In the dead of night, the city of Chixia was shrouded in a misty veil.
In the quiet courtyard, Qin Ming gazed at the night sky. With his power greatly enhanced, his worries about venturing to the lands beyond had diminished, filled with a newfound confidence. He felt the changes within himself—while his strength and senses had grown, the most significant transformation was in his Heavenly Light Force, which had evolved into something different.
He tossed a piece of letter paper into the air, flicked his finger slightly, and it shattered into dozens of pieces, falling like withered leaves.
Qin Ming walked forward, and before the paper fragments could touch his body, they were repelled by an invisible force, some even bursting softly into confetti. He hadn't deliberately activated the Heavenly Light Force; it emerged on its own, instinctively repelling anything that approached and swiftly counterattacking.
There was no doubt about it; Qin Ming's Heavenly Light Force was now not just stronger, but full of a lively intelligence.
Now, if anyone with ill intentions tried to scatter any special powder on him, they could no longer succeed.
A few days ago, he had been targeted by an old acquaintance, marked by a strange scent that made him easy prey for the batbirds, following him relentlessly. "If it continues like this, the Heavenly Light Force will keep evolving, bringing about some mysterious transformation. It'll surely surprise me!" Qin Ming thought eagerly.
He now harbored certain ambitions, aiming to continuously fuse various internal energies. Perhaps, in the future, it wouldn't be any weaker than the Qingtian Force or the Rulai Force, offering endless possibilities. Clearly, merging two mysterious techniques this time had a massive impact on the transformation of his Heavenly Light Force.
In the next moment, flames flickered in the small courtyard under the night sky. Qin Ming activated his Blazing Fire Force, and a faint red glow enveloped his body. It was like a divine flame, nurturing his flesh without harm and transforming into a protective Heavenly Light Force. Qin Ming reached out, and a stack of paper that came into contact with him turned to ashes.
He was testing his abilities. Currently, the Blazing Fire Force was already transitioning into the realm of special capabilities.
A series of clanks sounded, as if a thin golden armor had covered his body. This was the Diamond Force, a hard skill that he revealed. Subsequently, his body was wrapped by threads of golden silk, forming a tight net that protected him thoroughly, even his black hair glimmered with gold strands. This was the power of the Silk Book Technique, capable of merging and unifying various Heavenly Light Forces and converting them into practiced internal energies.
Moreover, when the merged Heavenly Light Force operated along the routes of the practiced mysterious skills, these divine flames and golden threads seemed stronger than the original Blazing Fire Force and Golden Silkworm Force!
Qin Ming was very satisfied with these changes. They brought him great joy. Little wonder an elder once wrote a single word on the silk book: “Merge!” and used it to admonish future practitioners. That night, he fell into the deepest sleep, with the Heavenly Light Force automatically emerging, covering him completely in the form of a Golden Threaded Jade Garment.
As night waned, the fire springs of Chixia City grew more intense, resembling a rising sun illuminating the morning clouds. Waking up, Qin Ming felt a surge of spirit and energy, eager to find someone from the outer lands to spar with. "After a sleep, it felt like I took a tonic," he thought, puzzled.
However, he didn't waste any time and immediately went to inform Meng Xinghai about fully merging the Five-Colored Spirit Branch with his Heavenly Light Force.
“So quickly?” Meng Xinghai's face froze for a moment, yet he had grown accustomed to being "trained" by the youth before him, each time exceeding expectations.
If it had been their first meeting, learning such a result would have made him stand up in astonishment. He had given Qin Ming two days to absorb the violent essence of the Five-Colored Spirit Branch, yet this youngster had done it overnight!
What does it mean to have talent? Meng Xinghai felt he needed to redefine the standards for this word—this young man was becoming ever more esteemed in his eyes. He said, "The knife and arrows aren't ready yet. Let's go and pick out a strong bow, and look at some other weapons too."
Qin Ming followed him into the armory without hesitation, directly selecting what he needed. A set of twelve short spears was strapped onto his back.
When Meng Xinghai saw him choose a large bow with a black gleam, a twitch ran across his face. That was a treasured bow requiring over six thousand pounds of force to draw. Only then did he realize—Qin Ming's statement of being slightly stronger than his peers wasn't arrogance but sheer modesty!
After reaching new vitality five times, youths usually only reached a strength of around five thousand pounds, a step below him.
Subsequently, Qin Ming also picked a bronze staff, actually forged from mixed metals, extraordinarily sturdy and classified as a heavy weapon.
Trying it out, he found the bronze staff could be used as a spear and, when both hands gripped it, act as a heavy hammer to smash or a blade to slash. This way, his skills with the knife, spear, arrow, and hammer could be fully exhibited in the battles of the outer lands.
Of course, weapons were merely the facade. With Qin Ming's current strength, his most formidable aspect remained the inner Heavenly Light Force, which wielded the greatest destructive power. Meng Xinghai said, “No need to pick armor. The golden armor crafted by the outer lands’ people is quite decent.”
With everything ready except for their departure, he thought to urge the weapon makers once more. Meng Xinghai asked, "What were you looking at when you went out?"
“Looks like it's going to thunder,” Qin Ming gazed at the sky, tossed his weapons aside, and sprinted away at full speed. Meng Xinghai bemusedly wondered if he was... going to the Thunderfire Alchemy Hall again? That place truly left a lasting impression on him.
“The lightning won't be large-scale; it shouldn't strike. And your power just increased, so there's no need to rush back so anxiously to handle the Heavenly Light,” Qin Ming explained, “I want to cultivate a mysterious skill!”
“Which skill suits it?” Meng Xinghai, while following, had some concerns about possible injuries from wild thunderfire just before their journey.
“Thunderfire Alchemy, naturally suitable for practicing the Golden Silkworm Art,” Qin Ming said.
Crack!
This time, Qin Ming endured four strikes of thunderfire, his body charred black, as he practiced accordance with the Blazing Fire Scripture's methods, channeling the techniques. His body seemed on the brink of radiating a complete protective divine light.
Next, Qin Ming started the Golden Silkworm Art, and it proceeded smoothly. He truly wasn't lying; the so-called Thunderfire Alchemy was indeed effective. However, he was using the Blazing Fire Skill to enhance the Golden Silkworm Skill!
"The secret manual Ning Siqi found for you is truly impressive," Meng Xinghai nodded in approval, acknowledging the great help these two mysterious skills provided to Qin Ming's growth.
Qin Ming felt that his total Heavenly Light had increased once again.
For those relying on bodily mutations, the new vitality phase was their period of fastest growth. He was unwilling to miss any opportunity.
Unfortunately, the maximum number of new vitality phases was nine; beyond this large realm, the next domain would be quite challenging, requiring a different approach.
In the afternoon, Chixia City was at its brightest. Qin Ming obtained a brand new White Jade Iron Knife, far superior to the one crudely forged with Old Liu. It looked like a remarkable work of art, full of aesthetic charm.
Moreover, it was a "mother-child" knife. The "sheath" was a thicker knife, sparing Qin Ming the need to smear mineral paint on it for disguise.
It was slightly shorter than an arm, elegantly shaped with gentle curves. The polished white blade shimmered softly, engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns.
Meng Xinghai informed him that these engravings could enhance the cutting effect when encountering unseen entities.
The arrowhead was a vibrant blue, exceedingly sharp, and marked with numerous characters. The arrow shaft was forged from a special material.
Meng Xinghai explained, "Originally prepared with rare metal, this time I've placed the essence in the arrow shaft, allowing your Heavenly Light Force to extend to the arrowhead." Qin Ming found a metal wire in the shaft, leading to the arrowhead, supposedly like the Jade Iron, capable of bearing the Heavenly Light Force.
In the current stage of his Heavenly Light not being able to reach outside, only precious metals could achieve this feat. "Pack up now; we should be on our way," Meng Xinghai decided to set off the next day.
Before departing, he used secret techniques to alter Qin Ming's true appearance for essential protection. After all, the thousand-year-old Cui family had prohibited him from entering that circle over the coming years.
Looking in the mirror, Qin Ming saw himself with sharp eyebrows and eyes, his appearance entirely changed, yet still remarkably dashing and imposing.
In the past, he only exuded such an aura during battles; now it had become his regular demeanor, instantly revealing him as a fierce competitor among the new vitality phase individuals.
“Uncle Meng, is that…” Qin Ming stood at the training grounds of the City Lord’s Mansion, initially mistaking the winged mount for a giant tortoise with wings.
Upon closer inspection, one realized that Meng Xinghai had treated this mount exceptionally well, draping it in mixed metal armor, its avian body tightly covered.
It was a high-tier extraordinary kind, with faint golden feathers, inherently powerful. Not only did it wear armor, but its golden avian head was also fitted with a steel helmet embedded with secret metals.
"Indeed, traveling through the night mist can be perilous. If someone targets the mount, the consequences could be dire," Meng Xinghai admitted, noting that this bird's armor was comparable to his own.
Meng Xinghai, too, had altered his appearance, not wishing anyone to know he had left Chixia City.
This wasn’t his mount; he had borrowed it from an old friend in the deep mountains. Forced to give up due to pressure and fractures.
“Our destination isn't far, about four thousand miles from here," he informed. It was once a significant location for the people from the outside world. However, a thousand years ago, endless Heavenly Light overwhelmed the land, far surpassing the scale of Chixia City.
Through the thick night mist, one could see the majestic and radiant city on the ground, its brilliance soaring into the night sky, like a blazing fire pit.
Luofu Mountain, though abandoned by the people from beyond, thrived, its surroundings bustling due to its proximity to the remnants of an ethereal mountain from the outer realms, a definitely enticing location.
“In those days, the top experts from outside realms aimed to elevate Luofu Mountain’s grade…,” Meng Xinghai shook his head, refraining from speaking further.
Clearly, the events of the past were of significant consequence, and the act the people from the outside intended was rather astonishing.
"Luofu Mountain was already exceptional, considered an ethereal mountain beyond the normal realms; raising its grade further was an incredible feat…" Qin Ming could only marvel at their grand ambitions.
Luofu City recently gained immense popularity. Disciples from external sects competed, tales spread everywhere, drawing numerous cultivators eager to witness certain events.
The city gate tower stood like a giant mountain, towering and formidable, with enormous high walls stretching ahead.
Qin Ming and his companions entered the city, feeling its splendor and bustling nature. The brightness here was no different from times with the sun shining. In the wide city streets, numerous beast-drawn chariots traveled without congestion, and the shops lining the streets buzzed with people, business booming.
At this stage, almost no rooms were available in major inns, forcing many to rent private residences.
Meng Xinghai had already made arrangements, booking two rooms in advance, each having its own small courtyard, undoubtedly costly in such a densely packed grand city.
That day, Qin Ming met Li Qingyue. She stayed in the inn next door and came over the same night to see him and Meng Xinghai.
“Qin Ming, I have to trouble you this time," Li Qingyue said. Her flowing black hair was like a waterfall, her figure as slender and supple as a celestial willow, in plain white dress, no makeup on her exquisite face. She was pure, elegant, like a sunrise breaking through clouds, her presence radiant.
Qin Ming responded with a smile, "You've helped me so much that there's no need for formalities between us. Your smile almost blinds me with its brilliance."
Li Qingyue nodded with a smile, relieved to see that despite everything he had been through, Qin Ming hadn't been defeated and was still the same as before.
“I’ll take you around the city, and we can have a meal while I fill you in on some points to watch out for near Luofu Mountain this time,” Li Qingyue suggested, inviting Meng Xinghai to join them.
Meng Xinghai politely declined, "I’d rather not tag along as an old man; I'll go visit my old friends instead."
As they walked out, Qin Ming and Li Qingyue soon spotted familiar faces. Quite a few disciples from external families were staying at nearby major inns as well. “What caught your eye—ah, it's Wang Caiwei,” Li Qingyue chuckled.
"No, I just saw my 'good younger brother' Cui Chongxuan. What's he doing here?" Qin Ming said. Li Qingyue replied, "I guess he's looking to help Cui Chong in the contention for that near-immortal artifact."