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Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 133: [A Harsh Reality]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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In the living room, Meng Xinghai gently struck a set of hanging bronze chimes, producing a crisp, melodious sound.
He said, "The Cui Clan values their reputation highly. That makes things much easier."
"Is there something going on behind the scenes?" Qin Ming asked.
Meng Xinghai explained, "You've won over a dozen consecutive matches. Normally, the Night Gazette would feature your streak on the front page. But the Cui Clan intervened and had it suppressed."
The Cui Clan wanted him to "keep a low profile," fearing that his resurgence would remind people of past scandals.
Meng Xinghai continued, "The Cui Clan cares deeply about appearances. They abandoned you before. If you suddenly start achieving great success, wouldn't that make them look bad?"
Qin Ming felt helpless.
Should he really lie low for the sake of the Cui Clan's reputation, never rising above mediocrity?
What right did they have to demand that?
Meng Xinghai chuckled. "I spoke to an acquaintance at the Night Gazette. When you won your fifteenth match, we had them mention it briefly, just to gauge Cui He and the others' reactions. Judging by the feedback, it worked perfectly."
Qin Ming immediately understood: Old Meng was a "master of manipulation." No wonder he enjoyed playing bronze chimes and other ancient instruments.
He also marveled at the Night Gazette's blatant commercialism. Without Meng Xinghai's intervention, even a winning streak of any length would go unreported.
Moreover, this time the Night Gazette only mentioned Chi Xia, Jin Rui, and other cities, replacing his name with "some youth."
However, he thought this was fine. Being too high-profile wasn't a good thing, and he should thank the Cui Clan for keeping things under wraps.
Meng Xinghai said, "Recently, I've been researching and found that some Great Sects and Advanced Academies established rules long ago: the 'first' from different cities would compete, and if they won twenty consecutive matches, they could apply to join those institutions. After passing certain trials, they could become Core Disciples."
This was ancient history, long forgotten by most.
The trials were notoriously difficult, making the qualification largely meaningless.
Meng Xinghai believed these challenges would be trivial for Qin Ming.
All he needed was twenty consecutive wins.
With his "guidance," Cui He and the others would likely rush to arrange formidable opponents to stop Qin Ming's winning streak.
At that point, Qin Ming could agree to spar, but only if they wagered rare scriptures as prizes.
"If we could obtain the Scripture of Everlasting Green Life (Yi Mu Scripture), that would be even better. It can extend one's lifespan by half a lifetime—a priceless Secret Manual."
Though the chances were slim, Meng Xinghai still wanted to try.
The Cui Clan's Founding Ancestor had lived so long precisely because he had cultivated the Scripture of Everlasting Green Life (Yi Mu Scripture).
Qin Ming swiftly won his next four matches, bringing his consecutive victories to nineteen.
Now he could relax and wait for Old Meng's instructions.
"The Life-Altering Scripture is truly extraordinary, with its own unique insights," Qin Ming mused, calming his mind as he studied the ancient scripture from the depths of the Night Mist World.
He had diligently studied the Secret Manual the day Li Qingyue brought it to him, but many concepts still required further contemplation.
The Life-Altering Scripture was a strange book filled with dangerous experiments. To prolong life and strengthen one's foundation, it proposed various seemingly viable hypotheses that often led to death.
Qin Ming suspected that even the scripture's creator hadn't tested all these absurd methods. Yet he found himself engrossed in the text, pondering its depths.
The book mentioned seeking out a "Demonic Cauldron," entering which would inevitably cost fifty years of lifespan.
However, if one could endure the ordeal, their body would undergo a transformation, transforming and potentially extending their life by sixty years.
Qin Ming didn't know how to react to this passage.
How had these sixty years been calculated?
Could it even be verified?
Even if the method succeeded, what if it only extended one's life by thirty years?
Qin Ming dared not blindly trust the scripture's specific techniques, fearing they might lead to his demise.
The book mentioned other absurd methods, such as enduring lightning strikes infused with the Purple Haze.
According to the text, surviving such an ordeal would inevitably enhance one's physical constitution.
After reading this passage, Qin Ming was utterly speechless.
He then studied the next section, which described how to obtain "Dragon Blood" by approaching a "Dragon's Breath"—a slender tornado that descends from the clouds to the lake or sea.
This phenomenon, the text explained, didn't contain the blood of a true dragon, but rather a priceless, rare substance found in the depths of the lake or sea.
"You could easily be swept into the sky and die a gruesome death," Qin Ming muttered.
"And the text even admits that Dragon Blood doesn't appear with every Dragon's Breath."
Though Qin Ming suspected the author hadn't personally verified all these methods, he found them intriguing, as they offered a glimpse into alternative approaches.
Having undergone six awakenings, he had only three remaining opportunities to enhance his physical constitution.
The awakening stage was the period of fastest progress on this path.
Once one reached the Outer Saint Realm, breaking through became exceedingly difficult.
Many who embarked on this path found themselves stagnating at a critical point, taking years or even decades to advance a single small step, eventually leading to utter despair.
As Qin Ming meticulously studied the Life-Altering Scripture, examining its various perilous trials, he realized these methods might hold the key to breaking through his current bottleneck!
Perhaps, by employing these extreme methods, the later realms of Outer Saint and Spirit Domain wouldn't be so arduous to traverse.
However, the premise remained as the author of the Strange Book had stated: "As long as you don't die..."
This bizarre condition deterred many.
After all, the author wouldn't leap from his coffin to extend their lives if they failed.
Of course, the book also contained valuable chapters. Though obscure and difficult to practice, Qin Ming had systematically mastered most of them, having even grasped the overarching principles outlined in the first three pages.
Qin Ming believed that the cultivation methods of the ancients differed significantly from those of modern practitioners.
Consequently, most contemporary cultivators found the book's diagrams of energy circulation pathways incompatible with their own practices.
However, his unified Heavenly Light Force flowed seamlessly through these ancient pathways.
Combined with his Divine Wisdom and Consciousness Spiritual Light, the three forces intertwined like fish in water.
"The ancients placed great emphasis on the interplay of yin and yang, recognizing their reversibility," Qin Ming mused. "This scripture stems from that principle. The seemingly absurd, death-defying techniques all embody this truth: seeking life within death, prolonging withered lifespans."
With this insight, Qin Ming inhaled Spiritual Essence, merging his consciousness and Divine Wisdom into the Heavenly Light Force.
He planted this unified energy like a seed into the soil of his flesh, the yin and yang aspects harmonizing perfectly with the natural order of the cosmos.
"Sigh, only three awakening opportunities remain for enhancing my physical body," Qin Ming lamented, a hint of melancholy in his voice.
He hoped that upon reaching the Outer Saint Realm, his path wouldn't be fraught with obstacles.
He needed to find alternative methods to maintain his rapid progress.
Afterward, Qin Ming repeatedly tested the ability he had gained from his sixth awakening, finding himself quite satisfied.
Three days later, Meng Xinghai called him over, saying, "Let's take a trip to the Giant City."
"This isn't like you, Uncle Meng," Qin Ming said with a smile.
Meng Xinghai had always avoided taking him to the Giant City for duels.
Firstly, the people there considered a young genius from a remote region unworthy of their attention.
Secondly, Old Meng deliberately avoided such publicity, not wanting Qin Ming to become too high-profile.
Moreover, with the Cui Clan's "cooperation" in pressuring the Night Gazette to suppress news about him, Qin Ming had remained largely out of the public eye.
Meng Xinghai chuckled. "We need to provoke Cui He a bit, urge him to make arrangements quickly, but on our terms."
The place he intended to take Qin Ming was Jin Rui City, where a Youthful Prodigy named Cao Wuji had emerged.
"Uncle Meng, you're not planning to make me duel this prodigy, are you?" Qin Ming asked.
"There's no need for that," Meng Xinghai replied, shaking his head.
He continued, "The Ancestral Courts of the Great Sects and the Advanced Academies undoubtedly harbor extraordinary young prodigy. Cao Wuji's early exposure will make him a prime target for scrutiny."
At this stage, Cao Wuji would undoubtedly attract the attention of numerous Dao Lineages, each extending an olive branch.
Once he made his choice, everything would change.
Jin Rui City exuded a sense of historical weight, being one of the earliest Giant Cities ever built.
Legend had it that during the Great Pioneering Era, auspicious omens had appeared here, dyeing the mountains and rivers with brocade hues.
"Cao Wuji possessed a thousand catties of strength upon his first awakening? That's truly extraordinary," Meng Xinghai remarked, visibly surprised by the news. "No wonder so many sects are vying to recruit him."
Having nearly a thousand catties of strength in one's arms already qualified one as an extraordinary individual, the only way to achieve nine awakenings. Others typically stopped at seven or eight.
Qin Ming and Meng Xinghai soon learned that beyond the Five Elements Palace, Divine Illumination Academy, and Heart-Inquiry Academy, other major Dao Lineages had also arrived to claim Cao Wuji, including the Pure Yang Palace and Origin Academy—renowned places that shook the entire Night Mist World.
However, the Six Imperial, Jade Pure, and Heaven-Shattering Dao Lineages remained reserved, with no representatives yet appearing.
Meng Xinghai said, "Tomorrow, there will be a gathering of young talents at the Purple Bamboo Forest along the Jin Rui River. You should go take a look."
The Jin Rui River flowed through the city, its banks lined with scenic spots.
"Legend has it that during the Great Pioneering Era, a divine artifact was unearthed in this Purple Bamboo Forest and became the sacred treasure of a certain Esoteric Sect."
The next day, Qin Ming arrived at the forest and immediately heard someone recounting its history, revealing its remarkable origins.
He wasn't the only outsider present.
Many talented youths from various cities had flocked here after hearing that the Pure Yang Palace, Origin Academy, and Five Elements Palace were selecting disciples.
A spring breeze rustled through the purple bamboo grove, causing it to shimmer with a gentle violet light.
A Fire Spring coursed through the forest, creating a picturesque scene.
Qin Ming observed the extraordinary talents from different Giant Cities, each radiating an exceptional aura.
Soon, he spotted Cao Wuji. His eyes shone brightly, and his sword-like eyebrows swept toward his temples, giving him a strikingly handsome and charismatic presence.
Cao Wuji stood among the purple bamboo, engaging in lively conversation with representatives from the Pure Yang Palace and Divine Illumination Academy.
Undoubtedly, he was the man of the hour.
Numerous Great Sects were eager to recruit him, and he was constantly surrounded by admirers.
However, what Cao Wuji truly desired was to join a Dao Lineages like Heaven-Shattering or Six Imperial, but no one from those sects had yet appeared.
Several youths approached Qin Ming to greet him.
After all, an extraordinary individual like him, if he didn't die young, was bound to become a renowned figure in the future.
"Brother, what's your name and where are you from?" one of them asked with a smile, eager to expand his network.
Most of those who dared to come here were geniuses from the Giant Cities, hoping to gain early admission to prestigious institutions like the Pure Yang Palace and Origin Academy.
"Chi Xia, Qin..." Qin Ming replied.
"I've heard of it!" the youth across from him said, clasping his hands in a perfunctory gesture.
He had already dismissed Chi Xia City as being outside the Giant Cities, and without waiting for Qin Ming to finish his name, he politely excused himself.
"Senior Brother, where are you from and what's your name?" A purple-robed girl approached with a sweet smile, clearly also seeking to expand her network, as there were no ordinary talents present.
"Chi Xia City, Qin Ming."
This time, the purple-robed girl didn't interrupt him.
Instead, she engaged him in a lively conversation.
Qin Ming was puzzled.
Wasn't she here to connect with potential geniuses destined to soar like the great roc?
A white-robed girl approached, strikingly beautiful and acquainted with the purple-robed girl. She asked with a hint of curiosity, "This Senior Brother is...?"
"He's from Qi Xia City, the foremost figure there..." the purple-robed girl enthusiastically introduced.
"Uh, you're mistaken," the white-robed girl whispered. "Qi Xia City is the Giant City. Chi Xia City is in a very remote region."
"Ah, I'm sorry!"
After apologizing, the two girls made excuses and left.
Qin Ming sighed.
At such a pure and beautiful stage of life, why must reality be so harsh?
The Youthful Prodigy Cao Wuji was surrounded by the largest crowd, so dense it was impossible to squeeze through.
He stood at the center, like the moon surrounded by stars.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Someone from the Jade Pure Lineage has arrived!"
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
The appearance of someone from this ancient Daoist Sect likely meant they were also here for Cao Wuji.
In the past, the Jade Pure Lineage had remained secluded, rarely accepting disciples on a large scale.
However, their selection of the most exceptional talents had never ceased.
Therefore, anyone from the Jade Pure Lineage present here must hold an extraordinary status.
The group from the Jade Pure Lineage was led by a young woman, her radiance dazzling as she glided forward with ethereal grace, like a figure from a painting.
"Senior Sister, I've long admired the Jade Pure Lineage!" Many around her yearned to learn the legendary Jade Pure Force, their eyes burning with fervent desire.
"Alright, sign up. I'll register you. Just pass the assessment when the time comes," the leading woman said with a smile.
"Senior Sister, you wouldn't happen to be that legendary Youthful Prodigy from two years ago, would you? The one who defeated masters from every city, crushed the Outsider disciples, and suppressed the Esoteric Sect's potential seeds? I saw your portrait... wait, it really is you!" someone exclaimed in surprise.
The leading woman smiled faintly, offering no reply as she walked toward Cao Wuji.
As she passed near Qin Ming, she glanced at him, then couldn't help but look again, her expression shifting oddly.
This immediately drew the attention of the crowd.
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END OF CHAPTER
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