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Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 132: [Fifteen]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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"I must continue my arduous cultivation and strive to improve myself," Qin Ming murmured, watching the direction Li Qingyue had disappeared in.
The Beyond the Mortal Realm (Outer Realm) was far more vast than he had imagined, encompassing realms such as the Pure Land, Immortal Land, Yang Land, and Calamity Land.
The competition for Near-Immortal Artifacts involved Beyond the Mortal Realm Daoist Sects and Lineages belonging to the Pure Land.
The departure of his old friend left Qin Ming lost in thought.
At this moment, Qi Daoming stood motionless, just like him.
However, their feelings were completely different.
The City Lord felt as if the sky were about to collapse. Several betting pools outside the arena were all connected to him, and now they had collapsed.
'Who placed such a massive bet?' Two Villains had timed their wagers perfectly, betting on Qin Ming to win.
He had no idea anyone was playing with such high stakes.
Qi Daoming gritted his teeth.
"Compensate what! Pay nothing! You'll immediately run away with the funds. One of those villains must be Meng Xinghai. Let's just flip the table and screw him over!"
A collaborator, his face pale with fear, wailed, "City Lord, where can we run? He's a direct descendant of the Meng Clan, and his own power is terrifying. If he catches us..."
Qi Daoming lowered his voice. "First, flee into the depths of the Great Mountain Shrouded in Night Mist. Keep going until you reach the territory of the High-Level mutant creatures. Hide there until the storm blows over."
He fell silent as black mist swirled, revealing a crane-haired, youthful-faced old man.
More crucially, he was carrying another old man under his arm.
"Young man, are you trying to scam my Day Gold?" Li Qingyun asked, his expression menacing.
Qi Daoming couldn't believe his eyes. He didn't recognize the old man asking the question, but he instantly recognized Fifth Uncle Cui being carried under his arm.
Gifted with exceptional talent and favored by the Li Family, Qi Daoming had become their son-in-law and naturally knew some of the direct descendants of their rival Noble Clans.
His scalp went numb.
Even Fifth Master Cui, the man under the old man's arm, posed a threat to him, let alone the old man himself.
Without hesitation, Qi Daoming said, "Senior, you jest! You'll receive every Day Gold you've won!"
Li Qingyun nodded. "Good lad. Business requires integrity. Don't cause trouble and disturb my drinking with my old brothers."
Fifth Master Cui's composure was crumbling as rapidly as Qi Daoming's betting stall.
'Is this how people drink?' He wanted to spit in disgust. 'Pah!'
The black mist swirled, and Li Qingyun vanished instantly, Fifth Master Cui still tucked under his arm.
In an inn in Zhuguang City, Cui He and Cui Shuning wore grave expressions.
The revelation that Qin Ming had connections to a Hidden Family was deeply troubling.
While they were indeed a Millennial Clan, they had no desire to confront such a colossal force lurking in the shadows.
Hidden Families might have smaller populations, but their members were all formidable experts, inspiring widespread caution.
The true extent of their power remained shrouded in mystery.
When weakened, they seemed almost nonexistent.
At their peak, they could shatter even Millennial Clans.
Unless absolutely necessary, no one dared to provoke a Hidden Family.
...
Qin Ming pondered: if a single Pure Land beyond the Mortal Realm could harbor so many formidable figures, what might the entire Beyond the Mortal Realm contain?
His thoughts drifted back to the special node within Black White Mountain.
When the "resources" there matured, a young woman in azure robes had seized the greatest fortune.
From the scraps she discarded, Qin Ming had obtained a mysterious liquid that allowed him to resonate with artifacts containing the crystallized essence of past masters.
Clearly, the azure-robed woman was also an Outsider.
"Could she be from the Beyond the Mortal Realm Immortal Land? She doesn't seem to be from the Yang Land."
Qin Ming knew her origins must be extraordinary, considering her mount was a Golden Roc!
Moreover, her strength was astonishing.
She had dared to snatch food from the jaws of Black White Mountain—and succeeded.
The seemingly ordinary "scraps" Qin Ming had obtained had triggered profound changes in his spiritual perception.
He wondered what benefits the radiant "main ingredient" in the azure-robed woman's possession had granted her.
While he suspected his "scraps" might be a case of heavenly treasures concealing their true nature, he couldn't deny the extraordinary value of the azure-robed woman's "main ingredient"—perhaps worth a fortune.
As these thoughts surfaced, Qin Ming naturally recalled the white-robed girl who had accompanied the azure-robed woman.
Though the white-robed girl harbored no malice, she had once smiled at Qin Ming's simplicity, suggesting that even from the mountain's peak, he could only glimpse them distantly, highlighting the vast gulf between their worlds, as if separated by endless mountains and seas.
Qin Ming couldn't help but sigh, marveling at the abundance of talent in the Beyond the Mortal Realm.
And this was only what he could see on the surface.
The true depths of this path remained unfathomable.
Most importantly, the Immortal Land, Yang Land, Calamity Land, and other realms had yet to fully reveal themselves.
"Everyone's gone, and you're still daydreaming?" Meng Xinghai approached, beaming.
This time, he had made a fortune.
"I hope Qingyue is doing well. The competition there is fierce," Qin Ming said.
"It's the same everywhere," Meng Xinghai replied.
Qin Ming nodded. "The Night Mist World is vast and boundless, teeming with powerful figures. Even the few Dao Lineages I've glimpsed feel unfathomably deep. And there are paths I've barely touched, like the Secret Sects and Higher Lifeforms."
Beneath the Night Mist, Chi Xia City came into view.
They would soon be back.
At the City Lord's Manor, Meng Xinghai was counting stacks of gold notes, his face radiant with joy.
Qin Ming glanced over.
Old Meng had forbidden him from betting, yet now the man himself was practically radiating the aura of Day Gold.
"Uncle Meng, when's the next round?" Qin Ming asked eagerly, already planning to bring all his Day Gold next time.
"Here, take a look at your winnings from this round," Meng Xinghai said, handing him a palm-sized pouch.
When Qin Ming opened it, a five-colored radiance burst forth, so dazzling he had to shield his eyes.
Inside were dozens of thumbnail-sized fruits, some emerald green and glistening, others blood-red like rubies, and still others pure white as jade.
Though similar in size and shape, their colors varied dramatically.
These were Fallen Fruits, small because they had fallen prematurely in early spring, before reaching full maturity.
"If these prematurely fallen fruits are already this extraordinary," Qin Ming marveled, "the fully ripened Five-Colored Fruits... they must be beyond imagination."
Meng Xinghai chuckled. "A mature fruit can grow as large as a fist. When a whole tree is laden with them, the five-colored divine light illuminates heaven and earth."
Qin Ming could only gasp in awe. These thumbnail-sized Fallen Fruits paled in comparison.
"I've never tasted one myself," Meng Xinghai admitted. "The fruits are rare, their medicinal potency is legendary, and they never circulate beyond the inner circles."
Qin Ming grinned. "If I ever get the chance, Uncle Meng, I'll be sure to offer you a few fully ripened Five-Colored Fruits as a token of my gratitude."
Meng Xinghai chuckled. "Then you'll have to work hard. If a Patriarch-level figure were to visit that place, the Five-Colored Fruit would be served as ordinary table fruit."
The Fallen Fruit contained a dense concentration of Heavenly Light.
Qin Ming planned to consume it after his seventh awakening to amplify the Heavenly Light within his body and fuse various Martial Techniques.
However, only a few days had passed since his sixth awakening on Mount Luo Fu. Even his extraordinary-surpassing physique was nearing its limit.
Others who had undergone Fivefold Awakening within a year had already reached their peak. Crossing that threshold would cause severe physical harm.
Qin Ming estimated that after resting for half a month, he might be ready for another awakening.
The main reason was his exceptionally deep foundation.
The local edition of the Night Report published news of Qin Ming's victory over Chen Yuan, showering him with praise and declaring his performance remarkable and extraordinary.
However, the main edition of the Night Report, distributed across numerous Giant Cities, made no mention of the duel whatsoever.
Zhuguang City and Chi Xia City were considered remote and insignificant, so no one cared about a contest between two youths from such places.
Of course, a few members of Noble Clans who knew Qin Ming's past took slight notice, but only as casual conversation fodder.
After all, the fake Cui Chonghe had long faded from their circles.
Undoubtedly, the battles between the "firsts" from various cities were having a tremendous impact, drawing widespread attention and heated debate.
As a result, the Night Report continued to follow the events closely, frequently dedicating extensive coverage to them on its front page.
The rising prodigies from the most influential Giant Cities became their hottest targets for coverage, with new faces constantly emerging.
Some exceptionally talented youths were gradually becoming household names.
"Ling Yu of Liuguang City has astonished all four regions, living up to his reputation as a Young Grandmaster. He has already defeated several formidable opponents who were riding high on their recent victories."
Moreover, according to the report, Ling Yu remained remarkably humble, acknowledging that there were even greater talents out there, like blazing sun waiting to break through the dark clouds.
Qin Ming, not wanting to fall behind, began racking up his own victories.
The Ancestral Courts of some Great Sects and special Advanced Academies had already begun scouting for top-tier prodigies.
Over the next two days, Qin Ming fought four consecutive battles, betting on himself each time.
Unfortunately, Meng Xinghai's massive win in Zhuguang City had nearly bankrupted Qi Daoming and severely damaged Chi Xia City's reputation.
Many were now wary of anyone from Chi Xia City.
Moreover, they had already recognized Qin Ming's terrifying strength!
Betting on Qin Ming to win offered such low odds that there was virtually no profit to be made.
By this point, Qin Ming had achieved five consecutive victories, earning him considerable local fame.
However, he still couldn't make the front page of the Night Report, which was reserved for the prodigies of the Giant City.
Meanwhile, a young prodigy had emerged in Jin Rui City, and news of this spread like wildfire through the cities shrouded in the Night Mist.
The Night Report followed the story closely with continuous updates.
"Finally, an prodigy has appeared," Qin Ming remarked as he read the Night Report.
For the first time among the various "firsts" across the region, a prodigy had been identified and confirmed, causing a massive sensation.
Although many believed Ling Yu, the Young Grandmaster from Liuguang City, also possessed prodigy traits, he had never publicly acknowledged it.
Over the next two days, Qin Ming traveled to three more locations, extending his winning streak to eight consecutive victories.
Upon returning, he took a brief rest before meeting up with Xu Sheng, Wu Zheng, Sister Fenfang, and Zhou Lin for a small gathering in Chi Xia City.
"Look! A massive white peacock is descending from the sky!" Xu Sheng, a former Traveling Merchant with keen eyesight, was the first to spot the exotic bird spiraling down through the clouds from his window seat.
Immediately following, a Five-Colored Spiritual Bird pierced through the clouds and descended toward the city.
Next, a massive azure bird appeared, circling as it approached Chi Xia City.
These were extraordinary flying mounts, each bearing several youthful figures on their backs.
It soon became clear that these individuals were no ordinary travelers; they hailed from the Divine Illumination Academy, the Five Elements Palace, and the Heart Inquiry Academy.
"Are you here to recruit disciples in Chi Xia City?" Speaking Sparrow flew forward, showing no hesitation as he greeted the group warmly.
"We're just passing through to resupply. We're headed to a Giant City where we heard a youth prodigy has emerged," someone replied.
It was evident that the three factions had crossed paths on their journey and were now competing to recruit this youth prodigy.
"We have a Young Grandmaster here who has won eight consecutive matches. You shouldn't miss out!" Speaking Sparrow declared.
"Then let him apply himself."
"Could he become one of your Core Disciples?" Speaking Sparrow asked.
"In this region, even forty-eight consecutive victories aren't enough."
Unsurprisingly, all three factions remained indifferent, showing little interest in achievements from such remote areas.
Soon after, they hurried on their way.
Several days later, Qin Ming's winning streak had reached fifteen matches.
Finally, the Night Report's main edition briefly mentioned that several promising young fighters had emerged in remote cities like Chi Xia City and Jinxi, with some already boasting over a dozen consecutive victories.
However, the report still refrained from naming anyone specifically.
Meng Xinghai advised Qin Ming, "Prepare yourself. I suspect Cui He won't remain idle for long. They don't want you entering the Ancestral Court of the Great Sects, so they'll likely send someone to challenge you."
He smiled faintly. "Now that they know you're extraordinary, I'll provoke Cui He further. Tell them you aspire to join the Ancestral Court of the Six Imperial lineage. That should worry them—they'll fear you might steal Cui Chongxuan's Core Disciple spot."
Meng Xinghai believed it was time to set his plan in motion, hoping to force Cui He to reveal the Yi Mu Scripture.
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END OF CHAPTER
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