At the City Lord's Manor, Meng Xinghai courteously stepped outside the gates to see off a group of guests.
In the darkness of the night, he watched their retreating figures and said, "Someone has set their sights on Black-White Mountain's special resources."
Standing behind him, Qin Ming remarked, "That's fine too. It just so happens we need the right people to scout the path ahead."
The entire world was growing increasingly incomprehensible. Though things like the Pure Yang Flower and Earth Immortal Flower had appeared deep within the mountains and great marshes, those lands were also fraught with the unknown and terrifying perils.
Meng Xinghai said, "While this bunch aren't close acquaintances of mine, I do know one or two of them. However they wish to thrash about, let them be."
That same day, Chixia City welcomed another wave of uninvited guests. Exuding an exotic flair, most of them had curly hair and full beards, and they were primarily bladesmen.
Five of them came to the City Lord's Manor: an old man, two middle-aged men, and two young men. They appeared rather rough-hewn, guzzling tea like oxen, downing each cup in a single gulp.
The old man spoke up: "We have come from the north. We have long heard that Night Province is blessed with outstanding people, a land of natural splendors and celestial treasures. Having traveled this far today, we must trouble City Lord Meng. Furthermore, I would like to ask you to arrange some men to act as guides to lead our way. We wish to take a tour through the splendid mountains and rivers nearby."
Draped in an animal-hide cloak with a scimitar hanging at his waist, he possessed a robust physique that looked nothing like an old man's. The vital blood within his body surged vigorously, and his voice resonated like a striking golden bell.
This was a top expert. While not a grandmaster, he was firmly in the late stage of the fourth realm.
Meng Xinghai replied, "To be frank, ever since Yujing fell, Night Province has undergone drastic upheavals. Even the hunters familiar with the nearby mountains dare not venture in anymore."
As he spoke, he rose and lit some incense. Instantly, wisps of azure smoke spiraled upward from a purple copper censer, coiling like roaming dragons and twining like spiritual serpents as layers of fragrance drifted through the air.
The main reason was that these three generations of foreign bladesmen—old, middle-aged, and young—carried a faint, rank musk about them, which Meng Xinghai, a man who always favored cleanliness, found rather hard to stomach.
Qin Ming opened his Eye of the Newborn and had already realized they were non-humans; their true forms were likely burly mountain goats.
"What does City Lord Meng mean by this? We make merely a trifling request, yet you decline just like that?" one of the middle-aged men spoke up.
Meng Xinghai was unwilling to find them guides mainly because he did not want to send innocent people to a pointless death. What was the current situation? Wherever fortune lay, danger lurked. If those special glowing regions near Black-White Mountain had been so easy to approach, would he have left the opportunity to outsiders?
Meng Xinghai said, "Friends, over the past few days, many people have perished in the mountains. Folk in the city turn pale at the mere mention of them. How about this: I shall draw you a clear topographical map, marking all the sites where bizarre changes have manifested recently. It will serve you better than any guide."
Qin Ming chimed in as well, naturally speaking of several special locales within the mountains, informing them that fortuitous opportunities might await, yet unfathomable perils accompanied them.
The five foreign bladesmen listened quietly; this was precisely the information they wished to gather.
"How about this? You are a local, right? Come with us and lead the way yourself."
"Yes, rest assured, we won't let you make the trip for nothing."
The two young men fixed their eyes on Qin Ming, speaking one after the other. They wanted him to guide them in person, making empty verbal promises without specifying any reward whatsoever.
"Brother, I am truly sorry. I have been frail and plagued by illness since childhood; I fear I cannot venture into those great mountains," Qin Ming said, cupping his fists perfunctorily.
One of the youths grew visibly displeased and said, "It is merely asking someone from your City Lord's Manor to guide the way, yet you dawdle and dally. Are you outright refusing us? You're the one—come along with us!"
Qin Ming had intended to let them wade through the path first to see how things unfolded, yet these foreign bladesmen wanted to push him around.
Meng Xinghai took a sip of tea and said, "My nephew is indeed indisposed."
"Brother, my apologies," Qin Ming repeated courteously.
"City Lord Meng, is this your manner of hospitality?" The other young man gripped the hilt of his saber and rose to his feet, glaring fiercely with overbearing aggression.
Both Qin Ming and Meng Xinghai looked at him. Although reaching the fourth realm in one's late twenties was quite extraordinary, he was still far from capable of stirring up trouble here.
"We hail from the Great Wilderness to the north, answering the summons of the Old Barbarian God," the young man stated aloofly, unable to hide the arrogance between his brows.
To the north, deep within the barbarian wilderness, lived an entity at the consummation of the Earth Immortal realm who was revered as the Old Barbarian God; some subordinates even referred to him in private as a Heavenly God.
The other youth also stood up, his hand resting on his saber hilt as well. "The vast Great Wilderness ruled by the Barbarian God is a brother realm to Yujing! We come to your territory as guests today, yet you show us such disrespect!"
Qin Ming was astonished. These two truly possessed gall, elevating that barbarian wilderness directly to the level of Yujing. What was more, this was Meng Xinghai's City Lord's Manor. For them to speak while holding their saber hilts was overbearing in the extreme.
The old bladesman spoke up: "Insolent fools! Have you two not apologized to City Lord Meng yet? We are discussing serious matters—where is there room for juniors like you to butt in?"
Meng Xinghai replied, "No matter. The young speak their minds plainly, showing their straightforward nature. That is a fine quality."
Shortly afterward, the five stood and took their leave.
"Great-Uncle, why did you stop us? Look at those two—both spineless cowards! We were about to draw our sabers, yet they didn't even react, too terrified to lift a finger!"
The old bladesman said, "Shut your mouth! This is Night Province, not the Great Wilderness. If we enrage them and drive them to desperate measures, they might hire someone to intercept and slaughter us. Wait until our experts have fully entered this land before making any moves!"
"Hmph, without Yujing, what are they even worth!" Both young bladesmen fumed with rage. Coarse horns sprouted atop their heads, and thick black hair bristled over their bodies.
Inside the manor, Qin Ming remarked, "I hope they can find out what's really going on."
Meng Xinghai nodded. "Mm. With tempers so rash, they ought to have some drive to push forward."
Breathing in the refreshing soothing spirit incense, both of them reined in the restless impulse to crush those two insolent youths.
In the afternoon, when the darkness of night was at its faintest, Meng Xinghai received another group of visitors.
These people came from the Eastern Lands. Dressed in sumptuous attire, they traveled like princes and nobles, particular about every aspect of their food, clothing, and daily necessities—they even brewed their own tea leaves.
It was only because Meng Xinghai had an even temper and did not wish to turn hostile on the spot; otherwise, brewing one's own tea in a host's home—whom were they looking down upon? Anyone else would have darkened their face long ago.
However, their words were relatively gentle. One middle-aged man smiled and said, "Do not take offense, both of you. We are not accustomed to the tea of Night Province. Our main intention today was to invite City Lord Meng to taste some fresh tea. If it suits your palate, we shall send over a few jin later. These are, after all, royal tributes."
Qin Ming was also present, though he had altered his appearance. He had clashed with people from the Eastern Lands before: he had crippled Qi Yunxiao above the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace, and outside the earthen city, together with Jiang Ran, Xiang Yiwu, and others, he had battled young prodigies from two Earth Immortal Palaces of the Eastern Lands.
An elder from the Eastern Lands said, "The Eastern Lands and Night Province may be considered neighbors. Now that Yujing is no more, we all feel that the road ahead is unpredictable. Both our domains understand that when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold; we ought to watch out for and assist one another. After all, we are both legitimate scions of Yujing..."
Different territories truly had different styles of conduct. They were not as blunt as that pack of goat bladesmen from the northern Great Wilderness; these men chatted for quite a while without ever getting to the point.
Qin Ming quickly cut in: "If only every domain thought like the Eastern Lands. Alas, not long ago, envoys from the Great Wilderness ruled by the Old Barbarian God arrived, claiming they were a brother realm to Yujing and looking down upon us."
The group from the Eastern Lands immediately looked displeased. Just how thick-skinned were those northern barbarians? The Eastern Lands had just proclaimed themselves legitimate scions of Yujing, yet the northern wilderness dared try to make themselves their uncles!
"Where are they now?" the elder inquired.
Qin Ming said, "They are hot-tempered folk. Upon learning of the special resources near Black-White Mountain, they are likely already preparing to enter the mountains."
The people from the Eastern Lands could no longer sit still. Even their speech became brisk and direct, shedding their elaborate pretenses to get straight to the substance, inquiring in detail about the local situation.
As they took their leave, a young man spoke up: "City Lord Meng surely knows a person named Qin Ming, does he not? Has he not returned?"
Meng Xinghai replied, "He is a junior of mine who is away traveling. I expect he will not be returning to Chixia City anytime soon. Do you have business with him?"
The young man nodded. "My name is Qi Yunzheng. I have a younger brother who once sparred with Qin Ming here and was crippled. I wish to see Qin Ming."
He made no attempt to hide his intention to cause Qin Ming trouble, turbulent emotions clearly roiling within him.
With his appearance altered, Qin Ming remained calm and said nothing. He had no wish to clash with these "pathfinders" for the moment; at the very least, he would wait until they finished scouting the road.
Meng Xinghai saw them out of the manor. No matter who came, he was unfailingly courteous, observing proper etiquette.
As the Eastern Lands party gradually walked away, a young woman among them spoke up: "If that Qin Ming dares show his face, I will sever his dog head!"
The corners of Qin Ming's mouth curled. With his acute senses, he could hear her clearly even from this distance. Was she deliberately throwing out a barb?
The woman spoke again: "Junior Brother Yunxiao's fate is truly lamentable. I do not know if he can recover. But rest assured, your Senior Sister will surely avenge you in the future!"
"Uncle Meng, I'm heading back to Twin Trees Village. I will return shortly." Qin Ming wanted to fetch the Thunder King Bird for easier travel; with it, he could effectively monitor those pathfinders.
"Mm, go and return quickly. Those people most likely won't set out today; they will probably depart tomorrow."
...
Qin Ming traveled across the mountains rather than skirting the edge of the desert, where significant commotions were reportedly occurring, making it unsafe to approach.
"Mountain Master, am I seeing things? You've returned?" At the village entrance, Yuque was cultivating atop the Black-White Twin Trees. Sensing something, it spotted Qin Ming with a single glance.
Flapping its wings, it flew over and chirped, "Master, Little Sparrow has looked forward to this day and night, and finally you're back!"
The red squirrel was reluctant, but eventually waddled over anyway and greeted him: "Big Qin!"
Qin Ming immediately flicked its forehead, making it grimace in pain.
In the night sky, the Thunder King Bird, which was wheeling about tempering its body, swooped down, sending the snow on the ground flying. Thrilled beyond measure, it cried, "Qin Ming, you're back!"
It was Qin Ming's mount, yet it had been left to roam free at Black-White Mountain. Prior to the world's cataclysmic upheaval, it had frequently heard rumors of Qin Ming—all sensational tales. It had yearned to be by his side, sharing those glorious, tumultuous times with him.
Now, it finally saw hope once more.
Qin Ming did not linger. After checking on the lethargic Liu Mo and the big yellow dog lying lazily in its kennel, he set off on his return journey immediately.
His return trip was vastly faster. With the Thunder King Bird, they could traverse the night sky, though over certain treacherous stretches, it could not fly and had to touch down into the snow, turning into a ground-bound runner.
"There's danger in the sky!" Over the past six months, it had not been idle, befriending many monsters in the mountains. Following the dramatic shift in the world, thanks to those friends, it had gained a solid understanding of the hazardous zones around Black-White Mountain.
Even sprinting through the snow while carrying Qin Ming, its speed was exceptionally swift.
Having stepped into the fourth realm following the battle on the Plain of Divine Demise, more than a year had passed, and the Thunder King Bird's cultivation had deepened considerably.
Yuque puffed out its chest and declared, "Little Sparrow grew up in Black-White Mountain and knows everything like the back of my claw! If Mountain Master has any commands, I can investigate them thoroughly!"
Besides Yuque, the red squirrel had tagged along as well. To earn its passage, it had spinelessly cried out, "Great Daddy Qin!"
Once its tongue was untangled, it even bragged of its past merits: "Back then, I sustained you with my entire winter's food supply! Now you must take me onto the path of cultivation!"
"Scurrilous rodent, you're not as foolish as you look," Yuque muttered.
"Squeak, squeak!"
Instantly, the two little critters broke into a scuffle atop the Thunder King Bird's back.
Their journey went smoothly, and they arrived in Chixia City.
At the City Lord's Manor, Qin Ming was surprised to learn that Old Meng was receiving guests again—this time, people from the Cui family.
With a little inquiry, Qin Ming already knew who had arrived; they were all familiar faces. The party was led by Fifth Elder Cui, accompanied by Cui He—whose hair had turned entirely green from cultivating the World-Abiding Scripture—as well as his former "Aunt" Cui Shuning, along with several capable Cui family youths. They were an elite squad.
This immediately caused a surge of fiery spirit to rise within Qin Ming. Surging with boundless energy, he could feel that he had grown rather combative.
Back then, Fifth Uncle Cui had been one of the conspirators who advocated crippling Qin Ming's growth. He and Qin Ming's adoptive father had refused to let him touch other high-level techniques, allowing him only to cultivate the silk book method—and without providing the complete text at that.
Yet they never imagined that Qin Ming would end up mastering it on his own.
"Cui the Fifth, Cui He, Cui Shuning!" Qin Ming's blood boiled at the thought of them; he burned with the urge to strike. In the past, his skills had fallen short of theirs, but now, apart from Cui the Fifth, he could overpower both of the other two.
Even against Cui the Fifth, should the man suffer injuries in the mountains, it would be hard to say who would triumph.
Speaking of which, all three of them had personally visited Chixia City in the past on his account, seeking to ruin him. In the end, Cui the Fifth had been tucked under Li Qingyun's armpit and hauled away, while Cui He and Cui Shuning had been rebuked and forced to retreat by Meng Xinghai.
"Cui family, you had better pray nothing goes wrong for you in the mountains!" Qin Ming murmured.
Every single one of those he muttered about—slashing them down with a saber, there was zero risk of killing the wrong person.
Even the cold, haughty woman Cui Shuning, whom he had once addressed as "Aunt," filled Qin Ming with deep revulsion. Setting aside her desire to ruin him, even when patting his head back then, she had worn an expression of utter disgust. Her aloof demeanor and contemptuous gaze had truly left a lasting impression.
Qin Ming silently cultivated the Nine Heavens Scripture, nurturing a seed of consciousness in hell, then ascended to sit cross-legged above the nine heavens of the mind, swiftly restoring his inner calm.
In the reception hall, Fifth Elder Cui said, "Has my fine grandson Qin Ming not returned to Black-White Mountain? What a pity. This old man had hoped to see him. What a wonderful child."
Meng Xinghai replied, "Do you have some ulterior motives? I advise you to behave yourself. Have you forgotten Lu Zizai paying a visit to the Cui family?"
Veins nearly bulged on Fifth Elder Cui's forehead before he regained his composure a moment later; after all, he had suffered tremendous humiliation last time.
With a head of green hair, Cui He sighed. "In truth, our Cui family truly wishes to accept him, but my nephew insists on walking down a dead end."
"Your hypocritical posturing is truly nauseating," Meng Xinghai said, showing him no face whatsoever as he raised his teacup to see the guests off.
After the group departed, Qin Ming walked in.
Meng Xinghai said, "These elites from the Cui family are likely just scouts. If there are major discoveries, a second wave will certainly follow."
Qin Ming nodded. "Mm. Uncle Meng, prepare yourself. Once they make a move, we'll follow behind."
...
The next day, as expected, the various groups entered the mountains one after another.
These parties took different routes, each heading toward a different destination. Though they had not communicated, there was an unspoken understanding between them; none wished to ignite conflict the moment they arrived in this region.
Qin Ming stood upon the back of the Thunder King Bird, while Meng Xinghai had his own flying mount. Trailing from a distance, they too entered the mountains.
"Fellow comrades, come out and show yourselves! It's one of your own..." Upon entering the mountains, Yuque began chirping away in various avian dialects, utilizing its status as a local to learn the situation in the wilderness.
"I really am a local bird! If you don't believe me, I'll speak our local dialect..." With its glib tongue and considerable cultivation, Yuque drew a large flock of birds.
"Brothers and sisters, here is a small token of my goodwill." It began distributing wealth, handing out spiritual substances and the flesh of high-level beasts.
This was a gift it had specifically obtained from Qin Ming after consulting him beforehand.
Sure enough, the results were stellar. Before long, it knew where flight was permitted in these mountains and where terrifying monsters and anomalies dwelt that must not be approached.
Not only that, it enlisted these mountain birds to monitor the movements of the various factions from afar.
Though Yuque was small, its capabilities were anything but modest. Through its circle of feathered friends, Qin Ming and Meng Xinghai effectively established a rudimentary intelligence network deep within the mountains.
The Thunder King Bird tried to imitate it, only to frighten all the birds away.
Half an hour later, the various contingents reached their respective destinations.
Meng Xinghai remarked, "As expected, the barbarians of the Northern Wilderness are the most direct. They strike the moment they arrive, wanting to monopolize the spoils rather than wait for reinforcements from their top experts."
The other parties were exceedingly cautious upon reaching their destinations. Reluctant to draw near, they merely circled at a distance, observing carefully.
The Cui family in particular even dispatched a few people to keep an eye on the progress of those foreign goat bladesmen, scheming to profit from their efforts.
Qin Ming and Meng Xinghai likewise turned their attention to the bladesmen from the Northern Wilderness, trailing them silently from afar.
It was a sizable bamboo grove where two distinct varieties of bamboo grew interspersed.
One was dripping with vibrant crimson, as though sculpted from red agate.
The other was glittering gold, from its leaves to its stalks displaying a resplendent golden luster.
Fiery crimson stalks and golden bamboo mingled together, all cloaked in glowing mist, appearing dazzlingly radiant amid the snow and ice under the long night.
Meng Xinghai's eyes gleamed with divine light. "There is indeed precious medicine here. Special bamboo shoots are growing deep within the grove, bearing wisp after wisp of Daoist charm. Their value is likely far greater than that of the legendary ethereal bamboo shoots!"
Qin Ming was also amazed. The blood-red shoots on the ground were translucent like red coral, while the golden shoots linked with wisps of Daoist charm in the void, creating an extraordinary phenomenon.
Some of the bladesmen unleashed rare treasures, attempting to excavate the precious shoots.
In an instant, they triggered a retaliation. Ripples of crimson and gold surged throughout the entire bamboo grove, expanding almost like a massive spirit field.
Amid muted pops, several bladesmen exploded, exposing their true forms. Enormous curved horns shattered into fragments, and massive goat heads rolled across the snow.
Qin Ming's pupils constricted. He felt that this resembled a massive natural spirit field formed by heaven and earth, worthy of deep study. Could the forebears of the Newborn path have encountered such spirit fields in antiquity and pioneered their path based upon them?
"All of you, fall back!" the oldest bladesman commanded, preparing to take action himself.
Furthermore, he stood far enough away to ensure he was outside the range of this massive natural spirit field.
Yet, when he sent forth a scimitar skimming close to the ground to harvest the shoots, the mysterious bamboo grove rippling with crimson and golden light shifted once more.
The area as a whole resembled a luminous lake, which then transformed like a mirror, projecting two terrifying beams of light in succession—one crimson, one gold, both swift as lightning.
Even with the old bladesman's swift reflexes, he let out a cry of agony. The two beams seemed to ignite straight within his heart, instantly slashing and wounding his formidable consciousness light.
Staggering backward, he gasped, "Retreat! Flee at once! I am wounded and it is unwise to probe any further. This place is terrifying and thoroughly bizarre."
His physical body had dodged the assault, but his spirit felt as if it had taken two blade slashes.
However, many of the other bladesmen were far slower than him. Struck by the crimson and golden lights, they screamed in agony as their chests were pierced or their skulls blasted apart, dying gruesome deaths on the spot.
"The Cui family seems to have people watching us," a bladesman came forward to report. Evidently, they had also been guarding against others and noticed the signs.
The old bladesman's expression shifted drastically. Fearing the Cui family intended to strike in secret, he barked immediately, "Quick! Split up and leave the mountains! I will bring up the rear!"
He possessed a sense of duty, holding the line here to let the other bladesmen escape first.
Watching from the shadows, Qin Ming and Meng Xinghai saw several bladesmen fleeing into the dense forest from different directions.
"Damn it, what rotten luck! We should have tied up that spineless pretty boy from the City Lord's Manor and made him lead the expedition. Night Province is doomed to ruin, yet they still don't know what's good for them!"
The two young bladesmen fled together, grumbling with indignant fury.
In truth, this debacle was mostly due to their own reckless rashness, yet they blamed it on others.
"Such grievance and malice, is that so?" Qin Ming rode the Thunder King Bird, trailing close behind them.
...
When Fifth Elder Cui received the report, he was surprised, then sneered, "Barbarians are barbarians after all, brazenly colliding with a perilous zone and suffering a bitter loss right away. Cui He, take some men and follow them to see if they have truly left."
He was somewhat suspicious, wary that the bladesmen might be feigning retreat only to ambush the Cui family once they made progress.
Amid the night mist, Qin Ming stood upon his mount's back, silently pursuing his targets.
The Thunder King Bird was one of the swiftest creatures in Night Province. Now that it had reached the fourth realm, accelerating made it truly as fast as lightning.
For now, however, it did not go all out, instead carefully masking its presence.
"Once we get back to Chixia City, let our brothers recuperate in the City Lord's Manor! Let's see if they dare refuse us!" Both young fourth-realm bladesmen felt deeply aggrieved by this expedition.
Suddenly, a snowy-bright blade light shone out from behind them.
Pfft! Pfft!
A single stroke swept across, followed by two dull thuds. Gouts of blood erupted, staining the snow scarlet, and two headless bodies tumbled to the ground.
Two severed heads flew forward, their faces frozen in shock and terror. They could not believe they had been slain in an instant by someone who had approached without making a sound.
The Thunder King Bird swept past. The mutton-fat jade iron saber in Qin Ming's hand remained pristine white, untouched by a single drop of blood.
From within the severed heads, two beams of consciousness light surged forth, attempting to escape.
Yet, as a snowy-bright blade light swept across, their panicked screams cut short abruptly, their souls eradicated.
"Those barbarians really did run. They seem to have fled in fear—could they be afraid our Cui family would hunt them down?" Cui He muttered to himself. Then his steps suddenly halted as he caught a sharp, fleeting sound nearby.
"What's happening?" Suspicion surfaced on his face, and he immediately spun around to leave.
Yet it was already too late; he spotted a Thunder King Bird traversing the night sky toward him.
"It's..." He wanted to say "you," but before the second word could leave his lips, a dazzling blade light hacked down.
"You!" In his final instant, he managed that single syllable, but his body was already splitting apart. His resistance was entirely futile. Struck down from the night sky by Qin Ming's saber, he was cleaved straight down between his brows, bisected cleanly as crimson blood gushed out. His mental consciousness was extinguished as well, swiftly reduced to ashes by heavenly light.
Chapter 418