Renowned Across the World

A heavenly lockdown? Qin Ming was completely bewildered, having no idea what the old factions of Yujing were actually scheming to do. Those "old mountain strongholds" that had somehow dodged the mortal catastrophe made even the New Board act remarkably emotional. It gave the impression of being desolate, stagnant, heavy, helpless, and tinged with a faint sorrow. The New Board wanted to accomplish great things, yet it could hardly violate certain entrenched rules. It longed to remake heaven and earth, but hands abruptly dragged its feet—hands that seemed to belong entirely to "faces of the past." Inside Chixia City, fire springs murmured softly through the darkness, casting a hazy glow over the entire settlement. It was the hour when hearth smoke curled into the evening, overflowing with the warmth of ordinary life. Qin Ming felt a fleeting sense of trance. Such mundane earthly smoke instantly tugged his thoughts back down from beyond the nine heavens. During his days above, he had seen divine cities, the detached annex of Yujing, the Great Dao Tree whose boughs resembled mountain ranges, Earth Immortals of every stripe, and the passing Black Pagoda civilization. The journey had been vast and magnificent, yet none of it felt as real as the sight before his eyes. Qin Ming set foot upon the soil. Looking at the main street with its weaving throng of pedestrians and carriages shuttling back and forth, he felt that walking among the earthly qi of the red dust was far more grounding than floating in ethereal detachment upon the clouds of the ninth heaven. "This is what truly living feels like," he murmured to himself. He recalled those old legends once more: the hearth smoke of the mortal world could shake loose all the immortals and gods of the skies! "Xiao Qin, you're finally back!" Inside the City Lord's Manor, Meng Xinghai breathed a long sigh of relief, his heart settling at last. Several days ago, the others who had ascended to heaven had returned one after another. Meng Xinghai had grown increasingly anxious because of it, to the point where even the calming incense burning in his purple-copper censer had lost its effect. Qin Ming chuckled. "The people up there were too hospitable. They insisted on keeping me to admire the wonders above the nine heavens." Now that his consciousness had returned to his physical body, a brilliant spiritual glow radiated outward, leaving his flesh and blood pure and luminous. The reunification of his form and spirit brought an indescribable comfort, like a fish that had been stranded out of water for far too long plunging back into a vast lake. Qin Ming briefly recounted his experiences, leaving Meng Xinghai spellbound, his eyes gleaming with a peculiar brilliance. "You have no idea! Over the past few days, that 'Pierced the Thirty-Six Heavens with a Single Sword' has been extolled to the skies by people beyond the mundane world! They're hailing him as a radiant peak towering in the hearts of all sword cultivators on the immortal path!" "I truly don't dare claim such praise," Qin Ming said with a straight face, yet the corners of his mouth were already curling up, his smile widening. At the end of the day, he was still just a youth. Meng Xinghai chuckled as well, adding, "The realm faction has also drawn the attention of many esoteric sect masters. Some old monsters even stepped forward in person, full of praise for the methods shown under that identity. After all, you suppressed a Heavenly Immortal on the sword-dueling platform." Immediately, Qin Ming thought of the woman in white—Heavenly God. Even now, he did not know whether the two women were fellow Yujing saints, or if a single person had walked two separate paths. As for "Taiyi," the discussions surrounding him were even more fervent. Some claimed he was from the Newborn path, while others insisted he was an immortal physical cultivator. Still others from Pugong suspected he might be one of the origins of the silk book method—a living sage of the present age. Meng Xinghai lowered his voice. "A handful of people have whispered that Taiyi might be you." "Ah." Qin Ming was genuinely startled. Had his disguise been stripped away so quickly? Meng Xinghai shook his head. "Don't worry. It's just a few individuals trying to mislead people out of malice. Most don't believe it at all. The prevailing consensus is that Taiyi must be a peerless Earth Immortal; Night Province doesn't currently possess such an immortal physical cultivator." Qin Ming knew the truth would be uncovered sooner or later. For instance, heaven was far from secure, divided into countless rival factions. Who could say whether those old relics and their scions had left behind hidden measures, or possessed means to glean the secrets of the New Board? Overthinking it right now served no purpose. The only proper path forward was to pour all his efforts into self-improvement. At the very least, he could presently use the Wishing Pool to refine his silk book method and resolve the greatest hidden danger within himself. "Uncle Meng, I brought you a little local specialty from heaven." Qin Ming handed him a jade box. Meng Xinghai opened it and was instantly captivated by the surging green mist of two leaves. Astonished, he said, "Are these the Longevity Leaves that the outside world has been buzzing about? They are far too precious. You should keep them for yourself." "I still have more, plenty enough for me." Qin Ming had obtained a total of seventeen precious leaves. Even if he forged the most domineering sacred baleful aura, he would have plenty to replenish his vitality. In fact, he was even tempted to study the "death baleful aura" within the Myriad Gods Banner. If he could truly fuse with it, his offensive power would undoubtedly soar to another level. Even so, doubt lingered in his heart. Was a sacred baleful aura born of the domain of death truly suitable for a physical body? It differed fundamentally from other sacred baleful auras; perhaps it was meant solely for refining weapons. After all, by his understanding, all sacred baleful auras were essentially alien substances from beyond the heavens, merely forms of heavenly light that were exceptionally dense and pure, having undergone transformation and sublimation over countless ages. In the end, Qin Ming firmly pressed the two shimmering green leaves into Meng Xinghai's hands. In the past, Old Meng had purchased fallen fruit for him, sought out five-colored spirit branches, cashed in personal favors to plead for wondrous arts, and even sheltered his life. Qin Ming naturally would never forget such kindness. Afterward, he teased, "Uncle Meng, you might just return to your youth. I wonder if Aunt Meng will be pleasantly surprised or complain about me when the time comes." Meng Xinghai waved a hand and said, "One leaf for her, one leaf for me—that solves it!" Presently, rumors outside claimed that the Longevity Leaves originated from an Immortal Tree deep within the heart of the Night Mist world, and that each leaf could extend a person's lifespan by fifteen to twenty years. Moreover, this lifespan extension applied regardless of one's cultivation realm, which was utterly astounding. Consequently, even when someone was willing to trade one away, obtaining a single leaf was virtually impossible, leaving countless old men red-eyed with envy. Having just returned from above the nine heavens, Qin Ming did not immediately enter secluded cultivation. His spirit and flesh had been parted for days, and he worried they had not yet settled into their optimal state of harmony. After all, what he was about to do next carried the risk of blowing parts of his body to pieces; no amount of caution would be excessive. That evening, he visited his old companions, gathering for a quiet drink with Xu Sheng, the former itinerant merchant, Sister Fenfang Zhou Lin, and Wu Zheng, who had walked out of the Black-White Mountain alongside him. More than two years had slipped by since Qin Ming first met them. Xu Sheng and Zhou Lin were now married, and their child was already babbling, able to call out "Uncle." Wu Zheng's mindset had grown tranquil. He now owned three shops in Chixia City, turning around his family's fallen fortunes. In his spare time, he never forgot his original aspirations and continually practiced the *Twin Exquisites of Spear and Arrow* passed down by his ancestors. Wu Zheng remarked with deep emotion, "Brother Ming, we walked out of the Black-White Mountain together. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined that the companion who walked beside me would become the prominent young face of the Newborn path." Raising his wine cup, Xu Sheng sighed. "Looking back on all my years as an itinerant merchant, my greatest achievement was leading Xiao Qin out of the mountains and watching his name become renowned across the world." Zhou Lin's temper had softened considerably since having a child. She smiled and asked, "Xiao Qin, your fame shakes every path now. Do you have your eye on any young lady? Look at Wu Zheng—even he's nearing marriage." Wu Zheng replied, "Things have barely begun for me; it's still way too early. As for Brother Ming, look at the kind of people he interacts with! They're either the most famous fairies of an entire path or princesses of an empire. There's no need to worry about him at all." He then added, "By the way, Brother Ming, did you go up to heaven recently? The outside world has gone mad with rumors. They say that above the nine heavens, there are all sorts of martial contests, and the sword-dueling battles are incredibly fierce. Names like Heavenly Immortals, Saints, and Tianzuns are on everyone's lips every day, echoing through every great city." Qin Ming nodded. "I went to see it for myself." Virtually all the people Wu Zheng had mentioned were ones he had personally beaten down. "Could it be that you really are Taiyi, Brother Ming?" Wu Zheng grew slightly excited, his eyes glowing with fervent heat. Even low-level cultivators like him had heard the whispers. Xu Sheng quickly intervened. "You can't go saying such things recklessly. Someone is trying to harm Xiao Qin with those rumors." Wu Zheng nodded hurriedly. "Right, I know. I was only asking in private." Qin Ming took a sip of wine. "Heaven is indeed colorful, with experts gathered like clouds. It's hardly surprising that all kinds of rumors are flying around." Wu Zheng shared, "Right now, quite a few people are fixated on your ranking, Brother Ming. Some even came to Chixia City to investigate, trying to find out whether you went to heaven or not. A few of them have already been warned off by City Lord Meng." "Oh?" Qin Ming was surprised. Even while lying low in a remote corner like Chixia City, people were still keeping tabs on him and coming to investigate. Wu Zheng continued, "Word has it that Pugong's famous Little Rulai, as well as Cui Chonghe—who has kept a low profile and bided his time on the immortal path for years—both broke into the top sixty of the New Board, causing a massive sensation. Because of that, some speculate that you most likely broke into the top fifty, Brother Ming." Xu Sheng nodded in agreement. "That's what a portion of people guess, which in turn provoked dissatisfaction from the Pugong faction. They don't believe you could rank higher than their orthodox successor." Zhou Lin added, "Those leaning toward Cui Chonghe also have plenty to say. They claim Cui the Second has mastered the *Golden Palace Jade Chapter*, one of the three most difficult true scriptures to comprehend on the immortal path. Having undergone multiple transformations, he's said to be unfathomably deep now." Even in a remote region like the Black-White Mountain, debates from the outside world had reached their ears. One could easily imagine what an enormous uproar the heavenly contests had stirred up. Wu Zheng smiled. "Still, the mainstream generally believes your ranking should be higher than the others, Brother Ming." Qin Ming gave a faint smile. "It really gives me a headache. Why are so many people uniformly optimistic about me? Are they trying to praise me to death?" Wu Zheng shook his head. "Brother Ming, every step you took was built on solid, undeniable battle records witnessed by all. It's only natural for such a consensus to form." Even so, this had indeed sparked some friction. The Cui family, along with those in the pure lands beyond the mundane world who favored Cui Chonghe, were brimming with confidence. They believed Cui Chonghe had achieved a dragon-like transformation, far surpassing his past self, and that the time had come for him to step into the open. The former qilin son of the Cui family had now become a blazing sun in the heavens, far more extraordinary than before—nothing short of a grand nirvana at a crucial turning point in life. Zhou Lin told him, "Some people have even proposed arranging a duel between you and Cui Chonghe." Most of those suggesting a duel were linked to the Cui family or close to Sun Taichu's faction. They believed that having mastered the *Golden Palace Jade Chapter*, Cui Chonghe was like a flood dragon rising from the abyss to become a true dragon; the moment had arrived for his dragon roar to resonate across the nine heavens, and he needed a true battle to mark the occasion. Qin Ming sneered. "Cui the Second is no longer biding his time or keeping a low profile, and now I've been chosen as his stepping stone for stepping into the limelight?" Wu Zheng said, "Don't take it to heart, Brother Ming. That's just the talk of a small handful of people." In truth, others were also trying to set up a match between Little Rulai and Qin Ming for a fair contest, eager to see who was stronger—a showdown between the orthodox lineage and the offshoot of the Chaos force. Over the past several days, even the *Night Gazette* and the *World Paper* had jumped into the fray, hyping up these controversial topics. Clearly, even bystanders were dying to watch Little Rulai, Cui Chonghe, Qin Ming, and the others clash. To that end, numerous gambling dens were eagerly jumping on the trend. If Qin Ming ever fought Cui Chonghe or went up against the orthodox line of the Chaos force, they would immediately open massive betting pools across various regions. Qin Ming merely smiled, paying it no mind. Instead, he asked, "Are grandmasters still active in the outside world?" The three understood what he meant. The world was undergoing a tremendous upheaval: Yujing had shattered, the Night Ruins had descended, and severe physical problems had stricken patriarchs first, followed by great grandmasters. He wanted to know how ordinary grandmasters were faring. Xu Sheng replied, "Grandmasters are gradually running into problems with their bodies as well. Hardly any of them show themselves anymore." Qin Ming nodded. That was just as well; he suddenly felt that the danger level of the world had diminished by a few degrees. "Brother Ming is truly confident—he's already turning his gaze toward grandmasters!" Wu Zheng marveled. Did this mean Qin Ming felt no threat from the likes of Little Rulai or Cui Chonghe? Qin Ming shook his head. "I was only wondering when it will be our generation's turn. Unfavorable changes will likely appear in our bodies as well; perhaps we'll end up reduced to ordinary mortals." Xu Sheng was full of faith in him. "I believe that with your foundation, Xiao Qin, even if everyone else's bodies wither, you will remain unscathed." Two days later, Qin Ming felt his form and spirit had reunified in flawless harmony, reaching their absolute peak. He then began his seclusion. Meng Xinghai had generously given up his own cultivation chamber for him—a quiet sanctuary tens of meters underground, completely peaceful and secure, where no one would intrude. Qin Ming took out the Wishing Pool and set it inside the subterranean chamber. His gains from above the nine heavens this time were truly immense. Every single reward promised by the New Board had been delivered without omission. He could sense that the New Board wished to accomplish great things, hoping to select supreme talents to infuse fresh blood into Yujing and presumably reconstruct the old lands. Unfortunately, the resistance it faced was immense. While in heaven, Qin Ming had clearly detected the New Board's weariness, its dejected state, and the predicament of being hamstrung by others—seemingly possessing the will to slay the enemy, but ultimately powerless to turn the tide. The New Board was an artifact after all. Qin Ming suspected it had once been refined and claimed, and those "old mountain strongholds" might possess arts and methods to govern it. Those old relics and their scions did not stop it from recruiting talents, but they firmly planted their own people in critical positions. In that case, whether the fresh blood accepted by Yujing would be nurtured into prominent figures or merely reduced to thugs for those factions was difficult to say. Qin Ming knew full well that the New Board had originally intended to grant him that third flower of the Great Dao, only for those scions to step in ahead of time and intercept it for their "old mountain strongholds." "Never mind. Even without that flower, I can still charge forward with unstoppable momentum!" He cleared his mind completely, his state of heart gradually settling into tranquility. Qin Ming toyed with the palm-sized yellow silk canopy umbrella before preparing to stow it back into the rag space. The silhouette of a woman emerged upon the canopy, sending out a faint wave of strong displeasure: "Didn't you promise that once you bound that white-robed woman, Heavenly God, you would keep me outside?" "I'm just giving you a temporary rest," Qin Ming replied with a smile. "I don't need rest!" Clearly, the Myriad Gods Banner had no desire to stay inside the rag space, harboring immense dread toward that place. "I intend to cultivate bare-chested. Bearing the face of an alluring woman, won't you feel ashamed peeking at me?" Qin Ming said, decisively stuffing it into the pitch-black space. "What brilliant talent has this seat not seen? Why would I peek at you? You haven't even grown full feathers—" Despite its endless reluctance, the yellow silk canopy umbrella was sealed within the rag. For Qin Ming, it was useful for now, but untrustworthy. "Its death baleful aura truly seems difficult to forge and fuse." Qin Ming frowned, having felt it even more acutely just now. Then his brow smoothed. "The path taken by that Sword Master of the Black Pagoda civilization is worth drawing inspiration from." He had studied it thoroughly: his own flesh and blood was equal to, if not greater than, that of the Sword Master. He could entirely give birth to sacred sword-dao substances that aligned perfectly with himself. For a sword cultivator, this would undoubtedly be a crowning achievement of utmost glory. A fusion of ten sword baleful auras would be enough to shock the outside world if word got out. For Qin Ming himself, fusing ten sacred baleful auras would make his offensive power terrifyingly potent, granting his path through the Newborn system a radiant future. Cross-legged within the pool, he decided to begin with his fundamental scripture, first eradicating every hidden flaw to ensure his system was completely harmonious, without a single blemish. Half a day later, numerous bloody fissures appeared across Qin Ming's abdomen before splitting open with a squelch. His eyes shone with divine radiance. "A problem that stumped even the patriarchs of the silk book method is formidable indeed. I haven't even reached the Sixth Realm, yet the ominous signs are already surfacing." He possessed two silk book methods in total: one was an ancestral heirloom, while the other came from the divine temple, left behind by a former patriarch who had modified and improved it. Even so, after Qin Ming pushed it to its limit over a hundred times, parts of his body were still torn apart. In truth, if an ordinary scripture were circulated to its limit over a hundred times, the practitioner's body would suffer damage regardless; no one dared to practice so recklessly. Qin Ming was forced to be nitpickingly critical. Any minor, undetectable imperfection could one day become the ant hole that breached the entire dam. "How did that sage from Pugong solve this?" he wondered. That senior was truly remarkable, managing to step into the Seventh Realm while practicing such an overbearing silk book method. Though his body had disintegrated in the past, he had never exploded again after establishing himself in the realm of Earth Immortals. "Perhaps he didn't fuse as many true scriptures?" Qin Ming mused. In reality, following the modified silk book method recorded in the divine temple, Qin Ming would not encounter problems during the early realms. However, he had currently fused too many secret tomes and true scriptures, far exceeding the normal bounds. Because of this, he was already noticing subtle flaws now. *Bang!* That evening, after circulating the silk book method at high speed hundreds of times, Qin Ming's chest tore open, staining the Wishing Pool red with blood. Yet he was smiling, using the *Destiny-Altering Scripture* to scout the path ahead and dismantle fatal future tribulations one by one. Late into the night, Qin Ming's head seeped blood, and his skull creaked and cracked. He found it absurd that these minute hidden dangers still had not been fully rooted out. "I need to increase the weight of the scriptures. Not just the Newborn system, but true scriptures of the immortal path and fundamental arts of the esoteric sect must also be fused in, allowing the silk book method to surpass its limits and govern all arts." Qin Ming comprehended the jade book, grasped the fundamental method recorded on the golden scale left by the giant blue centipede, and then studied the *Extreme Golden Body*. He relentlessly pushed himself, unconcerned about suddenly exploding. If outsiders were to witness this, they would be thoroughly baffled, for even a flawless technique pushed to such extremes would inevitably end in disaster. "Found another one. Again!" The Wishing Pool turned completely crimson. Qin Ming flirted with death time and time again; virtually every part of him from head to toe fractured once, though he took the damage piecemeal. A full day and night passed, yet he did not emerge from seclusion. Instead, he became completely immersed in the process. Both his flesh and spirit radiated spiritual brilliance, Daoist rhythm flowing with natural ease. By the end, he no longer resembled a dazzling, radiant sun. His form and spirit gradually settled into peace, carrying a distinct flavor of returning to simplicity and truth. Two days passed, and Qin Ming remained seated in seclusion. Outside, the peace was shattered. In the night sky, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, tearing through the pitch-black canopy. This was not confined to a single place; the anomaly stretched across all of Night Province. "What is happening?" Ordinary folk cried out in horror. Even cultivators were shaken. Across the firmament, crisscrossing divine chains wove together, and they were certain those were no ordinary bolts of lightning. Soon, Earth Immortals descended from beyond the nine heavens, landing upon the mortal earth to inform the leadership of every path: A heavenly lockdown was imminent! "What does that mean?" "What? It will affect the living beings on the ground as well? This is of immense consequence!" The upper echelons of every path were thrown into an uproar. No one could remain detached; a tempest was bearing down upon them all.