Zuixia Pavilion was bustling, every table packed to capacity. The Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace was a burning topic of conversation, and practically every Newborn was talking about it.
After all, the time was drawing near—less than half a month away, arriving in the blink of an eye.
"I can't wait for the ice and snow to melt, for the spring thunder to crack, and for the plants to sprout their buds. This year, I, Old Zhao, am putting everything on the line! I'm already seventy-two. Dying there would be no great regret, but if I manage to temper a golden body in the thunder and fire, I'll regain my second youth!"
"Here's hoping Old Zhao puts out new green like a withered tree, baptized by thunder, fire, and heavenly light to gain new life, and fathers another son next year!"
"Hearing that tempts even me. How many chances does a person get in life to take a gamble? Thirty years from now, when I'm seventy-two, I'll walk into the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace and take my shot!"
Only then did Qin Ming notice that most of the Newborns in Zuixia Pavilion were young to middle-aged adults, while another portion was quite old. Those under twenty, like him and Wu Zheng, were comparatively rare.
Xu Sheng remarked, "Most of the Newborns who come here are 'wild paths.' They haven't joined local organizations or sects, nor are they nobles."
Naturally, none who had become Newborns were simple characters. Some of the experts among them were extraordinarily formidable, with immense sway; if they encountered a troublesome mutated creature, they could rally a large crowd to head into the mountains.
Soon after, Qin Ming asked a question he cared about deeply. "Brother Xu, what level of Newborn can enter the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace?"
Clearly, if one were to receive the heavenly light there, someone who had undergone Newborn transformations three or four times would have far better odds of surviving than someone who had only done so once or twice.
"Anyone can go in. Generally speaking, if it's your first Newborn transformation, withstanding a single strike of thunder, fire, and heavenly light inside the bronze palace is enough. For those seeking a second transformation, withstanding two strikes of thunder, fire, and heavenly light inside usually does the trick. But matching your own level, after taking that corresponding number of strikes, do you really expect to walk out alive?"
Xu Sheng explained that even if someone stood outside to assist with ropes prepared in advance to haul a person out at the critical moment, it proved useless. The only difference was whether the corpse was somewhat intact or charred to a complete crisp.
Either way, the person was already dead.
Qin Ming pondered. If he were to visit the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace, he would need to endure at least four baptisms of heavenly light.
Wu Zheng shook his head. "Looks like I'll have to follow that old gentleman's lead and wait until I'm seventy or eighty before going."
Xu Sheng chuckled. "Haha, sounds sensible. I'll wait until I'm a hundred."
Qin Ming asked, "If someone can withstand the baptism of thunder, fire, and heavenly light, can they go back again next time? Does it still work?"
"Being baptized once is already receiving heaven's favor, yet you want to go a second time? Still, now that you mention it, I remember there really was someone like that," Xu Sheng said.
Pausing briefly to recall, he continued, "Decades ago, a young man managed to endure it two years in a row. In the third year, he went again—getting a bit too full of himself, thinking he could keep catching that 'heavenly grace.' He died horribly."
Xu Sheng explained that the youth had hailed from an extraordinary background and possessed an unusual physique. Most importantly, his Newborn method originated from an exceptionally rare, precious secret manual. Cultivated to a high level, it could imbue his fists with thunder and lightning.
Wu Zheng was stunned, suddenly feeling that his family's ancient tome on spear and arrow arts was far less appealing.
Xu Sheng's face was also filled with yearning. "That was a rare manual capable of cultivating special abilities, and it was related to thunder and lightning, which is why he dared to go. How could an ordinary person endure it?"
Qin Ming's interest was piqued as well. Top-tier heritages truly stirred boundless fascination. Without even thinking, he knew they were all held in the hands of astonishing religious traditions and mysterious, great organizations.
Xu Sheng added, "A hundred years ago, there was someone even more reckless. He withstood spring thunder twice, then wanted to try the ferocious summer thunder. In the end, he crawled out of the golden palace wailing, severely corroded by the heavenly light. His head was crimson red, and his brains ended up completely cooked through."
"Brothers, something's happening in the mountains! A five-times mutated spiritual creature appeared out by Huoyun Ridge! Boss Liang Yukang is leading men in a hunt and has already dealt it heavy wounds, but they've taken heavy losses themselves and are on the verge of collapsing. They're asking for help right now, promising a share to anyone who shows up!"
A middle-aged man rushed up into Zuixia Pavilion, blurting out the news in a rush.
"Huoyun Ridge? Isn't that the territory claimed by that famous fowl, the Fire Qilin Sparrow? Daring to go to such a dangerous place—talk about guts!"
"I didn't make myself clear—it's the mountain forest outside Huoyun Ridge, in an area where hunting is permitted!"
"Let's go!"
With a bustling clatter, quite a few Newborns surged out of Zuixia Pavilion, tempted by the prospect. Since the mutated creature had already suffered grievous injuries, they could go take a look first and step into the fray if the opportunity proved right.
Xu Sheng remarked, "Liang Yukang and his men actually have a decent reputation."
"Shall we go join in the excitement?" Qin Ming asked, an eager glint in his eyes.
"Xiao Qin, aren't you being a bit too hasty? You haven't even found an inn or set down your luggage, and you're already rushing to follow them deep into the mountains for a hunt?"
Although Xu Sheng said this, his own interest was piqued. He asked, "How many Newborn transformations have you had?"
"Two," Qin Ming replied, holding back somewhat.
Xu Sheng nodded. "Alright then. When we get there, stay far back and watch just to broaden your horizons. Even if that mutated creature is on the verge of death, do not approach it."
Wu Zheng's eyes burned with envy, but he understood his own strength was lacking. Having undergone only a single Newborn transformation, he was not even qualified to watch the spectacle.
A large crowd exited the north city gate, crunching through knee-deep snow as they swiftly made their way into the mountain forest.
In the shallow night, Chixia City was bright as day, so when entering the woods to face the dark night, some took a moment to adjust before picking up the pace.
Outside Huoyun Ridge, a giant blue ox blazed with fire all over, consumed by fury. It had indeed been grievously wounded and was now raging madly.
"So it's this old bull! I heard that more than a dozen Newborns ran into it in the mountains recently and died beneath its hooves, stomped to a pulp."
"Taking it down today will rid us of a scourge!"
Many voiced their agreement, yet none stepped into the fray, wishing for others to strike first.
"A bull this massive weighs several thousand jin! There's plenty of meat and blood to go around. Brothers, let's charge together, lest delay invite trouble and draw other monsters!" someone shouted.
With a booming crash, an ancient tree requiring several men to embrace it was shattered by the blue ox's charge. Its eyes blazing scarlet, it impaled another Newborn on its horns.
"Truly a spiritual creature! It's bristling with over a dozen iron spears and still hasn't fallen, only growing fiercer."
"Brothers, as long as you strike now, you'll get a share of the blue ox's flesh and blood shortly! If you wait until it falls before stepping in, you won't be entitled to a single piece!" Liang Yukang shouted personally. His refined gold armor was shattered, and a deep gash ran along his arm from the ox's horn.
Immediately, many could hold back no longer. The blue ox was heavily wounded; it might collapse at any second.
Some hurled spears, some shot arrows, and some experts attempted to close the distance.
*Thwack!*
Qin Ming loosed an arrow from afar, striking the outer corner of the blue ox's eye. Though its hide was coarse and thick, preventing the arrowhead from sinking deeply, it struck a vulnerable spot, nearly piercing the eyeball. The creature bellowed in agony, a sound that shook the heavens as blood welled into its eye.
"Attack, quick! Its left eye is blinded by blood! Take this chance to finish it!"
"Remember, my brother Xiao Qin landed that arrow! Give him an extra cut of beef later!" Xu Sheng shouted, charging forward as well.
*Slash!*
In the end, the massive ox head fell to the ground, severed by Liang Yukang himself. The blue ox's multi-thousand-jin carcass slammed down, sending a faint tremor through the woodland as blood stained the snow red.
Liang Yukang panted heavily, his gleaming blade shimmering with a terrifying luster and smeared with the mutated creature's blood. Combined with his shattered armor and disheveled hair, he cut a truly imposing figure.
He shouted loudly, "Brothers, line up to divide the meat! There's a share for everyone—nobody push or shove! Otherwise, Old Liang's blade won't only be chopping mutated creatures!"
"Boss Liang is truly righteous! With such a huge blue ox, there's no need to fight; everyone can get a cut. Let's be sensible, brothers."
Instantly, the mountain forest grew lively. Everyone was delighted, especially those who had arrived late and gained a harvest without expending much effort.
Half an hour later, once the ox meat had been completely divided, someone could not wait and roasted a piece right there on the spot.
"What's going on? The beef looked translucent and bright, but after roasting it, there's barely any spiritual nature! What kind of situation is this?"
"We've been duped! The essence of this entire blue ox was in its ox gallstone! Boss Liang must have quietly pocketed it!"
"Where's Liang Yukang?"
"He said he was unwell and badly hurt, so he left half an hour ago."
Instantly, the woods erupted into an uproar. The crowd was furious and began searching for Liang Yukang.
Everyone began spewing "fragrant" language, and even Qin Ming could not resist swearing a couple of times.
That day, a large crowd fumed with rage, cursing their way from the deep mountains back into the city. When they barged into Liang Yukang's residence, they found he had indeed not returned—he had skipped town entirely.
The group hurled curses. The Newborns who had followed him into the mountains from the start to besiege the ox were especially incandescent with rage. Every one of them had suffered heavy injuries, only for Boss Liang to monopolize the spiritual substance and flee.
As for the few who had died in the mountains, their fate was all the more pathetic.
For an entire day, many people across Chixia City discussed the matter. Countless individuals roundly cursed Liang Yukang for his treachery, realizing that the good reputation he had built over the past two years had merely served to set up this final scam.
Come evening, the Fire Spring was not particularly active to begin with, and with stone slabs covering it everywhere, the city's brightness dropped sharply into a hazy gloom.
Some areas were even pitch-black. This adjustability gave Chixia City a distinction between day and night.
Qin Ming and Wu Zheng checked into an inn. He roasted his share of the beef and invited Wu Zheng to taste it.
"The flavor isn't bad, but that Liang Yukang is too crooked!" Qin Ming remarked.
Xu Sheng arrived carrying wine and sighed. "For the sake of higher-level transformations and new life, even fathers and sons have broken ties, and husbands and wives have turned on each other. Anything can happen. Be careful in the future."
The next day, Qin Ming headed into the mountains again, this time on an excursion organized by Xu Sheng. He had received word from his master, an old itinerant merchant, that a troop of white apes deep in the mountains was guarding several snow lotuses rich in spiritual nature.
"Unfortunately, only one is left. The others have all matured and been eaten by those white apes!" Xu Sheng said with regret.
"A spiritual substance capable of enabling a fourth Newborn transformation is extraordinarily valuable!" remarked a woman with eager eyes, a friend invited by Xu Sheng.
"Trigger an avalanche to scare off those white apes, then we'll act swiftly to harvest it. This troop of apes is extremely difficult to deal with; if we fail, flee immediately and don't waste time."
Yet just after they succeeded in startling and driving off the troop of white apes, a gray-robed figure with a covered head and face appeared, plucking the crystalline snow lotus ahead of them. Moving with unbelievable speed, the figure vanished into the mountains.
Xu Sheng's lungs nearly burst with fury. He had organized the group immediately upon getting the information, and just when success was in sight, a gray-robed figure had swooped in and snatched the prize.
Qin Ming also swallowed down a mouthful of frustration. Although there was only one snow lotus—and he estimated that whatever share he received might not have sufficed for a fourth Newborn transformation—having it stolen like that still made him want to smash a hammer into the thief's face to leave it blooming in gore.
"Don't you ever fall into my hands, and don't let me find out who you are!"
Even the woman could not bear it, spewing foul language the entire way.
This time, Qin Ming did as the locals did, joining them in spewing "fragrant" curses all the way from the deep mountains back to the city.
He felt that making a living in Chixia City was not so easy after all; the Newborns here were both underhanded and vicious.
"Sigh, in the end, it's still because I'm not strong enough. Let the spring thunder crack sooner!"
Only five or six days later, a wonder began to manifest outside the city. Earthlight billowed, and the gloomy mountain forest suddenly grew bright as showers of light drifted down. The underground Fire Springs were reviving, their rosy radiance rising to the surface to nourish all things. The snow began to thaw slowly.
Many nobles ventured out of the city to admire the scenery. Whenever this season arrived, the mountain forests were exceptionally gorgeous, the ice- and snow-covered terrain laid bare in panoramic splendor, looking magnificently grand amidst the misty haze.
"Early spring might arrive earlier this year," Xu Sheng judged.
"Brother Xu, take me to see the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace on Mount Chixia," Qin Ming said, intending to scout the location ahead of time since spring thunder could arrive at any moment.
"I'll go too! I want to see that golden palace as well," Wu Zheng chimed in, though he soon came to regret it.
For they witnessed what a true sea of people looked like. Once the earthlight began to surge, it was not just the city's nobles riding out in carriages; ordinary folk also brought their children outside the gates.
A renowned scenic spot like Mount Chixia had experts stationed there, making it impossible for mutated beasts to appear, so it was truly packed shoulder to shoulder.
Even nobles found themselves helpless here. No one paid them any mind amidst the surging crowd; exotic-beast carriages proved completely useless. Some noble young ladies disembarked to walk on foot, only to shriek as they were jostled about in utter dishevelment, their hairpins falling out.
Qin Ming followed the throng up the mountain, yet he failed to get a clear look at the mountain's scenic beauty, carried upward purely by the human tide.
Before he could closely examine the various structures on the summit, he was jostled forward again. At the crucial moment, he finally broke free and slipped into the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace.
Wu Zheng wore a tearful scowl. He was a person who had undergone a Newborn transformation once, yet a shoe had been squeezed right off his foot.
He complained indignantly, "I didn't even get a clear look at what the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace looks like on the outside before getting shoved straight in!"
"I didn't see it clearly either!" Qin Ming said. Standing inside the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace, he concentrated his spirit intensely, scrutinizing the surroundings and reaching out to touch the wall.
*Boom!*
He stumbled, nearly pitching forward onto the ground. An immensely violent surge of emotion rushed into him. Could an ancient palace like this truly trigger a spiritual resonance within him? He was deeply shocked.
Chapter 70