Shen Jiayun went slightly rigid. Beside her ear, she could distinctly feel the ripple of air stirred by the spear tip's vibration, like a gentle brush against her skin.
It was, in a way, the first time an outsider had ever fastened that ornament into her hair. She pulled the glowing blue beaded hairpin from her cascade of black hair and held it in her hand.
Qin Ming withdrew his spear, turned around, and went to return it.
The owner of the purple-gold spear felt rather awkward. Earlier, when lending the weapon, he had said it would count as indirectly fighting Nie Rui—an obvious piece of flattery.
Now, taking the weapon back into his hands, how could he sing Nie Rui's praises? Was he supposed to brag that his spear had defeated both of Chixia City's greatest twin stars of the past twenty years in succession?
He decided he had better store the spear away after returning home. Using it again would draw too much unwanted attention, as it would remind people of today's great duel every time, constantly reminding everyone that both Nie Rui and Shen Jiayun had fallen to the very same person.
Mu Qing wasn't afraid to speak her mind and said, "You ought to keep that spear safe. It carries great commemorative value."
The young noble holding the spear immediately squirmed on pins and needles, his embarrassment doubling.
Only now did many people finally snap back to their senses. It was difficult to imagine that Nie Rui and Shen Jiayun had been defeated by a youth whose physical attributes were inferior to theirs.
"That youth's spear technique has a flavor of returning to simplicity, drawing the boundary between life and death in seemingly plain movements. It fully manifests the true essence of combat!"
Several nobles nearing thirty years old remarked. Having already undergone their third Newborn, their eyes were exceptionally sharp.
"His killing intent is restrained. At first, it seemed like a leisurely stroll, listening to spring rain, but suddenly it summoned the thunder from the heavens, spear shadows erupting like lightning. Truly extraordinary."
For the twin stars who dazzled Chixia City to taste defeat in such a remote place—and at the hands of a peer their own age—was no small matter. If word spread, hardly anyone would believe it.
Yet the indisputable record stood right before them; a group of young nobles had witnessed it with their own eyes.
"Such dashing grace. The sheer charm of that spear strike really dazzled my eyes," some noble maidens whispered among themselves.
"Look, Shen Jiayun is holding the hairpin and seems lost in thought."
...
Shen Jiayun landed nimbly atop the black tiger's back and departed alongside the group of nobles. The crowd dispersed.
Before parting just now, the twin stars of Chixia City had made a point of speaking a few more words with Qin Ming, remarking that the world of nocturnal fog was vast and boundless with countless mysteries, and saying they looked forward to meeting again in the future when each had ascended to greater heights.
As those young nobles left, they gave Qin Ming several deep, lingering looks.
A few also came over to chat with him briefly, telling him he could look them up if he ever visited Chixia City in the future.
This duel had been a complete coincidence and accident, yet before Qin Ming even set foot in Chixia City, his name had already reached the ears of many.
In many people's eyes, even though his physical attributes were not among the very strongest, his ability to turn the mundane into the miraculous in combat and his brilliant tactical adaptations left a profound impression. A combat talent rarely matched by anyone was both formidable and precious—he was already a brilliant rising star.
"To think he's so formidable that he completely subdued Nie Rui. After this battle, Nie Rui will no longer hesitate and will pursue that other path instead."
In Black-White Mountain, the other young nobles were stunned upon hearing the news, and some even came over specifically out of curiosity to see what Qin Ming looked like.
Cao Long, Mu Qing, and Wei Zhirou stepped forward and helped Qin Ming stave off much of the hassle, and things gradually settled down.
"Qin Ming, after early spring next year—at the latest before midsummer—head to Chixia City to register your name. A slight pity, though, is that your current strength is still a bit low," Mu Qing said.
"Huh?" Qin Ming was puzzled.
Wei Zhirou explained, "At that time, there might be an opportunity to access higher-level knowledge. You might even be able to learn part of an advanced Yiqi Art, which is normally kept strictly secret."
Cao Long added, "When the time comes, a megalopolis will send people to recruit talent. As long as your performance is dazzling enough, you stand a good chance of securing an opportunity that changes your destiny."
Had Qin Ming not unexpectedly sparred with Nie Rui and Shen Jiayun today and defeated them both, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and the others would not have mentioned this to him, as it would have held little meaning.
"If it doesn't work out, you can just study and travel in Chixia City for a year and wait for the following year's opportunity. If you can achieve your third Newborn, your chances will be much better, and you might even enter an even more renowned megalopolis."
They knew that someone with a golden foundation would not take long to achieve a second Newborn, but that alone was not enough. Unless one possessed "divine wisdom," special abilities, or rare gifts, it was hard to gain early recognition.
Xu Yueping and Yang Yongqing knew that once early spring arrived, Qin Ming would most likely truly leave this place.
Qin Ming inquired into the details. Since it was casual conversation, he casually asked about many other matters, bringing them up as if by chance.
For instance, when they discussed what spiritual substances could help someone achieve Newborn status, Cao Long offhandedly mentioned mineral essence, and Qin Ming seized the chance to ask for details.
"Mineral essence is an active substance extracted from mineral veins. Drinking it enhances one's physical attributes, but whether it triggers a Newborn breakthrough depends entirely on luck. Even so, it remains exorbitantly expensive."
"Why?" Qin Ming asked.
Cao Long said, "Because as long as it's your first time taking mineral essence, no matter how many times you've achieved Newborn status, it can improve your physique and carries a fifty-percent chance of granting a breakthrough."
Wei Zhirou added, "That is precisely its most precious quality. It is beloved by old-timers whose strength can no longer advance an inch, because other conventional means can no longer help them achieve a breakthrough, yet mineral essence offers that possibility."
Qin Ming asked, "Does taking it a second time have no effect?"
Mu Qing said, "It's not completely ineffective; it retains about a tenth of the first dose's efficacy. Alternatively, you would have to obtain higher-grade mineral essence—for example, a vibrant crimson mineral essence brilliant as the evening glow, known as Blood of the Earth. In Chixia City, you wouldn't see even a bottle or two in an entire year."
Judging from her words, there clearly were even higher grades of mineral essence, which could only be found in megalopolises.
Qin Ming knew they would likely leave in another two or three days, so he chatted more, quietly asking about various matters without showing his hand.
When mysterious products within the nodes were brought up, Qin Ming inevitably wanted to learn what made mutton-fat jade iron so special.
The three of them were also keenly interested in this topic, and their conversation flowed freely.
"Every time heavenly light descends, it nourishes many extraordinary treasures. Certain incomparably rare materials, once forged into mysterious weapons, can be passed down through generations to protect and prosper a clan. There are even peerless, mysterious products that can anchor the fate of an entire nation."
Cao Long's eyes burned with fervor. That was why he searched so eagerly throughout the mountains—products born in nodes could belong to any tier imaginable.
"While mutton-fat jade iron isn't among the very rarest, it is still exceedingly precious, far surpassing ordinary iron, and possesses immense utility."
At last, the three arrived at the information Qin Ming sought.
Mutton-fat jade iron did not require forging a thousand times; even ten thousand refinements would add nothing to it. Its material quality was supreme. When forged into weapons, it could split the scales and armor of behemoths and posed a grave threat to those who protected their bodies with heavenly light.
That was not its most important aspect, as weapons made from certain other materials were also sufficiently resilient and incomparably sharp.
"If a weapon forged from mutton-fat jade iron suffers damage, as long as it isn't too severe, it can slowly restore itself to perfection if nourished with heavenly light."
Qin Ming was astonished. Such weapons or armor truly possessed miraculous properties.
"The most mystical trait of mutton-fat jade iron is that wielding it allows one to slay certain special entities."
These words sent a tremor through Qin Ming's heart. He realized he still knew far too little about this world.
Mu Qing said, "In this vast, endless, pitch-black world, just how many areas possess Fire Springs? Though those megalopolises are brilliant, beneath the boundless night they amount to nothing more than faint fireflies. The far vaster domain is an expanse of absolute ink, murky as an abyss. There are always inexplicable, nameless things out there, and sometimes, one needs weapons forged from mutton-fat jade iron or other rare materials to contend with them."
Qin Ming asked her to elaborate, as he was genuinely in the dark.
Mu Qing explained in detail, "For instance, there are things you cannot see with your eyes. Thrusting an ordinary spear at them accomplishes nothing; the tip just feels like it's piercing thin air. But if you switch to a weapon forged from mutton-fat jade iron, a single thrust might unleash a spray of bizarre blood, slaying something unseen."
Qin Ming sighed. "Living in such a remote corner, I knew nothing of this. This pitch-black, boundless world is truly too mysterious."
Wei Zhirou spoke up, "Why do certain esoteric sects enshrine gods? Precisely because of all the unknown and mysterious phenomena—there are things that cannot be described, cannot be explained."
Old Man Liu patted his chest and said, "Thank heavens we don't have those around here."
Mu Qing laughed. "Old Master, how do you know we don't? Even if they exist, ordinary mortals simply can't see them."
"Don't go scaring me now. The older you get, the smaller your courage grows. I still want to live for another few decades."
Cao Long said, "Don't worry. Even we have never seen them."
Qin Ming thought for a moment and asked, "Are people beyond the mundane world all very formidable?"
Wei Zhirou nodded. "The paths walked by certain people beyond the mundane world can truly be called incomparably glorious, beyond all comparison."
"Just how strong are they?" Qin Ming asked. He was eager to know, because the youth who had grievously injured him wore a feather robe and was likely one of those people beyond the mundane world.
Mu Qing said, "Don't overthink it. All you need to do right now is focus on improving yourself. Once you enter a megalopolis and your strength reaches greater heights, if you are discovered to possess special gifts, you can switch paths as well."
Though they spoke little, it was enough to demonstrate how terrifying people beyond the mundane world were.
Moreover, from their words, they seemed to have switched paths themselves.
Pondering it briefly, Qin Ming also knew they were not ordinary Newborns. One had long since taken the Giant Spirit path, one possessed a tail, and Wei Zhirou, who traveled with them, was bound to have something extraordinary about her as well.
After toughing out another night, Qin Ming finally drifted off into dreams. It brought him complete relief; being unable to sleep was truly agonizing.
During this time, the behemoths from Chixia City, pulling carts of grain, navigated the mountain roads blocked by heavy snow and finally delivered the food, sending the entire region into excitement.
Although the grain was slightly expensive, considering the transportation costs, the price was genuinely reasonable, intended in essence to provide relief.
"No need to scramble! Rest assured, the price of grain won't increase, and more will be brought in continuously!"
...
Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, and the others were already packing their bags, preparing to begin their journey home. Unexpectedly, news arrived from the mountains: multiple special nodes had been discovered in a grand rift valley, and more nodes were continuously being found.
Immediately, the three contingents rushed into the mountains, asking Qin Ming, Old Man Liu, and the others to guide them.
This time, several old fellows accompanied the squads—such as Cao Long's Seventh Uncle, who had eaten the longevity-extending tree.
When the black mountain goat beneath Yang Yongqing caught sight of him, it immediately let loose a gush of urine in sheer terror.
The large yellow dog Old Man Liu was riding had a stress reaction as well, dropping dung right on the spot.
Seeing this, Cao Laoqi's nose nearly twisted in fury. He hollered that he was going to eat black goat meat and yellow dog meat when he got back.
Everyone else wanted to laugh, but they could only hold it in.
"Once you guide us to the place, you don't need to get involved. It's too dangerous there!" Cao Long said.
Without question, this would be their final operation before departing, and a massive clash was likely to erupt. With nodes appearing in dense clusters, every faction would fight tooth and nail, eyes bloodshot with greed.
In fact, after Old Man Liu led the group and delivered them to the grand rift valley, he immediately pulled Qin Ming, Xu Yueping, and Yang Yongqing along and bolted, heading straight back to the village.
Old Man Liu said, "We've bowed ninety-nine times and stayed safe all the way; we're just short of the very last hurdle before it's all over! We must stay far away from there and hold to our safety bottom line. As long as nothing goes wrong, we're golden!"
Though Qin Ming had something to rely on—heavenly light within nodes could not corrode him, leaving him safe and unharmed inside—he ultimately held back.
At a juncture like this, not only would the people from Chixia City fight until their eyes turned red, but even the mountain's mutated creatures would likely be drawn in.
Yet some local organizations acted utterly devoid of humanity, ordering the villages to send people to enter the mountains alongside them for the operation.
The messenger was a Newborn from Golden Rooster Ridge, riding a swift-running ground fowl. This time, he was merely a lackey acting on orders; genuine great bandits from Golden Rooster Ridge had arrived.
In this final stage, their eyes were bloodshot too, eager to snatch the mysterious products of Black-White Mountain.
"This isn't just our decision. We've joined hands with the Three-Eyed Cult. Weigh your options carefully! If you refuse to send people, there will be a reckoning afterward!"
This was an outright threat: disobey, and face retaliation later.
"Each village must send people according to population size, but they must be Newborns."
Qin Ming understood immediately. These people feared the heavenly light within the nodes and wanted proxies to go inside and scavenge for them. They truly treated the Newborns of the villages as disposable pawns, caring nothing for their lives.
"I'll go!" Qin Ming insisted, pushing Old Man Liu, Xu Yueping, Yang Yongqing, and the others back. For a small village like theirs, one person was enough.
He calmly followed the Newborn from Golden Rooster Ridge into the mountains, but the killing intent in his heart was steadily coming to a boil.
Chapter 42