“Master Jiang, please don’t be hasty!”
Wei Feilong laughed and said, “The three of us have just one small request. We’re not sure if it’s appropriate, but we’d like to ask Master Jiang for a clear answer!”
“President Wei, you’re too polite. Please, speak your mind.” Jiang Tian smiled.
To be honest, he had always maintained a “keep your distance” attitude toward the Chinese martial arts world—if they didn’t bother him, he wouldn’t bother them.
But at this moment, these three grandmasters had gone through untold hardships over the past six months, visiting famous mountains and great rivers just to help him find the Empress Flower. Who knew how many pairs of hiking boots they had worn through? Even with Jiang Tian’s millennia-old, rock-solid temperament as a cultivator, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of emotion.
The distance between Jiang Tian and them instantly shrank. He now considered them part of his inner circle—otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered healing Zhao Yuankun.
Wei Feilong, being a shrewd old fox, sensed the shift in Jiang Tian’s mood and felt a surge of joy. He said, “We plan to establish an alliance called the ‘Heavenly Alliance,’ with Master Jiang at its core. Anyone who follows you and receives your guidance will be a member, provided their cultivation level is above the Transformation Realm!”
“The ‘Heavenly Alliance’… what would it do?” Jiang Tian furrowed his brow slightly.
“Over the past six months, we’ve received intelligence that numerous martial artists and superhumans from around the world have entered China, leaving a trail of bloodshed, treating our Chinese martial arts world as if it were empty and defenseless!”
Huo Qingtian said with deep concern, “Under Master Jiang’s leadership, the members of our ‘Heavenly Alliance’ would hold you in the highest esteem, follow all your commands, and raise our blades against these invaders, cutting them down one by one. In battle, we would no longer use our family or sect names—we would all rally under the banner of the ‘Heavenly Alliance.'”
“Heh, if you do that, you won’t just be making me famous in the Chinese martial world—you’ll be making me a global name!” Jiang Tian looked at them with an ambiguous smile.
“We know that Master Jiang is like a clear breeze and a bright moon—noble in spirit, indifferent to fame. You’re joking with us, of course!” Wei Feilong said with an ingratiating smile. “This move is solely to defend the Chinese martial arts community against foreign humiliation and to hold our heads high!”
Jiang Tian frowned. “But as far as I know, the Chinese Dragon Group was also established to resist foreign invaders. Wouldn’t we be like a hen crowing at dawn, stealing the rooster’s thunder?”
“Master Jiang, you may not be aware…” Wei Feilong sighed and spoke with some reluctance. “Ye Zhantian is utterly devoted to the martial path. He once went into seclusion for ten years, seeking to reach the pinnacle of martial arts and step into the Divine Realm. As for these worldly affairs… well…”
“Fine, then do as you wish!” Jiang Tian swept his gaze across the group and said slowly, “Since you all are so dedicated to the martial path, I will also guide you somewhat in your training. I am willing to share my elixirs and formations with you as well!”
“We thank you, Master Jiang! Your kindness will never be forgotten!”
Overjoyed, the three of them prostrated themselves on the ground. Wei Feilong was even moved to tears.
They knew full well that Jiang Tian, at only in his twenties, had already reached the pinnacle of the Transformation Realm and glimpsed the truth of the Divine Realm. He was a once-in-a-century, even once-in-a-millennium prodigy.
To receive guidance from such a genius was an opportunity that might not come again in a thousand years—priceless beyond measure.
At this moment, they felt that all the hardships of the past six months—sleeping in the open, enduring long journeys—had been worth it.
“Rise!” Jiang Tian helped them up and said with a smile, “But I have one condition: when you kill invading experts in the future, don’t tarnish my reputation. Since I first stepped onto the martial stage, I have never tasted defeat. I don’t demand that you remain undefeated forever, but you must never kneel and beg for mercy, nor show weakness or cowardice in battle. If anyone does—no matter who—I will not go easy on them.”
“Such boldness and ambition—this is the true spirit of a martial artist!”
Hearing this, they were deeply awed and looked at Jiang Tian with boundless admiration.
His words were simple and plain, yet they radiated an overwhelming, heaven-defying dominance—as if he were a peerless supreme being standing tall between heaven and earth, unafraid of even the gods and Buddhas above.
Where does a martial artist’s true strength lie? It is not just in destructive power or killing force—it is a spirit.
It is the unyielding, indomitable righteous energy that says: strive unceasingly, endure a hundred setbacks, fall but never submit, never admit defeat!
“Of course, once you’ve received my guidance, how many in this world could truly stand against you?” Jiang Tian chuckled.
“Exactly, exactly!” The three of them nodded like chicks pecking at rice, overjoyed.
“Gentlemen, I am heading to Mount Everest to find the Empress Flower. Would you be willing to serve as my guides?” Jiang Tian’s expression turned serious, his gaze stretching far toward the southwest as he asked in a deep voice.
“Of course! It would be our honor!” Huo Qingtian and Zhao Yuankun quickly bowed with clasped hands.
“But the Empress Flower grows right next to the dojo of the Green Lotus Great Master. He guards it day and night. If Master Jiang wants to take it, I’m afraid a battle is inevitable…” Wei Feilong said with some concern.
“President Wei, have you already forgotten the founding purpose of the Heavenly Alliance?” Jiang Tian smiled and said, “The northern slopes of Everest are Chinese territory. What business does a yellow-skinned monkey from India have building a dojo there?”
“Well said, Master Jiang! This old man was being cowardly!” Wei Feilong bowed with clasped hands, his face flushed with shame.
“Every inch of our mountains and rivers is soaked in blood—not a single inch shall be surrendered!”
Jiang Tian suddenly rose to his feet. The moment he straightened his back, an immensely sharp and formidable aura burst forth from him.
He was like an unsheathed divine sword, as if he could cleave through the nine heavens and ten earths. For the first time, he revealed his true nature as the Primordial Immortal Venerable.
“I will slay the Green Lotus Great Master and use his blood to consecrate the banner of the Heavenly Alliance!”
Though Jiang Tian’s words were plain and simple, they carried boundless dominance, striking the ground like a thunderclap and shaking the hearts of all who heard them.
“Jiang Tian, this time, I have to go with you!” Zhao Xueqing tugged at his hand, her eyes slightly red, her delicate face filled with worry.
Jiang Tian had already faced countless dangers at the Martial Arts Federation conference just to help her find the Empress Flower. And now, the Green Lotus Great Master—India’s number one martial expert—had proven too powerful even for three grandmasters combined. The sheer terror of his strength was all too clear.
“Qing’er, there’s no use in you coming along.” Jiang Tian gently tried to persuade her. “Stay and cultivate in Linzhou. Ghost Kick Li and Li Zhenwei will protect you there.”
Though Qing’er was deeply reluctant, she understood that Jiang Tian was speaking the truth. She would only be a burden, getting in the way. After a long silence, she said reluctantly, “I’ll listen to you. But you have to promise me—you absolutely cannot get hurt. You have to come back safe!”
“Don’t worry. That Green Lotus Great Master is definitely no match for me!”
Leaving those words behind, Jiang Tian strode out the door without looking back, radiating an unwavering, unstoppable resolve.
As Jiang Tian set out for the southwest, toward Tibet, toward Mount Everest, accompanied by the three grandmasters…
A secret piece of news began to circulate among the upper echelons of global power organizations. A photograph was placed before the leaders of major dark forces worldwide.
That photograph—was the very same picture of the Empress Flower that Huo Qingtian had shown Jiang Tian.
“This is Catalytic Spirit Spring! Absolutely pure Catalytic Spirit Spring—it can unlock human potential, trigger evolution, and turn ordinary people into gifted ones, superhumans…”
“Absolutely! Look at those tropical plants growing right there on Everest—it defies nature! The life force must be astonishingly powerful!”
Immediately, high-ranking members of dark organizations reached their conclusions.
“And more than that—it’s a continuous, flowing Catalytic Spirit Spring, forming an inexhaustible spring that never runs dry!” an esper marveled.
“Just one sip can unlock potential—imagine what you could do with that much!”
“We’ve got to seize that spirit spring! If we drink that much Catalytic Spirit Spring, we’ll definitely become supreme experts—we might even step into the Divine Realm!”
Many were tempted.
In an instant, the entire dark world erupted into a frenzy.
From Europe to North America, from Japan to Southeast Asia, the eyes of countless powerful figures turned toward East Asia—toward China, toward Tibet, toward that snow-covered realm on the northern slopes of the main peak.
“China has the Dragon Group guarding it—it’s a forbidden zone for dark forces. Can we even go?” Some were hesitant.
“We can take a detour through India and Nepal, snatch the Empress Flower, and then make a quick getaway!” someone suggested.
“A detour through Nepal? Southeast Asia is controlled by the Singapore Chinese Association—Wang Chongyan would skin you alive!”
Someone analyzed calmly: “Besides, all the major powers have taken notice now—Japan’s Sakura Society, Russia’s Winter Soldier Organization, America’s Blue Storm, Europe’s Pantheon of the Gods, the Dark Council… That’s an overwhelming concentration of force! If a full-blown war erupts, the weaker ones caught in the crossfire won’t stand a chance!”
“And then there’s the Green Lotus Great Master—India’s number one monk. Rumor has it he built his dojo there ten years ago specifically for this Catalytic Spirit Spring. Would he just sit back and watch everyone take it away?”
At these words, many dark-world experts fell silent.
Indeed.
The news had already leaked.
This Catalytic Spirit Spring had become the coveted treasure of every major power organization worldwide, sparking intense envy.
When the top experts converged and battle erupted, tearing heaven and earth apart, ordinary fighters would just be cannon fodder.
Was it worth it just to boost their combat power a little?
Most mid- and small-sized organizations abandoned the idea—but some superpowers were more than ready to step up.
“The International Sorcery Conference will be held in Singapore soon, but as luck would have it, that divine herb and the Catalytic Spirit Spring have just appeared!”
“Over the past year, our Singapore Chinese Association has lost several top fighters—Kun Tianbasong, the master of Gumanthong magic, and Mongkhon, the ancient Muay Thai expert, among others. If we don’t raise our strength soon, we’ll be overshadowed by the Sakura Society and the Big Circle Gang. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—we can’t afford to miss it!”
At the Singapore Chinese Association, inside a magnificent, grandiose European-style hall ablaze with lights…
An elderly man with a weathered face stood tall and straight-backed, his gaze sharp as he presided over the meeting.
He was Wang Chongyan, already 110 years old but still vigorous and keen, his presence razor-sharp.
Known as the “Twin Mastery of Qin and Sword,” he could condense weapons of energy from the strings of a zither and unleash soul-shattering sonic attacks that were nearly impossible to defend against. He possessed peak Transformation Realm strength—some even whispered that he had already set foot into the half-step Divine Realm.
He was a contemporary of Ye Zhantian’s father, Ye Tianren, and his power and reputation far surpassed the likes of Lin Zhenyu, Huo Qingtian, and Hong Tianzhao.
He had already made a name for himself during the Republic of China era, founding the Blue Shirt Society intelligence organization and standing on equal footing with the likes of Huang Jinrong and Du Yuesheng.
Later, before the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, he was defeated by Ye Tianren. Sensing the tide of history had turned against him, he left China in defeat and went south to Singapore, where he transformed the Blue Shirt Society into the Singapore Chinese Association. Under his banner, he gathered Chinese sorcery experts, martial artists, and Southeast Asian dark arts practitioners—a veritable assembly of talent and power.
