In the night, the dark outlines of distant mountains were faintly visible.
"There's a mistake in the information!" someone exclaimed in the forest.
In the dense woods, the group surrounding Qin Ming was stunned, quickly retreating. In an instant, two of their companions were dead. The boy was too ruthless; he transformed from simple and peaceful to a killing machine in a moment, and even his clear eyes changed, seeming to shoot out two bolts of lightning.
Especially now, Qin Ming held a spear in one hand, having pierced one of their companions' chests, lifting him into the air while blood flowed down, staining the snow.
This scene made the original group that had surrounded him shiver. If they had been in that position, they probably wouldn't have escaped either.
The boy's aura was completely different now. His black hair was blown by the cold wind, and his handsome face was filled with coldness, radiating a sense of oppression.
The group couldn't help but retreat continuously. How could someone newly reborn have such strong power? One of the dead had been in the second rebirth realm for over ten years.
"This is unexpected. You have quite a secret. You've reached the second rebirth so quickly. Normally, people need to stabilize for a while, but you didn’t even stop and directly advanced."
Qi Huai'en stepped forward. He had a well-proportioned figure, exuding both strength and agility, and his handsome face was filled with coldness as he frowned.
He hated the feeling of being out of control. This boy, who was being observed, had become a dangerous variable. But things had already happened, and he had no other choice.
His family was searching for a very rare spiritual material, preparing to concoct a mysterious potion that could change one's roots, enhancing his qualifications and potential, making him one of the candidates.
If that happened, he could spend several more years learning secret techniques from the old man in Liuguang City, which could change the course of his life.
If Qin Ming had qualifications similar to You Liangyun, he would be happy to show goodwill and befriend him. But he realized that this boy was destined to block his path, and he couldn't hold back any longer.
Qin Ming suddenly swung the spear in his right hand, and the body he had impaled flew off like a scarecrow, hurtling towards Qi Huai'en at high speed.
With a swift motion, Qi Huai'en drew his long knife, and it seemed like a flash of lightning cut through the dim forest. He struck the flying body with the flat of his blade, and though his movement was light, the body was hit hard, deformed, and sent crashing into a nearby tree.
Crack!
Many dry branches snapped as the body collided with the high trunk, its form mangled, falling to the ground.
During this process, Qin Ming calmly moved a few steps to the side and grabbed the long-handled black gold hammer that had fallen. Now he held a spear in one hand and a large hammer in the other.
These two weapons were not suitable for an ordinary person to hold with one hand, but with two thousand pounds of strength in his arms, he felt as if they weighed nothing.
He was somewhat surprised; Qi Huai'en indeed had some skill. With a light flick of his long knife, the body flew away as if struck by an armored vehicle, bones breaking and flesh tearing, flying six or seven meters away.
Qi Huai'en looked at the other four and said, "What are you all waiting for? Do you want me to do it all myself while you just watch?"
These were people he had brought with him. Some were very loyal, while others were intimidated by his background and dared not disobey. This time, they were on high alert, slowly circling around Qin Ming, ready to attack at any moment.
This time, everyone attacking Qin Ming was highly focused. A second rebirth expert took the lead, swinging a shiny spear downwards with all his might, his spirit and energy boiling, channeling all his strength.
At the same time, the others, including Qi Huai'en, launched their attacks, unleashing a terrifying blade light that was somewhat concealed among their weapons.
Qin Ming swung the long-handled black gold hammer upwards, and with a loud clang, the heavy spear was sent flying into the air.
The second rebirth expert couldn't believe it. He gripped the spear tightly, but couldn't hold on; the soft flesh between his fingers tore apart from the impact, and the weapon slipped from his grasp. What terrifying strength was this? Was he really a second rebirth expert?
Meanwhile, the others also collided with Qin Ming's spear and hammer, all shaken but not as severely as the spear wielder. They had some room to buffer the impact, and while their arms felt numb, they still retained their weapons.
Qin Ming was not only frighteningly strong but also much faster than them. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to block all the sharp weapons attacking him in an instant.
Qi Huai'en "tasted" the situation and quickly retreated after a brief engagement. He realized that this boy was completely "out of control" and couldn't be "grasped."
Even though he had overestimated his opponent, he now felt he had been too conservative.
Without hesitation, he took out a three-inch tall crystal vial, uncorked it, and poured the bright red liquid into his mouth without a second thought.
He had no other choice today; even if he could escape, he couldn't. If he didn't silence his opponent, he would have no good ending. The crow that knew the truth would definitely kill him.
Even though he understood that this liquid would harm him later, Qi Huai'en didn't care. He needed to greatly enhance his strength right now.
In the midst of the battle, Qin Ming showed no signs of stopping. In the instant of collision and all the attacks, he naturally caught sight of the weakest point.
The second rebirth expert who had been knocked back by his spear became his primary target.
His body moved like a phantom, dodging the long knives, iron hammers, and sharp swords that came at him again, almost as if he were teleporting. He swung a hammer down on the second rebirth expert, who was retreating rapidly with blood dripping from his fingers.
That person tried his best to dodge, and with the help of a companion nearby, he still couldn't completely avoid it. The long-handled black gold hammer struck hard against the lower side of his right shoulder, crushing it in an instant, breaking the bones in his right chest and piercing his organs. He screamed and flew out sideways.
Though he wasn't dead yet, he had lost his fighting ability, gasping for breath on the ground, unable to get up. His right shoulder was gone, and his entire arm had vanished, flying away.
Such overwhelming, fierce power and terrifying fighting style left the others pale. What kind of monster had they encountered?
Even though they were loyal to the Qi family, with their families in that city, they were now frightened, sensing that this was an unbeatable opponent, and they wanted to retreat.
What kind of golden foundation had the other party built during their first rebirth? Now, after the second rebirth, that kind of strength and speed was beyond their reach, as if they were from two different realms.
"Don't be afraid. I can handle him. You all just pay attention and help me hold him back!" Qi Huai'en said, approaching with his long knife.
He was not only blushing but also glowing, his body seeming to be fully ripened, with any exposed skin radiating a blood-red mist.
Qin Ming stared at him, unafraid. The other party was a second rebirth expert. Even if he drank some mysterious potion, could it really give him "heavenly light" and allow him to step into the third rebirth realm? That was unrealistic. Even if his body needed to transform, it would take a day or two to complete.
"This powerful and extraordinary strength is truly beautiful; it makes one intoxicated," Qi Huai'en sighed.
He looked at Qin Ming and said, "I admit, greed has clouded my judgment. My eyes are no longer clear, and my heart is shrouded in dust. But even if I had to do it all over again, I would probably still make the same choice."
At this critical moment, he actually needed an emotional release.
Qi Huai'en's well-proportioned figure glowed red, his not-so-mature face showing unwillingness and a thirst for power. He continued, "Do you know? I come from a much smaller city than Liuxia City, but when I was reborn, I could lift seven hundred and twenty pounds, standing out far beyond my peers. However, when a noble passed through there, I was barely qualified to be a candidate. I felt so lost!"
Qin Ming did not attack but quietly listened.
Qi Huai'en gazed at the night sky and said, "Now, I finally have a chance. My family gave up a mine to obtain a remarkable spiritual object that can help me change my roots and enhance my qualifications. I have a chance to study beside a noble teacher for five to ten years.
Do you know what that means? I will change my fate, step forward into a vast world, and live a splendid life. But your appearance has cut off my path to rise.
You will become a candidate, and I will lose my qualifications. If I take a step back, I will be like a rootless floating weed, only able to attend as a bystander for one to four years, unable to change my fate completely. I have no other choice!"
Qin Ming calmly looked at him and said, "You strive for progress, wanting to step into a broader world and see the infinite beauty of life, while I'm just here to survive and keep living."
Qi Huai'en raised his long knife and said, "Yes, our positions are different. Our meeting here is a mistake. But I have no way out; either I kill you and leap from a trickling stream into a vast sea of gold, creating my own golden waves, or I die here today, ending everything. Kill!"
He shouted the word "kill" and lunged forward, his long knife emitting a blinding light that shattered the surrounding branches and trees.
The others followed suit, launching a fierce attack together.
In that split second, Qin Ming faced four experts alone, remaining calm and showing no sense of urgency as he continuously engaged them.
"How is this possible?" Qi Huai'en couldn't believe it. It was hard to accept this reality. After drinking the red potion with side effects, he had greatly enhanced his strength, yet he couldn't sweep away his opponent?
When he was first reborn, he could lift seven hundred and twenty pounds, and after the second rebirth, his strength had doubled, now nearing one thousand nine hundred pounds.
At this level, he still couldn't suppress his opponent and was instead shaken to the point that his right hand felt numb. What kind of monster was this? It was beyond his imagination.
"Is this... still a human?" The others turned pale. They knew Qi Huai'en's foundation well, having come from the same place, and understood the terror of him drinking the red potion. Yet they still couldn't defeat the boy!
Qin Ming spoke, "Unless you drink a stimulating potion and immediately gain heavenly light to step into the third rebirth realm, everything you do is in vain."
At the same time, he showed no mercy, thrusting his spear into one person's heart, sending him flying and impaling him against a tree.
Boom!
In the next moment, he struck another opponent's long knife away with a hammer, caving in his chest. Though he didn't die immediately, he certainly wouldn't survive.
Qi Huai'en went mad, attacking him again, but his hand holding the knife trembled slightly. He couldn't budge Qin Ming's long-handled black gold hammer; he was unable to hold on.
At that moment, Qin Ming threw his spear, piercing through Qi Huai'en's last helper. That person fell into the snow, gasping for breath, hardly believing that they would fail in their attack on a single person under Qi Huai'en's leadership. They were all going to die here.
Qin Ming calmly executed the killing techniques from his knife manual, not following fixed moves but flexibly adapting according to his understanding, often delivering unexpected strikes.
After several exchanges, Qi Huai'en despairingly realized that even with his skills and various killer moves, he couldn't compete and was being completely crushed.
With a loud bang, Qi Huai'en was sent flying, struck by Qin Ming's hammer on his right shoulder, accompanied by a spray of blood mist, shattering there.
"What level have you reached? How great is your strength?" Qi Huai'en asked unwillingly.
Qin Ming ignored him, preparing to follow up with a "hammer knife."
Qi Huai'en laughed bitterly, "Even if you don't say it, I know. To suppress me in this state, you must have had at least a thousand pounds of strength at your first rebirth, and after the second rebirth, you could lift two thousand pounds. Am I right?"
The others, even those who were still alive and coughing up blood, struggling to survive, all tried to raise their heads to look at the impressive young man, shocked. Before dying, they heard such news that someone could reach that level!
"I'll send you on your way," Qin Ming said calmly, walking over to deliver a final blow to each of them, ending their lives completely.
He carefully cleaned the battlefield, tidying up the aftermath, ensuring all traces were erased before turning to leave, heading towards the fissure from the past.
"Hmm?" Qin Ming felt something strange. The place that had once made him seriously ill now felt relaxing and light as he approached. The fatigue that had come after the battle quickly faded away.
He carefully scanned the nearby forest, and without hesitation, entered the fissure, once again seeing strands of silver light intertwining underground.
Thank you: Song Liyu, Guang Yufei, Zhang Hanshan, Years Echoing Machine, San Sheng Yuan Cat, and thanks to the leader for the support!