Renowned Across the Night Mist World

When Cao Qianqiu set out, all directions were shaken. Along his path, the mountains and rivers were dyed crimson! "Has Cao Qianqiu gone mad? Making such a massive spectacle—what is he trying to do?" Even figures at the level of founding masters were alarmed. In truth, only figures at that level dared utter such remarks. Most were simply stunned, falling silent in dread, not daring to make a peep. Cao Qianqiu struck awe across the night mist world. Whenever he made an appearance, his every move made the front page of the night papers. Mainly, his savage reputation was far too fearsome; every time he walked out of an outer pure land, wind and rain of blood followed in his wake. Over the years, he had acted with utter abandon: he had slain the progenitor of a sect, cleaved monsters that sought to become gods, and run rampant throughout the world, striking dread into every faction. In a sense, he embodied ruthless power, carnage, tyranny, and catastrophe—and worst of all, hardly anyone could check him. As long as he appeared in a given territory, every sect in that domain treated it as facing a mortal crisis, wondering if he had come to slaughter their entire lineage. Today, he was fiercer than ever before, creating an enormous disturbance! Traveling by means of his pure yang conscious spiritual light, he transformed into a crimson sun that illuminated the earth, as if setting the pitch-black sky ablaze. Others traveled with the utmost caution in the night mist world, for many unknown perils lurked within the dark. Even Cao Qianqiu, in the past, would exercise some restraint when traversing the night mist. Today, however, he broke all precedent, hiding nothing as he bore down with the aura of an overlord descending upon the world. Along the way lay a vast cluster of spiritual mountains wrapped in iridescent mist, where high-grade Fire Springs gushed. A major sect occupied this territory. At this moment, the sect's upper echelons were terrified. A blood-colored sun swept in from afar at unbelievable speed, showing not the slightest intention of veering around their grand mountain gates. "Could he... be coming for us?!" In that instant, everyone felt as though plunged into an icy abyss, their faces turning pale as death. The pitch-black night turned blood-red. Cao Qianqiu arrived, and the entire expanse of spiritual mountains trembled; the mountain-guarding runes revived automatically, flaring with piercing brilliance. As if blood-colored lightning webbed the heavens, the night mist exploded apart, and everyone felt as though their eardrums were tearing open. Their mountain-guarding runes had activated, yet the blood-colored sun did not crash down. Cao Qianqiu's transit was like the procession of a godkin creature, shaking heaven and earth! Long after he passed, the deafening roar continued echoing relentlessly. Even when encountering mighty orthodox lineages, he simply barreled straight through to make haste, having no intention of going around them. "Thank the heavens... his target wasn't us," a supreme elder of this grand sect finally spoke after a long silence. The other senior figures looked calm on the surface, but cold sweat had already drenched their backs. Such was the savage name and overbearing might of Cao Qianqiu. Beneath the night sky, a colossal advanced anomaly spread its wings. Astral winds howled as it pierced through the clouds and mist; possessing formidable strength, it could be hailed as a great demon of its territory. The strange bird's immense body resembled a dark cloud capable of blanketing an entire peak, soaring heedlessly through the air. Now, however, its body went rigid and every feather bristled, for it saw the pitch-black sky turn blood-red. It tried to evade, but there was no time at all, for a powerful surge of conscious spiritual light paved the path, sweeping forward like a surging tide. Its body froze, pinned in place. Helplessly, it watched the blood-colored sun close in. In an instant, the plumage across its entire body caught fire from the pure yang light. Within the blood-colored sun, Cao Qianqiu gave a cold snort. Seeing it blocking his path, he delivered a single kick, blasting the mountain-like avian head to pieces. Old Cao streaked straight through. Beneath the radiance of the blood-colored blazing sun, the colossal headless bird corpse violently disintegrated, scattering into a sky full of ashes that drifted down to the earth. In a secret land, an old demon sat upon a high dais preaching the Dao. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. Sweeping up hundreds of descendants with demonic wind, he fled into the distance at top speed. "What happened? The ancestor has lived for nearly three hundred years and reigns supreme in our land—how could he panic like this?" a young demon asked in shock. Then, they saw a blood-colored sun blast past their homeland, and their grand ancestor actually shuddered a couple of times. Cao Qianqiu's journey drew the eyes of all sides across the night mist world; every major power was stirred, closely monitoring his movements. Soon, people deduced his trajectory—he was heading straight for Kunling! *** In the secret realm, Qin Ming rendezvoused with Gan Jincheng, Xiao Yaqin, and the others. Emerging from that path, he returned to this original area. At this moment, he felt searing gazes upon him. The prodigies from several academies were all staring at him, feeling a surreal sensation as if beholding a young god. They were insiders who knew he was that young demon, having witnessed everything that transpired. Earlier, he was a nobody in their eyes. Yet after entering the secret realm, he had stunned them again and again—from slaying a "quasi-demon seed" to defeating immortal seeds in succession. It was as if a legend had stepped into reality, right beside them. Such a battle record was far too shocking and unprecedented. Once word got out and people learned this was achieved by a youth on the Newborn path, the entire night mist world would surely be shaken. At this moment, even an arrogant prodigy like Xin Youdao was humbled, harboring heartfelt admiration for the youth before him. Even though he had once swept across eighty-one cities, he keenly felt his own inadequacy. What were those achievements compared to Qin Ming's? Jiang Ruoli, Gan Jincheng, Liu Hanya, and the others were even more shaken, their emotions surging violently. Looking at the spirited youth, they felt as if watching a morning sun rising in the night mist. "Big Brother!" In that instant, like Xiao Wu, they addressed him directly as "Big Brother," even though this youth might be younger than they were. Qin Ming hastily waved his hand and stressed, "Don't be like this. Let's keep a low profile. Just treat each other the way we used to." Soon, Xiao Wu returned as well, bubbling with excitement. "I gained a great deal!" Then, he lowered his voice and asked, "Big Brother, did you beat up an old man? I was quite close to your path, and it looked like some old fellow got smashed to pieces." "We'll talk when we get back!" The group gave themselves a mental pep talk, resolving not to show anything out of the ordinary. Viewed from outside, the secret realm resembled a vast stretch of land covered in moss, devoid of mountain peaks and giant trees. Now, parties were continually filing out. In the outside world, the atmosphere was fraught with tension. Many great demons had arrived on the plateau, guarding one direction to receive their young ones. Experts from the various academies in Kunling had also arrived to welcome their returning disciples. In the surrounding terrain, forests lay crushed and the earth was cracked; a fierce battle had clearly taken place, and both sides remained on the verge of drawing swords even now. Bloodstains dotted Pu Heng's body. "You lot had better head back and arrange your funerals. It won't be long before that blade falls on you." Opposite him, a colossal demon shrouded in night mist sneered, "The rumors truly aren't false. You don't have Cao Qianqiu's destiny, yet you caught his sickness! Who do you think you are—Shi Bi? You think you can bore through this plateau? Even if your master comes, it won't do!" At this moment, the outside world was pitch-black as ink, entirely unlike the twilight scenery within the secret realm. Toward the plateau, within the heavy darkness of the night, colossal, terrifying pairs of eyes snapped open one after another—some blood-red, some azure, some eerily green, all surging with monstrous demonic qi! "If my master arrives in person, you will all be nothing but clay dogs!" Pu Heng choked back a belly full of fury. He had already learned the truth from Li Qingxu: his revered master had been humiliated, and he had already sent word back to their sect. Meanwhile, the demons on the plateau still had no idea that the young demon from their "own" side had once brandished a sledgehammer and pounded Cao Qianqiu to pieces. If these great demons found out, they would surely be even more thrilled, and heaven only knew what vile taunts they would unleash. Both sides exercised restraint for the time being, avoiding an all-out clash. This was because major figures held the line behind each camp. For instance, the auspicious beast deep within the plateau and Sun Taichu atop the clouds had previously locked eyes from afar across the boundless expanse of sky. From the secret realm, youths emerged one after another. When Qin Ming, Xiao Wu, and the others walked out, they found themselves swept over by a mirror's light. "A demon-revealing mirror!" Xin Youdao muttered under his breath. Someone was uneasy and had chosen to inspect every single disciple. Qin Ming looked calm, but his heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, he had thoroughly refined away all demonic qi beforehand; otherwise, even if a wisp remained, disaster would have struck. "Let's go. Time to head back!" Two senior elders from Shanhe Academy's Newborn path, Zhao Ziyuan and Yu Gensheng, had arrived in person to escort their young disciples, including Ling Yu, Xin Youdao, and Liu Hanya. Yet these youths knew the two elders had mainly come for the two "nobodies." Qin Ming and Xiao Wu blended into the crowd, appearing utterly unremarkable. A moment later, the airship rose into the sky, crossing through the night mist as it sped toward the territory of Kunling. A distance of a few hundred li was not far at all. "I see your spirits are full and the vitality within your bodies has grown even more vigorous. Did everything go smoothly?" Yu Gensheng asked amiably. He was so aged he barely had a few strands of hair left, yet he was one of the most powerful renowned figures on the Newborn path in the territory of Kunling. "It went all right," Qin Ming replied. Zhao Ziyuan sensed something unusual and said, "Hmm? Nothing happened, did it? Rest assured, this airship is blanketed by the heavenly light of us two old men. You can speak freely." "Well..." Qin Ming hesitated slightly, but decided to speak the truth, recounting the specific experience. The two old men petrified on the spot, unable to recover their senses for a long time. It felt as though they were listening to a myth: had the youth before them really beaten Cao Qianqiu to a pulp? They found it nearly impossible to believe! Both held high hopes for Qin Ming, considering him one of the sparks of hope for the Newborn path—someone who could step up in the future during an era when founding masters were withering away one after another. Yet neither could have imagined he would be so heaven-defying! Even though his constitution was peerless and his natural talent extraordinary, Cao Qianqiu's aptitude was hardly inferior, and Cao Qianqiu commanded numerous sect-guarding supreme arts, along with boundless insights and combat experience. They realized they had still vastly underestimated the youth before them! "Step outside for a moment, you two. We need some peace and quiet," the two elders said. Outside, Xiao Wu asked, "Big Brother, was it Old Cao you beat up? If I'd known it was him, I would've wanted to give it a try too! What a pity I missed out." Inside the airship's quiet chamber, Yu Gensheng and Zhao Ziyuan spoke in private, their voices trembling. "Heaven have mercy! Does even Heaven realize it treated our Newborn path too harshly, and sent such a person to prolong our path's life?!" "Given Cao Qianqiu's temperament, he will most likely descend in person. He won't rest until he kicks a gaping hole through this land, which could trigger unexpected upheaval. We must make preparations in advance!" The airship landed smoothly in Kunling City. Yu Gensheng cautioned all the young disciples, "For the coming days, none of you are to leave Kunling City. A shocking upheaval could break out at any moment!" *** "Big Brother, this trip was truly worthwhile!" Wu Yaozu was energized, showing not a trace of exhaustion. He shared that on that path, several of his techniques had been supplemented. "I gained quite a lot as well," Qin Ming said with a smile, nodding. "We just came out of the secret realm—my treat! Let's go have a feast," Ling Yu shouted from behind. Xin Youdao and Liu Hanya immediately agreed. Qin Ming and Xiao Wu gave it a thought and nodded, joining them. "Senior Sister!" Ling Yu spotted his senior sister, Tang Jin, and stepped forward at once to pay his respects. "I heard an extraordinary young demon appeared in the secret realm and defeated immortal seeds in succession?" clad in black, Tang Jin asked, carrying an aloof elegance. Evidently, she had her own intelligence channels and had already learned much beforehand. Master Wu was there as well, circling in midair with his purple eyes shining brightly. "He is truly a peerless prodigy of our demon race, suppressing multiple paths with a single path!" "Just how formidable is he?" Tang Jin asked Ling Yu. "Extremely powerful. His strength is heaven-defying; he likely possesses the endowment of a founding master!" Ling Yu answered earnestly. Back then, he had traveled with Zhao Muyao, Wang Lijie, and the others rather than with Xin Youdao and Jiang Ruoli. Thus, even if he had harbored doubts, he ultimately dismissed them, never believing that demonic-qi-swathed youth could have anything to do with Qin Ming. "For such a remarkable figure to possess the caliber of a demon god, have you felt the pressure?" Tang Jin stood tall and graceful, her features exquisitely flawless, as she looked toward the youths. Ling Yu knew his senior sister was primarily asking whether the youth from Black-White Mountain felt any pressure. "He is very strong!" Xin Youdao and Liu Hanya said, their eyes glowing with unreserved admiration. "He's truly incredible!" Xiao Wu remarked. "He's all right," Qin Ming smiled. "Only all right?" Tang Jin glanced at him. As expected, she was gauging his reaction to evaluate that demon youth's true prowess. She knitted her brows. Could the reports be flawed? Xin Youdao and Liu Hanya were bursting with things they wanted to say, but had to remain composed without showing any odd expressions. As firsthand witnesses, they were on the verge of directing worshipful gazes at a certain youth. Tang Jin looked at Qin Ming and said, "You have yet to enter the Outer Sage domain, correct? That means you can hardly condense conscious spiritual light and cannot set foot on that path. How can someone who hasn't stepped onto the path underestimate the strong figures walking it?" Ling Yu spoke up as well with a solemn expression, "That young demon is truly extraordinary; he must not be underestimated. In the future, he will likely be a terrifying, insurmountable mountain our generation must face!" Tang Jin nodded. Only this aligned with the secret reports she had received. Now that the name "Demon One" had spread after holding off multiple immortal seeds single-handedly, he was bound to become renowned everywhere. Soon, a four-colored sparrow flew over and landed beside the purple-eyed crow, reporting something. "Hiss... terrifying!" Master Wu shared the news with Tang Jin, relaying the latest development. "Such brilliance—he actually achieved such a feat!" Even Tang Jin was stunned, profoundly shaken. She muttered to herself, "This definitely cannot be kept under wraps. It will inevitably spread across all quarters and shake the night mist world." Qin Ming and Xiao Wu remained relatively calm, wearing slight smiles. Xin Youdao and Liu Hanya had words burning inside them that they couldn't voice. Hearing this, they immediately pressed for details, using it as an indirect outlet for their urge to talk. Tang Jin said, "Did you know that Cao Qianqiu actually stepped in as well—and was defeated!" Instantly, Xin Youdao and Liu Hanya were dumbfounded. That was a domain beyond their reach; inside the secret realm, they had no idea that ray of light was Cao Qianqiu acting as a proxy fighter. They had assumed they knew the whole truth and understood just how formidable the youth beside them was. But now that this even more explosive news arrived, it made their heads spin. Living in this era, who had never heard of Cao Qianqiu? The two felt their worldviews overturned. Even a towering terror of his generation was no match for the person before them in an equal-domain duel?! Belatedly, Ling Yu nodded in realization. "I knew it! It must have been that battle against Li Qingxu. I was wondering why the difference in his prowess before and after was so staggering!" Tang Jin sighed. "To defeat Cao Qianqiu... this Demon One is destined to make his name renowned across the night mist world. As early as today, his performance and every scrap of investigation regarding him will be delivered to the desks of all the top powers!" Qin Ming showed a look of surprise. So quickly? Even Tang Jin, an outsider, already knew. It seemed Cao Qianqiu's intervention in the secret realm could not be concealed at all. "What, finally realized how terrifying a demon seed is?" Tang Jin looked at Qin Ming. Had this youth—whom she had misjudged and who was perpetually eager to challenge her—finally felt shocked? "To earn such praise from Fairy Tang, he truly must be extraordinary!" Qin Ming nodded. At this moment, even Xiao Wu found it agonizing to hold back his laughter, but he could only follow Brother Ming's lead, nodding solemnly and voicing agreement. Tang Jin carried an aloof air as she glanced at the youths. "You still don't understand the sheer weight of defeating Cao Qianqiu in an equal domain. That youth is either a born martial saint who excels extraordinarily in combat, or possesses heaven-defying talent—perhaps even the potential to surpass founding masters!" *** Inside the secret realm, the various factions had withdrawn. The chipped mirror glowed faintly, patterns rippling across its surface as it received a transmission from afar. "Cao Qianqiu has arrived. He's about to enter the territory of Kunling!" It had to be said that this chipped Heavenly Demon Mirror—which could also be called an immortal mirror—was remarkably miraculous, capable of receiving distant information. It vibrated instantly, releasing blinding radiance. "Old Cicada Skin, are you leaving? That damned scoundrel is here. I'm packing up to run," the chipped mirror called out to the mountain-sized cicada slough. The cicada slough let out a chime, seemingly in response. "Suit yourself if you won't leave." Patterns spread along the mirror's flanks, extending into a pair of wings. Then its surface shone as it began packing up various "supplies." "Weren't you deficient in spirituality, having turned dull-witted long ago?" The colossal cicada slough sent out a pulse. The chipped mirror was no longer sluggish. "Did you really think I was stupid? Bah, are you insulting me on purpose? That was playing the fool to invest in future trailblazers. In any case, you're just a dead husk. I'm leaving you behind. Farewell!" In that moment, it acted with great agility. Flapping its metallic wings, it vanished into the night sky. *** "Do you think that young demon is related to Qin Ming?" Tang Jin asked Master Wu secretly, harboring suspicion. The purple-eyed crow replied, "I suspect it as well. However, when I sensed him carefully, he had no demonic qi on him, which doesn't match the demon-qi-wreathed demeanor of someone on the demon path." Rumble! As if heaven and earth were splitting apart, blood-colored light drenched the night sky. Heaven and earth were blanketed as if in evening glow, illuminating the territory of Kunling in brilliant crimson. Cao Qianqiu had arrived, appearing over this region! This triggered a colossal sensation. In fact, no news had preceded Cao Qianqiu's arrival in Kunling because no message could travel faster than his pure yang conscious spiritual light. He did not exert pressure upon the city itself, pausing only briefly as if conversing with someone before departing into the distance, heading straight for the mist-shrouded plateau ahead. A blood-colored sun illuminated the mountains, rivers, and all creation ahead! For a moment, Kunling City fell into a brief silence. Only moments later did an uproar of heated discussion erupt. Once people learned who it was, with Cao Qianqiu arriving in person, who could remain seated? "The recent rumors were true! Cao Qianqiu lost a wisp of pure yang conscious spiritual light in that secret realm, and now he's come to slaughter his way through in person!" "Heavens, is that young demon trying to defy the heavens? He defeated not just Li Qingxu, but Cao Qianqiu as well! I'm suddenly overwhelmed by sheer awe!" Kunling City was boiling over, all factions deeply shaken. Earlier, it had only been circulating as gossip, but now those events were undeniably confirmed. Demon One of the plateau instantly became the most frequently mentioned name, inextricably tied to Cao Qianqiu. Just as Tang Jin had said, the rise of the demon seed Demon One caused massive waves, destined to make his name renowned across the night mist world! Everyone knew an earth-shattering battle was likely about to erupt on the plateau. Cao Qianqiu's arrival would shatter the prior peace. Tang Jin spoke, "My treat. Let's head to Tingyu Study on Wangxian Peak within Kunling City. We might be able to view the great battle on the plateau from there." At this moment, Wangxian Peak was packed to the brim. Had Tang Jin not known the boss behind Tingyu Study, securing a private room would have been out of the question. Kunling was already situated on a plateau, and with Wangxian Peak being the highest summit here, Tingyu Study seemed perched atop the clouds. The private room facing the direction of the secret realm had its windows and doors wide open, with many people gazing out and discussing fervently. "They've started fighting!" In this nocturnal world, despite the vast distance, that blood-colored sun was simply too dazzling, incinerating the night mist so clearly that it could be seen without obstruction. Cao Qianqiu unleashed his might, making the secret realm his first stop. Tens of thousands of rays from the blood-colored blazing sun rained down like heavenly thunderbolts, bridging heaven and earth. Sitting in the private room, watching this scene unfold, Qin Ming felt heat flowing through his eyes. Gazing closely, he was shaken to his core. In this real world, Old Cao was simply terrifyingly divine! Qin Ming could not help but sigh. This old lunatic was dreadful; though detested by gods and ghosts alike, his true strength left nothing to be contested. The earth seemed to fracture as that star fragment was bored through by Cao Qianqiu! "Old Cao actually made good on his boast." Though Qin Ming wished he could give the old madman another beating, he had to admit that the old fellow acted with thunderous speed and terrifying power, arriving for vengeance on the very same day. A cicada chime resonated hundreds of li away, shocking everyone. What an immense cicada that was, soaring up from the ground! A golden cicada glowed all over, crowding the night sky as hundreds of millions of golden rays shone across the ten directions. Someone gasped in awe, "Hiss! Is this the ancient cicada from Kunling's local legends? It's still in the world?! How could that be—that was a godkin!" "Look closely; it is merely a cicada slough, not the cicada itself," an older expert noted. Subsequently, the cicada chimed, a terrifying thunderous roar detonating across the night sky. Yet as Old Cao closed in, a massive spear materialized within the blood-colored sun. With a wet crunch, he severed and shattered a portion of the cicada slough. The slough was completely golden, but it was already incomplete, originally missing half its form. Now that another fifth of it was blasted apart, its predicament grew increasingly dire. Boom! Its Chan resonance persisted endlessly, sounding like a thunderstorm mingled with chanting scriptures. The earth sank and cracked, and the clouds and mist high in the heavens were blown apart entirely. It was a horrifying spectacle—an old cicada slough possessing such sheer might. Yet the blood-colored sun held back its cicada chime and Chan resonance. Cao Qianqiu, draped in boundless crimson light, stood within it as if impervious to all arts. At that moment, runes intertwined within the blood-colored sun, extending into a golden cord that shot forward swiftly, binding the old cicada slough firmly. Everyone was stunned. Cao Qianqiu's strength was far too terrifying; had he concluded the battle the instant it began? Tang Jin transmitted her voice: "Do you see now just how much weight the young demon's victory over Cao Qianqiu carries?" The youths present nodded, though their thoughts differed vastly. "Can you still remain calm?" Tang Jin looked at Qin Ming. Qin Ming shook his head. "Waves churn in my heart; thunder crashes by my ears." "Perfunctory," Tang Jin remarked with a sidelong glance. Qin Ming replied via voice transmission, "Actually, I know where that young demon flew in the end. Fairy Tang, how much is this intelligence worth?" Tang Jin said, "Are you trying to fleece me of day gold and peerless techniques?!" "How could I? I never do such things," Qin Ming replied, shaking his head. On the plateau, the blood-colored blazing sun descended. Cao Qianqiu took a step downward, instantly causing the plateau to fracture and the earth to cave in, further breaking apart the secret realm he had bored through. "Halt!" Sun Taichu appeared, stepping forward to intervene. "This secret realm still has great utility. It holds a universe within a grain; all its materials can be used for refining artifacts." "Where is Demon One? Have the demons of the plateau hand him over!" Cao Qianqiu demanded. He truly did not care how outsiders viewed him—forceful and domineering, asking for the young demon directly. Qin Ming fell silent. This was the real world. Old Cao acted with such abandon, living better and better, in his prime of life, growing ever more terrifying. As for fighting in an equal domain, that was impossible. Old Cao's conviction was to nip all danger in the bud, avenging every slight without waiting overnight. "Do you wish to wage war right now?" Deep within the plateau, a pair of colossal golden eyes opened—terrifying to the extreme, like two suns rising. "And what if I do? This old man came precisely to smash through the plateau!" Cao Qianqiu said in a deep voice. "Dao Brother, wait. Hunting demons is fine, but do not damage this territory any further." An expert of the esoteric sect appeared, likewise bathed in a heavenly sun, barring the way across the plateau. "This old man is hunting a demon, yet you dare stretch your hand to block me? You dare meddle in my affairs?!" Cao Qianqiu gave face to no one. Rumble! Suddenly, heaven and earth turned pitch-black, and the entire territory of Kunling trembled violently.