All of us are one

Chapter 115 Shattering the Void? Physical Ascension?

the next morning.

After having breakfast, Jiang Yanming used his internal energy to clean the "general store" and then sat down to rest on a recliner behind the counter.

"Young Alliance Leader." Leng Tong and Wang Chen pushed open the door and entered.

"Please make yourselves at home," Jiang Yanming said, getting up to pour two cups of tea for the two of them.

"Thank you very much, Young Alliance Leader." Leng Tong and Wang Chen hurriedly thanked him and accepted the gifts.

"How much do you know about the Martial Arts Alliance?" Jiang Yanming asked.

"I don't know much about them. The Martial Arts Alliance values ​​the Qi Condensation Warriors from the Four Kingdoms Alliance," Leng Tong replied. "Although we warriors from the Divine Martial Kingdom are strong, it is difficult for us to wield significant power within the Martial Arts Alliance."

"Those Condensing Qi martial artists born in the Four Kingdoms Alliance mostly have families and schools that have been rooted in the Four Kingdoms Alliance for a long time, which makes it impossible for them to give up control of the Martial Arts Alliance," Wang Chen continued. "The Four Kingdoms Alliance is unwilling to see the Martial Arts Alliance controlled by my Divine Martial Kingdom, and is also happy to see us squeezed into a leisurely department."

"So, Senior Brother Ling came to review the profound mysteries on behalf of the Martial Arts Alliance because of exclusion?" Jiang Yanming asked.

"Yes," Leng Tong nodded. "Martial artists who have comprehended the profound mysteries of the Four Kingdoms Alliance are extremely rare; perhaps only one will emerge in ten years."

"I see." Jiang Yanming nodded slightly, then asked, "Are there many Qi Condensation Realm martial artists in the Martial Arts Alliance?"

"Not counting the martial artists of my Divine Martial Kingdom, the Martial Alliance has seven or eight hundred Condensing Qi Realm martial artists, most of whom are at the first or second Condensing Qi Realm." Leng Tong thought for a moment and said, "It's not difficult to break through from the first to the second Condensing Qi Realm. As long as you accumulate enough strength, you will break through sooner or later."

"It's different when you reach the third level of the Qi Condensation Realm. The Martial Arts Alliance only has more than twenty martial artists at this level, and there are only three at the fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm."

Jiang Yanming nodded upon hearing this; the Martial Arts Alliance was much weaker than expected.

"The Condensed Qi warriors of the Martial Arts Alliance are not up to par. The Four Nations Alliance's emphasis on the Martial Arts Alliance stems more from the fact that Condensed Qi warriors are excellent candidates for improvement," Wang Chen said coldly.

"Remodel?" Jiang Yanming frowned immediately.

A martial artist who cultivates internal energy will temper their body with internal energy. As their martial arts cultivation level increases, their body will become stronger and stronger, making them excellent material for transformation.

After all, a strong physique mostly means high nerve tolerance, allowing for the implantation of more powerful modules.

"For martial artists with aspirations, undergoing modification is naturally undesirable. Replacing tendons and bones beyond a certain limit will significantly reduce the speed of cultivation," Leng Tong explained. "Just like Protector Li and his son, who almost completely cut off the possibility of martial arts cultivation after having their arm and leg tendons and bones replaced."

Jiang Yanming nodded to indicate that he understood.

"Some martial artists whose qi and blood are declining, realizing that they can no longer advance on the path of martial arts, will undergo modification to extend their lifespan," Wang Chen explained. "Generally speaking, the weakest martial artist after undergoing modification is a level 5 mechanical cyborg, comparable to a level 2 martial artist."

"Hmm? So that means..." Jiang Yanming frowned and asked, "A martial artist at the fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm who undergoes modification can reach a strength comparable to a top-tier level eight cyborg?"

"That's not the case!" Wang Chen shook his head. "The more powerful the module, the higher the demand on nerve tolerance. Even a fourth-level Qi Condensation Realm martial artist would find it difficult to withstand the full implantation of an eighth-level module."

"Although not all of them can be implanted at level eight, some level eight modules can be implanted, making their strength comparable to top experts."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yanming finally relaxed.

The Martial Arts Alliance has very few Condensation Realm and Fourth Realm martial artists. Even if they all accepted the modification, it would only add some Level 7 mechanical cyborgs to the Four Kingdoms Alliance.

In terms of strategic value, martial artists at the third or fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm are far more valuable than level seven mechanical cyborgs with obvious shortcomings, especially when dealing with the Holy Alliance, whose technological level is not inferior.

Afterwards, Jiang Yanming and the other two chatted in the "general store". During this time, Chen Moqun, Zhou Baizhan and Li Kun came by once, but they left after saying hello.

……

And so, it became afternoon.

Jiang Yanming remained seated on the recliner behind the counter, while Leng Tong and Wang Chen studied the firearms, occasionally whispering among themselves.

Although firearms pose no threat to them, they still have their merits as weapons that can kill body-tempering martial artists even if wielded by an ordinary person.

Suddenly, the three of them turned to look at the door of the grocery store at the same time, and saw a man dressed in casual clothes push the door open and walk in.

Leng Tong and Wang Chen jumped up from their chairs, bowing respectfully to the newcomer: "Greetings, Alliance Leader!"

"Father." Jiang Yanming stood up to greet him.

"Hmm." Jiang Yi nodded slightly, then looked at Leng Tong and Wang Chen and said, "I know you two. A-Ming has been protected by you all the way here."

"This is our duty," Leng Tong and Wang Chen quickly bowed in response.

"Alright, you guys go back and rest. I'll need you to continue protecting A-Ming later," Jiang Yi said softly.

"Yes," Leng Tong and Wang Chen replied modestly, then bowed and left the general store.

"Ah Ming, let's have a talk, just the two of us," Jiang Yi said after a moment of silence following Leng Tong and Wang Chen's departure. "I know you have a lot of questions on your mind."

"Have a seat." Jiang Zhi sat down in the chair in front of the counter.

"Father, what conflict do you have with Uncle?" Jiang Yanming asked, sitting in a recliner and looking up at Jiang Yi, who was a head taller than him.

"There's a contradiction... I suppose," Jiang Yi said softly. "It's a long story, it all started when your uncle and I joined the Xuan Shui Sect."

Jiang Yanming listened quietly.

"Your uncle and I are twin brothers born on the same day. Our family was killed by wanted martial artists while visiting relatives, and we were rescued by a Xuan Shui Sect master who happened to be passing by, and thus joined the Xuan Shui Sect."

Jiang Yi sighed, "Later, because of our outstanding talents, we were given special training by the Xuan Shui Sect. Later, I became a top expert and succeeded as the sect leader. Your uncle wanted to change and even unify the Shenwu Kingdom because of his childhood experiences, and control all the martial artists in the world."

"I was persuaded by your uncle, so after becoming a top expert, I established the Great River Alliance, absorbing many sects and forces willing to follow me as well as lone masters to serve me, and bringing the entire Great River Plain under my control."

"I met your mother during the rise of the Great River Alliance." Jiang Yi's words softened slightly as he spoke. "Your mother is two years younger than me. She was a disciple favored by the Thousand Machines Sect Master and had already reached the fourth level of the Condensing Qi Realm at a young age."

"Hmm, there's this connection too?" Jiang Yanming was surprised and confused, and he understood why his father had thought that the Thousand Machines Sect would come looking for him.

Strictly speaking, he should be the grand-disciple of the Thousand Machines Sect Master!

"Later, your mother became pregnant with you and received orders from the Thousand Machines Sect Master to instigate a war between me and either the three major families of Beiliu City or Jiangnan."

Jiang Yi sighed softly, "Your mother then told me about this matter, and under your uncle's guidance, she revealed the entire conspiracy of the Thousand Machines Sect. Afterwards, your uncle announced it to the world in your mother's name."

"Thus, after the Thousand Machines Sect's conspiracy was exposed, it did not affect you or me. The whole world praises your mother for her noble character."

"Your mother felt guilty for betraying her sect, which caused her to suffer from depression and grief. After meeting with the sect leader of Qianji Sect, her depression worsened, and she committed suicide after giving birth to you."

"After your mother died..." Jiang Yi took a deep breath, "I suppressed my inner energy and physique to challenge the world with my sword. Half of the top experts were defeated by me. Later, out of respect for your mother, I only severely injured the Thousand Machines Sect Master with three sword strikes."

"At that time, I felt the fragility of the rules of heaven and earth in the Divine Martial Kingdom. It was as if I could break the rules of heaven and earth with just a little more effort. But I had a premonition that breaking the rules of heaven and earth was not a good thing."

"So, I took you away from the Divine Martial Kingdom and settled in the Four Kingdoms Alliance for more than twenty years." Jiang Yi looked calmly at Jiang Yanming as he finished speaking.

"This..." Jiang Yanming was shocked upon hearing this.

What does it mean to break the rules of heaven and earth? Is it to shatter the void and ascend to the upper realm with one's physical body?