Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 289 Even if the heavens collapse and stars fall

illusion?

If the people of Jiayuguan knew that someone was mistaking that for an illusion, they would certainly not hesitate to give that person a thorough dressing-down.

You call the apocalyptic scene that suffocates the city's residents and causes countless people to faint an illusion?

You call that terrifying killing intent that overwhelms heaven and earth and fills every inch of space an illusion?

You call that vision of the sky collapsing and stars falling, a terrifying scene of impending annihilation of humanity, an illusion?
Such a scene was breathtaking, enough to make one's soul tremble.

How could it be summarized by the mere word 'illusion'?!
Standing inside Jiayuguan, Zhang Sanfeng, though the dark clouds that seemed to topple the sky and the thunder that seemed to be divine retribution had dissipated, still couldn't control himself for a long time. He felt a sense of powerlessness and insignificance, like an ant trying to see the blue sky.

"Above the celestial beings?"

"It seems there's much more!"

"Could it be that Prince Su has made another breakthrough?"

Zhang Sanfeng's eyes were filled with a burning desire to explore the truth, yet he couldn't take the first step.

With a single thought, one can travel thousands of miles in an instant. He is currently in Jiayuguan, and if he were to extend his senses, there would be nothing in the entire Jiayuguan area that could be kept from him.

But when the time came, Zhang Sanfeng could only look at the Tian Ce Mansion, sigh helplessly, and his thoughts of heaven and man vanished in an instant.

It's not that I can't, but that I dare not.

The moment Zhang Sanfeng appeared at Jiayuguan with his divine will, at least ten auras comparable to those of celestial beings locked onto him, filled with warnings, as if he would face their merciless attack if he dared to use his divine will to perceive the secrets within Jiayuguan.

Not to mention, it would also offend Zhu Jinzhen.

Zhang Sanfeng wasn't that stupid.

……

Inside Tiance Mansion.

Before Zhu Jinzhen, Yan Yimei, and the others, the source that had previously caused the upheaval in the heavens and earth and seemed to be about to destroy the entire world had completely vanished, leaving not even ashes.

Powerful, terrifying, invincible.

This is the most direct feeling in the hearts of Zhu Jinzhen and others right now.

Even Zhu Jinzhen was tense and on high alert when the eighteen Earth Immortal Realm secret guards, through the battle formation of the Ziwei Doutian Array, burned everything and unleashed battle power that surpassed an unknown realm beyond the celestial beings.

Yan Yimei, Xiao Luoyang, and the secret guards beside them were in an even worse state.

The moment that world-destroying power appeared, they seemed to see countless stars shining outside the world, about to fall into this world, and even the killing intent that filled the world could hardly withstand it.

"I am now a power that transcends the heavens and dwells at the pinnacle of humanity."

"They just used the Ziwei Doutian Formation to enhance their power, and at their limit, they should be able to unleash a single strike that surpasses my power by a whole realm, which actually posed a great threat to me."

"So, at my current limit, not counting the Immortal Kneeling with One Sword, I can probably only deal with enemies who are one or two major realms above the Celestial Realm?"

Ever since Zhu Jinzhen mastered the rule-based sword technique 'One Sword Makes Immortals Kneel' and achieved great mastery of swordsmanship through analogy, he has never been clear about the limits of his own combat power.

Now, we finally have a relatively clear concept.

With his swordsmanship and personal strength alone, he can defeat enemies of one or even two major realms above him.

Zhu Jinzhen was not entirely satisfied with the result, but he did not belittle himself either.

In the world of martial arts, the terrestrial celestial beings are the pinnacle of humanity. There are only a handful of beings above the terrestrial celestial beings, and it is unknown whether there are any others besides Tong Chi.

Zhu Jinzhen had nothing to be dissatisfied with, as he possessed the combat power to defeat enemies within two major realms above the level of celestial beings on the land.

Compared to those fantasy or high-martial arts worlds where freaks can kill enemies across several major realms at will, he might be slightly inferior, but if placed in a multi-martial arts world...

He even dared to say that he was the only one who mattered in heaven and earth.

At this moment, Zhu Jinzhen noticed the pale-faced secret guards beside him, the Tian Ce soldiers guarding the Tian Ce Mansion outside, and the situation throughout Jiayuguan. A thought arose in his mind.

"It's careless!"

Previously, in order to test the power of the secret guards, Zhu Jinzhen only cared about improving them at all costs, completely forgetting that the murderous intent and the terrifying aura that resembled the collapse of stars were enough to completely destroy the psychological defenses of anyone below the level of a terrestrial immortal.

If Zhu Jinzhen hadn't sensed the danger and used his swordsmanship to envelop the Tian Ce Mansion, it wouldn't have been for him.

I'm afraid that before those secret guards can hold out until they burn out, Tian Ce Mansion, or even the entire Jiayuguan Pass, will be completely wiped out, with no one left alive.

Even someone as powerful as Zhang Sanfeng could not possibly survive the power of the Ziwei Doutian Formation, which is comparable to two major realms beyond the terrestrial and celestial realms.

"That old Taoist priest must be terrified today." Zhu Jinzhen glanced in the direction of the Quanzhen Sect of the Southern Song Dynasty. Zhang Sanfeng's arrival could not be kept from him, but at that time, the eighteen secret guards had reached their limit, and he did not have the spare time to pay attention to it.

Seeing him leave on his own, Zhu Jinzhen did not try to stop him.

Suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, Zhu Jinzhen's sword intent instantly shattered the wind and clouds, soaring straight to the heavens. For the first time, the sword path, which transcends intention, momentum, and realm, stood in the sky with the most ruthless posture.

This is not Zhu Jinzhen showing off his own power.

Zhu Jinzhen was using this attitude to dispel the gloom and fear that shrouded everyone in Jiayuguan.

That towering sword intent, which even tore apart the heavens, revealed only one meaning.

He, Zhu Jinzhen, is still alive.

Even if the heavens collapse and stars fall, he will still be there to hold them up.

"This is... His Highness's sword intent?"

"It's as if I heard Your Highness's voice in the darkness."

"As long as His Highness is here, what does it matter if the heavens and earth collapse?"

"As long as Your Highness is here, we will always be here, as in the past, as in the present, and as in the future."

Inside Jiayuguan, the people who had been driven to the brink of collapse by the murderous intent felt the powerful will emanating from the soaring sword intent. They were all energized and began to cheer excitedly, as if trying to dispel the fear that gripped their hearts.

Emotions are contagious; a few, dozens, hundreds, gradually creating a boiling atmosphere throughout Jiayuguan.

Zhu Jinzhen left behind a portion of his sword intent, which lingered between heaven and earth for a long time.

……

When the outside world is noisy and bustling.

Zhu Jinzhen also began to inspect the results of this huge commotion.

"The Martial Arts Cultivation Furnace, a product from the myriad realms, don't disappoint me." A fervent glint flashed in Zhu Jinzhen's eyes. If the Martial Arts Cultivation Furnace could record such power, then he would truly be invincible in the mortal world.

Just now, when the Ziwei Doutian Formation reached its limit, the killing intent filled the world. I dare not say that it had the power to destroy the world with a single blow, but Zhu Jinzhen felt that it was very likely that a peak strike could wipe out a country.

If one possessed such power, the First Emperor's conquest of Heaven, the divine dragon's warning, and the threat of another transmigrator who was attracted by the transmigrator Wang Chao and might come after him—Zhu Jinzhen felt that all of these were... except for the last one, they were nothing.

One hour, two hours, three hours.

As time went on, the eyes of Yan Yimei, Xiao Luoyang, and the other secret guards grew increasingly fervent, and their anticipation rose ever higher.

Two more hours passed.

The martial arts self-cultivation furnace was opened again.

Zhu Jinzhen opened his eyes, which shone like stars, and looked at the nervous Yan Yimei and Xiao Luoyang: "How long has it been?"

"Your Highness, it has been five hours," Yan Yimei replied with a bow.

"Only five hours?" Zhu Jinzhen slowly closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and then leisurely slipped away from the Martial Arts Cultivation Furnace. He glanced at the eighteen secret guards who had been resurrected and gained a deeper understanding of the incredible power of Teyvat Fried Egg.

(End of this chapter)