"There is likely an issue with the scripture itself. A portion is probably missing," said Tang Jin. Clad in black, her fair skin looked even more pale and translucent, lustrous as mutton-fat jade.
Master Wu disagreed. "Little Tang, if you haven't comprehended it thoroughly, don't go blaming the scripture."
Tang Jin shot it a glare. Ever since receiving praise from the patriarch, this fellow had visibly let it go to its head, addressing her as "Little Tang" left and right without any intention of stopping.
"Qin Ming, do you want to give it a try?" the youth Ling Yu asked.
Master Wu turned to look as well. It truly wanted to see whether this youth, who had thrashed Old Cao in the same cultivation realm, was equally astonishing in terms of comprehension.
Qin Ming smiled; he naturally wished to study it.
However, before doing so, it was better to learn more about the details surrounding these immortal graves.
To his eyes, even the weeds growing over the burial mounds had become spiritual medicines. The wild trees and brambles proliferating atop the great grave belonged to the legendary Vajra tree species—a truly astonishing sight.
Moreover, if the characters carved into the stone cliff were merely an incomplete scripture, barging in and rashly resonating with them might expose clues about his own arts if someone noticed, which would not bode well.
"Which top sects from the Newborn path have arrived?" Qin Ming asked.
Ling Yu replied, "People from the Yin-Yang Temple and Pure Yang Palace are already here."
Among them, the Yin-Yang Temple was confirmed to have a patriarch-level figure presiding over it. The heavenly light from beyond the world that had poured down like torrential rain two centuries ago had actually been triggered by his breakthrough across a grand bottleneck.
However, Qin Ming was not well-acquainted with the people of the Yin-Yang Temple, and he even felt somewhat wary toward their younger generation.
Back at the Luofu Immortal Mountain ruins, the youthful Yin-Yang disciple Lu Zhen had gone all out to help Li Qingxu contest for the Eight Trigrams Furnace.
During that battle, although Lu Zhen had struck from an ambush, severely wounding Tang Xumi, it had proven his extraordinary capability. Alone, he had nearly enabled Li Qingxu to make off with that near-immortal item.
Qin Ming asked, "Have people from the ancestral courts like Six Imperials, Rulai, and Yuqing not arrived yet?"
Jin Xiang spoke up, "They should be here soon, probably within the next two days. Their journey is a bit farther than ours from Shanhe Academy."
"Mm, then let's wait a little longer," Qin Ming said. He wanted to see Lu Zizai.
Another main reason was that he noticed the surrounding people looking at him with odd expressions.
For instance, what was with the looks on Chu Yuan and Jiang Yunfan—the ones who had taught him the Golden Wave Immortal Treasury and the Rosy Cloud Ascension Art? They seemed deeply surprised by his presence here, their gazes complicated.
Cui Chonghe had also cast a cool glance in his direction, though his eyes lingered only for a brief moment.
Several people wore strange expressions, yet none said anything.
With a calm expression, Qin Ming looked into the details of the site.
A patriarch had used an extraordinary treasure to pry open a crack in the great grave's restrictions, allowing people inside to seek opportunities. At present, this great grave was suppressed by weapons belonging to more than one patriarch.
Apart from this location, an important satellite tomb adjacent to the main burial mound—one comparable in size to a mountain—had also been pried open with a slit. However, only eminent figures could enter there; the opportunities were not for the youth.
After feeling out the situation, Qin Ming gradually understood that the immortal path had not dared to act rashly. It truly ran counter to their usual style, as they were observing with extreme caution.
Clearly, there was a major issue lurking beneath the surface.
Just then, people from the Five Elements Palace of the Newborn path arrived. Having also just reached this place, they were instantly stunned.
"A Vajra tree bearing golden fruit! That is a legendary physique-solidifying treasure medicine—even high-level cultivators would turn green with envy at the sight!" A middle-aged man stared in dazed shock.
An elder of the immortal path nodded. "Indeed. At present, none of the youths have managed to pick a Vajra fruit; they cannot shake the precious tree's immortal glow."
Soon, a group of youths from the Five Elements Palace walked inside.
They went in high spirits and returned in disappointment. Many could not even reach the spot, staggering halfway through and threatening to collapse.
The youth being groomed as the future palace master of the Five Elements Palace sat cross-legged beneath the Vajra tree, comprehending the scripture there, but ultimately departed with tightly furrowed brows.
"To think you actually came to the immortal grave region. You were a bit reckless," Pei Shuyan sent via sound transmission.
His relationship with Qin Ming could hardly be called close; they had merely drawn somewhat nearer due to the Helian family.
Qin Ming looked over, but Pei Shuyan had already turned and walked away.
Han Heng, a juvenile extraordinary from the Five Elements Palace, came over to greet Qin Ming. As fellow pursuers of the Newborn path, he had heard much of the youth from Black-White Mountain in recent times.
"Brother Qin, have you tried comprehending that scripture yet? I feel it holds wondrous utility for practitioners of the Newborn path, able to solidify one's foundation and strengthen flesh and blood. Unfortunately, my aptitudes are dull, and my comprehension was limited."
"None of the people who went in could comprehend it thoroughly. I'll adjust my state first," Qin Ming replied.
Eventually, Xin Youdao could not resist going in. He returned in distress, still pondering deeply once outside.
Jin Xiang had wanted to harvest a Vajra fruit, but was told he was over the age limit.
Qin Ming took a lap around the mountain-like colossal grave, but did not spot Li Qingyue or anyone from the Helian family.
Not long after, he did run into Tang Xumi.
"A few of Helian Zhaoyu's friends previously let slip word that you wouldn't dare show your face. While they didn't use overly aggressive words, there was clearly no goodwill behind it. None of them have simple backgrounds."
Tang Xumi conveyed this solemnly through secret sound transmission. For an immortal seed like him to be so cautious showed just how feared the Helian clan was in the outer realm.
Qin Ming frowned. Before the principal party had even appeared, someone was already exerting pressure on his behalf. As friends of Helian Zhaoyu, their origins were likely far from ordinary.
Unfortunately, Old Man Liu was unwell. Had he revived as a god, given their bond, Qin Ming would not be so passive—even setting Old Liu's big yellow dog upon that crowd who prided themselves on pedigree would probably suffice.
He could only indulge the thought, ultimately sighing to himself. In the end, a person had to rely on their own strength.
Originally, he had not intended to come to the immortal grave region, wishing instead to cultivate in seclusion on Black-White Mountain. Lu Zizai was unaware of recent developments; otherwise, he might not have called him over.
Dusk fell, and a light mist rose through the mountain forest. Under the illumination of the Fire Springs, it resembled a hazy veil of gauze, yet also seemed like evening clouds.
At nightfall, Qin Ming, Jin Xiang, and Xin Youdao returned to the outskirts of the mountain city to rest aboard the flying ship.
The two sun elves followed the entire way, reticent and never offering their names, so Qin Ming mentally dubbed them Jingjing One and Lingling Two.
Even Yu Gensheng had caught wind of the rumors after taking a stroll outside. With a somber expression, he came to Qin Ming's room and said, "I didn't expect the Helian clan to be involved. Had I known earlier, I wouldn't have let you come here."
He feared someone might disregard the rules, worried something would happen to Qin Ming—after all, this was the home turf of the immortal path.
Qin Ming suddenly realized that when he met Tang Jin in the mountain city, her words had not been targeted at him in malice; almost everyone believed his coming here was risky.
Under such circumstances, Tang Jin, Ling Yu, and Master Wu had still accompanied him to the immortal graves, which was already quite decent of them—not to mention wanting to accept him as a disciple on their master's behalf.
"When will Brother Lu arrive?" Qin Ming asked.
"Estimating the time, he might have already arrived, or perhaps tomorrow." Yu Gensheng told him to stay on the flying ship and never wander off alone.
"It's not that serious," Qin Ming said, shaking his head. It was just a youth from the Helian clan; his influence could not be that vast.
Yu Gensheng said, "The crucial point is that it involves the Luofu Sect's foundational scripture and their sect-guarding artifact, the Eight Trigrams Furnace. If the immortal path fractures and descends into infighting like this, it isn't a bad thing for our Newborn path."
The next day, people from the Rulai Sect arrived, and Wu Yaozu and Xiang Yiwu appeared.
After taking a wide lap around the immortal graves, the two learned Qin Ming had come and immediately hurried over to see him.
The moment Wu Yaozu saw him, he blurted out, "Brother Ming, we heard about it! That kid from the Helian clan is acting all arrogant, and his scoundrel friends dared to talk like that—it's utterly intolerable!"
Qin Ming had brought him out of the peril, and the two had braved life-and-death crises together multiple times; they were truly brothers who had walked the edge of death together.
Xiao Wu said, "Let's figure something out. We can't swallow this! If they push us too far, let's just wipe them all out. Then you and I can run back to the Fourth Peril, lie low for a hundred years, and once our cultivation reaches fruition, sweep them all aside. Grandmasters, old monsters—a century from now, they'll all be fertilizer!"
Xiang Yiwu reminded him, "The Fourth Peril was breached by that peerless expert from the esoteric sect, and the old monster of the Helian clan once penetrated deep inside, daring to lead people to dig him up."
Wu Yaozu was momentarily dazed. The backyard he had considered safe and sound was no refuge at all.
He then spoke up, "At worst, we'll fight our way deep into the night mist world and come back in a hundred years!"
Qin Ming shook his head. "Calm down. The Helian clan hasn't even made a move. A few irrelevant people talking big is just beating the grass to scare the snake, an attempt to intimidate. It amounts to nothing."
Xiang Yiwu nodded as well. "I also think the Helian clan wouldn't dare go too far."
As they were discussing the family, someone unexpectedly arrived with a letter: someone from the Helian clan wanted to meet.
"Then let's go have a look," Qin Ming decided to accept the invitation.
"I really don't believe they can blot out the sky with one hand," Wu Yaozu declared. He and Xiang Yiwu insisted on tagging along.
Jingjing One and Lingling Two were very familiar with the mountain city, guiding them to a teahouse planted full of golden maples and scarlet fire vines. Gazing around, the blend of gold and crimson was pleasing to the eye.
"It's you," Qin Ming said in surprise. It was Helian Yaoqing, not Helian Zhaoyu.
She was still dressed in men's attire, looking rather dashing and suave, though her exceptionally rosy lips and long, dense eyelashes gave away her identity as a woman.
She got straight to the point. "My cousin looks gentle, refined, and harmless to man and beast, but his heart is pitch-black and his strikes are ruthless. Work for me, and I'll give you benefits while keeping you safe."
Helian Yaoqing and Helian Zhaoyu had never gotten along, constantly at odds.
Though she was extending an olive branch, Qin Ming flatly refused. Work for the Helian clan? What was she thinking!
Wu Yaozu spoke up, "Big bro, what kind of thing is your family's Helian Zhaoyu? Just because of his noble birth, he thinks he can do whatever he wants? How about this: if you can step in and cripple him, or at the very least drive him back to the outer realm, cooperating and helping each other isn't entirely off the table."
Helian Yaoqing chuckled. "You certainly talk big. Although he and I don't see eye to eye, he is still my cousin after all."
"Then what else is there to say!" Wu Yaozu set down his teacup at once.
In truth, Qin Ming had no desire to talk further either.
He knew these were all superficial matters.
Sure enough, Helian Yaoqing smiled and shook her head. "Actually, you've got it wrong. Look through the phenomena to see the essence. Even without Helian Zhaoyu, there would still be Zhaohui or Zhaosheng. Stepping back further, even if there were no suitable unmarried men, there's the married Zhaoqing—Helian Mingxu's father—or even younger ones like Mingxu himself."
"Miss Helian, you're crossing the line!" Even Xiang Yiwu could no longer keep his composure.
"You're just reacting out of stress. How adolescent and naive. At this age, enamored by youth, are your eyes filled only with romantic affection? But years later, look back, and what is such sentiment worth—a few coins of daylight gold?" Helian Yaoqing shook her head disdainfully.
She took a sip of tea and continued, "In the absolute worst-case scenario, even if the Helian clan ran out of males, there's still me, and other women."
Wu Yaozu stared at her, feeling this was beyond absurd.
Qin Ming naturally understood her meaning. When all was said and done, the Yuxian Sect was coveting the Luofu Sect's foundational scripture and sect-guarding artifact; whoever was used for the marriage alliance hardly mattered.
All of it was merely to save face, offering the Luofu Sect a graceful way out.
Of course, Helian Zhaoyu himself probably did want to marry Li Qingyue.
"These are all decisions made by the old men up top and have nothing to do with me—just don't hold a grudge against me. Naturally, as a direct descendant of the Helian clan, I do enjoy the clan's perks. As for us, if there's an opportunity, we can still cooperate. I've covered the tea. Enjoy it at your leisure; I'll take my leave."
Helian Yaoqing stood up lazily, covering her rosy lips with a hand to stifle a soft yawn, before drifting away.
"Under such circumstances, unless heaven strikes down that old... of the Helian clan," Xiang Yiwu whispered, "or if the Past Rulai were still alive in the world and willing to intervene."
Early night fell. The Fire Springs in the mountain city cast a gentle glow over countless natural vistas, bathing them in a soft, hazy luminescence. Walking out of the golden maple grove, Qin Ming contemplated these matters.
Strictly speaking, he and Li Qingyue had not yet reached the stage of lovers. He simply felt relaxed in her company, sharing many common topics.
It was very much like two companions walking side by side along the path of cultivation, ascending toward the peak together.
Right now, he had no wish to see exhaustion on Li Qingyue's face, or watch her fate dictated by others, dragged away from what should have been a dazzling trajectory in life.
Li Qingyue had said she would resolve everything herself, yet Qin Ming could see no way out of the impasse.
*If all else fails, with all due respect, I might really have to go near Black Dragon Pool, dig up the patriarch, and check him thoroughly. Ah, forget it, it most likely won't work. The patriarch couldn't have endured until now, and doing so would be utterly treacherous.*
Wu Yaozu and Xiang Yiwu followed behind him, their hearts equally heavy. That old monster in the Yuxian Sect with one foot in the Seventh Realm was truly terrifying and insurmountable.
In the mountain city, none of the roads were straight. Paved with bluestone, they wound and curved, twisting around ancient trees and unusual boulders.
Ahead, around a bend in the road, a green-haired man appeared. Beside him stood a woman in black, slightly cool and aloof, carrying an air of quiet nobility.
With a single glance, Qin Ming recognized the man as Cui He—someone he had once called Fourth Uncle. Cui He was proficient in the *Yimu Scripture* and was also cultivating the *World-Abiding Scripture*.
Nor was he unfamiliar with the woman beside Cui He, named Cui Shuning, whom he had formerly addressed as Aunt.
In the past, these two had specifically traveled to Chixia City to track him down; without Meng Xinghai's protection, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Qin Ming harbored not the slightest shred of goodwill toward them. They had once arranged for Yu Zhuohan to duel him, and it was from their hands that he had won the *Yimu Scripture*.
Upon spotting him, Cui He chuckled heartily, putting on a familiar, affectionate front. "Qin Ming, what a coincidence! You boy have some nerve, daring to come here to join the reclamation! Fourth Uncle already knows about your troubles. Do you want me to find someone to help smooth things over for you?"
Cui Shuning also cast a faint glance over, but said nothing, maintaining a reserved and dignified air.
Qin Ming had no desire to see them and sensed not an ounce of goodwill. Thus, he could not be bothered to be polite or mince words, saying bluntly, "Cui the Fourth, stay far away from me."
"Insolent! How dare you speak to an elder like that!" Cui He rebuked.
"Toss the two of them aside," Qin Ming instructed Jingjing One and Lingling Two.
Back in Chixia City, he had called them Uncle and Aunt purely out of good upbringing to keep up appearances.
Ever since the old woman of the Cui family targeted him, causing him to fall into the Fourth Peril where he barely escaped with his life, he could no longer be bothered with pleasantries. Given the right time and place, any encounter between them would be a fight to the death.
Just as on the plateau outside the Third Peril, while hunting fiends and contending for auspicious beast blood, he had fought tooth and nail against the Cui clan, slaying several of their direct descendants.
Qin Ming noticed that the two sun elves were actually hesitating. Highly dissatisfied, he glared at them, and only then did they press forward.
"Fine, you ruthless punk!" Cui He snapped, flushed with rage and shame.
Cui Shuning said coldly, "Qin Ming, you bearer of misfortune, now that the Helian clan has set its sights on you... your end is entirely predictable!"
"Still not getting lost?" Qin Ming said coldly.
In the end, the Cui siblings looked thoroughly disheveled. Unable to match the two sun elves, they dared not utter any more harsh words and fled in a panic.
Afterward, Qin Ming and his companions ran into many acquaintances in the mountain city, including some nobles from Dayu.
Back when the battle at the Southern Heavenly Gate concluded, those people had tried their best to win over the trio, sending fine wines to Guanghan Palace and repeatedly inviting them to banquets.
Now when they crossed paths, though those nobles remained polite, they clearly maintained boundaries and kept a noticeable distance; as for drawing close or courting favor, that was entirely out of the question.
Through this series of incidents, Qin Ming felt the influence of the Yuxian Sect and the Helian clan all the more keenly.
"This really pisses me off. It feels awful. The frustration caused by the Helian clan is just stuck in my chest and won't go away!" Wu Yaozu said indignantly.
A moment later, an immortal path disciple arrived with a letter.
After reading it, Qin Ming flicked his finger and shattered it.
Upon seeing this, the disciple's eyes widened in shock, and he turned and left immediately.
"Whose letter?" Xiang Yiwu asked.
"Helian Zhaoyu." Qin Ming had no desire to meet the man. At the end of the day, it was the will of those high above at work; seeing him or not would change nothing.
Yet though he did not wish to see him, the man appeared right ahead on the path.
Helian Zhaoyu used to favor black garments, but recently had taken to wearing pristine white robes. Knowing he harbored no goodwill, that spotless attire looked gratingly stark.
He was indeed handsome, with sword-like brows and star-like eyes, a gentle smile gracing his face as he stood on the street exuding refined charm.
"Pick a place. Let's talk," he said with a smile.
Beside him were two companions of similar age. Their bearing made it obvious they came from prominent backgrounds, and both carried themselves with high conceit, showing no intention of acknowledging Qin Ming or Xiao Wu.
"Then let's talk with them," Xiang Yiwu said.
"Fine." Qin Ming nodded and stepped forward, picking a relatively quiet teahouse not far away.
In fact, from the moment Helian Zhaoyu showed up to block Qin Ming's path, onlookers nearby noticed, immediately causing a stir.
Qin Ming, Wu Yaozu, and Xiang Yiwu entered the private room first.
Once Helian Zhaoyu stepped inside, he dropped his smile, acting as if he were the host. He took a bold, domineering seat and pointed ahead, saying in an uncompromising tone, "Sit!"
Qin Ming ignored him, walking further inside. Pulling out a wooden chair, he sat behind another green sandalwood table before beginning to appraise him.
"Quite the temper," sneered one of the youths beside Helian Zhaoyu.
Those two sat down as well, forming a standoff against Qin Ming's group of three.
"Hissing like that—did you get diarrhea or something?" Wu Yaozu glared back.
The youth sprang back to his feet, and Xiao Wu rose just as aggressively, refusing to be outdone.
"Sit down and drink your tea. I'll handle this myself," Helian Zhaoyu said, pacifying his companion before standing up and walking over.
"You're quite unruly," he said coldly. His white robes seemed frosted over, a stark contrast to the cultured, courteous demeanor he presented outside, like a completely different person.
"Can you speak like a human being? Don't be so conceited," Qin Ming said, rising to his feet.
Rumor had it that from a very young age, Helian Zhaoyu had been taken by his clansmen across the night mist world to temper himself. For a period, his killing intent had been so heavy that birds and beasts dared not approach.
Later, by chanting wondrous scriptures and cultivating secret arts, he washed away the scent of blood to appear handsome as jade, yet he could never truly be a gentle, jade-like gentleman.
He reached out to jab at Qin Ming's chest, saying, "An abandoned son of the Cui family—do you know whom you're speaking to?"
This was blatantly insolent. Away from public eyes, he had discarded his pretense, no longer humble, polite, or smiling gently, but adopting a haughty, condescending posture.
"What are you barking about!" How could Qin Ming let him poke his chest at will? Extending his right index and middle fingers, he snipped forward like shears.
At the tips of his fingers, azure and scarlet clouds blossomed together as the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird manifested simultaneously, coiling around his fingers. Not knowing the other's true cultivation realm, he had deployed two sacred baleful auras even for a casual interception.
Helian Zhaoyu was taken aback and dodged the fingers.
"Not bad. But have you thought through the consequences of defying me?" He reached out his right hand, attempting to lightly pat Qin Ming's left cheek in a haughty, superior posture, intending to discipline an inferior.
Instantly, the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird surged, their radiance blinding.
Helian Zhaoyu retreated several steps. His cultivation was extremely profound, but above all, he did not wish to ruin his image, avoiding having his snow-white sleeve burned through by the Vermilion Bird's sacred baleful aura.
He rolled up his sleeve. His right hand emitted a blinding light swirling with white immortal mist. Utterly ruthless and decisive, he immediately unleashed a secret scripture's ultimate art, intending to strike with lethal force.
With a metallic clang, the mutton-fat jade iron saber on Qin Ming's back unsheathed itself, flowing with five-colored divine radiance that shone forward.
At the same time, with a loud crash, Wu Yaozu flipped the green sandalwood table into the air, sending it, along with the boiling water and teaware on top, hurtling toward the man ahead.
"Grandson, who do you think you're talking to? It's you who's defying us!" Xiao Wu roared.
Simultaneously, Xiang Yiwu sprang up, his door-wide frame bursting with golden clouds.
Silver ripples radiated from Helian Zhaoyu's entire body. The green sandalwood table, teaware, and everything else silently disintegrated into powder upon nearing him, as if crushed in an instant by an immortal millstone.
His white robes fluttering, he stood there, coldly scanning the three.
Behind him, the two accompanying youths slowly rose and pressed forward.
Qin Ming glanced at the two sun elves beside them. Even at this point, the two still had barely reacted.
"You two, strike!" he ordered directly.
The two sun elves hesitated, taking two slow steps forward.
Helian Zhaoyu smiled faintly and clapped his hands. Silently, two elders appeared inside the tea room.
He commanded coldly, "Pin them all to the ground on their knees!"
Hearing this, the two elders pressed forward immediately. Their aura was intimidating, seeming to warp the void as thunderous rumbles boomed within.
Qin Ming looked toward the two sun elves, who grew even more hesitant, lacking the courage to directly confront a direct descendant of the Helian clan.
Helian Zhaoyu gave a faint smile; in his view, this was only natural.
Beside him, the two youths scoffed as well.
Wu Yaozu and Xiang Yiwu wore solemn expressions. Facing these two elders, they had no chance of winning even if they fought with their lives on the line. Yet how could they willingly be forced to their knees in humiliation?
Qin Ming looked outside the teahouse. He knew Yu Gensheng had been trailing behind all along, worried about his safety.
Boom!
With flowing robes, Yu Gensheng entered the tea room. His spirit field warped the void, and a faint, blurred sacred form manifested, its overpowering might suppressing the entire room.
In an instant, the two elders began to tremble before being crushed directly to their knees, their heads knocking against the floor.
Helian Zhaoyu and the two youths turned ice-cold all over, unable to move a muscle, frozen stiff where they stood.
Although Qin Ming had known Yu Gensheng was following him, seeing how he did not hesitate in the slightest when facing a behemoth like the Helian clan—revealing himself and striking without hesitation—warmed his heart immensely.
Qin Ming had always been restrained and calm, avoiding trouble on ordinary days so as not to burden those who cared for and protected him.
Yet now, Qin Ming stepped forward. He knew that when confronting certain people, endurance and restraint were entirely useless.
He strode forward and abruptly raised his leg. With a side kick, the sole of his foot slammed successively across the faces of the two youths, spraying mouthfuls of blood and shattered teeth as both were sent flying.
One hung limp in the corner, while the other smashed through tables and chairs, lying sprawled amidst the wreckage.
Next, Qin Ming swung his right arm in a wide arc. With a crisp, ringing smack, he slapped Helian Zhaoyu forcefully across the face.
Chapter 297