Slaying the Emperor's Brother Provokes an Unrivaled Foe
"I admire you!" The White-clothed Youth demon boy got straight to the point, his face beaming with an undisguised smile.
Qin Ming replied with a smile, "I also have a good impression of you. You're handsome and good-looking."
When others praised him, he naturally reciprocated with kindness, a classic case of returning a favor.
They were both laughing, but they weren't genuinely praising each other.
After all, whether it's admiring the opponent or praising their appearance, it's essentially saying that the opponent has "medicinal properties," thus beautifying a "simple" herb-gathering behavior.
The White-clothed Youth, Demonic Path, "Seed of humanity, let me tell you the truth. This war between our two races is unlike any before. Your ' East Corner ' is destined to have its mountains and rivers shattered, its earth stained with blood, and the Ancestral Court of all religions trampled to the ground by the gods."
He continued, "This is the trend of the times; no one can defy the mighty power of this era. You never know how powerful your opponents are this time. I'll show you the way; follow me."
He changed his mind, feeling that the herb was growing too well and it would be a waste to "consume" it now. He decided to nurture it for several more decades, until he reached a higher level, which would greatly help him break through barriers and attain enlightenment.
As for the corpse of his "brother" on the ground, he didn't even glance at it a second time.
The White-clothed Youth demon was ambitious and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to shatter Night Prefecture to accumulate more humanoid Great Medicine.
"Are you demons so confident that you can wipe out my Night Prefecture?" Qin Ming wasn't in a hurry to make a move; he really wanted to hear his "wise opinion" and see if he could uncover any valuable information.
The White-clothed Youth, Demonic Path, "When a god is born, he will traverse the Heavenly Gate. Who can stop him? The East Corner is destined to become a demon land; its fate was sealed long ago."
Qin Ming's heart sank. The Demon Race seemed incredibly confident; what level were their so-called gods at? Could they be at the Mid-Seventh Realm?
If that's the case, then they're already on par with Earth Immortal!
He asked, "Has Demon Race Earth God been born?"
The White-clothed Youth smiled faintly, not answering the question, but instead mentioning the glory of High Antiquity, saying, "In those ancient times, my Hanging Sky Ridge was the Sacred Land of the Feathered Race, once guarded by Heavenly God. Joining our side will not disgrace your status."
Qin Ming had recently learned about the major forces on the other side.
The Hanging Sky Ridge is indeed extraordinary. It was once an exceptionally powerful Demon Race Grotto-Heaven, suspended high above the dark clouds. However, it has long since collapsed, leaving only the last mountain ridge suspended in the air.
Undeterred, Qin Ming continued to probe for information, saying, "Seeing how confident you are, I'm very curious to know just how powerful your emerging deities are. There are no taboos about this, so please tell me."
The White-clothed Youth smiled and shook his head, offering no information whatsoever. He said, "My name is Huang Fei. My clan holds considerable influence in the Hanging Sky Ridge. If you come under my protection, you'll be well protected."
Qin Ming knew this young demon was tight-lipped, so he stopped giving him a friendly look and said, "I'm curious, where do you get your confidence from, acting like you've got me cornered?"
Huang Fei looked up at the night sky and said calmly, "My elder brother is the Jade Emperor, and as his younger brother, I naturally will not tarnish his reputation."
"Jade Emperor? What a boastful tone," Qin Ming said. He knew without a doubt that his elder brother must be a renowned Heavenly Demon Seed in the Demon Civilization.
As expected, the bird demons that followed Huang Fei and circled in the sky all showed reverence when they heard the words "Jade Emperor".
Furthermore, an Eagle Fiend shouted, "Disrespect to the Jade Emperor is forbidden!"
Qin Ming glanced at them a few times and said, "It seems the Jade Emperor is quite famous, but I wonder just how powerful he really is."
Before Huang Fei Say More, other demons in the night sky spoke up, "Once the great war breaks out, you will understand the weight of the word ' Jade Emperor.' It will suffocate the seeds of your East Corner, and they are destined to fall one after another at his feet."
Qin Ming said, "Watch your words. This is Night Prefecture."
Huang Fei sighed and said, "It seems we can't reach an agreement. What a pity. I originally wanted to raise you to the Fourth Realm or even Fifth Realm, but you're too lazy and insist on rushing to your death."
"What a show-off!" Thunder King Bird couldn't help but speak up. Although this white-robed Demon Race youth spoke calmly, his posture was anything but humble.
Huang Fei glanced at it and said, "Thunder King Bird, it flew faster than many Fourth Realm exotic birds even in the Third Realm. Hmm, it's a good mount. Soon you'll become 'ownerless,' so you'll follow me from now on."
Qin Ming said, "You toad yawning, come on, let me see just how extraordinary you are, the Jade Emperor's brother. I hope your Strange Blood won't disappoint me."
"I still don't know your name." Huang Fei's expression was calm, as if he were completely at ease and in control, truly putting on airs.
Now, Qin Ming naturally no longer needs names like Li Ye or Zhou Wubing.
Huang Fei nodded and said, "Qin Ming? Hmm, that name sounds familiar. He seems to have some fame, but it's not very impressive. I can't quite place him right now."
On the Demon Civilization side, they naturally investigated the situation of the experts in Night Prefecture, most of whom were at the Ancestor level, and some were at the Grandmaster Domain.
As for the Second Realm Immortal Seed, they are simply not qualified. No matter how outstanding they are, they cannot catch the eye of the demons' higher-ups because they cannot affect the overall situation.
As for the younger generation of the Demon Civilization, they did conduct a rough investigation into the human race in Night Prefecture, but the investigations were all centered around powerful figures from the Third Realm.
In their view, the seed of the Second Realm was still too weak. No matter how great the potential, it could not be converted into strength at present, and it would be difficult for it to achieve great things on this battlefield.
Huang Fei slowly paced around, turned around, his back to Qin Ming, and calmly said, "I have never been defeated in a head-on confrontation. Come on, I'll give you a chance!"
"!" Qin Ming had never encountered such an arrogant opponent before. For the first time in his life, he had been looked down upon like this, and he simply turned his back on him.
The Thunder King Bird glanced at Huang Fei silently, this time without saying a word.
"You're really getting arrogant. Do you think you're the Jade Emperor?" Qin Ming sighed.
Then, he slapped him across the face. He had learned something new about someone who dared to turn their back on him like that, and he now knew what it meant to be arrogant on the outside and pretentious on the inside.
In an instant, a fierce storm erupted on the mountaintop, with sand and stones flying everywhere, Golden Haze swirling, and the ground cracking open.
Qin Ming really wanted to slap him into a pulp.
However, he quickly State of Mind down; the fact that his emotions could fluctuate indicated that his opponent was indeed formidable.
Snap!
At that moment, the White-clothed Youth, a demon, moved; the ground atop the mountain shattered, and the entire mountain shook.
Huang Fei was indeed extraordinary. After he Exerted Effort with his foot, his entire aura changed. The power of his kick was like a mountain collapsing and the earth sinking.
His white robes fluttered in the wind as he leaned forward, his right leg lashing out backward with lightning speed, creating a terrifying sonic boom. Nearby millstone-sized rocks seemed as light as leaves as they were sent flying into the sky, only to explode in mid-air.
The speed and power of that kick were truly terrifying, startling even the Thunder King Bird. It felt that if it were to be kicked, it would be crippled, and its body might explode instantly.
Qin Ming was taken aback. This seemingly arrogant opponent was indeed quite formidable. He wasn't just putting on airs; the power of that kick alone was far greater than the blow Li Qingxu had delivered with his staff.
Of course, Huang Fei had already established himself in the Third Realm, so his cultivation level was naturally much higher.
Qin Ming slightly changed the direction of his slap, not wanting to touch the sole of his shoe, but instead striking his shinbone from the side, a relatively vulnerable area, which he wanted to break directly.
However, his expression changed in an instant.
Huang Fei's legs underwent a transformation, growing rapidly into truly long legs, complete with serrated edges.
When Qin Ming's palm made contact with it, sparks flew and clanged. His Vajra Palm, carrying a brilliant glow, caused a slight stinging sensation.
He gracefully retreated, looking down at his palm. Fortunately, his body was extremely resilient, and he was currently impervious to weapons; not even a scratch had broken his skin.
Qin Ming looked at his opponent with a strange expression, and finally understood why Huang Fei had his back to him. It was partly to pretend, but the bigger reason was to make it easier for Huang Fei to unleash his ultimate technique.
This White-clothed Youth demon was actually a -- Fallen Mountain!
His most impressive skills and abilities are mostly concentrated in his pair of powerful, long legs.
Huang Fei was a Locust Beast, whose body resembled a giant grasshopper, with serrated spikes covering its legs. He had been putting on an act, turning his back to Qin Ming, but in reality, he was building up his strength to unleash his trump card right away, intending to kill his opponent with a single kick.
Qin Ming said, "You're a Locust Beast. Are grasshoppers part of the Feathered Race? And you even have a lot of influence in the Hanging Sky Ridge? That's outrageous."
At the same time, he also learned that the so-called Jade Emperor was probably evolved from the Jade Locust.
"We are not locusts, how dare you slight and blaspheme my Locust Beast Clan?" Huang Fei's face darkened. At the same time, he moved his right leg, feeling swelling, soreness, and poor Qi and Blood.
He knew he had encountered an extremely powerful figure. This human youth was fighting against his strongest back kick technique with his bare hands, which was truly terrifying. However, he still had confidence.
The next moment, without Say More a word, the two launched into a fierce battle.
Huang Fei retracted his long legs, which were said to be able to Fallen Mountain, and transformed back into a dashing young man. After several unsuccessful attacks, he soared into the air, his clothes ripped on his back, revealing a pair of transparent wings.
Those were the wings of Locust Beast, vibrating loudly and unleashing sharp Sword Qi.
"Everyone says that human sword immortals have extraordinary attack power, but in fact, our Demon Race Fiend Sword Immortal far surpass them!" A falcon demon in the night sky exclaimed in praise.
The so-called Fiend Sword Immortal, including many races, all utilize the Heavenly God of their races, and the sword light they unleash is indeed astonishing.
Just like now, Huang Fei in the air, and when the transparent locust wings on his back vibrate, they not only emit terrifying sound waves that interfere with people's Mental Field, but also a dense array of sword lights crisscrossing across the field.
Qin Ming muttered to himself, "To have such combat power at the Early-Third Realm is quite impressive. It seems his elder brother, the Jade Emperor, is indeed a very dangerous person."
He took the "Jade Emperor" he had never met seriously and made a point of memorizing him.
Qin Ming blocked his sword light and retaliated by circulating the Golden Cicada Scripture. Instantly, the sound of cicadas rang out, like thunder in the night sky.
Furthermore, a golden cicada materialized as he formed the hand seals; its wings were very thin, and it carried the sword light as it flew away.
In an instant, in the night sky, the Golden Cicada released a thunderous sound, accompanied by Sword-Ray, crisscrossing and reverberating across this area, suppressing Huang Fei's sword light.
Qin Ming secretly transmitted his voice to the Thunder King Bird, saying, "Go find some Message Bird and tell the old guys in the city that several Heavenly Demon Seed have perished here, which will most likely provoke the old demons' revenge."
He delayed, not intending to strike immediately.
This was originally a remote area far from the Ancestor Battlefield, and no important figures would pay attention to it. Just like before, the Demon Race who crossed the border were only Mantis Beast and Black Peacock in the Early-Third Realm.
He killed several waves of Demon Race, eventually attracting the Black White Sparrow, Strange-Blooded Creature.
Now, the second Heavenly Demon Seed, Huang Fei, has also arrived here. For Qin Ming, this is considered a stroke of luck, as it's equivalent to digging up two Blood Medicine.
However, this also means that danger is approaching.
If this kind of Heavenly Demon Seed disappears, it might eventually attract the attention of the old demons.
In particular, Huang Fei has a remarkable background; he is the Jade Emperor's younger brother, and his death would likely cause considerable trouble.
He's now making preparations, requesting support from experts above to respond to any unforeseen crises.
As Higher Aberrant Bird, the Thunder King Bird has naturally attracted many "followers" in recent days, and soon after, several birds flew away one after another.
Qin Ming stood atop the mountain, his hands constantly forming hand seals, accompanied by the chirping of Golden Cicada, the rumble of thunder, and the dazzling light of swords.
The group of Demon Race were stunned. They felt that what this human was using was not the method of an ordinary sword immortal, but more like the innate ability of Fiend Sword Immortal.
Huang Fei's expression turned solemn as he unleashed his full power in a sword duel with his opponent—a duel belonging to the realm of "Fiend Sword Immortal."
He would occasionally unleash a kick, each time with tremendous power, creating a huge hole in the mountaintop with a thunderous roar, and cracking the ground with many dark fissures.
Qin Ming responded calmly, using sword light to counter sword light and Vajra Fist to break the leg technique of Fallen Mountain. He fought back and forth with Qin Ming, and the battle was fierce.
As time went on, the two became evenly matched, having exchanged nearly two hundred blows.
Huang Fei's expression shifted from confidence to a slight frown, and then to a solemn look. He was Heavenly Demon Seed, not an ordinary Demon Race genius, and his senses were exceptionally sharp.
He sensed something was wrong. Was this human boy who followed the path of the "Fiend Sword Immortal" hiding his true strength all along? He was fighting his virtuous brother Black White Sparrow, to a standstill, and theoretically, he was no match for him at all.
Now, Qin Ming has actually managed to fight him to a draw.
"Fuck you!" He was decisive. Sensing something was wrong, he didn't hesitate for a moment, and with a whoosh, he was about to Chongxiao into the sky.
He was Locust Beast, capable of flying and burrowing through the air on his own. The transparent locust wings on his back vibrated violently, propelling him towards disappearing into the night fog.
"Huh?!" He was horrified, feeling as if his legs were stuck to the ground.
Huang Fei looked down and saw golden threads wrapped around his ankle, from which he could not break free.
At this moment, Qin Ming activated the Golden Cicada Scripture, and golden Heavenly Light Force emanated from every pore of his body. Several of these threads disappeared into the night, binding his opponent's legs, which he then ripped off.
How could he possibly allow this highly potent Heavenly Demon Seed to escape?
"You!" Huang Fei's expression changed. His premonition had come true. It was that damned human youth who hadn't used his full strength earlier; his true cultivation was far stronger than he had shown.
Qin Ming remained expressionless. He had sent a message in advance, assuming that the old guys behind him should arrive faster than the Demon Race.
However, to be on the safe side, he preferred to prolong the battle.
After pulling Huang Fei to the ground, he engaged the demon in a fierce battle.
After dozens of moves, Huang Fei's face turned extremely ugly. Wasn't this kind of duel too fake? As one of the parties involved, he couldn't stand it anymore.
His eyes were cold; he was constantly looking for the right opportunity.
Now he had his chance, and he engaged in a fierce battle with his opponent. Then, with a sudden flick of his sleeve, a jade sword flew out, bursting forth with a hazy white light.
Huang Fei revealed a sinister smile, abandoning his earlier gentle and otherworldly demeanor, and waited for his opponent to be cleaved in two by the sword light.
Before Qin Ming, golden Heavenly Light Force, like silk threads, blocked the white light emanating from the jade sword. However, the layered net formed by the Golden Silkworm Force was completely shattered!
Most importantly, he felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that this sword light was extremely dangerous, completely different from, and far surpassing, the sword light Huang Fei had used before.
"That's not his sword light!"
Qin Ming immediately understood that this was the sword intent left in the jade sword by someone else, which Huang Fei had refined over a long period of time, nurturing it into a sword light with astonishing power.
Qin Ming remained calm, raising his right hand to grab the sword light.
Others couldn't see it, but Huang Fei could see it clearly: hidden between Qin Ming's five fingers, there was a very small Yin Yang Diagram rotating in his palm.
When that unparalleled sword light pierced Qin Ming's palm, it rang out with a clang, shaking the void and causing the surrounding rocks and vegetation to explode.
However, the sword light was unable to pierce the hand that the opponent was blocking in front of him; it was completely obliterated by the Yin Yang Diagram in his palm.
Huang Fei was shocked. This was a "Sword Seed" left to him by his elder brother. He had been refining it every day and nourishing it with Demon Power. Although it was not as powerful as the Jade Emperor's Sword-Drawing strike, it was enough to kill opponents of the same level.
In the past two years, he has been invincible. With this sword, he has killed extremely difficult opponents. No matter what their background or what noble Demon Race blood they possess, he can kill them with One Sword strike.
"How could there be such a person? He blocked my brother's Jade Emperor Sword Seed." He was incredulous, then horrified, realizing that his chances of survival were slim.
Earlier, he said he was invincible among his peers, and he wasn't just talking nonsense. With this Sword Seed in his body, he could indeed defeat many opponents.
No one outside knew that he possessed such a sword light; to see it was certain death.
"You are indeed remarkable, forcing me to use my true strength," Qin Ming said, and this was not a false praise.
Then he sighed, "One must be careful about faking a fight."
If you don't go all out, you might really fail. If you can't have absolute control, suppressing your own abilities to fight the enemy is no different from suicide.
Because battles can change in an instant, opponents might resort to any desperate measures.
"This human boy..." Huang Fei knew he had messed up and tried to communicate telepathically, but he was blocked by Qin Ming's Golden Silkworm Force. Strands of Heavenly Light Force intertwined into a net, enveloping him and giving him no chance to speak.
However, these Demon Race in the night sky had exceptional insight and could see that Huang Fei was at a disadvantage.
"Go and deliver the message!" a demon whispered. After all, this was the Jade Emperor's own brother, and they had to do everything in their power to save him.
Then, even more demons swooped down.
Qin Ming knew he could no longer buy time by engaging in a closely fought battle.
"Puff!"
His Golden Silkworm Force pierced through Huang Fei's body, pinning him to the mountaintop. Looking down at him, he said, "Is this all you've got? All that pretense, nothing special."
"Hiss!"
The demons that had just swooped down were terrified. They tried to flap their wings, but they couldn't fly high. Golden silkworm energy surged up and bound them, and there were also flashes of bright sword light.
Although these demons fought with all their might, they were all eventually slain by the blade, dying one by one on the mountaintop.
In the night sky, the falcon demon that tried to escape to deliver the message, although fast, was no match for the Thunder King Bird and was caught up and killed.
In the distance, there are also spies from the bird tribe, whose combat capabilities are relatively weak and whose only responsibility is to relay messages.
Qin Ming drew his bow and shot an arrow, one after another, blasting them all apart.
"Who exactly are you?" Huang Fei was desperate; this time he had kicked a hornet's nest.
Seeing Qin Ming approaching, he quickly said, "My elder brother is the Jade Emperor. Please don't kill me. Let me go; I can save your life in a critical moment."
"Are you dreaming? As Great Medicine, you have no sense of responsibility whatsoever." Qin Ming picked him up, slapped him several times, and then a flash of sword light ended his life.
"Kill me, and you won't have a good end either. The Jade Emperor is in charge, and no one can save your life." These were Huang Fei's last words before his consciousness was burned to ashes by the Heavenly Light.
"My lord, the message has been delivered. The people in the city say you need not worry, experts will arrive soon." Some birds returned after relaying the message.
A strange bird added, "The officials in the city said that more than one expert is patrolling the surrounding area. If anything happens, someone will come to your aid."
"As long as they don't mess things up at crucial moments," Qin Ming muttered to himself, standing atop the mountain and gazing at the dark horizon.
He quickly extracted the Strange Blood from the Locust Beast that had transformed into its true form and sealed it away temporarily. He had just refined the Blood Medicine of the Black White Sparrow and had not yet fully absorbed it.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A great commotion came from the horizon, like a giant beast running.
The world's edge region is relatively flat, with few mountains scattered across large plains, and dense forests everywhere you look.
In the distance, large trees have fallen, wild beasts are fleeing, and birds are taking flight—are some large creatures on their way?
"The speed isn't particularly fast, but it seems to be heading straight for me." Qin Ming's expression changed slightly.
The old monsters in the city behind him haven't shown up yet. Could it be that some ancient demon has arrived first?
If a master of the Fourth Realm were to appear, he would likely be no match for him; with a Major Realm separating them, no one could possibly defeat him.
He had a terrible experience. In the First Realm, he encountered the Old Woman from the Cui Household who was in the Early-Third Realm. Without any suspense, her protective Heavenly Light and naturally released Spiritual Field tore him apart, leaving him in pieces.
"If the old man is unreliable, I'll have no choice but to retreat and avoid his advance."
Before long, a towering figure, six meters tall, appeared in his field of vision. It was not as tall as a tree, but its strength was terrifying. However, any obstacles it encountered were shattered with a single sweep of its arm.
"Humanoid monster!"
The creature appeared humanoid, but it exuded the aura of a prehistoric beast. Its face was flat, its nose had only nostrils and no prominent bridge, and it had no hair on its head.
Most importantly, his entire body was silver-white, glowing faintly in the night.
"This looks very much like one of the giant beasts recorded in Ancient Texts, Humanoid Silver War Beast!" Qin Ming's expression turned solemn.
In ancient times, giant beasts and mountain-sized plants nearly wiped out all the humans in Night Prefecture, bringing immense disaster and suffering.
Later, with the help of other beings and the rise of many powerful individuals among humans, the giant beast was finally defeated.
"Silver War Beast, I reckon I'm probably no match for it at the Fourth Realm." Qin Ming sensed something was wrong.
It climbed the mountain, its flat face framed by icy eyes. Each step it took produced a tremendous thud, crushing many rocks beneath its feet.
"The monsters encountered by our ancestors still exist among the Demon Race; they have not been eradicated."
Among the Giant Beast Clan, the Humanoid Silver War Beast is considered a miniature species in terms of size, but its strength is extremely high. The name "silver" is enough to illustrate its potential, and it reaches the Fourth Realm upon adulthood.
Upon reaching the mountaintop, the Silver War Beast spotted Huang Fei's corpse and immediately went berserk, its body radiating brilliant Silver Light as it charged towards Qin Ming.
Sure enough, he killed the Jade Emperor's brother, which was a huge offense that could not be resolved peacefully. Not long after, a Humanoid Silver War Beast appeared.
Qin Ming leaped onto the back of the Thunder King Bird in mid-air, holding the Mutton Fat Jade Iron Saber, and then became one with the bird, streaking across the low sky like a bolt of lightning.
How can he know he's no match if he doesn't fight? He didn't want to retreat without even trying a single move.
Clang!
Qin Ming used his extreme speed to dodge the Silver War Beast's terrifying giant paw, leaving a small amount of blood on its shoulder and wounding it.
However, he was more worried than pleased. The opponent's defense was too amazing. His body was incredibly tough. Although the Mutton Fat Jade Iron Saber could cut through his flesh, it was blocked by the mysterious Beast Essence and could not sever his shoulder.
Moreover, after the Silver Light appeared, the Battle Beast's wounds healed rapidly.
This monster doesn't use the Heavenly Light Force, nor does it Consciousness Spirit Light; it only circulates its Beast Essence and can sweep away all opponents with its powerful physique.
Qin Ming swung his sword around it repeatedly, hitting it three times, but the effect was minimal. The deepest wound he received only barely reached the bone, hardly causing serious damage.
"Roar!"
The Humanoid Silver War Beast suddenly roared at the night sky, its surging Beast Essence boiling and its Silver Light like flames, almost causing the Thunder King Bird to fall headlong into the sky.
Its Qi and Blood surged, and due to the close proximity, it nearly suffered a severe injury.
Qin Ming's expression changed; this giant beast was indeed terrifying and difficult to deal with.
The Thunder King Bird was so frightened that it flew high into the sky and dared not swoop down again.
The Humanoid Silver War Beast stomped the ground, burying Huang Fei's corpse underground.
It roared at Qin Ming, its eyes icy, and then headed down the mountain.
Qin Ming frowned. It just retreated like that?
He quickly realized something was wrong; the Humanoid Silver War Beast was heading towards Green Maple Town!
"The old guys gave orders to be tough on the demons who crossed the border, but have they disappeared when it really matters? Why haven't they shown up yet!" Qin Ming said anxiously.
If such a Battle Beast were to enter Green Maple Town, the entire population of the town would be wiped out.
He gazed into the distance, and then let out a long howl, but there was no strong support in response.
Qin Ming's brows furrowed in worry. Thinking of the dirty little faces in the town, he gritted his teeth, rode the Thunder King Bird out, and then suddenly fell from mid-air, blocking the path that the Humanoid Silver War Beast would inevitably pass.