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Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 139: [A Generous Gift Within the Rules]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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The world was pitch-black, like an abyss.
The Six Imperial Ancestral Court covered a vast expanse of land, where high-grade Fire Springs flowed, their brilliance and splendor illuminating the entire region with vibrant life.
A towering structure, built primarily from iron-hard azure-gold stone, exuded the weathered aura of countless ages.
Throughout history, many renowned masters had entered this sacred place.
In the spacious hall, an elderly man with pale golden hair and beard spoke, his voice resonant: "Cui Changqing, what brings you here?"
The ebony tea table, heavy and dark, bore natural patterns resembling miniature landscapes. Fragrant steam curled from the tea, yet neither of the seated figures touched their cups.
"It has been many years since we last met," Cui Changqing replied with a smile, his long, jade-green hair flowing with the fresh scent of vegetation. "I came to visit an old friend."
The golden-haired elder fixed him with a piercing gaze, golden light flashing in his eyes.
"Long ago, I made an exception and allowed your Cui Clan's child to learn the first volume of the Six Imperial Heart Scripture under my master's name. Do not come here again without a valid reason!"
His name was Zhou Shize.
His pale golden hair and beard, even his pupils, which gleamed like molten gold, were the result of cultivating the Six Imperial Force to an advanced stage, demonstrating his profound mastery of the art.
Cui Changqing's complexion was as pale as snow, his ageless face appearing no older than thirty.
He clasped his hands in a respectful bow. "Brother Zhou, I must thank you again for granting us the True Scripture when I came with the boy's father long ago."
He added, "The boy has lived up to our expectations. At just fifteen years old, he is already an extraordinary prodigy. He has completed nine cycles of awakening and now awaits enlightenment of the Six Imperial Force's true essence. Once he breaks free from his cocoon and undergoes Transformation, he will naturally ascend to the Outer Saint Realm without relying on Great Medicine."
"That does not disgrace the Six Imperial Heart Scripture," Zhou Shize nodded, his expression softening slightly as golden light flickered in his eyes. "Then what brings you here?"
Cui Changqing took a small sip of tea.
"Chongxuan is a pure-hearted child. Though he is an extraordinary prodigy, I fear he might be harmed by outsiders. I've come today to ask an old friend to watch over him."
Zhou Shize replied coolly, "There's more to your words than meets the eye. If he's an extraordinary prodigy who has passed the Core Disciple Assessment, who in the Six Imperial Ancestral Court could possibly harm him?"
"A wicked little monkey I raised at home has recently become disobedient and has come to the Six Imperial Ancestral Court," Cui Changqing explained. "I worry it might cause trouble."
"Your child is an extraordinary prodigy. If he's strong enough, why fear a mere monkey? Besides, if that monkey joins our sect, it will become a Six Imperial Disciple," Zhou Shize said calmly from behind the ebony tea table.
"That monkey is clumsy and vicious," Cui Changqing said, his right hand tracing a faint arc in the air.
A fleeting wisp of light materialized into a sharp blade before vanishing just as quickly.
"My Chongxuan is pure-hearted, and I fear he might come to harm."
Zhou Shize's face turned icy, his pale golden hair swirling like the mane of an enraged lion.
"What do you mean by this? How dare you act so presumptuously in the Six Imperial?"
Cui Changqing chuckled. "Brother Zhou, don't misunderstand. I have no ulterior motives. I'm merely concerned for Chongxuan. After all, you bestowed upon him the True Scripture, making him half your disciple. I can't simply stand by if he's in danger."
"He's at the Six Imperial Ancestral Court," Zhou Shize replied. "Everything is done according to the rules. There won't be any problems."
He then warned, "I advise you not to stir up trouble. The Six Imperial Ancestral Court tolerates no interference from outsiders. Anyone who dares to provoke our wrath will be cut down without mercy!"
"Of course, I understand. Everything has its rules," Cui Changqing said with a smile.
Though over a century old, he radiated the fresh vitality of plants and trees, appearing more vibrant than many younger men.
This was the marvel of the Everlasting Green Life Scripture, which not only prolonged life but also allowed one to maintain peak condition for extended periods.
He retrieved a brocade box and placed it on the ebony tea table, pushing it forward.
"What's this?" Zhou Shize didn't move, his gaze sharpening.
Cui Changqing smiled. "One can't visit an old friend empty-handed, can they? Knowing your fondness for swords, I brought this one from the depths of the Night Mist World. Though millennia have passed, its brilliance remains undiminished."
He opened the brocade box, revealing a short sword about a foot long, its blade shimmering with iridescent light.
Next, Cui Changqing produced a handwritten scroll and slid it forward.
"The Founding Ancestors of each sect likely possess copies of the Everlasting Green Life Scripture. However, over time, interpretations have diverged. This scroll contains my Cui Clan's Founding Ancestor's insights on the scripture's longevity techniques. I invite Brother Zhou to examine it at his leisure."
Zhou Shize's expression turned serious.
Everyone knew the Cui Clan's Founding Ancestor held unique insights into the Everlasting Green Life Scripture.
Two centuries ago, the Founding Ancestor had appeared to be on his deathbed. Yet two years ago, when a formidable figure from the Li Family led an invasion, the Founding Ancestor, who had been in seclusion for two centuries, suddenly reappeared!
The scroll stirred Zhou Shize's interest.
Though he appeared to be a man in his prime, with golden hair and beard, he was already over a hundred years old.
Only his mastery of the Six Imperial Force, which granted him profound cultivation and vigorous vitality, concealed his age.
"Old friend, please accept this. It won't compromise you; everything will be done according to protocol," Cui Changqing said with a smile, his body radiating a verdant glow that testified to his enduring vitality.
...
The Six Sovereigns Ancestral Court was bathed in the radiant glow of the Fire Spring, its white mist swirling through the air, creating a scene of unparalleled beauty.
Qin Ming had been here for two days, patiently awaiting the arrival of the Node for the initial assessment.
He had been assigned to the Golden Forest, where many of the top young prodigies from across the land were temporarily residing.
In this vast forest, every tree species bore leaves of pure gold, a testament to the Six Imperial Ancestral Court's extraordinary cultivation techniques.
Even the ancient thousand-year-old pines, typically evergreen, were now adorned with crystalline needles that shimmered with golden light, their fragrance even more potent than usual.
The lotus flowers blooming in the lake were equally extraordinary, their golden petals and leaves standing out in stark contrast to the ordinary.
Even the Fire Spring itself flowed not with crimson flames, but with a gentle golden radiance, its waters winding through the forest, adding to the unique landscape.
Scattered throughout the forest were small wooden cabins, each housing a single occupant.
Dozens of young men, all participants in the Core Disciple Assessment, had already settled in.
The ordinary disciples, far greater in number, were housed elsewhere.
This year's applicant pool had surged far beyond previous years, thanks to Jade Pure, Heaven-Shattering, and Six Imperial relaxing their disciple selection criteria.
"Did you know? It's said the grass and trees here are golden because the Founding Ancestor's youngest disciple once secluded himself here. He comprehended his own Luminous Force from the Six Imperial Heart Scripture. When he emerged, his golden pupils flashed with divine light, turning everything he gazed upon golden. This place is imbued with his mystical power."
The youth living here, remarkably well-informed, knew this hidden history.
"How old was the Founding Ancestor's youngest disciple?" someone couldn't resist asking.
"Uh, I'm not sure. But his great-grand-disciples, like Elder Zhou Shize, are probably over a hundred years old."
The Golden Forest gradually grew lively.
By the final two days, over fifty people had gathered.
Qin Ming kept a low profile, blending into the background.
He noticed two extraordinary individuals.
One was Cao Wuji, a strikingly handsome man with sword-like eyebrows that swept into his temples, whom Qin Ming had seen in the Purple Bamboo Forest of Jin Rui City.
The other was a black-clad girl with a cold, alluring aura and breathtaking beauty. Her strength was formidable.
When she and Cao Wuji clashed over the best lakeside wooden cabin, their fists collided, and the girl sent Cao Wuji staggering back three steps, instantly silencing the crowd.
Many were familiar with Cao Wuji, the prodigious talent who had been repeatedly featured in the Night Gazette, his name already resonating across the Giant Cities.
It was only then that people realized the black-clad girl was also a top-tier prodigy.
Qin Ming sighed inwardly.
He had come to the Six Imperial Ancestral Court expecting to encounter the legendary prodigy, only to find two of them right away.
To date, he had never fought an extraordinary prodigy.
Overall, his past opponents, with the exception of Yu Zhuohan, hadn't possessed particularly high "status."
"Youthful Prodigies are incredibly strong!" Qin Ming assessed solemnly and earnestly.
He always overestimated his opponents to avoid underestimating them and suffering a crushing defeat.
"Do you know how we'll be assessed this time? Rumor has it we'll be sent to witness the true face of this world. There are rare and precious Spiritual Substances there, but it's also extremely dangerous. We might need to work together to survive."
Some youths with connections within the Six Imperial Ancestral Court had managed to glean this information.
"The Six Imperial Elders said we can act alone or in teams—whatever we prefer!"
These broad conditions left everyone uncertain about the Six Imperials' intentions and how they would actually conduct the assessment.
Someone spoke up, "I suspect that in such a mysterious Great Environment, even those who team up will eventually be forced to separate. That's probably why they're being so casual. Still, it's best to stick together in the early stages for safety and to conserve our Qi."
"Brother Cao, let's travel together!"
"Brother Cao!"
Soon, Cao Wuji was surrounded by a crowd of both men and women.
Anyone daring to participate in the Core Disciple Assessment naturally possessed some confidence, but they were well aware that they couldn't compete with Cao Wuji and the black-robed girl.
Lowering their ambitions, they aimed to become third, fourth, or even fifth place.
Passing the assessment would still qualify them as Core Disciples.
Meanwhile, the aloof black-robed girl, Zhuo Ya, was also surrounded by people eager to join her group.
Qin Ming watched calmly.
Were these people truly bowing down to Cao Wuji and Zhuo Ya out of genuine respect?
Not necessarily.
Some might simply be hoping to use the two as pathfinders, conserving their own energy until the final stages.
"Brother Qin, aren't you going to team up with them?" Zhou Lei, the yellow-robed girl who lived next door, asked.
"Zhuo Ya is too cold and difficult to talk to. Let's join Cao Wuji's group instead," Huang Cheng, another neighbor, suggested.
"We'll see when the time comes," Qin Ming replied.
As the two neighbors walked away, they concluded that their new neighbor was a low-key, arrogant type who probably preferred to be a lone wolf.
That very day, Cui Chongxuan arrived, timing his arrival perfectly.
"The Cui Clan's newest generation prodigy!" Someone with reliable sources immediately recognized Cui Chongxuan's identity.
In the Golden Forest, Cui Chongxuan chose a modest wooden cabin and settled in quietly.
He soon spotted Qin Ming. His expression turned complex, a mix of hesitation and conflict, but he eventually approached and called out softly, "Brother."
Qin Ming smiled and nodded. "Tomorrow, give it your all and show them what you've got."
Many onlookers were astonished.
Though they were too far away to hear their conversation, they realized that this unassuming fellow must have some serious backing.
"You!" Cao Wuji strode over, only now realizing that the youth who had displayed eight colors of Heavenly Light Force in the Purple Bamboo Forest of Jin Rui City had also arrived.
"Brother Cao, we meet again," Qin Ming said with a smile and a nod.
Observing him up close, he could better appreciate the power of Cao Wuji's Heteromorph physique; the man radiated extraordinary vitality.
Most crucially, Cao Wuji had likely entered the Outer Saint Realm, appearing significantly stronger than when they last met.
This meant that the black-clad girl, Zhuo Ya, must also be an Outer Saint!
The crowd gasped, turning to stare.
Both prodigy knew Qin Ming!
Zhuo Ya, the black-clad girl, heard her name called and glided over, her expression shifting.
"You're Qin Ming?"
"Yes," Qin Ming confirmed, certain they had never met before.
"My cousin is Yu Zhuohan," Zhuo Ya said, a faint smile blooming on her face like an iceberg thawing, a Snow Lotus unfurling its petals—utterly radiant.
"Ah, so we're on the same side! We became friends after a bit of a misunderstanding," Qin Ming replied, his tone instantly warming.
"But he also told me to give you a proper beating," Zhuo Ya added.
Qin Ming realized he had gone too easy on Yu Zhuohan last time.
The man was still holding a grudge, even enlisting his cousin to settle the score.
The next day, an Elder from the Six Imperial Ancestral Court arrived with several young disciples.
"You've all heard what you need to know, right? I won't waste time with explanations. Let's set off immediately."
"Elder, we don't even know where we're going!" someone protested.
"The edge of the world!" a young disciple replied.
The Elder nodded. "Indeed. Testing you within the Ancestral Court would be pointless. If you were to compete here, it would only lead to internal strife. I'm taking you to witness the world's true nature, where you can expend your vigorous energy more meaningfully."
Two colossal avian creatures spread their wings and soared into the night sky, generating fierce gales as they carried over sixty people toward the distant horizon.
Everyone's faces were grave.
The two birds were extraordinary: a massive black crane and a snow-white peacock, both parting the dense Night Mist and radiating an awe-inspiring pressure.
They were High-Tier Mutant Creature.
Along the way, the land below remained pitch-black, with only faint glimmers of light appearing at long intervals.
In this vast, boundless world, regions with Fire Springs were relatively scarce.
Even the towering Giant Cities, shrouded in the dense Night Mist, appeared merely as scattered fireflies dotting the darkness.
By daybreak, they had traversed endless darkness and reached their destination, a staggering forty thousand miles from the Six Imperial Ancestral Court.
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END OF CHAPTER
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