A Future Won by Fighting

Under the night sky, the black outlines of the distant mountains were faintly visible.

"The information was wrong!" someone cried out in the forest.

In the dense woods, the people surrounding Qin Ming were all stunned and hurriedly retreated. In the blink of an eye, two companions had died. That young man was far too brutal. In an instant, he had changed from simple and tranquil into a figure overflowing with killing intent. Even his clear eyes had changed, as though two bolts of lightning were shooting from them.

Especially now, Qin Ming held a spear in one hand, its tip piercing through one of their companions' chest and lifting him into the air, letting blood stream down and stain the snow red.

This sight made the hair stand on end for the first few people who had surrounded him. If they had been standing there just now, they likely would not have escaped either.

The youth's aura had become completely different. His black hair whipped in the cold wind, his handsome face was filled with chill, and his entire body began to exude an oppressive presence.

The few of them involuntarily retreated again and again. How could someone who had undergone First New Life possess such terrifying strength? One of the two dead men had entered the Second New Life Realm more than ten years ago.

"This truly exceeds my expectations. You carry no small secret, do you? You reached Second New Life so quickly. Ordinary people need to consolidate for a while, yet you did not need to pause at all before advancing again."

Qi Huaien walked forward. He was well-proportioned, with the strength of a tiger or leopard as well as agility and sharpness. His fairly handsome face was icy, and his brows were furrowed.

He hated the feeling of things slipping beyond his control. This youth he had been observing had exceeded his grasp and become a dangerous variable. But since he had already acted, he had no other choice.

His family was gathering an extremely rare kind of Spiritual Matter and preparing to formulate a mysterious medicine that could alter one's bones and foundation. It could improve his talent and potential, allowing him to become one of the candidates.

That way, he could spend a few more years at the side of that elder in Flowing Light City, listening to secret arts. It would be enough to change the course of his life.

If Qin Ming's talent had been comparable to You Liangyun's, he would have gladly shown goodwill in advance and befriended him. But he had realized that this youth was destined to block his path, and he could no longer hold himself back.

Qin Ming suddenly swung the spear in his right hand. The corpse impaled on it was like a Scarecrow, flying free from the spearhead and smashing toward Qi Huaien at extreme speed.

With a swish, Qi Huaien drew his long saber. It was as if a streak of lightning flashed across the dim forest. He struck the rapidly approaching corpse with the flat of his blade, his movement light and nimble. Yet the corpse seemed to have been hit by an armored vehicle. The spot touched by the blade was completely deformed, and the body was easily knocked aside into a large tree.

Crack!

Many dead branches snapped. The corpse crashed high against the trunk, its body mangled as it fell to the ground.

During this, Qin Ming calmly shifted sideways several steps and picked up the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer that had fallen to the ground. He now held a spear in one hand and a great hammer in the other.

Neither of these weapons was suited for one-handed use by an ordinary person, but Qin Ming's arms contained two thousand jin of strength. Holding one in each hand felt almost weightless to him.

He was somewhat surprised. This Qi Huaien really had some skill. With a light flick of his saber, he had sent that corpse flying as though it had been struck by an armored vehicle, its bones shattered and tendons snapped, tossed six or seven meters away.

Qi Huaien looked at the other four and said, "What are you standing around for? Are you waiting for me to act personally while you watch from the side?"

They were all people he had brought from his Household. Some were deeply loyal to him, while others feared his background and did not dare disobey. This time, they raised their guard and slowly circled Qin Ming, ready to attack at any moment.

This time, everyone besieging Qin Ming was highly focused. A Second New Life Evolver took the lead, swinging a gleaming long halberd down in a sudden vertical chop. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit boiled as he mobilized every bit of strength in his body.

At the same time, the others also attacked. Including Qi Huaien, they slashed out a terrifying blade light concealed amid everyone's weapons.

Qin Ming directly swung the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer in his left hand upward. With a clang, the heavy long halberd was smashed high into the air.

That Second New Life Evolver could hardly believe it. He gripped the halberd shaft with both hands, yet could not hold on at all. The soft flesh between his fingers was torn apart by the shock, and the weapon flew from his grasp. What horrifying strength was this? Was Qin Ming truly still a Second New Life Evolver?

At the same time, the others had also clashed with the spear and long-handled hammer in Qin Ming's hands, and all were badly shaken. However, unlike the halberd wielder, they had not committed themselves completely and had some room to absorb the force. Their arms were numb, but they still held their weapons.

Qin Ming's strength was not merely frightening; his speed far surpassed theirs as well. Otherwise, he could not have intercepted every sharp weapon attacking him in that instant.

Qi Huaien only made a "tasting stop," retreating after the slightest contact. He had already realized that this youth had completely "slipped out of control" and could no longer be "grasped."

Even though he had already overestimated his opponent, he now saw that he had still been too conservative.

Without any hesitation, he took out a three-inch-tall crystal vial, pulled the stopper, and poured the scarlet liquid inside into his mouth, drinking it without pause.

He had no other choice today. Even fleeing was no longer an option. If he did not silence the other party, his end would not be good. Once that crow learned the truth of this place, it would definitely kill him.

Though he knew that this liquid would harm him afterward, Qi Huaien could no longer care. At this moment, he had to raise his strength drastically.

In the field, Qin Ming did not pause in the slightest. Amid that brief collision and exchange against everyone, he naturally caught the weakest point at once.

The Second New Life Evolver whose long halberd he had sent flying became his first choice of target.

His body became like a phantom, evading the long saber, iron mace, and sharp sword attacking him again from the others. He seemed to teleport as he smashed his hammer toward the Second New Life Evolver, whose ten fingers were bleeding as he retreated at high speed.

That man dodged with everything he had, while companions at his side came to his aid. Yet he still failed to evade completely. The lower part of his right shoulder took a heavy blow from the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer. It instantly caved in and burst apart, while the bones in the right side of his chest shattered, piercing his internal organs. Screaming miserably, he flew sideways.

Though he had not died yet, he had lost all combat ability. He lay on the ground, gasping heavily, unable to rise. His right shoulder was gone, and an entire arm had been sent flying away.

That tyrannical, ferocious strength, along with such terrifying combat methods, made the others turn pale. What kind of monster had they encountered?

Even though they served the Qi Family and their families, young and old alike, were in that city, they were now terrified. They sensed that this was an invincible opponent and desperately wanted to retreat.

What kind of Golden Foundation had he established during his First New Life? After his Second New Life, his strength and speed were beyond their reach. It was as if they were people from two entirely different levels.

"Do not be afraid. I can deal with him. Pay attention to coordinating from the side and help me hold this beast back!" Qi Huaien said, walking over with his long saber in hand.

Not only was his face faintly red and glowing, but his body also seemed thoroughly ripened. Every exposed patch of skin was scarlet and translucent, streaming with blood-colored luminous mist.

Qin Ming stared at him without fear. His opponent was a Second New Life Evolver. Even if he had drunk some mysterious medicine, could his body immediately produce Heavenly Light and enter the Third New Life Realm? That was simply unrealistic. Even if his body was about to transform, it would take one or two days to complete.

"This powerful and extraordinary strength is truly wonderful. It makes one intoxicated," Qi Huaien sighed.

He stared at Qin Ming and said, "I admit that profit and desire made me lose myself. My eyes are no longer clear, and dust has covered my heart. But even if I could do it again, I would probably still make the same choice."

At a moment like this, he actually needed to vent his emotions.

Red light flowed over Qi Huaien's well-proportioned body. His still-youthful face bore unwillingness and thirst for power as he continued, "Do you know? I came from a city much smaller than Sunset City. Yet when I underwent New Life, I could lift a seven-hundred-and-twenty-jin cauldron. I was peerless in that region, far surpassing the second person of my generation. But when that important person passed through there, I was still somewhat lacking even in the qualifications to become a candidate. I was deeply disappointed!"

Qin Ming did not attack. He listened quietly.

Qi Huaien looked up at the night sky and said, "Now, I finally have an opportunity. My family gave up an entire mineral vein to obtain an extraordinary Spiritual Object that can alter my bones and foundation and improve my talent. I have a chance to study beside that important person's teacher for five to ten years. Do you know what that means? It means I can change my fate. One step forward, and the sea and sky are boundless, my life splendid as brocade. But your appearance cut off my path upward. You will become a candidate, and I will lose my qualification. If I take one step back, I will become duckweed without roots. I will go as an attendant and can only listen in for one to four years. That will not be enough for me to completely change my fate. I have no other choice!"

Qin Ming looked at him calmly. "You are striving to advance, fighting for yourself, wanting to step into a broader world and witness the infinitely splendid scenery of life. As for me, I am only here to preserve my life and survive."

Qi Huaien raised the long saber in his hand. "Yes. Our positions differ. Our meeting here was a mistake. But I have no way back. Either I kill you and leap like a fish, bursting from a babbling stream into a boundless, dazzling golden sea and stirring up my own golden waves, or I die here today and end it all. Kill!"

He roared the word "kill" and leaped forward, arriving in an instant. The long saber in his hand cleaved out an exceptionally dazzling light, exploding the surrounding trunks and branches.

The others coordinated with him and charged forward in a fierce assault.

In that spark-flash instant, Qin Ming faced four experts alone with complete calm, without the slightest sense of urgency, exchanging blows with them again and again.

"How is this possible?" Qi Huaien could not believe it and found the truth difficult to accept. After drinking the red medicine with its side effects, his strength had been greatly enhanced, yet he still could not sweep aside his opponent?

During his First New Life, he had been able to lift a seven-hundred-and-twenty-jin cauldron. After his Second New Life, the strength in his arms had doubled. Now, it had approached nineteen hundred jin.

Even at this level, he still could not suppress his opponent. Instead, his right hand was numbed by the impact. What kind of monster was Qin Ming? He far exceeded Qi Huaien's imagination.

"Is... is he even human?" The others turned pale. They knew Qi Huaien's foundation very well. They all came from the same place and understood how terrifying he became after drinking the red medicine. Yet he was still no match for that youth and still could not hold him down!

Qin Ming said, "Unless you immediately produce Heavenly Light after drinking a stimulant and enter the Third New Life Realm, everything you have done is futile."

At the same time, he showed no mercy. The spear in his right hand pierced through one man's heart, flinging him away and pinning him to a large tree.

Boom!

The next instant, he sent another opponent's long saber flying with a single hammer blow and smashed that man's chest inward. Though he did not immediately breathe his last, he certainly would not survive.

Qi Huaien went mad, exchanging blows with him repeatedly. Yet the hand holding his saber trembled slightly. Qin Ming's Long-handled Black Gold Hammer could not be shaken at all. He could no longer block it.

At that moment, Qin Ming threw the spear in his hand. Qi Huaien's last helper was pierced through and fell into the snow, gasping heavily. He could hardly believe that their group, led by Qi Huaien, had failed in besieging a single person. They were all going to die here.

Qin Ming calmly employed the combat techniques from the Sword Manual. He did not swing according to fixed saber forms, but flexibly applied them according to his own understanding, without any rigid craftsmanship. His moves were often strokes of divine inspiration that caught others completely off guard.

After many exchanges, Qi Huaien discovered in despair that even when he used techniques, competed in subtle moves, and unleashed every trump card he possessed, he could not match Qin Ming. He was crushed across the board.

With a bang, Qi Huaien flew sideways. Qin Ming's hammer had struck his right shoulder, which exploded amid a mist of blood.

"What level have you reached? How great is the strength in your body?" Qi Huaien asked unwillingly.

Qin Ming ignored him and prepared to step forward and finish him with the Hammer Saber.

Qi Huaien laughed miserably. "Even if you do not say it, I know. To suppress me in this state, your arms probably had a thousand jin of strength during your First New Life. After Second New Life, you can naturally lift a two-thousand-jin cauldron. Am I right?"

The others who had not yet breathed their last, though coughing blood and struggling to stay alive, all forced themselves to raise their heads and look at the valiant youth. Their hearts were utterly shaken. Before dying, they had heard such news—someone had actually reached that level!

"I will send you on your way," Qin Ming said calmly. He walked over and gave each of them a finishing blow with the Hammer Saber, ending their lives completely.

He carefully cleaned up the battlefield and dealt with the aftermath, ensuring that every trace was erased before turning and leaving for that Earth Fissure from the past.

"Hm?" Qin Ming felt something strange. This Special Node, which had made him gravely ill back then, now relaxed and lightened his body the moment he approached it. A trace of fatigue from the battle swiftly faded away here.

After carefully scanning the nearby mountain forest, he did not hesitate and entered the Earth Fissure. Once again, he saw strands of Silver Light interweaving underground.

Thanks: Song Liyu, Guang Fuyou, Zhang Hanshan, Suiyue Liushengji, San Sheng Yuan Mao Mao. Thank you to the alliance leaders for your support!