"You two are getting weaker by the day!"
Drenched like a chicken, Zhou Lin transformed back into Sister Fenfang. She swore she would never go into the mountains with Qin Ming and Xu Sheng again in the near future.
After returning to the city, Qin Ming calmed his mind and focused, but he did not notice any suspicious individuals. Slowly, however, his instincts began to sense something unusual.
There were indeed no people watching him near the inn, but the four-colored sparrows on the eaves were not normal, and the little black birds on the roof also seemed off.
Qin Ming felt a chill. If these birds were acting strangely, then he was likely being infiltrated.
In truth, he had always been wary of special types of birds like the language sparrow and the crow, as he had seen how cunning they could be.
He did not expect that some birds he had overlooked also had a "thieving light" in their eyes, which was quite abnormal.
Qin Ming observed secretly and compared them to ordinary birds, confirming that six of them were indeed unusual.
After his fourth rebirth, his instinct for perception had improved. He chose to trust this feeling; it turned out he was being watched by a group of mischievous birds.
"It’s not that Xu Sheng has been wandering the night roads for too long and got mixed up in something, but that there’s a problem on my side." Qin Ming closed the window, pondering who was targeting him.
He felt that this method was too "gentle." If it were truly a ruthless person, they would have no reservations and would strike him down with overwhelming force.
At this stage, the Cui family definitely did not want him to suddenly die. If something happened to him, everyone would think they were too cruel and heartless.
Moreover, the Cui family absolutely did not want anyone else to act against him at this time.
From this perspective, it was a relatively safe period for Qin Ming.
"With power comes responsibility." He currently held a high-ranking token and planned to use the strength of Chixia City to investigate.
"Young Master Qin, the city lord requests your presence." A man in black came to the inn to see Qin Ming, being very polite.
Qin Ming stood up and went directly to the city lord's mansion with him.
It was still that ancient-style reception room, adorned with some bronze artifacts like chime bells and tripods. The incense burner was slowly burning calming incense, and the smoke rose like threads.
Meng Xinghai greeted him with a smile, saying, "Come, try this year's first tea from the old tea tree outside the Thunderfire Alchemy Hall. It has been harvested and roasted just today."
Qin Ming returned the greeting, sitting down to drink tea while chatting with him, feeling that Old Meng was even more enthusiastic than last time.
Meng Xinghai tried to speak several times but swallowed his words back. After all, what he wanted to ask Qin Ming to do was not simple and would inevitably involve a group of familiar faces from prominent families.
Although he had means to conceal the true appearance of the young man for several days, Qin Ming's realm was somewhat low. Taking away a golden-armored guard's spot from Li Qingyue to participate in the confrontation in that spiritual cave would be very dangerous.
Meng Xinghai thought for a moment; there was still time, so he temporarily did not mention the group of outstanding disciples from outside the sect who were about to compete for a legendary item.
"Are you getting used to living in Chixia City? Have you encountered any problems?" he casually asked.
"Uncle Meng, I’m not being polite with you. There is indeed something. I am being monitored, and I almost encountered an accident in the mountains."
Meng Xinghai thought to himself that this kid was too straightforward. Every time he casually asked, he could naturally say something.
However, Meng Xinghai was not at all bothered by the trouble; instead, he was quite pleased. Otherwise, if he had brought up the matter of the outside disciples right away, it would have seemed like he was trying to repay a favor.
"Is there such a situation? To dare to do this in Chixia City, we must investigate thoroughly!" Meng Xinghai ordered his confidant to find out the truth.
"Thank you, Uncle Meng." Qin Ming stood up and poured tea for him, sincerely grateful.
"Don't be so polite with me." Meng Xinghai drank tea and then casually asked, "Did you really suffer no injuries after enduring six or seven waves of heavenly light last time?"
"I did get some injuries and needed to rest for two days to recover." Qin Ming wanted to say more about the heavenly light but suddenly remembered that he had seen Meng Xinghai two days later.
"You little brat, are you hiding your talents from me? Those two days must have been your rebirth. Truly remarkable! To withstand the erosion of heavenly light, you might really be needed to help in the future."
"Uncle Meng, just give the orders."
Meng Xinghai waved his hand, saying, "Not urgent. Let's see how things go. We can talk about it later."
He looked at Qin Ming and sighed, "With your extraordinary talent, if supported by the resources of a prominent family and not limited by the golden age, you should have already been able to step onto the path of rebirth."
"External Saint?" Qin Ming asked.
"That term is no longer in vogue. Whether it’s those secret teachings or those outsiders, they mock our field as 'external nephew.'" Meng Xinghai felt a bit emotional, saying, "Looking back at the pioneering era, when the path was opened through rebirth, how glorious the stage of External Saint was, incredibly powerful! But who knew that the road we walk becomes increasingly difficult and narrow!"
Qin Ming nodded, saying, "This is the path of ordinary people. How else can one advance? One can only rely on physical mutation. Fortunately, through the research of predecessors, this realm of rebirth is somewhat controllable."
Meng Xinghai said, "This path is tough. After the rebirth stage, one can only move forward step by step; the body can no longer mutate."
He looked at Qin Ming and said, "Strive for nine rebirths!"
After recovering his memories, Qin Ming naturally understood these matters.
Even in a thousand-year-old family, it is very rare to find someone with nine rebirths; eight is already the limit.
From a simple perspective, it is understood that a person mutating eight times is already very difficult, and one must find another way to advance. At that time, with the help of certain medicines, one could break through and manifest heavenly light, entering the realm of External Saint, from which one could capture the spiritual substances in the void and begin the journey.
In fact, achieving seven rebirths is the ultimate dream for many, through consuming great medicines to manifest heavenly light and enter that realm.
Qin Ming said, "Uncle Meng, you flatter me too much. Nine rebirths have not appeared for many years, right?"
Meng Xinghai's eyes shone brightly, saying, "Right now, it's just the two of us talking, so you don't need to be modest. Just based on your ability to withstand six or seven waves of heavenly light at this stage, I believe you have extraordinary talent and can achieve nine rebirths."
After his old ailments were gone, Qin Ming understood these things. For an ordinary person, achieving nine rebirths is as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Because, during the first rebirth, one's arms must possess nearly a thousand pounds of strength; only then can one be called a young extraordinary person.
In the book Xu Sheng had read, it was recorded that reaching this level was revered as a young extraordinary person, already belonging to legend!
Meng Xinghai's eyes were deep, saying, "How do you know that there isn't a hidden dragon with nine rebirths in a thousand-year family?"
Then he sighed again, "It's just that those beings close to the divine are too terrifying, and those near immortals are so powerful that they cannot be fathomed, which highlights how the people walking our path are becoming increasingly dim."
"Are there people with ten rebirths?" Qin Ming asked.
Meng Xinghai chuckled in disbelief, "Nine is already the final change."
Then he added, "Of course, there are distinctions among those with nine rebirths. There are unclear records that some had nearly a thousand pounds of strength during their first rebirth; such people are even more formidable in their nine rebirths."
Qin Ming actually knew this. Whether it was a young extraordinary person with nearly a thousand pounds of strength during their first rebirth or someone who surpassed this legend, in the end, they all achieved nine rebirths. It’s just that the benefits gained during the last rebirth differ; the more one surpasses the legend, the more rewards one receives during the ninth rebirth.
The two chatted amiably, and Qin Ming was invited to stay for dinner. Just as he finished eating and put down his chopsticks, Meng Xinghai's confidant returned, claiming to have found the results.
Qin Ming was surprised; the efficiency was truly high.
"We caught those problematic birds outside the inn using exotic birds, followed the clues to find the Xinyi Hall, and then exposed the mastermind, capturing two deputy hall masters involved from Xinyi Hall."
"Where is the mastermind?" Meng Xinghai asked.
"He's been brought here."
Soon after, a pale-faced young man appeared, accompanied by an old man and a young man.
"Cui Ge, no, Qin Ge, I'm really sorry. I... didn't want it to be this way." The young man entered, bowing and apologizing repeatedly.
As expected, it was not some old man or ruthless character.
Qin Ming recognized this sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy; he should be called Zhao Jingshuo, who had ranked last during their travels, sometimes even without a seat at the end.
Qin Ming looked at him without speaking.
Zhao Jingshuo saw the face before him. Although he knew he had lost his former noble status and was now an ordinary person, he still felt a bit intimidated as he approached.
"Qin Ge, you should understand. How could I dare to wade through such muddy waters? Among those familiar faces from the past, I could only stand at the back. I was forced into this; with just a glance or a hint from them, I had no choice but to comply!"
It was unclear whether Zhao Jingshuo was genuinely scared or just putting on an act, his voice trembling.
"Who made you do this?" Meng Xinghai asked.
"City Lord Meng, I..." Zhao Jingshuo truly trembled this time, knowing that the other party was one of the young elites released by a thousand-year family, frequently changing locations, which was also a form of training.
"Speak!" Meng Xinghai glared at him.
"It was all people Qin Ge knows, an old acquaintance from the Zheng family, and another was Li Qingxu's cousin." Zhao Jingshuo said with a mournful face.
"One after another, so young yet so restless, causing trouble like this." Meng Xinghai said, staring at Zhao Jingshuo. "You go back and tell the Cui family directly."
"I..." Zhao Jingshuo was truly on the verge of tears. It was too difficult for him, but in the end, he had no choice but to nod.
"Qin Ge, I only have two hundred day gold left, and I've spent it all. I'll compensate you next time." Zhao Jingshuo took out a money pouch and handed it over with both hands.
Qin Ming did not stand on ceremony and accepted it.
Two hundred day gold, if spent frugally, would be enough for a family of three in Heibai Mountain to live for two hundred years. If in Chixia City, where prices were higher, it would probably be divided by three.
Seeing him accept it, Zhao Jingshuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Even after more than two years, seeing this face again still made him feel a bit of awe.
"Leave that bow as well." Qin Ming pointed to the large bow the young man was carrying.
Clearly, it was a good bow, and the young man was very reluctant to part with it.
Zhao Jingshuo anxiously urged, "Hurry and give it to Qin Ge; I’ll compensate you later."
"You all can leave now." Qin Ming waved his hand. If he were to deal with these three people brutally, it would likely cause some issues. It was more appropriate for them to return and inform the Cui family about this matter.
The next day, someone secretly came to the inn to visit Qin Ming.
"Young Master Qin, I am Dai Shifeng, the deputy hall master of Xinyi Hall." The old man who arrived introduced himself. After the capture of the two deputy hall masters, he was considered the second-in-command of that hall.
He quickly spoke, "Our hall master, Ge Qianxun, wants to deal with you and has instructed us to find an opportunity to kill you in the mountains."
Qin Ming looked at him and said, "You all are not following the usual path. Why did you come to inform me?"
"Because I discovered that hall master Ge Qianxun has been secretly selling properties and is also embezzling the private assets of Xinyi Hall. He is likely planning to flee."
Dai Shifeng was quite steady. He had originally opposed taking on such a risky job, but after discovering that Ge Qianxun was acting recklessly, he investigated and found that the leader was preparing to escape.
"He must also be under pressure from others, so in the absence of choices, he readily took a sum of day gold from them, planning to complete this deal and disappear, leaving us with a pile of mess."
"He is the hall master, the leader of a sect. Is he really going to abandon his foundation like this?" Qin Ming asked.
Dai Shifeng explained, "What major sects can there be in Chixia City? We are just a small hall; he doesn't care at all. Moreover, I suspect he is one of the golden thieves, having long realized that the situation is not right and wants to avoid the new city lord."
"Well, what is his strength?" Qin Ming asked.
Dai Shifeng replied, "He has consumed spiritual substances over twenty times, pushing himself to the realm of six rebirths. However, he failed to advance to the realm of External Saint after consuming great medicines in the final stage. In the end, he consumed his potential and used forbidden drugs to elevate himself to the realm of seven rebirths, stopping there for life."
"Where is Ge Qianxun now?" Qin Ming asked.
Dai Shifeng informed, "He is very cautious, currently outside the city. He has raised a flying beast, and if things go wrong, he will escape. I suspect that after he deals with you, he will immediately ride that fierce bird away."
Qin Ming nodded, saying, "Then let’s discuss..."
Two days later, after Qin Ming had made arrangements with the relevant people, he left the city alone. Shortly after entering the mountains, Dai Shifeng appeared with people, surrounding him.
At the same time, two fierce birds appeared in the sky, one black giant bird carrying an old man, who should be the leader of Xinyi Hall, Ge Qianxun, while the other silver exotic bird carried a young man, who was looking down indifferently.
"The employer has personally appeared; another familiar face! Quite a presence!" Qin Ming stared at the sky.
He sighed. As an ordinary person, he just wanted to fulfill his grandfather's wish, grow up safely, and live well, but some people were unwilling to give him a chance.
Qin Ming's expression gradually turned cold, saying, "Since you have forced me to this point, I can only show my true strength, allowing City Lord Meng to firmly support me!"