Seek the True Meaning Amid the Smoke of Everyday Life

The night sky was like Abyss, and heaven and earth seemed to be upside down.

There was something in the air that didn't usually fall down.

The Red Squirrel, as if strapped with a safety umbrella, drifted down from east to west, while the Blood Kite, connected by a thin string, glowed brightly in the thick night fog, standing out conspicuously.

Qin Ming felt a chill run through him. With a casual toss, something stained with blood fell from the sky.

He turned his head to look at Old Man Liu, whose face was obscured in the darkness of the night.

Old Man Liu's eyes were dark as he looked up at the night sky.

Qin Ming wondered if the Motivational Mouse had died. There hadn't been a sound.

A moment later, it floated down, its fluffy tail covering its face—a typical sign of escapism.

"It's alright." Qin Ming picked it up.

However, the Red Squirrel, with its eyes tightly shut, had already fainted from fright. What had it just experienced?

Old Man Liu stared at the Blood Kite, his face pale, and opened his mouth as if to say something.

"What's wrong?" Qin Ming asked in a low voice.

He responded, "It looks a lot like the kite I flew when I was very young, but it's probably not the same one."

Qin Ming, using the black and white light to protect himself, quickly untied the thin thread wrapped around one of the red squirrel's small paws, shook it, and said, "Wake up."

The Motivational Mouse opened its eyes and saw the Blood Kite slowly descending, coming to a short distance in front of it. It squeaked, its eyes rolled back, and it fainted again.

That's incredibly cowardly!

Qin Ming picked it up, slapped its little face twice, and then shook it vigorously to wake it up again.

However, this time he did not let the timid mouse fly the kite.

"Squeak... Turtle!" it screamed, finally managing to utter human language incoherently.

Qin Ming and Old Man Liu understood; it must be trying to call for a ghost.

The kite landed, and in some of its damaged areas, the bloodstains shimmered faintly, and a few lines of text were barely visible.

Qin Ming didn't dare touch it; in his eyes, this thing was quite—evil!

Old Man Liu was also terrified. The Blood Kite was a childhood trauma for him, and he never expected to see it again in his old age.

Qin Ming looked at the Red Squirrel and said, "Don't be afraid, just stand next to me. Tell me, what did you see in the night sky?"

With a whoosh, the Motivational Mouse jumped onto Qin Ming's shoulder, off the ground, seemingly still shaken by the tattered kite.

It uses its tiny claws to write in the air, describing what it sees.

"In the pitch-black night fog, I saw a blood-soaked person lunging at me; it was terrifying..."

Its face was filled with terror, and its little paws were trembling.

However, it's understandable why it was so terrified. After all, being thrown alone into the depths of the night fog and suddenly witnessing such a scene would frighten any adult man.

And then... that was it; it just fainted.

Qin Ming looked down at the rather old-fashioned kite. Even though he was quite wary, he had to face it and carefully study the inscriptions on it.

How many categories of the past remain? Returning, I am still a youth.

This line of text is identical to that seen in the Evil Land hut in Kunling; it is written in the same script, a very complex Phoenix Seal Script.

Qin Ming was able to decipher the meaning of these words only by relying on the brand attached to them.

He was deeply shaken and unable to calm down.

He looked at the person beside him, his expression complicated. Could it really be this old man?

Old Man Liu immediately shook his head and said, "Don't look at me. The sign says 'Returning as a youth as ever.' Do I look like one?"

Qin Ming said, "Youth also refers to a childlike heart, a vibrant and energetic State of Mind."

He then paused, surprised, and said, "You recognize these ancient characters too?"

Old Man Liu said, "What's so special about that? These are characters still in use a thousand years ago. With a bit of guesswork, you can probably recognize them all."

His expression was unnatural because this style of kite was indeed too similar to the one he had flown years ago, which he had long since lost.

"Could it be that you've flown a kite from your past life in this one?" Qin Ming asked.

"I left my name on that one; it says 'Liu Mo '." Old Man Liu shook his head.

"There are words on the back." Qin Ming used the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram to protect himself, emitting Heavenly Light, and turned the kite over.

On its other side, there is more writing.

"Half a lifetime of wandering and absurd dreams, neither seeing the Divine Firmament nor immortals. Why Truth Seeking in the Jade Capital? Let us find true meaning in the mundane world."

Qin Ming was certain that these were the things left behind by the owner of the thatched hut.

After careful observation, he even concluded that the material was identical to that of the Human-Shaped Lantern.

It looked thin and light, like paper, but Qin Ming and Little Wu both seriously suspected that it was made of human skin.

The Higher God who escaped from the Jade Capital, in order to return to the past and walk the path of the Mortal World again, tortured themselves by peeling off their Immortal Skin and removing their God Bone.

"This is Blood Kite from five hundred years ago? It's really ancient!" Old Man Liu exclaimed upon learning this.

Qin Ming really wanted to say, "You might all be the same age."

The matter was now closed. Qin Ming believed that even if Old Man Liu wasn't the main person in charge, he had some connections, or was merely a "smokescreen" being pushed out.

Qin Ming asked, "What are you going to do with this kite? Take it home and keep it as a keepsake?"

Old Man Liu glanced at him sideways and said, "You're too wicked, kid. If you take him back, how will I be able to sleep at night?"

Qin Ming said, "But I reckon it's most likely meant for you."

Grandfather Liu almost lost his temper, saying, "Stop talking! The older you get, the more timid you become. I just want to enjoy my retirement in peace!"

Qin Ming pondered for a moment and said, "If this concerns you, it would be inappropriate to throw it away."

"It has nothing to do with me!" Old Man Liu looked at the Motivational Mouse and said, "Why don't we tie it to this Red Squirrel and throw it back into the night sky?"

"Squeak, squeak..." the Red Squirrel kept chirping, complaining that the old man was even more malicious.

"You're crossing the river by destroying the rat, then using the rat as a sacrifice to the heavens!" It was writing in the air.

"How about burying him under the Black White Tree? It's bright there, and it'll make people feel more at ease," Old Man Liu suggested.

He worried that if it were buried in a dark place, it might suddenly pop out and scare people to death.

Qin Ming studied the blood on the kite. Although it glowed, its spiritual essence had long been exhausted, and it could no longer be used as auspicious blood.

"How old are these two trees?" Qin Ming personally buried the ancient kite under the trees.

Old Man Liu said, "About my age. Don't look at me like that. I heard that there used to be two old mulberry trees here, but they died after a long time. Later, birds probably brought back seeds from Black White Mountain, which allowed the Black White Tree to take root and sprout here."

Qin Ming looked up at the night sky and said, "Is it possible that the seed fell from up there?"

"Stop talking!" Old Man Liu quickly stopped him.

Upon hearing this, the Motivational Mouse felt uneasy, wondering if it would still want to practice its skills in the tree.

Qin Ming handed a jar of Spiritual Matter and a copy of the "Golden Cicada Scripture" to Old Man Liu. After thinking for a moment, he left behind a copy of the "Dragon Snake Scripture," instructing him to pass it on to a suitable person.

Then he asked Old Man Liu about the evil spirits and which areas in the mountains were suspicious.

"Yes, there are indeed a few places like that."

Old Man Liu was an authority on this subject, as he knew Black White Mountain best. Back when the two of them went to search for Spiritual Matter, they relied on him for directions.

He said, "Let's go inside and rest for the night."

Qin Ming shook his head and agreed to go into the mountains when Shallow Night.

The Motivational Mouse jumped onto Old Man Liu's shoulder, staring intently at the two books on Extraordinary Art, unable to look away, and finally went into the yard with him.

That night, Qin Ming did not return to his former residence, but instead sat cross-legged under the Black White Tree, meditating on scriptures and comprehending the Dharma.

He never imagined that the village where he had lived for two years would have so many strange things about it.

Soon, he calmed his mind and immersed himself in the scriptures he had been practicing.

Black White Yin Yang Diagram appeared, rotating and covering him, allowing him to emerge from the void beside the Fire Spring, carrying an indescribable Daoist aura.

In the square pool, the Fire Spring shimmered and spewed forth crimson clouds, while the Black White Twin Trees swayed and rustled in the breeze.

Soon after, the Yin Yang Diagram outside Qin Ming's body and the Black White Twin Trees seemed to connect and resonate with each other.

A larger Yin Yang Diagram appeared, encompassing both trees as well.

That night, Qin Ming's understanding of the <Black White Scripture> reached a completely new level; it could be said that he had a thorough grasp of it. The twelve pages of scripture, densely packed with countless Black and White figures, held no secrets from him whatsoever.

He truly understood the scriptures thoroughly.

Black and White Light intertwined, transforming into Yang Fish. It no longer rotated at high speed, but remained constant and stable, slowly turning according to its unique rhythm.

However, its Daoist essence is even more profound.

At the same time, Black and White Fish eyes appear in the Yang Fish.

At this point, the Yin Yang Diagram came to life, truly becoming the finishing touch, imbued with spirituality, and the complete and perfect Black White Yin Yang Diagram appeared.

Qin Ming merged into the natural world, as if he were one with the entire Black White Mountain, breathing with the mountains and rivers.

As Shallow Night approached, Qin Ming rose, as if draped in Black and White. His eyes were deep and his demeanor was natural and Dao Emulates Own Inherent Spontaneity.

"Who in the Second Realm cannot be slain?" he said calmly.

It was still quite dark when the Red Squirrel arrived. It greeted Qin Ming with a respectful bow, then jumped onto a branch and began practicing its skills there.

Soon, Old Man Liu walked out of his house and kicked the Old Huang that had followed him back inside.

An old man and a young boy went into the mountains, with the Motivational Mouse sneaking behind them.

Old Man Liu led the way, like a living map.

He was familiar with all the other areas except for the Advanced Fire Spring where the old demons lived.

He led Qin Ming to a sinkhole, which was pitch black and bottomless. After throwing in a stone, it took some time before the sound of it hitting the water could be heard.

Standing here causes a slight stinging sensation, indicating a strong Sha Qi.

Qin Ming took out his fishing gear and controlled it with the Heavenly Light. After fishing for a long time, he was slightly disappointed. There was indeed a strong Yin Fiend, but there was no creature that could take shape.

For many Outer Saint, this is enough, and even if they collect it, they may not be able to refine it.

However, for Qin Ming, anything that wasn't a legendary anomaly was simply unacceptable.

In the second area, several bare rocky hills bore scorched marks, and approaching them gave one a lingering sense of burning.

"Thunder Fiend?" Qin Ming was surprised. This place seemed to be frequently struck by lightning, and some kind of Sha Qi was extremely strong.

However, the evil spirits here are not spiritually connected; they are merely average. Nevertheless, there are some Heavenly Light substances floating around here.

Qin Ming sat quietly for an hour, refining the Heavenly Light here, and he did gain something.

Old Man Liu said, "There's one last place. If that doesn't work, then we'll have to go to the old demon's lair deep in the mountains."

However, the two could not get close to that place.

This was a swamp, appearing especially dark under the night fog.

When Old Man Liu arrived, he stopped at the edge of the area. The Red Squirrel that followed him bristled, feeling as if it were being pricked by needles, and dared not go any further.

Qin Ming was pleasantly surprised; there must be something extraordinary here.

"As expected of Black White Mountain, it has given birth to something legendary!"

Although he hadn't seen it yet, Qin Ming intuitively felt that something extraordinary was at play.

He explored the area and eventually narrowed it down to a range that was neither too big nor too small.

He was really going all out, digging directly into the swamp.

If it weren't for the protection of the Heavenly Light, he would have long since turned into a mud monkey, and in just a moment, he had already dug a large pit.

On this day, Qin Ming dug the place into a state of utter devastation, with some tunnels extending hundreds of feet underground, even causing groundwater to back up, but he still couldn't find the evil spirit he was looking for.

"Strange." He didn't finish his work until it was very dark, having found nothing.

However, this area clearly possesses a very strong Sha Qi.

"Could it be that after transforming into human form, it became incredibly intelligent and has been hiding from me all this time?" Qin Ming frowned; this was the only explanation.

He worried that the transformed evil spirit would escape after he left, so he stayed and began digging overnight.

"Little Qin, take it easy." Old Man Liu took the Motivational Mouse back.

When he arrived the next day, he was dumbfounded to find a small Abyss before him.

"Could it be a case of Golden Cicada, leaving only its Sha Qi while the transformed malevolent entity has already fled?" Qin Ming wondered, and began searching the vicinity.

He still came up empty-handed that day.

On the third day, after searching the entire mountainside, Qin Ming suddenly looked up at the night sky.

He found it absurd; even a transformed evil spirit shouldn't be able to float in the air like Blood Kite, right? But he still couldn't resist trying it out.

He unleashed his fishing gear; the gleaming hook sliced through the night mist and disappeared into the dark sky.

The hook and fishing line disappeared into the night without falling; the thin line remained taut, reaching towards the sky.

Old Man Liu felt a chill run down his spine when he saw this scene.

The Motivational Mouse, on the other hand, was completely bewildered; it could actually fish in the sky?

"You actually guessed right?" Qin Ming thought it was outrageous; the Black White Mountain was extremely bizarre.

Half an hour later, the fishing line tightened and made a loud noise, as if a "big fish" had been caught. It pulled hard upwards, and Qin Ming's feet almost left the ground.

"This... there really is a ' Colossal Being ' in the night sky?" Old Man Liu quickly ran over to help.

Qin Ming immediately activated the <Wu Ji Scripture>, his feet seemed to be rooted to the ground, and earth-yellow essence rose up as he forcefully pulled the fishing line downwards.

Old Man Liu said, "Song Zai, climb up the fishing line and see what it is."

The Red Squirrel bared its teeth at him; wasn't fooling it once enough? Did it really want to use it as a nesting ground?

Qin Ming unleashed his Heavenly Light Force, continuously Exerted Effort, and gradually pulled the prey out of the night sky.

He vaguely heard the sound of the iron chain snapping.

The night fog was thick and heavy, creating a great commotion high in the sky.

"I hope we don't fish out a disheveled guy..." Old Man Liu said.

"Sir, please don't talk nonsense!" Qin Ming was quite wary of his identity, worried that his mouth might be blessed.

Old Man Liu, ever the agreeable one, immediately changed his mind. "Ah, then let's fish down a fairy!"

The Red Squirrel, who had been mimicking human speech, excitedly pointed at the night sky and mumbled incoherently, "Fuck you..."

Qin Ming stared into the depths of the churning night fog, where the prey's blurry outline was beginning to emerge.