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Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 105: [All Tough Battles]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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The Fire Spring gurgled and flowed, winding through the pine forest, its fiery glow contrasting sharply with the verdant pines.
Qin Ming's low murmur naturally reached the ears of those nearby. The Golden-Armored Guards across from him, deeply wary of him, instinctively widened the distance between them.
They found it absurd that such a ferocious youth could still appear slightly bewildered.
"At the final moment, his hands transformed into tiger claws. That must be his most proficient Heavenly Light Force technique, with little connection to the Overlord's legacy. He clearly hasn't mastered it."
Qin Ming felt a sense of relief. This was merely a bluffing Outer Saint, his reputation far exceeding his actual abilities.
Even Li Qingyue's three followers exchanged surprised glances, wanting to ask: "Are you seriously analyzing and pondering this?"
In truth, the primary reason for Qin Ming's confusion was that he had been deceived by the Great Spear.
Seeing the opponent's Heavenly Light extending over two meters, he had instantly tensed, his hair standing on end.
During his previous battle in the Desert against an Outer Saint whose Heavenly Light only extended half a foot, he had nearly died.
How could he not be terrified when facing a Golden-Armored Youth with such a formidable Heavenly Light? Yet the outcome left him utterly bewildered.
It wasn't until Qin Ming picked up the Great Spear, gave it a gentle shake, and felt his own Heavenly Light Force surge outward that his expression changed.
He finally realized what had gone wrong.
This was a rare weapon forged with Jade Iron!
In an instant, his confusion vanished, replaced by clarity.
He now understood why the Golden-Armored Youth's Heavenly Light could extend over two meters from his body—it was all thanks to that extraordinary Great Spear.
"That makes sense now! So you're not as strong as you seemed!" Qin Ming's gaze sharpened as he glared at the Golden-Armored Guards opposite him.
He had finally grasped the true extent of his own power, realizing he had almost been "deceived" by these opponents.
"I'm certainly not weak!" Qin Ming declared, his eyes fixed on his nearby adversaries with predatory intensity.
The Outer Saints across from him, oblivious to his internal reflections, were infuriated by the youth's sudden shift in demeanor, interpreting it as deliberate mockery.
In truth, everyone had been stunned by Qin Ming's earlier feat—annihilating an Outer Saint within his rune-etched Golden Armor.
A smile bloomed on Li Qingyue's face, her expression visibly lightening.
She recalled Meng Xinghai's words about Qin Ming's unparalleled talent, surpassing even Otherworlders of his age.
He was destined to walk far down the path of Awakening.
Yet even Old Meng himself hadn't fully grasped the sheer dominance of Qin Ming's unified Heavenly Light Force, capable of clashing with Outer Saints.
Thus, Li Qingyue's earlier assessment of Qin Ming's strength had also been incomplete.
Li Qingxu's expression darkened.
One of his men had been killed in a single exchange—a brutal display of violent aesthetics.
Most crucially, the golden-armored youth wielding the Great Spear shared a distant blood relation with his teacher.
"Is he really that strong on your path?" Zheng Maoze secretly asked He Tai. "I haven't seen him unleash his Heavenly Light Force yet."
"You still want me to hold back?" He Tai replied with a solemn expression.
He believed Qin Ming possessed far greater power than he had shown, and his Heavenly Light Force might be capable of external projection.
Zheng Maoze transmitted his thoughts telepathically: "The situation is growing increasingly complex. Now there's a master who has cultivated a unique Heavenly Light Force, which puts Li Qingxu at a disadvantage. We can't afford to antagonize Li Qingyue right now."
He Tai responded gravely, "He might be an Former Disciple of the Tathagata. If you insist I hold back, what if his sudden burst of Heavenly Light Force kills me?"
"What did you say? He's cultivated the Tathagata Force?!" Zheng Maoze was stunned.
Qin Ming was examining the blood-mist-shrouded Golden Armor. Though the youth wearing it had been blasted apart, the armor remained intact, standing on the battlefield, its radiant light flowing in dazzling patterns.
"So there's a weakness," Qin Ming murmured. "Attacking through the hands and feet allows Heavenly Light Force to seep in and kill the wearer."
The opposing Outer Saint immediately retreated, sensing the youth's ruthlessness and his determination to completely annihilate his enemies.
Qin Ming now understood the Beyond the World Experts' intentions. The Golden Armor could protect its wearer from harm, but its complete lack of bloodshed made it too gentle, failing to capture the true spirit of competition.
This arrangement offered the defeated a chance to survive, but it also ensured they couldn't remain completely defenseless.
In the distance, Wang Caiwei, clad in black-gold armor, stood with graceful poise.
Her beautiful face bore a peculiar expression as she turned to her companion and asked, "This young man is quite remarkable. Have you identified his origins? Do you think he can truly unleash the Heavenly Light?"
The young powerhouse beside her, Jiang Congyun, a disciple of the Pure Yang Palace known for his vast knowledge, replied, "I suspect he has mastered the Jade Pure Force. If he can already project the Heavenly Light, he will be an exceptionally formidable opponent."
Jiang Congyun's Pure Yang Force was overwhelmingly dominant, capable of scorching and shattering even Consciousness Spiritual Light. Yet he harbored deep apprehension toward the legendary Technique.
"The Tathagata Force and the Jade Pure Force... have both appeared this time?"
Wang Caiwei stared at Qin Ming's retreating figure, her brow furrowing slightly.
For some reason, he felt strangely familiar.
Li Qingxu and Li Qingyue stood locked in a tense standoff, their Consciousness Spiritual Light radiating outward, twisting and shattering the surrounding vegetation and rocks.
Within their Yellow Court, patterns resembling immortal radiance intertwined and flowed, surging outward to shake the nearby ancient pines and Fire Springs.
Li Qingxu urged Zheng Maoze to intervene and eliminate the enigmatic Golden-Armored Youth wielding the Heavenly Light Force.
"Brother Li, he might be from that Ancient Daoist Sect that's been sealed off for two hundred years. He practices the Jade Pure Force. Killing him would bring us immense trouble," Zheng Maoze secretly replied, deliberately omitting the fact that Qin Ming was a Former Disciple of the Tathagata.
Qin Ming merely tapped his Golden Armor a few times, wasting no time before charging forward with his Great Spear. His eyes burned with sharp intensity.
For him, the tables had turned.
Why wait for his opponents to attack when he could strike first?
The Great Spear felt perfectly balanced in his hands. This weapon combined the characteristics of both spears and lances, yet could also be wielded like a sword or saber for slashing attacks.
Most importantly, the two-meter-long spear was forged with Jade Iron. His Heavenly Light could flow along its length, amplifying its destructive power exponentially.
Qin Ming moved like the wind, his speed astonishing as he took the initiative.
The two men and one woman behind him watched in disbelief as the youth, his eyes now terrifyingly focused after his initial confusion, abandoned them to charge ahead alone.
The three Golden-Armored Guards quickly followed.
Without a word, the two sides clashed again!
The half-meter-long blade at the tip of Qin Ming's two-meter-long Great Spear gleamed like a bolt of lightning slashing through the pine forest, aiming for the neck of an Outer Saint.
This expert, who had disdained weapons due to his confidence in his bare-handed strength, now panicked.
He swiftly dodged, unwilling to risk contact with the spear.
He knew all too well that the weapon contained Jade Iron, making it virtually unbreakable.
Most importantly, he suspected this youth was either a Former Disciple of the Tathagata or had mastered the Jade Pure Force—a terrifying prospect.
Every Cultivator on this path had heard legends of such techniques, capable of piercing any Heavenly Light and overwhelming even the most formidable experts.
Encountering such a force meant certain doom.
Yet when he tried to counter with his own skills, it felt like showing off his meager skills before a master craftsman.
The Great Spear in the youth's hands seemed to come alive, writhing like a ferocious Dragon. It brushed past his neck before suddenly dropping, inexplicably appearing between his hands.
The Outer Saint's hair stood on end.
Everyone had witnessed the Golden-Armored Youth, seemingly a former Disciple of Tathagata shatter their companion's hands, channeling Heavenly Light Force into them until they exploded.
Now that his hands were also targeted, was this youth trying to kill him outright?
Worse still, blood was already flowing from one of his hands.
He hadn't dodged in time, and the gleaming spear blade had severed two of his fingers.
The Outer Saint acted decisively. Without daring to retrieve his severed fingers, he turned and fled without a word, terrified of becoming the next casualty.
The Former Disciple of the Tathagata had meticulously studied the golden armor, likely intending to completely annihilate his opponents.
The man with the severed finger vanished in an instant. Having only just entered and still near the entrance, he ignored Li Qingxu's murderous glare and retreated without hesitation.
With a clang, Qin Ming's Great Spear collided with the Outer Saint's spiked mace.
The Outer Saint staggered backward, his mace chipped and seven or eight of its spikes sheared off.
This time, Qin Ming unleashed the pure power of the Overlord's Spear.
The snow-bright spear blade pierced forward with the force to shatter the heavens, carrying an inexplicable momentum.
The two-meter-long Great Spear, infused with Qin Ming's Heavenly Light Force, roared, vibrated, and erupted with terrifying shockwaves.
The Outer Saint recoiled in horror.
His heavy weapon proved utterly inadequate, inexplicably ensnared by the Heavenly Light before being flung aside.
With a resounding thud, the Outer Saint felt a searing pain in his chest as an overwhelming force struck him.
His protective Golden Armor instantly flared to life, activating its sacred runes.
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Had it not been for the Golden Armor's intervention, he would have been not only pierced through but also shattered into pieces.
Qin Ming thrust his spear again, sending the Outer Saint flying dozens of meters.
The Outer Saint, realizing he had done his best and would surely die if he continued fighting, immediately fled.
He had no regrets; he had given it his all.
"Junior Brother, I'm leaving first!" The fourth Golden-Armored Guard, from the Li Family and actually Li Qingxu's cousin, was even more decisive, fleeing without a fight.
He Tai, eager to test his strength, grew increasingly convinced that this was the Former Disciple of the Tathagata.
He wanted to unleash his Great Ape King Force in a full-fledged battle.
Hundred years ago, their lineage's founder had clashed with a master of the Tathagata Force. Though he suffered a crushing defeat, the encounter yielded invaluable insights.
"Don't go!" Zheng Maoze blocked He Tai's path.
He suspected the spear-wielding youth had already mastered the Heavenly Light Force to the point of external projection, fearing He Tai would be outmatched.
Historical records showed that while the Great Ape King Force was terrifying, it ultimately fell short against the Tathagata Force.
More importantly, Zheng Maoze sensed powerful experts approaching.
As an Outsider disciple, his heightened Consciousness Spiritual Light made him exceptionally perceptive.
"Junior Sister Li, you're here too?" Tang Xumi appeared, a smile on his face.
He then turned his gaze to Li Qingxu and said, "Brother Li, looks like you're about to be eliminated!"
Qin Ming and his group had barely entered the Spiritual Cave when they were cornered.
Before they could release the bird carrying a wisp of Tang Xumi's Consciousness Spiritual Light, it had already drawn him here.
"Good! Let's send him packing first!" Li Qingyue nodded.
A swift resolution was preferable to a drawn-out battle with Li Qingxu followed by his expulsion.
Li Qingxu's expression darkened.
With two Core Disciples targeting him, his chances of winning the Spiritual Cave and claiming the Near-Immortal Artifact had dwindled to almost nothing.
"That big fat guy hasn't made a move yet, has he?" Tang Xumi glanced toward the other side.
Zheng Maoze's Consciousness Spiritual Light nearly boiled over. He was merely physically robust, yet being called "Big Strong Zheng" behind his back already infuriated him.
Now, Tang Xumi had the audacity to call him "big fat guy" to his face!
This was utterly outrageous!
Li Qingxu suddenly leaped into the air, fleeing into the distance.
He refused to leave the Spiritual Cave just yet.
Even with his chances slim, he intended to hold out until the very end.
Ancient pines shattered as Li Qingyue and Tang Xumi intercepted him simultaneously.
The three of them clashed in the distant forest.
A mysterious symbol flashed between Li Qingxu's brows as he wielded a shimmering purple bamboo staff.
Enduring a strike of Li Qingyue's Consciousness Spiritual Light, he traded a fierce blow with Tang Xumi.
"Let's go!" Wang Caiwei led her group away, vanishing swiftly.
"Let's get out of here!" Zheng Maoze, though seething with anger, didn't dare confront Tang Xumi.
He dragged the still reluctant He Taiyuan away.
Outside the ruins of Mount Luo Fu Immortal Mountain, many watched anxiously, awaiting the outcome.
They soon noticed someone fleeing from the ruins, his hands covered in blood.
"He's Li Qingxu's Golden-Armored Guard," someone remarked.
Many exchanged curious glances.
Everyone knew how domineering Li Qingxu's teacher, the old senior, was.
Though many dared not voice their anger, the Core Disciples' targeting of his disciple within the rules seemed perfectly reasonable—it had been foreshadowed all along.
"Li Qingxu might be the first to be eliminated," someone chuckled.
The fleeing guard, feeling humiliated, tried to salvage his reputation.
"I was wounded by the Former Disciple of the Tathagata!" he declared. "He can shatter an Outer Saint's defenses through Golden Armor!"
"How can you be sure it was the Former Disciple?" someone challenged.
Another guard emerged, also from Li Qingxu's Golden-Armored Guards.
"It could also be a successor of the Jade Pure Lineage," he added.
Many gasped in surprise.
Was the youth beside Li Qingyue truly this formidable?
Could the Heavenly Light Force possess such devastating power?
...
Despite the golden armor protecting his body, Li Qingxu was severely wounded, coughing up blood as he fled.
Refusing to be eliminated, he escaped using a secret technique.
His unwillingness to concede stemmed from the fact that he hadn't yet exhausted all his resources.
The Li Family's most formidable ally, secretly stationed near a Core Disciple, had been instructed to intervene if necessary.
Though this violated the rules, as long as it remained concealed, their objective could still be achieved.
After Tang Xumi departed, Qin Ming and Li Qingyue promptly released the sparrow, wary of being secretly tracked.
A lake formed by converging Fire Springs shimmered with brilliant light, surrounded by abandoned ancient medicinal fields.
A millennium ago, this land had been scorched by Otherworldly Heavenly Light.
Now, it was gradually recovering, with occasional medicinal herbs sprouting among the overgrown furrows.
"Zhou Chengru!" Li Qingyue exclaimed, spotting Cui Chongxuan and the youth Cui Chonghe had supported, Zhou Chengru, ahead.
"What kind of luck do you have? You keep running into Core Disciples," Qin Ming remarked, turning his gaze toward Cui Chongxuan.
Over two years had passed, and Cui Chongxuan now stood as tall as a grown man, radiating an imposing aura of heroic spirit.
Li Qingyue dismissed the notion of bad luck.
"Defeating each Core Disciple one by one to claim the Near-Immortal Artifact would make the victory far more meaningful."
She cautioned, "Be careful of Cui Chongxuan. He's become quite renowned among the Millennial Clans recently. Though he's not suited for the path of the Immortals, he's rumored to have mastered the legendary Six Imperial Heart Scripture. The Six Imperial Force is not weaker than the Tathagata Force or the Jade Pure Force."
Qin Ming nodded.
The moment to test the Silk Book Technique had arrived!
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END OF CHAPTER
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