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Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 119: [A Bountiful Harvest]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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At the edge of the massive crater, a small group of Outworld Disciples entered the fray, their bodies infused with Pure Yang Blood Essence.
They erupted in divine light, streaking across the sky like meteors, piercing through the dense, colorful mist formed by the Heavenly Light.
Had they possessed Pure Yang defenses, they could have entered earlier.
They simply hadn't wanted to risk themselves personally—otherwise, why would they have brought the Outer Saint?
Qin Ming, clutching the Near-Immortal Artifact, gazed at the ashes scattered across the ground and said, "The curtain has risen. This stage was always meant for the Outworld Disciples. What were you doing here? You asked for this."
After killing He Tai, he turned to face Chen Xingyuan and Li Tianhe.
The two stood on the slope, aloof and detached, having not intervened to help He Tai. Yet their expressions were now grave.
Qin Ming's swift and decisive elimination of the Great Ape King's disciples had clearly put them on edge.
"He Tai may not have been an Anomalous, but he was still a figure of some renown," Li Tianhe said. "His death here will inevitably cause a stir."
"The Great Ape King's lineage is known for its fiery temperament and vengeful nature, due to their Cultivation Technique," Chen Xingyuan added.
Qin Ming nodded. "The Outworld Disciples will be here soon."
Their words seemed unrelated, yet both understood each other's intentions perfectly.
Chen Xingyuan said, "When the Outworld Disciples arrive, we'll tell them the truth: He Tai went to meet you but was tragically burned to death by the Heavenly Light along the way."
Qin Ming lightly tapped the Eight Trigrams Furnace, producing a clear, metallic resonance like the gentle chime of a Daoist bell, as if cleansing the dust from the heart.
He said, "One can't truly appreciate the wonders of a Near-Immortal Artifact without handling it personally."
"Let's be frank," Li Tianhe said. "We do want to study it."
Qin Ming replied, "In addition to 'telling the truth,' I also want some of the Heavenly Light Force Technique."
"Your appetite is insatiable."
"Given our status, once we help you conceal the truth, we can never retract our statements. Isn't that enough?"
The two spoke in turn, both frowning slightly.
Qin Ming remained calm. "You're being too stingy. You want to study a Near-Immortal Artifact without offering anything in return? Do you think such a bargain exists? Time is running out."
Originally, the three might have engaged in a bloody battle, but they had abruptly shifted to a "negotiation."
In the end, He Tai might be the only one to suffer.
Qin Ming really wanted to beat the two of them to a pulp, but the time and place weren't right.
If he accidentally killed another one, the fallout would be immense.
"Alright, I have a Heavenly Light Force Technique here," Chen Xingyuan nodded.
Li Tianhe chimed in, willing to offer a cultivation technique as well.
Both men clearly valued Near-Immortal Artifacts highly, likely because their Dao Lineages contained relevant records.
Qin Ming approached them, ready to "negotiate." He wasn't afraid of them ganging up on him; they all knew none of them possessed the power to instantly kill the others.
"I have an Iron Leg Technique here..." Chen Xingyuan began.
Qin Ming immediately wanted to kick him.
'What kind of trash cultivation technique is that?"
He cut him off, saying, "Your Five Elements Palace is vast and prosperous, with countless extraordinary techniques, right? Just give me any Five Elements-attributed one. I don't need anything higher-level."
Chen Xingyuan's face stiffened.
The other man's demands were absurdly greedy.
He himself was still practicing extraordinary techniques; how could he possibly trade such a martial art to an outsider?
If he dared leak such a technique, the Five Elements Palace's elders would skin him alive.
"Then take the Yin Earth Fist!" Chen Xingyuan said, acting as if he were making a huge sacrifice.
"I have the Wuji Scripture. Why would I bother with your mediocre fist techniques? The Five Elements Palace is nothing special," Qin Ming said, shaking his head.
Chen Xingyuan frowned deeply, watching the approaching Outworld Disciples.
Finally, he sighed and said, "Then let's go with the Wind-Fire Force."
"How does it work?" Qin Ming asked.
"Wind fuels the fire, and fire amplifies the wind's power," Chen Xingyuan explained.
"This isn't just an offensive Heavenly Light Force technique; it's also an incredibly powerful movement technique."
Qin Ming nodded immediately.
"Demonstrate it thoroughly while reciting the incantations. I'll follow along and learn."
Li Tianhe, ever mindful of his place, retreated to a safe distance.
A moment later, Chen Xingyuan's expression was complex.
He had only demonstrated the technique once, yet Qin Ming was already nodding in understanding.
Was this feigned comprehension, or genuine genius?
He banished his doubts, grasped the Near-Immortal Artifact, and focused his senses.
But apart from the clarity of mind he experienced when striking the furnace, he discovered nothing.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming and Li Tianhe had completed their exchange.
Qin Ming learned the Jade Light Force from him.
Mastering this Heavenly Light Force technique could nourish the body and heal injuries.
When one's energy was depleted, circulating the Jade Light Force would accelerate recovery.
According to Li Tianhe, circulating the Jade Light Force once daily was akin to consuming jade elixir, equivalent to drinking a bowl of powerful medicine, offering significant benefits to the physical body.
This claim was undoubtedly exaggerated, but long-term practice would indeed yield remarkable results.
"Ah, if you were still alive, I might have even obtained the Heavenly Light Force Technique," Qin Ming lamented, gazing at the ashes left by He Tai.
The Outworld Disciples had arrived but kept their distance.
Despite possessing Pure Yang Blood Essence, they remained wary of the intensely concentrated Heavenly Light at the bottom of the massive crater.
They had observed Chen Xingyuan and Li Tianhe studying the Eight Trigrams Furnace in succession, which was perfectly natural—no one could resist being intrigued by such an artifact.
The Outworld Disciples didn't interfere, reasoning that the pair had risked their lives to retrieve it.
Tang Xumi, Jiang Shengyu, and the other leaders hadn't come personally, sending their most trusted subordinates instead.
Some Outworld Disciples with their own plans had also arrived.
"Fellow cultivators," Chen Xingyuan announced, his voice carrying through the air, "we have paid a heavy price to finally retrieve this Near-Immortal Artifact. Alas, Senior Brother He Tai was burned to ashes by the Heavenly Light—truly, heaven envies the talented."
Chen Xingyuan began to speak, fulfilling his promise.
Even while recounting such a "tragic" event, he maintained an air of detached composure.
Qin Ming had come to realize that this young man, likely trained by some unknown master, always sought to maintain a state of indifference, devoid of joy or sorrow.
Li Tianhe, sensing Qin Ming's thoughts, explained, "He's practicing the Withering and Flourishing Scripture, currently in the 'Withering' stage."
"What terrible news! Senior Brother He Tai, blessed with extraordinary talent, has perished here. What a loss! The future has been deprived of a Grandmaster."
The Outworld Disciples took turns offering perfunctory condolences, but their words rang hollow.
Their gazes never strayed from the Near-Immortal Artifact, and some even struggled to conceal their excitement, their lips twitching with barely suppressed smiles as they "mourned" He Tai.
After Chen Xingyuan and Li Tianhe finished examining the Eight Trigrams Furnace, they refrained from stirring up trouble.
They truthfully recounted the cause of He Tai's death and returned the furnace to Qin Ming.
"Senior Brothers," Qin Ming began, "to retrieve the Near-Immortal Artifact, He Tai ascended to heaven, while I sustained grievous injuries..."
"Junior Brother, I have spiritual medicine here for you..." An Outworld Disciple immediately offered, tossing a jade jar with excessive enthusiasm.
Qin Ming sighed. "The friend who asked me to help was critically wounded and withdrew early. I now don't know who to give the Near-Immortal Artifact to."
"Junior Brother, give it to me. It's a hot potato—keeping it will only invite disaster."
"Senior Brother, what do you desire? This junior sister will help you resolve your troubles. The Near-Immortal Artifact is useless to you. Once you leave this area saturated with Heavenly Light, you'll become an easy target."
...
In an instant, the Outworld Disciples secretly transmitted messages to Qin Ming using secret techniques.
He replied, "Senior Brothers and Sisters, this is the foundational treasure of the Beyond the Mortal Realm. It has nothing to do with me, so I naturally return it with both hands."
He paused briefly, then added, "One senior brother mentioned that since I was severely injured because of a Near-Immortal Artifact, he offered a Secret Manual as compensation. Well... I thank you for that."
"Who said that?" The Outworld Disciples exchanged glances.
"Junior Brother, I happened to obtain a technique from the Path of Awakening called 'Golden Finger Strike.' I'll give it to you,"
someone quickly volunteered, regardless of whether anyone had actually made such an offer.
Since no one else had spoken up yet, he decided to seize the opportunity.
"Senior Brother, I have 'Dragon Claw Force.' Once mastered, your five fingers will become indestructible!" another disciple chimed in.
Soon, more disciples began announcing the names of their techniques.
Chen Xingyuan and Li Tianhe watched Qin Ming, surprised that the Six Imperials' fake disciple's "technique extortion" was actually working!
"Senior Brother, I have the 'Golden Crow Night-Illuminating Scripture.' It might be even rarer than an extraordinary technique," a female Outworld Disciple offered.
"If you have that scripture, you can have the Near-Immortal Artifact!" Qin Ming immediately responded enthusiastically, making no attempt to hide his eagerness for a trade.
The girl appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old, her dark hair cascading to her waist.
She glided forward with a gentle smile, murmuring, "Senior Brother..."
As Qin Ming emerged from the bottom of the massive crater, still a dozen meters away from her, she suddenly struck.
Divine light erupted from her Yellow Court, surging toward his approaching figure.
Qin Ming had long suspected her deception, yet he had still emerged, primarily to verify whether the Outworld Disciples could activate the Eight Trigrams Furnace.
He darted sideways like lightning, swiftly evading the attack.
Channeling his Wind Force, he stirred the Heavenly Light, and with a thunderous roar, he charged forward.
The girl's entire body shimmered with radiant rain, swirling around her like a dense swarm of flying daggers, which she unleashed toward the advancing youth.
Qin Ming had mastered various defensive techniques, including the Golden Silkworm Technique, Golden Light Shield, and Golden Armor Technique, which he now activated in a unified, fused form.
Moreover, he channeled the powerful defensive methods from the Lihuo Scripture and Wuji Scripture, amplifying them with his Heavenly Light Force.
In an instant, golden patterns spread across his skin, radiating the essence of the earth and a faint fiery glow.
The rain of light from the Outworld Disciples descended like snow meeting the scorching sun, hissing as it dissolved into shimmering streams that vanished completely.
Qin Ming had already closed the distance, his fist glowing with Heavenly Light Force.
The sight terrified the young woman, who screamed in panic, having witnessed firsthand Zheng Maoze's miserable fate when Qin Ming had closed in on him.
With a thud, she was yanked to her feet.
Instead of striking her, Qin Ming seized her by the neck and dragged her to the edge of the massive crater.
"Senior Brother, it's a misunderstanding! I meant no harm, I was just too eager," the woman stammered, her voice trembling.
The Heavenly Light Force flowing through Qin Ming's hand felt like divine flames from a furnace, scorching her and draining the color from her face.
She dared not release her spiritual consciousness, fearing the Heavenly Light Force would ignite and burn through it.
"What kind of terrifying youth is this?" she thought. "His Heavenly Light Force Technique is terrifying!"
"Can you activate the Near-Immortal Artifact?" Qin Ming demanded, his voice like thunder. "Speak now!"
Frightened and shaken, the woman stammered, "How could we possibly control such a powerful artifact? Only after years of nurturing it to restore its spiritual essence and gain its recognition."
Qin Ming sensed her emotional fluctuations, quickly resonating with them to confirm her words were true.
With this assurance, Qin Ming felt relieved.
Even if he discarded her, he wouldn't be aiding his enemies.
He released her snow-white neck and said, "Go retrieve the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Scripture. The Near-Immortal Artifact will be yours."
The girl immediately fled like a startled white rabbit, cursing inwardly.
"If I had the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Scripture, would I need to trick you for a Near-Immortal Artifact?"
"I risked my life to help you retrieve this powerful artifact, suffering grievous injuries in the process," Qin Ming sighed. "Yet I was deceived and attacked. It's truly disheartening."
With a clang, he hurled the Eight Trigrams Furnace into the depths of the Heavenly Light-saturated pit.
"Brother, no!"
"Junior Brother, stop! We didn't deceive you!"
The Outworld Disciples shouted out in alarm, their eyes burning with desperation.
Chen Xingyuan and Li Tianhe exchanged glances, tempted to retrieve the furnace for further study.
But when they met Qin Ming's gaze, their resolve crumbled.
They knew that cutting off someone's path to wealth was akin to killing their parents, forging an irreconcilable enmity.
"Junior Brother, wait!" Finally, several Outworld Disciples rushed to the surface, briefly conferred, and returned with three Secret Manuals.
They couldn't have carried these personally; these were rewards obtained by certain Outer Saints, which the disciples had borrowed.
Qin Ming flipped through the manuals and was surprised to find Finger of Golden Cut and Dragon Claw Force, along with a third book, Three Mountain Seal, which required hand seals to activate and seemed to possess immense power.
He was delighted with these unexpected gains.
Without hesitation, Qin Ming picked up the Near-Immortal Artifact and tossed it from the Heavenly Light-saturated pit up onto the slope.
Clearly, the Outworld Disciples had already agreed to avoid infighting, planning to "discuss" ownership once they returned to the surface.
They felt uncertain in this Heavenly Light-saturated environment.
Moreover, this small group primarily consisted of representatives from the core disciples, making a life-or-death struggle here unnecessary.
"Oh, right! Tang Xumi and Jiang Shengyu promised to give me a top-tier cultivation technique after we get out," Qin Ming shouted after them. "Tell them not to forget!"
By now, no one cared about him.
With the Near-Immortal Artifact in hand, the Outworld Disciples surged upward.
Suddenly, an unexpected figure appeared—a graceful silhouette in flowing robes, wielding a crystalline bamboo staff.
Li Qingxu himself had descended, blocking their path on the slope.
"Senior Brother Tang..."
"Senior Brother Hu Tingwen!"
The Outworld Disciples immediately shouted out, calling for reinforcements.
Li Qingxu moved with lightning speed, his violet bamboo staff absorbing the Otherworldly Heavenly Light without being completely destroyed.
Forged into a treasure by his master, it could briefly pierce the Heavenly Light.
With a resounding thud, Li Qingxu's staff struck, sending an Outworld Disciple flying over ten meters.
No one could withstand his attack.
"Hand it over!" he demanded coldly, transforming into a bolt of lightning as he surged forward, intent on seizing the Near-Immortal Artifact.
Below the slope, Qin Ming drew his great bow, nocked a special arrow crafted from blue Jade Iron, and infused it with a massive surge of Heavenly Light Force before unleashing it with explosive force.
"Thwack!"
Li Qingxu's palm was stained crimson as the blue arrow tore through his flesh, leaving a deep gash.
His movements faltered momentarily, his eyes flashing with icy electricity.
"Li Qingxu's strength is truly excessive for a core disciple," Qin Ming thought grimly. "He's far beyond the other disciples. Even this special arrow couldn't pierce his body or even his palm."
"Junior Brother, you hold onto it for now!"
The disciple wielding the Near-Immortal Artifact threw it back with a clang, tossing it near Qin Ming.
Li Qingxu flew into a rage, charging forward and sending the disciple flying over twenty meters with a single strike of his staff, leaving him with broken bones and severe injuries.
"Li Qingxu, you're still clinging to hope even after being wounded? Why haven't you left yet?!" Tang Xumi, Jiang Shengyu, Hu Tingwen, and others appeared, entering the sinkhole together.
At that moment, all the Outworld Disciples gathered at the edge of the massive pit, knowing the final outcome for the Near-Immortal Artifact was imminent.
Spotting some familiar faces, Qin Ming's heart stirred.
With a sudden burst of strength, he hurled the Eight Trigrams Furnace toward Zheng Maoze.
The sacred artifact, radiating auspicious light and steaming with immortal energy, crashed down before Zheng Maoze with a resounding clang.
His pupils constricted—was this a blessing or a curse?!
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END OF CHAPTER
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