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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 99: [Turbulent Winds and Roiling Clouds]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Late at night, Chi Xia City lay shrouded in a hazy mist.
In the quiet courtyard, Qin Ming gazed up at the night sky.
With his greatly enhanced strength, he no longer felt as anxious about venturing into the Beyond the Mortal Realm, now possessing a newfound sense of confidence.
He reflected on the changes within himself.
While his physical strength and perception had improved, the most significant transformation lay in the evolution of his Heavenly Light Force, which had become fundamentally different.
He tossed a sheet of paper into the air and flicked his finger.
The paper shattered into dozens of fragments, fluttering downward like withered leaves.
As Qin Ming approached, the paper shards were repelled by an invisible force before they could even touch him, either scattering with a crisp sound or exploding into fine dust.
He hadn't consciously activated his Heavenly Light Force; it had manifested spontaneously, automatically blocking any foreign objects and launching swift counterattacks.
Without a doubt, Qin Ming's Heavenly Light Force was now not only far more powerful but also remarkably spiritual.
Now, if anyone harbored ill intentions and attempted to sprinkle special medicinal powders on him under the guise of proximity, they would certainly fail.
Just days earlier, he had been targeted by a former acquaintance who tainted him with a peculiar scent, allowing Bat Bird to track him relentlessly, leaving him unable to shake them off.
"If this continues, the Heavenly Light Force will keep evolving, eventually triggering a mysterious qualitative change that will bring me great surprises!" Qin Ming thought with anticipation.
He now harbored a wild ambition: to continuously fuse various techniques, believing that one day his own creation might surpass the Heaven-Shattering Force and Tathagata Force, with limitless potential.
Clearly, the fusion of these two extraordinary techniques had played a crucial role in the Heavenly Light Force's transformation.
In the next moment, the courtyard lit up with flames as Qin Ming activated the Li Fire Force.
A faint crimson glow enveloped his body.
It resembled a divine flame, born from his flesh and blood, causing no harm but instead nourishing him. This energy transformed into the Heavenly Light Force, protecting him from within.
Qin Ming reached out, and a stack of letters turned to ash upon contact.
He was testing his progress.
The Li Fire Force had already begun to evolve into a special ability.
A metallic clang rang out as a faint golden armor seemed to materialize on Qin Ming's skin.
This was the Vajra Force, a formidable defensive technique he had mastered.
Then, fine golden threads, as delicate as silk, wove themselves across his body, forming a dense protective net.
Even strands of his dark hair shimmered with golden light.
This was the true power of the Silk Book Technique: it could merge various Heavenly Light Forces into a unified whole and even transform them into specific techniques.
Moreover, when the fused Heavenly Light Force circulated along the pathways of his practiced extraordinary techniques, the divine flames and golden threads seemed even stronger than the original Li Fire Force and Golden Silkworm Force!
Qin Ming was immensely satisfied.
These transformations filled him with joy.
No wonder an elder master had inscribed a single character on the Silk Scroll: (Fusion)!
The master had even used this character to admonish future practitioners.
That night, he sank into the deepest slumber.
The Heavenly Light Force automatically surfaced, completely enveloping him in the form of the Golden Jade Robe.
As Shallow Night descended, the Fire Spring of Chi Xia City gradually intensified, resembling the rising sun casting its dawn rays.
Qin Ming awoke, feeling his spirit, energy, and vitality surging.
He yearned to find an Outsider disciple to beat into a pulp.
"How does a night's sleep feel like taking a powerful nourishing medicine?" he wondered, puzzled.
Without wasting time, he immediately informed Meng Xinghai that he had consumed the Five-Colored Spiritual Branch and fully integrated the Heavenly Light Force.
"So quickly?" Meng Xinghai's expression froze momentarily.
Fortunately, he had grown accustomed to the Youthful Prodigy's habit of exceeding expectations.
If this had been their first meeting, Meng Xinghai would have stood up again.
He had given Qin Ming two days to absorb the violent Heavenly Light Essence from the Five-Colored Spiritual Branch, but the boy had completed the task in a single night!
What truly defined innate talent?
Meng Xinghai felt compelled to redefine the very standard of the term. This youth's abilities had only deepened his admiration.
He said, "The sword and arrows aren't ready yet. Come, I'll take you to choose a hard bow and show you the other weapons."
Qin Ming followed him into the Armory, showing no hesitation.
He immediately grabbed what he needed, selecting a set of twelve short spears and strapping them to his back.
When Meng Xinghai saw him pick up a great bow shimmering with dark light, his face twitched slightly.
That was a treasure bow requiring over six thousand catties of draw weight!
It now dawned on him that Qin Ming's earlier claim of being "slightly stronger than his peers" wasn't arrogance, but rather extreme modesty!
Even Youthful Prodigies who had undergone five Awakenings could only approach five thousand catties of strength, still falling short of Qin Ming's capabilities.
Next, Qin Ming chose a bronze staff—actually forged from mixed metals for exceptional durability—classifying it as a heavy weapon.
He tested the staff, finding it suitable for use as a spear, a heavy hammer, or even a sword when wielded with both hands.
With this, Qin Ming's mastery of the four arts—sword, spear, arrow, and hammer—could be fully demonstrated in the great battles of the Beyond the Mortal Realm.
Of course, weapons were merely superficial.
Given Qin Ming's current strength, his most formidable asset remained the Heavenly Light Force within him, which possessed the greatest destructive power.
Meng Xinghai said, "There's no need to choose armor. The golden armor forged by the Outsiders is excellent."
Now that all preparations were complete except for their departure, Meng Xinghai felt it was time to urge the craftsmen to finish forging the swords and arrows.
"Why are you going outside?" Meng Xinghai asked. "What are you looking at?"
"It's going to thunder," Qin Ming replied, glancing at the sky.
He dropped a pile of weapons, turned, and sprinted away at full speed.
Meng Xinghai stared after him, bewildered.
"Is he... going to the Thunder Fire Alchemy Hall again? He's truly obsessed with that place."
"The thunderstorm isn't very strong," Meng Xinghai called out. "It's unlikely to strike, and your strength has only just improved. There's no need to rush back to absorb Heavenly Light so hastily."
"I'm going to practice an extraordinary technique!" Qin Ming retorted.
"How is that place suitable?" Meng Xinghai followed him, worried that a violent Thunder Fire Heavenly Light might descend and injure Qin Ming before their departure.
"Thunder Fire Alchemy is naturally suitable for practicing the Golden Silkworm Technique," Qin Ming explained.
...
"Crack!"
This time, Qin Ming absorbed four streams of Thunder Fire Heavenly Light, his body turning pitch-black.
He remained rooted in place, continuously circulating energy according to the Li Fire Scripture's cultivation path.
A layer of fiery light seemed on the verge of erupting from his skin, forming a unique protective aura.
Immediately afterward, Qin Ming began circulating the Golden Silkworm Technique, his movements flowing with effortless ease.
He hadn't been exaggerating—the so-called "Thunder Fire Alchemy" was indeed effective.
However, he was using the Li Fire Technique to enhance the Golden Silkworm Technique!
"The secret manual Ning Siqi found for you is truly remarkable," Meng Xinghai nodded.
The synergy between these two extraordinary techniques was proving immensely beneficial to Qin Ming's progress.
Qin Ming sensed the total amount of Heavenly Light within him had increased once more.
For those who relied on bodily Mutations, the Awakening stage represented the period of their most rapid growth in power.
He refused to let any opportunity slip by.
Unfortunately, the maximum number of Awakening cycles was nine.
After transcending this major realm, advancing to the next domain would become significantly more challenging, requiring him to devise alternative methods.
By afternoon, Chi Xia City was at its brightest.
Qin Ming received a brand-new Jade Iron Sword, far superior to the crude one he and Old Liu had forged together.
Slightly shorter than his arm, the sword possessed sleek lines and a graceful curve.
Its pristine white body radiated a soft, lustrous glow, adorned with intricate carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and other auspicious symbols.
From any angle, it resembled a masterpiece of artistry, brimming with aesthetic appeal.
Meng Xinghai explained that he had carved the dragon and phoenix patterns onto the sword himself.
These inscriptions would enhance its effectiveness against unseen entities.
Moreover, this was a parent-child sword.
The "sheath" was actually a thicker sword, eliminating the need for Qin Ming to apply mineral pigments for concealment.
The arrowhead glowed with a blue radiance, its edge razor-sharp and etched with numerous characters. The shaft was forged from a special material.
"I originally planned to use rare metals for the shaft," Meng Xinghai said, "but this time I refined the Essence and embedded it within the shaft. This allows your Heavenly Light Force to extend to the arrowhead."
Qin Ming noticed a thin metal wire running through the shaft, connecting to the arrowhead.
Like Jade Iron, this wire could conduct Heavenly Light Force.
In his current state, unable to project his Heavenly Light externally, only such rare metals could achieve this.
"Let's get ready. We should set out tomorrow,"
Meng Xinghai decided the next day.
Before their departure, he used Esoteric Sect techniques to conceal Qin Ming's true appearance—a necessary precaution given the Cui Clan's decree barring him from their circles for the next few years.
Qin Ming gazed at his reflection in the mirror.
His sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes had been completely altered, yet his new appearance remained striking.
He now possessed a heroic, imposing presence, his aura sharp and commanding.
In the past, he only exuded such an aura during battle.
Now, it was his constant state, making him unmistakably one of the most combative Awakener.
"Uncle Meng, what is this...?" Qin Ming asked, standing in the Martial Arena of the City Lord's Mansion.
At first glance, he had mistaken the flying mount for a giant, winged turtle.
Upon closer inspection, he realized Meng Xinghai had spared no expense on the creature's armor, which was crafted from rare metals and covered its avian body completely.
This was a High-Tier Mutant Creature, its normal plumage a pale gold. Not only was it heavily armored, but its golden head was also protected by a steel helmet inlaid with arcane metals.
"Traveling through the Night Mist is extremely dangerous," Meng Xinghai explained. "If someone were to attack the mount, the consequences would be disastrous."
He admitted that the bird's armor was no less formidable than his own.
This wasn't his personal mount; he had borrowed it from an old friend deep in the mountains.
Meng Xinghai had also altered his appearance, wanting to keep his departure from Chi Xia City a secret.
"Our destination isn't far—about four thousand miles from here," he revealed.
The place had once been a crucial stronghold for the Outsiders, but a millennium ago, it had been pierced and abandoned after being engulfed by endless Heavenly Light.
Luo Fu City, their destination, dwarfed Chi Xia City in scale.
Even through the thick Night Mist, the magnificent, radiant city could be seen on the horizon, its light piercing the night sky.
Though Mount Luo Fu had been abandoned by the Outsiders, the surrounding region had not declined.
On the contrary, it flourished immensely, as the area guarding the ruins of the former Immortal Mountain of Beyond the Mortal Realm would never lack high-grade Fire Springs.
"To think that back then, the top experts of Beyond the Mortal Realm sought to elevate Mount Luofu's grade..." Meng Xinghai shook his head, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Clearly, the events of that era were of immense significance, and the Outsiders' ambitions had been utterly audacious.
"Mount Luo Fu was already extraordinary, considered an Immortal Mountain of Beyond the Mortal Realm. Yet they still sought to elevate its grade..." Qin Ming could only marvel at the scale of their ambition.
Luo Fu City had recently experienced an explosive surge in popularity. News of the Outsider disciples' competition had spread far and wide, drawing numerous cultivators eager to witness the unfolding events.
The city gate tower loomed like a small mountain, its grandeur imposing, while the towering city walls stretched endlessly across the horizon.
As Qin Ming and his companions entered the city, they were immediately struck by its splendor and bustling atmosphere.
The city's brilliance rivaled that of the sunlit era.
On the wide, spacious streets, multiple beast-drawn carriages could travel abreast without causing congestion.
Crowds surged in and out of the shops lining both sides, their businesses thriving.
By this point, nearly every inn in the city was fully booked, forcing many to rent private residences.
Meng Xinghai had already arranged for two rooms in advance, both with small courtyards—a costly luxury in this densely populated Giant City where every inch of land was precious.
That same day, Qin Ming met Li Qingyue.
She was staying at the neighboring inn and came to see him and Meng Xinghai that evening.
"Qin Ming, I'm sorry to trouble you again," Li Qingyue said, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall, her slender figure as graceful as a willow.
Dressed in white robes and without makeup, her face was flawlessly refined, her pure and elegant smile like sunlight breaking through the mist, radiating warmth.
Qin Ming chuckled. "You've helped me so much already, there's no need for formalities. Your smile is so dazzling I can barely keep my eyes open!"
Li Qingyue nodded with a gentle smile, relieved that despite everything he'd been through, he hadn't lost his spirit and remained the same as before.
"Let's take a stroll through the city, grab some food, and I'll tell you about the precautions we need to take at Mount Luo Fu," Li Qingyue suggested, inviting Meng Xinghai to join them.
Meng Xinghai waved his hand in refusal.
"I'm too old to keep up with you youngsters. I'd rather catch up with my old friends."
As Qin Ming and Li Qingyue left the inn, they soon encountered several familiar faces.
Many Outsider disciples were staying at the nearby grand inns.
"What are you looking at? Oh, that's Wang Caiwei," Li Qingyue remarked with a smile.
"No, I saw my 'younger brother,' Cui Chongxuan. What's he doing here?" Qin Ming asked.
Li Qingyue said, "He probably wants to help Cui Chonghe compete for that near-Immortal artifact."
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END OF CHAPTER
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