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Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 118: [Hands Stained with Royal Blood]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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At the bottom of the deep pit, Qin Ming walked steadily, completely detaching his thoughts from the Near-Immortal Artifact and the metallic paper, and calming himself completely.
Those things were still far beyond his reach, had little to do with him, and belonged to the core Dao Lineages of the Beyond the Mortal Realm.
He reminded himself not to get carried away, to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground.
Just a few months ago, he had been hunting in the Great Mountain, nearly dying from a strange illness, enduring hunger, and struggling for survival.
As for everything that had happened with the Cui Family, it was nothing more than a fleeting dream, not to be taken seriously.
Only after embarking on the Path of Awakening and continuously improving his physique had he managed to break free from his predicament.
Qin Ming believed that mastering the Heavenly Light Force was his true path to advancement.
By continuously refining it, he would eventually rise above.
Chen Shuhang and Jiang Congyun fled without daring to retrace their steps, unwilling to encounter He Tai, who possessed the aura of a young Grandmaster, or the heir of the Five Elements Palace.
Severely injured by Qin Ming, their condition was precarious.
They feared that experts skilled in special techniques might detect their weakness during their escape, and if anyone harbored ill intentions, their chances of survival would be slim.
Moreover, Jiang Congyun and Chen Shuhang felt deeply ashamed of their experiences in the pit and had no desire to mention them to anyone.
Qin Ming was calmly retracing his steps, moving neither too fast nor too slow. This was all part of his plan: to stir up chaos in the pool.
He couldn't discreetly carry out the Near-Immortal Artifact. Its extraordinary nature was impossible to conceal; as he moved, it radiated auspicious light, bathing the surrounding mist in vibrant hues.
If he deviated from the agreed-upon path, the Outworld Disciples would likely assume he was trying to escape with the Near-Immortal Artifact, triggering a full-scale assault.
"Since that's the case," Qin Ming mused, "I'll use the Eight Trigrams Furnace as bait to draw all the disciples into the fray. Let them erupt into a chaotic battle."
After all, no one yet knew of Li Qingyue's return.
She could safely wait, biding her time until the fierce and brutal competition neared its end.
Qin Ming's only concern was whether any Outworld Disciple who temporarily obtained the Eight Trigrams Furnace could activate its mysterious power.
"Better to be cautious," he thought. "I should quietly capture an Outworld Disciple and test it out."
He had been in the Forbidden Zone for quite some time now, and the Pure Yang Blood on his armor was nearly completely evaporated.
At the bottom of the massive pit, violent, multicolored mists surged like a vast, raging inferno.
Each time Qin Ming inhaled, a searing pain burned in his nose and throat.
Had any other Awakener entered this place, their lungs would have been incinerated within moments, burning from the inside out until reduced to ashes.
"He's coming out!"
"He actually obtained a Near-Immortal Artifact!"
The three experts guarding the edge of the deep pit spotted a hazy figure emerging from the colorful mist, growing clearer as it approached.
They noticed the divine radiance swirling around the object in his hand.
He Tai, a young prodigy invited by the Zheng Family, possessed an extraordinary lineage.
He practiced the Great Ape King Force, whose founder had once dared to challenge the Tathagata of that era.
Staring at the figure shrouded in Heavenly Light and mist, He Tai's expression shifted.
"Chen Shuhang and Jiang Congyun are gone," he said. "Only the successor of the Six Imperial Force remains."
"He has no connection to the Six Imperial Lineage," Chen Xingyuan stated calmly.
Hailing from the legendary Five Elements Palace, his power was unfathomable.
Li Tianhe, a disciple of the Jade Pure lineage, merely grunted in acknowledgment.
Chen Xingyuan, the Five Elements Palace disciple, added flatly, "Nor does he have any ties to the Tathagata lineage."
There was no one else present; only the three of them waited here, each possessing extraordinary backgrounds and having mastered the most unique and formidable form of the Heavenly Light Force.
Qin Ming emerged from the dense Heavenly Light, now close enough to be seen. The three men's gazes were drawn to the Near-Immortal Artifact—severely damaged yet still radiating a dazzling, otherworldly glow.
"Did you clash with Jiang Congyun and Chen Shuhang?" He Tai asked.
Qin Ming stared at him, silent.
Was this an attempt to provoke him?
Chen Xingyuan and Li Tianhe remained silent, watching calmly.
"Your actions were excessively ruthless, leaving them stranded in the Forbidden Zone," He Tai pressed.
Qin Ming countered, "What are you implying? That I killed them? Don't try to smear me with false accusations."
"If that's not the case, everything is better. After all, we're all walking the same difficult path," He Tai nodded, then smiled and reached out to take the radiant Eight Trigrams Furnace.
Qin Ming stepped forward, approaching the edge of the massive crater, and handed over the furnace.
He Tai smiled, his hand grasping the furnace's rim.
In that instant, he unleashed the Great Ape King Force, striking out at Qin Ming with overwhelming power.
The Great Ape King Force erupted with violent intensity, its masculine and domineering energy conjuring the image of a colossal, heaven-devouring ape materializing in the air, radiating boundless Heavenly Light.
Qin Ming evaded the strike by channeling Wind Force, summoning a gale to carry him away from the overwhelming Heavenly Light.
However, his Pure Yang Blood, already depleted, was completely vaporized by He Tai's sudden attack.
Clearly, He Tai's true purpose was to eliminate the remaining Pure Yang Blood on Qin Ming's armor.
Normally, an Awakener entering an area saturated with Heavenly Light would be risking their life.
Qin Ming had barely emerged alive when He Tai launched this attack, destroying his Pure Yang Blood—a clear act of malice.
Yet He Tai was equally stunned.
He had grasped the edge of the Eight Trigrams Furnace, yet failed to seize it.
How had he missed?
Qin Ming's expression remained cold.
He had long sensed He Tai's ill intentions.
Even if this was a staged act to incite chaos, he wouldn't let this man trigger the explosion.
His Adhesive Force had activated the moment He Tai reached for the furnace.
No matter how hard He Tai pulled, his efforts were futile.
"Do we have a grudge?" Qin Ming asked, simultaneously attempting to climb the slope.
With a whoosh, the three masters moved simultaneously, their movements as swift as lightning, blocking Qin Ming's path.
"You killed Jiang Congyun and Chen Shuhang, staining your hands with royal blood. We can't stand by and watch. We're here to avenge them," He Tai said coldly.
Qin Ming glanced at the trio. "Are you really this hypocritical? Why bother pretending at this point? You're probably after the Near-Immortal Artifact too, aren't you?"
Chen Xingyuan, heir to the Five Elements Palace, nodded.
"Indeed. The Eight Trigrams Furnace of Mount Luofu, renowned for millennia, involves Near-Immortal creatures deep within the Night Mist World—godlike beings. We wish to study them thoroughly."
Qin Ming didn't know how to react.
A coalition of Outworld Disciples had schemed and maneuvered, only to find that even their allies harbored ulterior motives.
Earlier, when Qin Ming had met He Tai, the man had been humble and reserved.
Now, his true nature had surfaced.
Qin Ming shook his head and sighed softly.
He feigned an attempt to break through, charging toward the slope. The three masters intercepted him, driving him toward the Forbidden Zone where the Heavenly Light burned fiercely.
A murderous intent flickered in Qin Ming's eyes.
He had initially restrained himself, sparing Chen Shuhang and Jiang Congyun.
But now, he had no desire to show mercy to these men.
Qin Ming clashed palms with He Tai, not to immediately determine who was superior or to fight to the death.
Instead, he activated his Adhesive Force, drawing the successor of the Great Ape King Force into the depths of the Heavenly Light-saturated pit.
He Tai was shocked.
This man's Heavenly Light manifestation was limited—how could he possibly drag him into this Forbidden Zone?
His expression turned cold.
He was protected by Pure Yang Blood, while his opponent had already lost his defenses and lacked protective spiritual blood.
The man couldn't possibly survive long in this place.
He Tai fully unleashed his Great Ape King Force.
Behind him, a colossal black ape seemed to materialize, roaring as if to tear through the night sky and reclaim the light of day.
His Heavenly Light Force was indeed extraordinary.
No wonder his ancestor had dared to challenge Tathagata—such a miraculous spectacle accompanied his techniques.
Qin Ming unleashed the Wuji Fist, instantly shattering He Tai's fierce and domineering Heavenly Light.
Then, the Golden Silkworm Force erupted, piercing He Tai's fist even at a distance of mere inches, drawing blood.
He Tai was truly remarkable.
His Heavenly Light Force surged across his skin, vibrating violently.
Though blood seeped from his skin, his bones and tendons remained unharmed.
The Heavenly Light surging around He Tai's body was nearly a meter thick, vibrating violently.
His strength clearly surpassed that of Jiang Congyun and Chen Shuhang.
Yet he was astonished.
Who was this opponent?
How could a mere three-inch layer of Heavenly Light shake his nearly meter-thick barrier? It was utterly inconceivable.
He had achieved early success, praised by many as possessing the essence of a young Grandmaster in techniques.
His confidence had always been unwavering, and now he was unleashing his full power.
Qin Ming's fist erupted with Li Fire Force, wreathed in flames.
The fiery energy tore through He Tai's fist force like a wildfire, igniting portions of his Heavenly Light.
"What?!" He Tai recoiled in shock, instantly channeling the Great Ape King Force to extinguish the Lihuo flames.
Qin Ming closed the distance, making physical contact again.
This time, he pushed his Adhesive Force to its limit, drawing out He Tai's crimson, crystalline layer of Pure Yang Blood Essence.
In the next instant, Qin Ming absorbed the essence, fusing it into his own armor.
"You..." He Tai's face paled.
Stripped of his protective barrier, he dared not linger in this place.
He lunged forward, desperate to break free.
He could already feel the unbearable heat, his body being eroded by the Heavenly Light.
"Where do you think you're going? Taste this for yourself!" Qin Ming blocked his path, preventing his escape.
He Tai's eyes burned crimson as he abruptly halted.
He knew there was no peaceful resolution; the more he tried to flee, the tighter the trap became.
His only option now was to fight with everything he had.
"I'll show you the true power of the Great Ape King Art!" he snarled, his voice cold, yet his heart strangely calm.
Enduring the searing pain of the Heavenly Light, he charged at Qin Ming.
He unleashed the Great Ape King Fist, a technique renowned throughout the Night Mist World, and it proved truly extraordinary.
He even managed to trade blows with Qin Ming on equal footing.
His Heavenly Light Force was exceptionally potent, radiating overwhelming yang energy that temporarily withstood Qin Ming's fist light.
"ROAR!"
He Tai roared, summoning the Violent Ape behind him once more.
The ape resonated with his movements, stirring up endless Heavenly Light with the force of mountains being uprooted and the heavens being torn asunder.
With a thunderous crash, his Heavenly Light Force easily shattered massive boulders several meters tall at the bottom of the crater.
He Tai stomped his foot, shattering the crystallized ground into fissures half a foot wide.
He seemed to transform into a true Great Ape King, growing fiercer with each strike.
He stirred up swirling, iridescent Heavenly Light mist, striking with the full weight of heaven and earth behind him.
With each punch, terrifying Heavenly Light surged forth, lifting countless stones into the air. The floating rocks hurtled forward with his fist, creating a spectacular display of destructive force.
Qin Ming's expression turned serious as he prepared to meet the attack head-on. He had no intention of prolonging the fight.
Drawing upon the Silk Threads, he channeled the power of the Three Great Extraordinary Techniques and Eighteen Forces, unleashing a thunderous roar of combined force.
His entire body radiated a divine glow as he unleashed his right fist. This single strike embodied the essence of a Grandmaster's demeanor and unparalleled skill—his ultimate punch!
He Tai's face darkened.
Though others praised him as a future Grandmaster, he remained grounded, aware of the vast gulf between his current level and that lofty realm.
Even possessing a hint of divine essence didn't bring him close. Yet witnessing Qin Ming's fist light and imposing stance stirred something within him.
For a moment, he sensed the genuine aura of a young Grandmaster emanating from his opponent.
He Tai roared, unleashing his full power.
The phantom image of the Great Ape King behind him merged into his body, and with a swing of his fist, he shook the depths of the massive crater.
With a deafening crash, their fists collided.
Qin Ming shattered the nearly meter-thick Heavenly Light, crushed the Great Ape King Force, and sent blood splattering.
He Tai's fist twisted grotesquely, the sound of bones breaking echoing clearly through the air.
"Future Grandmaster? Young prodigy? You're far from it!" Qin Ming scoffed.
He Tai staggered backward, his body corroded by the Heavenly Light's mist and his broken finger bones searing with agony.
He unleashed another terrifying burst of fist energy, lunging forward.
This time, Qin Ming didn't meet his fist head-on.
Having already gauged and defeated his opponent, he'd lost interest.
He simply swung the Eight Trigrams Furnace forward, slamming it into He Tai.
He Tai's pupils constricted.
Only now did he realize that Qin Ming's left hand had barely moved throughout their intense battle.
Had he been fighting with only one hand this whole time?
A wave of humiliation washed over him.
Desperate to survive, He Tai recklessly sacrificed his vital essence, unleashing even greater power.
The phantom of the Great Ape King behind him materialized with increasing clarity, leaping forward past his physical form to attack Qin Ming directly.
Qin Ming swung the Eight Trigrams Furnace again, smashing it down with a thunderous crash.
The grotesque, colossal black ape phantom shattered into nothingness.
"Agh..." He Tai screamed in agony.
The phantom had seemed to embody his very essence—his spirit, energy, and vitality—now violently torn from his body.
He was driven to the brink of madness.
Qin Ming's expression turned grave.
The Great Ape King Technique was indeed formidable, far surpassing ordinary martial techniques. A colossal ape had materialized earlier, defying the limits of conventional cultivation techniques.
He realized that the technique itself was incredibly powerful; He Tai had simply failed to master it properly.
He Tai, now completely deranged, charged forward.
Qin Ming swung the Eight Trigrams Furnace, smashing half of He Tai's body into pieces with a thunderous bang.
He Tai's mangled remains collapsed into a pool of blood, his agonized screams echoing through the cavern.
Moments later, the Heavenly Light already coursing through his veins ignited, rapidly incinerating him to ash.
A young prodigy had met a gruesome end.
The commotion was immense, naturally alerting the Outworld Disciples stationed at the edge of the massive pit.
Many witnessed the radiant Immortal light erupting from below.
"The Near-Immortal Artifact has been retrieved!" someone shouted.
Some Outworld Disciples, imbued with Pure Yang Blood, swiftly descended into the pit.
"The curtain has been drawn,"
Qin Ming murmured, clutching the Near-Immortal Artifact as he stood motionless at the bottom of the chasm.
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END OF CHAPTER
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