"Huh?" Qin Ming sensed something. The moment he pushed open the door, he looked back and saw his physical body standing inside the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace, while his consciousness, merged with heavenly light, had left his flesh, crossed the threshold, and entered the Great Thunder Sound Temple.
It was an extraordinary sensation; inside and outside presented two completely distinct realms.
Outside, dark clouds pressed upon the mountain summit, torrential rain lashed down to kick up thin wisps of vapor, and lightning cascaded like a waterfall over the glowing red, nearly translucent metal tiles, where balls of thunder-fire rolled ceaselessly.
Yet within the modest golden palace, the Great Thunder Sound Temple radiated a faint golden luster amid the afterglow of the setting sun, sacred and distant, as if detached from the mortal world.
The Thunder King Bird looked on blankly. Unable to see the evening glow or that sprawling complex of buildings, it only noticed Qin Ming's physical body standing frozen and rigid, in a distinctly abnormal state.
Meng Xinghai sensed something, for he had cultivated the esoteric sect's divine eyes; even so, he could only hazily discern a misty, ethereal radiance.
"He is 'seeing heaven and earth'—and he's trying to merge into it? Please don't let anything happen to him!" Having hailed from a thousand-year-old noble clan and studied under renowned masters of the esoteric sect, Meng Xinghai was widely knowledgeable.
Unearthing the *Divine Cicada Scripture* was a tremendous fortune, yet taking a step further into a new world could bring unpredictable dangers—such as "soul loss"!
The notebooks of the esoteric sect's founding masters had mentioned this phenomenon: there was a small probability of succumbing to the "soul loss affliction." It was utterly terrifying, reducing the afflicted to a living corpse.
Even if one revived decades later, the world and its people would have long since changed.
Still, Meng Xinghai did not dare utter a sound of warning, fearing he might disrupt Qin Ming's extraordinarily rare state of enlightenment; hardly a handful of people in an entire era could ever behold such an enigmatic "new world."
Qin Ming walked toward the courtyard. Beneath the setting sun, the twilight glow dyed the ridgepoles and tiles crimson, lending the green bricks and mugwort in the courtyard an air of mystery.
Around him, lines of characters drifted, surrounding him in swathes. That was the *Divine Cicada Scripture*, slowly trickling like gentle streams into the depths of his heart.
Qin Ming could not help but marvel. Such methods of imparting scriptures across ages were incomprehensibly wondrous; ancient figures of great power had reached realms beyond human reckoning.
He suspected that in the dark depths of the firmament above the nine heavens, the dilapidated golden palaces occasionally spotted drifting across the Sea of Night Mist were perhaps the remnants left behind by such beings during their lives.
"Grotto-heavens," Qin Ming murmured softly.
Once something involved the word "Heaven," it would most likely touch upon the level of Heavenly Gods.
Passing through the Mountain Gate Hall, Qin Ming stepped into an even vaster courtyard. Over a dozen Bodhi trees stood tall and thick amidst a carpet of fallen leaves, lending the place a desolate aura.
Qin Ming froze. He actually saw a living creature?
*See oneself, see all living beings, see heaven and earth... and now, must I see ghosts and gods?*
He was profoundly astonished. This was supposed to be an illusory Great Thunder Sound Temple—how could there be a living creature here? He could already sense the dense vital blood and life essence emanating from the other party.
Then Qin Ming considered that the entire architecture was so lifelike; even if ghosts or gods appeared, however vivid, they were most likely illusory projections, were they not?
He merely wondered if he could speak with ancient people and receive guidance from them.
He called out, "Brother."
Ahead, beneath the thickest ancient Bodhi tree, a figure in white robes stood with his back turned, bathed in the twilight glow, exuding an ethereal, otherworldly detachment.
The creature turned around and looked at him indifferently.
Qin Ming started. This person's appearance was remarkably... unique.
He possessed sword-shaped brows and starry eyes, but his nose was exceedingly high and long, and his ears were enormous. He would have been a handsome youth, yet the disproportionate ears and nose ruined the aesthetic.
The white-robed youth furrowed his brows as he looked over. "With that tiny nose and those tiny ears, how can you be so ugly?"
Qin Ming's expression stiffened. Even though he found the other's features odd, he wouldn't bring up someone's flaws to their face—courtesy demanded some face-saving—only to be insulted instead.
Qin Ming had a tall, straight nose and well-proportioned ears; clearly, the youth across from him was the one who looked like a pig-headed fool.
"Huh? Could you be a 'human'?" The white-robed youth had thick black hair, and two tangible rays of sharp light shot from his golden pupils like keen blades.
Qin Ming was certain: he had encountered a non-human creature!
They were conversing through consciousness, so there was no barrier in language.
"A human cultivating the *Golden Cicada Scripture* can reach the realm of perfection, see heaven and earth, and obtain the *Divine Cicada Scripture*? Well, humans can be considered descendants of a Sacred Race branch, so I suppose you could manage it."
The white-robed youth showed a peculiar expression and said, "In hundreds or thousands of years, it's rare for two members of the Sacred Race to enter this place at the same time, yet I've run into another. What a pity it's not an encounter with a beautiful maiden—if it were, I could look forward to reuniting in reality. Instead, I ran into an ugly creature today."
Clicking his tongue in wonder, he sized Qin Ming up and down with a look of regret.
"That is quite enough out of you!" Qin Ming cut the white-robed youth off. He hadn't even mocked this Sacred Race fellow for having a giant snout and huge ears, yet the guy had the nerve to act superior toward him?
At the same time, he found it absurd: two living beings had cultivated the *Golden Cicada Scripture* to its highest realm simultaneously, arriving at this mysterious ancient temple at the exact same moment.
"Hmph, quite a temper. Human, where do you hail from?" the white-robed youth asked.
In his understanding, humans were relatively rare, but whenever one appeared, they were exceedingly formidable. After all, any creature daring to cross the boundless Sea of Night Mist alone and appear in the domain of the Sacred Race had to be a ruthless figure!
Qin Ming was also quite interested in him and wanted to learn his origins. "My home is in Yujing. What about you?"
The white-robed youth was visibly startled, but soon regained his composure. "Cut the bluff. With your capability, you couldn't enter Yujing!"
"Come, let's talk," Qin Ming said, sensing that this fellow knew a great deal. Moreover, anyone able to train a rare art to its peak realm was definitely no simple figure.
The white-robed youth said, "The time for enlightenment is limited. Let's talk as we walk so we don't miss the opportunities radiating from the Great Thunder Sound Temple."
With that, he took the lead and walked forward, crossing through the second main hall.
Qin Ming's heart stirred. *Is this an illusory scene radiated by the true Great Thunder Sound Temple?*
As they entered the third courtyard, an ancient Bodhi tree so massive it would take over a dozen people to encircle swayed, shedding seven-colored light. Beneath the tree, two pools appeared.
The treasure pools were radiant and colorful, constructed from coral, giant clam shell, red pearls, amber, and the like. Divine water rippled inside them, its ripples spreading through the empty air.
Xiang Yiwu had also entered the Great Thunder Sound Temple before, and had briefly mentioned to Qin Ming that this pool water possessed miraculous benefits.
The white-robed youth rejoiced. "Two Seven Treasures Pools! Haha..."
Rubbing his hands together, he gave Qin Ming a peculiar look and said, "Brother, how about a deal? I'll trade an invaluable secret manual for your pool, what do you say?"
Qin Ming replied calmly, "How about I offer a true scripture to ask you to leave?"
The white-robed youth's expression chilled, his smile vanishing. "Then there is no other way. I bear you no grudge, but when extraordinary Seven Treasures Pools are involved, I am forced to act and drive you out."
Qin Ming said, "You should realize that if you lose to me, you'll end up drawing water with a sieve—losing everything in the end."
The white-robed youth smiled faintly. "Anyone who can step into this realm has some tricks up their sleeve. Even if I lose, the sky won't fall and the earth won't shatter. I'll just practice an even more formidable secret art, and sooner or later, I'll 'see heaven and earth' again."
Qin Ming grew serious. He felt that the youth wasn't just a reckless gambler; he seemed confident and fearless, which meant he likely possessed extraordinary means.
Since conflict was unavoidable, he chose to strike first.
Outside Qin Ming's body, a tangible spirit field expanded, rippling outward in layer upon layer of waves to engulf the white-robed youth.
"This is... a Sumeru field?"
Clearly taken aback, the white-robed youth recoiled amidst flashes of lightning in an instant. With a wave of his hand, a massive seal came crashing down.
Both had entered this place in a state of consciousness, making it impossible to bring weapons; this was a Mountains and Rivers Seal manifested through a cultivation technique.
In an instant, endless mountains seemed to rise before Qin Ming's eyes, accompanied by surging rivers that poured down to blot out the sky and crush the void.
Yet he stood unmoved. The tangible waves of his spirit field were sharper than heavenly blades, shaving down the layered peaks and severing the torrential rivers.
The white-robed youth retreated abruptly, standing in midair under the setting sun. Bathed in the twilight glow, a bone flute appeared at his lips, playing a long, haunting melody.
"Huh?" Qin Ming was surprised. His body floated off the ground as if led by an unseen pull. It was bizarre; the flute's melody seemed to summon souls.
"Suppress!"
Seeing Qin Ming float up, the white-robed youth blew ten distinct, tangible musical notes in succession. With a soft shout, the bone flute transformed into a luminous divine talisman that shot straight toward Qin Ming's forehead.
With a sharp tearing sound, the tangible spirit field around Qin Ming tore the radiant talisman in two, incinerating it to ashes.
The white-robed youth struck down with his right hand. Enormous beyond measure, it was wrapped in blinding light and rich Daoist resonance, descending like a falling shard of the firmament.
Indistinctly, an undefinable "great momentum" seemed to harmonize with him. He was mobilizing the forces of heaven and earth in this realm to judge and annihilate his opponent.
Qin Ming showed genuine astonishment. This fellow truly had skill—he was causing even the hazy Great Thunder Sound Temple to resonate with him, borrowing power from it.
The white-robed youth seemed intent on fully merging with this world, channeling the temple's might to suppress his foe.
Around Qin Ming's body, yin and yang qi circulated, as if detaching him from this heaven and earth. He brought his palms together, and black and white light erupted in full brilliance.
In midair, a pair of giant black-and-white hands materialized, seeking to crush the white-robed youth between them.
The white-robed youth transformed into a Golden-Winged Peng, flapping his wings to pry open the black-and-white hands by force and soaring upward with a roar, though blood-stained feathers shed from his pair of massive golden wings.
In an instant, the white-robed youth stood high in the sky and shifted into a Vermilion Bird, as if summoning endless otherworldly heavenly fire.
Rumble!
In the next moment, trailing boundless crimson flames as though a corner of the high sky had collapsed, he plummeted with a sea of fire bearing ferociously violent power, blasting toward his opponent.
Qin Ming marvelled. Worthy of a being who had cultivated the *Golden Cicada Art* to its absolute peak, his combat prowess was fearsome and his methods terrifying; he was definitely no ordinary foe.
Activating the *Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic*, Qin Ming swept out a palm. Instantly, endless golden glow spread rampantly as a brilliant sun vaulted across the sky, within which a Golden Crow erupted with sacred radiance, illuminating all ten directions.
*Dong!* Beneath the vast sky, a red and a golden blazing sun seemed to collide, splashing boundless radiance as the void rumbled violently.
Qin Ming truly had not expected that simply comprehending a scripture and beholding a new world would lead to an intense battle against another being.
In truth, this was an exceedingly rare occurrence.
When ancient geniuses attained enlightenment and saw a new world, the so-called "soul loss affliction" that sometimes occurred was tied to such extreme situations: the person had suffered severe trauma, meeting with an unexpected disaster.
It was a fierce clash. Ultimately, the white-robed youth coughed up blood. His long, oversized nose was pulverized by Qin Ming, and one of his massive ears was sliced off.
Dense cracks fractured his entire body, letting light pass through from front to back, nearly blowing him to pieces.
The white-robed youth trembled with terror and disbelief. He had actually met with a crushing defeat, almost entirely ripped apart by his rival.
"You pig-headed fellow are quite something after all, forcing me to use real skill," Qin Ming said, offering him high praise.
"You're the pig-headed one! I come from the Sacred Race—just you wait!" With a whoosh, he vanished into thin air.
Qin Ming had wanted to detain him for questioning to get answers to a few things, but the fellow had bolted so quickly.
Harnessing yin and yang qi, Qin Ming pursued in dazzling brilliance like a Golden Crow streaking across the sky. With a boom, he caught up at the courtyard gate and reached out his right hand to seize him.
With a squelch, the white-robed youth's body shattered, his spine snapped by the grip, yet even then he broke free of the ancient architectural grounds.
He escaped into the real world—which naturally was not where the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace stood. Qin Ming did not dare resonate with his mental field to follow him out, unwilling to take pointless risks.
The next moment, Qin Ming returned to the third courtyard, quickly entering one of the Seven Treasures Pools to meditate.
"Tiny nose, tiny ears, get out here!" After only a moment, the white-robed youth returned, drenched in blood, wishing he could drag Qin Ming out of the Seven Treasures Pool that very second.
Qin Ming was astonished. This youth was indeed extraordinary; to exit that enlightened state and still be able to return proved his remarkable talent.
Sitting cross-legged in the pool, Qin Ming flicked his fingers. Instantly, a divine cicada manifested, its wings bearing thunderous lightning, entwined with yin and yang qi, and imbued with the power of life and death. With a resounding blast, it flew forward.
The white-robed youth spat out a mouthful of consciousness blood essence; already weak, he was heavily wounded once more.
"You dare beat the white beast I raised right before my eyes?" A cold voice rang out as a woman stepped out from the shadow cast by the white-robed youth in the setting sun.
Running into one living creature in such a place was absurd enough, but how could someone smuggle themselves in alongside the white-robed youth?
Qin Ming was startled. *Could I have encountered a mighty powerhouse?*
The red-gowned woman had a slender figure and cascading black hair, with a countenance so exquisite that not a single flaw could be found. Layers upon layers of divine halos enveloped her body as if she stood atop the nine heavens; had she not still appeared slightly youthful, she could truly be called an unrivaled peerless beauty.
Qin Ming let out a breath of relief. She looked only seventeen or eighteen years old, her gaze clear and pure, unlike some profound old monster. That fresh, vibrant vigor of youth was not something an old creature should possess.
Unless she was some unfathomable ancient monster pretending to be young.
The red-gowned maiden extended her pale hand and pressed forward.
Qin Ming immediately rose, stepping out of the Seven Treasures Pool, and struck with a solemn expression, going all out.
*Bang!* Their palms met, raising a thunderclap from thin air. Though Qin Ming's body swayed, a smile touched his face—he was certain she was no old monster.
"Sister, this human is despicable!" the white-robed youth cried.
"What a nuisance. Smuggling myself in required mimicking your fate and mental field, so my hands are tied when fighting," the red-gowned maiden said, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
She had actually been forced back a step by the black-clothed youth opposite her!
Qin Ming remained solemn; he had exerted his full strength just now.
"Huh?" Suddenly, he was surprised to notice that the red-gowned maiden's hair was tied with a strip of cloth that flowed with golden light, looking somewhat similar to his own rag.
Could such a thing even be brought into this place?
Qin Ming suspected whether this might be another strip of cloth, though it looked pristine, seemingly bearing a pattern of a waning sun rippling with golden glow.
The maiden was using this cloth to mask her aura, and then she attacked.
It was a fierce battle. Holding nothing back, Qin Ming erupted with Hunyuan force and heavenly light shone in all directions, illuminating the entire Great Thunder Sound Temple with brilliance that completely overshadowed the setting sun, making it seem utterly dim.
In the end, Qin Ming heavily injured the red-gowned maiden, leaving bright crimson blood trickling from the corner of her lips, and knocked the cloth strip free from her hair, snatching it into his hand at the very first instant.
"Not only did I beat your pig right before your eyes, but I'm also beating you right in front of the pig," Qin Ming retorted sharply.
Chapter 364