The two figures merged as one, and for the first time, Chen Ping’an seemed to surrender to the divine, allowing it to seize control, usurp his very being, and command his path of life without any pretense.

Jiang She blinked, the world transformed? The battlefield ruins’ sky shifted, mirroring the progression from verdant spring shoots to the golden harvest of autumn, a blend of vibrant green and ripening gold.

With a single hand, he cast Jiang She to the earth, then drove a foot into his mighty frame, sending him skidding across the ground.

Jiang She nearly lost his grip on his lance, its tip finding purchase in the earth a hundred paces away. With a twist, he righted himself, planting his feet firmly before thrusting the spear towards Chen Ping’an’s exposed throat.

Chen Ping’an tilted his head, the spearhead grazing past. He seized the weapon, his fingers spreading to press against Jiang She’s chest, where gathered the five thunders, and smiled faintly. “Go, then.”

In that instant, the world resounded with the clang of a colossal bell. His hand became a hammer, striking a deafening blow. Jiang She was hurled backward, his form a broken kite amidst a storm of fist-born gales. His face rippled with the force, his hair ornaments shattered, and he stood disheveled a thousand paces distant, only brought to a halt by driving the lance’s butt into the earth.

Four celestial swords traced keen paths through the air, ever following. Jiang She deflected two with his lance, these weapons, unlike those lesser artifacts shattered earlier, merely spun or soared into the sky, enduring the blows. He shattered another approaching his brow with a bare fist, but one, brimming with Taoist intent, pierced his ribs. With a grimace, Jiang She grasped the hilt, arresting the blade’s momentum, though it vibrated fiercely in his grasp. Before he could crush it, golden eyes met his, and moments later, taloned fingers clamped onto his forehead, wrenching him and his lance away.

Chen Ping’an stooped, flicked his sleeve, and a fire dragon, as thick as a well, slammed into Jiang She’s back. The warrior staggered, deflecting a descending celestial halberd with an upward thrust of his lance.

The trapped sword freed, Chen Ping’an made a simple hand gesture, and the four swords spun ceaselessly in the air, awaiting his command.

His golden eyes glowed, perceiving not Jiang She’s flesh and bone, but the flow of qi within the progenitor’s earthen vessel, a majestic sight.

Yet, he found no opening.

Jiang She had barely shattered the halberd when a towering mountain range, complete with palaces and pavilions, hurled towards him. As if crafted by an ancient sage and refined into an artifact, it was used in a most uncouth manner.

As a boisterous child might hurl a heavy seal.

Jiang She braced against the mountain, his figure a speck against its bulk. His arm bulged with muscle, his sleeve snapped in the wind, veins strained upon his hand, and sparks flew from the lance tip. He held the mountain at bay, the tip failing to penetrate, but strands of golden light snaked and crawled across its base. These luminous streams flowed upward, engulfing the mountain in glittering threads, until, with a backward sweep of Jiang She’s lance, the mountain shattered, scattering dust and stone.

Before Jiang She could draw another breath of pure qi, Chen Ping’an closed the distance, delivering a direct blow.

The impact sent Jiang She hurtling towards the heavens, where, with a flick of his wrist, his lance spun, thunderously shattering the lingering sword intents within the fist’s gale.

Chen Ping’an, conversely, plummeted towards the earth, scattering fiery and watery serpents upwards as he fell.

Jiang She seized his lance mid-shaft, as the cliffs of two mountains began to close, threatening to crush him within.

Like the hands of an ancient giant, poised to annihilate the spear-wielding warrior caught within.

Jiang She forced down a mouthful of blood, igniting his warrior qi, which, like oil on flame, erupted in a billowing mist, transforming blood to power.

With a twist of his wrist, the lance stirred two cyclones, grinding the mountain cliffs into dust and scattering stones like rain.

Jiang She hung suspended in the air, looking down upon Chen Ping’an, who stood in a crater below.

The five wills warring within Jiang She hampered him.

Each had held back, seeking their own ends. Chen Ping’an to have his artifacts destroyed to prime a transformation.

Jiang She to refine the three rebellious wills seeking to conquer his body, their powers arrayed in battle, raiding meridians and seizing strongholds.

Chen Ping’an, his hair fluttering, narrowed his eyes and smiled, conjuring a common practice spear of plain wood from the pure martial essence around them.

With a flick of his heel, he sent the earth quaking and vanished, replaced by a ripple of fist intent tearing across the battlefield.

Chen Ping’an seemed intent on matching Jiang She’s every strength.

First fists, then martial prowess, and now the art of the spear.

Distancing himself, the four celestial imitation swords glittered, vanished into the aether.

Jiang She awaited Chen Ping’an, while searching for the treacherous swords, awaiting close combat.

Instead, Chen Ping’an summoned earth magic, shaping mountains in the sky, to rain down upon Jiang She.

Jiang She shattered hundreds of mountains, each echoing like thunder. More mountains took root, snaking like dragons across the land.

Like formations falling from the sky, a constant barrage. Jiang She grew frustrated. The youth had spent his spiritual energy, but from where did this new found abundance come?

Now, Chen Ping’an used the mountains as stepping stones, his form growing with each bound. As Chen Ping’an grew, Jiang She also transformed, a golden avatar manifested. Chen Ping’an struck with dragon-like power, and the spear point pierced, tearing flesh from Jiang She’s arm.

Jiang She retaliated, cleaving Chen Ping’an in two, but the youth reformed in ten places, and Jiang She then sliced downward, opening a void in time itself.

Each parried and struck, their strikes weaving across the sky, marking the heavens with lasting power.

Jiang She’s technique was forged for war, vast and direct, meant to cleave formations and fell commanders.

Chen Ping’an’s, conversely, possessed a wandering versatility, precise but lacking in Jiang She’s power.

Chen Ping’an wheeled, and struck, aiming to pierce Jiang She’s core and cripple the usurping wills.

But, Jiang She’s spear pierced Chen Ping’an’s neck, hoisting him into the air.

Two of the celestial swords pierced the hands of Jiang She’s avatar, and two pierced his feet.

Ignoring the blades, Jiang She raised his head. “What is the purpose?”

Dismissing his avatar, Chen Ping’an grasped his neck, finding his hand covered with golden blood.

Jiang She dispelled his avatar, blood flowing from his chest, though the wound was negligible.

Chen Ping’an’s wooden spear turned to ash in the wind.

Jiang She recovered his lance, and ground one of the imitation swords that had pierced his body to dust.

To Chen Ping’an, only more fuel for the forge of transformation.

“I know you hold back, and purposefully hinder yourself,” Jiang She said. “If it is only delay you seek, I shall wait and parley. But if you seek a true battle, show your might, and let us weigh our strengths.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Not by design, I am simply unable to control it.”

Those who fought him within Dali would be better suited to speak on the matter.

“I lack Cui Chan’s skill. My own skill is only through study,” Jiang She said. “But your current appearance is close to someone in my own realm.”

Chen Ping’an raised an eyebrow.

“Do you fear I conspire with them, to divide your spoils? This may be so,” Jiang She said.

“I would welcome it. Come, then,” Chen Ping’an said.

It was better to meet the thief in open battle.

Creating artifacts was to make one’s foundations steadfast, opening the thousands of bodily sanctuaries to prepare for ascension. A method that was being proven by Ding.

Relying on self-deception, on walls of text and mountains of memory to create a prison, was a lower path. Each artifact would thus become an added chain. At the Daoist temple, Chen Ping’an planned to ascend and then seek a cure.

To find the fragments and restore the ceramic paperweight, to have clear communication with his divine self. With his spirit untroubled, and his heart unburdened, he would then find the path to the fourteenth realm.

The greater the divergence between Chen Ping’an and the divine Chen Ping’an that created small worlds and taught Ding, the harder for them to reconcile. At his current level, Chen Ping’an had no chance.

But, Jiang She seeking him was unexpected.

The artifacts to suppress his divine side had become a burden.

Chen Ping’an had acted quickly, using Jiang She to break the artifacts, and with this shattering, he needed to find and record the connections between his sanctuaries to then shape the world within his body.

To face Jiang She and seek to create was perilous, but necessary.

Facing Jiang She, he destroyed the shackles that bound his form, and allowed his divine self to be unfettered.

Chen Ping’an’s humanity was holding back the completeness of his being.

Against masters of swords and fists, Chen Ping’an could use his many skills to mask his flaws. Facing Jiang She, he had none.

He remembered a conversation with Gao Jun, the master of Huzhan.

“Heaven does not favor us, time does not linger, we cannot do two at once.”

“Do you not fear you are but an ant trying to topple a tree?”

Chen Ping’an no longer needed to channel the pure qi of a warrior. “Sitting within the Summer Palace, being the last of the Hidden Ones, bearing the true names of demons, merging with half the sword Qi Wall. After returning, adopting Little Mo and Xie Gou, taking Ning Ji as a student, and opening the great river. These all come with long-lasting repercussions.”

It was not that Jiang She had patience, but even the progenitor lacked the ability to quickly defeat his foe.

Jiang She scoffed, “Such things hinder you from ascending. At your age, be wary of being forsaken.”

The assassination of the ghost and the attacks of a true fourteenth realm had made Jiang She a stepping stone.

These were accidents.

“It is a pity you quickly saw through my intentions. Otherwise, you could have destroyed another jade city.”

Apart from the three patriarchs and the three masters of the jade city, Jiang She was most suited to finding its flaws.

Chen Ping’an steadied himself, and asked. “Why do you not use your lance to tear open this land?”

Jiang She said, “I do not need to flee. Do you have another trick? I await it.”

Chen Ping’an smiled brightly. “Those words are a punch of the highest grade!”

This was true invincibility.

Again, they clashed.

Chen Ping’an opened his stance, and started forward.

Jiang She hesitated, and sheathed his lance. “I accept this punch.”

The battlefield became a blur, as the forms exchanged blows, creating a place forbidden to magic.

Then, sword light cut through the heavens as Ning Yao descended, clad in robes and carrying the sword “Innocence”.

She was the first to arrive, and stopped north of the battlefield.

At the Chongyang temple, the ghost had declared his intent to slay Chen Ping’an, and seek to ascend. He had used the ghost Xiao Pu to connect yin and yang. Though the assault had failed, it had caused Chen Ping’an much injury. Before Chen Ping’an could retaliate, Ning Yao had entered the land of the dead and slain the ghost.

Ning Yao gazed, her expression unreadable.

Wu Shuangjiang arrived next, displaying his fourteenth realm with a grand avatar.

His avatar, nearly touching the sky, carried stacks of his runes “Clear Sky”.

His avatar would then start repairing the sky.

So that Jiang She could not flee through the tears he might make.

Wu Shuangjiang was one of the group who challenged Yu Dou, and failed.

Yu Dou was able to defend Jade City from three fourteenth realm masters and a master of swords.

This made Yu Dou the strongest below the patriarchs.

Yu Dou was reliant on the treasure that was Jade City, and the mountain was silent on the matter.

The others had died, but Wu Shuangjiang used a method to return to the fourteenth realm. He visited the mountain, and then came here.

It was still the death of all those who challenged Jade City.

His four imitation swords had suffered. Only two were considered half-celestial, and the remaining had fallen to the grade of treasure.

Gao Gu had sought revenge, Jiang Xiu had his reasons, and Bao Lin had sought death.

Wu Shuangjiang sought to make the world chaotic.

Since the world hated Yu Dou, then let the city become history.

From the south, a scholar and a handsome youth arrived, wielding small worlds, and setting up arrays. Because of the sea battle, Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen had traded many treasures.

From the west, Zheng Juzhong arrived, bearing three different energies.

They formed a ring, trapping Jiang She.

Jiang Shangzhen wondered if the man was able to become three fourteenth realms.

“Tell me,” Cui Dongshan asked. “What is it?”

“The Confucian and Daoist parts are clear. I cannot see the third.”

“Who is most opposed to the military?” Cui Dongshan said.

“The farmers,” Jiang Shangzhen said. “No wonder he is standing on the ground. Has he already started contending with Jiang She?”

Zheng Juzhong was a wild man, attacking on sight.

“There are three parts to him: a Buddhist, a farmer, and a doctor. For another ten thousand years, they will not like the military,” Cui Dongshan said.

“Does he know about Buddhist arts?” Jiang Shangzhen asked.

“He has studied it in the wilds,” Cui Dongshan said. “Why would you ask that?”

Zheng Juzhong has often done irrational things, such as taking energy from the wilds without being caught.

Cui Dongshan guessed that only one was actually there.

The Daoist, with the five elements and the school of yin and yang.

The military, aided by the law, and diplomacy.

Jiang Shangzhen could not tell what was happening, and trembled.

“Do not worry, with Zheng, we have no need to fret. It is because Jiang She is holding back. He is waiting to see us all,” Cui Dongshan said.

“We wish to kill him and split the spoils. Jiang She wishes to strike at once,” Jiang Shangzhen said.

“Do not fret. Zheng is here,” Cui Dongshan laughed.

Jiang Shangzhen watched, and sighed. Fighting Jiang She was something he had never considered.

“We knew each other from the sea battle. Only Jiang She and Zheng are new to this,” Jiang Shangzhen said.

Wu Shuangjiang and Ning Yao nodded to greet him.

Before attacking, Wu Shuangjiang started to discuss the fates of Jiang She’s five wills. “Zheng will receive three. These are interest on a deal he has with Cui Chan.”

Jiang Shangzhen could not imagine the capital and rewards of such a deal.

“As for the remaining two, they are mine.

“As a bonus, the Dragon Altar and coins will go to Chen Ping’an.

“But he needs to take them. We do not guarantee their safety.”

Jiang Shangzhen said, “Do we seem evil?”

Cui Dongshan fanned himself. “Did the Wu come here with no storage to put the coins?”

“I cannot. White Jade is watching and would create a fuss. I come here to discuss, and meet Jiang She by chance. But if the mountain had the stolen goods, it would be hard to explain to the Wen temple. We cannot bear the accusation of aiding Sui Chu Gong,” Wu Shuangjiang said.

Cui Dongshan nodded.

Wu Shuangjiang looked at Jiang She and Zheng Juzhong. “This is like the battle of the Fragrant Temple.”

The Daoist had achieved enlightenment.

Zheng Juzhong ignored him.

Cui Dongshan explained it was infighting where both sides were damaged.

Cui Dongshan released fog that coiled like a rope.

He also took out a scroll, but did not open it yet.

While chatting, Jiang Shangzhen released a golden sword pill.

Bai Ye, Yu Dou, and Jiang She.

Three great attacks, two public, one hidden.

The previous two had influenced the world.

Jiang She will face a tribulation to restore his power?

The first fifteenth realm will bear the weight of the tribulation. The next will be easier.

“I have the good fortune to participate. If I do not die, my life will have been worth it,” Jiang Shangzhen said.

Cui Dongshan glanced at Zheng Juzhong and smiled. “I will tell stories about this fight.”

Zheng Juzhong, Wu Shuangjiang, and Ning Yao. Three fourteenth realms!

With a blast of power, Jiang She sent Chen Ping’an into the earth and asked, “When did you all team up?”

“The oracles of Jade City are useless. How could they be so ignorant?”

“And Zhouzi was silent as well.”

“You were thinking of an alliance?” Jiang Shangzhen asked. He also wished to know.

Cui Dongshan frowned, but felt better, knowing they had Zheng Juzhong and Wu Shuangjiang to aid them.

Zheng Juzhong had gone to the mountain, but hadn’t discussed the matters.

He had known since Han Qiaose had asked for books on war, but Cui Dongshan had not seen such direct action coming.

Cui Dongshan felt strange, and was reminded of something. “Did I misunderstand? Is he thinking of creating something of his own?”

The patriarchs had a lasting impact on their respective ways, like Fan.

The Yin and Yang school had two sides in competition.

The military honored Jiang Taigong with seventy two generals.

Only the school of law was different.

There was never a formal founder, and there were few who had good endings, such as Wei Liang.

Cui Dongshan thought it good that Zheng Juzhong was on their side.

Wu Shuangjiang filled the gaps in the heavens, and had a halberd of bronze.

Wu Shuangjiang stared at Jiang She. “The strong must die, and the victorious must meet their match. It is time to change.”

Jiang Shangzhen shuddered.

Wu Shuangjiang had been honored at the military temple, so he was a “half-member”, it was only a matter of lineage.

Thus, while Wu Shuangjiang was casual, this battle was all or nothing.

Zheng Juzhong nodded. He would be in charge of handling Jiang She.

Wu Shuangjiang understood.

They would kill Jiang She, and take his place.

The new replaced the old.

Zheng Juzhong nodded, and Wu Shuangjiang readied himself.