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Novel: [Night Without Boundaries]
Chapter 135: [The Young Grandmaster]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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A youth emerged from the Night Mist, tall and slender with slightly broad shoulders.
Though not physically imposing, he exuded a palpable sense of strength.
He approached at a measured pace, his steps carrying an inexplicable rhythm. Each footfall resonated like the beat of a mystical spirit drum, reverberating deep within the hearts of those nearby.
"Is he making his move already?"
Some of the surrounding youths felt a tightness in their chests, a growing discomfort as their hearts seemed to synchronize with the rhythm of his footsteps.
Many realized this newcomer was no ordinary opponent.
In the Fire Spring-less wilderness, the night was as dark as ink, rendering everything invisible to ordinary eyes.
As the youth drew closer, his eyes burned like twin flames in the darkness, each step precise and unwavering.
Every movement, from the distance covered to the force of his footfalls, was executed with flawless precision.
The ground trembled faintly as he advanced, carrying with him an extraordinary "momentum."
A few of the observing youths felt as if their hearts were being gripped, their discomfort intensifying with each step.
With a sharp clang, the Jade Iron Sword on Qin Ming's back slid slightly from its sheath, instantly severing the rhythmic pressure.
The youth opposite Qin Ming faltered, his footsteps pausing as the peculiar resonance vanished, wisps of earth Qi dissipating into the night mist.
"Yu Zhuohan!" the newcomer announced himself.
The distant mountains, swallowed by darkness, were completely obscured, not even their faintest shadows visible—such was the true nature of the Night Mist World.
Qin Ming, with his exceptional vision honed through six awakenings, could clearly discern objects beneath the Night Mist.
He fixed his gaze ahead and returned the introduction: "Qin Ming."
Yu Zhuohan's silver hair cascaded to his shoulders, each strand crystalline and radiating a faint glow in the darkness. His sharply defined features gave his face a striking three-dimensional quality.
The two sized each other up, neither rushing to attack.
"Where did the Cui Clan find this ally?" Meng Xinghai frowned slightly, sensing the Silver-Haired Youth's extraordinary presence.
He had established strict rules beforehand, explicitly forbidding Outer Saints from participating, fearing Cui He might summon reinforcements far exceeding the agreed-upon limits.
"This one is likely not a pure Awakener," Qi Daoming, the Li Family's son-in-law, remarked with an air of immortal detachment.
He had come purely to observe the spectacle.
Moreover, direct descendants from all three generations of the Li Family—old, middle-aged, and young—had appeared, clearly trying to provoke the Cui Clan.
Whether the Cui Clan won or lost, the Li Family would be delighted, their faces beaming with amusement.
Cui He and Cui Shuning's expressions immediately turned icy upon seeing the Li Family's direct descendants.
There was no warmth or goodwill between the two clans.
Suddenly, they sensed something and turned to see Wang Caiwei's fifth uncle and her biological elder brother standing on the opposite side, observing the battle.
In the past, the Cui Clan had been in the wrong for failing to inform the Wang Clan about the impostor Cui Chonghe's true identity beforehand.
Now, facing the Wang Clan's direct descendants, they felt a twinge of guilt.
Especially since this impostor, who had once traveled with Wang Caiwei, had shown faint signs of undergoing a "Transformation" into a dragon after embarking on the Path of Awakening.
Most critically, the Cui Clan had already abandoned him, sending him to attract the Li Family's main forces alongside a group of elderly men nearing the end of their lives, sacrificing themselves to buy time.
Even those within the Cui Clan who wished to "reclaim" him harbored reservations, believing the rift between them was irreparable and that nurturing such a talent would be like raising a tiger to devour its master.
In the distance, Zheng Maorong muttered viciously, "Look at Cui He, Fourth Master Cui, who practices the Yi Mu Essence Cultivation Technique. His sickly green hair and deathly pale face make him look like he's eaten a dead rat. How dare he slap me? I'll make him pay for this!"
Though Zheng Maorong had never personally intervened, he had used subtle gestures, smirks, and veiled remarks to incite others against Qin Ming.
The other young nobles, both male and female, all from prominent clans, wore complex expressions as they watched Qin Ming through the Night Mist, their thoughts drifting back to past events.
Some had once been close to him, former friends of Qin Ming.
This time, hearing that many acquaintances would be attending the duel, these noble scions had flocked to the scene en masse.
Over two years had passed.
Some had long since dismissed the idea of associating with the "fake" Cui Chonghe, but others had once considered visiting him in his remote exile.
Today's duel provided the perfect opportunity to finally see him.
In the distance, Li Qingyun emerged through the swirling black mist, a wine jar cradled in one arm as he raised a wine cup with the other, gesturing for Fifth Master Cui to join him in a drink.
Fifth Master Cui ignored him, finding the pungent aroma overwhelming.
He felt completely trapped.
He now realized that unless Qin Ming entered the Ancestral Court of the One Sect or joined an Advanced Academy, he would never escape this predicament.
...
Beneath the Night Mist, the two youths clashed!
The battle erupted, silencing the entire wilderness.
Not a sound stirred.
In the darkness, astonishing Heavenly Light Force surged from their bodies, like twin bolts of lightning tearing through the night, illuminating the desolate landscape as they collided fiercely.
Yu Zhuohan retreated swiftly, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
The brief exchange of fists and palms had revealed a pressure as heavy as a mountain.
The Cui Clan remained composed, showing no signs of concern.
The Lu Family, who had come solely for entertainment, now wore expressions of surprise. It seemed Qin Ming was indeed an extraordinary prodigy!
Lu Yuzhi stared intently, genuinely astonished.
She had never imagined that the Qin Ming she had encountered in Jin Rui City possessed such astonishing comprehension and might even be an extraordinary prodigy.
With such foundational strength, he undoubtedly qualified to join the Jade Pure Lineage!
"How could he have grown this strong in such a short time?" Zheng Maorong's face darkened, his expression grim.
Amidst the Night Mist, Qin Ming stood calmly, his tall frame like an imposing mountain, radiating oppressive power as he advanced on his opponent.
He knew this opponent was formidable, having withstood his punch without injury and still exuding confidence.
Qin Ming assessed the Silver-Haired Youth's extraordinary physique.
With a strength exceeding 8,000 catties, he was practically an extraordinary individual. If he cultivated his body using the Six Imperial Heart Scripture and the Tathagata Scripture, he would undoubtedly ascend to that realm swiftly.
Yu Zhuohan tilted his head back in the Night Mist, his entire being becoming translucent.
Mysterious patterns seemed to spread and expand within his flesh and blood, causing the Silver Light radiating from his body to intensify dramatically.
Regardless of Yu Zhuohan's hidden reserves, Qin Ming remained fearless.
He strode forward, traversing the uneven wasteland in a single step, closing the distance in an instant and pressing his palm forward.
Silver-white flames erupted around Yu Zhuohan, transforming his aura completely.
This time, he dared to meet Qin Ming's attack head-on, unleashing a terrifying fist strike that crackled with energy.
As expected, Yu Zhuohan's strength had surged dramatically.
He exchanged blows with Qin Ming at lightning speed, their fists colliding repeatedly.
Earth Qi seemed to rise from beneath his feet, while his body bathed in fiery light.
Qin Ming was deeply surprised.
At this stage, Awakeners could barely absorb Earth Essence.
Had Yu Zhuohan also cultivated the Wuji Scripture? Combined with his mastery of Fire Dao fist techniques, the combination proved remarkably powerful.
In the next moment, the ground beneath Qin Ming's feet trembled as Earth Essence surged upward. His Wuji Fist erupted, striking with lightning speed.
The two clashed like colliding meteorites, erupting in a dazzling blaze of fire.
The Heavenly Light Force surged violently, multiple earth-shattering collisions shattering massive boulders and exploding ancient trees across the desolate landscape.
With a deafening boom, Yu Zhuohan was sent flying backward, crashing through a century-old tree.
He staggered to his feet, gasping for breath.
Across the night sky, a brilliant arc of light streaked through the darkness. Qin Ming gave him no respite, closing in with blinding speed.
Unleashing the Li Fire Force, his right palm glowed like a miniature sun, pressing forward with overwhelming force. It resembled a golden crow scorching the heavens, its blinding radiance obliterating the Night Mist.
Another earth-shattering boom shook the area, sending sand and stone flying as ancient trees shattered.
Figures blurred in the chaos as Qin Ming relentlessly pursued Yu Zhuohan.
The Cui Clan members exchanged uneasy glances, though they weren't yet panicked.
One of them remarked, "This Qin Ming... he's unbelievably strong for an Awakener. To calmly suppress such a formidable opponent... he's no ordinary fighter."
The Wang Clan members turned to Cui He, Wang Caiwei's elder brother asking, "Exactly how many awakenings has Qin Ming undergone?"
Many sensed something was amiss.
Yu Zhuohan, practically an extraordinary individual himself, was being decisively overwhelmed by Qin Ming.
As far as they knew, Qin Ming had embarked on the Path of Awakening less than half a year ago.
During this period, a red line loomed: Awakeners were forbidden from undergoing awakenings more than five times.
Meng Xinghai smiled. "Qin Ming is a fortunate young man. Back when he was a hunter trying to avoid starvation, he unearthed a Void Spiritual Bamboo Shoot on Black and White Mountain. After consuming it, he underwent a purification process, freeing him from the five-awakening limit."
Many were stunned.
Could such luck truly exist?
A single Void Spiritual Bamboo Shoot was priceless, capable of neutralizing toxins, curses, and other maladies—a rare and precious medicinal treasure.
Of course, if allowed to mature into Void Spiritual Bamboo, its value would skyrocket.
No consumption would be necessary; simply carrying it would continuously purify one's flesh and blood.
Meng Xinghai had no choice but to fabricate this story.
The truth was far too alarming.
Even he, upon learning that Qin Ming had undergone six awakenings and possessed arm strength of nine thousand catties, felt the situation was utterly surreal, leaving him utterly bewildered.
If word of this spread, he feared that terrifyingly powerful elders—not just experts on the Path of Awakening, but those who would dissect Qin Ming's body—would descend upon him.
Even if Li Qingyun were nearby, he wouldn't be able to protect Qin Ming when that time came.
Wang Caiwei's elder brother glanced indifferently at Cui He and remarked, "He started later on the Path of Awakening, yet he's already stronger than Cui Chongxuan, whom the Cui Clan has been 'nourishing' with the Six Imperial Heart Scripture. If this continues, will he surpass Cui Chonghe, who possesses near-Immortal potential?"
Cui Shuning bristled. "How can someone from the Path of Awakening compare to a Near-Immortal Seed from Beyond the Mortal Realm? Even if he's the most exceptional extraordinary individual, he's still just a Divine Armor Guard—or at best, a slightly higher-ranking follower—before Chonghe. That's his limit!"
Cui He chimed in, disliking the Wang Clan's words.
"His ceiling is fixed; he's reached an insurmountable barrier. How many Awakeners are there? Yet how many ultimately become Founding Ancestors like Heaven-Shattering, Tathagata, or the Six Imperial? Even those sect leaders only achieved their realms by grinding through the years..."
Meng Xinghai interrupted rudely, "Enough talk! Are the Yi Mu Scripture and Scripture of Everlasting Green Life fragments ready?"
"The outcome is far from certain!" Cui Shuning retorted, her face veiled by the Night Mist, yet her expression remained chillingly cold.
As if in response to their words, Qin Ming's body surged with Wind Force, allowing him to move as if gliding through the air.
He stepped lightly on the fresh wild grass, pursuing the already-knocked-back Yu Zhuohan.
The Li Fire Force erupted from him like raging flames, scorching the night sky and sending his opponent flying once more.
The group of youths watched in stunned silence.
How could this former acquaintance, once exiled to a remote corner and nearly crushed into oblivion, have risen to such heights through his own strength?
"You're too arrogant and overconfident!" Cui Shuning shouted at the Silver-Haired Youth, sensing the tide turning.
Yu Zhuohan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood in the desolate wilderness.
"I'm not just helping you fight," he said. "I'm also sparring, honing my skills."
In the next moment, the strange phenomena surrounding him intensified. Silver flames flowed visibly from his body, bathing him in an blinding light.
His crystalline silver hair seemed to ignite, and every pore on his body pulsed with intense, fiery radiance.
Amidst the thick night mist, he stood like a burning silver moon!
"A sorcerer from Beyond the Mortal Realm?" some murmured in surprise.
The youths, however, were utterly astonished.
"He's from the Esoteric Sect," someone declared, revealing the Silver-Haired Youth's true origins. "And he's incredibly rare—an Innate Ability User!"
This was truly astonishing.
Yu Zhuohan's physical body was already approaching that of an extraordinary individual, yet his greatest expertise lay in the techniques of the Esoteric Sect.
This young powerhouse clearly had an extraordinary background.
Qin Ming, fearless and resolute, pressed forward with a calm and steady demeanor, showing no concern whatsoever for the domain his opponent hailed from.
Yu Zhuohan stood radiant within the burning silver moon.
With a violent wave of his hand, a crescent-shaped wheel of light shot forth, slashing toward Qin Ming.
Without pausing his advance, Qin Ming merely tilted his head slightly to evade the attack, his body surging with the powerful fluctuations of Heavenly Light Force as he continued his relentless approach.
Yu Zhuohan's hands carved through the air, unleashing a dense barrage of fiery sparks that coalesced into silver blades wreathed in flames, hurtling forward with scorching speed.
Qin Ming remained undeterred, showing no sign of stopping. Yet, a golden aura now blazed around him, enveloping his entire body, the Heavenly Light Force extending three inches beyond his skin.
His protective technique, the Golden Light Shield, had fully expanded.
Every fiery blade struck the Golden Light Shield, producing faint metallic clangs that echoed through the air, yet none could breach the impenetrable defense.
Yu Zhuohan rapidly shifted his hand seals, conjuring a silver spear that shimmered with blinding radiance, as if carrying a flame capable of incinerating the night sky.
He hurled it forward with explosive force.
Qin Ming remained motionless.
The Golden Light Shield dissipated, and golden threads surged across his hands, extending three inches beyond his skin. He clapped his palms together, catching the blazing spiritual spear with a resounding bang.
With a violent twist of his hands, he crushed the spear, shattering it into dazzling streams of light that vanished into the night sky with a thunderous boom.
Qin Ming advanced steadily, closing in on his opponent like an approaching Great Mountain.
A spectator sighed, "Composed and unhurried, he effortlessly neutralizes the attacks of such a powerful Innate Ability User from the Esoteric Sect. The Night Gazette has been touting this 'youthful grandmaster' aura lately, but this young man truly embodies that presence!"
Qin Ming's left fist and right palm erupted with blinding Golden Radiance, resembling two golden suns blazing across the night sky, radiating divine light that suppressed his opponent.
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END OF CHAPTER
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