Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 104: [The Consequences of Overwhelming Tension]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
***********************************
The pine forest stretched vast and wide, its air faintly scented with resin. Dense clusters of pine needles adorned the branches like verdant, slender swords.
A clear spring gurgled through the woods, while a silent Fire Spring spread its crimson glow across the ancient pines, painting the landscape with extraordinary beauty.
Yet no one paused to admire the scenery.
The atmosphere crackled with tension.
None had anticipated this unexpected encounter so soon after entering the Spiritual Cave.
Li Qingxu, clad in purple robes, stood calmly with his purple bamboo staff—forged in Heavenly Light—in hand, a serene smile playing on his lips.
The tables had turned.
Instead of being the hunted, he and his acquaintances had cornered their opponent, Li Qingyue, here.
However, his two companions remained silent, seemingly as surprised by this turn of events as anyone else.
Li Qingyue, clad in silver armor, her black hair fluttering in the breeze, said nothing as she advanced directly toward Li Qingxu.
Her presence was now overwhelmingly assertive. Though her figure remained as delicate as a willow, the armor transformed her aura, making her seem far more formidable than before.
A radiant glow enveloped her entire body, parting the pine branches and vines in her path. The ground beneath her feet seemed to pave itself with shimmering light, extending a luminous path forward.
"Wang Caiwei won't intervene. Stay here," Li Qingyue transmitted telepathically, instructing Qin Ming and the three Golden-Armored Guards not to follow.
In truth, Qin Ming had already anticipated this.
Wang Caiwei was unlikely to get involved.
If she assisted Li Qingxu, what would Cui Chonghe think afterward?
Zheng Maoze wiped his brow, bewildered by this unexpected turn of events.
This put him in an awkward position.
Killing to silence witnesses was out of the question here.
Even if Li Qingxu and Li Qingyue were severely injured, they would undoubtedly escape the Spiritual Cave.
Now he was forced to choose sides, and either decision would offend someone.
On a personal level, he had grown closer to Li Qingxu over the past two years.
After all, the latter possessed unparalleled talent and a terrifyingly protective teacher.
Yet Li Qingyue's rise had been equally meteoric. She feared no opponent in a one-on-one confrontation.
After a moment of internal struggle, the slightly stocky Zheng Maoze spoke up, "We're all acquaintances here, old friends who used to be close. There's no need for such hostility."
Qin Ming knew this was typical of "Big Strong Zheng's" character. Though he appeared rough at first glance, he possessed a surprisingly refined mind.
Zheng Maoze had also correctly assessed that Wang Caiwei wouldn't intervene.
He had long recognized the Wang Clan's heiress as a formidable figure. Despite her perpetual smile, he had never once seen her lose her temper.
Beyond Qin Ming's stated reason, Zheng Maoze believed there were other compelling factors that would prevent Wang Caiwei from intervening.
One reason was that Li Qingyue had confronted Li Qingxu precisely because she had publicly dredged up past grievances, seeking to avenge their mutual friend Qin Ming and settle old scores.
Wang Caiwei had also been involved in those past events, having once traveled with Qin Ming.
If she were to side with Li Qingxu against Li Qingyue now, she risked being privately criticized for her cold-heartedness.
Another crucial factor was that Li Qingxu was currently being targeted by several Core Disciples, making his chances of obtaining the Near-Immortal Artifact slim.
Li Qingyue, on the other hand, stood a strong chance of success. If she acquired the artifact, she would undoubtedly become a pivotal figure in the Beyond the Mortal Realm.
From a long-term perspective, it would be unwise to antagonize her.
True to form, Wang Caiwei, clad in black armor, smiled—a radiant yet gentle expression that felt like a warm spring breeze.
"We were all friends in the past," she said, smoothing over the tension. "Why have we grown distant since coming to the Beyond the Mortal Realm? If we were to join forces, our combined strength would be far greater than any individual's. Wouldn't cooperation be better than conflict?"
Li Qingyue continued to advance, her radiant form illuminating the thick carpet of pine needles beneath her feet.
The silver armor she wore clanked with each step.
She smiled at Wang Caiwei and nodded to Zheng Maoze, acknowledging their decisions.
Li Qingxu sighed inwardly.
He had anticipated this outcome, but he couldn't avoid confronting Li Qingyue. A battle was inevitable.
In truth, Li Qingxu was exceptionally powerful.
Otherwise, Tang Xumi, Jiang Shengyu, and the others wouldn't have joined forces with Li Qingyue to target him.
His expression remained calm as he glanced at Wang Caiwei without a word before secretly transmitting a message to Zheng Maoze using a secret technique.
"What?!" Zheng Maoze's face changed.
Li Qingxu had mentioned his master, an incredibly protective and terrifying elder who was still in his prime, with many years left to live.
Moreover, Li Qingxu had promised to enhance Zheng Maoze's strength immediately.
Zheng Maoze's expression shifted slightly.
There were benefits to be gained, but more importantly, he was terrified of that elder.
Even the Millennial Clans wouldn't dare offend such a figure.
"Qingyue, I'm sorry. I have my reasons for intervening. But rest assured, I'm just joining the fray for show. I won't truly harm you or engage in a life-or-death struggle," Zheng Maoze secretly transmitted.
He was about to enter the fray.
Beside him stood He Tai, a terrifying master of the Great Ape King Force, hailed as a future grandmaster of first technique.
Even in his Awakening stage, he had already slain an Outer Saint. He stepped forward, ready to follow Zheng Maoze's lead.
He Tai was a young prodigy specially recruited by the Zheng Clan, a Millennial Clan.
Having received substantial benefits, he was naturally determined to give his all.
Zheng Maoze secretly instructed, "Don't engage directly with me. Just block Li Qingyue's four Golden-Armored Guards. No need to go all out—just stall them."
Li Qingyue's beautiful face turned as cold as an iceberg as she glanced at He Tai.
Abruptly changing direction, she charged straight toward him.
Clearly, she feared he would severely injure Qin Ming and the three Golden-Armored Guards, and she wanted to eliminate him first.
Sensing her intent, He Tai instantly unleashed his Heavenly Light Force.
His eyes glowed with primal ferocity, as if the Great Ape King himself had descended upon the world.
A terrifying surge of energy erupted, and the Heavenly Light that streaked past shattered the ancient pines nearby.
"Qingyue," Zheng Maoze urgently transmitted telepathically, "I've ordered He Tai not to truly harm your people. I swear on my honor that this is the truth."
He Tai was his trump card.
With their combined strength, they might actually have a chance to obtain the legendary artifact.
A premature clash would be disastrous.
Li Qingyue's deep eyes shimmered with a mysterious light.
Having cultivated her Spiritual Eyes, she could discern that Zheng Maoze was telling the truth.
Without a word, she charged directly at Li Qingxu.
In the forest, vibrant clouds surged around her, bathing her in dazzling radiance. Gone was the serene, ethereal aura of an Immortal Maiden; now she exuded an overwhelming aura of power.
Li Qingxu smiled. Though he wasn't confident in facing Li Qingyue alone, Zheng Maoze's alliance with him gave him a decisive advantage.
In a clash between masters, even a slight edge could shift the tide of battle, let alone the addition of a formidable opponent like Zheng Maoze.
"Li Qingyue, you'll likely be the first to be eliminated!" Li Qingxu laughed.
His hair glowed with ethereal light, his purple robes billowed wildly as he swung his purple bamboo staff.
The surrounding pine forest roared and trembled violently as his Consciousness Spiritual Light expanded, intertwined, and shattered nearby ancient pines and massive vines.
Li Qingxu advanced to meet Li Qingyue head-on.
Before they even closed the distance, their consciousness energies and Yellow Court Light collided, transforming the battlefield into a terrifying spectacle.
Centuries-old pine trees exploded, and massive boulders disintegrated.
"Take out her Golden-Armored Guards!" Li Qingxu roared, commanding the four experts behind him.
Simultaneously, Li Qingxu glanced at Zheng Maoze and his accompanying assistants.
Zheng Maoze steeled his resolve and attacked, but he secretly transmitted a message to He Tai: "Don't go all out. Hold back."
Behind Li Qingxu, four Golden-Armored Guards charged into battle.
Some fought barehanded, while others wielded heavy weapons like spiked maces.
The most striking figure was a young warrior in golden armor, wielding a massive spear—likely a descendant of the legendary Overlord.
Clearly, Li Qingxu's master intended to demonstrate that even the legacy of the peerless Overlord of old, when mastered by his disciples, amounted to nothing more than a Golden-Armored Guard.
This was a psychological tactic meant to intimidate.
The four guards bypassed the Core Disciples and surged forward, their murderous Qi shaking the pine forest.
All of them were clearly Outer Saints.
At the critical moment, Li Qingyue broke free from the combined attack of Li Qingxu and Zheng Maoze, charging toward the four guards.
Five-colored divine radiance erupted, and as the guards entered the area, they found themselves mired in a quagmire of spiritual energy.
"Li Qingyue, you can't interfere!" Li Qingxu hissed, his purple bamboo staff—unyielding even after being bathed in Otherworldly Heavenly Light—cracking the air as he swung it toward her back.
Qin Ming hurled four short spears in rapid succession, the projectiles whistling through the pine forest with thunderous force as they hurtled toward the Golden-Armored Guards.
Though the four Outer Saints staggered, nearly toppled by Li Qingyue's earlier assault, Li Qingxu's timely intervention had freed them from her grasp.
Heavenly Light blazed around the four figures as they met the spears head-on.
Some parried with bare hands, others with weapons, sending the projectiles careening away with resounding crashes.
The spears pierced through nearby thick pine trees, leaving gaping holes in their trunks.
Qin Ming's expression turned grim.
Pure physical strength alone was clearly insufficient against these opponents. His Heavenly Light couldn't yet be channeled into ordinary weapons, rendering the spears ineffective.
"Kill!" The two men and one woman who had followed Li Qingyue for over a year, now having established a foothold in the Outer Saint Realm, roared as they charged forward, fearlessly engaging the enemy.
Bronze Staff in hand, Qin Ming followed silently, ready for a fierce battle.
Seeing Zheng Maoze's four reinforcements closing in to encircle them, Li Qingyue took a deep breath.
She stubbornly withstood the combined pressure from Li Qingxu and Zheng Maoze, dragging both men toward the battlefield where the Golden-Armored Guards stood.
Chaos erupted as Core Disciples and Outer Saints clashed in the same area, creating an extremely dangerous situation.
Qin Ming suddenly accelerated, refusing to believe he was outmatched.
Having fused over a dozen types of Heavenly Light Force and imbued it into his body, how could he possibly be unable to defeat a single Outer Saint?
During their previous encounter in the Desert, he had paid a terrible price to kill one.
Now, having fused two Extraordinary Techniques, causing the Heavenly Light Force to undergo an astonishing transformation and its power to surge dramatically, he should have an even better chance.
With a clang, he swung the Bronze Staff with all his might, only for the golden-armored youth to cleave it in two with his great spear.
Qin Ming's expression darkened. This weapon, carefully selected from Chi Xia City's Armory, was forged from mixed metals, not true bronze.
How could it be shattered in an instant?
He noticed the golden-armored youth smirking as a foot-long sword of Heavenly Light erupted from the great spear.
Qin Ming felt a chill run down his spine.
The spear itself was already over two meters long, and the youth's Heavenly Light extended another foot beyond its tip—truly astonishing.
He recalled the Outer Saint he had killed in the Desert, who had been unable to project Heavenly Light beyond half a foot from his body or weapon.
Could this golden-armored youth's Heavenly Light truly extend over two meters from his body? It was a terrifying prospect.
The youth smirked cruelly, slashing his great spear diagonally, giving his opponent no chance to switch weapons.
Heavenly Light surged, threatening to obliterate Qin Ming.
Li Qingyue, enduring the combined pressure from Li Qingxu and Zheng Maoze, rushed to Qin Ming's aid.
Qin Ming, indeed under immense pressure, poured all his strength into the fight.
He channeled his unified Heavenly Light Force to unprecedented heights.
Li Qingyue's eyes flickered with realization.
She abruptly halted, her expression shifting to astonishment, and stopped advancing.
Qin Ming struck the great spear barehanded, yet the weapon didn't break.
His heart sank, but his combat instincts remained sharp.
Seizing the golden-armored youth's moment of surprise and hesitation, he closed the distance, pressed against the spear, and unleashed the full force of his Silk Book Technique-infused Heavenly Light Force.
The golden-armored youth's heart pounded with dread.
"What kind of monster is this?" he thought. "He can already contend with an Outer Saint barehanded, even before mastering external projection of Heavenly Light?"
His great spear, forged with Jade Iron, was designed to channel his Heavenly Light. Yet Qin Ming had just dispersed the Heavenly Light on the spear with a single hand.
He sensed imminent danger. With his opponent closing in, he had no choice but to release his great spear and unleash Heavenly Light from his hands, transforming them into tiger claws to meet the attack head-on.
"Ah..." The next moment, he screamed in agony as his tiger claw force shattered.
The bones in his fingers snapped, flesh and blood flew, and a blow struck his chest.
Instantly, his golden body armor glowed, its runes blazing brilliantly, shielding him from certain death.
Without this protection, he would have been crushed by his opponent's bare hands.
Qin Ming remained slightly tense. The unified Heavenly Light Force continued to surge, unable to pierce the golden armor's runic defenses.
He redirected his attack toward the shattered hand.
This terrifying Heavenly Light Force could spread through flesh and blood. The golden-armored youth only managed a piercing wail before his entire body exploded into a bloody mist within the glowing armor.
This single strike shattered the battlefield's stalemate.
"This Outer Saint is undeserving of his title," Qin Ming murmured, his tension fading.
"Just looks intimidating. And I guess I'm not so weak after all."
_______________________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube channel.
*********************************