By the river, the two were still trading blows. Their movements never ceased, their voices exchanged only when they drew close.
Qin Ming's earlier remark—that he had spared Ning Siqi from being shot out of the sky not for the sake of old friendship, but out of respect for someone else—clearly strayed from the truth.
Had it been anyone else, an arrow would have blasted them to pieces long ago; he would never have wasted so many words.
In truth, when Ning Siqi saw the arrow strike his flying mount, he had genuinely been frightened, nearly crying out to tell him not to take it seriously.
Only when he noticed that Qin Ming merely intended for him to plummet into the mire did he hold back.
"I looked into Xinyi Hall," Ning Siqi said. "Men like Ge Qianxun deserve death, which is why I hired him to do it."
Before coming here, he had already sent word to Meng Xinghai in advance, so Old Ge was destined to be eliminated.
Yet he had still felt uneasy, so as the employer behind the scenes, he came to the site in person.
"Among our former acquaintances, Zheng Maorong is the most sinister," Ning Siqi cautioned him. "Though he won't take the field himself, a single look or hint from him is enough for someone else to carry out his bidding."
Qin Ming understood clearly; he knew Zheng Maorong's temperament well.
In the past, Second Master Cui had let the "truth" slip while drunk, claiming that Cui Chonghe possessed talent bordering on the immortal and was destined to be taken as a disciple by a senior who could shake the world of the night mist.
Because of that, Qin Ming had once been surrounded by fawning admirers, elevated like the moon amid a constellation of stars. Once that halo was stripped away, nothing that followed surprised him.
What was more, back then there had already been those who harbored malice toward him.
"A paternal cousin of my elder cousin Wang Caiwei is the stupidest of them all," Ning Siqi said, unexpectedly cursing a distant cousin of his own.
In a low voice, he added, "Zheng Maorong acts with strong purpose, stirring the flames covertly with malicious intent. He likely wants to use you as a thread to eventually flush out the real Cui Chonghe in the Otherworld. But that short-sighted cousin of mine actually wants to hire men to kill you himself. He thinks wiping you out will completely turn the page on your past with Wang Caiwei, erasing every trace. Someone must have bewitched him into losing his mind—he hasn't even stopped to consider that doing so would only stir up more talk afterward. Of course, he might also just be rotten to the core, doing it intentionally..."
Qin Ming listened quietly, absorbing the hidden undercurrents so he could deal with any future troubles that might arise.
"As long as I charge forward fast enough along the Newborn path," Qin Ming said, "these people and petty schemes will be nothing more than passing scenery by the roadside. Before they can even get a clear look, I'll have left them far behind."
To show his gratitude to Ning Siqi, he sent him flying into the mud once more.
"There shouldn't be any speech sparrows spying nearby!" Ning Siqi, being a neat freak, could hardly stomach such filth.
"Your senses aren't sharp enough," Qin Ming said, before asking with concern about his progress on the Newborn path.
Ning Siqi replied, "I've hit my limit at seven transformations. Even with a high-grade spiritual substance my family prepared, I couldn't break through to an eighth newborn state."
If he wanted to advance further, his only option was to consume a major medicine and step into the realm of outwardly released heavenly light.
Seven newborn transformations was the ultimate dream for ordinary people, but for Ning Siqi, it was not enough. Entering the Outer Sage level on such a foundation would leave his prospects in the clan bleak.
Qin Ming frowned at his words.
Ning Siqi said, "Over this past year, my father took me to visit six esoteric sects. One path among them suits me exceptionally well. Once the regional unified exams fully conclude, I'll be departing on a distant journey. Who knows when I'll see you again after that? That path frequently requires entering special domains to approach certain peculiar 'phenomena.' So my coming here this time was also to say farewell."
Qin Ming felt concerned. "The esoteric sects ultimately deal with terrifying creatures that verge on godhood. Though it's a formidable path, it is fraught with danger."
Ning Siqi was unbothered. "One only draws the attention of those horrific beings after stepping onto the mountain peaks. In the early stages, it's nothing to worry about."
Then he smiled. "In the future, if I ever manage to ascend the highest peak and find myself targeted by some god-like entity, you can come deliver me. From now on, you'll have to fight tooth and nail. When the time comes, let's meet at the summit!"
"Very well. If you ever run into trouble, just send word," Qin Ming nodded, then shoved him straight into the river.
Ning Siqi crawled ashore with a dark face and offered one last reminder: "Even though you're a juvenile extraordinary now, you still need to be prudent. The millennial noble clans definitely have them as well."
"You still don't know the whole truth," Qin Ming confessed, having held back before. "I'm actually a touch stronger than the extraordinaries of my age."
Ning Siqi was taken aback. Knowing this old friend, he was certain that this "touch" was anything but simple. Had he already surpassed the level of a juvenile extraordinary?
He cautioned, "Whatever you do, don't get complacent. People beyond the mundane world unlock the power of consciousness right from the start and use it to elevate themselves, whereas our Newborn path is far more plain and unadorned."
As if recalling something, he added, "Oh, right—Li Qingyue has begun to shine brilliantly in the lands beyond the mundane world. Mmm, Li Qingxu also seems remarkably formidable. His master is thoroughly satisfied with him, saying that stepping into the lands beyond the mundane world in his teens was the ideal timing, with no need to rush it. That was the highest praise for him, though it also carried a veiled barb."
"The competition out there beyond the mundane world sounds fierce," Qin Ming said.
Ning Siqi replied, "Of course. The different sects and schools are maneuvering against one another around the clock. By the way, the atmosphere among the most outstanding disciples beyond the mundane world has grown tense lately. Word has it that they're about to compete for a legendary artifact. Securing it might allow one to border on immortality in the future, altering the course of a lifetime. A cohort of core disciples on that path is actively preparing for battle, every one of them determined to claim it. Several of our old acquaintances will likely join the fray as well."
"It sounds like their world is vibrant indeed," Qin Ming remarked with a touch of emotion.
"There are other domains that are just as wondrous—you simply haven't had the chance to draw near them. You should join a powerful lineage or enter an exceptional academy of higher learning to experience it for yourself. Secret manuals need thorough study, but this world needs to be experienced, too."
In the end, Qin Ming dragged the mud-caked Ning Siqi into the City Lord's Manor. This ostensibly hot potato needed Meng Xinghai to "send him away."
That wasn't particularly difficult, so long as the "performance" was convincing enough.
"Take care!"
"You take care too. See you at the summit!"
With that, Ning Siqi departed into the distance.
***
Inside a purple-bronze censer, soothing incense that could quell restlessness and wipe clean the dust of the spirit burned slowly.
Meng Xinghai sipped his tea and said, "You truly surprised me. A few hammers and a couple of palms to blow apart a veteran expert—and that was with you holding back."
This time, Qin Ming did not feign modesty. "Ge Qianxun may be old, but he hardly counts as a true expert. By the way, Uncle Meng, he's one of the Golden Bandits."
Meng Xinghai nodded. "I've already had men begin his interrogation."
He looked at Qin Ming. "Just what level has your physical newborn reached?"
"I've completed four newborn transformations, and I'm a touch stronger than the extraordinaries recorded in the books," Qin Ming told him.
Meng Xinghai rose abruptly, shaken by the revelation.
He scrutinized Qin Ming thoroughly, then finally laughed. "A pity I don't have a daughter."
Qin Ming chuckled awkwardly in response.
Meng Xinghai sighed. "Such raw endowment already approaches the immortal-bordering talent of those beyond the mundane world. But alas, our path cannot lead to immortality; what we cultivate is entirely different from theirs."
After his initial shock, he spoke with emotion: "You've truly given me a surprise, far exceeding my expectations."
He stood up, pacing the austere reception hall, before resting a hand upon a massive bronze cauldron. "Moving forward, stop practicing those haphazard, low-level heavenly light forces. I'll procure a relatively rare secret manual for you soon."
Qin Ming realized that by demonstrating his rare, irreplaceable worth, Old Meng had indeed come to value him even more, already arranging things on his behalf.
Meng Xinghai continued, "Ordinary folk have not thoroughly researched the Newborn stage, but millennial noble clans understand it well. Within a single year, it's best not to exceed five physical mutations. Otherwise, it will compromise your future path."
Qin Ming was startled. Was his plan for a rapid rise to be restricted?
Meng Xinghai asked, "You must have felt it. Aside from the countless benefits of each mutation—feeling as though you've returned to the womb—there's always a lingering discomfort for a short period afterward that requires adjustment. That is an accompanying side effect."
"Uncle Meng, I haven't felt any of that," Qin Ming said, shaking his head.
Meng Xinghai tapped a bronze chime bell and said, "A situation like yours, surpassing that of a juvenile extraordinary, is not entirely unheard of in ancient records. I once read a text describing such a case; advancing through six newborn transformations in a single year shouldn't pose any hidden danger for you. Really, there's no need to rush. The Newborn stage is the fastest phase of our journey—don't try to accelerate it any further."
Yet Qin Ming felt that time was pressing. He was unwilling to squander even a single day.
He believed there was truly nothing wrong with him. Other books warned against casually fusing heavenly light forces, saying they had to be compatible, yet the silk book actively encouraged it.
Most importantly, the silk book made no mention of limiting oneself to five or six newborn transformations a year.
Meng Xinghai said, "Don't be impatient. Spend the coming days cultivating in peace. I'll arrange for someone to prepare a higher-grade spiritual substance for you..."
Qin Ming did not argue. While he needed to demonstrate his strength, he could not lay bare his core secrets.
Returning to the inn, he took stock of his spoils.
Inside Ge Qianxun's bundle were four hundred and twenty-one day gold pieces. While an astonishing sum, it was somewhat modest for the master of an entire hall.
*The old fellow definitely has more than one lair,* Qin Ming concluded. As a Golden Bandit, the man surely frequented distant strongholds. More to the point, he had neither wife nor children here.
Ge Qianxun carried five books on his person. Three were meant for Xinyi Hall's Newborn cultivators, written with coded jargon that Qin Ming found unworthy of his interest.
The fourth manual recorded hammer techniques from the Sun family. Unfortunately, it was of little use to Qin Ming now, as he had already mastered them completely.
"Vajra Armor?" Qin Ming murmured as he flipped through the final ancient text—the one that had resonated with his spirit.
Bound in the pelt of an unknown beast, it was evidently an ancient relic of considerable age. Though badly worn, the emotional fluctuations it carried remained intense.
Without a doubt, it was the painstaking crystallization of a predecessor's life's work!
"A hard-body art that drastically enhances defense while still allowing for offensive strikes." Qin Ming skimmed through it, discovering that the technique was truly extraordinary.
No wonder Ge Qianxun harbored such resentment. With this hard-body technique in hand, stepping into the Outer Sage realm should have been trivial for him, yet his foundation had been shattered just as he reached initial mastery.
*The body swelling up indicates the art hasn't reached its peak. At an advanced stage, one can disregard slashing blades and piercing swords; once fully perfected, one's outward appearance is indistinguishable from an ordinary person's.*
Qin Ming sensed the power of this manual and was deeply intrigued. Focusing his spirit entirely, he threw himself into it, resonating with the residual emotions within.
He saw an old man disregarding a sky-blotting onslaught of mutant birds, casually swatting them aside to blow the mutated beasts apart.
The scene shifted. The old man slammed his physical body into an enormous mutant tortoise, smashing it into fractured pieces.
Then Qin Ming watched him battle a mountain-like behemoth. Heavenly light erupted across his entire body as he used his flesh as a weapon, crashing through the giant beast's flank and punching straight through its heart.
*That's... truly tough!* he marveled in astonishment.
The old man appeared utterly withered and emaciated, yet his flesh was hard as vajra. It was the embodiment of raw, violent beauty—ramming and charging with abandon, an unstoppable force against every monstrous creature in his path.
During this time, Qin Ming left the inn once, quietly retrieving the secret manual Ning Siqi had left for him.
*Extremely high-grade. It allows one to cultivate a unique flame of Li right from the early stages. The difficulty is immense, making it best practiced within the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace!* Qin Ming put it away for the time being, recognizing it as an extraordinary manual of immeasurable value.
Over the next few days, he devoted himself entirely to drilling the hard-body art.
The manual contained only a single heavenly light force technique—Vajra. It was undoubtedly a compound force method, exceptionally domineering, and truly a miraculous protective art.
Several days later, Qin Ming gave it a try. He inflated by a significant degree, like a blown-up balloon. It was the flow of heavenly light, puffing up his muscles and hide.
*It's only at initial mastery and can't deflect truly formidable attacks yet, but it can alter my appearance slightly.* Looking at himself in the mirror, Qin Ming saw that his face had rounded out and his frame had broadened under his deliberate effort.
Two days later, after studying the topographical maps of the great mountains, he decided to venture into them alone.
Although Meng Xinghai had told him not to rush and to wait a little, Qin Ming always felt that time waited for no one. He had to grow stronger as swiftly as possible to survive.
Ning Siqi had also used his connections to send word to Cui Hao in the Otherworld. If Seventh Uncle Cui came out, it might change Qin Ming's perilous circumstances.
Yet he did not pin his hopes on others. Becoming strong through his own efforts was his only true foundation.
Besides, if Cui Hao never received the letter or remained in secluded cultivation, his predicament would not change in the slightest.
This time, Qin Ming disguised himself. He pasted on a full beard, donned loose robes, and left the heavy hammer behind, carrying only the mutton-fat jade iron saber across his back as he entered the mountains.
In certain areas of the range, fiery clouds filled the sky in a breathtaking display, as the fire springs were reviving completely, bubbling and gushing forth.
In some regions, not only had grass and trees sprouted new buds, but flower blossoms were on the verge of blooming.
*Wait, that thief?* With no mind for the scenery, Qin Ming spotted a gray-clad figure not long after entering the mountains—the very thief who had snatched the snow lotus from him, Xu Sheng, and Sister Fenfang last time.
With a whoosh, he gave chase immediately.
The gray-clad figure was exceptionally vigilant, detecting him instantly and ducking into the mountain woods. Intimately familiar with the terrain, he twisted and turned with great slipperiness.
Pursuing him to an area of lakes, Qin Ming noticed a mutant beast in the distance, bathed in a glowing purple sheen. It had seemingly just emerged from a steaming lake, admiring its own reflection by the water in solitary vanity.
*Aren't purple lightning beasts supposed to be rare creatures? How have I run into two of them in a row lately? Has the species overrun the mountains?*
Swift as lightning, Qin Ming charged from behind and swung his leg over the mutant creature's back.
"You've been temporarily requisitioned! Move—help me chase down a thief!"
The purple lightning beast, having undergone four mutations, had been basking contentedly after its hot spring bath. But now, its whole world fell apart—this accent wasn't one it was hearing for the first time!
Chapter 84