Near Perfection [Two Chapters Combined]
Cao Qianqiu breaks the limitations of this place, determined to stifle the young prodigy before him.
The Heavenly Fiend Mirror reacted immediately, as if a blazing sun had exploded, with dazzling Golden Haze shooting downwards. Cao Qianqiu seemed to be traversing time and space, managing to evade this divine punishment.
In this mountainous region, large sections of rock were torn apart like paper, turning into fragments that scattered everywhere.
Cao Qianqiu's silver hair fluttered, his Pure Yang Feather Robe rustled, and a killing intent rose in his heart, his power rapidly increasing.
His gaze was like divine flames, awe-inspiring and terrifying. Then, two golden rays shot out, transforming into tangible Immortal Sword that rang out with a clear, ringing sound, aiming to kill the youth in front of him whose talent seemed to surpass that of the Ancestor.
A Broken Mirror with a missing corner appeared in the sky, engraved with intricate patterns, gleaming brightly, but it was covered by white mist and could not be seen clearly.
In an instant, a great storm raged, and words filled the void, descending with Golden Haze that crushed the two Immortal Sword formed from gazes.
"How dare you obstruct my actions?!" Cao Qianqiu waved his sleeves, his silver hair flying, his eyes flashing like lightning as he inscribed runes.
In an instant, the entire void roared and trembled, as if it were about to collapse at any moment.
It must be said that Cao Qianqiu, as a notorious figure on the Immortal Path who has dominated the Night Mist World for so many years, truly possesses extraordinary magical abilities. He is merely a ray of Pure Yang Light, yet he has achieved such a feat.
However, the origin of the Heavenly Fiend Mirror is unknown, and it is suspected to be related to the creatures recorded in the <Records of Kunlun Godlike Beings>. In an instant, it bombarded the Golden Haze.
In an instant, it was as if Ten Suns Across the Sky, Golden Crow were crying out. In the blink of an eye, Cao Qianqiu's power plummeted, and the words he had carved in the void were erased.
After all, he was not his true form; for a mere wisp of spiritual light to possess such power was already a heaven-defying ability. With a boom, he himself was also struck several times, and then engulfed by the Golden Haze.
"You dare to oppose me? Do you want to lure out my true form and destroy this Secret Realm?" Cao Qianqiu kept teleporting, but he couldn't change anything.
Wherever he appears, he is overwhelmed by the beams of light emanating from the Broken Mirror; even Pure Yang Spirit Body cannot withstand such an attack.
Amidst the hissing sound, he felt as if he were being eroded, his Consciousness Spirit Light shattering, burning, and rapidly dimming.
At the critical moment, he separated a ray of light and flew towards Li Qingxu, wanting to tell him some truth and take the news out.
At this final moment, Cao Qianqiu, with his Pure Yang Body, sensed something in the the Unseen: that the boy, who seemed to surpass the Ancestor's talent, might stir up endless storms in the future and be harmful to him.
However, the Heavenly Fiend Mirror acted according to the rules. Although mechanical and dull, it had an extremely strong execution ability and coldly and ruthlessly erased this faint light.
"Qingxu, your master..." Cao Qianqiu transmitted his voice, but his faint figure suddenly exploded.
"You're very good... If my true form were to arrive, let alone a remnant like you, even if you were completely intact, you would be utterly destroyed!" Lao Cao's faint figure reappeared.
Qin Ming was deeply shaken. Cao Qianqiu's Pure Yang Consciousness Spirit Light had almost acquired immortal qualities, and even after such an attack, it could still reappear and was not completely destroyed.
From this perspective, the Ancestor walk at the forefront of the Immortal Path are extremely terrifying and difficult to destroy, requiring multiple attacks to eliminate them. "The local rules protect the descendants who dare to forge new paths and annihilate all invaders." The indifferent voice of the Heavenly Fiend Mirror rang out.
"Master!" Li Qingxu had never seen his teacher in such a wretched and tragic state, being executed. The next moment, he vanished from this place, landing in the Secret Realm, where he was sent away by the Heavenly Fiend Mirror.
Qin Ming was somewhat dissatisfied, but helpless, as all those who embarked on the journey were protected by this place.
Just now, when the extraordinary Cao Qianqiu tried to kill him, he immediately drew out the Heavenly Fiend Realm to intercept him and eliminate him in the opposite direction.
The Broken Mirror hung in the air, and another Golden Haze fell. Cao Qianqiu's immortal qualities were severed and weakened to the point that they would dissipate with a gust of wind. His silver hair stood on end, and his eyes were icy cold, but he was truly helpless at the moment, as his Pure Yang attribute was almost completely depleted.
"A descendant who dared to blaze new trails, do you wish to study his Pure Yang Consciousness Spirit Light?" the Heavenly Fiend Mirror asked. "Alright!" Qin Ming nodded immediately and rushed over.
Cao Qianqiu was filled with murderous intent, but he couldn't change anything; he was now in a state of utter despair.
A Dragon Saber appeared in Qin Ming's right hand, and in an instant, he transformed Lao Cao into Cao Shiqiu, beheading him on the spot. However, the old Madman's Mental Will as firm as iron, without any ripples, and he could not be moved by any emotion.
Qin Ming frowned. It was truly frightening that the other party could remain so cold and unmoved even as he was about to dissipate.
After his Ninth New Life, a warm current surged in his eyes, allowing him to observe minute details. At this moment, he carefully gazed at his spiritual body, trying to decipher the secrets of Pure Yang.
Cao Qianqiu sneered, saying, "My path leads straight to the heavens. You New Life Evolver dare to dream of glimpsing it? What virtue or ability do you possess? Even if you reach the end, you'll only be strongmen!"
The next moment, he became Cao Gongqiu, missing half of his body.
Then, he transformed into Cao Qianhuo and was instantly killed.
This was Qin Ming's response, and then he stared intently at his Pure Yang Consciousness Spirit Light once more.
Cao Qianqiu stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, and said, "Even if the path to heaven were laid out before you, you New Life Evolver would not be able to walk it; in the end, you would only be laborers!"
Immediately, he became Eunuch Cao!
Qin Ming naturally wouldn't tolerate him. What kind of Old Senior or undefeated legend? He'd be beaten if he needed to be beaten, chopped if he needed to be chopped, and made to lose what he needed to lose!
Cao Qianqiu was furious; this time he couldn't stay calm!
He hadn't expected this kid to dare to do such a thing; he was utterly immoral.
He was originally as steadfast as iron, but now, humiliated by a junior, he couldn't hold back any longer. He had no masochistic tendencies and didn't want to stay here any longer.
With a thud, before he could even move, his head was struck again, and his skull exploded.
"Residual Consciousness Spirit Light detected." The Heavenly Fiend Mirror emitted a cold voice, then burst forth with Golden Haze that illuminated a phantom.
Lao Cao is cunning; he wants to lie low and take the information with him.
However, he could not escape the Heavenly Fiend Mirror and was burned to ashes.
Cao Qianqiu's Pure Yang Consciousness Spirit Light was completely annihilated.
Qin Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Cao Qianqiu must have seen through his true nature. If he could return to his true form, his future path would be almost over.
Along the various paths, the other Immortal Seed and God Seed watched quietly. After guessing that it was Cao Qianqiu, everyone was somewhat stunned by the result.
Li Qingxu landed on the ground, feeling deeply ashamed. He had been knocked off the Immortal Path, and felt he had let down his sect and even implicated his teacher. He had no face to return.
He looked up at the sky and saw that the demon's path was being widened and expanded!
"Ah..." Li Qingxu, disheveled and covered in blood, roared, "From destruction comes rebirth! Sooner or later, I will wash away all this humiliation!"
The Secret Realm is a hot topic of discussion.
The Immortal Path Disciple were all filled with mixed feelings; their side had been defeated, and the demon was simply too powerful.
Those who disliked Li Qingxu gloated, saying, "What did I say? I predicted he'd be shot down. Didn't I tell you?"
"Li Qingxu is no good; he is truly the weakest Immortal Seed!"
Some people looked grave, guessing that Cao Qianqiu would appear in the end, but he still lost!
Someone said in a deep voice, "Say More. This matter is far more serious than you imagine; it could trigger a huge upheaval!"
Some people were puzzled and asked why?
"Don't you even consider whether Li Qingxu can master all of these techniques at this stage, such as the Rune Golden Rope, the Soul Stabilizing Bell, and the Supporting Pure Yang Great Sun?"
"Hiss!"
Immediately, the Immortal Path Disciple dared not Say More anything more.
On the demon side, there was an uproar, praising the young "Demon One" to the skies, believing him to be one of the strongest seeds of the Demon Race in the present era, and that he should be ranked in the top five in the Night Mist World.
As for this plateau, he is absolutely the number one Demon Seed in terms of rarity!
"You don't understand! You've underestimated Demon One. He's even mastered the legendary Dragon Snake Scissors technique—it's more advanced than you can imagine!"
"Such a prodigy, only my Demon Race princess is worthy of him, isn't she?"
"Heavenly Fiend is within reach!"
Many demons were lavish in their praise.
The Esoteric Sect Buddhists were also discussing it, but the discussion was relatively peaceful, since they weren't involved in the competition.
Whether it's hostility or praise, all parties agree that if the Demon One reigns supreme on the Fiend Path, it can threaten the many seeds on other paths.
In the sky, the fragments of Li Qingxu's broken Immortal Path were all used to repair the Fiend Path, instantly causing the Yao Qi there to surge to the heavens!
Shocking all sides, has the young man on the Fiend Path embarked on a road to heaven?
"He will benefit from this and become even stronger!" someone said solemnly.
The Fiend Path, once shrouded in blood mist and purple qi, is now a smooth, purplish-gold road stretching into the distance before disappearing before the astonished eyes of the crowd.
Qin Ming initially felt elated, but quickly calmed down.
He knew his performance was outstanding, but the thought of Cao Qianqiu weighed heavily on his mind. If the old Madman's Pure Yang Consciousness Spirit Light was already so terrifying, how strong must his true body be? It was immeasurable!
The Heavenly Fiend Mirror spoke, "Your courageous descendants who dare to forge new paths possess boundless potential, like a rising sun dispelling the night fog on the sea. In recognition of your victory over an Immortal Path, you are hereby rewarded with the restoration of your damaged Demon Seed. May you continue your efforts and illuminate this era!"
Qin Ming's apprehension towards Cao Qianqiu vanished instantly. A look of joy appeared on his face; this fight had been worthwhile!
In an instant, two Fragmented Demon Seed, one gold and one silver, appeared before him, causing the three shattered Demon Seed within his body to stir restlessly, wanting to merge with them.
Qin Ming smiled. He naturally didn't need to form a complete Demon Seed, but he could refine it to master the Golden Cicada Scripture. The Ninth New Life was not yet over, so he could continue.
He hadn't touched the three Fragmented Demon Seed earlier because he was afraid it would affect his Fiend Path, but now he had no such concerns.
This means that his strength can be improved again!
He then appeared in a temple, where there was a futon and two unlit incense sticks, the same ones he had received from Li Qingxu.
These can lead one to the Enlightenment Realm!
"I gained a lot from the competition, all of it is supplies!" Qin Ming said with a smile.
Outside the Secret Realm, Yao Qi surged, and a giant demon arrived.
Upon hearing the latest report, it burst into laughter, shaking the heavens and dispelling the night fog.
Pu Heng was on his way and had gotten very close. When he learned of the latest developments, he was immediately shocked. His master might even have been involved in that battle?!
"Our Immortal Path suffered a crushing defeat! Isn't anyone willing to step forward? Let's fight another battle, otherwise, what face will we have left if word gets out!"
"Leng Feiyue, Cui Chonghe, Su Shiyun, Sun Jingxiao, you have to fight! Otherwise, if word spreads that the Immortal Path Disciple have been defeated by demons, it will be too embarrassing!"
Outside, people were having a heated discussion.
In particular, with the Old Senior sweeping across the plateau, crushing all the old demons, and hunting Auspicious Beast, how could the younger generation possibly lose?
In fact, some people on the Immortal Path have indeed had their own ideas. They not only understand cultivation, but also need to grasp the bigger picture. If they remain indifferent and do nothing, won't the old guard on the Immortal Path blame them for lacking responsibility?
"Sun Jingxiao of the Beyond the Mundane Pure Land challenges you." At this moment, the Heavenly Fiend Mirror transmitted its voice.
Qin Ming recognized this person; he had seen him on the Vermilion Bird Airship.
"No time!" he said without thinking. He needed to start practicing his Extraordinary Art and push his Ninth New Life to perfection, so he didn't want to be distracted.
"He doesn't want to fight you in real combat," the Heavenly Fiend Realm explained; the other party wanted to compete with him in comprehension.
Once you embark on this path, the evaluation you receive is related to factors such as practical experience, comprehension, physical strength, and the pioneer's vision. The other party chose one of these factors.
Qin Ming was taken aback and asked, "Won't this interfere with my meditation and enlightenment here?"
"It shouldn't have a major impact," the Heavenly Fiend Mirror replied.
"Alright, I accept!" Qin Ming nodded, hoping to get some more rewards.
The Heavenly Fiend Mirror said, "For those descendants who dare to forge new paths, I suggest you first comprehend the Dao, adjust your mind and body to their optimal state, and then fuse to create a complete Demon Seed. That will yield the best results."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Qin Ming followed the advice. He wasn't preparing to fuse with the complete Demon Seed, but rather wanted to develop a trump card.
Of all his methods, the most powerful is undoubtedly the Heavenly Light Force, which uses the meaning of the Silk Scripture to control all techniques and unify them.
However, this also consumes a great deal of resources.
He needs other, more diversified approaches to better cope with various crises.
For example, after comprehending and elevating his understanding of the Dragon Snake Scripture, he mastered the Dragon Snake Scissors, which could break Cao Qianqiu's Rune Golden Rope.
He was deeply moved by this, realizing that even with his amazing Heavenly Light Force, he still needed various ingenious techniques to unleash his full combat power.
"If we're going to have a competition of comprehension, would it be considered cheating if I lit that incense?" Qin Ming asked.
"No, I'll estimate it after converting it to a comparable environment. Besides, he's already lit a similar incense stick."
"That's fine then." Qin Ming nodded.
The palace, with its golden bricks and jade tiles, was very quiet. Qin Ming sat cross-legged on a futon surrounded by Purple Mist, and had already lit the incense on the jade table.
Instantly, his eyes became clear and his whole body glowed, as if a Daoist aura was flowing within him. He felt light and comfortable from head to toe, and his mind became incredibly clear.
Outside, people were astonished, for they saw a Immortal Path emerge, approaching the Fiend Path, and finally merging together, revealing two Giant Palace, both flowing with spiritual radiance.
Faintly, the sound of chanting could be heard coming from there, which was quite mystical.
Some people speculated that this was another duel; otherwise, the two paths wouldn't have met!
Immediately, ripples spread throughout the Secret Realm. Everyone understood that Seed Level Figure on the Immortal Path to immortality had gone to challenge the young demon.
Unfortunately, they didn't know it was a contest of comprehension, and they couldn't see what was happening inside the two Giant Palace; they could only stare helplessly.
"We'll see which road is damaged in a moment, and then we'll know who wins and who loses!" the Esoteric Sect Buddhists said with a laugh. They were detached from the matter and enjoyed watching the spectacle.
One demon complained, "Is this going to be a war of attrition? Is one of my demon Demon Race's Demon Seed supposed to fight against multiple seeds on the Immortal Path?!"
At this moment, the people of the Immortal Path had extremely serious expressions. If they were to lose to the demons again, it would be a very embarrassing situation.
Inside the Demon Palace, Qin Ming proceeded at his own pace, beginning his training of the ultimate Extraordinary Art technique from the original Demon Race version of the <Golden Cicada Scripture>.
In the first stage, his Heavenly Light Force was like silkworm silk, forming a cocoon of light around his body, providing astonishing defensive power!
Next, he moved into a more profound realm, using offense as defense. It was as if he was absorbing the Golden Essence Qi of heaven and earth, and the Golden Silkworm Silk that emanated from his body rang out and became extremely tough.
In fact, once you reach this stage, it becomes very difficult to continue practicing.
Because this requires extremely high aptitude from the person seeking enlightenment!
Only those with the Three Imperial Force of Power and the Sky Shaker can continue on this journey; ordinary Demon Race simply cannot study the profound and deadly techniques of this scripture.
With the blessing of the Sudden Enlightenment Realm, Qin Ming gradually mastered the technique. Countless Golden Silkworm Silk threads emerged from his body, all transformed from the Heavenly Light Force, as if distorting space itself.
This is the Golden Silkworm Force Field!
The Golden Silkworm Silk danced erratically, capable of tearing apart others' Heavenly Light and weapons, destroying their Consciousness Spirit Light and Divine Wisdom, and even defending itself.
If one steps into the Third Realm — the Spiritual Field —the power of this trump card will increase dramatically at that corresponding realm!
Because it best suits the Spirit Field Realm.
Even now, it has become one of Qin Ming's trump cards.
Previously, Qin Ming had already dabbled in the Golden Silkworm Force Field, but he hadn't studied it in depth because it was a technique of the Second Realm.
His battle with Cao Qianqiu deeply moved him; Cao Qianqiu's every move was a deadly technique, so now he is eager to master several of them.
With his foundation and comprehension, after his Ninth New Life, he was actually able to try to train.
As he continued to gain insights, he felt he had almost mastered it. Soon after, he got up to practice, and as time went on, he became more and more proficient!
Furthermore, when Qin Ming activated the Golden Silkworm Force Field, he combined it with Lao Cao's Rune Golden Rope, merging all the silk threads into one, and also unleashing a tough golden rope that could bind people or pierce opponents.
However, his Heavenly Light Force cannot be extended over long distances; it is only useful in close combat.
"Following the Dragon Snake Scissors, the Golden Silkworm Force Field I've mastered can now be used in actual combat, and it's incredibly powerful!" Qin Ming was quite satisfied after testing the technique.
If he could master one trump card for each of his Extraordinary Art, that would be enough for him.
"Unfortunately, there's no real opponent to test it out right now."
As for the other Extraordinary Art, Qin Ming tried them briefly and then put them aside for the time being, leaving them for later, because practicing a killer move also requires feeling and accumulation.
This is the Enlightenment Hall on the Fiend Path, naturally the most suitable place to practice the killer moves recorded in the <Dragon Snake Scripture> and <Golden Cicada Scripture>.
Afterward, he began to focus on the Demon Seed, directly crushing and refining two of them, and then went to practice the Golden Cicada Scripture.
"Heaven Heaven's Jealousy. Heaven endowed you with the extraordinary potential and gifts of an era, yet it also made your fate unfortunate. Even in the Enlightenment Realm, your foundation was damaged once more, and the Demon Seed was shattered..."
The Heavenly Fiend Mirror spoke, as if in a sigh.
Qin Ming remained silent. Did the Heavenly Fiend Mirror think that his Demon Seed, instead of healing, had exploded again, and that he had incurred the Heaven's Jealousy?
"Perhaps, this world is fair; there is no such thing as perfection. Every path and method has its flaws, and all things ultimately manifest as imperfect beauty," the Heavenly Fiend Mirror said calmly.
Qin Ming immediately chimed in, "That's right, do you think I can still salvage this? Give me two more Fragmented Demon Seed, and perhaps I can get close to perfection!"
"Don't waste any more time. Practice your techniques while you're in the Sudden Enlightenment Realm," said the Heavenly Fiend Mirror.
Clearly, it believes this is a balancing rule in the Night Mist World, and that Demon One's talent is too extraordinary, incurring the Heaven's Envy, making it difficult for him to condense Perfect Demon Seed.
Qin Ming practiced the Golden Cicada Scripture in two versions, both of which he learned from Wu Chengwang, an elder at the Mountain River Academy. At that time, he was willing to be "ripped off" and comprehend the entire text in six hundred Day Gold!
He had already integrated the two versions into one. He had almost fully comprehended them before, and now, after refining the Demon Seed, his body was full of vitality, making this scripture the most suitable for him to practice.
He ruthlessly crushed the Demon Seed, and after extracting its essence, his flesh and blood also tore apart, leaving him covered in blood.
"The Golden Cicada Scripture you are practicing is not the original version of the Demon Race's version; it can be completed," the Heavenly Fiend Mirror declared.
Qin Ming had anticipated this, just like the previous <Dragon Snake Scripture> and <Golden Cicada Scripture>, both of which were supplemented with the original versions of the Demon Race along this path.
A moment later, Qin Ming was as if he had been given a divine initiation. Some primordial demonic script imprints were transmitted into his Heart Sea, and he immediately obtained the complete cultivation manual.
"I wonder if this mental cultivation method is related to the Ancient Cicada recorded in the <Records of Kunlun Godlike Beings>?" He didn't get distracted and began to comprehend the method and practice his skills.
Soon, Qin Ming's body was covered with blood scabs.
The true meaning of the Golden Cicada Scripture is that the Golden Cicada must emerge from its shell, tearing apart its old body to undergo tribulation and New Life.
It can be said that it has a strong Zen-like quality, can prolong life, and can bring life from the brink of death.
During his enlightenment and practice, Qin Ming was almost in a state of near extinction, with no life force emanating from his body.
Much later, from deep within the scab, came a cicada's chirp. This was not a real sound, but rather a vibration of Daoist energy.
In an instant, Qin Ming tore off the scabs and shed a layer of old skin, truly like Cicada Shell its shell, gaining an even more powerful physical body!
He noticed that the incense stick on the table had burned down to the end.
He didn't care, because he still had stock, and even more so, the spoils he had obtained from Li Qingxu.
"It seems like a long time has passed?" Qin Ming asked. "Half a day," the Heavenly Fiend Mirror replied.
Qin Ming sensed that he was undergoing changes; his flesh and blood were burning hot. His Ninth New Life had indeed continued, and his physique was becoming stronger.
Golden Cicada Scripture, he absorbed the essence of the Demon Seed, and his body became full of vitality.
"You have emerged from seclusion. The results of this competition of comprehension are in," the Heavenly Fiend Mirror informed.
Sun Jingxiao had been waiting for a long time, but after his incense burned out, he still hadn't received the result, which puzzled him and made him wonder if something was wrong.
At this moment, the Broken Mirror on the road spoke, "You have lost. Your opponent has mastered a trump card, a Extraordinary Art of the Demon Race. Compared to him, your achievements are somewhat dim."
"I actually lost! In such a short time, he achieved two important breakthroughs?" Sun Jingxiao was shocked, and then stared blankly for a moment.
People saw that the Immortal Path in the sky was partially shattered, the fragments piecing together on the Fiend Path, and then the Immortal Path faded into the distance.
"Wow, the boy on the Fiend Path has won again!"
Immediately, the Secret Realm erupted in uproar, causing Xuanran.
Qin Ming remained calm, experiencing the changes within himself. He felt that the transformation he underwent through the Golden Cicada Scripture was no less significant than the New Life he experienced after mastering the Dragon Snake Scripture.
While waiting for this New Life to end, he continued to study the Golden Cicada Scripture, the seventh Extraordinary Art he had mastered!
Without a doubt, his Heavenly Light Force will undergo a qualitative change as a result!
"The Golden Cicada Force possesses both Death Force against the enemy and vital Life Force beneficial to oneself; its uses are endless!" he exclaimed, as he was enveloped by two kinds of light for a moment.
Clearly, this also involves the changes of Yin and Yang.
If combined with the Dragon Snake Scripture, his understanding of the changes of Yin and Yang will be further enhanced!
At the same time, he also seriously pondered the trump card in the Golden Cicada Scripture Sutra: the transformation between life and death, the undying Zen spirit, and the thunderous sound of cicadas.
"My Ninth New Life is strange. It's done in two parts, and each one is no less intense than a real New Life. Will this be the end?" Qin Ming muttered to himself.
For him, this New Life was of great significance, giving him another opportunity for transformation, allowing him to master a Extraordinary Art, and making him even more powerful than before.
"Cui Chonghe has issued a challenge to you. Do you accept?" The Heavenly Fiend Mirror suddenly spoke, delivering this message.
(There's more to come!)