Seeing a New World

The Li Fire Furnace glowed fiery red as nine birds soared together, casting crimson dawn-light in all directions. To Qin Ming's astonishment, characters actually began to manifest inside the furnace! For such an outrageous phenomenon to occur was genuinely beyond his expectations. Though startled in his heart, he kept his expression perfectly composed. The densely packed, tiny characters were inscribed across the interior of the furnace body, and for now, only he could resonate with them. Qin Ming memorized them first. This was a profound, unfathomable scripture. Pondering carefully, he knew the crimson furnace was the embodiment of the conception he had cultivated from the Departing Fire Classic. How could text emerge after it materialized in the mortal world? Did scriptures inherently circulate between heaven and earth? He felt it wasn't quite that mystical. It was likely caused by cultivating the Departing Fire Classic to the legendary level of perfection. Since it could materialize as a furnace, it was not impossible for intertwined runes to manifest as writing. If that was the case, one could only say that whoever had left behind the Departing Fire Classic possessed terrifyingly profound attainment, leaving their legacy within the realm of perfect artistic conception. This was tantamount to certain scriptures remaining preserved between heaven and earth. The true medium of these fine, tiny characters within the furnace—the physical book—might have long since decayed in the flow of time, yet it could still reappear. "Passing on scriptures across generations!" After a brief study, Qin Ming's brows furrowed deeply. It was far too abstruse; this likely was not a method that someone in the second realm could cultivate. This was no mere extraordinary art—it reached at least the level of a secret canon. He felt a surge of excitement. This harvest went far beyond anything he had anticipated. In a single session of cultivation, he had obtained a hidden trove from within the furnace that was by no means inferior to the Waxing and Waning Scripture or the World-Abiding Scripture. Qin Ming wondered: did other extraordinary arts possess such "hidden troves" as well? If so, it would be as though a glowing divine pure land awaited his arrival. Soon, however, he shook his head. It was impossible for every extraordinary art to be so exceptional. Most importantly, it depended on the personal cultivation attainment of the one who had imparted the scripture's wisdom. "The Departing Fire Classic counts as an ancient classic, likely a method handed down from the grand era when godkin creatures frequently roamed." Qin Ming reasoned that what he saw today was definitely not an isolated case; there were bound to be other scriptures that left behind similar "gateways." Furthermore, if scriptures concealed further scriptures, there was a high probability they would unlock certain heaven-defying legacies that were not necessarily continuations of the original teachings. Just like the text he had now committed to memory: it wrote of Nanming Departing Fire and even touched upon matters concerning the acupoints of the human body. If his luck truly exploded, perhaps one day he might dig up a supreme chapter from an extraordinary art. That was not necessarily mere fantasy. For a time, endless reveries drifted through Qin Ming's mind. Digging for treasures hidden in extraordinary arts that circulated openly in the world was simply too tantalizing. It was filled with the unknown, mystery, and boundless possibilities. Yet to the young sun elves like He Yan and Chi Yao, Qin Ming's expression was utterly intolerable. His gaze was burning hot, the corners of his mouth curled upward, and he couldn't hide his delighted smile! Qin Ming was staring at the Li Fire Furnace before him, excavating a secret trove and dreaming of the future; how could he not be thrilled and exhilarated? Meanwhile, the group of young sun elves thought his eyes had gone straight from watching Liguang dance. "What a lecherous stare!" These young elves were at an age filled with yearning for the future. Now, it was as if an entire jar of vinegar had been knocked over, watching someone desecrate and shatter the ideal beauty in their hearts. "Liguang is in grave danger!" He Yan looked ready to slap his own thighs in distress. In his fury, Chi Yao violently drove his solar fire, wishing he could instantly burn the youth before him to ashes. Seeing them breathing heavily and glaring, Wu Yaozu grew annoyed. Acting on his own initiative to serve as Qin Ming's mouthpiece, he declared, "The king has a fondness for beauty—what business is it of yours?" In an instant, the young sun elves' minds nearly detonated in rage. Xulin felt that from now on, their race's Sun Goddess would require her accompaniment at all times to be thoroughly protected. Only then did Qin Ming snap back to his senses, thinking to himself: *I was just looking at a furnace, yet you're creating all this extra drama. Indeed, what business is it of yours?* Seeing them breathing heavily with fire spurting from their eyes, Qin Ming couldn't even be bothered to explain. Dissatisfied? Then keep holding it in; he had no intention of telling them the truth. When the young sun elves realized he merely swept a breezy glance over them, paid them no heed at all, and turned his attention right back to Liguang's divine elven dance, their chests tightened twice as hard with frustration. Qin Ming observed attentively. Although Grandmaster Qionghui's flames contained only wisp-like strands of true solar fire, their quality was exceptionally high, surpassing the total volume of fire-path essence from everyone else combined. Inside the Li Fire Furnace, the cicada's song sounded incessantly, growing louder and louder. A pair of transparent, delicate wings bore flashes of lightning, and its entire body gradually turned golden, bursting with divine radiance as if preparing to shed its husk for rebirth. There was also that silkworm, which slept after feeding on the flames, growing increasingly plump and snoring peacefully within the furnace. These were all manifestations of the conceptions of extraordinary arts. Two extraordinary arts awaited transformation, which might well yield pleasant surprises. With things having reached this stage, Qin Ming withdrew his art, as these people could no longer offer him much assistance. Liguang came to a stop. Her waist-length golden hair settled from fluttering to hanging still, and her demeanor shifted from passionate abandon back to cool composure. She found it hard to believe: how could she have been so obedient? The binding power of the immortal contract over her was far stronger than she had ever imagined. She felt she shouldn't have submitted. Everything just now had felt like sleepwalking. Defiantly, she lifted her pale, delicate chin. "Good work. Sit, have a cup of tea," Qin Ming said. Immediately, she obediently sat down beside him, poured a cup of tea for the youth before her first, and only then went to drink some herself. Liguang froze. What a terrifying instinct for submission! She wanted to slap herself; this was simply too humiliating. Seeing Liguang—the Sun Goddess in their hearts—acting so submissive and gentle, He Yan and Chi Yao felt as though their chests had been struck twice with heavy blows. "After my defeat, I actually..." Clear awareness flickered in Liguang's purple eyes, and having realized what happened, she began to struggle and resist internally once more. "Liguang, are you all right?" many from the foreign delegation asked. "Isn't this quite nice?" Xiang Yiwu chimed in, adding, "People make slips, horses stumble, and an elf falls astray—who's to say it isn't a blessing in disguise?" "!" The young sun elves truly couldn't stomach his phrasing, which was even worse than Qin Ming's earlier brazen remarks. "If you don't know how to speak, keep your mouth shut!" Even Xulin, who had the mildest temper, couldn't hold back. "I kindly comforted you, yet you show no gratitude," Xiang Yiwu said, shaking his head. As he spoke, he scooped up a white rabbit that had wandered in—a special pet unique to Guanghan Palace—and began petting it. Under his palm-leaf-sized hands, the rabbit lost all its docility, struggling frantically with its ruby-like eyes turning even redder, brimming with tears as it nearly wailed aloud. "Farewell!" The sun elven delegation truly couldn't stay a moment longer. A bald youth, a brute as wide as a door plank, and their lecherous ringleader—the impression these three youths had left on them was simply abysmal. As the sole elder present, Meng Xinghai rose at the appropriate moment, leading the three to see them off warmly, saying, "No discord, no concord! Fate is truly wonderful to bring our two sides together. Let us gather often in the future!" In a flash, the faces of the sun elves darkened further, and they swiftly vanished into the night. "Slack off in your youth, and you end up in Tianque in your old age," Lin Yuchen, Meng Xinghai's martial uncle, remarked with a wine gourd in hand from atop a jade pavilion in the distance, before leaping inside. As for Ling Canghai and Su Yuxiao, they had departed long ago. After Meng Xinghai left, Qin Ming and the other two drank to their hearts' content. With matters settled, the storm had thoroughly passed. Qin Ming now quietly awaited good news from the sun elven race; once he had the Earth-element sacred baleful aura, he would be able to break through his realm again. Xiang Yiwu said, "The Great Reclamation is imminent, venturing deep into the night mist world. Anyone with lofty aspirations across all paths will strive to elevate their cultivation and reinforce their strength. Starting tomorrow, we must step up our preparations as well." No sooner had he finished speaking than someone arrived to invite him away. "Marquis Wuping's daughter!" Wu Yaozu poked his head out to see who had sent the messenger. Qin Ming was surprised. The Tathagata renegade truly had good social connections. "By the looks of it, Brother Wu might become the son-in-law of a future deity!" Xiao Wu chuckled, noting the widespread rumors that Marquis Wuping possessed profound strength and the foundation to become a god. Afterward, many others came looking for Qin Ming and Xiao Wu. Over continuous clinking of cups, Wu Yaozu became thoroughly intoxicated, saying with a choked sob, "Sigh, I miss my grandma. She... could dissipate at any time. I don't know how much longer she can hold on." Qin Ming said, "Stop drinking. Let's head back early. Tomorrow, we start cultivating like mad. One day, we'll surpass gods and transcend patriarchs, then return to the Fourth Peril." In the deep night, the two hurried toward their temporary quarters on the moon. Soon, Wu Yaozu grew furious, saying, "Your immortal path burns bridges! How utterly stingy!" After the duels ended and they left, their rooms and courtyard had been cleaned out, and someone else had already moved in. "My apologies! I assumed you weren't returning. How about I go check if there are other rooms available?" the steward smiled apologetically. This was a blessed land on the moon, so securing lodging here was naturally no easy feat. Wu Yaozu pointed an accusing finger at him, the alcohol rushing to his head until he nearly vomited. "Forget it, let's go." Qin Ming couldn't be bothered to squabble with such a person. A mere steward wouldn't dare cause trouble on his own; someone was almost certainly pulling strings behind the scenes. Sweat beaded on the steward's forehead. The youth before him was in the limelight, having fought on behalf of the immortal path and defeated several seeds of the sun elven race. Naturally, the steward dared not slight him. However, the other party was someone he could afford to offend even less. "The person who told you to do this can't be very old, can they? Aside from disgusting people, what else can they achieve?" Qin Ming truly couldn't fathom who would pull such a trick. The steward bowed repeatedly in apology, his face pale, dripping with sweat, and thoroughly uneasy. At the peak of the steward's emotional turbulence, Qin Ming attempted to resonate, catching a set of blurred images. "Let's go!" With a slight frown, he turned and walked away. In nearby courtyards, several people poked their heads out, wearing surprised expressions. The two decided to simply leave the moon directly, intending to say goodbye to Xiang Yiwu before going. As it turned out, they ran into him outside Guanghan Palace—the Tathagata renegade had fled. "What happened, Brother Wu?" Xiao Wu asked. Xiang Yiwu replied, "It's only been a few months since I refined the golden cicada. I haven't reached the stage of tempering the heart yet, so I had to make my exit." Wu Yaozu was stunned. "Just what did you experience in there to have such an intense and splendid life?!" Then, recalling how he and Qin Ming had been kicked out of their lodgings, he grew indignant again. "What?" Xiang Yiwu was furious upon hearing this. They had fought as substitutes for the immortal path, yet this was how their guests were treated? To cancel their lodgings ahead of time! Given his temperament, he wanted to march right back and kick up a huge fuss. Qin Ming stopped him, saying, "Forget it for tonight. I reckon someone is waiting for us to make a scene. It's not worth bothering Uncle Meng over this. Besides, the sun elves have also left the moon. We'll settle this another day." The three rode a rare avian mount from the moon, departing into the night mist. "Well, what luck! We get to see another lunar waterfall," Xiao Wu said, his mood improving. At that moment, a dazzling cascade of fire-spring water poured down from the moon. Having distanced themselves, their viewing angle was even better this time, making for a magnificent spectacle amidst the pitch-black world. The three looked up to see a group of people ascending into the air from Guanghan Palace—clearly having paid an exorbitant price to admire the lunar waterfall. Though the distance was considerable, Qin Ming used the Eye of the Newborn to pierce through the night mist, seeing them with absolute clarity, even catching the subtle expressions on their faces. One youth, the youngest among them, caught his attention. Dressed in brocade robes with jade hanging at his waist, he was impeccably outfitted. His attire, jade pendants, and accessories all appeared to be rare treasures, gleaming brightly in the night sky. To call him a youth was somewhat generous; he looked barely ten or so, twelve at most. In the steward's emotional fluctuations, the image Qin Ming had captured was precisely this half-grown boy giving sharp-eyed, forceful orders. Ahead, the boy had rosy lips and white teeth, quite good-looking. Moreover, his spirit was remarkably perceptive. As if sensing something, he glanced over in their direction. Qin Ming frowned. This was no child from an ordinary household; commoners around eleven years old couldn't even step onto the cultivation path. The boy looked down at them and smiled faintly, seeming to scoff, before displaying an expression of distaste. Qin Ming genuinely wanted to slap the kid, as that expression was practically begging for a beating! Clearly a child of tender years with striking features, yet he was utterly unlikable. With a glare and an expression like that, Qin Ming felt the urge to charge over and kick him a few times. *Stepping onto the cultivation path so early, with such keen perception and extraordinary natural talent, spending day gold without batting an eye just to watch a lunar waterfall—he must have a remarkable background on the immortal path,* Qin Ming thought to himself in that instant. Afterward, the three flew far into the night sky, touching down in the Dayu imperial capital—Chongxiao City. Blown by the night wind, Xiao Wu, who was already drunk, suddenly felt dizzy and nearly threw up. "What year is it tonight? The old land is shattered, my clansmen have been submerged for years, and I alone live on in the world. Alas!" Xiang Yiwu grew thoughtful and said, "He's drunk. He usually laughs and jokes around, but deep down, his heart is heavy and bitter." Qin Ming understood Xiao Wu's condition. He seemed wild and unrestrained, indifferent to the past, but he kept it all buried in his heart. Xiao Wu shook his head and spotted a shop selling tortoise jelly, saying, "I'm fine, really. Just a bit dizzy. A bowl of longevity soup will sober me right up." Qin Ming looked at the old tortoise and asked, "Aren't you selling on the main street? How come there's a shop here too, with you presiding over it?" He had a deep impression of this old tortoise. Several days ago, upon entering the city, he had seen it hawking its wares. "This is the Longevity Tortoise Hall Headquarters. The branch on the main street is run by my clone tortoise," the old tortoise replied. For the demon race, such things were mere minor tricks. "Boss, bring a bowl for each of the three of us to nourish ourselves." "Right away, esteemed guests! This is a prime tonic—tenfold compensation if proven fake!" the old tortoise answered, poking its head out. A drunken, middle-aged man passed by and stopped them, saying, "Let me tell you, this tortoise jelly isn't nourishing at all. My great-grandfather and my grandfather both loved to drink it, as did everyone on our street. In the end, this old tortoise outlived and buried every last one of them." The old tortoise looked at the middle-aged man and said, "You child, you're just as mischievous as your great-grandfather. He used to say the exact same thing back then." Qin Ming was dumbfounded. Just how many generations had it buried? Wu Yaozu immediately felt that a tonic brewed by such a long-lived tortoise was an absolute must-try. He downed a bowl in one gulp and said, "Brother Ming, Brother Wu, this tastes really good. Why aren't you drinking?" Xiang Yiwu whispered, "Do you know the ingredients of tortoise jelly?" "What ingredients?" Xiao Wu asked, having a bad premonition. "Tortoise shell is the main ingredient. Look at this old tortoise, with such immense longevity, it truly possesses genuine ingredients. When free, it scrapes its own shell and meticulously brews a pot of jelly..." "Blech!" Wu Yaozu vomited, then stared directly at the old tortoise. "Is that real or fake?" "Real—no, fake! Forget it, here's ten more bowls for you. Old Tortoise is closing shop for the night." The old tortoise shoved ten bowls over to him all at once. It was exceptionally considerate, providing full compensation in one go. "You made a profit. You paid for one portion and got eleven portions of genuine goods. Drink up," Xiang Yiwu said with a laugh. "Blech..." Xiao Wu threw up continuously, thoroughly sobered up. The old tortoise sighed, "Child, don't worry. After eating my tortoise jelly, you won't lose out. You're guaranteed longevity in the future—perhaps even an extra life." ... Two days later, inside an inn, Qin Ming and Xiang Yiwu were sparring in a cultivation chamber. Without using heavenly light force, relying purely on their physical bodies to clash, they produced bursts of wind and thunder. This was a high-grade inn tailored specifically for cultivators, equipped with an extraordinarily sturdy training room. Qin Ming and Xiang Yiwu both looked astonished, gazing at each other in disbelief. Qin Ming had always believed that upon embarking on the Newborn path, every step he took was solid, following a rhythm of perfection, leaving him without equal at the same level. Yet in terms of pure physical body, he found that Xiang Yiwu was not necessarily weaker than him. Xiang Yiwu was even more shocked. His door-plank-wide frame wasn't hollow bulk; it contained immense refinement, making it no exaggeration to call him an anomaly among anomalies. He had known from an early age that his very existence was to extend the lifespan of the Newborn path! Earlier, he had discerned the clues: in terms of heavenly light force, he might not match Qin Ming, but physically, he believed he could suppress him. Yet after clashing today, he realized that this slender brother possessed an explosive power that was just as abnormal. Wu Yaozu watched from the side, utterly dumbfounded. Those two were clashing purely with physical strength, without the conscious spiritual light of the immortal path or the heavenly light force of the Newborn path. When their bare hands collided, it was like thunder bursting, deafening to the ear. Moreover, when they struck the hundred-refined bronze walls, they left distinct palm prints of considerable depth, with traces of explosive cracking when they applied slightly more force. "Sealing themselves to a mortal state, under immense restraint, they can still crack metal with their bare hands." Xiao Wu was awestruck and beside himself with envy. Wasn't this the very physical body he sought, the perfect remedy for the flaws of the rainbow transformation path? He didn't want to discard his physical shell and transform into a rainbow like his ancestors. He had gradually come to realize that doing so made one like rootless duckweed. Qin Ming and Xiang Yiwu halted, looking at each other. Qin Ming said, "When breaking through the second realm, I underwent a rebirth, and my physique grew substantially." Xiang Yiwu also spoke frankly: "In the second realm, I once sat in the Seven Treasures Pool of Rulai, undergoing nirvanic rebirth." "Hiss!" Wu Yaozu sucked in a breath of cold air, nearly biting his own tongue. Xiang Yiwu's expression was complex. He had tempered his body with various secret arts researched by the ancestral court of a great sect, whereas the other had risen from an unorthodox background, yet had reached this very height. Though he was currently an "unorthodox cultivator" left to roam free, he had already mastered everything he needed to learn. He spoke: "In a few days, your physical body will improve once more. While it won't compare to a full rebirth, it will still be quite wonderful." "Oh?" Qin Ming was puzzled. Xiang Yiwu explained, "Cultivating certain extraordinary arts to the realm of perfection might allow one to witness a brand-new world. I suspect your Departing Fire Classic has displayed this unusual phenomenon as well." Qin Ming was startled. Big Xiang had accomplished this before, having experienced it even earlier than he had! Yet thinking about it carefully, it made sense. The man hailed from the Rulai Sect, having systematically studied various methods; the hidden lore he knew certainly far surpassed Qin Ming's. In truth, such things required no instruction. Once cultivated to that realm, one would naturally witness a new world and excavate its hidden trove! If one failed to reach that state, being told in advance was useless and would only shake one's Dao heart. "What did you see?" Qin Ming asked. Xiang Yiwu smiled faintly. "I have already seen the legendary Great Thunder Sound Temple, and the rudimentary form of... the Great Thunder Sound Cicada." Qin Ming looked astonished. Indeed, this burly youth had long since witnessed a novel domain and unearthed an extraordinary hidden trove. Xiao Wu looked completely bewildered. Where had these two gone digging? What were they talking about? "You could actually see a legendary temple?" Qin Ming mused, finding it truly remarkable. Xiang Yiwu shook his head. "Arriving in a brand-new world for the first time isn't as astonishing as you imagine. It's just a single extraordinary art, only a preliminary glimpse of the hidden trove. One must step into new worlds many more times in the future to perhaps reap great harvests." Qin Ming pondered. He was also cultivating the Golden Cicada Classic and raising both a silkworm and a cicada; perhaps he too might have the chance to see the Great Thunder Sound Temple. Xiang Yiwu said, "Seeing a new world is bound to yield feedback. You have yet to receive the boon of the Departing Fire Classic; just wait quietly over these next few days." Qin Ming nodded. It seemed no path was simple. Putting aside the immortal path and the esoteric sect path, even the Newborn path held many secrets to uncover. No wonder—though the Newborn path had declined, it had persisted, possessing methods to extend its lifespan. As if knowing what he was thinking, Xiang Yiwu shook his head and sighed, saying, "Do you think every extraordinary art aligns with oneself and can be cultivated to perfection? Nor does every extraordinary art possess a 'new world.' The number of times a person can witness a 'new world' in a lifetime is likely limited." "I want to see a new world too!" Wu Yaozu's curiosity was clawing at him, utterly captivated by what he heard. Qin Ming glanced at him and said, "I have a true scripture here that is indeed unfathomable, but it isn't easy to cultivate." Then, turning to Xiang Yiwu, he asked, "Care to exchange scriptures? Guaranteed to be an immortal chapter of the Newborn path, tested by the grand era." Xiang Yiwu's eyes lit up. "I'm game. How about the Rulai Notes? All based on firsthand experience!" "Can I exchange too? I have top-tier chapters on mental fields!" Wu Yaozu hurriedly chimed in, wanting to learn alongside them. Qin Ming brought out the physical-body-related scripture left by the silk book method patriarch. When the two heard that upon leaving Kunling, he had walked the night road alone to fish at Dragon Pool and actually fished up a patriarch, both were struck dumb, finding it utterly bizarre and terrifying. The three exchanged texts with great satisfaction, sharing what they had. When they stepped out of the cultivation chamber, Qin Ming received a letter. Over the past two days, they had been in seclusion, refusing visitors, as far too many people had come looking for them. Naturally, they had received numerous invitations, none of which they had attended yet. "This is..." Qin Ming was surprised. It was actually a letter sent by Li Qingyue. Along with the letter came a token—a bronze ring. *"If anyone exerts pressure on you, display this token."* This was Li Qingyue's message. She had originally come in person, but Qin Ming had been in closed-door cultivation at the time. "Someone truly intends to act against me?" Qin Ming's expression darkened, his gaze turning deep as he immediately thought of that young boy. Yet he didn't know the boy at all and held no grudge against him. It seemed there was someone behind him. "Exerting pressure... they wouldn't dare take my life. True enough, the patriarch just crippled Old Cao; even the obstinate old monsters of the immortal path wouldn't dare reach out carelessly. Besides, figures at that level wouldn't even cast their gaze toward me or take me to heart." Qin Ming felt this had nothing to do with the old monsters; it was likely certain arrogant youths acting on their own initiative. That night, he felt a sudden resonance and sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber. A moment later, the brilliant, crimson Li Fire Furnace manifested, hovering before him before slowly ascending above his head. At this moment, the cicada's song ceased, and the plump silkworm retreated. Only the pure form of the furnace remained. It slowly opened its lid, and a crystal-clear liquid wafted out from within, carrying a rich, intoxicating fragrance. It was not a physical substance, yet it felt unmistakably real to the senses, like a furnace of precious medicine freshly brewed. The Li Fire Furnace tilted, and the fragrant, intoxicating liquid dripped down, entering Qin Ming's mouth. In an instant, it was as if he had drunk sweet nectar and jade dew. His entire body felt revitalized, his mind serene, and his physique translucent, continuously radiating precious light as though he were floating toward immortality. Qin Ming realized that merely cultivating an extraordinary art could blaze new trails for his Newborn path, opening up an entirely new avenue! "So fragrant! Give me more!" He opened his mouth, drinking once again from the "hidden trove."