Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Clang——!
The long sword stood suspended in mid-air.

Chen Jie remained seated cross-legged at the bottom of the lake. If viewed from above, he could be clearly seen sitting in the center of a massive whirlpool.

"Could it be that with my current strength, I am not yet capable of breaking through to the Meridian Opening Qi Realm?"

"Or perhaps I was unprepared, and my inner strength wasn't deep enough?"

"Since I've failed at the last minute, I'll see today how far my internal energy can be refined after the power of heaven and earth enters my body!"

boom--!
A long sword danced and hovered above his head.

An immense aura completely enveloped the lake.

The forces of heaven and earth coalesced once more, transforming into a series of force fields.

This is the imposing force of heaven and earth forged by the hundreds of thousands of Ximen Hall soldiers during the life-or-death battle with Situ Wushang.

It embodies a martial arts will that defies the heavens.

After killing Situ Wushang, this overwhelming force of heaven and earth solidified the will of a mid-stage Divine Indestructible expert.

Now Chen Jie wants to break through to the Tongmai Gangjin realm and wants to completely introduce this great power of heaven and earth into his body.

If you don’t succeed, you will succeed!
If one fails to break through to the Meridian Opening Qi, one will suffer severe injuries and may even lose the opportunity to break through to the Meridian Opening Qi in the future.

The immense power of heaven and earth transformed into a stream of energy, surging into his dantian and internal organs. It then merged with his internal energy and flowed towards the [Martial Saint Sect] in his mind.

Beneath the starry sky of the Martial Saint Sect, the grand scheme of heaven and earth and internal energy were actually refined together.

One week later,

The vast and pure internal energy is transformed into the power of life's origin.

The power of the transformation of the universe became violent within his body.

Unbeknownst to him, the cracks that had just appeared on the surface of his body began to heal.

Under the influence of the powerful life force, his blood and qi surged and boiled throughout his body.

Even the muscles and bones emitted an unusual glow.

Right now,

Chen Jie was like a true sword saint, his sword intent enveloping the entire lake surface.

Wow——!
The vortex reversed, and the originally blazing sun in the sky began to be obscured by dark clouds.

Boom—boom—!
Dark clouds loomed overhead, creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere.

next moment,
A thunderous roar echoed around, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder.

Lightning flashed beneath the dark clouds.

In a short while, a torrential downpour began to fall on the lake.

at the same time,

The fire was extinguished under the torrential rain along the entire shore of Houhu Lake in Hankou, covering an area of ​​more than ten miles.

"Breaking through the protective energy—!"

Chen Jie threw his head back and roared.

His martial arts willpower had reached its limit at this moment.

boom--!
The boundless power of heaven and earth, under the influence of spiritual perception, actually formed into threads.

Somewhat violent, some cruel, some gentle, some arrogant—!
These are all manifestations of emotional consciousness!

Countless emotions, mixed together, yet so clearly distinct.

A powerful, vigorous, domineering, and upright aura entered his body, lingered in his mind, and remained there.

Those dark, violent, cruel, and vicious auras were dissolved by the great forces of heaven and earth.

Chen Jie's body slowly rose to the surface, lifted up by the whirlpool.

The powerful surge of water freed him from the constraints of gravity.

Within a radius of several hundred meters, the terrifying pressure caused the fish in the lake to leap and bound.

A fierce and powerful killing intent erupted from his body.

Clang——!
The longsword flashed, its cold light gleaming!
Martial Saint Technique - Destruction!
Chen Jie and his longsword became one, spinning rapidly on the water's surface.

The sword intent emanating from him soared into the sky.

The dark clouds in the sky seemed to have been cut off by a sword, revealing the sun.

His body was undergoing a transformation, and his skin was oozing a greasy substance resembling impurities.

boom--!
next moment,
An aura of sacred nobility emanated from him.

His internal organs, muscles and bones, blood and qi, and meridians are undergoing tremendous changes.

Bang-bang-bang-!
A steady and powerful heartbeat stimulates the body's blood and energy.

Each jump is like the beating of a drum.

The flow of blood in the blood vessels and meridians merges with the internal energy, resonating with the universe.

Crackling——!
At the same time, his joints and acupoints emitted a series of crisp sounds.

My heart beats like a drum, and my acupoints and joints pop like beans!
Two completely different voices appeared within him at the same time.

All these changes represent his vitality, and they are happening in an unbelievable way.

The essence of life is undergoing sublimation and transformation!

Under the vast influence of heaven and earth, Chen Jie's life essence began to grow stronger and stronger across the entire lake surface.

Full of vitality, it seems as if a thin membrane inside the body has been broken.

Click——!
His internal energy began to circulate wildly.

Their bones and muscles were stronger than steel, and their blood became burning hot, as if it were about to burst into flames.

A surge of powerful energy burst forth from his body!

Breaking through the barrier is a success!

This is the realm of Qi Convergence and Internal Strength!

With a single swing of the sword, the sky darkened and the lake water boiled!
His boundless sword energy, transforming into a dragon, allowed him to control this world.

I've finally broken through to the Meridian Opening Qi level!

"what--!"

Chen Jie tilted his head back and let out a sharp roar, exhaling a breath of turbid air that he had gathered.

this moment,
He sensed the terrifying might of heaven and earth contained within the grand scheme of things, and deep within the void, there seemed to be endless vortexes.

Anyone who wants to break this world, or shatter the void, needs to suppress the vortex in the void.

Each vortex contains terrifying power, enough to destroy everything.

Clang——!
A vast sword intent erupted from the longsword in his hand.

call--!
As he breathed, he could see rays of sunlight merging with the energy of heaven and earth to form a scorching aura that entered his body.

quickly,

This intense heat became his source of power.

at the same time,

The vast starry sky of the Martial Saint Sect continuously tempered the life essence within his body.

His body underwent rapid transformation in this cyclical process.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on Chen Jie's mind.

Why do martial artists gain the ability to abstain from grains after cultivating to the point of 'Tongmai Gangjin'?

Even after going without food for more than ten days, one can still maintain the functioning of life by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon through breathing.

In this state, one can control the body's energy consumption at any time.

Under certain conditions, it can even enter a state of hibernation.

This is the Realm of Opening Meridians and Strengthening Qi, where one gains control over oneself and enhances one's life magnetic field.

Qi and blood are the source of life!

The ability to harness the power of heaven and earth to sustain one's own vital energy is a defining characteristic of the Tongmai Gangjin realm.

That is,

After Chen Jie broke through to the Tongmai Gangjin realm, even if he entered a desperate situation, he could survive for a long time without eating or drinking.

in fact,

A martial artist who breaks through to the Blood-Binding Pill Force already possesses the initial ability to abstain from grains.

This explains why the nine top masters of the Ximen Hall were able to survive for so long in the island's prison.

They are able to control their body's energy consumption, allowing them to live longer.

Those with the Qi of Opening Meridians are naturally more capable of abstaining from grains than those with the Qi of Moving Blood Pills.

It can maintain the body's energy balance under very harsh environmental conditions.

At the very moment of breaking through to the Tongmai Gangjin level, Chen Jie's internal energy in the "Diamond Skill" also underwent a tremendous change.

He could clearly sense that in this vast and boundless world, there were many imperceptible force fields.

The stronger you become, the more you can explore, sense, and absorb.

This is because the realm of spiritual refinement has reached the critical point of 'fasting of the mind', enabling one to sense the ultimate mystery of martial arts and gain some preliminary understanding of this world.

External Dharma Form!

This is a very ancient term, generally found in Buddhism.

In Taoism, the Dharma body is referred to as the 'primordial spirit'!
However, even those who have mastered the Qi of the Meridians have only just begun to touch upon the mysteries of martial arts and cannot truly understand the power of the Dharma Form, let alone condense and control it!
Sword Dao will condensed above Chen Jie's sea of ​​consciousness.

He has finally advanced to the level of Tongmai Gangjin, but he still cannot unleash the sword dao dharma form.

I still need to advance my martial arts realm!

Once the Refining Spirit realm breaks through to the [Concentration] stage, one can condense a sword-path external dharma form.

A single sword strike can kill a person a thousand meters away, striking without leaving a trace!

"The grand power of heaven and earth!"

He leaped into the air and let out a long howl.

In an instant,
The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and under the blazing sun, they coalesced into clusters of fiery sword shadows that hovered above his head, rising and falling before gradually dissipating.

The sword's power has been concentrated to its limit!

"Sword Qi Transforms into a Dragon, Innate Sword Qi!"

Clang——!
Chen Jie swung the Wuji Sword in his hand down fiercely onto the lake.

In an instant,
The countless lakes looked as if they had been ignited, appearing from a distance like boiling water.

but,

If you get closer, you can feel that there is no heat on the water surface.

This phenomenon was caused by the sword's aura, which used an extremely domineering force field to continuously compress and condense the lake water, causing mist to emanate from its surface.

With the added power of the sword energy, it looked as if the lake water had been boiled.

Boom——!
Chen Jie shook his hands and then pushed all his strength outward.

The water on the lake surface began to converge.

The lake water that looked like it was boiling actually condensed into a giant sword that was over ten meters tall!

This giant sword is very similar in appearance to the 'Wuji Sword', but it is entirely formed from lake water.

Do not underestimate this enormous sword; its surface is as hard as iron.

Even its entire shape is lifelike, with every detail perfectly presented, as if it were cast from steel, exuding a terrifying aura.

Less than a minute.

A giant sword, several meters tall, formed from the condensation of lake water, solidified on Houhu Lake in Hankou.

The hilt, blade, edge, tassel, and body of the sword are all formed from lake water, making them exquisite, massive, and magnificent!
This is Chen Jie's masterpiece of using innate sword energy.

With his own incredibly powerful internal energy and the spiritual perception of "Xin Zhai", he shaped and evolved the lake water into a giant sword.

Only he could possess such terrifying sword energy at the Tongmai Gangjin realm.

Although Guan Shanyue and Gongsun Ze, the two chief eunuchs, had already broken through to the late stage of the Great Perfection of the Meridian Opening Qi realm.

But they simply couldn't do that.

Simply compressing the lake water infinitely over such a long distance to condense it into the shape of a giant sword three meters tall would completely deplete one's internal energy.

If one wanted to condense the lake water into a giant sword several meters tall, it would be impossible to succeed without the combined efforts of ten late-stage Qi Refining experts.

and,

Even if ten powerful individuals joined forces, they could not last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Chen Jie, however, appeared completely relaxed and at ease.

The giant sword that had solidified on the lake surface rose into the air and began to unleash various sword techniques.

For a full fifteen minutes, the giant sword not only did not dissipate, but instead became even more solid.

Even the blade and edge of the sword seemed to possess a metallic luster, making it incredibly powerful and invincible!
Beside the giant sword, nine thin swords, each about half a meter long, condensed.

What's even more surprising is that, under Chen Jie's full power of sword energy, these slender swords seemed to be imbued with life, and actually became inseparable from the giant sword.

This level of control over sword energy far surpasses that of others of the same level!
For Chen Jie to advance to the Tongmai Gangjin realm was several times more difficult than for other martial artists.

However, once a breakthrough is achieved, promotion is possible.

Therefore, his peak combat power was naturally incredibly strong, far surpassing that of others of the same level.

If Chen Jie were to encounter another early-stage Divine Indestructible expert like Chiba Hiroshi who had not yet condensed an external avatar, he was confident he could kill him with a single sword strike.

Even when facing Situ Wushang, the leader of the Hongmen, even without activating the [Martial Saint Sect] resonance, he still has the strength to fight him with his current peak combat power.

"When the Wuji Sword Dao is cultivated to its greatest perfection, one can shatter the void with a single sword strike and take a person's head from a thousand miles away. It is divine and mysterious!"

"I have obtained the complete swordsmanship inheritance of the Martial Saint Sect. The next step is to accumulate more knowledge!"

"Only when your true energy becomes stronger and you can condense eighty-one giant swords, each a hundred meters tall, from the lake water will you truly become a Sword Saint!"

"With my current strength, I can only condense a giant sword that is a dozen meters tall. I'm still far from enough!"

call--!
Chen Jie let out a long sigh.

Boom——!
He withdrew all his true energy, and the giant lake water sword he had just condensed collapsed with a crash.

The sword's edge, hilt, blade, and body—even the small sword that had just been formed—all fell into the lake and returned to their original state.

The shocking scene that had just unfolded quickly disappeared.

The giant sword formed from the lake water relied on Chen Jie's incredibly powerful internal energy, and at the same time unleashed the innate sword aura!
He now withdraws his internal energy and stops performing his technique.

The giant sword lost its support and naturally collapsed into the lake.

To be able to do this so easily already makes one a supreme expert standing at the pinnacle of martial arts in the Great Qian Dynasty.

of course,

Chen Jie was not arrogant or complacent, but felt that the gap in strength was still very large.

Miyamoto Musashi, the greatest swordsman in the Orient, was like a mountain, making Chen Jie never dare to relax.

Miyamoto Musashi's strength is unfathomable.

Some say he is only at the late stage of the Divine Indestructible realm, others say he is a Quasi-Saint, and still others say his martial arts have broken through to the level of Martial Saint!

But these are all legends.

Undoubtedly, Miyamoto Musashi's martial arts skills had reached an unimaginable level.

Otherwise, he would not have broken his promise from nineteen years ago and set foot on the land of the Great Qian Dynasty again.

Chen Jie was able to kill Situ Wushang, the leader of the Hongmen, today thanks to the resonance of the [Martial Saint Sect].

If he weren't in the "Borrowing Sword" state, he wouldn't be a match for Situ Wushang at all.

not to mention,
His current peak combat strength is still quite different from his peak state when he "borrowed the sword".

"With my current strength, I'm not strong enough to challenge Miyamoto Musashi!"

After withdrawing his internal energy, Chen Jie stood on the lake and walked on the water.

He was deep in thought, his mind racing.

With each step he took, a current of water surged upwards from the lake beneath his feet, supporting his body and preventing him from sinking.

Those skilled in the Blood Pill Technique can walk on water and change the direction of the water flow using their internal energy.

Not to mention the super strong experts who have mastered the Qi of the Meridians!
He pondered whether he should challenge Miyamoto Musashi now that he had broken through and advanced to the Tongmai Gangjin level.
The Great Qian Dynasty and the Eastern Empire are destined for war!
This battle is a blood feud between nations, and it cannot be avoided!

It's just a matter of time, but with Chen Jie's current abilities, he still doesn't have much of a chance.

in addition,

The Blood Dragon Jade in his mind no longer had much [Martial Arts Merit Points], making it unable to activate the [Martial Saint Gate] resonance.

More importantly, the resonance of the [Martial Saint Sect] is limited and the activation time is very short.

After "borrowing a sword," one is easily susceptible to backlash and will have their martial arts path affected by the will of the Wuji Sword Saint.

It will be extremely difficult to break free from the interference of the Sword Saint's will in the future.

Therefore,
If given a choice, Chen Jie would never easily activate [Borrowing a Sword].

"Forget it! I'll refrain from challenging Miyamoto Musashi for now."

"Once I am stronger, I will lead the Ximen Tang army to sweep across Northeast China and wipe out the entire Kwantung Army!"

"When the battle flag of Ximentang is planted on the mainland of the Eastern Empire, that will be the time for me to challenge Miyamoto Musashi!"

"I'll take care of Dashan Rock first!"

"Then I need to go back and participate in the final battle of the 'Battle of the Trapped Beasts'! I want to obtain as many [Martial Arts Merit Points] as possible!"

After thinking for a long time, Chen Jie strode towards the shore of the back lake—! (End of this chapter)