Jiang Ping traversed two major states in a single day, which wasn't considered fast. If he wanted, he could reach Divine Continent in half a day.
His main reason was that he had been following Jiang Yourong and the other two, hoping to glean useful information from them.
Unfortunately, these Dao system descendants of the Daoist lineage mostly chatted about everyday matters, offering little useful information.
And in just one day, the three of them found themselves within a Supreme Dao System, supposedly to meet a close friend.
Jiang Ping knew he couldn't go any further, so he gave up listening in and chose to travel alone.
Half a day later, he set foot on the land of the Divine Continent.
This was Jiang Ping's first time visiting this renowned and vast territory.
Ahead lay towering mountains, lush forests, and a sky filled with rich purple qi, brimming with spiritual energy and displaying a kaleidoscope of colors.
He took a deep breath, and a massive amount of Dao Rhythm surged forth, forming a sky-covering vortex above.
Jiang Ping swallowed the lingering essence of the Great Dao, inadvertently stirring up the great forces of heaven and earth. A sudden burst of Dao Light appeared, and a vast flame spread in all directions.
Gradually, he seemed to resonate with this world; his breath could stir up a storm, and when he frowned, it could produce terrifying Celestial Phenomenon, with lightning and thunder.
When Jiang Ping sensed someone approaching, he turned his head, and at the same time, terrifying Thunder Punishment appeared in the distant sky, and raging Dao fire ignited on the earth.
"To follow the natural order and manipulate the changes of heaven and earth—this is the power that only Dao Monarch possesses!"
The Turtle Shell whispers.
Jiang Ping is truly an amazing young man. He has just reached the Peerless True Saint, yet his performance is almost indistinguishable from that of Dao Monarch.
After a short while, Jiang Ping replenished his energy from the journey, then concealed himself in the Void and quietly ventured deep into the Divine Continent.
He arrived silently, not wanting to reveal his whereabouts yet.
Not long after Jiang Ping left, a large number of people gathered in the Peripheral Region Divine Continent where he was located. There were even some True Saints. They were all discussing that a certain Dao Monarch had just descended to this place, and it was suspected to be the Five Elements Dao Monarch Gu Cang.
Before long, Jiang Ping appeared in a nearby city.
According to the information he had gathered, the area he was in was the territory of the Xu Qing family, the vice leader of the Dao Alliance.
This Saint Clan ruled over a vast land in the form of an imperial dynasty, and the Xu family was naturally the imperial family within it, supreme and renowned Divine Continent.
As a prince and an outstanding figure of his time, Xu Qing was naturally a renowned figure. Even in the border city of the Xu Imperial Dynasty, people often heard his name being mentioned.
Jiang Ping lingered briefly in the border town before riding the wind away.
A day later, he set foot in the nearest Provincial City.
This place is much more magnificent than the border city. The city walls stretch like mountains, auspicious omens linger, and the Order of heaven and earth is strong. The soldiers guarding the city are all cultivators at the Spirit Wander Realm.
After entering the city, Jiang Ping was struck by its prosperity. The streets were well-connected and lined with shops. Although it had a bustling atmosphere, it was also imbued with a strong martial spirit. Even a young child had been nourished with spiritual herbs and was destined to embark on the path of martial arts cultivation.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and speaking with a local accent, he entered the largest restaurant in the city.
Jiang Ping ordered all the local specialties, and after the food and wine were served, he ate his fill while listening to the conversation.
Those who appear here are likely local heroes or high-ranking officials; perhaps there is something he wants to hear.
"Have you heard? The third son of the Lei Family has been betrothed to a princess."
"This matter has spread throughout the capital, and the Lei Family has risen to prominence overnight, becoming relatives of the emperor."
"It's mainly because Lei the Third is so talented; he's the most gifted in our province in recent years."
"A peerless genius comparable to Tang Sheng."
Jiang Ping whispered.
Lei, the third son of the Lei Family, was someone he had heard about all along. He was the most famous genius in the province, and an absolute candidate for the Dao Monarch.
The Xu Imperial Dynasty had nearly twenty provinces, and it was said that each province had such a prodigy...
"As expected of a holy dynasty comparable to several Great Saints, its foundation is truly profound!"
Jiang Ping sighed inwardly. Compared to the Dao system in the South Heaven, the Divine Continent was truly a land of outstanding people and abundant resources, with countless geniuses as numerous as the stars.
He poured himself a full glass of wine and ate alone, and soon he heard something useful.
"His Majesty Xu Qing Gu Shuo, and many say he will be the future ruler of the Capital."
"Need I say more? This prince is incredibly talented and has a vast network of connections. As the leader of the Dao Alliance, he commands countless geniuses. Isn't Lei the Third from our province one of his most formidable generals?"
Jiang Ping's right hand, which was holding the wine, suddenly stopped, and his eyes flickered slightly.
The three sons of the Lei Family lived in this city and were members of the Dao Alliance.
Should we make a decision about it now, as an appetizer for this trip?
After a moment, Jiang Ping finished his drink, and his slightly agitated emotions calmed down.
"Fine, spare his life for now. I came here to kill two people first."
First, there is Li Buyu, the Young Supreme he has a long-standing feud.
Secondly, there's Yao Jiuzhou. This guy dared to threaten his family back then, so he was put on the Kill list long ago.
"And the vice leader..."
Jiang Ping was certain that those vice alliance leaders were the ones who truly coveted the Qingling Peerless Ancestral Artifact.
"Have you heard? Soon, an unprecedented gathering of powerful individuals will take place in the Kaiyang Sacred Land."
Someone suddenly spoke up, which left everyone present looking puzzled.
Kaiyang Sacred Land is also a top-tier power no less powerful Xu Imperial Dynasty. Every move it makes naturally attracts the attention of the entire world, but many heroes and nobles here have never heard of this news.
The man smiled, shook his head, and sighed, "This kind of information is still far too top secret. It's understandable that you can't access that level of information."
Hearing this, the powerful and wealthy were displeased. Among them were descendants of royalty, and some whose ancestors had been Dao Monarch. What level of society was beyond their reach?
Observing the expressions of the assembled guests, the man scoffed, "The three sons of the Lei Family are dazzling enough, renowned throughout the land, but in that grand event, they are merely the threshold for participation."
The words astonished everyone, making them even more curious and eager to know what kind of grand event it was that had such high entry requirements.
However, the man remained silent.
Because he only heard these few words of secret, he knew nothing more.
Jiang Ping felt a slight pang of regret, finished his meal, and quietly left.
He had no intention of going to the Imperial City; he was merely passing through this border province. His real destination was the Ziwei Sacred Land, where Yao Jiuzhou Li Buyu resided.
Jiang Ping traveled north, leaving the Xu Imperial Dynasty and stepping into a vast, unknown forest.
The place is filled with Demon Qi atmosphere and the stench of blood.
Similar to the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the South Heaven Departmental Prefecture, there are also similar Demon Race Territories in the Divine Continent.
Moreover, the monsters here are even stronger; it is said that a supreme Demon Palace resides deep within, and Demon Ancestor once emerged from there.
Jiang Ping turned around and looked at the border Heavenly Pass behind him.
The Xu Imperial Dynasty borders the Demon Realm and is often harassed by powerful demons. Many small towns nearby have been plundered, and the border people have been forced to eat blood. Many cities are now ruins and empty cities.
However, the imperial dynasty had no intention of completely eradicating all the demons, and neither did the Great Saint.
Since both are beings of the Xuanhuang realm, the human race will produce strong individuals, and the same is true for the Demon Race. If there is a bloody war in the future, the demon realm will naturally be unable to avoid it and will also have to contribute greatly.
However, this time the Heavenly Pass was stained with blood not because a great demon had launched an attack, but because someone inside the gate had deliberately entered the demon's territory and provoked a terrifying being.
"It's related to a rare and extraordinary flower with exceptional growth potential."
Jiang Ping learned of this news because a general in Heavenly Pass, upon hearing about the rare flower, became greedy and led his men into the Demon Mountain, which led to the city being massacred.
He happened to be passing by and stepped in to help, fending off the invading demons.
Well, the general won't get that rare flower; it's destined for him.
Although Jiang Ping doesn't need such resources to enhance his foundation, his wife and children can consume them. He has confirmed that the rare flower is exceptionally sacred and effective even for peerless geniuses.
With this in mind, he ventured deep into the demon realm, slaying demons and monsters along the way.
The Demon Race treats other humans as food, and today Jiang Ping will use these demons to test the sword in his hand.
That night, the outer perimeter of the demon realm was ablaze with blood, and countless powerful demons perished under his sword.
Meanwhile, on the walls of Heavenly Pass City, several generals were exchanging ideas.
"You acted rashly, causing trouble for the Heavenly Pass."
I will accept my punishment.
"Yes, I have already sent a message to the Provincial City, and they replied that Lei the Third will personally go to seek justice for the people of Heavenly Pass."
"What justice? They've only come for that strange flower. He's been famous for years, but he's never come to the Heavenly Pass to slay demons before. Now, the number of demons on the outer perimeter is increasing day by day."
"Be careful what you say."
The Territory the Demon Race.
Jiang Ping fought his way through the outer perimeter, annihilating all the demons.
Soon, he arrived at the place where the rare flower grew. Several Peerless were already stationed nearby, waiting for the rare flower to fully bloom.
In an instant, Sword Qi soared into the sky, its Unrivaled power pulverizing the nearby mountains, turning vegetation into dust, and creating ravines stretching for thousands of miles.
Those of similar strength are no match for Jiang Ping; he can cut them down as easily as chopping melons and vegetables.
However, just as he was about to pick the rare flower after killing all the great demons, a thunderous explosion shook the heavens and the earth behind him, and a blazing sun rose into the sky, illuminating the night.
"This flower is of great use to me, fellow Daoist, please stop."
A giant hand shattered everything in its path, and the airflow, like a sharp gale, sliced through the earth, pressing down directly.
The newcomer seemed to want to communicate verbally, but as soon as he got close, he unleashed a murderous intent, determined to kill Jiang Ping.
Jiang Ping's eyes turned cold. He had already decided to let the other party go, but the other party just had to come to him.
The newcomer was none other than the peerless prodigy of the Xu Imperial Dynasty, the third son of the Lei Family.
The three Lei Family sons were followed by a large group of powerful individuals, including Super Genius comparable to Pei Kong and one or two True Saints.
They were excited when they saw Lei the Third make his move:
"Lei the Third is mighty!"
"You can tell if someone's skill is up to par as soon as they make a move."
One of the beautiful women looked at Jiang Ping coldly, as if he were a dead man. "You cowardly scoundrel, how dare you embezzle Third Brother's things."
At this moment, the third son of the Lei Family stood tall and imposing, his large hand pressing down without any room for retreat.
To him, the rare flower was already his own; how could he allow outsiders to touch it?
Moreover, he had already offered kind advice, but the other party disobeyed his orders and directly took the rare flower, which was tantamount to courting death.
With a deafening roar, the giant palm severed the vast darkness of the night, causing a dramatic change in the heavens and earth. The Dao Rhythm surged violently like rain, and Thunder Punishment descended from the sky.
In response, Jiang Ping turned around and unleashed a magnificent Sword Qi.
The black and white energies intertwined, fixing the Void, while Chaos Profound Light flowed, as if the Heaven Opening.
With a bang, the massive palm that blotted out the sky exploded halfway, pierced through by the powerful Sword Qi energy. The Sword Qi energy continued to spread, directly shattering the entire massive hand, and blood light filled the sky and earth.
Lei the Third staggered instantly, his eyes wide with horror.
A booming Dao Rhythm filled the air. Sensing the danger, he turned and fled.
The other party was no ordinary person; he had been reckless and provoked a towering dragon.
Those behind were stunned and gasped when they saw this.
Who is Lei the Third? A peerless genius whose brilliance shines throughout the entire Xu Imperial Dynasty, and few in the world can rival him.
This person was already at the Celestial Flower of the dynasty, over three hundred years old. Among martial arts practitioners, he was still considered to be in his prime, a young generation, yet he was already at the Peak True Saint, Palm Control ninety-nine percent of the Origin Laws.
However, at this moment, even someone as powerful as Lei the Third was overpowered by a single sword strike, and his hand was completely severed.
Everyone was stunned, unable to recover from the scene.
The Sword Qi surged into the sky once more, waking them up, and then a chill ran through their bodies.
Then, the unfamiliar young man unleashed another sword strike, instantly blasting Lei the Third apart.
Boom!!
Blood splattered across the sky, gathering in the heavens and lingering for a long time.
The Chaos Sword lingered, continuously eroding Lei the Third's True Spirit.
In just a moment, this peerless genius vanished without a trace, not even having time to leave a last word.
"Two swords killed Third Brother..."
The woman who had just spoken rudely to Jiang Ping turned pale, her lips trembling. They had kicked a hornet's nest and provoked an unknown enemy.
Behind her, the two True Saints already wore expressions of despair. The Five Elements transformed into Yin and Yang; this person was no True Saint at all, but clearly Gu Cang, the Dao Monarch of Yu Province!
At this moment, everyone was in chaos. They tried to escape, but found that their bodies were completely immobile. As the Sword Qi swept over them, they felt their souls gradually stiffen and their thoughts almost stopped.
The woman possessed a Supreme Treasure capable of withstanding the attacks of Dao Monarch, but under the shockwaves of the Sword Qi, her treasure was gradually cracking.
A storm raged within her, and she quickly pleaded, "Senior, spare my life! I am Direct Line the Xu family!"
Her identity is quite clear; she is the princess betrothed to Lei the Third, a noble princess.
However, she was met with a resounding sword strike.
The creatures here have all exploded; there is no living thing left.
Jiang Ping swept across the land, digging almost three feet into the ground, then summoned the Turtle Shell to erase all traces and eliminate all causes. Only after confirming that there were no problems did he leisurely depart.
He remained expressionless, only feeling that he would have an extra gift in his hand when he returned home in the future.
What just happened was merely a minor incident on the journey.
"What a pity."
The Turtle Shell thought to itself, "That Lei the Third is a pure Xuanhuang person. He will become Dao Monarch in the future and can fight for Xuanhuang."
Unfortunately, he offended the God of Slaughter, and this calamity was destined to befall him.
Of course, the opponent was too aggressive and arrogant, and attacked first, so it's no wonder that Jiang Ping was ruthless.
Jiang Ping left without a second thought, unconcerned about the impact of the matter.
However, this matter caused quite a stir, and he heard about it as soon as he arrived in the Giant City at the foot of Ziwei Mountain.
"Lei the Third was a peerless genius, quite remarkable indeed, yet he was killed by a certain River-Crossing Dragon."
"It is said that this incident enraged Xu Qing, the vice leader of the Dao Alliance, who personally investigated the matter, but to no avail. However, many people revealed that the killer was a Dao Monarch, since Lei the Third was close to that level, and only such a powerful figure could kill him. After all, he had sent out a signal for help when the incident occurred, but still failed to receive any assistance."
"Yes, there's some inside information. It's said that Gu Cang, the Five Elements Dao Monarch, once appeared on the border of the Xu family."
"This news is outdated. It has been confirmed that Gu Cang was far away in Yu Province that day, discussing the Dao with several peerless geniuses, and had no time to commit the crime."
"Judging from this, he must be a newly Dao Monarch, but he has not yet announced it to the world."
After observing the situation briefly, Jiang Ping stopped paying attention and decided to keep an eye on Li Buyu.