The Great Pioneering Era

Qin Ming was training the Spirit Sparrow and hadn't yet sent Tang Xumi's Consciousness Spirit Light into the fiery red bird's body, planning to "arrange" it when they entered the Spirit Cave. "You still have the mood to tease a bird?" Meng Xinghai arrived and found him surprisingly leisurely.

"I am emulating the ancients, maintaining composure in the face of great events," Qin Ming said.

Meng Xinghai cautioned, "Be careful tonight. Only those of you are allowed to stay in Luofu Immortal Town; those of us who are not involved must remain outside." Qin Ming's expression turned serious upon hearing this, and he asked, "Won't any of the Beyond-Mundane Disciples cause trouble in town?"

Meng Xinghai said, "Logically speaking, they wouldn't dare, but we need to guard against unexpected events."

"Among all the cultivators in Luofu Immortal Town, I'm probably the one with the lowest cultivation level. I really need to be on guard." Qin Ming gripped the Mutton Fat Jade Iron Saber. "It's alright, let Qing Yue protect you," Meng Xinghai said with a smile.

Qin Ming didn't want to get into that, so he asked, "Uncle Meng, among Qing Yue's competitors and those Golden Armor Guard, which powerful figures should we pay special attention to?"

"The Core Disciple participating in this competition should have all reached the second realm— the Yellow Court —but most of them are relatively new to it," Meng Xinghai informed him. He added that Qin Ming didn't need to worry about these people; Li Qingyue could handle them herself.

Qin Ming sighed, "Look at their names, Mind Fast and Yellow Court, they all have classical allusions and origins. And look at our path, who named these realms?" Meng Xinghai replied, "Our names were all chosen based on the actual circumstances of the time."

"Pragmatic!" That was the only way Qin Ming could praise the Old Ancestor on this path.

Meng Xinghai sighed, "In the early years, after the Solar Yang disappeared, the Fire Spring appeared, giant beasts roamed freely, and dangerous and mysterious plants were everywhere, almost threatening the extinction of our race. During this period, the predecessors who forged the New Life Path made a tremendous contribution, relying on their bodies to constantly mutate to fight against the giant beasts and eradicate a large number of terrifying plants."

Therefore, the name "New Life" is indeed very meaningful, representing the New Life of the entire ethnic group during that period.

"As for the title of 'Outer Saint,' it was indeed fitting for that era. After multiple New Life, people reached a critical point, and the Heavenly Light began to burst out of their bodies. When fighting against giant beasts with strange abilities, they were no longer so passive and powerless. They could also kill unknown creatures, cut down terrifying plants as large as mountains, and protect a region. They deserved the title of 'Saint.'"

Therefore, the term "Outer Saint" has been used for a long time.

All the changes are due to the emergence of ancient methods.

As humanity gained a foothold, various religious texts from the past were rediscovered, and gradually, those Beyond the Mundane People and masters of the Esoteric Sect emerged. At this point, the term "Outer Saint" gradually lost its prestige and was even ridiculed as "nephew."

Most of the time, people refer to it by its External Manifestation, which is consistent with the state of Heavenly Light Release outward.

"Were all those dangerous monsters, the mountain-sized plants, the unseen creatures, and the unpredictable ' Godlike ' eliminated?" Qin Ming was quite interested in that period.

Unfortunately, there is little record of these things in ancient books.

Meng Xinghai shook his head and said, "How could we possibly eradicate it all? You don't think that the Night Mist World you've heard about is the whole thing, do you? Actually, it's just a corner, which we've carved out." "A corner?" Qin Ming was truly surprised. Even after regaining his memories, he didn't know any of this. Back in the Cui Household, no one had ever discussed this topic with him.

Most importantly, the upper echelons seem to be intentionally concealing the truth of the world, and the records in various documents are very vague.

Meng Xinghai nodded and said, "The night fog is endless, and the dark realm is boundless; we have no idea how vast it truly is. Although we have stabilized and seem to have the upper hand, our knowledge of the depths of the Night Mist World is still limited, so we will not explore further for the time being. If we were to continue fighting and advance, it would be difficult to predict what kind of creatures we would encounter. No one knows what terrifying beings lie ahead; we might even encounter near-god-like beings."

He continued, "We are fortunate to live in this era, having already grown strong and temporarily taken the initiative. However, as the population continues to expand, Advanced Fire Spring will not be enough, and when giant cities need to expand, we will probably have to engage in Great Wilderness Expansion. When that time comes, don't be surprised if you see any bizarre species or discover any strange things. It's not impossible to glimpse certain kingdoms even in the depths of the Night Mist World."

"Great Wilderness Expansion, Great Pioneering Era..." Qin Ming murmured. Such a title, upon first hearing, would stir the blood of a young man, making him want to participate in such a momentous event. Clearly, against this backdrop, many exceptional individuals would rise to prominence, rapidly growing into pillars of their respective paths.

Undoubtedly, it will be an era of heroes and brilliant stars.

However, upon closer examination, it's clear that if Great Wilderness Expansion War were to be launched in the future, and the Great Pioneering Era were to return, many people would inevitably die.

Glory, splendor, blood... many imaginable scenes, accompanied by the rise of some powerful figures, make the event even more meaningful and profound. However, many young people's dreams will also be shattered, becoming insignificant bones on the road of Great Wilderness Expansion and Great Pioneering Era.

Meng Xinghai said, "It's too early to talk about these things now. The higher-ups won't say it publicly either, because they're all extremely cautious. After all, nobody knows what lies deep within the vast Night Mist World. We haven't been able to find out anything after all these years."

The two ended that topic and started talking about the practical problems at hand.

"Each Core Disciple can bring four Golden Armor Guard into the arena. Among them are indeed some formidable figures, such as Tan Yu from Moonfall City, who is rumored to have already fused more than ten types of Heavenly Light Force during his New Life stage."

"More than ten kinds." Qin Ming calculated that he had already mastered more than ten kinds, and many of them were quite powerful composite techniques. Among them, the fusion of two Extraordinary Art made his Heavenly Light Force transform even more violently.

He was pondering that his strength might not be as great as those others, after all, his cultivation level was still low, but if he used the Heavenly Light Force to enhance his abilities, he should be able to give some of them a run for their money.

"A young man named Chen Shuhang has mastered the Five Colors Thunder Fire Force, a renowned and powerful technique capable of injuring even those of similar strength from Beyond the Mundane People." Meng Xinghai pointed out another dangerous individual.

Then, with a serious expression, he said, "There are even rumors that Registered Disciple of that ancient lineage that has been sealed off for two hundred years has emerged." "What kind of lineage has such a powerful background?" Qin Ming asked in surprise.

Meng Xinghai solemnly said, "He has mastered the Jade Clarity Force, which is unfathomably profound. It should be no weaker than the Sky Supporting Force and the Tathagata Force. They are a reclusive sect, quite low-key." He then added, "Fortunately, he is only Registered Disciple, so he probably hasn't learned the true Jade Clarity Force yet."

Meng Xinghai took a sip of tea and said, "Hmm, there's a rumor that someone from the secluded Five Elements Palace has also appeared, and a young man has been invited to help. If he has truly mastered the Five Elements Force, then he is indeed very troublesome, and quite a formidable and dangerous figure among your generation."

Qin Ming said, "I have a feeling that these reclusive sects are starting to become active. Could it be that the great expansion period for each sect is about to arrive? Are the figures on the various Spirit Mountain shrouded in night mist all about to descend from the mountains?"

Meng Xinghai said, "Although there is this trend, this time it is mainly the Beyond-Mundane Core Disciples of the Fangwai Sect who are competing for Near Immortal Object, which is of great importance. It can be said that everyone is using their own Divine Ability to help others, so it is understandable."

He then commented on several other people, including Tathagata's Abandoned Disciple and Cui Chongxuan, all of whom had mastered the extraordinary Heavenly Light Force. Based on this, Qin Ming assessed his opponents.

Meng Xinghai reassured him, saying, "Don't feel pressured. You don't need to take action. Besides, apart from the small group of specially invited people, the actual Golden Armor Guard are fairly average in strength."

According to him, this age is when young people are full of vigor and ambition; who would want to be someone's follower?

In contrast, the Outer Saint who appear here are all people who are lost and hopeless about the future, and are forced to make this choice.

"Aside from a few temporary spies, the truly exceptional individuals are all participating in the annual grand test and will not give up their future at this stage."

Meng Xinghai sighed softly, "Of these geniuses who participated in the grand examination, some will join the Beyond the Mundane years later and become Jade Armor Guard. The more powerful ones will have to endure for a longer period of time to eventually become Divine Armor Guard."

Qin Ming was utterly speechless. So, everyone on this path ultimately becomes a follower of others? The more powerful someone is, the more they compromise later, and eventually they have to accept the harsh reality. "Unless you reach Major Realm like External Manifestation or Spiritual Field and can still break through rapidly, can you endure ten years of arduous cultivation just to advance a small step?" "There should be a way." Qin Ming pondered, realizing that the Overlord's strength wasn't growing too slowly.

Meng Xinghai left; he could not stay in Luofu Immortal Town for long.

Li Qingyue has returned, having received guidance from her elders in the sect.

"Only those who are still competing remain in town; tonight may not be peaceful," Qin Ming said.

"They won't dare to bother us, so you can sleep in the room next to mine." Li Qingyue said with a slight smile, but her confidence was palpable. As one of the most popular figures this time, she was very confident.

She had retrieved the golden armor for Qin Ming and introduced him to three other people; the two men and one woman had been following her for over a year.

Aside from Qin Ming, Li Qingyue didn't ask anyone else for help; she only brought her original three Golden Armor Guard. "Let's go for a walk," she said.

Qin Ming was surprised and said, "At this critical juncture, we still need to go outside. Shouldn't we keep a low profile?"

Dressed in white, Li Qingyue's black hair shone with a lustrous sheen, and her exquisite, flawless face radiated light, like a Divine Flower blooming against the cold wind in the snow, fresh and radiant. She smiled and said, "It should be that they fear me, dread me, not that I am wary of them. If I didn't have this confidence and self-assurance, I wouldn't have come to compete for that legendary item."

"Okay!" Qin Ming stood up and followed her out.

It is now evening, and the sunset paints the night mist red. The Fire Spring in Luofu Immortal Town flows slowly, creating a distinction between day and night. There are many ancient sites in Luofu Immortal Town, all dating back thousands of years.

Other Core Disciple also walked confidently along the ancient streets, each accompanied by a group of people. A group of people, all Beyond-Mundane Disciples, quickly gathered around Li Qingyue as well.

Soon, Qin Ming learned that these Beyond-Mundane Disciples, centered around Li Qingyue, would all take the initiative to help her after entering the Spirit Cave.

These are the so-called Core Disciple, who already possess sufficient prestige. Other disciples who feel they have little chance of success will actively gravitate towards them. In fact, these people have already privately contacted Li Qingyue and can be considered her future core group in the Beyond the Mundane.

In fact, this can be seen as a mutual fulfillment. These Beyond-Mundane Disciples know their own limitations, so they will naturally choose to attach themselves to an outstanding figure destined for rise to prominence early on. Cui Chonghe has already left the ancient town; he is not allowed to stay overnight.

The junior brother he was supporting appeared; he was a disciple of one of his senior uncles, and his talent was very high. After receiving the help of the Yin Yang Great Medicine, his strength increased significantly. At this moment, Cui Chongxuan and the Golden Armor Guard carefully selected by the Cui Household were standing beside the young man.

Qin Ming realized that the Core Disciple with real strength had stepped forward to flex their muscles, giving confidence to the Beyond-Mundane Disciples relied on them. Sure enough, he saw Li Qingxu again, but what caught his attention was the golden-armored youth holding a Great Spear beside Li Qingxu.

Qin Ming's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Li Qingxu's teacher had passed on the Overlord's legacy to the Golden Armor Guard of this lineage?

"The Overlord's legacy, while not difficult to master in the early stages, can you truly grasp its essence? It's for those who have reached the Spirit Field Realm!" Qin Ming wondered inwardly. Li Qingxu was also accompanied by many Beyond-Mundane Disciples.

Afterwards, Qin Ming saw some familiar faces from the Beyond the Mundane, such as Lu Zhenyi and Chen Bingyan, who seemed to be sticking together for mutual support.

Wang Caiwei also appeared. As always, she was graceful and slender, with flowing black hair, quite radiant, and loved to laugh. She was accompanied by several people, including four extraordinary young masters specially invited by the Wang Family for her. They all possessed the unique Heavenly Light Force and had an astonishing lineage.

"Brother Li!" Tang Xumi, Core Disciple, greeted him with a simple and honest smile. He was surrounded by many followers.

Qin Ming flashed a bright smile, revealing his pearly white teeth, and thought to himself, "You bird-chasing boy, you're really dishonest. You're still pretending to be innocent." Core Disciple appeared one after another, but Qin Ming only recognized a few of them.

"Li Qingxu, are your cousins among your Golden Armor Guard? Is that Li Qinglei among them? I heard he got kicked in the butt recently and is crying about it?" It has to be said that even in the Beyond the Mundane, there are all sorts of people among the Core Disciple, and now someone is deliberately stirring up trouble and making fun of Li Qingxu.

Moreover, the person who spoke was actually a young girl.

"Luo Qingge, you really can't hold back anymore? You want to fight me now?" Li Qingxu looked at her, his "arch-enemy." At the same time, he muttered to himself, "The one who bullied my cousin was someone I crippled with three blows, but now he seems to be showing signs of improvement. That's a bit unexpected."

Li Qingyue suddenly spoke up, "Li Qingxu, with me here, you won't obtain Near Immortal Object. The person you attacked back then was an old friend of mine. More than two years have passed, it's time to settle this score. See you in the Spirit Cave!"