Chapter 252: Chapter 138: Formally Crowned: Number One of Qinghe Prefecture City
’I just acquired this power, so I can’t fully control it yet. Plus, the Holy Blood in my body needs time to be completely unleashed. That’s why I need an opponent to buy me time while I adapt to this new strength.’
’Once the Holy Blood is fully unleashed and I’ve completely adapted, that will be the day Zhong Ming dies!’
Foreign power was, after all, foreign. Even if it was a Power of the Same Origin bestowed by a Divine Spirit, Mingya still needed time to absorb, adapt, and integrate it.
However, thanks to Zhong Ming’s utter contempt—his complete disregard—the greater part of Mingya’s hatred was now locked onto him.
If Zhong Ming had been in his right mind, he would have been speechless at this.
He wasn’t actually arrogant to the point of foolishness. Had he been fully aware, Zhong Ming would have definitely focused some of his attention on Mingya, observing and analyzing the reason for his sudden surge in power.
Unfortunately, Zhong Ming was not in his right mind at that moment.
The battle between Zhong Ming and Di Yun of the Celestial Sound Sect just a short while ago had had a profound impact.
Before this, a certain group within Qinghe Commandery Mansion—everyone from Prince Qinghe and Master Qin of the Golden Jade Tower to the True Disciples of the six major sects, excluding the ordinary Cultivators—refused to acknowledge Zhong Ming as the number one expert in Qinghe Prefecture City.
They believed his Pupil Technique had flaws and weaknesses, thinking he was completely reliant on Solar Power.
In their eyes, a Zhong Ming like that could be defeated with a targeted strategy.
As long as there was a chance to win, their youthful pride would not allow them to acknowledge Zhong Ming’s title as "Number One of Qinghe Prefecture City" from the bottom of their hearts.
But after the battle with Di Yun, their confidence was shattered. Di Yun’s tactics had followed their own plans to the letter.
They had blocked the light of the sky, nullifying Zhong Ming’s greatest strength, his Solar Power.
They had prepared Magical Artifacts that protected the Divine Soul, rendering his Sun God Sword, which attacked the Divine Soul directly, completely ineffective.
Di Yun had even used the environment to his advantage, launching an overwhelmingly powerful attack.
That was the best Di Yun could do; it was their limit as well.
Yet even with such thorough preparations, Di Yun had still been defeated by Zhong Ming—his control over his Magic Technique stripped away with a single utterance!
Such a crushing defeat made all the True Disciples of the six major sects truly feel Zhong Ming’s power.
It was an absolute, unrivaled power that plunged them into despair, to the point they no longer dared to even entertain the thought of resisting him.
Though they didn’t say it aloud, in their hearts, they had already acknowledged Zhong Ming’s title as the number one in Qinghe Prefecture City.
Of course... they were also in awe of the Daoists and Saint Heirs of their own sects.
But regardless of who might win in a fight between them, one fact remained that didn’t stop them from acknowledging Zhong Ming as "Number One of Qinghe Prefecture City": those Daoists weren’t from Qinghe Commandery Mansion, and they weren’t even in Qinghe Prefecture City at the moment!
In the world of cultivation, the acknowledgment of the masses held power. It was faith, the will of the people, and, most importantly, fortune.
Previously, though the number of people who refused to acknowledge Zhong Ming as number one was small, their high status and great power meant they represented the majority of Qinghe Commandery Mansion’s fortune and public will.
Their defiance had long prevented Zhong Ming from being successfully "crowned."
But now that they had submitted, Zhong Ming’s Sword Heart of "Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme" had reached the first stage of perfection.
This was reflected on his attribute panel and in the system log as follows:
[You have single-handedly subjugated the younger generation of Qinghe Commandery Mansion. Your Divine Will and Domination has been enhanced. Your fortune has increased. Your Sword Heart has become clear!]
[Your Mirror Heart Demon Slayer progress +13,278 points]
[Your Mirror Heart Demon Slayer progress +9,784 points]
[Your Mirror Heart Demon Slayer...]
[Your Longxi Sword Dao: Mirror Heart Demon Slayer has reached: Fourth Realm, Proficiency (129,600/129,600)]
[Your Longxi Sword Dao has been cultivated to completion. You may now advance. Advance?]
Seeing the string of notifications before him, Zhong Ming had only one thought:
’So fast!’
’And it’s not just the speed. The strength and quality of my Divine Soul are soaring, and the Mental Realm contained within my Swordsmanship is now world-class.’
’No wonder this path of invincibility is so difficult to walk, with such immense future repercussions. And yet, every year, so many Sword Cultivators still descend from their mountains to temper themselves by challenging the Thousand Mountains.’
’Compared to enlightenment that relies on luck, the path of a Sword Cultivator is far more exhilarating, far more liberating. As long as you fight and win, you can just keep advancing triumphantly.’
After these reflections, Zhong Ming chose to advance with almost no hesitation.
This wasn’t an act of recklessness. After defeating Di Yun and the previous Purple Patterned Cultivator with crushing force, Zhong Ming simply assumed no one else would dare challenge him.
Besides, he had taken a precaution.
He had imbued the Water Flood Dragon coiling around him with the Rhythm of Life. This way, if anyone attacked, the Water Flood Dragon would move to intercept them instantly, just like a living creature.
’Letting a magical creation handle the challenge while I deem it beneath me to act personally won’t damage my image. More importantly, it will buy me enough time.’
With these precautions in place, Zhong Ming chose to advance. Endless enlightenment regarding the concept of "Clear" flooded his mind.
Amidst this epiphany, Zhong Ming’s Divine Soul improved at a tremendous rate.
And so, as Mingya’s aura surged and his killing intent billowed to the heavens, Zhong Ming paid him no mind, appearing utterly disdainful. It was not true arrogance; rather, his entire focus was immersed in the epiphany of advancing his Longxi Sword Dao: Mirror Heart Demon Slayer.
This was also the best, and indeed the only, opportunity for any of the younger disciples to defeat Zhong Ming.
Unfortunately, while Zhong Ming needed time for his epiphany, Mingya also needed time to adapt to his own surging power. This brief delay would cause Mingya to lose his one and only chance to defeat Zhong Ming forever.
Not that he would have succeeded even if he had attacked at the first possible moment.
Just because Zhong Ming was in a state of epiphany didn’t mean he was completely oblivious to external threats.
"...Clear... pure..."
"The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a bright mirror stand. At all times, diligently wipe it clean, and let no dust alight... This is clarity..."
"...Bodhi is no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Fundamentally, not a single thing exists, so where can dust alight? ...This, too, is clarity!"
"One sword strike, to annihilate all! This—is also clarity!"
