After Sheng Jun Chapter 81 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Extra: Origins in Water (part 1)
1.
Throughout his long cultivation journey, apart from sword practice, Zhong Ming rarely concerned himself with matters of the outside world.
However, he still knew of the person called "Jiang Xingzhi." As two publicly recognized prodigies of the Three Realms, the most outstanding figures among the younger generation, Zhong Ming had not only heard of him but had also seen him several times.
Carefree, casual, grinning at everyone—this was his first impression of Jiang Xingzhi. Most outrageous of all was that despite having long since achieved Bigu, this person could eat more than anyone.
Zhong Ming frowned, truly unable to understand where this person's cultivation came from.
But the two of them were separated—one in the south of Jiuzhou, one in the north of Jiuzhou. Normally living far apart with no connection, the existence of "Jiang Xingzhi" merely flickered twice in Zhong Ming's mind before being quickly cast aside by Zhong Ming, who was single-mindedly focused on cultivation.
Their paths crossed again when the two successively stepped into the Soul Separation realm.
Reaching Soul Separation in less than a hundred years—throughout history, only these two had achieved it.
Continuing to cultivate at this speed, they would likely break through to Mahayana within two hundred years and attempt ascension within three hundred.
For this reason, the Three Realms held a title-granting ceremony for both Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming—Zhong Ming's honorific was "Xu Jian," Jiang Xingzhi's was "Ting Xue," together called the Sheng Juns.
The two youngest Venerables in the Three Realms were born simultaneously.
…..
The entire title-granting ceremony was conducted with great fanfare, but the two protagonists had no interaction throughout, as unfamiliar as if they had been temporarily thrown together to make up numbers.
Midway through the ceremony, someone suggested:
"Xu Jian Sheng Jun and Ting Xue Sheng Jun are both prodigies, the hope for the Three Realms' future ascension. They are rarely seen in normal times. Since they are fated to step into Soul Separation together today, why not exchange a few moves?"
Zhong Ming's brow furrowed slightly as he was about to say "unnecessary," when he heard Jiang Xingzhi, standing not far away, speak up: "Then let's spar for a couple moves!"
After speaking, Jiang Xingzhi waved his sleeve, and several melon seed shells that he'd been secretly munching at some point rustled down from his sleeve opening.
The melon seed shells scattered on the clean red carpet, particularly eye-catching.
Zhong Ming's gaze lingered on those melon seed shells for a few breaths, then moved to Jiang Xingzhi's profile: his expression natural, brows and eyes relaxed, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
While he was observing, Jiang Xingzhi had already turned to look at him, raising his chin: "Zhong Jian Sheng Jun, come on."
Zhong Ming frowned, drawing the Tinghan Sword from his waist with one hand, looking coldly through the gleaming sword light at the casually postured person opposite. His sharp brows and eyes reflected in the snow-bright blade: "It's Xu Jian."
"Oh, sorry." Jiang Xingzhi gave him an apologetic smile and also drew his Chuji Sword to face him: "Xu Jian Sheng Jun, come on."
Clang—ding!
The sound of two long swords colliding rang crisp and pleasant. Their forms changed extremely fast, with evenly matched spiritual power penetrating through the sword bodies. The battle between the youngest Soul Separation cultivators in the Three Realms began.
From initial mutual testing to later full commitment, they fought for the time of three incense sticks and remained evenly matched.
Zhong Ming focused entirely on his opponent's swordplay and movements, so when that teasing voice came through, he only then subconsciously looked at the other's face.
"It's just a casual match, yet you look so serious, as if you're splitting mountains to save your mother."
His gaze shifted upward just as Jiang Xingzhi attacked directly from the opposite side. That handsome face enlarged before his eyes, amber pupils reflecting sword light, laughter rippling like floating light leaping upon gold.
Zhong Ming's fierce move suddenly paused, momentarily dazed.
Just for a brief instant, Jiang Xingzhi's Chuji thrust toward his heart like lightning! Zhong Ming's heart jumped. Unable to dodge in time, he was just mobilizing all his spiritual power to protect his heart meridian when that snow-bright sword edge barely stopped right before his heart—
Jiang Xingzhi stopped, holding the sword pointing at his heart.
The surroundings fell silent. Everyone attending the ceremony held their breath, waiting for Jiang Xingzhi's next move.
In the frozen atmosphere, a light blue little flower suddenly slowly bloomed from the Chuji sword tip... poof.
The pink stamens trembled in the wind, very cute.
Jiang Xingzhi shook his sword and said to Zhong Ming with a "ge zhi ge zhi" sound: "Look, your heart blooms with joy!"
Zhong Ming: "......"
Everyone: "........."
Very strong, but something's not quite right with his brain. This was Zhong Ming's second impression of Jiang Xingzhi.
2.
When it comes to intersections, there's a first, there's a second.
After Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming received their honorifics, many grand activities in the Three Realms included both their figures.
In the team going to Ming Valley to suppress the Black Flood Dragon, the two stood one in front, one behind. Upon reaching the valley entrance, the team stopped.
Zhong Ming held his long sword, solemnly gazing at the black clouds faintly pressing down ahead, when a fair face suddenly popped up before his eyes.
"You're here too?" Jiang Xingzhi seemed to have just noticed him, then blinked at him: "Standing so far forward, are you sure you'll be okay? I think your abilities aren't that great~"
Zhong Ming's gaze instantly darkened.
He stared intently at this face before him, at every expression on this face, every trace of demeanor, all seeming to spell one word: insufferable.
His form moved, so fast not even an afterimage could be seen.
Thud! The people accompanying the team hadn't even reacted before they saw the tall Xu Jian Sheng Jun pin down the bewildered Ting Xue Sheng Jun on the ground.
The two faced each other, nose tips almost touching.
Zhong Ming's long hair fell down, sweeping across Jiang Xingzhi's cheek. The unsheathed long sword was deeply embedded in the ground, only a thumbnail's length from Jiang Xingzhi's pale ear.
Eyes meeting, Zhong Ming looked down at the person he was pinning beneath him, brow slightly raised: "Not that great?"
Jiang Xingzhi instantly reacted and swung his hand to strike. Just as his hand lifted, it was firmly clamped by a large palm and pressed back to the ground—mountain-like pressure bore heavily down on him. He struggled but couldn't break free.
Zhong Ming said in a low voice: "Fight back and show me?"
Jiang Xingzhi's face instantly flushed red. His knee lifted and kicked at his thigh: "......Get lost!"
And so the feud began.
From that point on, they would run into each other every few days.
Sometimes at activities jointly participated in by the Three Realms, sometimes when Jiang Xingzhi was out playing with friends. Every time they met, they had to fight. From ground to sky, then from sky to water, fighting until heaven and earth darkened.
From then on, all the Three Realms knew: Xu Jian Sheng Jun and Ting Xue Sheng Jun were incompatible like fire and water. Presumably, they viewed each other as the greatest opponent for their future ascension, wanting to strangle each other in the cradle of ascension starting from Soul Separation!
What advanced internal competition, such foresight and preparation.
But regardless of how the outside world speculated, the relationship between the two remained in a state of constant fighting and bickering.
Perhaps it was meeting a worthy opponent, able to fight heartily and freely; or perhaps Jiang Xingzhi really was infuriating—meeting Jiang Xingzhi, bickering with him, exchanging moves gradually became an indispensable part of Zhong Ming's life.
Thus, in Zhong Ming's singular cultivation career, besides sword practice, an indigo color was added.
3.
Continuing to fight and bicker in this muddled way wasn't really proper.
On the day Zhong Ming broke through to the seventh level of sword technique, he formally issued a challenge invitation to Jiang Xingzhi, wanting to arrange a proper match.
When Jiang Xingzhi received the challenge letter, he was still out on a spring outing with Lin He, Huan Qijun, and others. He flicked the challenge letter, no longer interested in the outing, and rushed excitedly toward the agreed location: "I'm leaving!"
"Hey hey, fighting is less fun than a spring outing, isn't it?" Lin He and the others grabbed him, unable to understand: "He calls you and you just go? Wouldn't that make you lose face? Ignore him, let's continue having fun."
Jiang Xingzhi pulled his sleeve free: "No way. If I don't go, it'll seem like I'm afraid of him."
After speaking, he flew away.
Lin He, Lord Huan Qi, and Shuang Ling exchanged glances and followed one after another: "Let's go, we'll watch too."
See if that Xu Jian had cast some spell on Jiang Xingzhi to make him stop having fun and insist on sparring.
…..
The agreed location was atop a steep mountain cliff in the south.
The cliff was precipitous, the cliff wind fierce, below was an unfathomably deep dark pool. The pool water was bone-chilling, and it was said that giant pythons and fierce crocodiles lurked at the pool's bottom—it truly looked like a life-or-death battle location.
When Jiang Xingzhi arrived, Zhong Ming was sitting cross-legged at the cliff's edge.
Opening his eyes to see the appointed person arriving on the wind, his usually calm state of mind actually rippled with some waves, as if full of anticipation for the coming decisive battle.
Immediately after, he saw several other people following behind Jiang Xingzhi: the Young Sect Master of Xuantian Sword Sect, Lord Huan Qi of Western Mountain, and a familiar-looking physician who seemed to be the direct disciple of some Medicine King.
The several people landed on the cliff with Jiang Xingzhi, still hooking arms over shoulders: "What kind of ghostly place is this? Xingzhi, you'd better be careful."
"This place looks like it wants to bury you forever......"
Smack! Jiang Xingzhi turned and slapped Lin He's forehead: "Don't say such inauspicious things, swallow them back."
"......"
The several people's familiar gestures and intimate closeness had them laughing and joking again within a few words. Jiang Xingzhi's handsome profile carried a relaxed and bright smile that flickered in Zhong Ming's eyes, pressing down the little bit of excited emotion he had.
Zhong Ming stood at the cliff's edge, one hand gripping Tinghan Sword. He watched the several people intimately surrounding Jiang Xingzhi, an inexplicable trace of displeasure sweeping through his heart.
Mixed with something else as well, but it vanished in a flash, giving Zhong Ming no time to catch it. He spoke coolly: "Still competing?"
His cold tone was even more biting than the freezing wind passing by the cliff edge, causing the several people surrounding Jiang Xingzhi to involuntarily shiver and subconsciously retreat several steps to avoid being affected by the battle situation.
Jiang Xingzhi was completely oblivious, drawing his sword: "Of course we're competing. Otherwise, what did I come here for, to watch the sunrise with you?"
"......" Zhong Ming paused, the scene he described involuntarily floating into his mind, and surprisingly he didn't feel any aversion: "Then come on, be serious this time."
Lin He and the others retreated far away, huddling behind a large rock to wave flags and cheer for Jiang Xingzhi: "Go, take him down!"
Zhong Ming swept them with one glance, and the noisy group finally fell silent.
4.
This fight kicked up flying sand and rocks, darkening the sun and moon.
Lin He and the others were still watching at first, but later couldn't withstand the aftershocks of the two's colliding spiritual power and retreated one after another.
For a time, only the two of them remained on the mountain cliff.
Fully immersed in the evenly matched battle, Zhong Ming fought heartily, his entire body feeling extremely comfortable. Probably having fought too many times, the two were already familiar with each other's every move and style. As sword bodies parried, a kind of telepathic tacit understanding surprisingly emerged.
Boom! The steep mountain cliff was forcibly shaved off a chunk by the two's sword intent.
The spiritual power stirred up air currents. Jiang Xingzhi leaned back at the cliff edge when his waist suddenly tightened, and he was pulled back by Zhong Ming with one hand. At the same time, the opponent's sword edge came at him—Jiang Xingzhi spun around, blocking with his hand. Clang! Chuji lay horizontally at his neck side, blocking Tinghan at a tricky angle.
And his entire person was pressed against Zhong Ming's chest. With a slight lift of his head, his lips nearly brushed across Zhong Ming's jaw.
Jiang Xingzhi was startled and, using the blocking force, pushed the person away.
Zhong Ming only felt hot breath exhale at his chin edge before being pushed away. As distance opened, he saw Jiang Xingzhi had already steadied himself on the cliff and swung his sword to pursue again without hesitation.
This fight lasted three days.
By the evening of the third day, the night was pitch black, the mountain forest lightless. Zhong Ming had been too absorbed in the fight. When the surging spiritual power boiled restlessly within his body, he only vaguely sensed something wrong.
—It seemed like a sign of breakthrough.
Clang! The Chuji sword pursued at extremely fast speed. Zhong Ming looked at Jiang Xingzhi's serious face and forcibly suppressed the boiling spiritual power back down, continuing to fight.
After an unknown amount of time, the spiritual power could no longer be suppressed.
His incoming sword moves were several beats slower than usual, attention half on Jiang Xingzhi, half on his own bottleneck about to be breached by spiritual power. So when he stepped off the cliff with one foot, he didn't even react.
His tall body, propelled by momentum, instantly left the cliff edge.
Zhong Ming tried to mobilize spiritual power to fly back, but the bottleneck loosened. Boom! Like floodgates opening, surging spiritual power instantly submerged his sea of consciousness.
His body flew off the cliff, plummeting straight down in the night—
"Xu Jian!" Jiang Xingzhi's eyes widened. Without hesitation, he jumped down after.
Spiritual power surging like floodwaters, mixed with cold wind sweeping up from the cliff bottom, scraped painfully across Jiang Xingzhi's face. He finally also detected something wrong with Zhong Ming: this person was actually breaking through to Divine Transformation while fighting him!