An extra cup of tea appeared on Qin Ming's table—his reward for defeating Sun Jingxiao.
At the moment, however, he had no need to drink it.
"Cui Chonghe?" Qin Ming frowned. Hearing that name instantly soured his mood.
Most of the pressure weighing on him and the grudges he had accumulated were tied to the Cui clan.
Early on, Li Qingxu had targeted him with lethal intent simply because Qin Ming bore the identity of the Cui clan's legitimate scion.
The entire time, he had been made a scapegoat, taking the blame and suffering on another's behalf, yet the Cui clan still came looking for trouble with him afterward.
As for the rightful master, Cui Chonghe, he held his head higher still, viewing Qin Ming as nothing more than a servant raised by the Cui clan who was supposed to suffer tribulations and die in his place as a matter of course.
Now, the Cui and Li clans had called a truce, yet Qin Ming remained caught in the fallout.
From the Cui clan trying to suppress him to death in the remote lands of Black-White Mountain, to hiring Yu Zhuohan of the esoteric sect to fight him, and even suspected interference with the Six Imperials ancestral court's selection of disciples—every single incident stoked Qin Ming's fury.
While riding aboard the Vermilion Bird airship, he had been assaulted by the old woman guarding that airborne plot of land. Ever since surviving that close call, his loathing for the Cui clan had reached an absolute peak.
"Is it actual combat? I really wouldn't mind taking a crack at him," Qin Ming said.
His resentment toward the Cui clan had built up considerably. Even when their people tried a softer approach, they would invariably open by telling him to go serve as Cui Chonghe's bodyguard.
Figures like Cui He and Cui Shuning, who had lost the Yimu Scripture to him, had even considered it too late for him to serve as a jade-armored or god-armored guard. In their eyes, as someone walking the Newborn path, his cultivation speed was lagging far behind, hopelessly outpaced by a near-immortal seed like Cui Chonghe. Even sprinting at full tilt, he would never catch sight of the other's back.
*Mm, I'm letting this get out of hand. How can I manage without a calm mind? I need to settle myself.* Qin Ming realized that whenever the Cui clan was mentioned, his temper flared with unusual ferocity.
In a cold, wooden voice, the Heavenly Demon Mirror informed him that Cui Chonghe's challenge concerned natural talent and aptitude.
"I've just mastered the Golden Cicada Scripture, and my body is in the middle of a rebirth because of it. It's a shame we can't fight in earnest," Qin Ming said with keen disappointment.
He knew, of course, that Cui Chonghe was exceptionally gifted. At three years old, he had been sent into an outer pure land and attained the Dao; his realm far surpassed his peers.
"Tell him to wait until I finish my rebirth," Qin Ming said.
Half a day later, the burning heat in his body receded, and the metamorphosis concluded completely.
He then began fusing the Golden Cicada force through the method of "harmonizing dragon and tiger to compound medicine," refining and tempering it through thousands of hammerings.
His flesh and blood turned translucent, and a great elixir manifested in his chest and abdomen. A humanoid silhouette surfaced within it, then burst apart, surging through every part of his body as thunder and lightning flashed across the entire hall.
He felt an immense sense of perfection. After fusing a seventh miraculous art, this marked a rebirth for his heavenly light force!
Attuning himself to the changes within, he felt tremendously powerful, wishing he could pummel Cao Qianqiu in the first realm all over again.
*The records of the various factions really don't lie. The higher the initial foundation on the Newborn path and the deeper the accumulation, the greater the return at the ninth rebirth!*
Qin Ming now understood why a "relay rebirth" existed.
He suspected certain founding masters might have undergone it as well.
Nine out of ten youths entering the secret realm were digging up spiritual herbs, but for seed-level figures capable of taking to the path, their fortunes lay beyond the mundane world.
"Look! Another immortal path is drawing close to the demon path!" someone cried in astonishment.
The sight immediately caused a stir.
Everyone knew the demon youth Yao Yi was about to become famous across the night mist world!
In a single day, he had clashed with near-immortal seeds one after another. Regardless of the outcome, this was a glorious, breathtaking feat.
"That's Cui Chonghe!" someone exclaimed.
High in the air, an immortal path glowing with radiant mist merged with the demon path. Upon it stood a palace hall, and at its entrance lingered a silhouette.
Cui Chonghe's feather robes fluttered, surrounded by wisps of white mist and drifting motes of rain-like light. He looked as though he had severed all mortal ties, aloof and transcendent.
Though his features were indistinct, several disciples from outer pure lands recognized him nonetheless.
"It really is Senior Brother Cui! Stepping forward at a critical juncture—what a sense of responsibility!" someone praised.
Cui Chonghe enjoyed tremendous renown. Having attained sudden enlightenment in a pure land at age three, countless people claimed he was destined to approach immortality and ultimately seek the truth.
Disciples of the immortal path instantly came alive, feeling a shared surge of pride as if they were the ones standing above the clouds.
"What does it mean to be exceptionally gifted? Senior Brother Cui is the prime example! They say his foundation might even surpass the founding masters, and he will undoubtedly become a world-shaking figure in the future!"
"I've heard that too! Senior Brother Cui is brilliantly talented, blessed with an aptitude that outshines even the path-pioneering founding masters!"
Not long ago, seeds of the immortal path had suffered two consecutive defeats, severely dampening morale and reducing their disciples to silence. Now, excitement and fervor took hold of them once more.
The demons' expressions shifted slightly, tinged with a hint of concern.
Tensions on the plateau had been running high lately. As their opposing camp, these demon youths had naturally studied the prominent figures on the other side.
A few among them knew of Cui Chonghe.
"This looks bad. If he truly has talent that surpasses path-pioneering founding masters, we're in trouble!"
Yet to everyone's surprise, the youth on the demon path did not show his face at all, remaining inside his palace.
Since it was not a close-quarters brawl, Qin Ming could not be bothered to go out and see Cui Chonghe.
"Well done! That's the kind of presence a prodigy of our demon race should have! So what if he's the poster child of this generation on the immortal path? If he doesn't want to meet him, he doesn't have to!"
Many demons felt that Yao Yi had true character; this was precisely how it should be done.
The immortal path disciples grew indignant, feeling this demon seed was too arrogant. To not even step past the grand palace gates was simply insolent.
"Is Cui Chonghe really as strong as the rumors say?" members of the esoteric sect murmured among themselves.
"Hard to say, but going by every sign, he must be extraordinarily formidable."
...
Sitting quietly within the demon hall, Qin Ming asked the Heavenly Demon Mirror how the opponent intended to compete.
The Heavenly Demon Mirror answered, "Along the road ahead, travelers from past generations left behind riddles. He too deposited a text, and he has brought it forward now for you to solve. If you succeed, the victory is yours."
Sensing something, Qin Ming asked, "If I fail, can I send him a text in return for him to decipher?"
"Yes."
The broken mirror went by different names on different paths; on the immortal path, it was naturally called the Immortal Mirror.
At that moment, Cui Chonghe stood upon the immortal path with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance. The other party's refusal to show himself did not anger him; he merely smiled faintly.
"This is the passage. If he can master it, I will concede defeat." With a tap of his finger, dense characters and diagrams materialized, projecting across the void.
Manifested through the Heavenly Demon Mirror, the jade table before Qin Ming shimmered brightly, carved full of text and illustrations.
"Pushing things too far!" Qin Ming's expression darkened.
He had suspected as much, and now it was confirmed.
This was the Newborn method of the first realm—it was originally his, but the ancient silk book had been withheld by the Cui clan, who still refused to return it to this day.
Evidently, every extraordinary talent in the Cui clan had studied his family's ancestral silk book. Even Cui Chonghe, who walked the immortal path, was well-versed in its principles.
Qin Ming immediately suspected this person was likely practicing heavenly light force as well, treading more than one path, endowed with exceptional talent across multiple domains.
No one understood the condition of the silk book method better than he did. Cui Chonghe had indeed set him a difficult problem.
*Could he be suspecting my identity and doing this intentionally? No, that shouldn't be the case.*
Qin Ming frowned deeply. If he were to demonstrate the silk book method here, the fallout would be catastrophic. At that point, far more than just Cao Qianqiu would be hunting him down.
Moreover, his identity would likely be exposed; not even the demon path could conceal it.
Qin Ming's expression was unsightly. Facing anyone from the Cui clan truly made it impossible to stay in good spirits.
Should he produce a sect-defining art to stump Cui Chonghe in turn? Out of the question—that would only aid the enemy.
Cui Chonghe had displayed this text precisely because he was certain no one could master the silk book method on their own.
"I'll write a passage as well for him to ponder. If he can master it, I'll admit defeat." Qin Ming's fingers flicked through the air, inscribing characters across the void with heavenly light force.
When Cui Chonghe saw the text and diagrams, his smile instantly froze. Frowning, he said, "How can this be allowed? Isn't that against the rules?"
The opponent had copied down the core essentials of the silk book method's first realm without altering a single word, sending it right back to him.
The Immortal Mirror's voice held no ripple of emotion. "He believes there is a flaw in this method and that it leads nowhere—that you are misleading him with erroneous scriptures. You are asked to cultivate it first."
"I walk the immortal path," Cui Chonghe said.
Qin Ming retorted, "If you don't understand the demon path or the Newborn method, don't make a fool of yourself trying to teach experts. I'm telling you there's a problem with this mantra—do you dare dispute it?"
This duel produced great thunder but little rain. Though it concluded in a draw, it carried the distinct flavor of an unresolved farce.
"A useless exchange and sparring. No reward shall be granted to either party. A repeat offense will result in direct punishment." Such was the Heavenly Demon Mirror's verdict.
In the end, Cui Chonghe flicked his broad sleeve and departed in utter dissatisfaction.
Qin Ming wore no smile either; this fell far short of what he had hoped for.
The Cui clan treated his ancestral silk book so casually, tossing it out to wager in a contest, yet still refused to return it to him. The thought left a heavy knot of resentment in his chest.
Sitting quietly, he said in a low voice, "This matter cannot end peacefully. I will settle it at their door!"
"Someone has challenged you..." the Heavenly Demon Mirror transmitted.
"Not another person from the immortal path, is it? Is there no end to this?" Qin Ming had already been in a foul mood, and now he felt an urge to trade blows in earnest.
"Yes, it is someone from the immortal path—Li Qingyue," the Heavenly Demon Mirror informed him.
"Ah. Then it's fine. A spar is welcome," Qin Ming said at once.
The Heavenly Demon Mirror said, "She wishes to discuss the Dao."
"No problem." Qin Ming smiled and nodded.
The Heavenly Demon Mirror remarked, "Descendant who dares to pioneer the path, you show such goodwill toward a competitor, harboring no killing intent. You deserve praise."
Qin Ming smiled. "Mm. I yearn for the immortal path as well and long to sit and discuss the Dao. Besides, I've already caused quite a stir. If I keep fighting in real combat, it won't just be heaven envying genius—Cao Qianqiu and Sun Taichu might come in person to 'deliver' me."
"What's going on?" Outside, onlookers were astonished. The immortal path and the demon path separated, neither side suffering any harm, passing through the round safely.
Speculation soon spread: had it ended in a draw?
"Hiss... Senior Brother Cui possesses the talent of a path-pioneering founding master, yet he could only hold his ground without hope of victory?"
"Yao Yi is going to become famous everywhere. Defeating Li Qingxu and Sun Jingxiao one after another, then forcing Cui Chonghe to a draw—he truly possesses the caliber of a demon god!"
Evidently, many still did not realize that Li Qingxu's master, Cao Qianqiu, had fought in his stead.
Those who truly knew the inside story had shut their mouths, daring not offer any further comment on the matter.
Soon after, people saw yet another immortal path draw near the demon path, linking together there.
This time, the secret realm erupted with excitement.
The demon race in particular was beside themselves with thrill, as though their own lives had reached an absolute pinnacle at this very moment.
Was this demon youth fighting a multitude all on his own, standing solitary against every immortal seed?
Up to this point, he remained undefeated.
"Li Qingyue! It's actually her! She has no powerful background, yet in just over two years in the outer pure land, she fought her way to the top entirely on her own strength. She obtained a near-immortal item, earned the recognition of the old masters, and became an immortal seed!"
Someone spotted a silhouette amidst the drifting clouds and mist—clad in white robes, her dark hair dancing in the breeze, standing before a grand palace.
"Fairy Li truly has a sense of responsibility as well! With Cui Chonghe failing to win and settling for a draw, she still dared to step forward, carrying an unyielding conviction that none could replace her!"
"She truly fought her way up step by step from among countless disciples—her resolve is steadfast, entirely fearless!"
Li Qingyue's entrance drew immediate praise from many immortal path disciples.
Soon, the two grand palaces in the sky rapidly converged, releasing brilliant light that engulfed the area. Dao rhythms swirled, obscuring everything from sight.
After several months apart, Qin Ming met Li Qingyue once more, rising to greet her within the demon hall.
She wore white robes, without a trace of powder or rouge, her exquisite features flawless. Standing there, she resembled a luminous moon breaking through clouds and mist, the white ribbon cinching her slender waist fluttering gently.
"Fairy Li, please be seated!" Qin Ming said. Even though they knew each other intimately, he followed proper protocol, wary of causing complications before the Heavenly Demon Mirror.
Li Qingyue nodded. Dressed in snow-white robes, she seemed to radiate light from head to toe, illuminating the demon hall. Her wondrous form was pure and translucent, extraordinarily elegant.
Even Qin Ming felt a fleeting illusion of distance, as though she would eventually sever all mortal ties and ascend into the heavens.
Li Qingyue smiled faintly. "The immortal path cannot afford another defeat; we can only win. If I lose or if it ends in a draw, I will personally forfeit an item to you."
From there, the two began a proper, formal discussion of methods and scriptures, debating whether the demon path or the immortal path held supremacy, whether heavenly light force or conscious spiritual light held the advantage—a genuine, earnest discussion of the Dao.
Without a doubt, Li Qingyue had recognized him!
As their exchange deepened, they dropped the pretense and delved into truly profound scriptural principles. Qin Ming expounded upon the Destiny-Altering Scripture, sharing his insights with her.
Back in the Mountains and Rivers Spiritual Nest, Li Qingyue had taught him a mysterious scripture capable of cultivating conscious spiritual light. Now, she focused on elucidating this scripture before explaining its subsequent chapters.
By the end, both felt they had gained immensely. Moreover, when discussing the clash between heavenly light force and conscious spiritual light, both revealed thoughtful expressions, seriously pondering various real combat scenarios.
As time passed, onlookers outside grew anxious. The two paths had yet to separate, and neither figure had emerged.
"Could Fairy Li be in danger?" some worried. That demon youth was undeniably ferocious, after all.
"What kind of contest are they having in there? Why haven't they shown themselves?"
Much later, Li Qingyue rose to her feet within the grand palace. "I have benefited greatly. How about we conclude this in a draw?"
"I could ask for nothing better," Qin Ming replied.
He sighed softly. With this old friend, their times together were truly few and far between. While outsiders thought a long time had passed, it had actually been brief.
Moreover, this was hardly the place for them to say too much.
"As I said, if I didn't win, I would forfeit an item to you." Li Qingyue presented an exceptionally pure crystal, within which a great elixir was sealed.
"This is..." Qin Ming was taken aback.
It was about the size of a longan fruit, split into two colors—black on the left, white on the right. Faintly visible around it were phantom coils of a dragon and a tiger, accompanied by wondrous phenomena.
He instantly recognized what it was: the Dragon-Tiger Great Medicine!
Back at the Luofu Immortal Mountain ruins, Li Qingyue had used her spirit pupils to uncover Cui Chonghe possessing someone to participate illegally. Dragging him out, she had threatened him and demanded the Dragon-Tiger Great Medicine, forcing him to submit.
This was a great medicine that Senior Sun Taichu had personally gathered all manner of heavenly materials and earthly treasures to refine.
Li Qingyue said, "The methods are incomplete, and the road has not reached its end; all paths remain imperfect. In this grand era, every path is expanding forward. I hope your path can flourish in the future and open a new journey. When the road ahead is blocked, this elixir can briefly pave the way and increase cultivation speed."
She tactfully explained the purpose of this great elixir.
It was not meant for him to consume right now. Progress in the first realm of the Newborn path was swift, even faster than other paths, but upon reaching the second realm, it plummeted off a cliff.
She was worried about his future path, offering the Dragon-Tiger Great Medicine in the hope that he could go further without slowing down too drastically.
Yet this single great medicine would only serve its purpose at a specific juncture, leaving her to sigh in the end.
Qin Ming watched her walk away, her silhouette gradually blurring before vanishing into the depths of the palace on the immortal path.
Without question, Li Qingyue treated him exceptionally well, but Qin Ming was left somewhat lost in thought, for she seemed increasingly otherworldly, her heart wholly devoted to the Dao and approaching immortality.
He recalled Wang Caiwei's words: one day, Li Qingyue would no longer set foot in the mortal world, making further meetings nearly impossible.
*"In the days to come, she will either lead the outer realm to ultimate glory, elevating all blessed lands into grotto-heavens and leaping across the void, or lead those beyond the mundane world to die in the depths of the night mist world during the Era of Great Pioneering, their Dao blocked and their path severed."*
Though Qin Ming had been unwilling to believe those words, seeing Li Qingyue today inevitably stirred those thoughts, for he couldn't shake the feeling that she was drifting further and further away.
Li Qingyue was wonderful in every way to him, but remembering what the Heavenly Demon Mirror had said—that excessive perfection borders on ruin—he could not help but frown.
*In the end, my cultivation is still lacking, making it easy to let my thoughts run wild. If I can smash Cao Qianqiu to pieces in the real world, what would I have to worry about? What's so terrifying about the depths of the night mist world anyway? I'll just carve a path straight through.*
...
Outside, the crowd looked on in daze. This time, after the two paths separated, each had expanded slightly. Though the growth was modest, radiant light visibly steamed upward, and Dao rhythms grew markedly richer.
"Is this a draw as well?"
Earlier, Cui Chonghe's draw had caused no ripples whatsoever. Why was there such a spectacle now?
"Sitting to discuss the Dao ended in a draw, yet both sides reaped gains. Rewards are granted." Such was the Heavenly Demon Mirror's appraisal.
It bestowed two cups of tea, one for each, deeming this a meaningful spar and exchange.
Qin Ming calmed his mind. Upon this path, he burned incense, drank tea, and sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, contemplating the several miraculous arts he possessed. He forged new trump cards once more, such as the Li Fire Shuttle and the Wuji Seal.
At the same time, he took the opportunity to cultivate the Indestructible Butterfly Scripture here. Sure enough, he obtained the demon race's original version, supplemented by the Heavenly Demon Mirror.
However, he refrained from refining any more demon seeds, fearing he might be ejected from this path.
Afterward, he returned to the Newborn path, searching for fortunes along the way.
In this manner, he alternated back and forth between the two paths, sprinting forward at full tilt.
During this time, no one challenged him again. Everyone knew he was not someone to be trifled with, and stepping forward would only invite humiliation.
"A single member of our demon race can stand against the seeds of all paths!" some demons boasted.
"Looking across the entire night mist world, he might very well be the strongest young demon seed!"
"Forget it. Yao Yi is powerful, but I doubt he can crack the top three. Some figures inside are simply too extraordinary—one is suspected to be a demon ancestor retracing their old footsteps. Who could possibly defeat someone like that?"
The outside clamor had nothing to do with Qin Ming. Wholeheartedly walking the path, he entered a puzzle area, where entire walls were covered in inscriptions, and tried his hand at solving them.
Ultimately, he discovered that some were left behind by supreme figures. This was not merely a road walked by youths; giants had passed through here as well. Several unsolved riddles were far too profound to comprehend.
Moreover, different paths posed different questions, akin to crossing realms—truly demanding too much of latecomers.
Later on, Qin Ming caught a hazy glimpse of a severed road. Dense fog lay ahead, making it exceedingly difficult to proceed.
After his ninth rebirth, his eyes had changed. When he focused his spirit, a warm current surged, piercing through the misty expanse.
Directly ahead lay an enormous cicada palace, larger than a colossal mountain.
Qin Ming was shaken. Looking closely, rather than calling it a grand palace, it was more like an ancient cicada slough that had been adorned to serve as a palace hall.
*Could this be the shell left behind by that legendary cicada?* he wondered.
As recorded in the *Kunling Records of Godlike Beings*: "The ancient cicada split open, and the new cicada emerged, beating its wings to flee far away—yet another godlike being, either perishing or reborn."
Qin Ming gazed into the distance. Behind that grand palace, the shell had been severed by a sharp weapon; only half of the entire cicada slough remained. Consequently, the decorated palace and this entire path were cut off.
"Senior?" Qin Ming called out to the Heavenly Demon Mirror.
The broken mirror replied, "Oh, I nearly forgot. You have reached the terminus. The road ahead cannot be probed; it is shattered, and no further fortunes remain."
It informed him that he could depart.
Moreover, it mentioned that it would ensure the prodigies of each path were scattered, allowing everyone to exit safely.
"My situation is somewhat unique. I must ask Senior for assistance," Qin Ming requested.
He had given Cao Qianqiu a thorough beating—or more accurately, pounded him to bits. He worried that someone outside might ambush him.
"Very well!" the Heavenly Demon Mirror agreed.
In the end, people saw Yao Yi traverse the sky, carried aloft by a golden raptor. He flew out of the secret realm as if traveling through time and space, vanishing into the depths of the plateau in the blink of an eye.
That was naturally not his true body, but merely a trick conjured by the Heavenly Demon Mirror.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming's true body landed within the secret realm. He quickly reverted to his original appearance, changed back into his previous clothes, and became Shen Wubing once more.
At the same time, he forced out three demon seeds, refining them with the rag to cleanse every trace of demonic energy until not a wisp remained before wrapping them up.
Outside, a fierce battle had long since erupted. Pu Heng was locked in a bloody struggle with a colossal demon, their ferocious clash shaking the entire territory.
The ground was soaked in blood—both demon blood and Pu Heng's own. Both had sustained wounds.
That very day, in an outer pure land, Cao Qianqiu emerged from seclusion, tearing through the night sky with bloody light!
A wisp of Pu Heng's pure yang conscious spiritual light personally rushed back to the outer pure land to report to him.
"There is no need for that secret realm to exist any longer, and that plateau is overdue for a bloodbath!" Cao Qianqiu set out that very day.
Crossing the night mist world, he headed personally for Kunling.
Everyone was shaken to the core, for he radiated suffocating murderous intent. A blood-red sun illuminated the mountains and rivers along his path, as if the dawn of a new day had arrived—only drenched in blood!
Chapter 220