To those in the Dharma Realm, the Grandmaster Realm is as distant as the moon is to a frog in a well. The gap is a heavenly chasm; even peerless geniuses of the Eighth Rank Jade Sinews have spent their entire lives unable to cross it.

Different great paths must be walked in different ways. For the Demon Race to break through to the Demon General rank, they need only undergo further Ancestral Return. Greater potential lies deep within their bloodlines, which is why the path of Human-Demon integration makes it easier to reach the Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm.

But relying solely on one’s own comprehension is like trying to build a nest on the great tree of Martial Arts. The broad leaves and branches below are already occupied by others. To make a home, you must climb higher, to the very top where the winds are strongest.

Wu Hua was a Dharma Realm Martial Artist with a Hundred Feet Dharma Aspect and had few rivals within his Realm. He could even exchange a few moves with a Grandmaster from the Belli Family.

But after more than a dozen rounds against Belijie, the pressure was mountainous. He was gasping for breath, and the great blade in his hand trembled along with his knotted muscles.

He gripped his great blade with both hands, his gaze sweeping over the clamorous battlefield. Blood, carried by the gale, occasionally splashed onto his face. His weary eyes reflected the scene of Xia Country Martial Artists being swallowed by a great wave of enemies.

’We can’t win. We can’t hold.’

Xia Country hadn’t stationed many Martial Artists in North Border City to begin with. Even anticipating that the Sang Island Martial Artists would interfere, the heartland had to contend with the various great Demon Race powers and simply couldn’t send reinforcements.

’After this battle, we’ll all die here, far from home.’

Still, this was the expected fate for the Martial Artists stationed in North Border City.

The very reason for North Border City’s existence was to oppose the Three Great Demon Clans of the North Wilderness. Because of the city, and because of Zhu Weiyi, they hadn’t dared to unite and invade.

But in the end, the Sang Island Martial Artists had found an opening to exploit. Too many within the Belli Family harbored treacherous intentions.

When the practice of bloodline transplantation first appeared in North Border City, General Zhu Weiyi was well aware of it. Had such a thing occurred within Xia Country proper, it would have been treated as treason—as evidence of defecting to the Demon Race.

Unfortunately, North Border City wasn’t part of the nation’s interior. Furthermore, the Belli Family had risen to prominence through this very practice; the system they researched and developed required transplanting Demon Race bloodlines.

’Now it’s too late for any of that. All that’s left is to die.’

A myriad of thoughts flooded Wu Hua’s mind. He took a deep breath and prepared to activate a hidden power tied to his Dharma Aspect. His cheeks flushed like magma, and his muscles visibly pulsed.

Across from him, Belijie stood encased in Ice Armor, his claws like blades. Two slivers of cold light gleamed from his eyes. "You’re going to destroy the foundation of your Dharma Aspect for a forced burst of power?"

「Just then.」

BOOM—

A sharp, piercing sound suddenly tore through the air, seeming to come from beyond the heavens. It was like a hunting spear aimed straight for him, moving with the speed of lightning chasing a mayfly.

His heart seized. He mobilized every ounce of his Soul Ice Spirit Charm, instinctively crossing his arms in front of his chest.

But in the very instant he turned to block...

KRAK—

A Flaming Spear with a Double Arc Blade reflected in his pupils, which were as wide as a bull’s. Like an iron nail punching through a sheet of ice, the impact sent shards flying, blooming outward like an Ice Lotus.

The Azure Dragon’s shadow wreathed around the spear had already opened its cavernous maw. The intense heat of the Flame melted the outer layer of his Ice Armor as if it were a popsicle, sending streams of water running down the plates.

’This spear contains Spear Intent!’

’Could it be a Grandmaster?!’

BANG!

With an explosive BANG, the attack, Rainbow Spear Piercing the Moon, completely smashed through the arms protecting his chest and burst out the other side, taking with it sprays of black blood and shattered ice.

His thoughts came to a screeching halt. With a WHOOSH, flames melted and devoured his Ice Armor, and the resulting water instantly evaporated into steam. His entire body was set ablaze and charred black. Overwhelming terror filled his trembling pupils. "Who... Who?!"

With a THUD, he collapsed to his knees. Before his body was completely burned to ash, the figure of a young man stepped into his vision. The youth casually snatched the returning spear from the air, the killing intent in his eyes like an Ice Cone that pierced the very soul.

’It’s him—the Xia Country genius who injured Sakai Yoshiei in the fighting pits! A peerless prodigy who comprehended Spear Intent at such a young age!’

’According to the plan, he shouldn’t be here... But why... why...’

The unfinished thought died in his throat. His blood had already run dry, and his body disintegrated into scattered ash.

"Jiang... Jiang Qiu?"

Snapping back to his senses, Wu Hua suppressed the Secret Technique he had nearly activated. He stared, dumbfounded, up at the spear-wielding youth hovering in the air and mumbled, "What he just used... was that Spear Intent?!"

As a fellow Soldier Cultivator, he could naturally perceive that thunderously piercing Spear Intent. Generally speaking, only experts in the Grandmaster Realm could master Spear Intent. To have grasped it in the Dharma Realm meant that, without a doubt, the path to the Grandmaster Realm was already open to him.

’Belijie, an opponent I had to be prepared to die to face, was killed in a single strike. That shows just how domineering Jiang Qiu’s Spear Intent is! He can absolutely fight on par with a Grandmaster!’

’This means there’s still a chance to hold this position!’ 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The thought had barely formed when, in the blink of an eye, Jiang Qiu’s figure split off a Flaming Illusion. This duplicate, also wielding a Chuyuan spear, rode the flames as it charged toward the thousands of Martial Artists like a red meteor streaking across the stars.

Dharma Realm Martial Artists were torn to shreds by a crimson Flaming Cyan Dragon that weaved among them. It was as if Jiang Qiu possessed an inexhaustible supply of Spirit Charm, allowing him to continuously unleash Spear Skills imbued with Spear Intent. With every move, several Martial Artists fell.

In an instant, the tide of battle reversed. The remaining thousands of Martial Artists realized Belijie was dead and saw Jiang Qiu carving a path through the battlefield. Their expressions changed drastically. "The Grandmaster... just died like that?!"

"What just happened? Grandmaster Belijie, he..."

SWISH—

Before the man could finish speaking, the wolf-headed Martial Artist beside him exploded into a bloody mist. The flame-wreathed figure of the youth appeared in his place, blood dripping from his spear’s edge. His cold gaze swept over the thousands of fighters, and each felt a chill as if a blade was pressed to their back. They scrambled to retreat, no longer daring to continue the slaughter.

The Xia Country Martial Artists, finally able to catch their breath, leaned on their weapons and gazed upward. It was like witnessing the dawn after a long, cold night in early spring. Their eyes burned, their blood ran hot. "He’s... He’s so strong."

Jiang Qiu had finished off the enemy’s Dharma Realm Martial Artists. His Flaming Illusion dissipated as he watched the thousands of remaining fighters scatter, each using whatever means they had to escape. They scurried away in a panic, like rats without a master.

Most of them were Independent Martial Artists recruited by the Belli Family. Their bloodlines were impure, and their strength couldn’t compare to a Xia Country Martial Artist of the same Realm. But their numbers were simply overwhelming.

In the short time the battle had raged, half of the several hundred Xia Country Martial Artists had already been killed or wounded. Fortunately, Jiang Qiu’s arrival put a stop to the mounting casualties.

"The Belli Family... I’ll be paying you a visit."

Jiang Qiu clutched his long spear, panting slightly. His eyes reflected the image of the Independent Martial Artists scattering in all directions; they had dispersed too widely to chase.

’I thought the main threat in North Border City would be the Three Great Demon Clans. I never expected Sang Island’s Martial Artists to be involved, let alone that the Belli Family would launch a sneak attack on their own home.’

’Despicable!’

RING RING RING...

Before he could dwell on it further, his phone rang in his pocket. He answered it, and his pupils trembled. "What? Even Grandmaster Zhu is grievously injured?!"