Pilgrimage?

In the shallow night on Black-White Mountain, snowflakes drifted through swathes of blood bamboo. From joints to leaves, the bamboo glowed vivid red and translucent, looking as if carved from scarlet jade—refreshing and stunning against the pure white snow. Qin Ming sat in quiet contemplation, pondering the Body-Refining Dao-Integrating Classic. In this bitterly freezing climate, he had relinquished his heavenly light barrier, using the extreme cold to temper his physical body. As he breathed in a peculiar cadence, white mist surged around him, completely engulfing his body like immortal vapor. Within Qin Ming, sinews transformed into "true dragons," and his secret apertures became "immortal lakes." Now, the dragons stirred awake, drinking "immortal nectar" from the lakes. His tendons stretched, releasing genuine "dragon roars" that terrified nearby strange beasts and exotic birds, leaving them trembling and too afraid to show their heads. Within the immortal lakes, latent potential rippled outward, bathing his bones in brilliant light. Soon all his bones vibrated in unison, resounding with "thunderous peals." Qin Ming’s skin was bathed in a golden glow akin to morning clouds, while the bones beneath shone white as concentrated moonlight, crystalline and imbued with spiritual grace. Before long, he was drenched in sweat. Immortal mist billowed from him into the wind and snow, leaving his entire body thoroughly cleansed and invigorated, as though he had consumed the Ginseng Fruit recorded in ancient tomes and undergone a complete marrow-cleansing metamorphosis. He was gradually transforming toward the legendary golden body and jade bones. Qin Ming exhaled a great plume of white mist and opened his eyes. At this time last year, he had slain a blood serpent in this very blood bamboo grove, obtaining spiritual substance for the first time in his life. After a year away, returning to Black-White Mountain, he was no longer the fragile youth who had to stay constantly vigilant against the mountain's monstrous insects and beasts. Gazing through the wind and snow into the distance, he knew that although his strength had increased by a vast margin, it was still far from enough in this turbulent, surging era. The immortal path, the esoteric sect, the anomalous entities, the perilous lands—every system was blazing new trails. Farther off, a vast and dazzling empire of human civilization had emerged, marked by competing factions and contending schools of thought, displaying all the splendor of a golden age. Not to mention, deep within the night mist lay countless civilizations of alien races, and even rumored Earth Immortal dynasties, inspiring both yearning and awe. "I still need to become stronger!" As the night deepened, Qin Ming completed his practice of the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic. Over this period, he had continuously broken new ground within himself, opening numerous mysterious pathways. He clearly felt his heavenly light force grow increasingly potent. His flesh and blood resembled a crucible swirling with immortal radiance, as though a Golden Crow roosted within. Emerging from the mountains, Qin Ming saw a donkey trudging leisurely through the accumulated snow at the edge of the land. Perched upon its back sat an old weasel with snow-white fur. Back then, he had dreaded this creature, taking care to avoid it from afar. Today, he merely cupped his fists in salute before drifting away. The old weasel paused, then nodded in response, its thoughts rather complicated. It naturally remembered the youth. When heavy snow had sealed the mountains last year, it had watched from a distance as he fought a donkey-headed wolf, his shoulders drenched in blood. "Who would have thought that in just one short year, he would grow to this extent!" * * * In the deep night, beside the fire spring, perched in the Black-White Twin Trees, two small creatures assumed the positions of the yin and yang eyes. Each sat cross-legged with earnest dignity, exuding rich spirituality. They had realized that cultivating alongside Qin Ming brought endless benefits. When he comprehended the Dao, it was not merely the mystical substances drifting in the night mist that increased, but also lingering Daoist resonance. Qin Ming was studying the Geomagnetic Classic. Although he had obtained the scripture capable of slaying deities with the physical body and the four jade leaves, he had not abandoned the other extraordinary arts. Instead, he dug deeper into them, determined to master all their true essence. This scripture complemented the spirit field exceptionally well and was suited for controlling all manner of weapons. With a single thought, the mutton-fat jade iron saber, the red jade sword, the black jade hammer, and the God-Measuring Ruler materialized behind him. Scraps of discarded copper and iron buried under the snow also broke through the frozen soil, hovering around him as weapons. He then merged this scripture with the Golden Silkworm Classic, causing a golden web to expand outward with him at the center. In the latter half of the night, Qin Ming’s spirit field unfolded. At present, only those who had mastered special pupil techniques could vaguely perceive it: a tangible field layered upon itself. In a flash, dense black and white particles vibrated within the waves of the spirit field, significantly elevating its power as it continued to expand outward. Qin Ming was certain that whether facing a Sumeru field, a Heavenly Demon force field, an esoteric sect inner landscape of becoming gods, or the wondrous conception spectacles of immortal lineages, he could confront them head-on with his spirit field. Immediately after, five kinds of sacred baleful aura decomposed into particles, scattering throughout the spirit field to bolster its might even further. Lately, Qin Ming had been comprehending the Dao, synthesizing his experiences, and fusing diverse scriptural principles. Moreover, he engaged in spirit wandering every night, venturing into the pitch-black celestial vault to capture "meteor showers" and the like, completely undeterred by the monster he had encountered previously. In the blink of an eye, a month slipped by. Qin Ming's cultivation had progressed, making him far stronger than before, yet upon entering the third tier of the spirit field, he let out a soft sigh, feeling the pace was a bit slow. Quantifying his spirit field realm allowed him to perceive his inner changes more clearly, serving to spur him onward in arduous cultivation. Going by the current trend, ascending each tier would take about a year. "Advancing step-by-step like this is truly somewhat slow." Qin Ming could hardly wait, for he was measuring himself against the talents of the immortal path and the esoteric sect, not to mention that glorious human civilization far away. The long night was devoid of light, the world pitch-black as an abyss; yet deep in the mist-shrouded realm, the various civilizations were dazzlingly bright. "If I want to speed up, aside from seeking within myself, I can only search for outside help." Unfortunately, with the end of the war on the western frontier, spiritual resources were what Night Province lacked most. From the youth experts to the grandmasters and patriarchs, all required great medicines to heal their wounds. Furthermore, special blessed lands such as spiritual mountain-and-river nests and earthly apertures were all claimed, long since occupied by others. The entire territory had been thoroughly explored; finding unharvested treasures was nearly impossible. As for spirit wandering in the sea of night mist atop the nine heavens, it was far too perilous. Encountering golden halls or divine medicines in the celestial vault was by no means guaranteed. If one climbed too high, the chances of running into a monster with a face paler than Cui Chonghe's or his great-grandmother's were probably much greater. Qin Ming mused, *No wonder people leave Night Province every year to explore new worlds. If the newcomers want to rise, there aren't enough resources to go around—they have to seek other paths.* Having stayed in seclusion at Black-White Mountain for a little over a month, he had thoroughly digested the scriptures he had studied. Next, he wanted to try his luck and see if there were any ownerless wondrous medicines or immortal nests left in this dark world. He was even prepared to set off and see that splendid human empire for himself if it proved reliable. Otherwise, relying solely on bitter cultivation along the conventional path, it would take him years to break through the heavenly barrier of the fourth realm. "Young Qin, this Black-White Classic has indeed been of great help in relieving my condition. It seems I truly came into contact with it long ago; it feels very familiar. I should be able to endure this long winter. You may travel without worry," Old Man Liu said, seeing him off. Qin Ming had long suspected that this scripture was linked to Old Man Liu, and that was now undoubtedly confirmed. "Mountain Master, are you heading out again?" Yuque blinked its jewel-like eyes. In the end, it held back and chose not to follow, intending to continue mooching off the old folks for a while. "Granddaddy Qin, come home often when you're free!" The red squirrel was far better behaved now than in the past. During this time, Qin Ming had spent the shallow night at Black-White Mountain and the deep night beneath the twin trees, deliberately avoiding the villagers to minimize attachments before quietly departing today. Passing by Chixia City, he found that Meng Xinghai’s severe wounds from the western frontier battlefield had mostly healed, which set his mind at ease. "Young Qin, your progress is already exceptionally fast. What matters most right now is stability—do not take unnecessary risks!" Meng Xinghai said earnestly. "Uncle Meng, I understand!" Qin Ming stayed only for a single day before departing astride the Thunder King Bird. Even while journeying, he continued to cultivate. His figure appeared across many of Night Province's sprawling cities and celebrated mountains that had been struck by heavenly light. Qin Ming could not help but sigh. Certain territories truly harbored blessed substances; mountain ranges flowed with variegated divine radiance, and crevices in the earth bubbled with heavenly light, making his mouth water. Regrettably, deep within such secret earthly apertures, ancient monsters sat in seclusion, and the sites had been claimed by the esoteric sect and immortal path a millennium ago. Refusing to admit defeat, Qin Ming traveled through deep mountains and great marshes, utilizing the Eye of the Newborn in an effort to search for dragon veins and divine nests, hoping to uncover undiscovered wonderlands. In the end, however, he only ended up battered and bedraggled. In a seemingly serene great marsh, he actually unearthed a mass grave, which subsequently triggered an absurdly bizarre phenomenon. Whenever he fell asleep, an old woman with blood leaking from her seven facial orifices would appear, seemingly rooted in his spiritual field. Even the Thunder King Bird suffered endless nightmares every day. Ultimately, Qin Ming had to scour himself with heavenly light for three days and three nights while continuously cleansing the Thunder King Bird before finally ridding himself of that bleeding face. Naturally, immediately retreating to the Dayu imperial capital also helped; the stronger the yang energy, the fainter that old face became, dissipating all the faster. Though still somewhat disgruntled, Qin Ming had to admit that the truly good places were indeed already occupied. Along the way, he heard many rumors regarding the visitors from the outer domain. In the past, batch after batch of experts had journeyed far to explore new worlds, yet it seemed only those who traveled southwest to the Earth Immortal-grade empire had managed to return safely. "After discovering that intensely brilliant human civilization, we also wanted to return early to deliver the news. Unfortunately, thick mist stood in the way, making the return journey a thousand times more arduous than the journey there." Walking different paths through the mist meant emerging into completely different territories, straying an unimaginable distance from one's intended destination. Back then, when they journeyed southwest, predecessors had left stone tablets as markers before the mist, so most latecomers followed that same route. Most critically, the mist on the other side was unstable, fading in and out for centuries. To embark on the return journey, they had to go through extensive trial and error and wait for a clear Misty Gate to manifest before they could enter. Recent news was filled with accounts of the wanderers' return, so it was easy for Qin Ming to learn the details. *Are these people truly free of issues?* Qin Ming pondered. Given the shrewdness of Night Province's patriarchs, if there were any serious problems, they would strike without mercy, regardless of whether these people were former martial siblings. In fact, he suspected that given how certain patriarchs operated, they had likely already probed the consciousness seas of some returnees in secret—and succeeded. Not long after Qin Ming entered the Dayu imperial capital, a visitor arrived at his door. The newcomer was tall and slender. Though she wore scarlet armor, it did nothing to conceal her graceful curves. Her dark hair cascaded to her waist, her skin was pale as ivory, and she possessed peerless, country-toppling beauty. She was none other than the Fourth Princess of the Dayu Dynasty, Yao Ruoxian. Qin Ming was not surprised. In her territory, and especially since his Thunder King Bird was an extraordinary mount gifted by Yao Ruoxian herself, he was naturally easy to track down. Even so, he was not worried about his whereabouts being exposed. Although he had not joined the Six Imperials ancestral court or the Rulai Sect, he and Xiang Yiwu currently represented the face and shield of the Newborn path's younger generation. Furthermore, Lu Zizai had stood up for him not long ago, so under these circumstances, no one would dare trouble him. In the courtyard of the inn, the Thunder King Bird immediately stepped forward to salute. "Greetings, Your Highness." At the same time, it looked toward Yao Ruoxian's mount—a Thunder Imperial Bird—its eyes instantly sparking with electrical arcs. "Greetings, Princess!" Evidently, upon seeing a seed-grade imperial bird of its own kind, it was far more enthusiastic than it was toward Yao Ruoxian. Unfortunately, no matter how hard it flattered, the Thunder Imperial Bird only nodded reservedly or responded with the briefest of words: "Mmh." Qin Ming pressed a hand to his forehead, unwilling to watch this king of bootlickers, and invited Yao Ruoxian inside. Yao Ruoxian said, "Where have you been this past month? You vanished entirely. With all the stir outside, many people wanted to invite you for a gathering, but no one could find you." She bluntly informed him that seeds from various paths had been interacting with the youths from afar and had repeatedly tried to invite him, only to discover he was out of reach. "There wasn't another duel, was there?" Qin Ming asked with an odd look. He almost had a conditioned reflex—whenever people sought him out, it was usually to serve as a thug. Yao Ruoxian shook her head. "No, not at all. The people of Night Province have exchanged pointers with them several times on amicable terms, and both sides have left quite a good impression on each other." Then she laughed. "It seems you've truly been living under a rock lately. You must have been cultivating bitterly the whole time?" Qin Ming asked, "Will they leave again after returning? Have they made any unusual moves? It doesn't seem likely they came back just to return to their roots, considering they brought quite a few young and vigorous people with them." Yao Ruoxian replied, "They were very candid, saying that some of our techniques here are likely primers or introductory chapters to priceless true scriptures." For instance, the Black-White Classic from the ancient deity sanctum: although no one could master it, its origins were extraordinary, and it was rumored to be connected to a supreme scriptural principle from that distant land. "Take also the four fragmented jade leaves of the immortal path. They might only be introductory chapters, while the complete scripture consists of nine or perhaps twelve leaves." Hearing this, Qin Ming could not help but feel astonished. If that were the case, the master of the four jade leaves had never practiced the complete scripture either, meaning Qin Ming naturally could not sense the rest. Yao Ruoxian said, "They consulted a great deal of precious records over there, leading them to believe that the subterranean ruins here might still contain subsequent chapters, or perhaps other even more remarkable texts." Qin Ming asked, "What is the stance of the various paths' patriarchs?" Yao Ruoxian smiled and said, "The patriarchs approve and told them to excavate freely, letting them know if they need anything. Meanwhile, the patriarchs have all returned to secluded cultivation to heal their wounds." Qin Ming thought to himself that the patriarchs possessed absolute confidence. If those people truly unearthed anything, Night Province would certainly claim its share; no one could obtain scriptures here for free. He remarked, "Digging through ruins to search for true scriptures surely isn't their only motive, is it? Perhaps they have other purposes." "That isn't something you or I need to worry about," Yao Ruoxian said after taking a sip of clear tea. Qin Ming frowned. "If an Earth Immortal or a Seven Suns Superposed One from over there were to set foot in this land, I imagine the patriarchs would feel immense pressure as well, wouldn't they?" Yao Ruoxian nodded solemnly. "The powerhouses over there are indeed formidable." Then, as if remembering something, she added, "You haven't read the Night Paper recently, so you may have missed some news. Did you know that among the returned younger generation, some have dazzled all of Night Province? They've been heavily reported on, with claims that even ancient sages returning to their youth might not be able to suppress them." Qin Ming immediately grew interested. "Just how extraordinary were their displays?" "Back then, the Truth Paper, Night Paper, and World Paper spared no praise, showering them with accolades. How could you be so carefree as to miss it all, without even checking up on it afterward?" Yao Ruoxian mentioned that one of them walked the Newborn path and had already mastered the Three Imperials force while still in the first realm! Qin Ming nodded placidly. "Very impressive. However, on our side, we also have those blessed with the Three Imperials force, Sky Shakers, and Golden Body Nirvanic Ones." Yao Ruoxian watched his expression closely. Seeing him so calm, she was thoroughly shaken. Just what level had this youth attained back in the first realm? She continued, "That person is even more formidable than standard Sky Shakers or Golden Body Nirvanic Ones. He has very likely reached the late stage of the Three Imperials force!" "Remarkable indeed!" Qin Ming commented. Yao Ruoxian could no longer fathom his depth. What state had he reached back then? She smiled and said, "That person is very eager to exchange insights with you." "Why?" Qin Ming asked. Yao Ruoxian explained, "Because he heard of your battle record, and rumors have spread that without any predecessor to guide you, you mastered the Chaos force entirely on your own. This left all the returnees deeply shaken." Regarding the heavenly light force developed through the silk book method, there had been various names for it in the past: some called it Hunyuan force, others Chaos force, and there were also terms like Sacred force and Heavenly God force. "Oh? Do they care that much about the silk book method?" Qin Ming wore an unusual expression, his guard rising. Yao Ruoxian shook her head. "What they care about isn't the Hunyuan force itself, but you as an individual. After all, the silk book heritage you speak of hasn't been lost on their side—it has continued down to this day." This time, even Qin Ming was shaken. So a silk book method patriarch really had traveled to that land in the past! Even though practitioners' bodies were prone to bursting, successors had persisted in training. Having spent this past month in seclusion, he truly had missed quite a bit of crucial information. The silk book method was exceptionally unique; to keep the lineage alive, an elder had to guide the successor across the threshold without a single break in continuity. Qin Ming took on a grave expression. "The people over there are quite bold. Knowing that it leads to nothing in the end and that they will ultimately burst apart, successors still dare to take it up and persist tirelessly in cultivation." Yao Ruoxian replied, "Their cultivation civilization is highly advanced and exceptionally splendid. They might well possess methods to mitigate the flaws." Then she gave him a searching look. "So you truly did master it entirely on your own." To her, this was simply inconceivable, completely defying common sense! "Who said that? How do you know I don't have a patriarch personally instructing me from behind the scenes?" Qin Ming replied calmly and steadily. Yao Ruoxian stared in astonishment. Seeing his composed demeanor, she was genuinely startled. However, she quickly regained her composure. Within the territory of Night Province, it was impossible for any living silk book method patriarch to remain; it had long been confirmed that they were either dead or had journeyed far away. Her instinct told her that the legendary Chaos force had indeed been mastered by Qin Ming alone! Yao Ruoxian said solemnly, "I have an important piece of news for you. The people who wish to converse with you revealed that in that vast human empire far away, there might still be a living patriarch who mastered the Chaos force!" Qin Ming looked astonished and set down his teacup. "Truly?" This was earth-shattering news that commanded his utmost attention. Yao Ruoxian nodded. "Indeed. It is said that the old patriarch received aid from a friend over there and is still alive today. Furthermore, the people who want to speak with you hinted that if you travel there to make a devout pilgrimage, you will certainly be treated with extraordinary regard." Ripples stirred across Qin Ming’s heart before swelling into towering waves. *A silk book method patriarch is truly alive?* His gaze turned profound as he pondered in silence. He felt that the silk book method he practiced, supplemented and perfected by the complete Body-Refining Dao-Integrating Classic and the four jade leaves, would inevitably diverge from the original path. In fact, once he integrated the Black-White Classic, the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic, and the Rulai force, Yuqing force, and Six Imperials force he constantly kept in mind, his path would likely become even more overbearing and supreme. "A pilgrimage? The way is too far, and the road too perilous. Let us speak of it later," Qin Ming said. He had no objection to exchanging insights with the people of that civilization, but going there with the mindset of a pilgrim to kowtow in audience was entirely out of the question.