Qin Ming had borne three strikes of otherworldly heavenly light. Though he was charred black from head to toe, he was uninjured; on the contrary, his vitality and spirit were more vigorous than ever.
As he circulated the Departing Fire Classic, he felt a surging life force coursing through him in rolling waves of heat, as though baptizing and purifying his body while nourishing his spirit.
Qin Ming was amazed. It truly was an extraordinary art, seemingly capable of cleansing marrow and sinew. After barely crossing the threshold, his physical constitution had already improved.
*The Departing Fire Classic is extraordinary. Once understood, this method alone allows the body to slowly mutate, yielding boundless benefits over time.*
He felt distinctly stronger than he had been during the battle in the desert. Experiencing such tangible progress firsthand made him even more devoted, eager to persevere in bitter cultivation.
He went to wash up, scrubbing away all traces of thunder and fire. Droplets of water clung to his black hair, the contours of his muscles flowed smoothly, and his skin shone with a lustrous sheen, his vital dynamism palpably enhanced.
Before long, Qin Ming arrived at the city lord's manor. "Uncle Meng, you were looking for me?"
Meng Xinghai said, "You will be heading to the outer realm soon. Stop running off to the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace to throw yourself around, and keep your body in peak condition."
"I just urgently want to grow stronger so I can accomplish something in the outer realm," Qin Ming replied.
Meng Xinghai smiled. "Yes, I know how eager you have been to advance lately. Don't waste your energy running about; I've already prepared everything for you."
He pointed to two boxes on the tea table. "A manual of an extraordinary art, and a rare type of spiritual substance. They can significantly boost your strength."
Qin Ming could not suppress his smile. Having just cultivated departing fire force, hearing such good news was truly a double blessing; his strength could scale yet another height.
Impatient, he opened the box containing the secret manual. A look of puzzlement crossed his face. "The Golden Silkworm Art? Is this technique related to an exotic creature?"
Qin Ming had heard that while certain special scriptures modeled themselves after higher beings, the power they ultimately manifested far exceeded that of the original creatures.
"This manual has little to do with the higher exotic creature known as the golden silkworm; it merely borrows the name," Meng Xinghai said, his expression turning solemn as he shared a few details.
If Qin Ming could master this art completely, he might even gain access to an even more transcendent secret scripture.
Qin Ming looked astonished. "The name 'Golden Silkworm' is just a cover, and there's a more formidable scripture behind it?"
Meng Xinghai nodded. "When preparing a Newborn method for you, I naturally had to take the long view. Regrettably, I lack the means to secure that rarer scripture for you. If you can master this volume and ultimately earn their recognition, you might be able to see the other one."
Qin Ming's spirits soared at once. He began reading right there, eager to see what made it so remarkable.
He finally understood why it was named the Golden Silkworm Art. The technique recorded in this manual cultivated heavenly light force that resembled silken threads, capable of forming a cocoon of light outside the body to provide staggering defense.
Furthermore, when cultivated to an advanced realm, it could absorb rare golden essence qi, rendering the threadlike heavenly light force and cocoon even tougher and practically indestructible.
"In the early stages, it's primarily for defense?" Qin Ming wore an odd expression. Recently, he had acquired several defensive arts, such as the Golden Armor Art and the Golden Light Shroud, both of which were extraordinary.
Unfortunately, he had only cultivated rudimentary Vajra force and golden light force. Without consuming three-colored flowers or entering the Thunder-Fire Gold-Forging Palace to absorb otherworldly heavenly light, raising them further proved difficult.
Meng Xinghai said, "Many hard arts are indeed formidable, but what is too rigid breaks easily. This Golden Silkworm Art possesses both suppleness and hardness, holding boundless wonders. What's more, if you flip toward the back, its offensive power is even more terrifying."
Qin Ming continued reading, his expression turning grave. It truly was an extraordinary art. Leaving aside the later chapters, the utilization of heavenly light force alone was terrifying.
Once cultivated to an advanced stage, those supple golden silken threads could shoot outward, instantly piercing straight through opponents.
At an even higher level, the golden threads formed from heavenly light force could dance in chaotic patterns, tearing apart an adversary's heavenly light, weapons, and defenses as if warping space itself.
Qin Ming felt invigorated. "I wish I could master it right this instant and find an outer realm disciple to test it on!"
Meng Xinghai cautioned him, "In the Newborn realm, it will only grant a substantial boost to your defenses. As for the rest, you can consider that after you step into the Outer Sage realm."
"Uncle Meng, you must be worried that something will happen to me in that spirit cave, which is why you found me such a defensive art. But in the short term, even if I cross the threshold, how am I supposed to increase my total volume of heavenly light force?" Qin Ming asked. An art of this caliber would surely be extremely demanding.
Meng Xinghai replenished the spirit-calming incense in the bronze censer before replying, "You only need to produce golden silkworm force. Leave the rest to me."
Qin Ming's eyes instantly shone with bright anticipation as he looked at him.
Meng Xinghai did not elaborate, merely telling him that the grand gift would expand his overall reserve of heavenly light.
"By the way, once early spring arrives, the esoteric sects, blessed lands, and certain special higher academies will begin selecting disciples. The annual Grand Examination is about to start. You don't need to take part in the early stages; as a city lord, appointing you as our city's first place is well within my power. Of course, if you want to aim higher, later competitions will be unavoidable—for instance, taking first place in a larger region brings immense benefits."
"Let me raise my strength first!" Qin Ming said. He would soon be heading to the outer realm and could not truly rely on Li Qingyue for protection.
In fact, if the right opportunity arose, he wanted to trade blows with some of those outer realm disciples.
Meng Xinghai nodded. "Yes, you're right. Don't be distracted right now. For the coming period, the rivalry among the outer realm disciples will likely become the center of attention, drawing eyes from all directions. Consider yourself in training for battle."
"I'm a Newborn, not an outer realm disciple. Right, Uncle Meng, since the otherworldly heavenly light inside that spirit cave is thick enough to solidify, the spiritual substances once contained within shouldn't have dispersed, right? If I undergo a baptism there, wouldn't I be able to achieve an extra renewal?" Qin Ming asked.
"Don't be reckless. The heavenly light in that place is violently turbulent. You wouldn't happen to be unwilling to stay on the sidelines, wanting to rapidly elevate your realm to clash with the outer realm disciples, would you?" Meng Xinghai teased, looking at him. "Fortunately, your realm isn't high enough, so it'll be difficult for you to steal their thunder."
"How could I? I know who the main players on that battlefield are; I'm only going to broaden my horizons." Qin Ming smiled as well, then took his leave to prepare for his fifth renewal.
That night, he opened the jade jar. Inside was a purplish, translucent liquid shimmering with a hazy mist of light, brimming with dense spiritual energy.
Qin Ming tilted his head back and drank it all. Heat immediately surged through him as though he were burning, a vigorous tide of vitality crashing through his body.
Having undergone this before, he remained completely composed. First, he practiced the Newborn method from the silk book, then moved on to comprehending the Golden Silkworm Art.
Qin Ming could distinctly feel his constitution improving—an all-around enhancement across everything from raw power to sensory acuity.
The fifth renewal primarily manifested in physical resilience; put simply, he became much tougher and better able to take a beating. A sixth renewal would very likely awaken a special ability.
That night, after he fell asleep, the Golden Thread Jade Clothes reappeared. Unfortunately, he did not dream of his grandfather, nor did he see his younger self.
All of his childhood experiences practicing the silk book before entering the Cui clan had already resurfaced during his previous renewal, fully remembered now.
At dawn, Qin Ming sighed. He did not know whether his grandfather was still in this world. Back then, the old man had said he had ten years left to live, but thirteen years had already passed.
*I'm not strong enough. Otherwise, I would go straight to the prominent figures of the Cui clan and demand answers.*
Putting those thoughts aside, Qin Ming allowed his body to continue its renewal while immersing himself in studying the Golden Silkworm Art.
By evening, he completely finished his fifth renewal. His perception, speed, and physical resilience had all surged, and his strength exceeded six thousand jin.
Without question, his power had climbed rapidly.
Qin Ming did not step outside, knowing this was still not enough. He focused on comprehending the Golden Silkworm Art, practicing continuously in the courtyard.
On the fifth day, he produced golden silkworm force. Threads of golden light sprouted from his skin like shoots bursting through soil, full of vibrant vitality. Though he could not yet weave them into a net, he had successfully crossed the threshold.
That was enough. Meng Xinghai had already prepared a grand gift that would allow him to advance further.
Over the past few days, news regarding the rivalry among the outer realm disciples had indeed spread across various regions, drawing attention from all sides.
Eventually, it even overshadowed discussion of the Grand Examination.
This was primarily because the path walked by those beyond the mundane world was extraordinarily powerful. Any stir from them caught the world's eye, let alone an upcoming contest among a cohort of core disciples.
Throughout the various cities, tea houses and restaurants buzzed with intense discussion.
When Qin Ming entered the city lord's manor, he found Meng Xinghai entertaining a guest—a youth who looked somewhat familiar.
"Brother Chonghe—no, Brother Qin Ming, long time no see." The youth stood with a beaming smile to greet him. With fair skin, red lips, and a bright glint in his eyes, he seemed quite capable.
Reflecting carefully, Qin Ming realized who he was. They had met before in Qinghe City. His name was Li Qingxiao, likely fourteen years old by now, and he was Li Qingxu's younger cousin.
"It truly has been a long time," Qin Ming nodded.
"I originally came to Uncle Meng hoping to polish my standing so he would appoint me as this city's first place. I never expected Brother Qin Ming to beat me to it. In that case, I won't compete with you; I'll just find another city," Li Qingxiao said with a laugh.
Qin Ming smiled faintly. He did not believe for a second that this scheming youth hadn't known he was here.
Most likely, after he had killed the woman in black and an Outer Sage in the desert, his old acquaintances had discussed the matter without knowing who had done it.
Qin Ming surmised that while Li Qingxiao did want to find a city to burnish his reputation, passing through here had also been an opportunity to probe for information.
Li Qingxiao sighed. "Who would have thought Brother Qin was so formidable? Quietly securing first place here. No wonder my cousin speaks so highly of you."
Qin Ming could not be bothered to indulge him. Everyone knew of the enmity between him and Li Qingxu; the youth bringing it up was certainly not done in goodwill.
"Find another city, then. Off you go," Meng Xinghai began ushering him out.
Li Qingxiao lingered, unwilling to leave. "Uncle Meng, you're truly partial. I sit here for a moment and get chased away, yet Brother Qin Ming receives such care from you."
He smiled and continued, "Brother Qin, my cousin said that the two of you will definitely meet again in the future. He holds you in very high regard, and considers the past nothing more than minor misunderstandings."
"Mm," Qin Ming uttered a single word.
Seeing his sparse reaction, Li Qingxiao went on, "My cousin said that once Brother Qin scales the peak of the Newborn path in the future, you will ultimately be able to enter the outer realm."
Was that high praise? To ordinary Newborns outside, hearing such words might have been deeply exciting—a profound validation from someone beyond the mundane world.
Yet coming from Li Qingxu regarding Qin Ming, it was hardly a compliment.
The implication was obvious: only by striving to rise and fighting his way to the highest peak would Qin Ming even earn the right to enter the outer realm to stand before Li Qingxu.
Of course, there was another underlying meaning: what did experts of the Newborn path do upon entering the outer realm? They became jade-armored guards, or divine-armored guards.
Meng Xinghai's expression darkened. "Stop stirring up trouble. Furthermore, tell your cousin to focus on the competition among the outer realm disciples; he might not even be able to claim the item in the spirit cave."
"I don't think he'll get it either," Qin Ming chimed in.
Li Qingxiao beamed. "We shall see. The clash among the outer realm disciples begins very soon."
Chapter 97