Several Earth Immortal palaces had been ransacked? A number of old monsters could no longer maintain their detached, transcendent poise, their piercing glares as sharp as blades.
Feeling uncomfortable under their scrutiny, the Big Red Dragon said, "Why are you all staring at me? I was just speaking off the cuff. Don't take it to heart."
In truth, heat had rushed to its own head. It slapped the scales on its thick leg until sparks flew in sheer regret, thinking that rushing along had truly been a mistake. In life, one ought to anchor oneself in stillness and act with steady composure.
Murderous intent surged from an Earth Immortal as he remarked, "This red dragon's bloodline purity is remarkably high. Dragon meat should taste quite splendid."
Figures of this caliber resembled venerable immortals when smiling, yet when enraged, they seemed like gods and fiends descending upon the mortal realm, representing the absolute pinnacle of combat power in today's broader world.
Someone murmured, "That red dragon has quite a pedigree. It's the mount of that monster from Pugong."
Clearly, as one of the origins of the silk book method and a living saint of the contemporary age, he enjoyed great renown even among Earth Immortals. All had heard that his strength was unfathomable.
"That old fellow dawdled so much on the road that he still hasn't arrived after more than half a year. Could he have harbored impure motives from the start?" someone whispered. Upon receiving the secret reports, they immediately thought of several of the most probable suspects.
Without a doubt, that terrifying monster from Pugong who had reached great accomplishment in Chaos force ranked at the very top of their list.
Hearing their unveiled remarks, the Big Red Dragon bristled with displeasure and said in a heavy voice, "How can you slander someone's innocence out of thin air? The saint possesses noble character and impeccable origins. He is openhearted, magnanimous, and upright through and through!"
"Impeccable origins... innocent?" someone questioned.
"Doesn't he hail from Night Province?" another voiced the saint's true background.
Immediately, the eyes of those who were not Earth Immortals—and originally had nothing to do with this incident—also turned unfriendly.
That was because the reputation of a certain demographic from Night Province had become... utterly atrocious over the past two years!
Overhearing the quiet murmurs around it, the Big Red Dragon was stunned. Had the later generations from the old man's homeland fallen to such pathetic depths? How pitiful.
Little Rulai knew very well that the Big Red Dragon had spent many years in seclusion before leaving Pugong, completely unaware of the actual state of those founding patriarchs from Night Province.
He whispered, "Senior Red Dragon, no need for pity. Only their reputation is bad; they haven't missed out on any spoils. How should I put it? In short, they are notorious nowadays."
The Big Red Dragon sighed, "So that's how it is. Morals truly deteriorate with each passing day. Back in the old man's generation, which of them wasn't honorable and righteous to the skies?"
"Give me a break!" an old monster snapped back on the spot. "This old man hails from that very generation and isn't dead yet! Do you really think I don't know what they were like back then?"
Beside him, another elder immediately nodded in agreement. "Night Province's current folkways are purely hereditary. In short, when the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be askew!"
To everyone's surprise, a patriarch from Night Province happened to be present. He stepped forward right away, arguing with righteous indignation, "Everyone, your words are far too offensive! The actions of an extreme few have been blown out of proportion based on shadows and wind. How can you besmirch an entire group? Currently, Night Province's folk customs are mostly simple and honest, quite respectable overall."
Instantly, figures from the Eastern Lands, the West Sea, and other regions showed startled expressions. "You people are here too? Why didn't you step onto the sword-dueling platform earlier?"
A patriarch from Night Province shook his head. "My body is indisposed, unsuitable for battle. We merely came to watch the duels."
However, the expressions of some people shifted slightly with suspicion. "Could you be trying to prove that because you are all here, the burglaries across various regions have nothing to do with you?"
The patriarch from Night Province nearly flared up. "Fellow Daoist, what are you saying? Even if our cultivation cannot match you old monsters of the Earth Immortal palaces, you cannot publicly tarnish our innocence like this!"
Many onlookers from afar gathered round. None of them had expected to hear such astonishing news.
"Is this real? Have some Earth Immortals' ancestral nests been cleaned out?"
"Incredible! Empty-nest seniors... actually raided by thieves!"
The Divine City erupted into an uproar. As the news spread, countless experts were left dumbfounded.
Some of the old monsters on the scene wore grim expressions, conferring rapidly in secret and communicating with the New Board to settle matters here so they could depart at once.
"I dare swear this truly has nothing to do with our saint!" The Big Red Dragon patted its chest in guarantee.
In the end, nobody paid it any attention.
The Big Red Dragon explained, "The reason my old man traveled so slowly is mainly because he was seeking immortals and visiting friends along the way. For instance, not long ago he met with the Old Barbarian God to sit and discuss the Dao. They must have spent these past days together, so it was completely impossible for him to visit your Earth Immortal palaces. He has an alibi!"
Someone whispered, "Good grief. A saint who mastered the Seven Imperials force, paired with the Northern Wilderness's barbarian powerhouse hailed as a quasi-Heavenly God... Perhaps the two of them teamed up to pull off this grand heist!"
"Very likely! After all, this old man left behind defensive measures; ordinary people couldn't possibly breach them!"
"This seat also left behind my physical body to guard the homestead."
"Yet some people excel at opening mist gates, which can lead straight into the depths of your medicinal herb gardens."
...
For a time, some suspected the saint of Pugong and the Old Barbarian God had operated together, while others felt a certain group from Night Province remained under immense suspicion.
Someone present could sit still no longer. Giant Spirit God spoke up: "This matter has nothing to do with the Barbarian God!"
"Why?" Bodhi Saint asked.
"Because this old man is right here!" the burly giant stated.
No one expected him to declare his true background—he was actually the renowned Old Barbarian God.
The Big Red Dragon grew suspicious. "That's not right. My patriarch clearly bumped into you on the road and held a Dao discourse. Be forthright now—could you have left behind an avatar?"
The Old Barbarian God replied, "The avatar I left behind presides within the divine palace and would not travel far."
The Big Red Dragon instantly perked up. "See, isn't that clear then? As long as you have one on the ground, that settles it! It must have been your avatar; others on the scene can testify!"
Giant Spirit God sensed something was amiss. Had someone deliberately lured his avatar out of the Barbarian God Palace?
Everyone realized the situation was rather complicated.
In fact, after gathering more details and compiling the messages, the old monsters present learned there was actually more than one band of roving bandits!
"Let us meet again later!" Several individuals could wait no longer and needed to rush back immediately.
No one foresaw that a grand gathering would conclude in this manner. Though many remained behind to continue challenging the sword-dueling platform, the high-end combat power had scattered in an instant.
Qin Ming had been relishing the spectacle the entire time, hardly expecting such thrilling events to unfold down below on the ground.
Not only the Earth Immortals, but the old monsters of the sixth realm had also fled. They were thoroughly worried as well, their only consolation being that so far, only disciples from the sanctuaries of "famous figures" had arrived posthaste to deliver urgent reports.
Nowadays, within the regions influenced by Yujing, many ancient mist gates had been reopened, drastically shortening travel distances.
Over the following few days, all kinds of rumors, both true and false, spread unceasingly.
"What? It was actually a local rival sanctuary taking advantage of the vacuum?"
After returning to investigate, some old fellows discovered that local unorthodox giants had taken the field, and ancient sects once suppressed in the past had made covert moves.
Immediately, someone from the local sanctuaries jumped out proclaiming their innocence: "We were used! An expert seduced and hired us at a high price to head to an unknown location and intercept mysterious pursuers!"
Matters grew increasingly labyrinthine. Furthermore, even special rare treasures failed to trace back the scenes that had transpired.
"How brazen! Plucking the divine flower this old man nurtured for twelve hundred years, and even going into the quiet room to refine medicine with my Longevity Furnace!" An old Earth Immortal from the Eastern Lands had his eyelids twitching uncontrollably, thoroughly incensed.
"What? You say three separate waves of masked figures arrived at my Northern Wilderness's divine herb garden one after another?" The Old Barbarian God flew into a rage. What did those roving bandits take this place for?
Three waves of intruders had appeared, treating this place like some special scenic attraction, vying to leave their footprints behind! They had even nearly come to blows right there.
As the Old Barbarian God listened to his disciples' reports, he grew angrier the more he thought about it.
All of a sudden, he stood towering between heaven and earth, his body as massive as a mountain. Walking the path of the Giant Spirit God, his golden blood vitality erupted wildly, dispersing the heavy cloud cover in the night sky!
...
A dignified elder stood with his hands clasped behind his back high above the pitch-black Ninth Heaven, unmoved in the slightest despite the howling astral wind capable of scattering a person's consciousness.
Filled with sentiment, he said, "Returning after more than five hundred years, the mountains and rivers of Night Province remain the same. Who would have thought the younger generation would outdo the elders? This old man nearly took the blame for them!"
Outside his body, the terrifying Seven Imperials force swirled in sacred and dazzling radiance, automatically dispersing otherworldly venomous fires and severing the creeping wisps of tribulation qi.
Soon, he frowned, feeling that entering Night Province at this juncture was ill-advised. The world's overarching environment had shifted, and he too had contracted a "grave illness," requiring him to adjust his state.
Most importantly, while gathering herbs, he had actually encountered an unfathomable "ethereal spirit." Could that have been a decaying Heavenly God wandering in spirit? It left even him unsettled.
"That old fellow's condition is atrocious, yet he remains exceedingly overbearing. He actually brought a dog along to steal medicine, and even refined medicine on the spot using someone else's Longevity Furnace. Utterly absurd!"
Crucially, that ethereal spirit—which seemed as if a gust of wind could blow it apart at any moment—had wanted to slap him across the face simply because he had taken an extra look at it.
"Forget it. I should find a place to nurse my sickly body first. Harvesting some rare, peerless medicines will be somewhat beneficial to my recovery." Like a streak of seven-colored thunderous fire, he pierced through the abyssal night and vanished in an instant.
Meanwhile, a certain group from Night Province felt they had woken up early only to arrive late to the fair. Someone had beaten them to the punch. Although trailing behind was safer, their gains were truly not that substantial.
In fact, all three parties had unexpectedly crossed paths in certain sanctuaries and nearly fought; they had even prepared to unleash their Heaven-Anchoring Divine Stakes.
In the end, however, the atmosphere remained fairly cordial. The three sides avoided clashing and went about their own business. That ethereal spirit had refined medicine on the spot and departed late, even helping them clean up afterward and erasing all traces.
"Time to go. My near-death state has improved slightly; I must travel through the night to leave." At the edge of Night Province, a hazy figure drifted away.
A big yellow dog transformed into a black-and-white bear, utterly endearing as it waved its plump paws and called out, "Old master, you must succeed! I will drift in the mortal world and ensure I do not fall, waiting for you to receive me!"
...
Thieves had struck across various regions. Over the recent days, several Earth Immortal sanctuaries blazed with fire and rumbled with thunder and lightning—all signs that certain old monsters were in a foul mood.
"The herb garden is in a pathetic state! Even a dog ran in, chewed through a bunch of precious herbs, and even took a leak!"
"What? It wasn't ordinary thieves? The civilization behind the black pagoda was lingering nearby, quietly harvesting our medicine vaults to make up for their losses high above the Ninth Heaven?"
For a time, the incident became thoroughly murky, even roping the black pagoda civilization into the fray.
What broke the composure of several Earth Immortals most was that after meeting and conferring, they spoke of the fortuitous encounters obtained from the New Board high above the Ninth Heaven, only to discover items from each other's herb gardens among them!
Naturally, each had perfectly avoided the old herbs they had cultivated themselves.
"!" Some Earth Immortals could hardly contain themselves, their internal fury blazing furiously.
Just how many waves of thieves had struck? Even they could no longer deduce it; the entire affair was utterly muddled.
Most heartbreaking of all was that the New Board itself was suspected of having taken part!
An old monster remarked, "It couldn't be that preposterous. It was likely just a coincidence. What kind of rare, precious medicine does the Ninth Heaven lack?"
"Nothing is impossible. After Yujing disintegrated, even up in the heavens, certain rare supplies must be severely depleted. The New Board put on a brave front to honor its promises, and in the end... resorted to any means necessary!"
Though frustration burned in their chests, they also felt fortunate that their true treasured possessions were kept on their persons; otherwise, they would never have let the matter rest.
As for now, they had to swallow their anger. Every one of them was severely afflicted by the "illness" and needed quiet recuperation. The true face of the world was being unveiled, and they had to adapt, lest the future become terrifying and exceptionally cruel.
Qin Ming remained high above the Ninth Heaven. Some rewards still required a wait—such as the Wishing Pool.
Naturally, this was not a mystical pool where one could literally make wishes come true; wanting to take charge of Yujing or marry a Heavenly Immortal was out of the question.
It could rectify one's Dao, which not only aided cultivation, but also resolved latent hazards within oneself as well as severe issues on the path ahead.
The New Board informed him that this Wishing Pool was not opened lightly. It was accessible only to "saints"—the select core inheritors of Yujing.
Currently, it was concocting the medicinal fluid on short notice, preparing various heavenly treasures and earthly wonders.
Qin Ming was astonished. Every activation of the Wishing Pool apparently incurred immense expenditure.
Therefore, he was more than willing to wait several days.
Since this precious pool was prepared for saints, Qin Ming naturally intended to make full use of it. He wanted to conduct a head-to-toe "diagnosis" targeting the severe issues within the silk book method.
"My first realm is the strongest. Now, perhaps I will have the chance to comb through the second realm, third realm, and beyond as well."
Moreover, if he wished to read the original texts of the Extreme Dao Golden Body and the Heaven-Transmitted Jade Book, he also needed to enter that "annex" where the Wishing Pool was located.
Among the various rewards Qin Ming had obtained, there was another great medicine that could extend life by eighty years, which unexpectedly also required a few days' wait.
He felt surprised. Could this also be blended on the spot, refined from rare great medicines only just harvested?
After Qin Ming waited five days, the Wishing Pool was finally ready for use.
The New Board shone, sending him to a quiet location deep within the Night Mist Sea. There were no magnificent towers or jade mansions here; on the contrary, the buildings were aged, dilapidated, and on the verge of collapsing entirely.
"This is a rare, preserved special annex of Yujing, accessible solely to saints. Cherish it well. In particular, the final 'empowerment' will use Dao chains to help cleanse your marrow and alter your tendons, reshaping your spiritual field, sinews, and bones—also known as the baptism of the Dao..."
The New Board informed him that it could only deliver him here. Bound by rules, even it could not enter or manifest inside.
Then, another line of text appeared: "This was originally the place where saints were selected. Head directly through the portal marked with the character 'Easy.' That is the simplest path. With your aptitude, you will undoubtedly pass with ease and walk it to the very end."
According to its words, Yujing's ancient mechanisms had resumed operation, and proper rules still had to be observed. Therefore, Qin Ming needed to traverse a path.
However, it also added that this was not meant to make him a saint, but merely to grant him certain privileges enjoyed by saints.
"Remember, under no circumstances take the wrong path. You should also be able to pass the portal marked 'Difficult,' but if you see the 'Abyss' or 'Hell' paths, you must detour around them!"
Without question, those were the most dangerous paths; even true saints who had received Yujing's heritage might not successfully conquer them.
"Understood!" Qin Ming nodded, indicating he had committed it to memory.
The New Board glowed, about to tear through the Night Mist Sea and depart, stating that it would return to fetch him in several days.
"Is there anyone else inside, or rather, any living beings?" Qin Ming asked at the last moment.
The New Board hesitated slightly before responding with a single character: "Yes!"
Qin Ming grew vigilant. Could there be true saints inside?
"Simply proceed along your own path. Everything operates according to Yujing's mechanisms; none dare interfere." The New Board drifted away.
Qin Ming stood outside the dilapidated annex. Clustered ruins of tottering old houses, all riddled with cracks, spanned a vast area that seemed endless at a glance.
Yet it lacked any desolate feeling of overgrown weeds. On the contrary, silver bamboo groves, sapphire-like lakes, and fragrant spiritual orchards formed rather splendid scenery ahead.
Qin Ming reached his hand into the inner space of the rag and touched the yellow imperial parasol.
He estimated he might need to use it to test the Dao chains.
The Myriad Gods Banner vibrated, seemingly stifled and eager to come out.
Qin Ming soothed it, saying, "Don't rush. Today I might need you to perform well, and I will reward you handsomely when the time comes."
He strode into the annex. After passing through a cluster of buildings covered in web-like fissures, he saw several paths. The nearby ground was pockmarked, as though eroded by thunderous fire, with certain sections even burned straight through.
Clearly, when Yujing disintegrated, this place had suffered a terrifying impact, yet it had ultimately been preserved.
Signs stood before the portals of the various paths, but all had toppled over.
Qin Ming walked over and spotted the character "Easy." This was the simplest and safest path. He stepped directly through the aged moon gate.
"Oh? Someone has actually come to take the trial, hoping to become a new core disciple of Yujing?" A gray-robed elder holding a broom was sweeping up the few fallen leaves on the ground.
He was unmistakably a grand master, yet he cleared the ground through such primitive means, without employing any mystical arts.
His hair resembled withered autumn weeds—yellowed and lusterless—yet his eyes were remarkably bright, like two blazing divine lamps.
"This young man's courage is commendable, choosing such an extremely difficult path," he chuckled to himself.
Walking closer, he said, "When Yujing collapsed, the shockwaves reached here, knocking several signs into disarray so their positions became scrambled. They have yet to reset automatically. The Sky-Patrolling Divine Mirror can verify that this has nothing to do with me."
Then, he produced a pure white conch and transmitted his voice into the distance: "Xiao Ba, time waits for no one. Hurry over to attempt the trial. Fortuitous creations such as the Wishing Pool have reappeared. Choose the simplest path, and you should pass smoothly. Once you become a saint, you can immediately partake of rare resources, rectify the path you walk, and baptize your physical body."
A man's voice came through the conch: "Understood, Ancestor. Actually, even if I chose the more difficult path, I could still pass."
The elder said nothing more to him and ended the transmission.
Afterward, the elder activated the conch again, adopting a very humble demeanor as though transmitting to a figure of far higher standing.
"Your Highness, someone has chosen the path you once walked. He may disturb your seclusion. However, the greater likelihood is that he will not reach your presence at all—merely an insignificant breeze along the way that will soon disperse on its own, without requiring you to stand guard."
"Mm." From the pure white conch came only a faint murmur, the voice belonging to a woman.
The elder said, "Your Highness, my descendant 'Xiao Ba' has also set out. To be safe, I had him take the simplest path; he should pass smoothly. When the time comes, he will certainly attend to your every need, follow by your side, and obey your commands."
"Understood," the woman responded curtly.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming, who was walking along the path, furrowed his brows deeply. The threshold by which ancient Yujing selected saints was truly extraordinary. Even this simplest, easiest path imposed intense pressure on him. Just how difficult would the Abyss- and Hell-grade paths be?
With an exceptionally grave expression, he said, "The true saints selected by Yujing must all be unfathomable. In the past, I underestimated the heroes of the world."
Chapter 451