Qin Ming did not strip away any more stone rind. The environment in the mountain forest did not allow him to act recklessly; if a beam of light shot up here, his life would be forfeit.
Now that the stone had shrunk by two sizes, he could just barely fit it into his beast-hide sleeve, but he chose not to do so.
Leaving the stone hidden in the dense forest, Qin Ming walked toward the mountain's exit.
He noticed people watching the paths leading out of the mountains. All the major factions were keeping an extremely close eye on the exits for the sake of the special produce born of the nodes.
Before long, he caught sight of the woman draped in the fur cloak again. Tall and slender, she stood amidst the wind and snow, her black hair drifting in the chill gale, though her true features remained concealed.
"He really is unharmed." The crow was there as well, having already spotted Qin Ming. Runes flickered within its purple eyes as it gave him several long looks.
Qin Ming maintained a calm expression, though ripples stirred in his heart. Along this path, who knew how many eyes were scanning those leaving the mountains? Carrying the stone out with him would certainly have given him away.
The purple-eyed crow circled in the sky, aching to charge deep into the mountains itself. It muttered, "This place is beyond comprehension now. How could a ten-colored node appear? And it even fused with the five-colored haze land! I'm practically weeping from sheer envy. If I'd known, we should have had your master come in person and invite Old Master Crow out of the black mist world. Let's see who'd dare stand in our way!"
The woman in the black cloak cautioned, "Don't act recklessly. Every higher being has killed until their eyes are red right now. We bide our time."
On the mountain's outer perimeter, Qin Ming found Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others. He noticed that this group of direct noble scions was exceptionally prudent, none of them moving rashly.
"Where did you run off to, boy? It's far too dangerous in the mountains right now," the black-goat rider Yang Yongqing asked him.
"Chased after that speech sparrow, but ended up losing it," Qin Ming replied with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Cao Long immediately asked where he had lost it. That speech sparrow had thoroughly offended him, and his anger had yet to subside.
On this day, the commotion deep in the mountains was simply immense. Even the ordinary villagers nearby stood gazing into the distance; in all their lives, they had never seen a spectacle as brilliant as broad daylight.
As the shallow night neared its end, the mountains still offered no final outcome.
Qin Ming conscientiously asked his employers, and after confirming they would not enter the mountain depths, he called out, "Uncle Xu, Uncle Liu, we should head back."
"Ah, why head back so early?" Old Man Liu had not had his fill of watching yet.
Qin Ming replied, "To go home and eat! I've been starving all day!"
Wei Zhirou, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and the rest could not help but glance at him, thinking that this youth truly possessed a pure, simple heart. Such a colossal event was unfolding in the mountains, drawing eyes from all directions, yet it could not sway his mood to go back and have a meal.
"True enough. Even if we stared for another three days and three nights, it has nothing to do with us. Let's go—back to eat," Old Man Liu said.
The black-goat rider Yang Yongqing and Xu Yueping also left with them. Colorful though the mountains were, that was not their world.
***
That night, Qin Ming arrived at the village entrance and sat beneath the twin black-and-white trees, gazing toward the mountains. The distance shone bright as day, none of the radiant colors fading in the slightest. The light looked so fresh and pure that it naturally drew longing, tempting one to draw near.
"So this is Black-White Mountain. Ever since it collapsed five hundred years ago, its former black-and-white panorama has never returned. A pity."
Qin Ming was surprised. Through the snowy landscape, he spotted two women and actually heard such words from them.
As a local, he had never even heard this archaic name of Black-White Mountain. Usually, when venturing into the mountains, they simply referred to different areas as the East Ridge or the West Gully. Yet these two women from the outside knew more about it than he did.
In the wind and snow, the two women stood slender and poised, their sleeves fluttering. They dressed very lightly, even though the blistering summer when the Fire Spring was most active was still far off.
After approaching the village entrance, the two examined the twin black-and-white trees in the Fire Spring.
"To think this village actually has twin black-and-white trees. Seeds left behind by Black-White Mountain all those years ago must have sprouted," said the woman who had spoken earlier.
Clad in white, she looked particularly striking in the night illuminated by fiery glow. A faint white mist trailed around her, yet one could still make out her pretty face with a hint of baby fat. She was clearly quite young, perhaps only fifteen or sixteen, with arched dark brows and lively, watery eyes—exceptionally lovely.
If it had been Qin Ming, he certainly would not have chosen to wear white; hunting in the mountains dressed like that was far too conspicuous, ill-suited for surviving in the wild.
He soon noticed that this white-robed girl deferred to the other woman, following in her footsteps all the while.
Qin Ming sensed something amiss. The girl in white was clearly two paces behind, so how had he managed to overlook the woman leading the way? It was quite bizarre.
The woman in front wore plain, unadorned green robes, standing quietly amidst the wind and snow, observing the two ancient trees in the Fire Spring with close attention.
A thick mist hung around her, rendering her figure hazy and her face indistinct. She carried an ethereal air, resembling an immortal ready to ride the wind and return to the heavens.
Qin Ming rose to his feet. Feeling it improper to remain seated by the Fire Spring, he greeted the two women.
They nodded in acknowledgment, and the green-robed woman spoke for the first time: "What is the name of this village?"
"Twin Trees Village," Qin Ming told her, taking the opportunity to ask, "Is there a history behind the former Black-White Mountain?"
The green-robed woman's voice was soft and pleasing to the ear: "Half its territory was pitch-black, and half was bright as day, separated down the middle by a heavy shroud of mist. It was once a forbidden zone, but later it collapsed."
"Young man, this is rare indeed. My lady has actually spoken so much to you," the white-robed girl chimed in. She clearly had a lively temperament and did not seem to share a purely rigid master-servant dynamic with the green-robed woman, given that she dared to tease her like this.
The green-robed woman said no more. Giving the twin black-and-white trees two deep, parting looks, she turned and headed toward the mountains. Though her steps were light and nimble, her resolve seemed unwavering.
"How should I address the two of you, young ladies?" Qin Ming called out from behind.
The white-robed girl gave a soft laugh. "Young man, don't let your mind wander. We'll be gone very soon. Mountains and seas lie between us, an infinite distance."
"I was only asking for your names. How far is infinite? Do you not live in the mortal realm?" Qin Ming asked.
The girl in white giggled. "Oh, you really are simple and endearing. Given the path you walk, once you stand atop the mountain peak, perhaps there remains a sliver of a chance that, on certain occasions, you might catch a distant glimpse of us."
"Too much talk. Guard your tongue," the green-robed woman reprimanded her lightly.
Qin Ming stared at their departing backs, left utterly speechless. Just what kind of people were they? For a split second, he genuinely wanted to make that white-robed girl cry with a punch and ask what kind of nonsense she was spouting.
"Go back and summon the golden peng. I'm heading into the mountains," the green-robed woman said.
"Understood!" The girl in white turned and walked off in another direction.
Qin Ming's pupils constricted. The white-robed girl moved with terrifying, absurd speed. A hazy white mist flowed before her, shutting out all the wind and snow, gradually enveloping her entire body. In the blink of an eye, she vanished at the edge of the earth.
***
The following day, Qin Ming dutifully served as a guide, leading the group because Mu Qing, Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and the others could finally sit still no longer. They began exploring the nodes in the mountain's outer perimeter.
Prior to this, four factions in succession had managed to harvest mysterious produce, albeit at the cost of several members suffering severe erosion from the radiant mist.
Every Newborn grew restless, searching meticulously. Figures moved everywhere throughout the mountains, eager to venture into the perilous subterranean node spaces.
As for the deepest reaches of the mountains, they remained bright as day. The senior members of the major factions and those higher mutates had been run ragged for a full day and night, their eyes bloodshot.
They had originally come to capture the mysterious produce, patiently fishing at the outset, only to end up being played like fish on a line.
The two anomalies had merged into one, shifting locations incessantly. At times, the fusion sank underground for long stretches before erupting back out, accompanied by blinding radiance and thick mist.
Up to this point, not a single person had been able to draw close enough to see clearly what it actually was.
In the end, these figures threw caution to the wind. Braving the terrifying erosion, they plunged deep underground from the node spaces, intending to intercept its path within the spiritual subterranean veins formed by the heavenly light.
Even schemers like Ling Xu and the old weasel were no longer in the mood to fish. Instead, they had become bait themselves, diving headfirst into the nodes to enter the subterranean world.
They had a premonition that once the two mysterious produces merged, their final transformation might be complete, and their emergence was imminent. They had to strike with everything they had.
The competition grew increasingly cutthroat; some higher beings died directly underground, never to surface again.
With them gone from the surface, the people in the mountain's outer perimeter breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"Old Wang, don't push it too far! I've already claimed this spiritual sapling! Are you going to rob me in broad daylight?!" In the distance, an old man covered in blood fled from a node, clutching a foot-tall sapling trailing purple mist.
"Stop him! The old rascal from the Cao family dug up a longevity-extending tree! It can prolong life by ten years!" the elder surnamed Wang roared from behind in pursuit.
"Seventh Uncle, head this way! Let's see who dares get in your path!" Cao Long bellowed, mounted atop a crimson giant ox taller than a grown man, wielding a gleaming, cold-lit lance.
"Good nephew, hurry and bring your men to block them for me!"
An elder in shattered black armor sprinted over. As he ran, he crunched and munched, devouring the sapling whole, not even sparing the roots clinging to traces of soil, chewing and swallowing every bit.
"Old rascal Wang, it's all in my belly now! What can you do about it?" the Cao family elder laughed loudly.
"Everyone, slice his belly open! The medicinal efficacy is still there!" the elder surnamed Wang shouted.
Nearby, six or seven old men closed in, their gazes terrifying. To them, extending their lifespan was more precious than any other mysterious produce.
"Old rascal Wang, you truly are rotten from head to toe! No wonder your youngest son Wang Nianzhu committed countless wicked deeds and became a wanted fugitive—you're no good yourself!" Cao Long's seventh uncle shouted in agitation. Glaring at the elders closing in, he snarled, "If you really force my hand to the death, don't blame me for sickening you to death!"
He glanced at the large yellow dog Old Man Liu was riding, then looked over at Yang Yongqing's black goat. "If you push me, I'll slice open that goat's belly right now and drink down its piss! Let's see if you still want to eat your longevity medicine then!"
Old Man Liu and the others were completely stunned. This man truly was ruthless—but why had he stared at the big yellow dog first?
Nearby, Yang Yongqing's black goat began pissing on the spot with a loud splash, clearly possessing enough intelligence to realize things were looking disastrously grim.
Meanwhile, the large yellow dog under Old Man Liu reacted as well, squatting down and taking a direct dump.
"I... Why are you two overreacting like that?" Seventh Uncle Cao snapped, thoroughly exasperated.
"Fine, Cao Laoqi! If you're really that ruthless, we'll turn and leave! We'll just stand right here and watch—do you dare do it?!"
"Enough!" Cao Long spurred his giant ox forward. Brandishing his lance, he struck down in a cleaving blow directly at the elder surnamed Wang.
"Young man, I know you're formidable, but—argh!" The Wang elder's saber was knocked flying from his grip. His hands dripping with blood, he was sent hurtling through the air.
"Good nephew, you've grown this powerful?! Your time studying in that giant city wasn't in vain!" Seventh Uncle Cao exclaimed in shock and delight.
Instantly, the elders backed away.
Cao Long's defeat of a veteran figure filled all sides with dread; none dared approach, leaving their area thoroughly secure.
During this time, Qin Ming consulted members of the Mu, Cao, and Wei families, asking what kinds of mysterious produce existed and what characteristics they had.
For people from Chixia City, these matters were already common knowledge, devoid of any secrecy. Just a few offhand remarks were enough to broaden the horizons of Qin Ming, Xu Yueping, and the others.
"Spiritual produce like plants and subterranean liquids are easy to harvest and gather. The troublesome ones are the special produce wrapped in stone rind; they're often overlooked, and a momentary lapse in attention will cause you to miss them."
Qin Ming learned a great deal of useful knowledge, resolving several of his doubts.
Unless a special produce was inherently dazzling and illuminated heaven and earth, once the stone rind was peeled, the faint traces of heavenly light would disperse, leaving it completely calm.
Qin Ming pondered this and realized that cutting open the stone he had retrieved to look inside should pose no major problem.
As the shallow night drew to a close, he hid in a snow hollow and peeled away the stone rind. Sure enough, faint wisps of heavenly light drifted free and sank into his body.
Beneath the stone rind emerged a gleaming white jade sheen, translucent and crystalline.
*Could this be the mutton-fat jade iron they mentioned?* Qin Ming had only overheard brief mentions of it, knowing it was a rare material whose forged weapons carried an aura of mystery.
Of course, while mutton-fat jade iron was rare, it could hardly be called priceless. Every time heavenly light descended upon a land, materials of comparable quality could usually be harvested.
Even in a single location, multiple portions of mutton-fat jade iron might be unearthed.
He reburied the stone with its corner exposed. After confirming that the interior did not contain any spiritual substance that could be consumed directly, there was no need to rush; he could retrieve it later.
As night deepened, Qin Ming had long since finished his duties as a guide and was preparing to walk out of the mountains.
*Boom!*
The earth shook and the mountains trembled. Boundless multicolored light erupted in the distance, far more dazzling than before. It stung the eyes, forcing tears from anyone who dared gaze upon it.
"What happened?!" Everyone was shaken to their core.
Deep within the mountains, amidst five colors and ten radiances, a mysterious produce had emerged into the world. Someone had snatched it and burst out of a subterranean fissure.
A woman darted through the mountain forest at extreme speed, yet she could not conceal her silhouette in the least. Though the special produce she had seized was sealed in stone rind, its intense fluctuations still radiated in all directions, continually shining with light that seemed unlikely to extinguish anytime soon.
As she fled, she summoned a gigantic golden bird and leaped onto its back. The giant bird carried her soaring skyward, preparing to flee into the distant horizon.
However, a Moon Insect, a winged humanoid being, a winged woman standing atop an azure bird—a total of six higher beings—blocked her path.
"It's her?" Qin Ming was astonished. It was the very same green-robed woman he had seen at the village entrance the previous night. She was so young, yet powerful enough to snatch food from the jaws of a pack of higher beings.
Suppressed by the six great experts, the green-robed woman was forced back toward the mountain forest.
Qin Ming turned and bolted, pushing Harmonize with Light and Dust to its absolute limit, as they were not very far from him.
*Rip!*
Midair, the green-robed woman snapped the foot-long stone in her hands, directly extracting the mysterious produce from within.
The radiance in her hands grew even more blazing, five colors and ten lights weaving across the void, tearing through the night.
The exterior of the object was composed of radiant mist, concealing whatever brilliant treasure lay inside. She actually pressed it directly toward the crystalline red mole between her brows.
The brilliant cluster of light sank straight inside. Standing upon the golden bird's back, she was not forced down into the forest; skimming just above the treetops, she shot away into the distance at extreme speed.
"Pursue!" All the powerhouses of the major factions and the higher mutates gave chase.
Qin Ming had no idea how much time had passed before he finally breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out of the dense forest. Walking through the heavy night, he found the two snapped halves of the stone, one after the other.
"Hm?!"
He froze in shock. After experiencing the erosion, baptism, and adaptation of the heavenly light within the underground fissure, he had developed a special perception. Within the stone in his left hand, there seemed to be faint, subtle fluctuations.
Chapter 36