My Swordsmanship Has No Upper Limit

"You... are already dead!"

The moment these words reached Mingya’s ears, an agonizing pain, the sensation of flesh and bone being torn asunder, suddenly swept through his entire body. It was as if an invisible celestial sword was tracing a path deep within his soul and striking down with vicious force!

"SHRRRIIIP—!"

A sharp sound, like silk being ripped, tore through the air. Before Mingya could react, the sword wound he had made disappear through Vaporization reappeared on his body. Tracing its old path, it split him vertically in two!

This time, with his Holy Blood exhausted, he had no more tricks up his sleeve. He could only watch helplessly as his body was torn apart and his consciousness plunged into endless cold and darkness.

And just like that, the newly returned Mingya didn’t even last three breaths before he fell once more.

This was the second ability Zhong Ming gained after his Longxi Sword Dao - Mirror Heart Demon Slayer advanced to the Fifth Realm Master level—[Jade Firmament Clarity - Echo]!

This ability had two effects. The first was to imbue his strikes with his Sword Heart—or rather, his Power of the Mind. This allowed his attacks to not only strike physical entities but also illusory Spirit Bodies, and even concepts.

Take Mingya’s Vaporization, which could evade ninety percent of all attacks in the world. Zhong Ming had a feeling that if his Sword Intent were to rise another level, he wouldn’t need to transform into light or even make eye contact. Infused with the Dominating Thought of "Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme," as long as Zhong Ming firmly believed he could do it, his physical strike could cleave the vaporized Mingya in two.

The second effect was simpler. In layman’s terms: when people are killed, they die.

The fusion of the Dominating Thought of "Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme," the Rhythm of Life, Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples, and the Clear intent of ’cutting the weeds and pulling up the roots’ that Zhong Ming comprehended during his epiphany... all these abilities blended and resonated, causing an echo of his Sword Intent to remain after he struck an enemy.

Unless the enemy could wear away the lingering Sword Intent, their wounds would not heal.

Even if they managed to heal through some other means, the reverberating echo of his Sword Intent would simply tear the wound open again.

’To heal, their only option is to wear away my residual Sword Intent.’ As this thought crossed Zhong Ming’s mind, an indisputable, domineering glint flashed in his eyes. ’But among those of the same realm, my spirit and my will are—Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme!’

...

After defeating Mingya, Zhong Ming returned to Ji Qingyue’s Flying Ship with a calm expression and closed his eyes to recuperate his spirit.

He might be nonchalant, but the surrounding spectators—be they ordinary Cultivators or high-status dignitaries—were all stunned by the outcome of his battle.

"He... he won again!"

"That’s not the point, is it? It was Mingya! Zhong Ming killed him in a single glance!" The Cultivator who shouted this was so agitated his voice cracked.

But at this moment, no one blamed him. Everyone’s Heart Spirit was trembling!

"Good heavens, Mingya’s final outburst clearly touched the threshold of Foundation Establishment, right? And even someone like that couldn’t withstand a single glance from Zhong Ming?"

The fact that Mingya was insta-killed with a single glance truly horrified the ordinary Cultivators. For many of them, their entire worldview was shattered.

After all, they had witnessed Mingya’s various Divine Powers with their own eyes: the bizarre Vaporization Divine Technique, the Giant Profound Pupil floating above his head, the Dark County Prince Armor covering his entire body, the Fierce-looking Greatsword wreathed in a Ghost Face, and even his final return from the brink, drenched in blood with all his injuries healed. These abilities meant that even among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Mingya would not be considered weak.

Yet such a powerhouse was utterly helpless before Zhong Ming, killed in a single blow! This completely upended the understanding of some Cultivators.

However, while some were horrified, others sensed something more.

"Zhong Ming’s power isn’t *that* strong..." The one who said this was an elder from the Celestial Sound Sect. But as soon as the words left his mouth, the surrounding Guardians from the other Major Sects all gave him strange looks.

He himself felt a bit embarrassed and quickly tried to clarify, "What I mean is, his power hasn’t reached the point where he can insta-kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a glance. The reason he defeated Mingya so easily is that Zhong Ming’s abilities are a perfect counter to his."

The other Guardian Elders from the Major Sects agreed with this point, but it did nothing to ease their minds.

"Fellow Daoist, you’re not wrong. Zhong Ming’s power indeed hasn’t reached such an exaggerated level, but does that make a difference?" The elder who spoke had a look of utter helplessness on his face. "As he is now, he can definitely defeat a Foundation Establishment expert while still at the Qi Cultivation realm. That’s combat prowess on the level of a Daoist. Among the True Disciples our sects have sent, none can harm a single hair on his head."

These words silenced many more.

After a long moment, someone sighed at Prince Qinghe’s good fortune. "At a time when a great catastrophe is about to befall us, for Qinghe County to produce such an unparalleled prodigy... and for that prodigy to be willing to side with him, the heavens truly favor the Ji Family."

After this sigh of emotion, several Guardian Elders exchanged glances, each seeing the gravity in the others’ eyes.

Then, maintaining their somber expressions, they began to discuss what to do next.

"Everyone, are you planning to give up on the resources in Prince Qinghe’s hands?"

"Absolutely not!"

"The catastrophe is approaching. These resources can only be put to their greatest use in our hands. Leaving them with Prince Qinghe would just be a waste..."

The Shadow of the second great catastrophe had long since fallen over the land. Not only were small sects like the Seven Profound Sect in a precarious position, but even the Major Sects of the Prefecture City felt a deep sense of crisis.

Because of this, they were preparing for war with all their might.

But to prepare for war—whether it was refining more Magical Artifacts and Elixir Pills or raising the strength of their disciples—required resources. Massive amounts of resources.