Wet Shoes

"I never imagined that after leaving the Mist Gate, I would stray hundreds of thousands of miles away, and only today have I returned to my homeland," an old man sighed.

The Night Mist World, Vast and Boundless. After a long journey, they finally arrived at their destination.

The group of people were all travel-worn and tired, but they were by no means ordinary people. Some rode in Silver Tyrannosaurus Rex, some sat on the backs of golden butterflies, and some rode on fiery red giant lizards.

In the dead of winter, when the cold was biting, this group of people, braving the wind and snow and looking somewhat tired, stood tall with their eyes shining with a fervent joy.

"Night Prefecture, this place may seem remote and desolate, and Immortal Capital here, but it's actually quite treacherous. As a temporary stop for Jade Capital, we can't be too cautious!" someone reminded.

Double Tree Village was covered in heavy snow. In this bitterly cold season, when even a breath could freeze into frost, two small creatures persevered in their arduous training, practicing their skills in the trees.

They were also bickering and bragging.

"Red Rat, do you know what I've been through? I've seen Demon Immortal, witnessed the great battle Ancestor. I even fought my way across the battlefield, charging through densely packed armies of demons. You can't even imagine how magnificent and awe-inspiring that scene was. A real man has to experience that at least once in his life!"

The Red Squirrel was quite envious, but then retorted sourly, "You? You'd be nothing more than a mouthful of food for the demons. What are Pine Master bragging about? I don't believe you."

Talking Finch said, "The Mountain Lord can testify that I was once his mount, carrying him through the skies and across the earth to rescue his friend Ning Siqi. Together, we clattered and slaughtered, slaying countless Heavenly Demon Seed!"

"With your tiny frame, you're trying to carry people in flight? I bet you'll just be screaming in fright." Despite saying that, the Red Squirrel actually longed for the outside world.

Talking Finch said, "Big Rat, stop slandering me. You live a comfortable life here sponging off your parents, but your horizons and knowledge are far behind. The world is so big; when you can protect yourself, you should go and see it for yourself."

"How do you know I haven't been through much? I was once a guest of honor in the Jedi, and a distinguished guest at that..." the Red Squirrel boasted, leaping up and down the tree.

Finally, it patted its chest and declared confidently, "If we go back in time, to this time last year, I saved Little Qin's life."

Talking Finch scoffed, "A real bird can boast!"

The Red Squirrel puffed out its chest and raised its head, saying, "Don't disbelieve me, it's true. Last harsh winter, the whole village suffered famine, and the mountain lord you mentioned almost starved to death. Do you know how he survived? He ate my relief grain; I owe him a debt of gratitude!"

Talking Finch said, "Come on, I heard that the mountain lord raided your rat hole and even you were his food. He only spared you because he took pity on you. You should be grateful."

The Red Squirrel was furious. Back then, when the heavy snow blocked the mountain, its nest was emptied, and it almost died of anger. Even now, it is still very agitated when it recalls it.

"He survived by eating my rat food. Even if five hundred years pass and he rises to become Ancestor and a renowned Earth Immortal immortal, he cannot erase this fact."

Talking Finch exclaimed in surprise, "Good heavens, Song Zai, you're really brave! You're already writing a dark chapter in the Mountain Lord's history. You'd better watch out, or you'll be silenced."

Suddenly, they felt a chill down their backs, and then they were buried by the blizzard, which startled the two little creatures into letting out a strange cry.

"Mountain Lord?"

"Qin Daddy!"

Qin Ming planned to lie low in Black White Mountain and accumulate his own cultivation.

After all, his record of killing Heavenly Demon Seed on the Western Territory Battlefield was too dazzling. Now it's time for him to keep a low profile and quietly improve his strength.

"Little Qin, you're back!" Old Man Liu was overjoyed, then overwhelmed with emotion, he murmured, "Lately, I've been having fragmented dreams, bizarre and fantastical, that I want to get close to but can't truly touch, and then I'm startled awake. I feel my time is up, that I won't survive this winter."

Qin Ming's heart sank. Was Old Man Liu's attempt to retrace his steps destined to end in failure?

"In the future, you must not change your life form to become an immortal. Otherwise, if you regret it one day and try to trace back your original path, you will have to pay an extremely heavy price. Five hundred years have passed, and this is not over yet!"

Liu Mo spoke mysteriously, rambling on for a while, before realizing how bizarre it all was, and looking bewildered.

Then, with a blank look in his eyes, he murmured, "Only when this life ends can I truly escape the past."

Clearly, something was wrong with him.

According to Red Squirrel, Old Man Liu's family recently felt that he was possessed by an evil spirit and had already begun preparing for his funeral.

Qin Ming said, "It's alright, with me here, you won't die. I guarantee you'll live to the age of ninety-five, achieving a perfect ending and then beginning New Life."

Old Man Liu was sometimes normal, and sometimes he seemed to be talking in his sleep. At this moment, he was in an abnormal state. His eyes were lifeless as he said, "Little Qin, have you ever eaten the flesh of a god? When I'm about to die, I'll treat you to your fill."

In the Liu family's yard, the Big Yellow Dog quickly tucked its tail between its legs, scurried into its kennel, and behaved itself quietly, not daring to utter a single bark.

Qin Ming returned to Black White Mountain and began to meditate. Sometimes he would talk with Old Man Liu, and a casual remark from the old man could have a profound impact on him.

He was certain that Liu Mo was a being who had escaped from Jade Capital, which was quite astonishing!

Unfortunately, anything related to Jade Capital seemed to be a taboo topic. As soon as Qin Ming probed a little and asked seriously, Old Man Liu's condition became suspicious.

Liu Mo was troubled by the fragmented dreams. Even when he tried to get close to those Illusory Bubble, he would fall into confusion, let alone outsiders trying to get involved.

Outside, there was much commotion, with all sorts of strange birds soaring through the night sky, and news flying everywhere, much of it related to Qin Ming.

He ventured into Beyond the Mundane and Esoteric Sect, exchanging his military achievements for incomplete scriptures, and even sparred with Seed Level Figure, sparking heated discussions. Not to mention his grudges and entanglements with the Cui Household.

Even though the world was covered in a thick snow, it couldn't stop the message from being sent.

"Hiss, Sun Taichu has emerged from seclusion and personally visited the Cui Household for a two-day stay, which has finally helped them stabilize the situation. Otherwise, the Cui Household would be in a very passive position recently, as their opponents are making significant moves."

This news struck like a thunderbolt, greatly shaking all forces. The fact that a renowned Ancestor of the Immortal Path had emerged from seclusion demonstrates the importance he placed on his closed-door disciple Cui Chonghe.

Many large organizations are closely watching whether the Immortal Path Ancestor will take action against Lu Zizai.

Clearly, people were overthinking it. Sun Taichu had no intention of starting a major conflict. He left the pass because of Cui Chonghe, simply to tell all parties not to take advantage of his misfortune.

He came calmly, and left silently.

Even so, the names of Sun Taichu, Lu Zizai, Qin Ming, Cui Chonghe, and others were repeatedly mentioned, sparking heated discussions.

Meanwhile, details of the great battle between Qin Ming and the God Seed Helian Zhaoyu on the Ice Wasteland outside the Pure Land also spread far and wide.

Under the night fog, many people in the various cities were talking.

"Comparable to ancient Sage returning to their youth for a duel? That's incredible! The Niu Ben actually blocked the news, and it's only now spreading among the lower levels!"

"Don't talk nonsense. Helian Zhaoyu is a seed of the Beyond the Mundane Pure Land, and has nothing to do with our Esoteric Sect!"

"Hiss, there's a rumor going around that Qin Ming had a private sparring session with Jiang Ran back in the Immortal Land. Is the New Life Path about to shine brightly again?"

Qin Ming's decision to retreat to Black White Mountain and cultivate in Secluded Cultivation was clearly the right one. Recently, the Night Report, the World Report, and other media outlets have been reporting on him, but he doesn't want to be scrutinized by all sides.

Despite the clamor of the outside world, he completely disappeared from people's sight, focusing on studying various scriptures and improving his spiritual practice.

"Body Slaying Divine Spirits!" Qin Ming comprehended the <Body Refining and Dao Integration Scripture>, and with the complete True Scripture in hand, his physique improved slightly once again.

He sighed softly. No wonder it was a scripture that even the Ancestor of the Silk Book Method valued so highly. If they had had the complete copy back then, perhaps the Ancestor could have lived longer.

"Refining the Heart Ape in the Eight Trigrams Furnace —this is a potent medicine!"

Qin Ming attached great importance to the Four-Page Jade Book, studying them diligently every day. This involved mental power, causing his Eye of New Life to change and become even more powerful than before.

He was also somewhat troubled by this, occasionally seeing extremely old itinerant merchants and bandits deep within the layers of mist.

Moon Queen, in the Black White Mountain, Qin Ming's fist light pierced the darkness, illuminating the rolling mountains, and he gained a deeper understanding of the "Golden Crow Illuminates Night Scripture".

"In ancient times, at least some people cultivated two paths simultaneously." He was certain that the smoothest and most powerful way to circulate this scripture was to mix Divine Wisdom, Heavenly Light, and Consciousness Spiritual Power.

"The time for Spirit Travel has come." Late at night, Qin Ming sat cross-legged under the Black White Twin Trees, like a god comprehending the Dao. Black and White energy flowed on the trees, transforming into Yin Yang Diagram.

On the ground, Qin Ming sat quietly, his consciousness merging with the Heavenly Light, breaking free from his physical body. Then, wrapped in Torn Cloth and carrying Exotic Metal Small Sword, he Chongxiao and disappeared into the dark clouds.

This is a kind of ascetic practice he performs every day: going to the mysterious and profound depths of the sky, enduring the bombardment of Astral Wind, receiving the Heavenly Light, and undergoing the baptism of the occasional otherworldly fire, thus tempering himself.

In fact, those who reach the Third Realm of the Immortal Path — Light Harmony —will attempt to "Tribulation Crossing" or undergo baptism with "Immortal Fire."

Most of them, accompanied by their elders, came to the heavens to encounter various terrifying Extraterrestrial Substance in order to Tribulation Crossing.

Now, Qin Ming is also experiencing this kind of arduous training.

He came up here alone every day, lost in his own Spirit Travel.

Above the thick clouds, all was pitch black. Only when the Heavenly Light or the mysterious fire from another world appeared could there be any light. Otherwise, it was like an "Heavenly Abyss," so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. The oppressive atmosphere was so overwhelming that it was suffocating.

Qin Ming's Spirit Travel wandered upwards, and he muttered to himself, "Am I approaching the Nine Heavens? The different levels of the celestial dome have different Astral Wind, and the Heavenly Light and Immortal Fire that can fall are also different."

Above the Nine Heavens, some terrifying Astral Wind can instantly Rogue Person's Consciousness Spirit Light, and some Otherworldly Immortal Fire can burn Grandmaster to ashes in an instant.

Therefore, Qin Ming was quite cautious, becoming even more prudent the more he learned about the situation.

He naturally dared not go Above the Nine Heavens. To be on the safe side, he always stayed within the area of the Third Realm. However, in this area, capturing the Heavenly Light, the Otherworldly True Fire, and the like depended on luck.

Today, he had a great harvest. A vast "meteor shower" poured down, all of which he captured. There was Heavenly Light, strange fire, and inexplicable red mist. All of these things were "eroding" him, thus subjecting him to "a thousand trials and tribulations."

However, it also contains a source of vitality that can replenish his energy.

Otherwise, without benefit, who would willingly ascend to heaven and undergo the most dangerous "Tribulation Crossing"?

Qin Ming felt "full," and carrying the remaining large amount of "meteor shower," he wanted to break through the clouds and return to the ground.

Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine. Although he no longer had a physical body, he still felt a sense of unease, and his whole body tensed up.

Qin Ming immediately wrapped himself in Torn Cloth to avoid the impact of the "Astral Wind" and the "refining" of the Immortal Fire, and held the Exotic Metal Small Sword in his hand.

He darted sideways at lightning speed, cutting a long distance through the night sky. When he looked back, his pupils contracted, and his heart trembled violently. Even those who walk by the river often end up getting their shoes wet.

He saw a somewhat eerie "living thing"!

In fact, Qin Ming wasn't sure if it was really alive. The other party was in human form, its whole body wrapped in a nearly rotten black robe, and its face was eerily white.

He had long heard that the pitch-black night was not so "clean," and that there were all sorts of extremely terrifying rumors surrounding it; today, he finally encountered it firsthand.

For example, a disciple from Beyond the Mundane once Spirit Travel, screaming shrilly in the night sky. Chewing sounds could be heard from a great distance. When the experts arrived, they only found a few drops of "blood of consciousness" in the night sky.

Of course, there are also fortuitous opportunity in the Nine Heavens. Once, Immortal Seed accidentally discovered a golden flower bud drifting in the Night Mist Sea above the sky. Even though he only managed to pluck three petals, it greatly enhanced his cultivation and allowed him to break through the Fourth Realm Heavenly Gate.

Qin Ming swooped down towards the clouds, not wanting to confront a creature draped in a rotting black robe in the Abyss- like sky.

The mysterious "monster" followed him, piercing through the dark night and lunging downwards.

Qin Ming's Eye of New Life had recently improved dramatically. Looking back, he could see clearly that the monster's face resembled a human face, but was closer to a skull shape, though it had flesh and blood, only it was excessively white.

He felt that the strange face was more than ten times whiter than the dead face of Cui Chonghe's great-grandmother, who had been buried for fifty years.

Qin Ming activated the Golden Crow Illuminates Night Scripture, piercing through the sky and instantly plunging to the ground, returning to his physical body.

He suddenly opened his eyes under the twin trees, gripped the Measuring God Ruler made of Nine-Life Wood, stood up, and prepared to fight the monster from the sky!

Clearly, the black-robed creature was no slower than him, already approaching low altitude and pouncing straight towards him.

Moreover, it was emitting a chilling laugh, which was quite unsettling, like the scraping of metal plates from Hell that sent shivers down your spine.

Suddenly, a Blood Kite appeared in the night sky, flashing like a crimson lightning bolt. The monster let out a shrill scream, shattered instantly, and then vanished.

Qin Ming was lost in thought until he watched the Blood Kite drift away in the wind and snow, before he came back to his senses.

At this moment, he was still surrounded by a large number of "meteor showers," so he quickly sat down and began to absorb and refine them with his physical body, cultivating there.

In the middle of the night, Qin Ming suddenly opened his eyes, and two Divine Radiance shot out. His cultivation level had improved, advancing from the second level of the Spiritual Field to the third level.

His entire being, both physically and Mental Field, was brimming with vitality and had become even stronger.

"It's been a long time. More than forty days have passed since the Western Territory War ended. I was not far from the third Spiritual Field back then, Secluded Cultivation so long to break through."

Qin Ming was not complacent; instead, he was deep in thought. If this trend continued, without the help of external objects and Great Medicine, it would take him ten years to break through the Heavenly Gate and reach the Fourth Realm.

This was roughly in line with his earlier estimate; after all, even Overlord like Hegemon took twenty years.

"Hmm, let me think about it some more. How can I increase my speed and ascend to the Above the Nine Heavens? But aside from the Astral Wind and calamity fire, even the dark sky isn't clean; there are mysterious creatures lurking there."

The next day, Kunling emitted a loud bell ringing, alarming all the major organizations, who were actually summoning the Ancestor of various paths such as the New Life Path, the Esoteric Sect, and the Beyond the Mundane!

No one knows what major event has occurred.