Under the night, the chirping of insects wove like fine silk threads. A pebble-paved path cut through the quiet woods, where faint rays from the distant fiery twilight strained through gaps in the lush foliage, rippling like broken gold in the darkness.
Qin Ming had seen them before. The purple-eyed crow was Master Wu, and the woman in black was Tang Jin, who hailed from Liuguang City and had once searched for a most suitable successor on behalf of her master.
According to the speech sparrow, back then, Qin Ming had not caught Tang Jin's eye, as she had not believed he could become her master's final disciple.
Qin Ming was no stranger to the youth beside Tang Jin either. The boy frequently appeared in the night papers; even if he was not yet a household name, he was exceedingly famous.
His name was Ling Yu. Clad in green robes, his black hair hung past his shoulders. His eyes were deep, carrying an understated heroism amid his steady demeanor, and a boundless, vigorous vitality surged within him.
Recently, he had tested his sword across a hundred cities, causing a massive sensation, and was already hailed by some as a Young Ancestor.
Though bumping into them here came as a slight surprise to Qin Ming, he did not find it strange, for Ling Yu would soon duel Xin Youdao.
The latter was also a ruthless figure who had once swept through eighty-one cities, a prominent figure in the night papers, and one of the most celebrated prodigies in this year's unified examinations.
Tang Jin had a slender figure. Though she did not reveal her face, as the night wind rustled the leaves, even her loose black robe could hardly conceal the beauty of her curves.
Qin Ming took a glance, then walked past her without a word. There was no question of greeting each other; though they had met before, there was genuinely no acquaintance between them.
Wu Yaozu, on the other hand, gave her a couple of looks, thinking that Grandma was right—the outside world truly was colorful, and even these quiet woods were splendid.
After they brushed past each other, Tang Jin sensed something and looked back at the retreating figure of one of the youths.
Back then, when competing for the mysterious bounties within the special node at Black-White Mountain, she had dared to hunt down alone the green-robed woman who had seized the greatest fortune. Naturally, she possessed extraordinary abilities.
"Nothing found!" Master Wu flew back. Then, filled with doubt and suspicion, it also looked toward Qin Ming's back.
"He looks familiar. Could that be the boy we passed up back then?" Born with mysterious purple pupils, it could see through to aspects of truth invisible to others.
"Who? Is he very strong?" the youth Ling Yu asked.
The purple-eyed crow nodded, scrutinizing the departing figures. "Mm, personally, I think one of the youths is quite extraordinary. His first Newborn transformation came with anomalous phenomena. Huh, the other kid seems rather remarkable as well. Interesting that two such individuals would travel together."
After walking a good distance, Wu Yaozu whispered, "Brother, I feel like that woman was looking at me just now."
"Above all, do not trust your feelings at a time like this," Qin Ming said, pausing to look at the important letter tucked into his sleeve.
Wu Yaozu said, "Really! Oh, right, that black crow was looking at you."
Ignoring him, Qin Ming looked down at the brief message on the paper, and his heart immediately surged with emotion.
Lu Zizai had left only a single, simple sentence: "Fight with all your might for the auspicious beast's blood; I shall ensure you a fair chance!"
Qin Ming had originally given up on the auspicious beast's blood, because he knew far too many people and interests were entangled in it, with vast ramifications.
Why else would Cui Chonghe, Sun Jingxiao, and the others appear in Kunling?
Furthermore, the several immortal seeds and divine seeds Qin Ming had encountered aboard the Vermilion Bird airship had not come merely to gather ninth-heaven essence from that "land" in the sky—they had also come for the auspicious beast's blood.
Qin Ming could hardly conceal the surge of emotions. He knew that Lu Zizai was shouldering immense pressure himself—for instance, Sun Taichu had wanted to make a move against him today.
Under such circumstances, Lu Zizai had still given him a promise, telling him to go all out and fight, while Lu Zizai himself would have to face who knew what harsh circumstances!
Such kindness was truly weighty.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Wu Yaozu asked.
"The auspicious beast's blood—we're going to fight for it!" Qin Ming said, intending to study the rules thoroughly once they returned.
In any case, if a fair contest truly could be guaranteed, how could he be left out in the Newborn realm?
Just then, a small golden bird flew over, alighting on a branch near Qin Ming, its eyes bright and brilliant.
"Senior!" Qin Ming hurried to greet it in a low voice.
The small golden bird sighed softly. "He thinks very highly of you. In his eyes, on the Newborn path, at most no more than four people can forge the way forward in the future—and that includes him and you."
Qin Ming's blood gradually ran hot. He was only in the first realm, yet Lu Zizai held him in such high regard. He felt an urge, wanting to shout out that he would surely forge the path forward in the future!
Yet he reined it in. He was merely an insignificant Newborn; speaking of the future was too far off. For now, he had to keep his feet on the ground and repay Lu Zizai with practical actions.
Qin Ming was somewhat worried about Lu Zizai. From what he had seen today, that white-haired body carried a heavy stench of decay. "How is Senior Brother Lu?" he asked in a low voice.
The small golden bird transmitted secretly, "He is unharmed. The golden giant you saw today was transformed from his past cultivation, not his true state. That is the 'attainment' he is striving to forget."
Although Qin Ming had harbored guesses, hearing it confirmed still deeply moved him. How many could bear to cast aside such "attainment"? Lu Zizai was far beyond ordinary men!
The small golden bird said, "Rest assured. When the day comes that he thoroughly forgets the past and his 'new attainment' emerges, he will be even stronger, taking root in his past cultivation to achieve a true 'Newborn' rebirth!"
"Good!" Qin Ming nodded. He believed that so long as Lu Zizai did not die, one day he would far surpass his former self.
The small golden bird spread its wings and flew away, vanishing into the boundless night.
Wu Yaozu wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath. "Why do I feel like the outside world is even more dangerous than the Fourth Peril? Just a little bird, yet it made my soul tremble, as if I were facing a horrific anomaly as colossal as a mountain!"
Qin Ming said, "Its true form might not be smaller than a mountain!"
The woods were rather dim. A large cluster of wooden cabins stood here, where many Newborns resided.
Today, the place was filled with dejection and unease. Many sat quietly, pondering the road ahead.
For not long ago, a patriarch of the Newborn path had appeared at Feixian Academy, exuding an aura of thorough decay, leaving people feeling that there was no hope left on this path.
"On the Newborn path, no patriarch has forged the road ahead for many years, while the other paths are still being pioneered. Alas!"
"No wonder rumors claimed someone once wanted a patriarch of the Newborn path to serve as a strongman laborer. Those weren't without basis after all."
"Regrettably, we tried other paths and simply couldn't walk them. Without special gifts, we are just ordinary people. Only this path of physical mutation works for us."
A group of people sighed in gloom, feeling that this night was just like their path ahead—exceptionally bleak, with no glimpse of the way forward.
"Oh right, tomorrow evening, Ling Yu, who has tested his sword across a hundred cities, will duel Xin Youdao at our academy. They count as people of the Newborn path too, right? Something to look forward to!"
The next day, after Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu woke up, they continued familiarizing themselves with the surroundings of Shanhe Academy. As for the dining hall, they had only four words: unpalatable and absurdly expensive!
"Brother, that's the library pavilion you've been thinking about. It's quite grand and imposing, a full nine stories."
Soon, they learned that to read the classics, one needed either contribution points or to pay for access.
After making inquiries, Wu Yaozu inhaled sharply against the fiery twilight before the pavilion. "Hiss, that's so expensive! Brother, if all else fails, we really have to fight a match. Between the two of us, our five elements lack day gold!"
Qin Ming nodded. They couldn't let a "pittance" of day gold block their path and stump heroic men.
Before noon had even arrived, Shanhe Academy grew bustling as people continuously poured inside.
For news of Ling Yu, who had tested his sword across a hundred cities, dueling Xin Youdao had spread days ago, and many had long been anticipating it.
Judging by how ticket prices for spectator seats had been driven sky-high, considerable interests were involved, so naturally people were stoking the flames.
In truth, Ling Yu and Xin Youdao were indeed heaven-blessed geniuses who dazzled this generation. Even titles like Young Ancestor were being bandied about. Moreover, they frequently featured in the night papers and enjoyed considerable fame across various regions.
Not only people from Kunling, but some had even traveled ten thousand li from other cities.
"Ling Yu's master is the person in this era most likely to become a patriarch. A legendary figure, a true giant whose name shakes the night mist world."
Precisely because of this, people were all the more intrigued, eager to see for themselves just how formidable the final disciple personally trained by that grandmaster was.
That day, the entire city of Kunling was abuzz with discussion about it.
Unlike Sun Taichu's sudden, unheralded arrival, this clash between young prodigies had been building momentum for a long time.
Even without tickets, students from over a dozen other dojos and academies flooded in, and senior figures naturally were not lacking among them.
"A duel between practitioners of our Newborn path actually has this much prestige? People from the immortal path, esoteric sect path, and mutant path have all rushed over to watch."
"Wake up. Only you Newborns would flatter yourselves by seeing it that way. Did you know Xin Youdao walks dual paths? His esoteric sect methods are even stronger!"
"As for Ling Yu, his master was originally one beyond the mundane world. Integrating the Newborn path was merely to take another step forward and stand atop the pyramid. Becoming a patriarch was simply riding the momentum."
These words directly silenced many Newborns.
Shanhe Academy was packed with people everywhere, bustling as never before.
The front page of the night papers was actively following the event; headlines such as "Young Patriarch Tests His Sword Against the World" had already been drafted in advance!
Wu Yaozu's eyes shone as he said, "Brother, I think if the two of us fight one each, replacing them won't be a problem at all!"
Though he came from a peril, he was young after all. Seeing such an enormous spectacle, overwhelming coverage, and so many people flocking to watch, he naturally felt unconvinced. Filled with youthful spiritedness, he wished nothing more than to battle the two of them.
Qin Ming chuckled and said, "Don't rush. You'll have your chance to show your strength later on. Sooner or later, your name will shake the world."
The two joked and chatted here without much concern. So what if others overheard? At most, it would be dismissed as bragging.
"Big words." Sure enough, someone curled their lip upon hearing them, thinking the two had lost their minds and were simply too desperate for fame.
Yet, there was someone who took it seriously!
In the distance, the purple-eyed crow perched on a treetop and said in a low voice, "Tang Jin, hear that? See that? The eyes and expressions of those two youths—how confident they are! Yesterday I recognized that little fellow from Black-White Mountain, and what's more, he recognized us too. He doesn't hold the person you chose in any regard at all."
Tang Jin smiled faintly, saying nothing.
The purple-eyed crow said, "Why don't you arrange for Ling Yu to test his mettle and see if your judgment was off back at Black-White Mountain?"
"Agreed!" Tang Jin replied with just one word, her tone exceedingly succinct.
Chapter 190