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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 35: [Obtaining the Mysterious Resource]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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In the era when the sun had vanished, even during the Shallow Night, distant landscapes appeared hazy.
Further away, the majestic Great Mountains were reduced to mere black silhouettes against the night sky.
Now, everything was different.
Ten Heavenly Light Pillars had erupted from the depths of the mountain range, illuminating all directions with a brilliance far surpassing the Five-Colored Mist and Haze.
For a fleeting moment, it felt as if the era of daylight had returned.
Not only were the towering mountains now clearly visible, but every blade of grass and every tree clinging to the cliffs stood out in sharp detail.
Even the colors and patterns of strange birds soaring through the low skies were vividly discernible, their hues vibrant and lifelike.
Everyone felt as if a veil had been lifted from their hearts, a curtain drawn back from their eyes.
They beheld a world bathed in radiant light, with mountains and rivers, every creature and plant, etched into their vision and imprinted upon their souls.
Even in the harsh winter, when snow and ice sealed the mountains, it felt as if all things were awakening, each element alive, natural, and intimately familiar.
Old Liu sat atop Big Yellow Dog, his voice trembling with emotion.
"I have lived for over seventy years, but I've never witnessed such a glorious world," he declared. "Such a magnificent heaven and earth! Is this the true splendor of our mountains and rivers, as they were meant to be? What a pity... even as an Awakener, with my enhanced vision, I always felt as if a thin veil clouded my sight."
Cao Long began, "Cities of medium size or larger are actually..."
He trailed off, realizing it was inappropriate to discuss such things with an elderly man from a remote region.
The man would never leave this place, and mentioning such things would only fill him with longing.
He changed the subject, saying, "I haven't traveled much myself. The vast, dark world is too immense. Even the so-called magnificent cities seem like mere firefly patches in comparison."
Deep within the Great Mountain, the powerhouses of major organizations and High-Tier Lifeforms had gone mad, all charging toward the Ten Heavenly Light Pillars that pierced the sky.
But in the outer regions, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, Cao Long, and the others remained calm, observing from a distance and even chatting among themselves.
They understood that this opportunity was beyond their reach.
Even the High-Ranking Figure risked death by rushing in. That special Node was destined to be stained crimson with the blood of the strong.
Not everyone could accurately assess their own limits. Many in the Great Mountain were blinded by envy, though they weren't foolish enough to charge into the arena where High-Tier Aberrants clashed.
The ten-colored radiance tore through the night sky, an anomaly beyond comprehension. Such a spectacle had never been witnessed at other sacred mountains where Heavenly Light had descended.
Perhaps there were records, but someone had deliberately concealed them, leaving no mention in any books.
Thus, the various factions, though envious, managed to restrain themselves and turned their attention to the area where the Five-Colored Mist and Haze billowed, settling for the next best thing.
In truth, this was also an extremely rare and extraordinary sight, undoubtedly corresponding to some extraordinary and priceless treasures.
However, the sheer number of people drawn by this prospect meant that the moment the factions clashed, the mountain forest was stained crimson with blood, the competition becoming fiercely intense.
"Mountain God! This place is utterly lawless! More people have died here than at the Ten Heavenly Light Pillars!"
"High-Tier Aberrants are here too! They didn't go to the Ten-Colored Node to compete! Run!"
After experiencing the baptism of blood and witnessing a wave of deaths in mere moments, the remaining forces from all sides turned and fled with decisive swiftness.
People saw a colossal High-Tier Lifeform, shrouded in dense mist, its massive foot crushing mountain cliffs as it approached the special Node.
Almost instantly, a humanoid figure with broad, crimson-tinged wings descended from the sky, blocking the High-Tier Lifeform's path.
...
"An earthquake?" The ground fissure shook violently, startling Qin Ming into rushing out immediately.
He was genuinely afraid of being crushed to death deep underground.
He then witnessed two awe-inspiring spectacles, as if daylight had returned to the world.
A torrential rain of light cascaded down, illuminating every mountain, river, and living thing with crystal clarity.
Qin Ming knew his place.
The unfathomable treasures born from those two Nodes were beyond his reach.
Approaching even a step closer would mean certain death without burial.
Standing outside the fissure's exit, he could only watch with envy as the masters who had ventured deep into the Great Mountain clashed.
The ultimate victor would claim unimaginable rewards.
Even here in this tranquil zone, he could hear shouts echoing from the Great Mountain, proclaiming the unprecedented Ten-Colored Node and its potential to yield treasures beyond any known classification.
"Now I understand why this place defies all reason! It's not just because Heavenly Light descended here two years ago — it also fell here two centuries ago! Back then, no significant treasures materialized. But the Heavenly Light that accumulated over two centuries has now merged with the one from two years ago, creating this world-shaking spectacle!"
In the mountain forest, an elderly man spoke excitedly.
He was known for his vast knowledge and meticulous research of this region, having consulted countless historical records.
Now, he revealed the reason for the area's anomalies.
"I've heard rumors that two centuries ago, an exceptionally massive Heavenly Light descended upon this place. Even the capital was alarmed, dispatching powerful experts to investigate. To their astonishment, the land proved utterly barren. The arriving masters were so frustrated they nearly leveled the Great Mountain in their fury."
Apart from the High-Tier Lifeforms, everyone else in the mountain range could only watch and speculate.
No one dared to venture near the two Transformation Nodes again.
Soon, gasps of astonishment erupted as even the bloodthirsty High-Tier Lifeforms and human experts at the heart of the battlefield were left dumbfounded.
The radiant glow from the two special Nodes shifted skyward once more.
"Could there be some kind of monster beneath the ground?" Even the usually calm and composed Old Weasel's face twitched, utterly exasperated by the relentless disturbances.
This time, the Five-Colored Mist and Haze and the Ten Heavenly Light Pillars began circling within a confined area at astonishing speed.
"They're rapidly shifting along the spiritual leyline formed by the Heavenly Light, drawn to each other as the circles they orbit gradually shrink, bringing them closer!"
It wasn't just the experts who had personally entered the fray who noticed this; even distant observers could see it clearly.
"Could these two mystical phenomena be merging?" Everyone was puzzled, as this was completely beyond their understanding.
Ling Xu, Wei Mo, and the other High-Tier Aberrants were growing increasingly frustrated, chasing after the two spectacles without ever managing to make contact.
Even when they rushed close and entered a special Node, the phenomena would vanish again, continuing their relentless shifts.
Eventually, some High-Tier Lifeforms began resorting to ambush tactics, waiting for the phenomena to reappear.
Qin Ming found the situation peculiar.
The Node he was in lay outside the affected area, remaining remarkably quiet and undisturbed for the time being.
"Hmm?" He noticed that the crevice beneath his feet was also stirring, spewing forth silver threads tinged with pale gold, occasionally mixed with purple mist, crimson light, and other hues.
His spirits immediately lifted.
Could this mean a valuable resource was about to mature here?
He hadn't seen anything of note when he first entered.
Could the upheaval deep within the Great Mountain have brought benefits even here?
He rushed inside.
The swirling, iridescent vortex was clearly beyond his reach, but if he could gather even one of the lesser — or far lesser — resources, he would be immensely satisfied.
The underground silver beams were now far thicker than before, and as he ventured deeper, he sensed a peculiar resonance.
The sensation was akin to practicing the Awakening Techniques from the Silk Scroll in this very place, like being immersed in a hot spring and baptized by silver threads.
Now, without any effort, he felt a warm current wash over him.
Tracing the unique ripples, he quickly reached their source.
A pile of rubble blocked the path, leaving no further passage.
Without hesitation, Qin Ming began clearing the stones, moving them aside to reveal a new fissure leading deeper underground.
Along the way, he repeatedly used his long-handled Black Gold Hammer to widen the fissure, smashing through obstacles until he finally reached the origin of the strange resonance.
From the depths of the fissure surged a multicolored mist, enveloping a black stone about half the size of a human head.
"What is this?" Qin Ming wondered.
This must be the special resource that everyone was trying to harvest, but he had no idea what the black stone was used for.
Within this unique Node, the swirling multicolored mists caused occasional chest tightness and anxiety, but his body could still endure it.
He noticed the luminous mists flowing toward the black stone from the fissure gradually thinning and receding, as if the tide were ebbing.
Could this mean it was about to fully "mature"?
Qin Ming remained still, patiently waiting.
His body could still hold out, and as the luminous mists dissipated, his discomfort vanished completely.
Moments later, the area fell silent.
All the strange phenomena had vanished, leaving the half-human-head-sized stone utterly unremarkable.
If thrown away, no one would bother picking it up.
Yet, if he focused his senses, he could still detect a faint, almost imperceptible ripple — a special perception he had gained after being bathed in the Silver Light that had erupted from the fissure.
"I can sense a faint resonance from special resources nourished by Heavenly Light."
Qin Ming picked up the stone.
It felt surprisingly heavy.
He desperately wanted to peel back its outer layer to see what lay inside.
He suppressed the urge to act impulsively, knowing he had to leave immediately.
Being trapped in the crevice would be disastrous.
When he quietly emerged from the exit onto the ground, the surroundings were eerily silent.
Yet deep within the Great Mountain, the scene was anything but tranquil.
Figures dotted the mountain peaks, gazing in awe at the increasingly magnificent spectacle unfolding before them.
The Five-Colored Mist and Haze had already intertwined with the Ten Pillars of Light.
Qin Ming moved silently through the dense forest, eventually burying himself in a snowdrift.
He then began studying the stone, activating the Awakening Techniques described in the Silk Scroll.
Golden ripples shimmered across his flesh as he started peeling away the stone's outer layer with his bare hands.
Though the stone's crust was remarkably hard, he crushed it soundlessly, efficiently stripping away the fragments.
Qin Ming continued working, feeling the stone shrink by two circles.
Simultaneously, his unique perception detected a slight intensification of its energy fluctuations.
He paused.
If he completely stripped away the outer layer, would some extraordinary phenomenon occur?
After all, while this object might not rival the two widely coveted treasures, it was undoubtedly no ordinary artifact.
At that moment, Qin Ming felt like a hundred claws were scratching at his heart.
He desperately wanted to cleave the stone open, yet he feared accidentally unleashing some calamity.
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END OF CHAPTER
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