In the boundless dark wilderness, the heavy mist surged as two youths fought fiercely!
Qin Ming unleashed his left fist, resembling a blinding miniature sun plummeting from the sky. It incinerated the night mist, causing the surrounding vegetation to disintegrate entirely. The brilliance dispelled the darkness, thoroughly illuminating the area. Yu Zhuohan did not retreat. Instead, he stood his ground, choosing to clash head-on against his approaching foe as boiling silver flames surged over his palm.
Their fists collided, producing a thunderous boom beneath the night that reverberated far into the distance. In the remote mountain forests, many birds of prey were startled, fluttering their wings and taking to the night sky.
Qin Ming brought down his right palm like an outpour of unearthly heavenly light. Its momentum was even more staggering, unleashing an explosive roar as compressed air burst apart and the night mist scattered in total collapse.
Resembling a ray of divine retribution descending from the night veil, it destroyed everything in its path, disintegrating nearby boulders and snapping large trees that rapidly shattered into debris.
Proud and ever-confident, Yu Zhuohan bolstered his physical body with esoteric arts, eager to duel Qin Ming once more within the Newborn realm.
Rising from his palm was silver fire laced with intricate patterns. He chose once again to meet his opponent in an all-out, head-on clash.
When their palms slammed together, light splattered in all directions like lightning tearing through the night sky, erupting with a deafening crash.
In the wilderness, the two figures barely made contact before springing apart.
Yu Zhuohan spat a mouthful of blood, which fell into the flames surrounding his body and burned away in a sizzling hiss. Stumbling, he staggered backward.
Qin Ming pressed forward with overwhelming dominance, still wielding his left fist and right palm. Golden haze swirled around him as dazzling heavenly light force erupted. The night mist vanished from the area, every blade of grass and branch laid bare under the glow of his fists and palms.
Yu Zhuohan faced reality and ceased engaging him head-on. Even with his innate abilities, he was simply no match in a blood-and-iron struggle within the Newborn realm.
Light shone beneath his feet as he sought to put distance between himself and his opponent.
Qin Ming pursued, the Overlord's wind force swirling across his frame. Wherever he passed was like the crossing of a hurricane, snapping the branches barring his path and leaving the ground in ruins.
Silver flames curled along both sides of Yu Zhuohan's torso, transforming into a pair of wings composed entirely of fire. They carried him across the wilderness, his speed soaring drastically.
Though he could not take flight into the night sky, his body grew far lighter, finally shaking off the formidable adversary poised to lock onto him.
Qin Ming halted, quietly watching his distant rival. Yu Zhuohan had fallen at a disadvantage and nearly landed in peril, yet had broken free of the predicament with esoteric arts.
Nearby, many spectators wore unusual expressions.
Qin Ming's combat prowess in the Newborn realm deeply shocked the youths from the prominent clans.
"A born empowered is truly extraordinary. To be able to leverage the spiritual power in the night mist world so early—ordinarily, that's something one touches only in the second realm," someone marveled.
The onlookers naturally possessed discerning eyes and understood Yu Zhuohan's exceptional talent.
He was simply unlucky to encounter an opponent far beyond all expectations!
The first two realms of the esoteric sect were Wisdom Light and Spirit Capture. Wisdom Light focused on accumulating divine wisdom, a phase of storing strength before unleashing it.
Upon reaching the Spirit Capture realm, one could subjugate fiendish qi and earth essence for their own use.
Born empowereds were quite rare. They naturally possessed special talents; like Yu Zhuohan, whose body had an affinity for fire, allowing him to control it early on.
After joining the esoteric sect, he had accumulated divine wisdom and learned various methods, allowing him to directly tap into stronger forces and wield a small portion of the techniques from the second major realm.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Zhuohan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. Light shone beneath his feet, and his blazing wings trembled as he advanced.
Qin Ming watched him. This was his first time confronting someone from the esoteric sect, and he genuinely wished to observe and study these varied techniques closely.
The dew hung heavy beneath the night mist, leaving the grass of the wilderness soaked. Moving like a swift wind, Qin Ming trod across the blades of grass and charged forward.
Yu Zhuohan completely switched to esoteric arts. A swath of fire surged from his fingertips, clinking loudly before transforming into a silver chain that produced crisp metallic rattles. The silver flame condensed into a remarkably lifelike fire chain.
Among the crowd of youths, some followed the path of the esoteric sect. Seeing this display, they could only sigh in admiration.
The silver fire chain shot forward, piercing straight for Qin Ming's head! Qin Ming raised his right hand, heavenly light force flowing like morning dawn breaking over a mist-veiled sea, radiating vigorous brilliance.
With a clang, he severed the silver fire chain with his bare hand, and as his right palm shook, a large section of the chain shattered. Yu Zhuohan remained calm. Suddenly, his entire body beamed with silver radiance, sending out one silver chain after another to entangle Qin Ming.
Beneath the dark night veil, silver rays crisscrossed the wilderness with ringing clangs, like weaving a web to trap Qin Ming within.
Qin Ming showed no fear. He did not believe his opponent could endlessly conjure such dense fire chains; the boy's own reserves were surely depleting rapidly.
The Golden Light Shroud surfaced around his body. He stood firm and unyielding in the wilderness. Dense as the fire chains were, they could not budge him. Outside his body, the heavenly light was three inches thick, continually tearing and snapping the encroaching chains into pieces to form an effective defense. If it came down to an endurance match, would he fear his opponent? Let him come!
Rumble!
Yu Zhuohan wove the fire chains into a spiderweb enclosing Qin Ming, giving his absolute all. He threw punch after punch, sending out ball after ball of fire accompanied by blazing spirit blades that blanketed the area and bombarded his opponent.
For a moment, the wilderness was brilliantly illuminated, the night dispelled clean away.
Earth essence steamed beneath Qin Ming's feet. Channeling the Wuji Classic, he switched to a different protective technique. Yin earth force and yang earth force intertwined, circulating outside his body before merging into Wuji force.
Thick, surging ochre-yellow mist enveloped him, resisting the barrage of fiery spirit blades.
Immediately after, the ground rumbled. Qin Ming seemed to merge into one with the earth. His Wuji Fist was heavy as a mountain; with every swing, it drew the surrounding dense fire chains along. Unable to maintain their web-like form, they twisted and swayed with his fist light, gradually snapping apart.
With the ringing hum of a blade, Yu Zhuohan drew his weapon upon seeing that even this could not bind his foe. A magnificent crimson greatsword left its scabbard, lighting up the night sky.
"A red jade iron sword!" Many of the youths looked on with envy. This was pure jade iron unmixed with other metals, directly forged into a greatsword—an extravagant luxury.
The wings of light on Yu Zhuohan's back beat rapidly, pushing his speed to its utmost limit. Holding the sword in both hands, he resembled a streak of red lightning tearing through the night sky as he slashed forward!
With a crash, Qin Ming used his robust Wuji Fist to shatter every fire chain around him. The dense, web-like silver light collapsed entirely.
With a ringing chime, he drew his mutton-fat jade iron saber, gripping it in one hand. Amid the drifting sparks of disintegrating fire chains, he stepped forward and swung with immense power.
Beneath the night sky, sparks flew in all directions. The two sped across the wilderness like bolts of lightning, their saber and sword repeatedly colliding, sending out ear-splitting shrieks of clashing metal.
"Jade iron nurtured through the esoteric sect's special methods not only prevents burning their divine wisdom, but also protects them and boosts their power," an onlooker remarked. Jade iron was a precious material endowed with diverse extraordinary properties.
The red jade iron sword in Yu Zhuohan's hands erupted in flames, magnifying his innate talent. Every swing swept forward a roaring blaze that poured out ahead. Qin Ming was surprised. No wonder the boy dared clash with him in close quarters again; that red jade iron sword seemed to integrate the powers from both of Yu Zhuohan's paths—Newborn and esoteric—layering heavenly light and uncanny flames together into a single burst. Fluttering sounds filled the air!
From the inferno swept up by Yu Zhuohan's red jade iron sword, fire crows emerged one after another, diving toward his foe. Qin Ming remained composed, wielding his saber with his right hand and punching with his left to blow the fire crows apart, turning them into a vast shower of falling sparks.
The mutton-fat jade iron saber in his right hand bore his astonishing heavenly light. Accompanied by a profound conception, it unleashed a mighty saber intent with effortless grace.
In an instant, the entire night seemed cleaved in two. The blinding saber light appeared to connect with the thunder and lightning of the highest heavens, carrying the imposing majesty of the world itself.
The red jade iron sword nearly flew from Yu Zhuohan's grip. His right hand was battered bloody by the colossal force, the soft flesh between his fingers torn open.
Qin Ming swung his saber repeatedly, slashing down again and again. Vaguely, the expanse of night mist seemed to transform into an ocean, while the mutton-fat jade iron saber in his hand became a blazing sun leaping from the water's surface, erupting with boundless golden haze to pierce the mist and stir up terrifying waves.
The night mist surged, and with a roar, was swiftly scattered by the saber light.
As this slash fell, all the flames on Yu Zhuohan's red jade iron sword were extinguished. He was sent flying through the air, his arm convulsing as he nearly dropped his greatsword.
This sight made many onlookers pale, sensing the formidable power of Qin Ming's saber technique—he truly displayed the poise of a youth grandmaster!
Qin Ming took a single stride, arriving before him in a flash to swing his saber once more.
The saber light lit up the wilderness, reflecting his resolute expression while illuminating Yu Zhuohan's pale face as the latter coughed up blood continuously.
Yu Zhuohan had no choice but to activate his secret technique again. The wings of fire reappeared on his back, granting him a surge of speed to pull away from his opponent; otherwise, lingering any longer would see him blasted apart by the saber light.
Even so, his entire arm trembled, its flesh cracked open with deep wounds caused entirely by the shockwaves from the long saber.
The youths from the prominent clans were deeply shaken. Yu Zhuohan was exceptionally powerful, possessing physical attributes close to a mutant's on top of being a born empowered. Combined with esoteric techniques, his combat strength was terrifying.
Yet even so, he could not stop Qin Ming!
Zheng Maorong felt a chill. This "old friend" hadn't been crushed to death even in a remote land, nor had he been crippled. If he truly rose to prominence in the future, would he come looking to settle scores?
The radiant Lu Yuzhi showed a look of astonishment. With such a performance, Qin Ming would surely pass the trial to become a core disciple of the Yuqing lineage!
In the wilderness, Yu Zhuohan sheathed his red jade iron sword. Gritting his teeth, he raised both hands toward the night sky, his entire body erupting with dazzling silver light. He refused to lose; he had never tasted defeat before.
Advancing along dual paths, a born empowered with peerless talent, he was deeply unwilling to accept suffering setback after setback tonight.
He wanted to risk it all and fight to the bitter end. Even if it meant falling gravely ill afterward, he was determined to triumph over this opponent right now!
Yu Zhuohan let out a loud roar as the silver flames on his body boiled. The silver moon cloaking him grew increasingly brilliant, and then, it actually rose, separating from his body.
Everyone was astounded.
Earlier, when he raised his hands to the night sky as if supporting the heavens, he had been preparing to hoist this burning silver moon. The night sky was brightly illuminated!
A silver moon hung high. No longer sacred, it surged with roaring flames, scorching the void and shining down upon all creation, radiating an extraordinarily dangerous aura. Gripping his jade iron saber, Qin Ming advanced directly, seeming to ride the wind.
With a savage roar from Yu Zhuohan, the terrifying silver moon he held aloft suddenly shot away from him, flying toward his opponent and streaking across the wilderness at extreme speed. With a swish, Qin Ming dodged aside.
Yet guided by Yu Zhuohan's divine wisdom, the silver moon wheeled around and descended upon him again, exuding an aura of utmost peril.
Qin Ming halted. This time, he poured out his heavenly light force without reservation. His long saber seemed on the verge of melting, resembling a blazing sun traversing the sky as he slashed with tremendous force.
With a booming crash, he was sent flying backward more than twenty meters.
However, the boiling silver moon was also slashed apart by him! His clothes were torn and he looked somewhat disheveled. The heavenly light force on the surface of his body had dimmed from the heavy expenditure, yet it had not vanished entirely.
Consequently, he was unharmed.
He lifted his head, his gaze sharp as lightning. In an instant, his heavenly light force flared anew, erupting with an even more terrifying radiance.
Qin Ming strode forward, sheathing his long saber. His heavenly light force boiled and intertwined, pouring forth without restraint as it circulated over his body. Clenching his fists, he charged toward his opponent; it was time to end this battle.
"Ah..." Yu Zhuohan roared, his face deathly pale as he struggled to lift a second boiling silver moon, hurling it with all his might!
Combining the three miraculous arts and eighteen perfected forms of heavenly light force into one, Qin Ming used a technique whose origins no one could identify. He charged forward, his right hand striking like a blade across the night sky. With a thunderous boom, he shattered the silver moon!
Though he weathered a violent shockwave that left his clothes increasingly tattered, he remained uninjured and never slowed down. Maintaining his speed, he crossed the wilderness like a falling star, arriving right before his opponent.
By this point, Qin Ming's heavenly light force surged with renewed vigor. Clenching his left fist, he drove it forward, unleashing a blaze of magnificent golden light!
Yu Zhuohan's face was as yellow as parchment. He barely managed to condense a third silver moon, but it was dim and lacked boiling silver flames. As his opponent arrived, bearing terrifying fist light, Yu Zhuohan's silver moon was extinguished before it could even be launched.
Qin Ming's fist, carrying terrifying heavenly light force, struck right before Yu Zhuohan's glabella and suddenly came to a halt.
"Ah..." Yu Zhuohan let out a wretched cry.
The divine wisdom accumulated by esoteric practitioners also touched the spiritual domain. Driven close to his skull by Qin Ming's sun-like fist light, Yu Zhuohan could not endure the pressure and collapsed backward onto the ground.
Chapter 136