yan Hongyi was also a bit excited.

“As long as I’m with Brother Jiang, I’m fine with anything!” Little Liuli was the most innocent.

From that day on, Jiang Ming began to regret.

Because when cultivating in bed with him, the two women progressed fastest. They had even worked out a schedule—you tonight, me tomorrow; me tonight, you tomorrow.

Even Jiang Ming was a bit exhausted.

Not even iron bones could withstand such gentle embraces—so it was true: a man’s strength is short, but his passion long.

Still, he cultivated even more diligently—if only to prove a man can still urinate three thousand feet into the wind.

He continued to slay demons and exterminate evil, bustling everywhere.

Apart from that, things were peaceful.

Even with Destiny’s decree, the great powers made no move.

This peace, however, left Yan Hongyi deeply uneasy.

“Brother Jiang!” One night, in the courtyard, they sat drinking tea. She finally couldn’t hold back. “I sense a crisis approaching. They must be united, but neither the sects nor the imperial army have moved. It’s very strange.”

“I destroyed Ghost Abyss and Myriad Demon Mountain—making it clear that numbers mean nothing to me,” Jiang Ming smiled. “No matter how many come, it’s useless. Therefore, there’s been no action.”

“You mean?” Yan Hongyi’s brows leapt.

Jiang Ming nodded.

“Hongyi, Yunshuang, your powers are now more than enough to guard Bright Moon City, and to protect yourselves.” He rose and gazed north. “All who should come are here—just as well. In this battle, I’ll sweep the world and suppress all above Grandmaster!”

“The Imperial Court!”

“The Sects!”

“I’ll see them wither for a hundred years!”

“And while I’m at it, eradicate the demons once more!”

“To pave the way for your growth!”

As he spoke, Jiang Ming beckoned—the Bright Moon Sword soared through the air, hovering before him.

“Brother Jiang, they’ve come?” Yan Hongyi was moved. “With Master and me, we can each handle a Celestial Phenomena expert. Let us join you!”

“Together!” Yunshuang was even more stirred—she was truly grateful.

From a slave, she had become a confidante.

“And me!” Little Liuli patted her chest, vowing, “I’m strong too!”

“Haha, very strong!” Jiang Ming laughed, leaping onto his sword. “Guard the home well. As for them? Clowns, nothing more. I’ll kill them all—leave none alive!”

His voice rang out, filled with murderous intent.

With that, he soared into the sky.

“Jiang Lang…” Yan Hongyi whispered, face full of worry.

“If anything happens to him, I’ll become a devil myself!” Yunshuang’s eyes reflected a bright moon.

On the northern mountains.

Jiang Ming made no attempt to hide his presence—his aura pierced the heavens, his murderous intent surged. He swept his gaze across the gathering.

“So many of you, just to deal with me—what a show of force!”

“Human Emperor Sword!”

“Stabilizing Mirror!”

“Hah, you really think highly of me!”

Jiang Ming stood with hands behind his back—arrogant, domineering, looking down on the world.

[The author thanks reader 20230513143151899 for the reward of 20,000 coins—deep gratitude! This chapter is rather long, five thousand words, and this arc is drawing to a close. Truth be told, the structure of this arc was a bit rushed. Upon returning to the main world, the grand background will be further revealed. Please continue to support the story. (End of chapter)]