Puff!
In the forbidden area of the imperial palace, in front of several key members of the royal family, Zhou Tianming vomited blood several times, his face withered.
This scene weighed heavily on their faces; the royal legend's injuries were far more serious than they had imagined.
"Buzz!"
A martial saint attempted to heal the Lightning and Thunder Martial Saint's injuries with Recovery Technique, only to discover that while the external wounds healed, the aging and deathly aura emanating from the opponent was irreversible.
"How could this be? The Withering Marvelous Art is powerful, but it can still Rebellion."
The martial saint was astonished. Zhou Tianming's flesh and blood were decaying, and his hair was half white, as if he had reached old age, but the other party was clearly at his Peak, in his prime.
He refused to believe it and continued to use his healing Secret Technique.
However, Zhou Tianming waved his hand and sighed, "There's no need to continue, it's useless."
"Why did this happen?" Half-Step Seventh Heaven couldn't help but ask, still unable to believe that such a legendary figure could be defeated.
Despite having Palm Control travel ahead of time and possessing absolute supremacy at the Martial Saint stage, he still suffered such a devastating defeat, his flesh and blood decaying, his condition not much better than that of a Martial Saint in his later years.
"Jiang Ping is not Life Martial Saint."
Zhou Tianming revealed the truth, and everyone believed that Jiang Ping had forged Saint Body using the Changshi Fist, even he had fallen into this misconception.
In reality, the other party possessed two kinds of Heavenly Art involving Life and Death, forging the Life and Death Great Saint.
"Life and Death?"
The group was stunned, their faces filled with astonishment.
Jiang Saint actually attained sainthood through two kinds of Heavenly Art, not just the Changshi Fist.
"The Life and Death Great Saint, and both of his Heavenly Art have reached the Fourth Level of Divine Intent?"
"Yes!"
Zhou Tianming nodded solemnly. If he hadn't forged himself into a saint with two kinds of Heavenly Art, how could he have achieved Dharma Image comparable to Great Accomplishment Martial Saint in the middle stage?
"Hiss!"
The group gasped, their eyes meeting in undisguised shock.
Jiang Saint pioneered an unprecedented "Heavenly Art of Death," using Life and Death as a path to accomplish astonishing feats.
Moreover, judging from the timeline, this new Heavenly Art was not created recently, but rather it already had profound concepts before it was even attained sainthood.
"That Death Heavenly Technique is extraordinary, even more sinister than the Jimie Heavenly Technique I obtained. Its ability is to Cut Lifespan, just like the inescapable fate of heaven, irreversible."
Zhou Tianming then spoke, causing the group to tremble and their faces to show horror.
"Cut Lifespan?!" The Half-Step Seventh Heaven felt a chill run down his spine, his face showing lingering fear.
"Yes," Zhou Tianming sighed, revealing a shocking truth. "It cut off more than a hundred years of my lifespan."
"What?!"
The man Half-Step Seventh Heaven cultivation, trembled with fear.
He's already in his twilight years; if he were to become an enemy of that person, wouldn't that be...?
"Cut Lifespan!" The others felt a chill run down their spines.
Who would dare to challenge such an incredible method?
"If one uses Heavenly Art to forge a Sainthood, one can contend with it, but the effect of Cut Lifespan isn't as strong, however..."
Zhou Tianming spoke, he couldn't help but sigh again.
"Cut Lifespan" is merely the power of the Death Heavenly Technique, but Jiang Ping forged sainthood through Life and Death and death. With the enhancement of both Heavenly Arts, the opponent's strength was far beyond what was expected. Even if a genius from another clan forged the Great Saint Jimie, he would not be a match for him.
Moreover, he guessed that the other party's intervention wasn't simply a matter of Life and Death and death, or a matter of balance; it was more like...
"Like what?"
"The Withering and Flourishing Cycle!"
Zhou Tianming's expression was grave. He seriously suspected that Jiang Ping had forged the Withering and Blooming Sacred Body by Fusion of Life and Death.
If that's the case, it's even more terrifying. The foundation of a Martial Saint is absolutely Unrivaled, and on that dazzling land, he can be considered a prodigy.
"Doesn't that mean that Jiang Saint's battle with his master wasn't his strongest form?"
Another disciple of the Lightning and Thunder Martial Saint murmured in disbelief.
Zhou Tianming shook his head and said, "There's no point in delving into these details. Even I am no match for him; this person is now invincible on Xuanxin Island."
He did awaken his true self ahead of schedule, but after using it, he discovered that Jiang Ping's Spiritual power was terrifyingly strong. Although he hadn't awakened it, he was helpless against it.
In the end, he suffered a crushing defeat and handed over the follow-up to the Jimie Heavenly Technique, only then did the battle end.
After all, he was the only one in the world with a legacy of ideas, which he never shared with anyone else.
"Master, your lifespan..." The martial saint's disciple looked at the somewhat aged legendary figure, his face filled with worry.
"Peace of mind."
Zhou Tianming shook his head slightly and said, "True Self was somewhat unsure about this person breaking free of the cage, but now it seems there's no problem. The future problems of Xuanxin Island will surely be solved, and I can now enter a state of divine travel."
"Such a person is more likely to be Near Dao than that Peerless Figures from over ten thousand years ago."
"The Zhou Royal Family should keep a lower profile from now on."
The outside world was in an uproar.
The news of the Zhou Imperial City spread throughout the land at an astonishing speed, causing a huge uproar.
"What? Jiang Saint defeated the Number One Under Heaven?"
"Wang Defa! First he slew Seventh Heaven Martial Saint, then defeated Lightning and Thunder Martial Saint, killed his disciple, and finally left gracefully. This is just too... fantastical."
"He's only Becoming a Saint for a few years!"
Everyone was stunned when they heard the news.
Jiang Saint had only been Third Heaven for less than a year when, in the blink of an eye, he ascended to the Zhou Imperial City as a mid- Middle Realm Martial Saint and, with an invincible demeanor, defeated the Number One Under Heaven.
This talent and extraordinary Combat strength shocked and moved Martial Artists across the world.
Undoubtedly, after this battle, the throne of the Number One Under Heaven king changed hands, with Jiang Saint taking his place and ascending to the very Peak.
Furthermore, rumors have circulated that Jiang Saint did not attain sainthood through the Changshi Fist, but rather through two Heavenly Arts involving Life and Death.
This is even more chilling to think about. This renowned legendary figure seems to have never shown his true Combat strength after becoming a saint, until he defeated the Number One Under Heaven.
"This man is cautious by nature, and both he and his wife are sixth in their age, which is very much in line with his usual style. He only shows a fraction of his true self in public, but no one knows where his limits lie."
A certain Greater Golden Core cultivator said that he had participated in the battle at the Five Elements Mysterious Mountain and witnessed many things. At that time Jiang Saint, who was still in the Golden Core, liked to hide his true abilities and tricked many people.
Some Martial Artists at the True Qi Realm also revealed that Jiang Saint True Qi Realm. He only showed a fraction of his strength when facing his opponents. It wasn't until the two Saint Child were ravaged and the seniors investigated that they realized he was already a half-step Golden Core cultivator. In that Dangerous Land, he would have been able to crush and overwhelm them.
All I can say is that Jiang Saint is both strong and "cunning".
Of course, whether Jiang Saint is holding back or not is no longer important, because he has no rivals and can look down on everything.
In the Great Li Imperial City, when Jiang Siqi, Shangguan Chun, and the others learned the news, they looked at each other speechlessly.
Just two days ago, they were a little worried about Jiang Ping going to the Brilliant Dynasty and gave him many instructions. But then they heard the news that this junior had defeated the Number One Under Heaven.
Moreover, the boy had been back for half a day, but had not mentioned this matter to them.
"They became invincible too quickly; I wasn't prepared at all."
Shangguan Chun sighed. He thought it would take some time for Jiang Saint to surpass the Lightning and Thunder Martial Saint, but he had achieved this in less than a year since his return, looking down on the world with no one as his match.
Then he laughed again. The Shangguan Ancient Clan had never been involved in external conflicts before, but entered the world because of Jiang Ping. Now it seems that this decision was very correct. As long as they follow Jiang Saint, the Shangguan Clan may become glorious in his hands in the future, or even surpass the past and be more remarkable than when that strongest Old Ancestor was alive.
"There's nothing more to say. Come, let's drink. In the future, we will witness an unprecedented Golden Great Era."
Martial Saint Murong his glass, clearly pleased.
When he was refused an audience with Zhou Tianming, he became a laughingstock, and all ties between him and the former Number One Under Heaven were severed.
However, his clan has now found a new Number One Under Heaven, and this person far surpasses Zhou Tianming, making him the most brilliant genius on Xuanxin Island, without exception.
The new future of Xuanxin Island will surely be ushered in by Jiang Ping.