Critically wounded and on the verge of death, Old Man Yunfeng had coughed up blood continuously in his final moments, consumed with fury. He had helped a friend by reaching out to Thunder Marsh Palace on his behalf, only to be slain in return. He died with his eyes wide open in unavenged grievance.
Those two blurry figures had acted with utter calm and detachment. They cleanly handled their old friend's postmortem affairs, making it appear as though he had simply passed away from natural exhaustion of his lifespan.
The older man had long, emerald-green hair, and even his eyes gleamed with a green glow. His complexion was fair and jade-like. To Qin Ming, this person was quite familiar.
That green-haired man was none other than Cui Changqing, a figure of great renown. He was one of the few individuals who had attained the highest mastery of the World-Abiding Scripture, possessing immense strength.
He was one of the people beyond the mundane world. His arduous cultivation of the World-Abiding Scripture was primarily aimed at maintaining his bodily faculties in an eternal peak state, thirsting for ageless youth.
Though he had lived over a century, his face remained as gentle and smooth as jade, devoid of a single wrinkle, showing not the slightest hint of aging. He appeared to be merely in his thirties.
In years past, when the Six Imperials ancestral court held apprentice selections to screen out those of exceptional talent, Cui Changqing had personally paid a visit bearing lavish gifts. Beyond ensuring that Cui Chongxuan could become a core disciple, he had also casually brought up Qin Ming, intending to sever his path of cultivation.
Beside him stood a young man named Cui Chongye, his direct grandson. Unassuming and keeping a low profile on ordinary days, he likewise cultivated the World-Abiding Scripture, meaning his true age far exceeded his youthful appearance.
Qin Ming was no stranger to this man either. Cui Chongye held a notable status within the Cui family as a genius kept "on ice"—hidden away from the public eye—though in no way could he compare to Cui Chonghe.
"Grandfather, are you about to break through into the grandmaster realm?" Cui Chongye asked. He knew that the old master's physical condition was superb, brimming with vitality, and that after patiently tempering himself for many years, he was poised to ascend to the next level.
Cui Changqing waved his hand, choosing not to pursue that topic in such a place.
Without question, the Cui family had grown increasingly wary of Qin Ming. Otherwise, Cui Changqing would not have enlisted the aid of his old friend, Old Man Yunfeng.
"He hasn't shown himself for nearly two years. Is he lying low and biding his time? I truly worry that he might rise up and come seeking vengeance against our Cui family."
Cui Changqing could never have imagined that the abandoned child of the past could, entirely by himself, master the silk book method and climb to such heights. It filled them with a distinct sense of dread.
They regretted their choices. Back then, in careless disregard, they had tossed aside a piece of gold. A little snake that should have remained coiled in the muddy mire had instead molted into a dragon.
They regretted even more that their early interventions had been too gentle. A cascade of unexpected turns had allowed that little snake in the dust to gather immense momentum and enter the sights of formidable figures. First, Meng Xinghai and Li Qingyun had guarded his life, and later Lu Zizai had firmly shielded him.
Now, whatever they said was too late.
Cui Changqing remarked, "With his talent, had he remained active outside over these past two years—young, vigorous, and full of headstrong drive—the gale would surely have broken him amid such a tangled, chaotic climate both in the sky and on the ground!"
Cui Chongye nodded, secretly sighing at the missed opportunity.
Afterward, he inspected the surrounding area thoroughly to ensure no traces were left behind. With Old Man Yunfeng passing away into meditation, all evidence died with him.
The grandfather and grandson were fairly satisfied. They disliked stepping onto the main stage or taking the field themselves. Keeping the Cui family aloof and insulated while letting others bleed in conflict suited them best.
Cui Chongye said, "Grandfather, dwell on it no more. It was merely a casual move on the board—unmoved by external gain or loss, an idle gesture. You should focus on breaking through your bottleneck."
Cui Changqing was very pleased with this grandson, feeling that he took after his own younger self—low-key, unpretentious. Nodding, he said, "Quite true. Idly plucking the strings of a zither, idly watching the clouds roll by; with a cup of clear tea, life flows serenely. Let us go."
Both men smiled faintly as their figures blurred and vanished entirely.
Qin Ming watched the scene in silence, tossed the jade pendant back into the coffin, and restored the site to its original state.
He felt as though the Cui family were a lingering wraith, perpetually haunting his steps and hovering in the shadows behind him, like needles pricking his back.
Had it not been for his unique method of emotional resonance, he never would have been able to unearth this pair.
Even if someone brought a rare treasure here, tracing the past would prove exceedingly difficult due to the time limit. After several months, the truth of those past events had long since worn away.
"Resorting to such schemes, do you truly believe yourselves detached from it all?" Qin Ming's expression turned cold. Even without uncovering these hidden dealings, could the Cui family ever keep out of this?
He conducted himself with upright candor. If he felt wronged, he would simply target everything indiscriminately—striking down every potential enemy he could handle, letting not a single one escape.
The Cui family had a Sixth Realm ancestor, Cui Geng. Qin Ming naturally had to steer clear of him; he was far from ready to provoke such a figure.
As for the Fifth Realm cultivators of the Cui family, he knew little about them and would set them aside for now.
However, when it came to the rest, he was fully capable of carrying out targeted eliminations, inflicting agony right to their marrow.
"Cui Changqing, your grandson resembles your younger self the most, does he? Then I shall sever his head right before your eyes.
"Breaking through into the grandmaster realm? Cui Changqing, you truly are remarkable." Qin Ming had not anticipated that the green-haired old monster could reach such a height.
A century-old grandmaster was actually still considered "young," by no means decrepit or senile.
"Cui Changqing, your path of cultivation ends here. Even if one of your feet has already stepped into the grandmaster domain, I will drag you right back..."
What Qin Ming despised most was the self-righteous air those two put on. Clearly employing foul methods, they still posed with breezy composure, watching the tigers fight from the hilltop to portray themselves as leisurely and transcendent.
"And Cui Chonghe." Qin Ming's eyes turned deep and profound. Were it not for Sun Taichu backing him and Cui the Second being the cherished darling of the outer pure land, Qin Ming could charge in alone right now and kick him straight out of the clouds.
It could be said that Qin Ming now truly lived up to the name of the Realm Faction. In terms of cultivation realm alone, he no longer feared the batch of immortal seeds and divine seeds from back then.
"I wonder if Old Sun's injuries are severe, and whether there's any chance he might pass away into meditation?" Qin Ming murmured to himself.
Since Cui Chonghe had Sun Taichu supporting him, then fighting him openly would do just fine.
Back in Chixia City, Qin Ming had seen that letter. Today's Cui Chonghe was brimming with confidence, no longer keeping a low profile, and had begun challenging various prodigies across Night Province and the outer realms.
"Once I have arranged everything, I will reveal myself at the appropriate time and fight you," he said placidly to himself.
Qin Ming took Wenrui away in utter silence, without alerting the old temple master of the Longevity Daoist Temple, and rode the wind into the distance.
Once again, he had the Yellow Silk Canopy take action to erase all traces that should be removed, preventing anyone from using rare treasures to reconstruct images or clues on the scene.
"Uncle!" Lu Wenrui could scarcely believe his eyes. After four years, he was actually seeing that familiar face again in the Lingxu Mountain Range.
Qin Ming had returned to Twin Trees Village multiple times, but to prevent innocent people from being caught in the crossfire on his account, he had met only with Liu Mo each time, never showing his face to Lu Ze, Wenrui, and the others.
Yet even so, someone had still tried to drag those close to him into harm's way, which stoked his genuine fury.
In truth, over these years, the red squirrel that had grown up alongside Wenrui had dropped hints that Qin Ming had returned. But each time Wenrui rushed to the village entrance, he never caught sight of that figure.
"Wenrui, you're a big lad now." Qin Ming looked at him, feeling an ache in his heart. The boy was merely nine years old, yet his frame had expanded so drastically that he stood taller than ordinary grown adults.
Four years ago, Wenrui had chubby red cheeks and wide, clear eyes, full of innocence. In that winter of scarce food, when delivering a meal to Qin Ming, he had been obedient and sensible; even though he craved a bite, he had concealed it, only swallowing his saliva in secret.
Wenrui said, "Uncle, I'm a cultivator now too. Though I'm not as formidable as you, I can protect my little brother, and in the future, I can protect Twin Trees Village as well."
Evidently, despite his robust physique, his mind was far from mature, reflecting his true age. He had no inkling of how harrowing the path of the Giant Spirit God was, fraught with the peril of early death.
Among the powerhouses Qin Ming knew of, only the Old Barbarian God had achieved greatness along this path, stepping into the Seventh Realm. Among other top figures, there were no other Giant Spirit Gods.
Reflecting on this, Qin Ming felt an even deeper revulsion and disgust toward old mountain strongholds like Thunder Marsh Palace and Star Mountain. When their superiors had patrolled the Lingxu Mountain Range, an offhand comment to raise Wenrui as a drudge had severed the boy's future.
After deliberate thought, Qin Ming said, "Wenrui, your uncle has a way to help you switch paths. Though it will take time and effort, it will allow you to go much farther."
"Ah, Uncle, I'm already used to the bitter training of this path. Is switching paths a good idea?" Wenrui looked somewhat bewildered.
"We will discuss this once we get back," Qin Ming said, carrying him as he rode the wind across the night mist. Each glide carried them an immense distance before they touched ground to borrow momentum.
Wenrui was still a child at heart. Feeling as though he were flying through the heavens, he let out occasional exclamations of wonder, which soon turned to sheer delight once he adjusted. Though they had not met in a long time, Wenrui had already formed lasting memories before Qin Ming left, and he held immense affection for this uncle.
Moreover, his parents often spoke of him, letting him know that this uncle was an extraordinary prodigy who enjoyed widespread renown in the brilliantly lit cities far away.
Back in Twin Trees Village, Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing cried out in shock, "Wenrui!"
They could hardly believe their eyes. After leaving for so long, their eldest son had suddenly returned—and how had his stature grown so towering?
"Mother! Father!" Wenrui's eyes brimmed with tears as he dashed over.
"Brother!" Wenhui, now six years old, immediately came trotting over as well.
"Xiao Qin, you... you're back!" Then Lu Ze saw Qin Ming behind him. Striding over, he grasped Qin Ming's shoulders, overcome with emotion.
"Xiao Qin?" Liang Wanqing was equally astonished. Both she and Lu Ze already knew that Qin Ming's fame now shook Night Province, placing him among the tier of foremost geniuses.
"Uncle!" Wenhui also ran over. He had no memory of the man before him, but he had frequently heard his parents speak of this uncle's past and legendary deeds.
"Brother Lu, Sister-in-law!" Qin Ming walked forward. In the past, he had avoided them and kept out of sight, yet disaster had still nearly befallen them. Now he planned to pull Black-White Mountain into the fold, casting aside all reservations.
He discussed matters thoroughly with Lu Ze, agreeing that to outsiders, they would simply say Wenrui and Wenhui were playmates of Liu Mo's youngest son.
***
Yuque flew in and reported, "Mountain Lord, Lord Dog remains in the mountain, but its condition seems precarious. It keeps coughing up blood and is hesitating over whether to ascend to the heavens. However, when it comes to the God Child's affairs, it is determined to intervene, and it is inquiring about the details."
Qin Ming nodded. "I indeed have some new information here."
Flying sparrows delivered messages back and forth between Black-White Mountain and Twin Trees Village. Yuque and its Dao partner for the year were exceptionally dedicated.
"Were it not for Lord Dog's severe injuries, it would have left seclusion in person. Even so, it is furious and has resolved to exert deterrence!" Yuque said excitedly.
The Dog Sword Immortal had commanded its subordinates to carry its green bamboo sword and cut down the earthly branches of Thunder Marsh Palace and Star Mountain. If any grand figure refused to accept it and dared to leap out, the beast would slay them even while dragging its crippled body.
Learning of the Dog Sword Immortal's state, Qin Ming felt a pang of concern. The affliction of a creature at the Earth Immortal level had actually worsened to such a degree.
Therefore, regarding the Cui family, he did not mention a single word. Vengeance was his own to exact; there was no need to petition the Beast God. He would handle it step by step by his own hand.
Nonetheless, when an opportunity to borrow momentum presented itself, he would certainly seize it. Acting along the current was only natural; otherwise, would it not be a waste?
Two days later, creatures from the forbidden domain of Black-White Mountain followed their ancestor's orders. Bearing the green bamboo sword, they journeyed afar, heading straight for Chongxiao City, the imperial capital of Dayu.
By now, this place had become the central hub of Night Province. Tangible meridians of power radiated outward, expanding to comb through the order of heaven and earth and cloaking the pitch-black earth.
Most importantly, this place was free from violent upheavals of Dao rhymes. Comparatively speaking, it was fairly serene, belonging to the lands near the Dao.
Whether in the heavens or on the ground, every powerhouse knew the critical importance of this place. The sacred radiance rising from it merged with the pure land in the heavens, helping Earth Immortals nurse their wounds.
Consequently, major factions had all established specialized strongpoints in Chongxiao City.
The branches of Thunder Marsh Palace and Star Mountain were both situated in the most prosperous quarter of the city, along the banks of the Shuyu River. Here, silvery willows draped gracefully, shimmering with radiance, framing two magnificent estates that sprawled over extensive grounds.
Electric arcs intertwined over the golden tiles of Thunder Marsh Palace, shielded by a great array, while the architecture of Star Mountain was enveloped in light resembling a river of stars, displaying an extraordinary spectacle.
At that very moment, a resounding roar shattered the air: "In accordance with the decree of the Beast God, we have come to sever Thunder Marsh Palace!"
Accompanied by a colossal, luminous green sword light, Thunder Marsh Palace blew apart. The sprawling compound detonated completely, ground into fine powder within the tempest of sword qi.
Throughout the estate, cries of agony erupted. The strongest among them was an aged grandmaster, proving that in today's unique environment, a figure of that level was already capable of presiding over an entire territory.
Howling piteously with disheveled hair, he lunged into the night sky, yet could not escape his doom. In an instant, he burst into a cloud of blood mist, perishing on the spot.
Innumerable onlookers stood dumbfounded. No one had anticipated that right after the unified immortal dynasty had been newly established, someone would dare act with such wild abandon.
Yet once they learned the origin of the strikers, many drew in sharp breaths of the night mist. Who had not heard of how, when the four Earth Immortals descended to the mortal realm back then, it was the Beast God of Black-White Mountain who had been the first to leap out?
Nearly two years had passed, but the legendary feat of the Dog Sword Immortal single-handedly battling four Earth Immortals still held all quarters in awe.
"Fellow Daoists, why take it to such lengths?" someone called out.
"Black-White Mountain is the Dao sanctuary of our ancestor, and Twin Trees Village outside the mountain shares profound bonds with it! Thunder Marsh Palace dared run rampant in Twin Trees Village and abduct its people—those involved deserve death!" shouted an expert from Black-White Mountain.
People took note that the Beast God had dispatched two grandmasters to lead the party, reverently bearing its green bamboo sword. Such intense killing intent showed that it was truly incensed.
On this day, Twin Trees Village was destined to achieve world-shaking fame.
"That name sounds somewhat familiar."
"Did you forget? Qin Ming came out from there as well!"
While the crowd remained in shock, the two grandmaster-level envoys of Black-White Mountain raised the sword once more and bellowed, "Star Mountain deserves to be severed!"
With a thunderous crash, green light blanketed the banks of the Shuyu River. The estate shrouded in starlight was engulfed by horrifying sword qi, then blasted into obliteration with an earth-shaking boom.
"Ah..." Inside the disintegrating estate, a grandmaster struggled and shrieked, unleashing an exotic treasure. Yet it altered nothing; in an instant, it shattered, and he was obliterated in both body and spirit.
At this moment, throughout Chongxiao City, the leaders in charge of every major organization's outpost felt their hair stand on end. One after another, they fled frantically, scattering as far as possible.
No one knew whether the people from Black-White Mountain would unleash a third strike. This was far too fierce—they had barged directly into the imperial capital of Dayu to slaughter their enemies.
Furthermore, they were striking against branches of ancient mountain strongholds from the heavens, acting with total disregard, supreme and unchecked.
"This matter is settled for now. There will be no second chance, or the sword light will strike straight into the heavens!" The two grandmasters led their entourage away, clean and brisk, without lingering for a single moment.
In truth, their own condition was poor. Although they had only stimulated a fraction of the power left behind by the Dog Sword Immortal, the backlash had shaken the two grandmasters to the point of coughing up blood, their afflicted bodies in a very rough state.
Across the Dayu imperial capital, a deathly silence reigned first, followed by an uproar.
"Isn't that Beast God far too overbearing?"
"Hush! That is beside the point. That supreme vicious fiend of yesteryear bears deep grudges. Speaking recklessly might bring calamity upon yourself!"
That day, countless people were left stunned, never imagining such a bloody spectacle would unfold.
"Thunder Marsh Palace merely provoked a village outside Black-White Mountain, yet that Beast God would rather wage war against those in the sky! It bears grudges to the extreme—it absolutely cannot be provoked!"
Twin Trees Village was bound to Black-White Mountain in this spectacular fashion, the news spreading across all of Night Province.
Though the Dog Sword Immortal had not arrived in person, its descendants had come bearing its bamboo sword. With two thundering strikes, they had carried out the targeted elimination of Thunder Marsh Palace and Star Mountain, striking terror into all sides.
"Wait, did I just see Qin Ming?"
"Indeed, I think I saw him too! He wasn't very far from the people of Black-White Mountain. Could they be walking the same path?"
Qin Ming, the representative figure of the Newborn path who had vanished for nearly two years, had reappeared. This news stirred up an equally immense wave, as countless people had been searching for him.
"Qin Ming." The Fourth Princess of Dayu, Yao Ruoxian, immediately sent men to invite him upon hearing of her old acquaintance's reappearance. Regrettably, no trace of him remained; Qin Ming had long since vanished.
"Sister, don't be rash!" Inside Chongxiao City, Bai Meng was busy talking down Tang Yushang, genuinely terrified that she might draw her sword and chase after him.
Without question, Twin Trees Village achieved world renown in a single stroke.
In the days that followed, watching eyes constantly lurked nearby, yet no one dared barge into the village. Various factions had come merely to understand the situation and avoid stepping on landmines in the future.
"Everyone, have you forgotten? Even Cao Qianqiu once suffered an ominous encounter here and ate humble pie more than once."
"What? It was this very place?!"
The pupils of some onlookers constricted as they caught sight of Qin Ming.
He was currently staying in the village, appropriately borrowing momentum from the situation.
As news traveled afar, the major factions reacted with varying sentiments.
Could Qin Ming also be a figure of monumental background? Many large organizations could not help overthinking the matter.
Afterward, he vanished once more, entering Black-White Mountain. Showing his face at the right moment was sufficient; he had no desire to be constantly probed and watched by outsiders.
Qin Ming traversed Black-White Mountain, traveling afar in secret.
The Dog Sword Immortal had set the precedent by executing targeted eliminations of Thunder Marsh Palace and Star Mountain's earthly strongholds.
Qin Ming was also preparing to act, setting out to perform targeted eliminations against certain members of the Cui family.
"Hmm?" Using the great mountains as cover, he abruptly halted amidst his high-speed sprint. Along the way, he witnessed an astonishing sight that felt utterly inconceivable.
From the pitch-black night sky, a beam of light descended, densely packed with symbols. In the mountainous terrain, it swiftly formed the silhouette of a human figure. That figure was composed entirely of written characters, like smoke and mist, lacking physical reality.
The beam did not descend from high above the firmament, but merely fell from an altitude slightly higher than the mountain itself, dispelling the darkness over the peak.
Hiding in the distance, Qin Ming experienced an indescribable sensation.
This scene strongly resembled a sealed, pitch-black box having a window suddenly opened in it, allowing light from the outside world to beam within.
"When the future is unveiled, this place shall be my territory." The glowing human silhouette spoke in a completely foreign tongue. As it voiced its words, characters flowed forth like tiny flickering stars, expanding like a spiritual field so that its meaning could be understood by onlookers.
The human silhouette surveyed its surroundings and said, "Every blade of grass, every tree, and all living things here, including you all, belong to me."
Evidently, the entity had caught sight of Qin Ming, and what it spoke of included him as well.
Soon, the window opened in the night sky closed, and the silhouette gradually dissolved, scattering into the mountain range like a rain of spiritual light.
Qin Ming darted away in an instant. Guarding his physical body with the Yellow Silk Canopy and protecting his mind with the rag, he remained untouched by the mist, vanishing past the edge of the horizon in the blink of an eye.
"The world of the night mist is rife with the unknown and the mysterious. What was that just now?" Qin Ming pondered throughout his journey.
By comparison, the shocks of Dao rhymes and the drastic shifts in the environment were trivial. The world of the night mist clearly harbored far deeper secrets, impenetrable to mortal understanding.
Setting aside everything else, even the ground beneath his feet was incomprehensible; this was decidedly not upon the surface of an ordinary planet.
Qin Ming brushed these thoughts aside, riding the wind to vanish into the vast darkness of night. Crossing through the night mist, he charged straight for the core domain of the Cui family. Since others had made their move, he would naturally return the favor in full measure.
Chapter 488