A Great Transformation

The emergence of an Earth Immortal carried immense, unimaginable consequences in her every word and deed. It primarily sent shockwaves through the upper echelons of Night Province, amounting to nothing less than a spiritual earthquake. As for the middle and lower strata, they had yet to feel that terrifying pressure akin to Feixian Mountain crashing down upon them. For them, it was still business as usual: let the music play, let the dancing go on. Beneath the long night, Kunling City sat like a brilliant pearl embedded in a pitch-black abyss. Yujing Tower rose nine stories high, radiant as day. Crystal lamps filled with sunstones hung across every floor. It was one of Kunling City's three most renowned restaurants. Tonight, business was booming, every seat filled, with clamorous voices rising and falling in waves. Most of the youths who had returned from the earthen city chose to celebrate here. Qin Ming had not received the answer he sought; instead, Jiang Ran merely glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. Tonight, she did not display her usual detached, ethereal air. As her sips deepened into hearty indulgence, a faint blush stained her cheeks. In a rare act of abandon, she held onto her wine cup, unwilling to set it down. The white-robed maiden Luo Yao cast a wary gaze in his direction, suspecting Qin Ming was trying to pry out her elder sister's secrets. Qin Ming smiled and praised her, remarking that after not seeing her for so long, she had grown increasingly "plump and radiant." At that, Luo Yao nearly lost her temper with him. Back on the Plain of Divine Demise, she had heard him praise the Jade Emperor's cousin in the exact same words, only to tack on "fat head and big ears" right after. Where was she fat? At most, it was a little baby fat; she was still young and had not yet fully matured. "Stingy petty ghost, isn't this all because I once told you that you were worlds apart from my sister, as distant as mountains and seas?" Qin Ming paused. Had she not brought it up, he would have almost forgotten. Time slipped by so quickly; two whole years had passed since their first encounter beneath the Black-White Twin Trees. "Brother Ming, next time you absolutely cannot go off on your own. Big Xiang and I genuinely thought something had happened to you," Wu Yaozu said, slinging an arm around Qin Ming's shoulder. "That's right, we nearly kidnapped Mu Xingyao..." Xiang Yiwu said, his breath thick with liquor. Fortunately, he delivered this via secret voice transmission. Otherwise, Qin Ming would have had to clamp a hand over his mouth—that was precisely how wild rumors were born. "Brother Qin, you truly have my utmost admiration. The rest of us were inside the earthen city under the ancestral masters' protection, yet we still felt unbearable agony. You actually endured out in the wilderness all on your own." An immortal seed approached to offer a toast, expressing genuine awe from the bottom of his heart. Qin Ming raised his cup with a smile. Over the past year, his relationship with the immortal path had eased considerably, and they could even be said to have grown quite close. It was all because this dark horse had performed far too brilliantly, significantly raising his standing among the new generation. Once Qin Ming stood up, he could hardly sit back down. People came over continuously to clink cups with him. Whether they belonged to the immortal path or were divine seeds of the esoteric sect, they all maintained good ties with him now. "Uncle Meng, I made you all worry." A short while later, Qin Ming broke free from the crowd to offer a toast to Meng Xinghai, Yu Gensheng, Li Qingyun, and the others, recounting his experiences within the forbidden zone. "I am still waiting for you to blaze a trail for the Newborn system. You must preserve yourself!" Yu Gensheng said. In truth, he knew that given his remaining lifespan, he likely would not live to see that day. Even though he thought extraordinarily highly of this miracle-working youth before him, reaching the very forefront of the Newborn path would take Qin Ming at least a century, no matter how fast he moved. Yu Gensheng sighed inwardly. He was in his twilight years, his once-straight back now stooped. The hourglass of time was merciless, and his flame was nearly burned out. "Senior, you will see that day!" Qin Ming's eyes seemed brimming with starlight, his entire frame radiating boundless vitality and brilliance. Yu Gensheng nodded with a smile. Looking at the youthful vigor brimming on the boy's face, he seemed to glimpse the shadow of his own youth: a daring drive hidden deep in the eyes, boundless energy, and passion dancing across his brow. Looking back now, the companions who had once stood shoulder to shoulder with him were long silent, reduced to rows of aged graves. "Little Qin, you must work hard and rise as early as possible," Old Man Li spoke up. As part of the older generation, he could feel Yu Gensheng's desolation and solitude. He knew Old Yu would not linger in this world for much longer, like a yellow leaf about to wither in late autumn. At the same time, this served as a reminder to the young man before them. Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded with solemn gravity. As for Li Qingyun himself, after the war in the Western Border concluded and he finished nursing his injuries, he had broken through to the grandmaster domain. Being under a hundred years old, he was still considered part of the "young and vigorous faction" in the eyes of the high brass. Tonight, people from the earthen city were also present in this famous establishment. For instance, Gao Chan, who had once delivered invitations for the Immortal Peach Banquet to the younger generation, had appeared. Bearing an extraordinary status, he walked over to the sixth floor where Qin Ming and his companions sat, holding a wine cup. "Brother Qin, your reputation precedes you!" He took the initiative to approach. Dressed in black with deep, fathomless eyes, he appeared remarkably steady and calm. His arrival immediately turned heads, and several immortal seeds and divine seeds raised their cups to him. With a clear clink, Qin Ming touched cups with him and sensed that this was an expert. In that fleeting contact, the other party faintly manifested a Sumeru field blended with a Heavenly Demon force field, only for it to recede in an instant. Qin Ming realized this man was far from simple; he was likely cultivating two paths simultaneously. However, Qin Ming felt that one of the paths the other trod was not the pure Newborn path, which was only natural. After all, ancient times had featured either body cultivators of the immortal path or drudges reshaped with divine bone and immortal hide, vastly different from today's Newborn path. Gao Chan had a profound background, so his body had likely never undergone artificial modification. Many thoughts crossed Qin Ming's mind. Before the earthen city awakened, what kind of state had it existed in? The beings inside were not solely old fogies; there were actually young men like this as well. Had this person grown up inside the earthen city, or did he hail from elsewhere—perhaps connected to Yujing? Gao Chan said, "When you have time, let us exchange pointers. I am quite intrigued by the methods of the Newborn path and have studied them a little." Qin Ming nodded with a smile, secretly surprised. The earthen city had not emerged for long, yet the other party already seemed well-versed in the exquisite techniques of the contemporary Newborn path. He was truly remarkable. Shortly after, Qin Ming's attention was drawn to another figure. A woman glided over with graceful steps, stunning the entire Yujing Tower. She could truly be called gorgeous and radiant, draped in a hazy layer of immortal light. Gao Chan gave a brief introduction, revealing her name to be Su Moran. Although he did not state her specific identity, her background clearly rivaled his own. "Brother Qin, to withstand the illusion realm and remain fearless before the erosion of divine spores fills me with the utmost admiration," Su Moran said. Even as she drew back her immortal light, she remained extraordinarily striking, carrying a touch of scholarly elegance. This woman was exceedingly beautiful. Standing inside Yujing Tower, it was impossible for her not to command everyone's gaze. Qin Ming replied, "You flatter me. What does my meager cultivation amount to? I merely got lucky and survived this time." Soon, through conversations with Pei Shuyan, Zhuo Qingming, and the others, Qin Ming learned that this woman was very likely Gao Chan's betrothed, and her origins were shrouded in mystery. Zhuo Qingming informed him that Su Moran's status might even be slightly higher than Gao Chan's. Gao Chan remarked, "This world is far vaster than any of us can imagine. With more peers as brilliant as Brother Qin to illuminate the road ahead, a great deal of the fog will surely be parted." A flicker of curiosity showed on Qin Ming's face as he asked, "You come from the earthen city and have ties to Yujing. Do even you not know enough about this world?" Su Moran replied, "The night mist world is boundless, and what lies ahead is fraught with mystery and the unknown. Who can see through it all?" Hearing those words, Qin Ming fell somewhat dazed. Even people of their background did not fully comprehend it? Was this world truly so vast? Seen this way, the boundless night mist remained like a pitch-black curtain that no one could pull back. ... That night, the night papers spared no praise for Qin Ming. "The public face of the Newborn path, a heavenly talent of transcendent endowment, one of the most dazzling youths of this era..." The night papers seemed to be compensating, clarifying that Qin Ming had not died and had relied entirely on himself to resist the divine mushroom's erosion, calling it an absolute miracle. "This is a peerless rising star, as though crowned with an immortal divine halo..." Before the gathering even ended, Qin Ming had already read these night papers. If given the choice, he wanted nothing more than to pummel every single writer on staff. Were they trying to praise him to death? Some people craved fame, but he had no need for such things. He was still a youth and did not want to draw attention from all directions or attract scrutiny from major organizations. Constantly magnifying his information like this was not a good thing. Xiang Yiwu was also deeply displeased. "Last time, their headline called me the door plank of the Newborn path! One of these days, I'll definitely challenge the publisher's son to a duel!" Evidently, that nickname of his had been cemented by the night papers. The entire group broke into laughter. ... In the deep night, everyone departed Yujing Tower to head their own ways. Qin Ming and Li Qingyue strolled along the street side by side. The evening breeze lifted their hair and garments, making them look like a pair of celestial companions about to ride the wind away. They spoke in soft whispers, discussing many things. By night, the fire springs throughout the city dimmed. Even the scattered points of light were exceedingly faint, softening their striking features into a gentle haze. "In the esoteric sect, Zhao Qingcheng, who stands on equal footing with Cheng Sheng, possesses an exceptionally remarkable countenance, and her character is very fine," Li Qingyue suddenly remarked, mentioning another woman. With his keen senses, Qin Ming looked toward the slender girl beside him. He noticed that tonight, she seemed very much like the night they had met outside the mountain city of the sun elves. Back then, Li Qingyue had murmured: *Time waits for no one; with drooping wings, we drift far away.* "What's wrong?" Qin Ming turned to look at her, reaching out to gently brush aside a stray strand of hair blown across her cheek by the night wind. Li Qingyue paused briefly, then continued, "Jiang Ran is transcendent and solitary. She is a very good person as well." "Qingyue, what are you talking about?" Jiang Ran's voice sounded. She, too, was strolling along the night street alongside Luo Yao, having not yet returned to their inn. "I was saying I should capture you and marry you off to an ordinary mortal," Li Qingyue teased with a faint smile. "It seems your cultivation has progressed. Let me test it out." Jiang Ran took a step forward. In an ethereal blur, like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm, she arrived before them in an instant, her jade-like hand sweeping forward with a gentle brush. Li Qingyue's body glowed, serene and transcendent. Strands of soft light rose from the tips of her right fingers like trickling streams. It was the Eight Trigrams Furnace liquifying, transforming into sacred threads that wrapped toward Jiang Ran. "Oh? A complete control art! You have thoroughly mastered the Eight Trigrams Furnace!" Jiang Ran gasped. Though she had never tasted defeat among her peers, a momentary lapse in caution had caught her off guard. Her graceful form was bound by the sacred threads, tightening as they were about to fully restrain her. At this critical juncture, a cluster of brilliance suddenly flared from her own fingertips, sweeping across like a celestial blade. With a metallic clang, it repelled the sacred threads, causing them to liquify once more and retreat from her body. She swiftly backed away to open up some distance. Jiang Ran knew that the mysterious weapon she had obtained was severely damaged. If Li Qingyue were given time to prepare, she would likely be unable to withstand the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Qin Ming was dazed. Jiang Ran actually held a mysterious artifact of her own as well, and had mastered a specialized control art for it! "No more fighting." The two women ceased their clash. Jiang Ran said, "Qingyue, there is something wrong with you. Lately, have you also been hearing those distant voices by your ear? Whispering about some Dark Lady, some Jade Consort... Pay them no heed." Li Qingyue froze upon hearing this, then shook her head. "It isn't that." In the end, Qin Ming returned to his lodgings thoroughly bewildered. ... The next day, people began analyzing the attitude and unshakeable will displayed by the Earth Immortal following her emergence. This time, the discussion was no longer confined to the high brass; even ordinary folk realized that a colossal tempest was about to sweep across the world. Achieving grand unification was easier said than done. How many interests would it trample upon? It was simply unimaginable! Whether it was the three great empires, the dozen or so dynasties, or the ancestral courts of the esoteric sect, the Newborn path, and the immortal path, all would likely put up fierce resistance. Yet Earth Immortal Mu Qinghe was exceptionally forceful. Paying personal visits one after another, she had already intimidated numerous major organizations in just a matter of days. Though she was a woman, she clearly possessed an iron fist. Right now, she was offering courtesy before force; the show of strength would likely follow soon after. She declared outright that she was acting in accordance with the will of Yujing! "If the resistance proves too great, there will be far more than one Earth Immortal walking the mortal realm. There may even be Heavenly Immortals descending upon this world!" In the end, such words began circulating, relayed on her behalf through the prime ancestors. Though no one knew whether it was entirely true, all the major powers caught wind of it. Within a few short days, undercurrents surged violently as a massive storm took shape. In this era, a great transformation was bound to arrive. Soon after, Earth Immortal Mu Qinghe met near the border of Night Province with old monsters lingering outside its boundaries. Word even spread that Earth Immortals from beyond the territory might enter Night Province, and their relationship with the earthen city had already grown very close. On this day, Qin Ming received a letter. One of the origins of the silk book method, a living sage of the contemporary age and an unfathomable existence, was likely about to return. The Past Rulai lineage instructed him to make ready and go pay his respects.