In the Zui Xia Tower, the atmosphere was lively, with every table occupied. The topic of the Thunderfire Refining Hall was buzzing, as nearly all the newcomers were discussing it.
After all, the time was drawing near, less than half a month left, it would arrive in the blink of an eye.
"I look forward to the melting of the ice and snow, the spring thunder rumbling, and the trees sprouting. This year, I, Old Zhao, am ready to give it my all. I am seventy-two years old; even if I die there, I have no regrets. But if I succeed in the Thunderfire Refining, I will be reborn!"
"Here’s to Old Zhao, may the withered tree meet spring again, blessed by the thunderfire, and gain a new life, adding another child next year."
"You’ve got me excited too. How many chances do we have in life? Thirty years later, when I’m seventy-two, I’ll also enter the Thunderfire Refining Hall and give it a shot!"
Qin Ming then noticed that the newcomers in Zui Xia Tower were mostly young and strong, with only a few older folks like him and Wu Zheng who were under twenty.
Xu Sheng said, "Most of the newcomers here are considered 'wild cards,' not part of any local organization or sect, and they aren’t nobles either."
Of course, to become a newcomer, one must not be an ordinary person. Among them were some powerful individuals with strong charisma, capable of rallying a large group to venture into the mountains when faced with troublesome mutated creatures.
Then, Qin Ming asked a question he was very concerned about, "Brother Xu, what level of newcomers can enter the Thunderfire Refining Hall?"
It was clear that those who had undergone the heavenly light three or four times would have a better chance of survival than those who had only experienced it once or twice.
"Anyone can enter. Generally speaking, if it’s your first time, enduring one strike of the thunderfire heavenly light in the Copper Hall is enough. For those seeking a second rebirth, enduring two strikes is about right... But after enduring the corresponding number of heavenly strikes, do you still expect to come out alive?"
Xu Sheng explained that even if someone outside the hall helped, preparing ropes to pull people out at a critical moment, it wouldn’t make much difference. The only distinction would be whether the body was intact or completely charred; either way, they would be dead.
Qin Ming pondered that if he were to go to the Thunderfire Refining Hall, he would at least have to endure four strikes of heavenly light.
Wu Zheng shook his head, saying, "Looks like I need to follow that old man’s example and wait until I’m seventy or eighty before I go."
Xu Sheng laughed, "Haha, makes sense. I’ll wait until I’m a hundred to go."
Qin Ming asked, "If someone can withstand the thunderfire heavenly light, can they go again next time? Would it still be effective?"
"Once you’ve been blessed, you’ve already received heaven’s favor. Want to go a second time? But now that you mention it, I do remember someone like that," Xu Sheng said.
He paused for a moment, recalling, "Decades ago, there was a young man who survived two consecutive years. In the third year, he went again, thinking he could still withstand that kind of 'heavenly grace,' but ended up dying tragically."
Xu Sheng explained that the young man had a remarkable background, with an extraordinary physique. Most importantly, his rebirth method came from an incredibly rare secret text, allowing him to unleash thunderous power with his fists at a high level.
Wu Zheng was astonished, feeling that his own ancient book of dual weapon mastery was no longer impressive.
Xu Sheng was also filled with longing, saying, "That was a rare secret text that could cultivate special abilities, and it was related to thunder and lightning, which is why he dared to go. How could an ordinary person withstand it?"
Hearing this, Qin Ming felt a surge of desire as well. Some top-tier legacies truly made one yearn for them, and it was clear they were held by some astonishingly powerful sects and mysterious organizations.
Xu Sheng added, "A hundred years ago, there was an even more reckless person who withstood two strikes of spring thunder. He wanted to try the violent summer thunder, but in the end, he crawled out of the Golden Hall, wailing, with his head severely burned, and his brain was cooked through."
"Brothers, there’s trouble in the mountains! A mutated creature with five transformations has appeared at Fire Cloud Ridge. Boss Liang Yukan is leading a team to hunt it down and has already heavily injured the creature. But they’ve also suffered significant losses, and some are barely holding on. They’re asking for help, saying there’s a share for those who see it!"
A middle-aged man rushed into Zui Xia Tower, quickly relaying this news.
"Fire Cloud Ridge? Isn’t that the territory of the famous Fire Lin Sparrow? How can they dare to go to such a dangerous place?"
"I didn’t make it clear; it’s the forest outside Fire Cloud Ridge, which is a hunting area!"
"Let’s go!"
With a loud crash, many newcomers rushed out of the Zui Xia Tower, all eager. Since the mutated creature had already been heavily injured, they could go take a look and join in if the opportunity arose.
Xu Sheng spoke up, "The reputation of Liang Yukan and his group is quite good."
"Shall we join the fun?" Qin Ming’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Little Qin, aren’t you too hasty? You haven’t even found an inn, and you’re already rushing off to hunt in the deep mountains?"
Though Xu Sheng said this, he was also tempted and asked, "How many times have you been reborn?"
"Twice," Qin Ming replied, holding back some details.
Xu Sheng nodded, "Alright, just stay back and watch for now. It’s good to broaden your horizons, but even if that mutated creature is about to die, don’t get too close."
Wu Zheng was also eager but understood his own strength was lacking. Having just been reborn once, he didn’t even qualify to watch the excitement.
A large group of people exited through the northern city gate, trudging through knee-deep snow, quickly entering the forest in the mountains.
In the early night, Chi Xia City was bright as day. Upon entering the forest, they felt the night’s chill, and some took a moment to adapt before speeding up.
Outside Fire Cloud Ridge, a giant blue bull was engulfed in flames, furious and indeed heavily injured, going wild.
"So it’s this old bull! I heard that recently more than ten newcomers have encountered it in the mountains, all dying under its hooves, trampled to pieces."
"If we take it down today, it counts as eliminating a threat!"
Many people said this, but none dared to step forward, wanting to wait for others to take action first.
"Such a massive bull weighs thousands of pounds, there’s enough meat to share. Brothers, let’s go together, lest we attract other monsters!" someone shouted.
With a loud crash, an ancient tree that required several people to embrace was smashed to pieces by the blue bull. Its eyes were blood-red as it once again gored a newcomer with its horn.
"Truly a spiritual creature, it’s been pierced by over a dozen iron spears and still hasn’t fallen, and it’s getting fiercer."
"Brothers, if we act now, we can share the blue bull’s blood and flesh. If we wait until it falls before joining in, we won’t have a share!" Liang Yukan personally shouted, his golden armor shattered, and a deep wound on his arm from the bull’s horn.
Instantly, many couldn’t hold back, as the blue bull was heavily injured and might fall at any moment.
Some threw spears, others shot arrows, and some experts tried to approach it.
"Thud!"
Qin Ming also shot an arrow from a distance, hitting the corner of the blue bull’s eye. Although its tough skin and flesh meant the arrow didn’t penetrate deeply, it struck its weak spot, nearly piercing the eyeball. The bull let out a thunderous roar in pain, blood streaming into its eyes.
"Quick, attack! Its left eye is blurred by blood, take the chance to finish it off!"
"Remember, that arrow was shot by my brother, Little Qin. Make sure to give him a piece of bull meat later!" Xu Sheng shouted, rushing forward.
"Thud!"
In the end, a massive bull’s head fell to the ground, severed by Liang Yukan himself. The several-thousand-pound blue bull’s corpse crashed to the ground, shaking the forest and staining the snow red with blood.
Liang Yukan panted heavily, his shining long knife glimmering with a terrifying light, stained with the blood of the mutated creature. With his armor shattered and hair disheveled, he looked quite imposing.
He shouted loudly, "Brothers, line up for meat distribution, everyone gets a share, no one should fight over it. Otherwise, my long knife won’t just be used on the mutated creature!"
"Boss Liang is truly righteous. With such a big blue bull, there’s no need to fight; everyone can get some. Brothers, be sensible."
Instantly, the forest became lively, everyone was happy, especially those who arrived later, gaining rewards without much effort.
Half an hour later, the blue bull meat was completely divided. Some couldn’t wait to roast a piece on the spot.
"What’s going on? The beef looks crystal clear, but after roasting, it feels lacking in spirit. What’s this about?"
"We’ve been tricked! The essence of this blue bull must be in the bull’s gall, which Boss Liang must have quietly taken!"
"Where’s Liang Yukan?"
"He said he wasn’t feeling well and was seriously injured. He left half an hour ago."
Suddenly, the forest erupted in anger, a group of people furious, starting to search for Liang Yukan.
Everyone was cursing, and even Qin Ming couldn’t help but mutter a few words.
That day, a large group of people stormed from the mountains to the city, angrily cursing Liang Yukan. When they barged into his residence, they found he hadn’t returned and had completely run away.
A group of people cursed, especially the newcomers who had initially entered the mountains to attack the blue bull. They were furious, all severely injured, while Boss Liang had escaped after hoarding the spiritual materials.
As for those who died in the mountains, their fate was even more tragic.
All day long, many in Chi Xia City discussed this matter, with many cursing Liang Yukan for his lack of loyalty. The good reputation he had built over the past two years turned out to be for the final "trap."
In the evening, the Fire Spring was already not "active," and with stone slabs covering everywhere, the brightness of the entire city suddenly diminished, becoming somewhat hazy.
Some areas were already pitch black, and this adjustability gave Chi Xia City a clear distinction between day and night.
Qin Ming and Wu Zheng stayed at an inn, where he roasted the piece of bull meat he had received and called Wu Zheng to taste it together.
"The taste is pretty good, but that Liang Yukan is too much of a scam!" Qin Ming said.
Xu Sheng arrived with wine, sighing, "For the sake of higher-level transformations and rebirths, fathers and sons have severed ties, couples have turned against each other. Anything can happen, so be careful in the future."
The next day, Qin Ming entered the mountains again, this time organized by Xu Sheng. He had received news from an old traveling merchant, his master, that deep in the mountains there was a nest of white apes guarding a few snow lotuses rich in spiritual essence.
"Unfortunately, there’s only one left; the others have matured and been eaten by those white apes!" Xu Sheng lamented.
"Spiritual materials that can allow for four rebirths are extremely valuable!" said a woman, her eyes fiery, a friend Xu Sheng had invited.
"We’ll trigger an avalanche to scare off those white apes, then we’ll quickly harvest. This nest of white apes is very troublesome; if we fail, we’ll retreat immediately, no time to waste."
However, after they successfully scared off the nest of white apes, a gray-clothed man with his face covered appeared, swiftly plucking the crystal-clear snow lotus before they could react, disappearing into the mountains with incredible speed.
Xu Sheng was furious, having organized the group immediately after receiving the news, and just as they were about to succeed, they were intercepted by this gray-clothed man.
Qin Ming also felt a surge of frustration. Although there was only one snow lotus, he estimated that even if he got a part, it wouldn’t allow for four rebirths. But being robbed like this made him want to smash that person’s face in.
"You better not fall into my hands; don’t let me find out who you are!"
Even the woman couldn’t take it anymore, cursing all the way.
This time, Qin Ming followed suit, cursing all the way from the mountains to the city.
He realized that trying to make a living in Chi Xia City wasn’t so easy; the newcomers here were both cunning and treacherous.
"Sigh, overall, it’s still my strength that isn’t strong enough. Let the spring thunder strike sooner!"
…
Just five or six days later, strange sights began to appear outside the city. The ground light was rising, and the dark mountains suddenly brightened, with beams of light raining down.
That was the underground fire spring awakening, beginning to rise towards the surface, ready to nourish all things, and the snow started to melt slowly.
Many nobles ventured out of the city to enjoy the scenery. Every year at this season, the mountains and forests were particularly vibrant, the snow-covered rivers and mountains were fully visible, and they looked magnificent in the mist.
"This year, early spring might come a bit earlier," Xu Sheng speculated.
"Brother Xu, take me to see the Thunderfire Refining Hall on Chi Xia Mountain," Qin Ming said, preparing to scout ahead, as the spring thunder could arrive at any moment.
"I’ll go too; I want to see that golden hall," Wu Zheng said, but he quickly regretted it.
Because they witnessed what it meant to be in a sea of people. Once the ground light began to rise, not only the nobles from the city were out driving, but ordinary people were also bringing their children out of the city.
Such a famous spot like Chi Xia Mountain, with experts stationed there, was not likely to have any anomalies. It was truly packed with people.
Even the nobles found it difficult; no one paid them any mind. The crowd surged, and no beast carriages were of any use. Some noble ladies got out of their carriages and were pushed around, screaming in panic, losing their hairpins.
Qin Ming was swept along with the crowd up the mountain, unable to see the specific beauty of the mountain, as he was carried along by the flow of people.
He hadn’t even had a good look at the various buildings at the mountain top when he was pushed forward again. At a critical moment, he finally broke free and entered the Thunderfire Refining Hall.
Wu Zheng had a long face; he was someone who had been reborn once, and he ended up losing one of his shoes in the crowd.
He complained, "What does the Thunderfire Refining Hall look like? I didn’t even get a good look before I came in!"
"I didn’t see it clearly either!" Qin Ming said, standing in the Thunderfire Refining Hall, his mind highly focused, carefully observing and reaching out to touch the walls.
"Boom!" He stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, as he felt an incredibly intense emotional fluctuation. This ancient hall could actually resonate with his spirit? He was quite shocked.