My Swordsmanship Has No Upper Limit

"Do I give people the impression that I’m some kind of lecher?"

"Pfft..." Yi Yunya couldn’t help but laugh at Zhong Ming’s innocent expression. Then, she explained how such rumors had started to spread.

"It probably started with the Void Moon Sect. They were desperate to divert everyone’s attention from their own failure. And right now, nothing is more eye-catching than a salacious scandal involving you, Brother Zhong Ming, and the True Disciples of the other major sects."

"After the Void Moon Sect made their move, the Spirit Illusion Sect, who has always had a grudge against the Celestial Sound Sect, deliberately spread lewd rumors about the Celestial Sound Sect’s True Disciple, Miaoyun. They wanted to pit the Celestial Sound Sect against you, Brother Zhong Ming."

"Then, Qianqiu Valley, the Celestial Sound Sect, and the Spirit Illusion Sect, all of whom were dragged into this, are not the types to just swallow their anger. They all retaliated by slandering others or just muddying the waters. After this free-for-all, many disciples from the major sects ended up implicated with you, Brother Zhong Ming."

"Since so many disciples were involved, you, Brother Zhong Ming, became known as a lustful demon. Hehe..."

Yi Yunya’s eyes curved into crescents as she beamed, prompting Zhong Ming to flick her on the forehead. "You’re still laughing? After this, my reputation is completely ruined."

"Didn’t you already prepare yourself for this, Brother Zhong Ming, when you decided to suppress an entire city by yourself?"

"But I expected a bad reputation for being arrogant and unruly—a sex fiend? They really found a tricky angle to attack me from!"

Seeing that Zhong Ming was genuinely upset, Yi Yunya quickly suppressed her smile and comforted him. "Senior Brother, these rumors also prove one thing. In the eyes of the Qinghe Commandery Mansion, and even the True Disciples of the major sects, you’re considered worthy of being entangled with those disciples. Isn’t this, in a way, an acknowledgment of your strength? It means you’re already on equal footing with them."

This didn’t make Zhong Ming happy. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, his tone filled with a trace of arrogance. "Just equal, not a cut above? It seems they still harbor illusions of defeating me."

"Er..."

This time, Yi Yunya didn’t know what to say. Clearly, even though Zhong Ming had defeated Lin Kong with a single glance, the historical prestige of the major sects meant her evaluation of Zhong Ming was also "on equal footing with the True Disciples of the major sects."

And she was also somewhat worried about Zhong Ming’s upcoming battles.

After a moment’s hesitation, she urged Zhong Ming, "Senior Brother, please be careful. Those True Disciples of the major sects aren’t just powerful on their own; they also have all sorts of rare treasures gifted by their sects."

"Even if their cultivation is still shallow and they can’t fully unleash the power of high-level treasures, they might still find a way to counter you."

At this, Zhong Ming nodded with a smile. "Don’t worry. I won’t be careless."

After saying this and resting for a while, he met up with Ji Qingyue, who had finished handling her miscellaneous tasks. The group then headed towards Crescent Lake once more.

After defeating Lin Kong, Zhong Ming still insisted on going to Crescent Lake to face all challengers. Naturally, there was a deeper meaning to this.

First, as long as he stood his ground and remained undefeated, he would be like a scorching sun hanging in the sky, revered by many.

Because of his fame, a continuous stream of people would come to pledge their allegiance to him and Ji Qingyue.

The second reason was fortune, as well as some other inexplicable, indescribable things.

Last night, Zhong Ming had felt a special something converging on his Sword Heart. Now, as he stood tall over Crescent Lake with no one daring to challenge him, an even greater sense of satisfaction and power filled his body and mind.

If this feeling were to be described in detail, it would be—Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme!

’I am the strongest of the younger generation!’

This incomparably domineering Dao Rhyme surged through his heart, making his Sword Heart even more condensed and pure. The benefits were immediate:

[Your Sword Heart grows more condensed. You are utterly convinced you will ultimately become the strongest. Your progress for Mirror Heart Demon Slayer +3,300 points.]

[The Dao Rhyme of "Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme" permeates your heart. Your Sword Heart becomes increasingly Clear and transparent. Your progress for Mirror Heart Demon Slayer +3,600 points.]

[You have suppressed a city by yourself. Your Dominating Thought’s pressure has increased...]

’It’s so fast, and so convenient.’

The unending influx of fortune made Zhong Ming’s Sword Heart increasingly Clear, which also led him to a realization. If no one stopped him, his Mirror Heart Demon Slayer progress would advance to the Fifth Realm in two or three days at most. At that time, he would comprehend the Clear Dao Rhyme.

But the rapidly climbing progress of his Cultivation Technique and his increasingly clear Sword Heart were not the full extent of Zhong Ming’s gains.

Another gain was his domineering pressure—or in other words, the strength of his Divine Thought!

’Due to differing Cultivation Techniques, areas of focus, and personal Talent, when a Cultivator reaches the peak of their current realm, their achievement is given one of six ratings: Inferior, Mediocre, Excellent, Outstanding, Extreme Realm, or Breaking the Norms.’

’An Inferior rating means basically no hope of Foundation Establishment. A Mediocre one gives a thirty percent chance. Excellent is sixty to eighty percent. For a genius at the Outstanding level, there’s a ninety percent chance of successful Foundation Establishment.’

’At the Extreme Realm, there is no longer any possibility of failing Foundation Establishment. At that point, what we pursue is a higher-quality Dao Foundation.’

’But above the Extreme Realm, there is the Breaking the Norms rating. That means mastering a characteristic of the Foundation Establishment realm while still in the Qi Cultivation stage.’

’Originally, only my ’Intent’ had reached the level of Breaking the Norms, thanks to Heaven Rewards Diligence.’

’But as the chosen geniuses bow their heads to me, my Sword Heart has become clear and bright. My domineering pressure is also constantly strengthening by absorbing the fortune of the masses. This is causing my Divine Soul to also transform towards Breaking the Norms.’

’A single sword in the sky, and all spirits bow. This is, without a doubt, an ability at the level of Breaking the Norms.’