Zhang Wanqing let out a cold snort, her face full of pride: “Nie Changhai and his lot actually thought our Jiang family was easy to bully—who would have known my son is actually a Grandmaster! They were clearly asking for death!”
Jiang Tian said leisurely: “The path of cultivation is profound and mysterious. One could say that the highest level of martial arts is merely the foundational stage of cultivation! If you can cultivate to the highest realms, your physical body will never perish, your spiritual sense will never die, and you can ascend to immortality—imperishable and eternal. With a single strike, you could shatter mountains and rivers; with a raise of your hand, you could hurl entire cities!”
Jiang Tian took a sip of tea and continued slowly: “You could even roam the universe, step onto the starry skies beyond, become a true deity—a single punch could destroy a planet, a flick of your finger could annihilate all living things, until you eventually create a universe of your very own…”
“Cultivation… is truly that miraculous!”
“Good heavens! That would make you a true immortal god! No—even more formidable than the gods of legend!”
After hearing this, Jiang Changgeng and the others felt as if they were in a dream—utterly stunned and unable to believe it.
Had they not witnessed Jiang Tian cleave the mountain with a wave of his hand, they might have thought he had lost his mind and was rambling nonsense.
But now, they suddenly felt that if Jiang Tian truly possessed such power, wiping out Jinling’s three great families was only natural. To a supreme being like him, human lives were truly no more significant than dust or ants—beneath notice.
“Grandfather, Mom and Dad, Sister Ziwei—I gathered everyone here today because I actually want to guide all of you onto the path of cultivation!”
Jiang Tian swept his gaze across the family and smiled.
“We can cultivate too? This old man is willing to learn alongside my worthy grandson!”
Jiang Changgeng first looked incredulous, then suddenly rose to his feet and, trembling slightly, performed a disciple’s salute.
At the beginning of the year, he had shown signs of physical and spiritual decline and nearly lost his life, so he knew all too well how precious life and health truly were. Even if he couldn’t reach the incredible heights Jiang Tian described, simply living a few more healthy years free from the torment of illness would already be wonderful.
“Grandfather, please don’t be so formal—I want to be able to stay with you forever!” Jiang Tian was startled and quickly returned the gesture.
“Hmph, if I live another hundred years or so, with wrinkles all over my face and teeth falling out, but still stubbornly alive—won’t I turn into some thousand-year-old witch? That would be hideous!”
Zhang Wanqing was also somewhat tempted but joked instead.
“Mom, I know you care about your looks. But those who cultivate can regain their youth, preserve their beauty forever, and achieve true reverse aging!”
Jiang Tian’s face darkened with exasperation—his mother still cared about beauty at a time like this—then he chuckled: “When that day comes, you’ll look like a sweet sixteen-year-old girl—so beautiful! It’d be way better than any cosmetics or skincare!”
That hit his mother right where it mattered most. She immediately perked up excitedly: “Then I’ll cultivate too!”
“Your mother’s going to turn into a young beauty, and I’ll be an old geezer—what am I supposed to do then? She might even dump me! I’m cultivating too!” Jiang Zhixing said with a grin.
“You old devil, what nonsense are you spouting? You’ll make the kids laugh. In my eyes, you’ll always be a handsome hunk…” Zhang Wanqing laughed and playfully pinched her husband.
In no time, the whole family had agreed.
Jiang Tian said: “I’ll pass on a cultivation technique to each of you shortly.”
Then Jiang Tian shifted gears, looking seriously at the old man: “Grandfather, did you know that behind the three families, there’s a puppet master pulling the strings—the East Asian Sakura Society.”
“The Japanese?”
The old man looked surprised: “How could that be? How could we have provoked the Japanese?”
“That’s also why I struck with lethal force.”
Jiang Tian took a sip of tea and continued slowly: “The three families weren’t just after control of our Yaowang Group—they wanted to act as the Sakura Society’s attack dogs and annihilate our entire family. Their ultimate goal was to seize a fragment of a map!”
“A map fragment… Could it be that map?” Jiang Changgeng’s eyes grew distant as he furrowed his brows in deep thought.
“Grandfather, what’s the story behind that map? Why would even the Sakura Society covet it?” Jiang Tian asked.
Over the past two days, he’d been in touch with Tang Guozhu and had learned just how vast and terrifying the Sakura Society’s power truly was.
The Sakura Society was founded during World War II, comprised of Japanese sword masters, ninjas, onmyoji, and other extraordinary individuals who embraced militarism—a veritable forest of experts and a cloud of elite warriors.
Its chairman held a position akin to Japan’s national preceptor, sitting on equal footing with the Emperor.
Over nearly a century of development, the Sakura Society’s influence had grown immensely. They wielded terrifying power in the military, political, and economic spheres, capable of shaping national policy and instigating wars. Major conglomerates like Matsushita and Sumitomo took pride in joining the society, and even the Prime Minister treated them with deference.
In short, in terms of martial strength, the Sakura Society could rival China’s Dragon Group. But in terms of influence over the secular world, they might even hold the upper hand—like the shadow emperor of Japan.
“The story behind this map fragment is a long one…”
Jiang Changgeng’s gaze grew profound, as if sinking into past memories. He spoke slowly: “During the Republican era, your great-grandfather was a renowned miracle doctor. One day, while practicing at the Jinling Yaowang Clinic, a man dressed as a Daoist priest, covered in blood, burst through the door—with a swarm of pursuers and agents hot on his heels!”
“When your grandfather saw that the pursuers were Japanese devils, he knew this man was likely a resistance fighter against Japan. He hid him, helped him escape, and treated his wounds.”
“But back then, the world was in chaos, war raged on all fronts, and medicine was in short supply. In the end, that brave man succumbed to his injuries. But on his deathbed, he entrusted that map fragment to your great-grandfather!”
“Moreover, in his final moments, he said the map involved the secrets of the Immortal Ruins and the Divine Realm—it had to be safeguarded well and must never fall into enemy hands!”
“Secrets involving the Immortal Ruins and the Divine Realm?”
Jiang Tian’s eyes suddenly lit up, and a storm surged within his heart. He asked in a low voice: “Grandfather, where is that map fragment now?”
“That map fragment was given as a betrothal gift when we proposed marriage to that young lady from the capital!”
Jiang Changgeng shook his head with a soft sigh: “Looking back now, I realize that map was actually the key reason that family agreed to the marriage. They specifically demanded the ‘Immortal Ruins Fragment.’ I figured our Jiang family wasn’t a martial arts clan—keeping it would be a waste—and I wanted to find you a good wife, so I agreed. Who knew they’d later…”
“So you gave it to them…” Jiang Tian furrowed his brow, disappointment weighing on his heart.
Years ago, when his master took him away from Earth, he had glanced back and mentioned that deep within the space near Earth lay a wasteland paradise rich in cultivation resources—that should be the legendary Immortal Ruins Realm.
In his previous life, when his master took him away, his master was already immensely powerful and had no interest in that realm. He merely cast a few glances before departing with Jiang Tian into the depths of the cosmos.
But in this life, Jiang Tian’s return had already triggered a cascade of butterfly effects—his master might very well not come to Earth at all.
That meant he would have to set foot on the ancient stellar path himself—and the first stop on that path would be the Immortal Ruins Realm.
Yet now, knowing of the Immortal Ruins’ existence, he couldn’t even locate the map fragment.
“It doesn’t matter!”
Suddenly, Jiang Tian’s spirits lifted, his eyes blazing with sharp light as a trace of killing intent flickered within: “The betrothal is already null and void—so the Immortal Ruins Fragment naturally should be returned to our Jiang family. Sooner or later, I’ll storm their household and demand it back! If they hand it over willingly, all is well. If not—I’ll annihilate their entire family!”
Though such thoughts churned in his mind, he didn’t want to worry his family, so he kept his expression calm and asked:
“Grandfather, do you have a traced copy or a photocopy of that fragment? I’d like to see it…”
“Yes, I have one—wait here, I’ll get it!”
Jiang Changgeng went into his study and returned shortly with a piece of paper, handing it to Jiang Tian.
“Hm? These characters and patterns…”
Jiang Tian examined it carefully and couldn’t help but show a flicker of surprise.
From the traced copy, it was clear that this was only part of the original map—a topographic depiction of what seemed to be high mountains with undulating ridges.
In addition, there were some oddly shaped characters.
These ancient symbols were unlike anything Jiang Tian had ever seen—he had no idea which era they belonged to. Some were as solemn as mystic turtles, others soared and danced like mighty dragons, and still others thundered and roared like galloping qilins.
“This map fragment must hide an immense secret—but it’s only one piece, and I don’t know where the rest is…”
However, Jiang Tian immediately noticed that these characters carried a natural flavor of the Dao itself, bearing the essence of immortal patterns and cosmic laws.
This meant the original map was likely both a geographical chart and possibly a magical artifact.
Having gained this clue about the Immortal Ruins, Jiang Tian didn’t rush to search for it.
He suspected that the Immortal Ruins might even involve ancient, lost legends—a realm so ethereal and elusive that even with all his connections, finding it wouldn’t happen overnight.
The priority now was to help his family embark on the path of cultivation.
“Grandfather, I’ll first pass on a technique to all of you called the Sanqing Foundation Establishment Art…”
Jiang Tian snapped back to the present and began speaking calmly.
The Sanqing Foundation Establishment Art was a foundational cultivation method in the world of cultivation. Its greatest characteristic was that it could temper the practitioner’s foundation and temperament until they were as solid and unshakable as a boulder.
Moreover, this art had the effect of strengthening the body. After practicing it, one would become immune to all poisons, impervious to fire and water, and able to live up to two hundred years of age.
And once one reached the Qi Refining stage, using this art in combat would only grow smoother and more powerful with each battle—like the ceaseless flow of the Yangtze River, unstoppable and full of infinite potential.
“Excellent!”
The four of them responded, and then suddenly, a series of resonant, Dao-like tones echoed deep within their minds—
“Among all things, none are greater than Heaven and Earth, yet even they have their limits.
The vastness of Heaven is encompassed by Yin and Yang;
The breadth of Earth is encompassed by Hardness and Softness.
When Yin and Yang are fully realized, the four seasons come into being;
When Hardness and Softness are fully realized, the four directions take form.
Heaven is born from movement; Earth is born from stillness.
Movement and stillness intertwine, and thus the way of Heaven and Earth is complete.
At the beginning of movement, Yang is born; at the extreme of movement, Yin is born.
Yin and Yang intertwine, and the functions of Heaven are fully realized…”
It was like the resounding clang of an ancient bell, like a celestial chant—giving them a feeling of profound enlightenment, as if a clear spring were pouring over their heads.
Jiang Changgeng and the others exchanged stunned glances, unable to believe it.
They hadn’t seen Jiang Tian’s lips move at all—so how were they hearing this?
“Don’t panic. This is my spiritual sense transmitting the technique directly into your minds!”
Jiang Tian’s calm voice echoed once more in their minds, guiding them to comprehend the essence of this art.
Afterward, Jiang Tian tailored and imparted suitable immortal martial techniques to each of them based on their individual personalities.
For Jiang Changgeng, who was steady and dignified, he taught the Holy Heart Sovereign Fist.
This boxing method balanced hardness with softness, was smooth and fluid, equally strong in offense and defense, righteous in spirit—inner sage, outer king.
For Zhang Wanqing, who had always been strong-willed, unyielding, and stood shoulder to shoulder with men, he taught the Heroine’s Brow-Raising Sword Art.
This sword technique was fierce in attack, charging ahead fearlessly, with an awe-inspiring dominance that dared to push through life-and-death situations.
His father and Ye Ziwei also each received their own set of immortal martial cultivation arts.
