Throughout the Six Imperials ancestral court, breathtaking sights abounded.
Even though the disciples of the outer realm were well-traveled and knowledgeable, they could not help clicking their tongues in wonder as they toured the grounds.
"Look at that colossal skull—just how massive was its owner in life?" Ahead stood a five-hundred-meter-tall cranium. Far from appearing sinister, it was translucent and crystal-clear. From its seven facial apertures grew diverse spiritual vines and wondrous trees, circulating a rich, heady medicinal fragrance. "That is the famous Seven Apertures wondrous medicine. Even some of the elders in our Fangwai Immortal Land drool over it. Alas, what a pity it can't be moved."
"Quiet! Have you forgotten where we are? This is the ancestral court of a major lineage!"
Behind them, upon overhearing this, Lu Zizai's jet-black hair gently drifted upward without any wind.
He had not even left yet, and people were already eyeing the wondrous medicine in his backyard. It was obvious that those from the outer realm had coveted it for quite some time.
This was also the first time Qin Ming had toured the grounds so thoroughly, and it broadened his horizons as well; extraordinary sights were everywhere. He had nearly drooled over the Seven Apertures wondrous medicine himself, but catching sight of Lu Zizai's darkening expression, he promptly looked up toward the night sky, watching the clouds gather and disperse with an unruffled air of detachment.
"This small pack of outer realm disciples has a solid foundation. Truly formidable. The Fangwai Immortal Land has certainly flourished without decline." Lu Zizai stared at their departing backs.
His personal visit was naturally intended to gauge their depths. Observing the auras circulating within these youths, he felt as if he were catching glimpses of familiar old rivals.
"Are they all very strong?" Qin Ming asked.
Lu Zizai replied, "To challenge the Six Imperials force, they have indeed prepared thoroughly. Some expert has helped them temper a portion of their conscious spiritual light, imbuing it with faint wisps of pure Yang energy."
He did not belittle them; rather, his critique was entirely objective. In his view, the outer realm was testing an art, putting several novel ideas to the proof. "In the first two realms, the core disciples of our Six Imperials ancestral court at the same level will not lose to them. But once they reach the spirit field realm, things will get troublesome," Lu Zizai sighed.
In truth, even at the Outer Sage stage, the advancement rate along the Newborn path would suddenly slow, and the distance would begin to widen rapidly. Even as they strolled through the Six Imperials ancestral court, the outer realm disciples were brimming with confidence.
After all, even the *Immortal-Combating Classic*, which could vie with the *Six Imperials Heart Scripture*, was merely regarded as a protective method for their path rather than their primary cultivation art.
Several senior masters in the outer realm had taught them that their own path was the immortal path, looking down upon all other sects, instilling the utmost conviction in every disciple.
In fact, it had been that way during disciple recruitment as well: those without natural spirituality could not enter the outer realm, and those devoid of divine wisdom could not join an esoteric sect.
The ordinary people who were weeded out had no choice but to rely on bodily mutation, treading an arduous, unforgiving path.
"For a lineage like the Six Imperials to emerge upon the Newborn path is truly no small feat," remarked one core disciple from the Immortal Land. "To establish a foothold in the night mist world, make a name across the land, and even win nodding approval from some seniors in our Immortal Land is already exceedingly impressive."
They believed they were evaluating matters objectively, yet their hearts harbored a profound sense of psychological superiority.
In their eyes, they were already the victors from the selection phase, while the ordinary rejects were the ones forced onto the Newborn path.
In a sense, this was the divide between mortals and immortals.
"The showdown is tomorrow. Are you all confident?" asked Luo Yao, a girl in white. Her eyebrows arched gracefully and her eyes were bright and lively; at a glance, it was obvious she was not of a calm or docile disposition.
"Junior Sister Luo, rest easy. It won't be an issue," replied a youth clad in yellow. As he spoke, dazzling heavenly light force manifested over his body, tinting even the strands of his hair with a golden sheen.
The others chimed in one after another. They knew well that this girl in white possessed an extraordinary background. The elder "sister" she had once followed held a towering status in the Immortal Land; despite her youth, she could already go toe-to-toe with figures of the older generation.
As for Luo Yao herself, she was exceptionally talented. Upon coming of age, she had competed for a core disciple position, defeated numerous rivals, and secured her place on her very first attempt.
"Thinking about it carefully, it's only in the first two realms that they can wrestle with us. Once we reach the third realm, they can only gaze at our receding backs. I wonder why the elders insist on testing the art this way?" someone mused aloud.
"Every path requires continual refinement. This is likely preparation for the Great Reclamation; disciples in the first two realms will need various protective arts along the way."
Dropping her usual playful demeanor, Luo Yao said seriously, "All of you had better take this seriously. If you end up suffering a crushing defeat, that would be utterly humiliating."
Then she looked at a youth in purple beside her and added, "Li Daocheng, you have to hold down the fort in the final bout. This is the first time the senior masters are testing this art, so you cannot let them lose face."
The youth, Li Daocheng, nodded. "Senior Sister Luo, be at ease. The *Immortal-Combating Classic* I have comprehended is fully comparable to the *Six Imperials Heart Scripture*. In fact, it is as if it were tailor-made for me; I was so infatuated with its verses that I nearly delayed my cultivation on the immortal path."
Remarkably, he possessed purple hair and a countenance as calm as still water. Faint traces of purple dawn flowed deep within his eyes—a manifestation of having cultivated the *Immortal-Combating Classic* to a certain level.
In fact, with every breath he drew, faint wisps of purple mist from heaven and earth surged toward him.
Luo Yao smiled. "Mm, you are someone my sister personally commended. Perform well this time, and when we return, I will lend you her cultivation notes to study."
After that, they moved past the topic and continued taking in the marvelous scenery.
Ahead, a fire willow soared into the night sky, its colossal canopy blanketing several li like a mountain. Its drooping, crimson branches cascaded down like vibrant twilight, breathtakingly beautiful.
Lu Zizai said, "Did you sense it? Whenever those from the outer realm face us, they carry an innate sense of superiority."
"Because we are ordinary people relying on bodily mutation." Qin Ming smiled and nodded. He had long grown accustomed to it, his heart untroubled. In truth, when he first met Luo Yao in white, she had harbored no malice, but she had chuckled at his rustic ways, saying that an endless expanse of mountains and seas lay between them.
After looking over the youths, Lu Zizai paid them no further mind and turned back.
Qin Ming asked, "Senior Brother Lu, in tomorrow's showdown, since I'm representing the Six Imperials, shouldn't I display the Six Imperials force to them?"
Initially, he had felt embarrassed to ask, having already received so much, and his skin was not quite that thick. But now, he felt it would be far more fitting to educate the opponents using the signature force of the Six Imperials ancestral court.
Lu Zizai said, "The Six Imperials path is flawed; you don't need to follow it to the letter. What I am doing right now is forgetting my past arts. I consider you one of my peers, so I do not wish to see you merely follow in the footsteps of predecessors. Every patriarch forged their own path, carving out a brand-new world, and you should do the same."
Qin Ming sighed inwardly. The silk book method he cultivated was exceedingly peculiar. For now, having more arts was always better, but he could hardly press the issue.
After all, he was also one of those preparing to make a run for it soon.
With his back turned to him, Lu Zizai stopped in his tracks and said, "I suspect your style is similar to a peculiar scripture from history. But everyone who attempted it failed—some perished, others were crippled, and it even involved patriarch-level figures."
Hearing this, Qin Ming's heart jolted. What Lu Zizai described sounded remarkably like the silk book method!
Lu Zizai looked back and said, "If you truly tread this path and can bite through to the very end, come find me in the future!"
He added, "For now, if I gave you the flawed Six Imperials Heart Scripture, I fear you might burst from the strain. Better to take things step by step."
"Senior Brother Lu, what exactly is your identity?" Qin Ming could not resist asking, bringing up the old question once more.
Lu Zizai chuckled. "You want to know that badly? Fine, then. Once we beat down those from the Fangwai Immortal Land, I'll tell you before I leave."
That night, golden light radiated from all over Qin Ming's body. Although he had comprehended the *Heluo Classic*, he had only practiced it for a short time and had merely produced a trickle of heavenly light force rather than reaching mastery. But now, he had found a solution.
Within moments, he used Metal to generate Water, transmuting his heavenly light force. Soon, the golden light dissolved into dense layers of water mist, submerging him completely as rich vitality flowed outward.
Next, he converted it again, experimenting repeatedly and interchanging among the five elements with growing proficiency.
By the end, he could transmute the attribute with a single thought.
The following day, an expansive martial grounds within the Six Imperials ancestral court was packed with spectators.
Word had spread that visitors from the Fangwai Immortal Land had arrived for an exchange of pointers, intending to clash using methods of the Newborn path, stirring up a massive commotion.
Many disciples of the Six Imperials ancestral court were holding back a surge of indignation, feeling insulted. To the visitors, winning or losing mattered little since they were attacking their opponent's strength with their own short suit; but if the visitors won, where would the Six Imperials lineage put its face?
"The disciples from our side have practiced the arts of the Newborn path for less than five years," an elderly man remarked with a chuckle.
"Mm. The disciple taking the field on our side has walked the Newborn path for barely two years," an elder of the Six Imperials ancestral court replied calmly.
In truth, the elder was merely parroting Lu Zizai's secretly conveyed words, acting entirely as a mouthpiece.
Having observed the disciples from the Fangwai Immortal Land in person the day before, Lu Zizai was already thoroughly familiar with their depths.
At that moment, Qin Ming stood quietly in the arena dressed in blue-green robes, unrecognizable to anyone.
Lu Zizai had also worried that if Qin Ming stood out too brilliantly, he might be marked by some of the shameless old masters from the Fangwai Immortal Land, meeting a tragic end like the Overlord of old.
However, Qin Ming's cultivation realm was still low, so for now he would not catch the eye of those supreme figures. Even so, if he was noted every single time, it would leave a deep impression before long.
Near the martial grounds, a cascading Fire Spring flowed, and silver trees swayed, glowing and illuminating the surroundings.
The delegation from the Fangwai Immortal Land sat upon an elevated platform, appearing relaxed, yet inwardly attaching great importance to the event. If this trial succeeded, several senior masters would proceed to verify numerous astonishing concepts.
The ground paved with bluestone was rock-solid. A youth clad in immaculate white walked forward from the Fangwai Immortal Land.
As he advanced, verdant green leaves materialized one after another, followed by withered, yellow foliage drifting and swirling around his body.
"It's actually the Withering and Thriving Classic! How could someone his age cultivate it to such an extent? His heavenly light force isn't just projected outward; it's manifesting form into a distinct spectacle!"
Several Six Imperials disciples turned pale, thoroughly shaken by the display.
"What are you panicking for? It is merely pure Yang conscious spiritual light carrying heavenly light force; it's all an illusion," an elder scolded lightly, bidding them settle down.
Even as he said so, the elder was unsettled. Those from the outer realm had essentially wedded the two paths together, which boded exceedingly ill.
The youth in white smiled. As he circulated the Withering and Thriving Classic, a brilliant flower bud blossomed in midair before drifting toward Qin Ming.
Even in combat, he projected an air of unworldliness and ethereal grace, appearing singularly detached from mortal dust.
Qin Ming stood in place and simply pinched the flower between his fingers with a faint smile. His serene, transcendent grace was noticeably superior to that of the youth opposite him.
Beads of sweat broke out on the youth's forehead. That flower bore his heavenly light force as well as pure Yang conscious spiritual light tempered by an elder. It was supposed to be immensely potent and capable of detonating in an instant, yet here it was being admired like a mortal blossom! What kind of monster was this?
Immediately, he channeled another sacred bud, sending it spinning at high speed to bear down upon his opponent.
Qin Ming used the same hand to pluck the flower with effortless grace, his other hand resting behind his back—relaxed, natural, and poised, like a fallen immortal gazing upon an ordinary mortal.
In the eyes of the Fangwai Immortal Land crowd, the entire dynamic had flipped.
With a flick of Qin Ming's wrist, the two buds reversed course faster than they had arrived. As they flew back, their petals unfurled one by one, scattering through the air, and then detonated with a deafening roar!
The youth in white could not dodge at all. Enveloped by the flying petals, his white robes blasted apart, cracks spiderwebbed across his flesh, and he coughed up mouthfuls of blood. Trembling violently, he fell backward onto the ground, his blood staining the flagstones red.
With one hand clasped behind his back, Qin Ming asked, "Is that it? Did you come all the way to the Six Imperials ancestral court just to present flowers?"
Chapter 158