Outside, treacherous clouds and shifting storms roiled the world.
Within Black and White Mountain, all was quiet and serene. Unmoved by external affairs, Qin Ming remained immersed in forging his path and contemplating his cultivation.
Seated across from him in the freezing ice and snow was a woman who looked like a celestial maiden descended into the mortal dust—dignified, elegant, ethereal, and aloof from worldly concerns.
She was someone whom even the supreme, exalted former president of the Association of God-like Beings had personally ordered must not be lost.
Her silver hair cascaded to her waist, and her features were as breathtaking as a painting. Possessing a beauty that could topple kingdoms, she had once been among the living dead, yet now a faint warmth radiated from her supple body.
At this moment, silver radiance rippled through her hair like rolling water, her long eyelashes fluttered faintly, and her lovely eyes seemed on the verge of opening.
Qin Ming parted his lips and exhaled a breath of nine-colored sword baleful aura, brilliant as divine sunset clouds, sending it into her body. Instantly, sacred rain of light steamed across her form. Her slender figure tautened, and her crystalline white flesh spouted beams of sword light.
At the same time, Qin Ming resonated with her, combining this unique ability with multiple true scriptures to expand it into an entirely new realm.
His mental field remained within his own body, yet through the nine-colored sword baleful aura, an inscrutable, vital tether bound him to the woman, as if he were truly possessing her.
Amid slow yet potent thumps, the silver-haired woman's heart resumed beating in earnest. Then, she opened her eyes—clear as mountain springs.
She surveyed her surroundings before rising from the snow and stretching her limbs with leisurely grace. Every gesture and movement brimmed with exquisite beauty, carrying an ineffable divine charm.
With bright eyes and pearly teeth, remarkably refined and sacred, she seemed utterly untouched by mortal soot. In this instant, she had "revived."
As she gradually acclimated, with a crisp clang, she drew and slashed out a beam of nine-colored sword light that shot straight into the night sky.
Clad in coarse hemp robes, an otherworldly aura shone through her plain attire. Imbued with vibrant spiritual grace, she possessed an extraordinary demeanor, like the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden walking among mortals.
In truth, she was also Qin Ming.
Pondering the Subduing the Mind Classic and the Nine Heavens Classic with painstaking effort, and referencing the secret arts provided by Pei Gong, Tang Yushang, and others, he had pushed the ability of resonance to its absolute limit.
Qin Ming found it novel. His consciousness stayed rooted in his true body, yet it was anchored to the silver-haired woman through the nine-colored sword baleful aura. This resonance made him feel as though he had truly inhabited her form.
It was a peculiar state—two sides of a single coin, intertwined in an uncanny dance, a single consciousness spanning two distinct physical vessels.
If the woman were ever injured, he could vanish in an instant, simply watching her from his true body across the way.
"This is another proper use of resonance."
Qin Ming realized he had pushed open a brand-new door, entering a domain he had never set foot in before.
Even when dividing a strand of pure yang consciousness from one's main consciousness to nurture an avatar, if that avatar were slain, one's own origin would ultimately suffer harm.
Yet the state he occupied now was wondrous beyond words.
He needed only to channel sword baleful aura, heavenly light, and similar essences into the silver-haired woman's body and resonate with her. Even if she met with misfortune, he would not be implicated.
Whether it was the nine-colored sword baleful aura or heavenly light, as long as the primary reservoir of these mystical substances remained within his own body, he could nourish and replenish them continuously.
Just as right now, he had only parted with a small portion of nine-colored sword baleful aura, enough to strike several full-power sword blows. Such a loss could be quickly restored.
Correspondingly, with the source of the nine-colored sword baleful aura anchored in his true body, connected to the branch within hers, he moved via resonance just as if he were genuinely possessing her.
"I am Slaying Through the Thirty-Six Heavens with a Single Sword," the silver-haired woman murmured as she strolled through the snow—graceful, transcendent, pristine, and drifting like an exiled celestial.
The sensation was genuinely marvelous; resonance could actually be expanded to such a degree.
Qin Ming's true body remained unaffected. His consciousness moved freely between the two physical forms without the slightest discomfort.
At this moment, "One Sword" possessed icy skin and jade bones, a natural beauty impossible to conceal. She truly deserved to be called a peerless marvel of her generation. A fleeting backward glance and a faint smile from her seemed to brighten the entire world of ice and snow.
"Not bad!" Qin Ming's true body regarded his other self across from him. He then parted his lips once more, infusing another portion of nine-colored sword baleful aura into her so that she could unleash ten strikes.
In truth, at One Sword's level, once the peak nine-colored sword baleful aura emerged, life and death could be decided within a few strikes; normally, this would be more than enough.
Naturally, compared to his strongest form when all his Hunyuan sword baleful auras were unleashed together, a disparity still remained.
Yet stationed here in Black and White Mountain, how many among the adversaries he might encounter were worthy of forcing him to exhaust every trick in his repertoire?
"A single alluring glance amidst the crowd makes all mortal beauty fade to dust." Qin Ming gazed at his counterpart. If he were to announce to the world that this was One Sword's true form, she would likely amass an enormous horde of devoted followers.
Soon, he began pondering once more: what was this silver-haired woman's true background?
Anyone of enough significance to command the attention of the Association of God-like Beings demanded the utmost caution. For now, it would be best to alter her appearance somewhat.
Even so, with her physical foundation already set, One Sword was destined to be a sword immortal of peerless grace.
Once familiar with the process, the rest came easily. Soon, a handsome yet faintly eerie man appeared in the snow.
"You are Realm Faction," Qin Ming said, granting him a "new life."
Shortly after, the sound of a heartbeat echoed from the man's chest. He slowly opened his eyes. Originally born from an extraordinary insect undergoing transformation, his human form had now permanently solidified, giving him an entirely different aura. When he bared his teeth in a grin, a hint of wickedness showed through.
Next, Taiyi was revived, formally stepping into the mortal world.
In the depths of winter amidst swirling snowflakes, three figures stood before Qin Ming. Their auras and presence were so striking that even in a sea of people, they would command attention at a single glance.
"I am Taiyi. Greetings, Brother Qin."
"And I..."
One after another, the three spoke—some handsome as jade, others possessing transcendent celestial elegance.
If the world were to learn that the top three champions of the roster—Taiyi, Realm Faction, and One Sword—had appeared together to stand guard over Qin Ming, the spectacle would undoubtedly shake all under heaven.
In the end, Qin Ming retained only the peerless female sword immortal, One Sword, using her to acclimate to this resonant state as she walked silently through the territory of Black and White Mountain.
"From here on, I must cultivate in peace, internally tempering dragon and tiger to attain the realm of flawless perfection. That is my foremost task right now."
***
Out in the world, tempestuous waves surged.
With malicious actors entering the fray, Qin Ming had been kept on the crest of the storm for days on end.
He had not stepped forward to respond. The veteran grandmasters of the New Life Path who understood his character felt deeply for him, believing that he disdained explaining himself and was silently bearing it all—a true demonstration of the transcendent grace of one who knew that innocence spoke for itself.
A cohort of elderly seniors shared a common enmity, banding together to form an alliance to protect Qin Ming.
Yet outside, a clamor shook the heavens like a raging torrent swept along by an irresistible tide. Speculation ran rampant over whether Qin Ming was One Sword, with diverse voices and endless theories competing for attention.
"At first, I didn't believe it either. But someone up above shared a memory crystal showing One Sword fighting on the Sword Dueling Platform. You have to admit, that aura and bearing truly bear some resemblance to Qin Ming."
"Resemblance? Back then, he possessed a stone figure to fight! How could you possibly see anything from that?"
"Look at the details—the opening stance, for example. There are definitely traces of that bearing."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! One Sword displayed tremendous might in Silver River Gorge, slaying grandmasters one after another. No matter what, I refuse to believe that Qin Ming, who has only walked the path of cultivation for a few short years, could achieve such a feat. I cannot align their states at all. It would be utterly absurd!"
"Do you even know what an anomaly is?"
Had public opinion tilted entirely in one direction, it would never have generated such a massive commotion. It was precisely because it was rife with controversy that it stirred up such an uproar.
Moreover, when several notable figures joined the fray, setting an aggressive public narrative became unavoidable.
"I suspect something massive happened—a scandal within some immortal heritage, and poor Qin Ming and One Sword are being used as scapegoats to draw the heat and divert attention."
"Don't act like you're the only sober man in a drunken crowd! This time, someone genuinely dug up One Sword's true roots."
Above the nine heavens, within a majestic celestial city, Cheng Xian and Xie Muze were naturally following the matter. After someone shot the first arrow, they had each added fuel to the fire.
"The effect isn't that great. Why hasn't anyone stepped onto the field to verify it in person?"
"What's the rush? Since someone has put up an imaginary target, once it ferments a bit more, blood will naturally flow."
Both men remained quite composed, sitting back and waiting for a bloody spectacle. Under this kind of momentum, stray arrows would inevitably fly toward the target from every direction.
Xie Muze sneered. "A great grandmaster from our Star Mountain 'accidentally' let slip that Qin Ming and One Sword share similar traits, and that it isn't impossible for them to be the same person."
Cheng Xian swirled the fine wine in his luminous cup, cast him a glance, and said, "A bit too conspicuous. Better to let others wave the banners. Heap more praise on that young man from Black and White Mountain. Watch him roast over the fire like oil, decked in blazing flowers..."
Xie Muze nodded. "True enough. He isn't the real One Sword anyway, so there's no need to take it too seriously. For now, we'll just enjoy the show."
Blood Immortals, Changsheng Dwelling, Pure World Convent, and other shadowy syndicates were all watching the matter closely and with great gravity, sending people to investigate whether Qin Ming was indeed One Sword.
Back then, they had accepted a certain commission and suffered catastrophic losses. Now, the truth might finally be brought to light—to see whether that young man from Black and White Mountain had truly been responsible.
Someone asked with a solemn expression, "If Qin Ming truly is One Sword and capable of slaying grandmasters, what then?"
An elderly grandmaster from one of the shadowy organizations looked grim. After staying silent for a long time, he finally spoke: "If they are one and the same, we must naturally do everything in our power to resolve our past grievances."
They had detailed dossiers on Qin Ming. If he had become a grandmaster after merely a few years of cultivation, that was far too terrifying; he would undeniably be an "anomaly."
They feared that such a figure might be an old monster reincarnating through another vessel, or perhaps one of the forbidden taboos who had stolen an additional lifetime.
"And if it cannot be resolved?"
"Then what else is there to say? Even if his background is terrifying beyond belief, if we are destined to be enemies, we must act. We must strike first to seize the initiative, smothering him in the cradle before he has the chance to soar into the heavens. Batter him to death as early as possible!"
Several grandmasters within the Blood Immortals, Changsheng Dwelling, and Pure World Convent were resolute, their eyes dark and deep.
It could be said that dark undercurrents were surging everywhere. Countless eyes once again turned toward Black and White Mountain, an encirclement of external fiends closing in.
Yet against all expectations, the region around Black and White Mountain remained completely calm; no one dared venture deep within.
Even the composed Cheng Xian, Xie Muze, and their peers began frowning in silence. It turned out that everyone shared the exact same mentality—eager to watch a bloody show, but unwilling to step into the arena themselves or stain their own hands.
This suited Qin Ming's wishes perfectly. With certain people and matters, giving them the cold shoulder caused them to dissipate all the faster, whereas addressing them earnestly only dragged one deeper into the mire.
Let their wicked winds blow and their waves surge—what of it? These people could not even enter Black and White Mountain. They could scream at the top of their lungs and fire arrows in a wild frenzy, but could they even graze his skin?
Once this foul gust blew over, he could stroll out leisurely, deliver a lukewarm conclusion, and likely infuriate those who had strained their lungs barking.
For now, all he needed to do was ignore them.
Outside, the turmoil churned on, showing no signs of dying down.
A small faction of people harbored a genuine obsession with the silk book method.
Among them, a few individuals hailed from prestigious backgrounds and possessed immense arrogance, believing that if they could acquire the secret volume left by Patriarch Qin, they would not need an introducer to guide them onto the path and could directly master Chaos Force.
Consequently, the Cui family came under immense pressure.
For a time, the thousand-year-old clan was overwhelmed with headaches. They had naturally made copies of the silk book, never imagining that it would end up becoming a scorching hot potato.
This storm was clearly aimed at Qin Ming, so why had it come knocking on their doors first?
Over the past two days, figures had applied pressure, openly demanding the silk book to study.
Yet could such a matter be discussed out in the open? They feared offending the various ancestral courts of the New Life Path.
Even though the ancestral courts had long regarded the scripture as a demonic text, casting it aside into the dustbins of history, the Cui family still did not dare make it fully public.
Certain things could be discussed in private, where others might turn a blind eye, but they could never be traded openly.
Thus, they urgently contacted several ancestral courts.
"Certain people in the skies are far too domineering! Wouldn't it suffice to seek us out privately? Making such a grand spectacle is simply outrageous!"
"If they approached us privately, would you dare not report it to the ancestral courts of the New Life Path? We still have to inform them; otherwise, this debt might be settled against us in the future."
Such voices circulated within the Cui family, leaving many direct descendants distressed.
The venomous arrows that should have been aimed at Qin Ming had somehow struck their Cui family first.
However, things turned out differently from what they had envisioned.
The ancestral courts of the New Life Path took an utterly indifferent stance. It was merely half a volume of the silk book method; if someone wanted to cultivate it, they were welcome to try.
To say that the practitioners of the New Life Path did not care at all would not be entirely accurate. After internal deliberation, they ultimately consented, glad to see outsiders pioneer the New Life Path and join the system. In particular, with a true scripture guaranteed to end in an explosion, anyone who was not afraid to die was free to give it a go.
Over the countless years, who had ever truly walked this path to the end? Even the sages of old had exploded time and again, which demonstrated that the technique had serious flaws.
If people of grand backgrounds from above were willing to bring their own resources to test the waters, nothing could be better!
Upon receiving this response, the Cui family finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Immediately thereafter, they displayed their "noble" mettle: though their knees had not physically softened, they had already knelt in their hearts, proactively presenting the scripture.
Through this compliance and goodwill, the Cui family successfully ingratiated themselves with the outsiders. When circumstances were stronger than men, such actions were taken to maximize their own interests.
With half a volume of the silk book, the Cui family successfully pulled off a transaction.
By bowing their heads briefly, they indeed secured certain benefits, chiefly manifested as the "friendship" of several formidable figures.
Cui Chongxiao fell into contemplation. Could the silk book method truly be cultivated? Seeing that even figures of prestigious standing were coveting it, his heart stirred as well.
That very night, he studied it meticulously beneath a flickering lamp.
Within the Cui family, several elders shook their heads. If this true scripture, which had sat within the Cui family for so many years, could truly be mastered, would it have gathered dust until now?
At the thought of this, they could only sigh in marvel at Qin Ming's sheer talent.
***
Qin Ming sat firmly in Black and White Mountain, paying no heed to the wind and rain outside.
After transforming a single breath of Hunyuan qi into Taiyi, Realm Faction, and One Sword with complete success, he turned his sights toward exploring a domain beyond the nine-colored sword baleful aura. He sought to birth a sacred substance from his own flesh and blood, coalescing the seed of a Hunyuan Sword Dao.
Regarding this domain, he drew reference from the techniques of the Black Tower civilization.
"I can reference it, but there is no need to retrace another's path."
Qin Ming pondered. Why must he fixate on a sword seed? The nine-colored sword baleful aura was an external acquisition. He wondered whether he could unite everything into Hunyuan and then disperse it entirely, seeking inward to birth an even more transcendent power from within himself.
On this day, he received news from the outside world, and his expression instantly darkened.
After being ignored, those who were maliciously stoking the flames made a new move: Meng Xinghai in Chixia City and Yu Gensheng, who was recovering from his injuries at Shanhe Academy in Kunling, both sensed eyes watching them.
This was crossing a line. After setting up an imaginary target to shoot at, these ill-intentioned schemers now dared to implicate the people around him?
Qin Ming had been cold-shouldering the incident, leaving those harborers of malice unable to land a solid blow. This had provoked the instigators to turn even more aggressive.
He naturally could not sit idly by. He sent transmissions to his acquaintances, warning them not to venture outside alone.
Meng Xinghai contacted him immediately, saying, "Little Qin, put your mind at ease. I've returned to the Meng family, so don't fret over me."
The New Life Path responded swiftly. Multiple grandmasters mobilized, and even a great grandmaster appeared in person to escort Yu Gensheng, whose crippled body had yet to recover, safely into the ancestral court of an overarching sect.
"Whatever tricks you have left, bring them at me!" Qin Ming thought, his eyes turning cold.
He did not know who harbored such intense hostility toward him to stir up this whole affair.
No matter how heated a topic was, it would eventually cool down. Qin Ming's indifferent posture truly left those waiting for a bloody spectacle disappointed, having no purchase to apply force.
However, seeing that Qin Ming had made no response all along, some indeed misinterpreted it: could this be tacit admission?
It was only many days later, when Qin Ming felt the waves had subsided, that he calmly resonated with One Sword, having her step forward to issue a lukewarm statement.
"I am not Qin Ming; Qin Ming is not me."
One Sword emerged into the world. Without superfluous explanations, her statement was remarkably brief yet profoundly forceful.
"Heavens, what am I looking at? Slaying Through the Thirty-Six Heavens with a Single Sword—she's actually a woman!"
The outside world erupted. No one had expected this top-ranked figure to reveal her true form: slender, towering, and possessing peerless celestial grace—truly a peerless female sword immortal.
"This is One Sword, who slew multiple grandmasters? She is truly breathtakingly gorgeous, an absolute goddess of my heart!"
Even though many had only seen the silver-haired woman from afar, her features veiled in mist, their hearts surged with tremendous excitement.
On the Sword Dueling Platform, One Sword had possessed a stone figure; in the battle at Silver River Gorge, One Sword had been fully clad in standard armor. No one had ever seen her true visage.
Now that she had stepped forth in person, it sparked a colossal sensation.
"Instead of uncovering Qin Ming's background, this flushed out a peerless female sword immortal! Utterly unexpected!"
"Certain people have gone too far—harboring malicious intent and ill will! Just what are you trying to accomplish?"
Even Qin Ming had not anticipated that showing a face could sometimes surpass thousands of words.
Of course, the prerequisite was that the face was dazzling enough, backed by formidable strength.
Without a doubt, One Sword wielded precisely that degree of influence.
Qin Ming was left speechless. Had he reconstructed a national-level sword immortal?
Still, he felt a twinge of sheepishness.
He murmured to himself, "Whatever. I already exercised restraint by not having Taiyi and Realm Faction stand up for me as well."
Qin Ming also chose the right moment to appear at the outer perimeter of Black and White Mountain, sending a transmission outward that placed special emphasis on thanking One Sword for stepping into the world on his behalf and delaying the sword immortal's cultivation.
"Little Qin, rest easy. Anyone with eyes can see that someone is trying to stir up trouble. They are truly venomous. You don't need to explain anything; we believe you, and we believe One Sword even more."
Several elderly seniors stepped forward, fiercely denouncing the crooked tendencies of late.
Many chimed in one after another, their attitudes shifting dramatically.
One Sword's celebrity effect was indeed rather frightening.
Naturally, discordant voices arose, asserting that this One Sword was a fraud, not the true champion of the roster, but a pawn hired by Qin Ming.
"Qin Ming is One Sword himself! He just found someone to impersonate her to divert attention!"
Yet no one paid any heed to such claims.
That same day, One Sword slashed out a beam of nine-colored sword baleful aura and drifted into the distance.
"Holy crap, it's confirmed! Meeting Nine into Consummation—the one and only hallmark!"
"With such power, who could possibly impersonate her? Who else could pull that off?"
"Aren't you being naive? If Qin Ming were One Sword, leaving a strand of sword intent inside that woman's body would be more than enough to unleash such a strike."
In truth, after issuing the statement, Qin Ming gave them the cold shoulder once more, denying them any opportunity to push their luck.
All he needed was to cultivate and break through to become a grandmaster as soon as possible.
When that time came, any external fiend and any dirty water splashed upon him would be rendered feeble and meaningless; a single fist would shatter it all.
Otherwise, he would indeed face considerable pressure right now. After all, the hidden figures harbored immense hostility toward him, and he still did not know which faction was instigating it.
Over the following days, to test the waters, Qin Ming visited the edge of Black and White Mountain three times, accompanied by his "close friend" One Sword.
He encountered an assassination attempt; someone made a move against him.
With a sharp clang, the silver-haired female sword immortal mobilized the nine-colored sword baleful aura with full force. A splash of bloody light blossomed against the night sky as a powerhouse was blasted apart on the spot.
"An avatar?" Qin Ming frowned.
That very day, the event was recorded with a memory crystal, broadcast widely, and sensationalized.
"This... someone is truly bold! To actually step onto the field and strike against Qin Ming to test him!"
Those who cared about Qin Ming looked solemn. They believed this was undeniably worsening the storm, just like the person who had first slandered him as One Sword; today, someone had set another terrible precedent.
Now, a mysterious powerhouse had made the first physical move, which was even more egregious than verbal slander. This was directing the masses to loose their arrows, seeking to draw blood.
"Everyone, that fellow Daoist stepped onto the field in person to test the waters, and I believe it has already proven something: One Sword's relationship with Qin Ming is far too close. Why is she also in Black and White Mountain?"
Some attempted to steer the narrative, yet the public was already aware of the general situation and felt these people were deliberately targeting Qin Ming.
Who didn't know that One Sword had saved Qin Ming back at Silver River Gorge? The two were close friends to begin with.
A renowned figure in the sky spoke out: "Everyone, this proves the issue even further! On what grounds is One Sword so close to Qin Ming? There is a massive problem here!"
Yet he soon realized the narrative had veered off course.
"I'm so envious of Qin Ming, to actually become close friends with a sword immortal like One Sword and walk side by side with her!"
"My name is Qi Ming, sounds almost the same. Would that work? Can I get to know this peerless female sword immortal?"
***
The matter did not end there. A few days later, when Qin Ming patrolled the border of Black and White Mountain again, he was ambushed once more. Some refused to give up, probing repeatedly.
Furthermore, some indeed voiced doubts over why One Sword and Qin Ming were so close.
In the end, before the eyes of many onlookers, Qin Ming personally saw the female sword immortal One Sword off, consistently ignoring the provocateurs and giving them the cold shoulder.
The ill-intentioned figures were utterly infuriated. They truly had nowhere to exert their strength; their target remained holed up inside Black and White Mountain, ignoring them entirely and treating them like stray dogs by the roadside...
Certain factions sought to guide others into firing a second and third arrow to severely wound Qin Ming.
Above the nine heavens, within the Lu family where Tianzun resided, Lu Jingli had been following the matter the entire time. Last time, she had invited Qin Ming for tea, only to be politely declined, leaving her brooding over the slight.
Her close confidante remarked, "He refused the Lu family's goodwill, and now he's bogged down in endless trouble. Let's see how he resolves this."
Members of the Huang family were also discussing the matter.
"How likely is it that Qin Ming is One Sword?"
"Someone is targeting him. Let's wait and see. Adapting to crises is a test in itself, and the most direct reflection of an individual's capability. Let's see how he responds."
For the Huang family, with a living Heavenly God still residing in Yujing, their foundation was exceptionally solid. Whether facing supreme superpowers or outstanding geniuses, they could maintain complete composure.
***
Within Black and White Mountain, Qin Ming cultivated with devoted focus, paying no further heed to external affairs.
He constantly comprehended the techniques, solidifying his foundation and polishing his realm of consummation.
He truly felt a sense of urgency. Why did people dare target him? Wasn't it simply because he wasn't strong enough? If he could sweep away hordes of enemies with a wave of his hand, who would dare jump out?
In the blink of an eye, the entire winter slipped past, and he remained in seclusion.
Evidently, his retreat had exceeded its expected duration.
The outside world still talked of him and One Sword, yet within him, not a single ripple stirred.
During this time, two more ancient Mist Gates opened. Qin Ming felt a strong urge to rush over and dump his stock of "magic potions."
Yet he knew that either the Golden Board or ancient monsters were making massive moves; if he rushed after them, he would likely end up with nothing but a mouthful of dust.
No one had anticipated that Qin Ming possessed such inner tranquility, able to keep his composure so steadily.
Time flowed swiftly, and spring was nearly over before he let out a long breath. Having repeatedly verified his future path, only now did he deem his physical vessel polished to the realm of flawlessness.
"It is ready. There are no flaws left in my body. Once I gather the great medicines, it will be time to break through the barrier and become a grandmaster!"
Qin Ming rose to his feet. Without realizing it, summer was already drawing near, and a large pile of letters had accumulated. In his pursuit of cultivation, he had forgotten both self and world, remaining out of touch with the outside for a very long time.
Chapter 577