The Mountain's Changing Skies

Before the mountain forest under the night sky, Ling Xu and the Civet Cat merely flickered once before vanishing into the vast snowy expanse.

The two of them were one thing, but Wei Mo stood ten meters tall and wore ancient, mottled armor. He too disappeared in an instant, moving so fast that hardly anyone could react.

Only the pure white-furred Old Weasel waved unhurriedly, summoned his donkey, then leisurely rode it away and returned to the deep mountains.

The different creatures in the dense forest also withdrew. At once, great swathes of flying beings appeared above the sprawling mountains, while numerous figures climbed and leaped across the slopes.

On the snowfields outside the mountains, whether nobles from Red Haze City, members of the Mountain Patrol Group, or local New Life Evolvers, all dispersed in their own directions.

Even after walking far away, people were still discussing how the trip had not been in vain, since they had witnessed Higher Lifeforms with their own eyes.

"What was that Feather-Clothed Woman's background? We had never heard of her in Red Haze City. She was simply terrifying."

"She was probably the expert the City Lord invited from afar."

Some youths were especially excited and stirred up. Having seen the higher-ups reveal a few of their methods, they discussed them endlessly, feeling as if a brand-new world had unfolded before them.

"Is that the limit we might reach in the future?"

"Wake up. There's a kind of limit called the City Lord, but there's only one in all of Red Haze City. Your limit is striving for twenty years to become a gatekeeper at the City Lord's Manor."

On the road, even Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, Mu Qing, and the other direct descendants of noble families were no exception. They too were talking among themselves.

"Cousin, what level have you reached now? You followed the Giant Spirit God path as well. You're already over three meters tall, while that man called Wei Mo is ten meters tall. I feel the difference in height between you and him isn't that great. Does that mean your strength also—"

"Shut your mouth!" Cao Long's expression changed at once. They had not even gotten far from the mountains, yet he sternly stopped his immature young cousin. "Senior Wei was already twenty or thirty meters tall twenty years ago. Now he has changed in reverse. We simply cannot fathom what level he has reached."

Just then, a silver-haired elder of considerable standing from the Mountain Patrol Group walked over and asked, "Is anyone from Red Haze City's Wang Family here?"

People immediately realized it must be because of Wang Nianzhu. He had slaughtered a nest of Spiritual Creatures—Blood Snakes—and had allegedly murdered several Mountain Patrol members in the process.

"Nianzhu has gone missing. We are looking for him too," a middle-aged man replied.

"Could he have fled in fear of punishment?" the silver-haired elder said. Though his face was covered in wrinkles, he remained vigorous and alert, cold lightning shooting from his eyes.

If they had merely been ordinary Mountain Patrol members, the Wang Family naturally would not have taken them seriously. But now the nature of the matter had changed. Someone above was looking into it, and they were deeply wary.

After all, the Mountain Patrol's highest-ranking person in charge was Red Haze City's Deputy City Lord.

"We are looking for him too. I believe Nianzhu would not do such a thing," the middle-aged man said. Then, he accompanied the elder to a patch of snow off to the side and explained something.

In Double Tree Village, Qin Ming, Old Man Liu, and Xu Yueping watched the snow drift past the window as they ate steaming donkey meat from a warm Copper pot and drank fine wine dug out from the Mountain Patrol Group's outpost.

Qin Ming, who had originally felt nothing toward alcohol, was now slightly tipsy as well. He had never expected Wang Nianzhu, whose name he had only learned after his death, to still be of such great use even after the man was gone.

Combined with his successful Second New Life, Qin Ming sipped leisurely, thoroughly relaxed.

He looked out the window, his thoughts drifting far away, though his heart was far from calm. Where exactly was Moonfall City? Sooner or later, he had to go and see it for himself.

That dark night two years ago, the blazing flames had swallowed the entire village. The Feather Robe Youth had stepped over broken walls and ruins, ethereal and detached from the world, striking without mercy...

He could never forget those scenes again.

Qin Ming sighed inwardly. If he had never learned of those past events, he could still have lived his days peacefully. But now, he had to quicken his pace and move forward.

"Little Qin, is it my imagination? Your Essence, Qi, and Spirit seem more vigorous than before. You also seem to have grown slightly taller," Old Man Liu said. Though aged and stooped, his eyes were sharp.

Qin Ming had not used "Light Harmony with Dust" before him and Xu Yueping, so his bearing was naturally somewhat different from before.

Xu Yueping nodded. "Yes, there are some changes. Your eyes are clearer, and you seem more handsome too."

After Qin Ming's Second New Life, he had grown less than half an inch taller. Anyone who was not especially familiar with him would never notice such a change.

He had already determined that the New Life Method recorded in the Silk Scripture would not make people keep growing taller.

He replied with a smile, "I'm only sixteen. My body hasn't finished developing yet. It's entirely possible for me to change every few days."

After this New Life, aside from gaining the strength of two thousand jin in both arms, Qin Ming's flexibility and speed had improved drastically as well. Those were even more outstanding, and his strength had risen with startling speed.

Late at night, all was silent. Heaven and earth resembled an enormous Abyss, poised to swallow every trace of light.

Suddenly, deep within the mountains, silver lightning sliced across the ink-black night. Red haze stained the ridges crimson, and giants carrying Black Long Spears trampled over mountaintops and roared, as if they would shatter the mountains and rivers with their cries, triggering terrifying avalanches.

"They've already made their move!"

On a high slope outside the mountains, a woman draped in a black fur cloak gazed into the distance. Watching the clearly unnatural and terrifying night scene, she had flowing sunset radiance in her eyes.

A purple-eyed crow stood on a short tree and spoke in human words. "Those incoming Higher Lifeforms won't be able to hold them off. They will have to retreat tonight. If things go quickly, we can enter the mountains within two days to search for the Land of Four Illuminations by Five-Colored Haze."

Behind the woman and the crow stood several shadows. Someone said, "Red Haze City's higher-ups have joined forces with the creatures originally in the mountains. Those migrating Higher Lifeforms cannot withstand them. Some powerful creatures may very well be left behind as rare spiritual materials."

The tall woman in the cloak kept watching the depths of the mountains without turning around. "You Liangyun, once the mountain sweep begins, go test someone for me. Mm, if you win, don't kill him. If you lose, don't come back to Flowing Light City with me. Go back to your Red Haze City and be your young noble master instead."

There were more than a dozen people behind her. Upon hearing this, one of the youths froze, his hands within his sleeves clenching instantly.

He was a noble of Red Haze City, from the direct line of the You Family. When the woman had selected people in the city, he had been full of hope. In the end, he had not even qualified to become a candidate.

Only after the elders of his family had pulled strings and paid no small price had he obtained an opportunity to travel with the woman to Flowing Light City.

For no other reason than that he wanted to listen to secret arts before the woman's mysterious and unfathomable teacher. If he could learn for even a year or half a year, it would be worth it.

But now, he sensed a crisis. Who exactly was she asking him to test? Could he even lose his qualification to accompany her?

The woman's back was graceful and alluring as she continued staring into the mountain depths. "His name is Qin Ming. He is one of the only two New Life Evolvers in this region this year to establish a Golden Foundation. Someone from your You Family has come as well. With your connections, I imagine you can learn about him quickly. Remember, I am asking you to test him. Do not use underhanded methods."

"Fine. I'll find someone to investigate right away." You Liangyun turned and left, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes.

The crow watched his receding figure and said, "When You Liangyun underwent his First New Life, he could carry a six-hundred-and-fifty-jin cauldron. Among this year's Red Haze City youths, he is weaker than one man and one woman. No unusual sign appeared when he established his Golden Foundation."

The woman nodded. "Qi Huaien, follow him. What I truly want is to see You Liangyun's character. He was never qualified to meet my teacher with me in the first place. If he does not perform well this time, there will truly be no need for him to continue on the road with us. Qi Huaien, also take a look at Qin Ming. See whether he can become one of the candidates."

That night, many sharp-sensed New Life Evolvers outside the mountains noticed something and climbed to high places, gazing in the direction of the mountains.

The commotion in the mountains was simply too great. Even from far away, they could hear the terrifying roars of the different creatures.

The mountain depths had descended into complete chaos. Great numbers of Strange Insects, birds, and other creatures flew into the night sky and fled in panic, while the cries of apes and roars of tigers rang endlessly through the dense forest.

Even in distant Silver Vine Town, that mysterious Old Noble received a report at the first possible moment.

Every strand of his silver hair gleamed like crystal, while his complexion was rosy and luminous. He put on a fox-fur overcoat, his body as light as a wisp of thin smoke, and instantly appeared atop the tallest structure in his estate.

Despite the heavy night fog at this hour, he still gazed toward the mountains and murmured, "I hope the special Nodes have given birth to the rare treasure I need."

"They're fighting?" Qin Ming leaped onto the roof and looked toward the mountains. Double Tree Village was not very far away, so he could not help growing vigilant and guarded.

Fortunately, though the mountains were in turmoil that night, it did not spread into the outer regions. One side held absolute initiative and tightly controlled the pace.

The next day, countless people discussed the news fervently. The skies had changed in the mountains!

Without question, those from Red Haze City and the local New Life Evolvers would soon be permitted to enter the mountains, search for special Nodes, and gather any rare resources that might exist.

When early night arrived, Qin Ming began practicing the New Life Methods recorded in the Silk Scripture after breakfast. His body immediately seemed to contain a blazing furnace, ceaselessly supplying him with strength.

Afterward, he practiced the killing techniques from the Sword Manual. Now, when he swung the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer, it felt as though he were casually waving a hemp stalk, light and effortless.

Xu Yueping pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Qin Ming nearly shake the heavy Black Gold Hammer into a blur of flowers, he was startled. But he quickly said, "Little Qin, stop practicing your hammer technique. Your future father-in-law has sent someone to invite you over for a meeting."

"Ah?" Qin Ming was stunned, his face full of confusion.

"The Old Noble of Silver Vine Town specifically named you," Xu Yueping informed him.

Qin Ming immediately understood and calmly asked, "I'm not the only one he wants to see, am I?"

"Well... he will certainly choose among people. But you and Zhou Wubing are the only two who established Golden Foundations, so you will definitely stand out like cranes among chickens. Still, at a time like this..." Xu Yueping frowned. After what had happened last time, he had thought deeply and felt that his earlier decision had indeed been insufficiently considered.

"If I don't go, it will be a bit offensive, right?" Qin Ming asked.

Xu Yueping nodded. "It would indeed seem like you were refusing to give him face. I heard that even the nobles from Red Haze City visited him in Silver Vine Town after arriving. He seems to truly have a considerable background, perhaps from a very great place."

Qin Ming smiled. "Then I'll make the trip. I can mooch some food and drink, and at a time like this, there will most likely be benefits to take."

"You!" Xu Yueping laughed as he pointed at him.

Xu Yueping had considered it seriously and felt there would be no harm in going. So many great experts from Red Haze City had arrived—what could the Old Noble possibly want from a youth who had only undergone New Life once? If there truly were any "serious business," they could simply play along superficially. As for benefits, they should take as many as they could.

"Mm, I'll go shortly. While I'm at it, I'll take a look at his daughter too. Why is that noble lady so difficult to marry off?" Qin Ming said.