Without Stopping

Qin Ming stood there, not feeling embarrassed at all for not being selected, maintaining a very peaceful state of mind.

Xu Yueping was anxious for him, but couldn't change anything. Yang Yongqing also felt it was a pity for him, having joked with him before that some noble ladies would come down during the mountain patrol operation, telling him to perform well.

Wei Zhirou was very good at talking, warmly greeting Qin Ming and praising him generously, saying she also wanted to invite him to join the operation, but Cao Long and Mu Qing wouldn't agree, and he could look for her in Red Haze City after the mountain patrol ended.

Qin Ming naturally didn't put on airs, responding with a smile, saying that if he left the area, Red Haze City would be his first choice.

"I choose Qin Ming," Mu Qing said.

Qin Ming's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He hadn't felt anything about not being selected earlier, remaining very calm, but now he felt a bit uneasy.

It was one thing not knowing whether the person in front of him was male or female, but now it was hard to say if they were even human. Going into the mountains with them made him feel a bit apprehensive.

He suspected that Mu Qing might be some kind of advanced life form who had joined Red Haze City, otherwise, no matter how much a human body transformed, it shouldn't grow a furry golden tail, right?

What could he do? In this situation, there was no hesitation. He readily agreed.

Mu Qing was very satisfied with him, seeing that he only had a firewood knife, and asked, "You lack a suitable weapon. What kind are you used to?"

Qin Ming said, "I haven't decided yet."

Mu Qing thought for a moment and said, "Some monsters in the mountains have tough scales and thick skin, and ordinary swords might not be able to cut through them. I'll give you a long-handled hammer. If you use it well, it's very destructive and can smash heads with one blow. But it's a heavy weapon, and I don't know if you'll be able to handle it easily."

Mu Qing beckoned to the people behind him, and someone immediately brought over a Black Gold long-handled hammer.

After Qin Ming took it, he casually swung it a few times, leaving behind afterimages and creating a buzzing sound as it cut through the air. He seemed to be skillfully twirling a spear, yet also dancing with a sword nimbly.

"Good!" Mu Qing nodded, seeing that he had a lot of strength.

Wei Zhirou was slightly shocked. She had a high standard, and just from the way he effortlessly wielded the heavy long-handled hammer, his strength was probably already approaching the 600 jin mark.

She had previously had people investigate the only two New Life youths who had established a Golden Foundation, and had always thought Xu Yueping was exaggerating about Qin Ming, but now it seemed he wasn't.

However, she didn't feel it was a pity. The Zhou Wubing she had chosen had injured his vitality in his early years, but with the New Life, his origin was gradually recovering, and his potential was very high. It was estimated that after stabilization, he could carry at least 600 jin, which was truly considered a gifted talent, especially since even Xu Kong valued him and personally taught him.

Cao Long was indifferent, as he was following the Giant Spiritual God route, possessing innate divine strength! Mu Qing said, "I'll also give you a short sword, in case you need a sharp close-quarters weapon if you're engaged in close combat with Heterogeneous."

"Thank you!" Qin Ming took it. Now he finally had a better weapon than the Mountain Patrol Group.

Next, Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing quickly chose their people.

Old Man Liu was over seventy years old. At first, no one chose him, but he volunteered, saying he was so familiar with the mountains that it was like entering his own backyard. Then he became highly sought after, and all three parties actually wanted him.

"I want to be in the same team as Little Qin. We're from the same village, so we're familiar with each other and can take care of each other," Old Man Liu said.

Soon, the Cao Family, Wei Family, and Mu Family finished selecting their people.

"Everyone, the higher-ups will soon be holding a final negotiation with the mysterious Heterogeneous in the mountains, and for now, we can only wait quietly."

Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing were to take their people back to Silver Vine Town, where they were currently staying, and told the selected New Life to go back and make all the necessary preparations.

Afterward, people saw dozens more people appearing in the dense forest, leaving with the three teams, all of them being strong young men wearing armor.

On the way back, Xu Yueping sighed, "It seems the people from Red Haze City really just see us as guides. They act polite and courteous, but they don't think much of our strength at all."

Yang Yongqing said, "The youths in those three teams are indeed here to temper themselves, while those dozens of experienced young men are the main force for the three families' mountain patrol and exploration of the mysterious lands."

Old Man Liu was open-minded, asking what they could compare with when the others had mastered advanced Willpower Skill? Xu Yueping shook his head and said, "I've been to Red Haze City, and only a very few core members of the nobility have mastered complete advanced scriptures."

According to his judgment, the so-called generous rewards this time could not possibly involve divulging a clan's secret, as that would shake their foundation.

"I reckon it's more likely they've collected high-level classic fragments from the outside world, not their own family's heritage. Of course, for those in the New Life realm, it's definitely enough to cultivate to completion."

Yang Yongqing yearned, saying, "How rare is a high-level Willpower Skill? Even if it's incomplete, just recording the path for the New Life realm is enough to drive people crazy."

Qin Ming murmured, "If high-level scriptures are so precious, and the three major families of Red Haze City are willing to take them out, it shows how much they value the Smoky Haze Illuminated Land that appeared in the mountains. What secrets are hidden?"

"Wrong, there are more than a dozen families coming in total," Old Man Liu corrected.

Soon after, they returned to the village.

As Shallow Night neared its end, Qin Ming carried a large piece of donkey meat to Old Man Liu's door, saying he was there to freeload a meal, but in reality, he wanted to ask about the Blood Bamboo Forest.

Old Man Liu lived at the entrance of the village, closer to the Fire Spring. In the night, the gray-tiled houses were tinged with a faint red glow.

As soon as Qin Ming entered the courtyard gate, he saw a yellow dog dart out of its kennel, as tall as an adult's shoulder, its entire body covered in yellow fur flowing with a bright luster. It bared its snow-white fangs.

Qin Ming immediately thought of the Golden Mastiff from the Mountain Patrol Group and couldn't help but take a few more glances at the yellow dog. Its stout and strong appearance made it look like it would be good eating.

The yellow dog seemed to sense something. It had been baring its teeth just a moment ago, but in the next instant, it suddenly tucked its tail between its legs and plunged into its kennel, refusing to come out.

"Little Qin, why are you bringing meat when you come to my house?" Although Old Man Liu was old, he was still very sharp and appeared in the courtyard at the first moment.

Qin Ming said with a smile, "Grandpa Liu, how about I trade you two Saberhorn Deer for this yellow dog you're raising?"

"Woof, woof..." The big dog in the kennel barked, wagging its tail and tilting its head to look at its owner, as if it was pleading.

"This old dog has a strong spirituality. It's very afraid of you, which means you've developed a murderous aura from hunting in the mountains recently," Old Man Liu said.

At the same time, he shook his head with a smile, saying, "I won't trade with you. This dog is about to mutate, and it's actually benefiting our family, bringing back wild game from time to time."

"It's so spiritual?" Qin Ming was surprised.

Old Man Liu stroked his goatee and said, "Of course. Two months ago, it was so old that it could barely walk. It disappeared on its own for a few days, and after it came back, it started to get better. It will definitely mutate before Yang Yongqing's Black Mountain Goat."

"Dogs return to the mountains when they get old, either to die in the mountains or to regain their strength. It seems there's a real-life example of that," Qin Ming said in amazement, staring at the big yellow dog again and again.

Old Man Liu chuckled and said, "Speaking of which, you nearly died when you fell into a crack in the ground the last time you went into the mountains. After a serious illness, you quickly experienced New Life. It's a bit like a dog returning to the mountains when it's old and coming back alive."

Qin Ming really wanted to punch him. This old codger really didn't know how to talk, his mouth was a bit mean. No wonder he didn't marry the prettiest girl back then.

Old Man Liu said in a low voice, "That crack you found is worth paying attention to."

The major families of Red Haze City were all looking for those special nodes, which must have a deeper meaning.

Qin Ming shook his head and said, "Without a second New Life, I don't plan to approach that area."

He took the opportunity to ask Old Man Liu, "Grandpa Liu, you know so much about the legends of various Spiritual Objects in the mountains. Tell me about them."

"You little rascal, I knew you had something to ask me," Old Man Liu said with a smile, pointing at him, but soon became serious again, saying, "If Spiritual Objects were so easy to obtain, why would I have wasted my time until now? You've built a Golden Foundation and will definitely experience a second New Life. There's no need to take risks at all."

Qin Ming said, "Didn't you say that young people should have vigor? It's not worth living if you don't act recklessly when you're young. I want to experience a second New Life as soon as possible and see the scenery from a higher place."

"Did I say those words?" Old Man Liu looked at him suspiciously. He wasn't drunk when they drank yesterday, only half a cup of spicy old wine each.

"More or less," Qin Ming said with a smile.

"When you're young, you really should have grand ambitions, because dreams diminish with age year by year, so you have to start high," Old Man Liu said.

The cold wind whipped snowflakes against the window. Inside the house, the Liu family's dining table was laden with steaming dishes, mainly donkey meat. Qin Ming chatted with Old Man Liu late into the night, learning the names of some Spiritual Objects, all located in extremely dangerous areas, and also finding out where the Blood Bamboo Forest was.

Qin Ming himself had suspected that the Blood Bamboo Forest that Feng Yi'an, Shao Chengfeng, and the others were eyeing was likely within the Mountain Patrol Group's area of responsibility.

Sure enough, Old Man Liu mentioned that the Blood Bamboo Forest was only six miles away from the Mountain Patrol Group's stronghold.

That place was inhabited by a type of snake, its entire body a crimson red, as if carved from red agate, its flesh and snake gall containing a rich vitality and spirituality.

But this snake was very dangerous, even deadly. It possessed a potent venom, and even a New Life cultivator couldn't withstand a single bite.

"If you're lucky enough to catch one, you need to chop off its head and remove the venom glands, otherwise it's not a tonic, but equivalent to a death potion."

Old Man Liu explained that in addition to its venom, this snake's body was as hard as iron, its strength was extraordinary, and it could leap and bound. Even a small snake only a few feet long was more dangerous than many mountain beasts, able to shoot out like an iron arrow, instantly piercing its opponent's body.

That's why some people called it Blood Snake, and others called it Arrow Snake.

If you discovered a Blood Snake longer than ten feet in the mountains, the best choice was to flee immediately.

Old Man Liu recalled that the snake den had existed since he was young. Decades had passed, and there must already be secondarily mutated Blood Snakes.

Qin Ming said, "Let's just hope there isn't an even more powerful old snake."

"Swords and sabers might not even be able to cut through a Blood Snake; they'll just spark. Among creatures of the same level, it's extremely fierce, with almost no weaknesses," Old Man Liu said, suddenly standing up, nearly overturning the table, startling his wife and almost making his youngest grandson cry.

"Old geezer, what's wrong with you?" the old woman glared at him.

Old Man Liu's face was flushed, as if he had regained his youth. He waved his arms excitedly and said, "How could I have forgotten this? Now there's a problem in the mountains. If the Fire Spring in the Blood Bamboo Forest goes out, all the Blood Snakes there will be frozen stiff. Wouldn't that mean anyone could pick them up?"

He wished he could sprout wings and fly into the mountains to take a look.

Qin Ming immediately said, "How about you and I go into the mountains tonight to pick up some spiritual Blood Snakes?"

"Good!" Old Man Liu nodded vigorously, but then he suddenly seemed to remember something, and sat down dejectedly, sighing, "I've already realized it. Feng Yi'an, Shao Chengfeng, and those grandsons are guarding the mountains, eagerly hoping for a second New Life. How could they not think of the Spiritual Objects within their own territory?"

The old man looked as if he had lost the will to live, his white joy and excitement gone. He sat there slapping his thigh until it was almost bruised, angrily cursing the Mountain Patrol Group people.

"Those dogs are really lucky. Is there going to be one or two more people like Fu Entao? They've encountered such a good opportunity. I really want to give them a ladle of golden juice, pouring it all over their faces."

Qin Ming had been non-stop this day. In the middle of the night, he braved the wind and snow to enter the mountains, using a wood-chopping knife to kill Fu Entao, Feng Yi'an, and others. Then he went to see the nobles of Red Haze City, and then listened to Old Man Liu boasting all night, talking about his various mysterious sights and bizarre experiences in the mountains.

Qin Ming was already a little tired when he returned home, and he soon fell asleep.

The next day, he woke up early, quickly finished breakfast, and went straight into the mountains.