Under the cover of night, Kunjun City was brightly lit.
Inside Shanhe Academy, Qin Ming's conch sounded from time to time, and he was frequently exchanging messages with the outside world via streamer birds.
"Uncle Meng, don't worry, I'm fine. And you made it back safely too—that's wonderful. Take good care of your health."
"Thank you for your kind concern, Senior. I've just returned safely."
"My injuries are already healed. I'm full of vigor—feels like I could punch a six-tusked white elephant to death right now."
"Ah, a Dao companion? I'm still young, please give me a breather."
Qin Ming was truly swamped with matters. Ever since setting foot on the soil of Yezhou, countless people had been reaching out to him. Some were frantic and genuinely worried, like Meng Xinghai and Ning Siqi, as well as several grandmasters of the New Life path who had abandoned their physical bodies during the enclave battle to venture out in spirit wandering to save him, and were still uneasy about his safety.
In addition, people in the heavens were also paying attention to whether he had returned alive.
In this foreign war, although Qin Ming could not be mentioned in the same breath as One Sword or the Realm Faction, his performance had still been dazzling. When sparring against the Totem civilization, he had routed an entire swarm of opponents single-handedly.
In many people's eyes, the only reason he lagged behind was that his realm had not caught up to the top tier; otherwise, he would likely be a saint-tier figure as well.
In particular, many had learned that he began cultivating relatively late, only stepping onto the New Life path at the age of sixteen, which filled them with high expectations for him.
So long as the New Life system did not choke off his path of advancement and grind him down until his temples turned gray before he became a grandmaster, his future should be brilliant.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior. I can feel it—the bottleneck of the Heart Lantern is loosening. With a bit more effort, I'll strive to step into the fourth major realm soon."
Qin Ming presented himself with soaring fighting spirit and boundless drive, exuding an aura of high-spirited vigor.
In reality, he was already being quite "modest." His current target was the fifth realm—True Form, which was the grandmaster domain. In comparison, in the cultivation civilization, the fifth realm was known as the Nascent Soul.
At present, Qin Ming was not even twenty-two years old.
"The Huang family is choosing a son-in-law and asked me to give it a shot too? Whether it involves a daughter of the main line or a concubine's branch... Uh, I'm still young, right in my prime for charging forward. I'd better push myself further first."
Following the Lu family, to which Heavenly Venerable Lu Heng belonged, yet another established power above the Nine Heavens had set its sights on him—and this one seemed even more formidable.
"The Huang family might still have a living Heavenly God slumbering in Yujing? This... their foundation is truly terrifying!" Qin Ming marveled.
Yet in his heart, he thought: *It's not like the Heavenly God is looking for a husband. What does that have to do with me?*
"Don't give a flat refusal, but show appropriate respect to a Heavenly God family? All right, I understand. If I head above the Nine Heavens again, I'll act as the situation demands."
Qin Ming realized that once one gained even a bit of fame, interpersonal obligations and tangled relationships came raining down relentlessly; all kinds of situations and affairs knocked on the door.
Up in the heavens, the old monsters of the Seventh Realm breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The colossal ripples from the Chasm had fed back information: fragments of the Dao Roster, the Golden Board, and the New Board had embarked on their journey back.
Initially, many people's hearts had turned cold.
Fortunately, definitive news arrived shortly afterward: though the three rosters were heavily battered and on their return journey, Yujing was still holding the line out there and currently held the upper hand.
As a result, the tense atmosphere above the heavens eased, and various factions had already begun contemplating postwar affairs.
After exchanging messages and speaking with various parties, Qin Ming learned about the circumstances of several acquaintances. There was both good and bad news: Zhao Qingcheng, a prominent figure of the esoteric sect, had fallen in battle.
Looking back, she had once been very close to Li Qingyue and Yao Ruoxian, walking side by side with them.
Furthermore, Zhuo Qingming, Luo Jingxiao, and others of the immortal path had perished, while top mutants and young sect masters of the New Life path were likewise left forever on the edge of the Scarlet Forest.
And those were merely contemporaries Qin Ming knew personally. As for the countless other experts and renowned figures he was not well-acquainted with, the casualties were even higher.
How could a great war occur without death? Bloody and utterly ruthless—such was reality.
From a bystander's perspective, all of this was only natural.
Yet when it involved friends and old acquaintances, nothing remained but a heart full of sorrowful sighs, leaving one to exhale a heavy, turbid breath.
If every foreign war and pioneering venture claimed a cohort of old friends, then the longer an expert lived and the stronger they became, the lonelier their life would grow in the end.
In truth, the losses this time were still considered tolerable, primarily because everyone had initially been within the Golden Board's Mountain and Sea domain, fighting foreign foes as a cohesive whole.
Otherwise, had they plunged into chaotic individual melees, it would have been far more horrific, and in all likelihood, over eighty percent would have perished.
After all, this involved a supreme blood duel.
Even the old mountain factions in the heavens had lost many formidable figures; for instance, Heavenly God Ridge, which stood on equal footing with Star Mountain and Thunder Marsh Palace, had lost its core leadership—its Ridge Master had actually died in battle.
This was precisely why the Huang family, Lu family, and others were so eager to recruit sons-in-law upon their return, seeking fresh blood with limitless potential, while other great powers were actively taking in disciples.
In this foreign campaign, among the younger generation, One Sword, Yun Jianyue, Li Wanfa, and Wei Shouzhen had achieved glorious records, while Qian Cheng, Li Shi'an, Yin Tian, and others had risen meteorically, shooting from obscurity to worldwide renown overnight.
Naturally, these people drew everyone's gaze and were targeted by all sides.
"Brother Ming, Senior Yu has awakened," Bai Meng hurried over to inform him.
Outside the Scarlet Forest, the supreme battle had not yet drawn to a close. The returning old monsters gathered together in the heavens, huddling for warmth.
Tang Yushang, Bai Meng, and the others had followed along to Yezhou, likewise not daring to stay alone to guard against mishaps.
On the way to visit Yu Gensheng, Bai Meng asked in surprise, "Brother Ming, your body's fine now? Why do I feel like you've become even more intimidating?"
"It's decent," Qin Ming nodded. In truth, he was studying an extraordinary art that touched upon the taboo domain, capable of absorbing all kinds of spiritual essence and wondrous matter from his surroundings.
Thus, when Bai Meng drew close, he felt as though he were facing an abyss.
Qin Ming adjusted immediately, returning himself to an ethereal, immortal-like state.
Passing through the quiet bamboo grove, they arrived at the rear mountain and saw the old man lying on the sickbed.
Yu Gensheng's face was pale. Aside from missing both arms, other parts of his body were maimed as well, such as his right lower leg, while only half of his heart remained, and only a small fraction of his sternum and shoulder blades were intact.
Fortunately, he was a grandmaster; as long as he was alive, his body would regenerate naturally as he recuperated.
"Senior, you're awake." Qin Ming stepped forward and channeled heavenly light into him, once again using the golden threads endowed with longevity qualities to mend and stitch his wounds.
"I'm... fine," Yu Gensheng said somewhat weakly, showing a gratified smile. Having managed to fight the white-haired grandmaster to the death and ensure the safety of Qin Ming, Tang Yushang, and the others, he felt it had all been worthwhile.
Then, his brow knitted slightly. "Those students..."
Earlier, he had accompanied a group of Shanhe Academy students to escort them away, but later, unable to stop worrying about Qin Ming, he had entrusted them to his traveling companion, Li Qingyun.
Qin Ming reassured him, "They're all fine. They ran into a group of experts from the immortal path, and news arrived not long ago that they have already entered Yezhou."
"That is good, then." Yu Gensheng let out a long breath.
Tang Yushang had also emerged from seclusion and came to the bamboo cottage to visit this grandmaster who had risked his life to protect them.
Over the past two days, Da Tang had been studying the shackles inside her body. She discovered that they were not merely a bloodline cage, but also harbored mysterious energy beyond imagination.
This time, on the brink of death, she had actually undergone a nirvanic rebirth through them.
Tang Yushang felt that if utilized properly, this would not be a shackle blocking her path, but a mysterious wellspring for elevating her life stage and achieving great nirvanic transformations.
Standing before the sickbed, she spoke, "Senior, rest well and recover. Having survived such a bloody calamity, as the saying goes, surviving a great disaster brings fortune—perhaps you will have hope of reaching the Patriarch realm."
Yu Gensheng shook his head. "The Patriarch barrier is difficult to break. The sixth realm—Hunyuan—is extraordinarily arduous. For most people, it's far too ethereal. Besides, in such a peculiar macro-environment, an old man in his twilight years like me shouldn't entertain wild dreams."
Tang Yushang consoled him, "Such a cruel, great era will compel the most brilliant figures of every path to blaze trails and research new arts. Perhaps unprecedented means of breaking through will emerge."
Afterward, Pei Shuyan arrived as well. He was now able to walk on the ground, no longer worried that his arms might fall off or his feet detach from his body at any moment.
Over the past two days, humiliating the Traveler had become his daily routine. While recuperating in Shanhe Academy, he interrogated the Holy Traveler from time to time.
"Senior, you've finally awakened." Jin Xiang arrived as well. His true form was a golden sheep, and he had pulled carts in Kunjun City for over twenty years to temper his heart in the mortal world.
Now in human form, one of his special horns was broken. Appearing in the prime of his manhood, he possessed a steady composure accumulated across the years.
Yu Gensheng nodded. "Good child, your mental fortitude is truly formidable. You've always been able to temper yourself quietly, and you aren't far from becoming a grandmaster."
Jin Xiang was an outstanding graduate representative of Shanhe Academy from over twenty years ago. He was remarkable, cultivating both the New Life path and the esoteric sect path, and daring to serve as a beast of burden amid the bustling mortal world to comprehend his heart sutra.
He paid no heed to secular gazes and cared nothing for glory or disgrace; such a state of mind was rarely matched.
"Senior Brother Jin, congratulations," Qin Ming greeted him. Back when he and Little Wu first entered Kunjun City, it was Jin Xiang who had pulled their cart to Shanhe Academy.
Jin Xiang smiled and replied, "You are destined to surpass those before you and blaze the trail ahead of us. Junior Brother Qin, when the time comes, I'll be waiting for you to guide me forward."
Pei Shuyan chuckled. "Brother Jin, do you mean you want Brother Qin to guide you into becoming an immortal? For other barriers, given your steady, grounded approach, there won't be much trouble."
Soon after, they took their leave to let Yu Gensheng rest in peace.
However, Old Yu had achieved the rank of grandmaster and survived a fatal calamity; now that he had regained consciousness, peace was not in the cards—many people were bound to come visit him.
Qin Ming and Tang Yushang went to interrogate the Holy Traveler once more. Qin Ming felt the time was ripe: once nothing more of value could be wrung from this man, he should be obliterated, as keeping him alive was a hidden peril.
Unfortunately, the supreme inheritance of the Traveler civilization remained unreachable; the moment anyone probed it, a portion of the flaxen-haired youth's mental imprint would shatter.
Probing other areas, Qin Ming finally reaped some gains. For instance, he attained some understanding of the Traveler civilization and acquired several incomplete arts, such as various manifestations, the Flying Immortal Seal, and knacks for boosting speed.
He felt he had gained considerably. Take the Flying Immortal Seal: its original foundational scripture had to possess wonders that plundered the creation of heaven and earth, by no means inferior to the Inner Landscape Heaven-Opening Axe.
Qin Ming tested channeling it with Chaos force and felt he could roughly execute the technique.
"This fellow is truly vicious and ruthless. Wandering everywhere, he ran into a Dao scion of a certain immortal cultivation system and had the white-haired grandmaster join him to eliminate that rival."
Sure enough, running wild in the outside world was perilous.
The Dao scion of that immortal cultivation system had possessed cultivation even a notch higher than the Holy Traveler's, and he had been very young—barely in his early thirties.
Yet he had been suppressed by the white-haired grandmaster and slain by the Holy Traveler. His Flying Immortal Seal and that purple, shimmering flying sword forged of pure exotic metal had both ended up as spoils fueling his enemy.
How tragic was this Dao scion's fate? His future path ought to have been smooth and radiant with boundless glory.
"His cultivation was a notch above the Holy Traveler's." Qin Ming was rather startled. The Night Mist World was vast indeed; within the dark domains lay countless unknown civilizations and peerless prodigies.
At first, Qin Ming thought the Dao scion belonged to the cultivation civilization. However, after probing the Holy Traveler's memories in detail, he found that was not the case.
"This system doesn't form a Nascent Soul; it walks the path of the Grand Dao of the Golden Core. Once the golden core forms, it is indestructible and eternal, signifying that one has attained the Dao right then and there."
Things like shattering the core or forming a Nascent Soul simply did not exist.
Even Tang Yushang was filled with yearning, murmuring, "The diversity of systems and the brilliance of the fires of civilization out in the far distance are truly captivating."
Qin Ming said, "This Traveler civilization is remarkable as well. When it arose in ancient times, it was merely a single clan, yet it eventually evolved into a supreme sanctuary. Most critically, they are researching longevity and have yielded peculiar results—they even planned to feed blood sacrifices to the Undying Blood Scourge."
This was outrageous and dangerous: out in the distance, a supreme system was actually researching the Undying Blood Scourge.
The Holy Traveler said miserably, "Give me a quick death."
He knew his value had been squeezed dry; it was time for him to depart this life.
Unfortunately, his cultivation had been crippled, and his form and spirit were pierced through by those dense golden threads, leaving him unable even to detonate himself.
Pei Shuyan's eyes were slightly red as he snapped, "In your dreams! You cut down a grandmaster of my immortal path and slaughtered my senior brothers and junior sisters, and you still expect a quick death? Every trick you pulled, I'll pay back to you in full."
From then on, the place became Pei Shuyan's domain. The once-suave gentleman transformed into a vengeful fiend, cleaving the Holy Traveler lengthwise, searching his soul, and severing his mental field with every method at his disposal.
Qin Ming, Tang Yushang, and Bai Meng exited early, strolling through Shanhe Academy.
After returning to peak condition, Qin Ming's mental perception was razor-sharp. Vaguely sensing something amiss, he looked at Tang Yushang and said, "Huh? Why do I sense the aura of my own flesh and blood on you?"
Hearing this, Bai Meng was startled. "What's going on?"
Then his eyes widened. "Sis, you're carrying Brother Ming's flesh and blood?!"
Immediately, he received a tag-team beating—there was a world of difference between physical remnants and bearing a child!
Bai Meng wailed, shouting hurriedly to save himself, "Is there a chance I'm telling the truth? You guys were shattered, your mangled flesh and blood piled together... could my sister have accidentally gotten pregnant?!"
Qin Ming pulled his hands back, but Tang Yushang beat him even harder. She believed she had to firmly plant her foot on her younger brother to teach him that running his mouth carelessly would get him killed.
The truth was that when their remains had scattered together, Tang Yushang had intercepted a drop of Qin Ming's true blood. After studying it for days, she found its vitality terrifyingly potent; inside her body, it shone brilliantly like a golden core, radiating luminous light.
"Here, take it back!" After disciplining Bai Meng, she returned it to its rightful owner.
Qin Ming gazed at her and asked, "You found life after brushing against death—you actually achieved nirvanic rebirth?"
Tang Yushang gave a reserved nod, returning to the cool, alluring charm of a celestial maiden. With tsundere stubbornness, she lifted her snow-white chin, her formidable self-confidence restored once more.
She wondered: if she continued to undergo nirvanic rebirths, would she be able to suppress Qin Ming? Turn the tables on him? Her previous crushing defeat and beating had infuriated her to no end.
Given time, she would inevitably surpass Qin Ming in the future, handling him with ease. Thus, as she envisioned the future, her chin tilted upward involuntarily.
Picturing herself standing supreme above him, she found herself in high spirits. Her aloof demeanor thawed, turning radiant in an instant, like a gentle spring breeze.
Qin Ming asked her, "When can you retrieve your jade mirror?"
Tang Yushang snapped back to reality, instantly on high alert.
Qin Ming said, "My life-saving wondrous treasure—the decayed fan—shattered. I want to visit an otherworldly realm soon to handle some personal business, and traveling without a sect-guarding weapon in hand makes me feel uneasy."
Tang Yushang was astonished. "What are you going to an otherworldly realm for?"
"I want to pull off a big deal. If you help, I'll give you a cut."
Da Tang's spirits lifted at once. She knew Qin Ming was quite capable of stirring up trouble; any "big deal" of his was bound to be extraordinary, and in all likelihood, they could make a fortune.
"Within these two days, I'll go up to the heavens to retrieve the jade mirror. Let me think it over."
Qin Ming nodded immediately. "Great. With our powers combined, we can accomplish great things."
"What about me?" Bai Meng asked at once.
Qin Ming said, "Your realm is too low. Stay behind and watch the house."
Clearly, Little Bai was disdained. Mostly, it was his mouth—lately, even Qin Ming had felt the urge to beat him. Not a single beating he suffered had been undeserved.
In the outside world, heated discussions were everywhere.
The old monsters of the Seventh Realm were too remote, like celestial dragons above the clouds; people could only hear stray rumors about them, unable to observe them up close.
"Holy crap, Zhuo Kun—that old man is terrifying! Once the Dao rhymes cease churning and fall like torrential rain, he is certain to become a Heavenly God."
"The Sage of Pugong displayed peerless divine might! His Chaos force swept through all obstacles, blasting through multiple titans from the Totem and Celestial Clans. It was utterly breathtaking."
Undoubtedly, people talked most about those closer to their own level. Seven-sun stackers, peerless experts, and their ilk were simply too far removed.
Yun Jianyue solidified her position as the foremost core disciple. Her glorious record was verifiable—she had actually slain an Abyss King!
Li Wanfa had previously struck down one of the Seven Heroes of the Celestial Clan, and now that it was fully exposed, it naturally drew immense attention.
Chaos force was also widely discussed as a result, elevated to brand-new heights.
"I knew it! Among those saint-tier youths, some have most likely already stepped into the grandmaster domain."
In the past, people had merely speculated, but now real battle achievements unquestionably confirmed certain rumors.
Most astonishing of all, unknown figures like Qian Cheng and Yin Tian had risen abruptly, sparking a tremendous sensation.
Naturally, many of the topmost great factions wished to approach these backgroundless dark horses, hoping to bind them through marriage, discipleship, and the like.
However, from within the Nine-Colored Ice Mountain, certain old monsters cautioned their descendants that some individuals were best left untouched, as they might involve a situation within the taboo domain.
"What? A Dharma King... Hiss, forget it."
Wei Shouzhen had displayed formidable might in the enclave and earned full recognition from the Huang family, who might even betroth a daughter of the main lineage of extraordinarily high status to him.
"One Sword and the Realm Faction truly live up to their top-roster prestige! Absolutely awesome—suppressing Daoist Butterfly and slaying King Shenmu! Terrifying and brilliant battle records!"
The experts among the younger generation felt tangible, unlike the old monsters of the Seventh Realm, who were like castles in the air—too ethereal and remote.
"Taiyi and Qin Ming both have the bearing of future core disciples. Even now, they've suppressed the younger generation of the Totem camp until they have no temper left. A pity their realms still lack a bit of seasoning."
"By the way, has anyone figured out who One Sword and the Realm Faction actually are?"
"Forget it. If you really investigated to the end, you might be scared to death. Word is, that Qian Cheng was like that—even the Earth Immortal old monsters in the heavens backed away."
Evidently, there was no wall without cracks in this world; once one or two people learned something, it ceased to be a secret.
As for Qian Cheng, he quickly vanished from the public eye.
Back at Shanhe Academy, Bai Meng marveled endlessly, "Brother Ming is truly awesome—out of the focal figures fiercely discussed out there, four of them are you!"
If the truth were exposed, it would surely cause an explosive uproar.
Bai Meng felt that day was not far off. As Qin Ming stepped into the grandmaster domain and various factions dug deeper, certain secrets could never remain hidden.
"Hiss... I was affected by Brother Ming's scorching great medicine. In theory, after so many days, the effect should have worn off long ago. Why do elephant-kin look so elegant to me now?"
Over the past two days, Bai Meng had been sitting along the main thoroughfares of Shanhe Academy, watching non-human students like white jade elephants and golden-furred spirit elephants, feeling an unprecedented kinship with them.
"Could it be that my curse... is loosening, and there's a chance I could restore my divine elephant form?" Bai Meng grew instantly excited.
Turning around, he happened to see Pei Shuyan walking over. He quickly called out, "Old Pei, come here! I invite you to appreciate the youthful, lovely scenery together."
Pei Shuyan walked over, undisturbed as an ancient well, completely unable to empathize.
Bai Meng said, "Look, how graceful that white elephant's figure is! It fills me with tender pity."
Pei Shuyan shook his head. "Massive. Muscular."
Bai Meng smacked his forehead. "I forgot, you're human. Then look across diagonally—that young woman is slender and graceful, with bright eyes, white teeth, and gentle as jade. Uh, seems she's looking for Brother Ming. He really is popular."
At that moment, Qin Ming was receiving old acquaintances like Xin Youdao, Liu Hanya, and Luo Qing, who were standout talents from Kunjun's various academies.
Things had changed with time, and the group was deeply moved. In the past, they had already known Qin Ming would rise, but they never expected he would achieve fame across heaven and earth so rapidly.
Pei Shuyan shook his head. "I feel nothing."
Bai Meng said sympathetically, "Then what do you think of a peerless beauty like my sister?"
"Though she possesses ice-like skin and jade-like bones, capable of toppling cities and nations, I... goddammit, right now... I'm actually completely unmoved." By the end of his sentence, even Pei Shuyan panicked.
Could a physical defect truly affect one's mental state?
Bai Meng clapped him on the shoulder. "Duke Pei, you've made it!"
Pei Shuyan turned his head to look at him. "Made what?"
Bai Meng said, "Your Dao heart is rock-solid and unshakeable as a mountain! You can withstand every temptation, and no one can sway your will. From now on, your cultivation path will be a smooth, unobstructed highway, unmoved by external things!"
Pei Shuyan pondered before nodding solemnly. "You know, you're right. Right now, I only want to become stronger. Divine maidens, peerless celestial fairies—to me, they're nothing more than fleeting smoke. Even the love at first sight from my youth, which I mistook for something unforgettable for a lifetime, has dissolved into vague illusions. Looking at it this way, there's no rush to find an elder of the immortal path to restore my body. I'll cultivate to the grandmaster realm first."
Bai Meng said, "Mm, that's the spirit!"
Late at night, Qin Ming was in secluded cultivation within the lakeside courtyard at Shanhe Academy that had once belonged to him. He was practicing a terrifying "true technique." At this moment, he resembled a black hole, intent on devouring everything.
"It seems that having my body shattered multiple times and tempered repeatedly, though undergoing life-and-death disasters, wasn't without benefit."
Even Qin Ming was astonished; he had refined the devouring trait within Chaos force to a high level of mastery.
In truth, he had developed it long ago, but it had only been at the beginner stage back then. When he clashed with Sun Chengjun of the Sage lineage at Shanhe Academy, he had swallowed the opponent's heavenly light force.
At that time, he had been far from proficient, but now it was a completely different story.
Without question, this was a peerless art.
He had practically fathomed the strongest Dao-protecting method of the Sage lineage.
Qin Ming was exceedingly pleased—even more delighted than if he had obtained top-tier precious medicines or true scriptures. He had gained yet another terrifying offensive method.
"Mm, it seems thorough tempering yields endless benefits. I must guard against arrogance and impatience. The hidden attributes of Chaos force are unveiling themselves to me one by one."
"A great victory! Yujing's Dao rhymes cascaded like myriad starry rivers plunging from the Nine Heavens, finally crushing the colossal entity—the Undying Blood Scourge—to smithereens!"
The next day, earth-shattering news broke, triggering a tsunami of heated discussion. The hearts of the people, long suspended in anxiety, finally settled.
Had Yujing lost, it would undoubtedly have brought catastrophic annihilation. Now, the tables had turned.
Preparing to ascend the Nine Heavens, Tang Yushang said, "I'm heading up to the heavens to retrieve the jade mirror. Are you coming?"
In fact, Qin Ming had also received an invitation. With Yujing's great victory, the entire world celebrated, and major factions gathered in the heavens for a grand assembly.
"Mm, they might grant additional rewards to those with meritorious service." Pei Shuyan's spirits lifted. Having fought foreign foes bloody and paid an immense price, he indeed wanted to go to the heavens to see if there was any extra pension or compensation.
Bai Meng said, "Brother Ming, you were specifically named—it's mandatory for you to go up."
"Then let's go together." Qin Ming finally decided to accompany them.
That day, he arrived once more at Sky City. The resplendent, colossal immortal city sat upon the Night Mist Sea, overlooking the mortal realm below.
Qin Ming's nominal disciple, Su Mohua, appeared right away. Rushing forward, she whispered, "Master, actually... this gathering might just be a matchmaking banquet."
Chapter 564