Chapter 83: An Upper Realm Sword Stroke, Leaving a Mark on Mortals

The sky of the Upper Realm is higher than that of the Human Realm.

But Jiang Che looked at it and felt only cold.

There was no snow or wind.

No smoke from hearths.

No children crying or laughing.

Only the Golden Sea, floating palaces, and cold gazes.

Like a vast, magnificent cage.

The Heavenly Patrol's true form stood atop the platform, its aura more than ten times stronger than its projection.

Beside him stood several Upper Realm Dao Officials.

Great Clarity Path, Cloud Mirror.

Demon Luo Dao, Hei Xuan.

And several powerful figures from other Dao lineages.

They watched Jiang Che, each with different expressions.

Surprise.

Amusement.

Contempt.

Murderous intent.

Hei Xuan was the first to laugh:

"Jiang Che, I didn't expect us to meet so soon."

Jiang Che looked at him.

"You're even more deserving of a slash than in the mirror."

Hei Xuan laughed loudly: "Good, good."

The Heavenly Patrol said coldly: "A mortal from the Lower Realm, intruding into the Upper Realm—deserves death."

He raised his hand.

The entire Golden Sea pressed toward Jiang Che.

This was not mere pressure.

It was the Upper Realm's rules.

A mortal from the Lower Realm entering here was like a fish out of water, a bird into the sea.

Every breath consumed his life.

Jiang Che felt his bones crack with fine, brittle sounds; his blood nearly reversed course.

But he did not waste time.

Ten breaths.

Xie Wuya could hold the Gate open for only ten breaths.

Xie Tingxue said if he didn't return in ten breaths, she would cut the Gate.

He had only ten breaths.

First breath, Jiang Che charged toward the Array Core inside the True Gate.

Heavenly Patrol Blood lay there, transformed into a Golden Nail, pinning the gate's axle firmly in place.

Second breath, the Heavenly Patrol's finger came down.

Golden light, like a celestial pillar, smashed toward Jiang Che's head.

Jiang Che slashed it open with one sword.

His arm's flesh and skin exploded.

Third breath, Hei Xuan struck.

Countless Heart Demon Illusions surged forth.

The Dragon Throne.

Kneeling crowds.

The collapsed New System.

Jiang Che turned into a divine statue.

Forgotten martyrs.

Hei Xuan smiled: "Come, let the Upper Realm show you the future of the Human Realm."

Jiang Che's steps paused.

In the illusion, the Human Realm a hundred years hence had indeed changed.

The Council Hall was corrupt.

Wenxin Hall lay abandoned.

Jiang Che, once worshipped with incense, now had no one dare question his faults.

Some used the Sword Master's name to kill rivals.

Others carved "Do Not Forbid Questions in My Name" into sacred edicts, forbidding explanation.

Hei Xuan whispered: "See? You will fail."

Jiang Che lifted his head.

"Perhaps."

Hei Xuan froze.

Jiang Che said, "But that is not the reason I stop."

On the fourth breath, the Green Bamboo Sword shattered the illusion.

On the fifth breath, Cloud Mirror suddenly acted.

She did not kill Jiang Che.

She merely raised her hand to deploy a Clear Light Mirror.

The mirror reflected Kunlun in the Human Realm.

Xie Tingxue, her white robes stained with blood, was still holding up the Gate.

Xiao Cheng'an lay unconscious in the snow.

Lin Xiaoman, clutching the history box, was pressed by the wind and snow until he could barely stand.

Xie Wuya's beard and hair were entirely white, with blood overflowing from his seven orifices.

Cloud Mirror said indifferently, "If you destroy the Array Core, the True Gate will collapse; the shock inside and outside the Gate will cause many of them to die as well."

Jiang Che's gaze tightened.

Cloud Mirror said, "The Human Realm must always pay a price."

"Are you not most afraid of this?"

The sixth breath.

Jiang Che paused for an instant.

Truly, just an instant.

Yet all the experts of the Upper Realm saw it.

The Heavenly Patrol Envoy sneered, "Mortals are weak."

Jiang Che gripped the Green Bamboo Sword tightly.

He was indeed afraid.

Afraid his sword would bring death once again.

Afraid that behind victory would be another ledger of names.

But in the next moment, he thought of Wenxin Hall.

He thought of the old soldier asking why it was always his family.

He thought of his own answer.

The Human Realm cannot only speak of worth while forbidding talk of pain.

Yet feeling pain does not mean one does not proceed.

The seventh breath.

Jiang Che raised his sword.

"The price, I will remember."

"The debt, I will bear."

"The Gate must shatter."

The Green Bamboo Sword stabbed toward the Heavenly Patrol Blood Nail.

The Heavenly Patrol Envoy was thoroughly enraged.

His true form stepped down, causing the high platform to crack and collapse.

"You dare!"

On the eighth breath, the Heavenly Patrol Envoy struck Jiang Che's back with a palm.

Jiang Che's chest exploded into a mist of blood, his body nearly shattered.

Yet the tip of his sword still pointed forward.

The ninth breath.

A wisp of Wood Sword Intent ignited beside the Array Core.

The Sword Intent left behind by the green-robed swordsman a hundred years ago finally appeared.

That Sword Intent was not much.

Just enough to gently push Jiang Che forward.

The lingering voice of the Wine Sword laughed:

"Kid."

"Complete this strike."

Jiang Che's eyes grew hot.

Borrowing that push, he drove the Green Bamboo Sword completely into the Heavenly Patrol Blood Nail.

Crack!

The Blood Nail split open.

The True Gate shook violently.

The old wound on the Heavenly Patrol Envoy's brow burst open, splashing Golden Blood.

He let out a roar of furious rage.

The tenth breath.

Jiang Che drew his sword and turned.

All the experts of the Upper Realm attacked simultaneously.

Several divine arts sealed off every retreat.

Hei Xuan's smile vanished, Cloud Mirror's gaze turned complex, and the Heavenly Patrol Envoy's killing intent soared to the heavens.

Jiang Che watched the door crack about to seal shut and suddenly smiled.

"See you in the Human Realm."

He hurled out the Green Bamboo Sword.

Not toward the enemy.

But toward the outside of the door crack.

The Green Bamboo Sword turned into a streak of Green Light, pierced through the True Gate, and fell back into the Human Realm.

As for Jiang Che himself, he was engulfed by the Upper Realm's divine powers.

Outside the gate, at the peak of Kunlun Mountain.

Xie Tingxue saw the Green Bamboo Sword fly out, but did not see Jiang Che.

Her pupils contracted sharply.

"Jiang Che!"

The next instant, the blood nails on the inner side of the True Gate completely shattered.

The entire thousand-zhang True Gate began to split open from its hinges.

The Heavenly Patrol's roar echoed through heaven and earth.

The Kunlun True Gate collapsed.