Qin Ming did not peel away any more of the stone skin. The mountain forest's environment did not allow him to act rashly. If a beam of light shot up here, his life would be in grave danger.
After shrinking by two sizes, the stone could barely fit into the sleeve of his beast-hide robe, but he did not do so.
Qin Ming headed out of the mountains, leaving the stone behind in the dense forest.
He noticed that people were watching the mountain exits. For the special products within the Nodes, all the major organizations kept a tight watch.
Before long, he saw the woman in the fur cloak again. She was tall and slender, standing amid the wind and snow, her black hair streaming in the wind, yet her true face remained unseen.
"He truly is unharmed." That crow was there as well and had already spotted Qin Ming. Symbols flashed through its purple eyes as it gave him several extra looks.
Qin Ming's expression remained calm, but faint ripples stirred in his heart. Who knew how many pairs of eyes had scanned everyone leaving the mountains along the way? If he had carried that stone with him, he would certainly have exposed himself.
The Purple-Eyed Crow circled in the sky, wishing it could charge into the mountains as well. "This place has already become incomprehensible. How could a Ten-Colored Node appear? And it even fused with the Five-Colored Haze Land! I'm practically drooling myself to tears. If I'd known, I should have had your master come in person and invited Old Crow out of the Black Mist World. Let's see who would dare stop us!"
The woman in the black cloak said, "Do not act recklessly. All the Higher Lifeforms have gone red-eyed with killing. We will wait quietly for the right moment."
Outside the mountains, Qin Ming found Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others. He discovered that these direct descendants of noble families were quite cautious and had not acted rashly.
"Where did you run off to, kid? It's too dangerous in the mountains right now," Black Sheep Knight Yang Yongqing asked him.
"I chased that Talking Finch, but I lost it," Qin Ming replied with a smile.
The moment Cao Long heard this, he asked where Qin Ming had lost it. That Talking Finch had offended him badly, and he had yet to cool down.
The commotion deep in the mountains was truly enormous that day. Even ordinary villagers nearby were gazing into the distance. They had never seen such a dazzling scene, bright as day, in all their lives.
Shallow Night was nearly over, yet there was still no outcome in the mountains.
After dutifully asking his employers and confirming that they would not be entering the mountains, Qin Ming called out, "Uncle Xu, Grandfather Liu, we should head back."
"Ah, why go back so early?" Old Man Liu had not seen enough yet.
"Go back and eat. We've been hungry all day!" Qin Ming said.
Wei Zhirou, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and the others could not help glancing at him. They thought that this youth truly had a pure heart and was wonderfully down-to-earth. Such a huge event had happened in the mountains, drawing attention from all four directions, yet it could not affect his mood for going home to eat.
"That's true. Even if we watched for three days and three nights, it would have nothing to do with us. Let's go back and eat," Old Man Liu said.
Black Sheep Knight Yang Yongqing and Xu Yueping also left with them. Though the mountains were a riot of colors, that was not their world.
At night, Qin Ming came to the village entrance and sat beneath the Black White Twin Trees, gazing toward the mountains. That place was bright as day, its splendid colors still undimmed, so fresh and alluring that one could not help yearning to draw closer.
"So this is Black White Mountain. Ever since its collapse five hundred years ago, it has never regained its former black-and-white scenery. What a pity."
Qin Ming was surprised. He saw two women in the snow and heard such words.
He was a local, yet he did not know that Black White Mountain was its old name. When people entered the mountains in ordinary times, they merely used names such as East Ridge and West Gully to distinguish the various mountain regions. Yet these two women from elsewhere knew more than he did.
In the wind and snow, the two women stood graceful and slender, their robes fluttering. They were dressed lightly, though it was still far from the sweltering summer when Fire Spring was at its most active.
After approaching the village entrance, the two women examined the Black White Twin Trees growing in Fire Spring.
"Yet this village actually has Black White Twin Trees. They were likely seeds left behind by Black White Mountain back then, which later sprouted." It was the woman who had spoken earlier.
She wore white, making her especially eye-catching beneath the night's Fire Haze. A faint white mist clung to her, but her lovely face, slightly plump with baby fat, could be seen clearly. She was obviously young, only fifteen or sixteen at most. Her dark brows curved gently, and her large eyes were bright and limpid. She was exceptionally pretty.
If it had been Qin Ming, he definitely would not have chosen to wear white. It was far too conspicuous for hunting in the mountains and unsuitable for surviving there.
Soon, he noticed that this White-Clad Girl treated the other woman as the leader, following behind her all along.
Qin Ming realized something was wrong. The White-Clad Girl was clearly two steps behind, so why had he overlooked the woman in front? It was rather strange.
The woman ahead wore plain, unadorned green clothes. She simply stood in the wind and snow, carefully observing the two old trees in Fire Spring.
Thick clouds and mist surrounded her, making her appear hazy and indistinct. Her face could not be seen clearly, and she possessed an exceptionally ethereal air, like an immortal about to ride the wind away.
Qin Ming rose to his feet. It would not do to keep sitting by Fire Spring, so he greeted the two women.
They nodded in response. The Green-Clad Woman spoke for the first time. "What is this village called?"
"Double Tree Village," Qin Ming told her. Taking the opportunity, he asked, "What was so special about Black White Mountain in the past?"
The Green-Clad Woman's voice was soft and pleasant. "Half the land was pitch-black, while the other half was bright as day. Thick fog blocked the middle. It was once a forbidden land, but later it collapsed."
"Young man, that is quite rare. My young lady has actually said so much to you." The White-Clad Girl was clearly lively by nature, and her relationship with the Green-Clad Woman did not seem to be that of pure mistress and servant, considering she dared to joke like this.
The Green-Clad Woman said nothing more. In the end, she gave the Black White Twin Trees two long, deep looks, then turned and left for the mountains. Her steps were light and nimble, yet her resolve seemed firm.
"What are the names of you two young ladies?" Qin Ming asked from behind them.
The White-Clad Girl chuckled. "Young man, do not entertain any wild thoughts. We will soon disappear. Between us lie mountains and seas, an endless distance apart."
"I merely asked your names. How far is endless? Do you not normally live in the Mortal World?" Qin Ming asked.
The White-Clad Girl laughed. "Ah, you are truly simple and adorable. Judging by the path you walk, when you stand atop the mountain peak, perhaps there may be the slightest possibility that, on certain occasions, you can glimpse us from afar."
"Too talkative. Your mouth has no gate." The Green-Clad Woman rebuked her.
Qin Ming watched their departing backs and was left speechless. What sort of people were these? For one brief moment, he truly wanted to punch the White-Clad Girl until she cried and ask what nonsense she was spouting.
"You go back. Call Golden Peng over. I am entering the mountains," the Green-Clad Woman said.
"Alright!" The White-Clad Girl turned and headed in another direction.
Qin Ming's pupils contracted. The White-Clad Girl departed far too quickly, to an almost absurd degree. Dim white mist flowed before her, shutting out all wind and snow, then gradually wrapped around her entire body. In the blink of an eye, she vanished beyond the end of the earth.
The next day, Qin Ming responsibly led the group as their guide. Mu Qing, Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and the others could finally no longer sit still, and they began exploring the Nodes in the outer regions of the mountains.
Before this, four organizations had successively obtained mysterious products after paying the price of having some members severely eroded by the light mist.
All the New Life Evolvers had become restless, carefully searching everywhere. Figures filled every part of the mountains, daring to enter the dangerous underground Node spaces.
As for the deepest part of the mountains, it remained bright as day. The upper ranks of the major organizations and those Higher Aberrants had been tormented for a full day and night, their eyes red with exhaustion.
They had come to capture mysterious products. At first, they had been like people patiently fishing, but now the fish had slipped the hook and dragged them along instead.
Those two wonders had fused into one and were constantly shifting locations. Sometimes they sank underground for a long time before emerging again, bringing blinding light and thick fog with them.
Up to now, not a single person had managed to get close enough to see what they truly were.
In the end, all of them threw caution to the wind. Enduring the terrifying erosion, they went deep underground through the Node spaces, preparing to cut off its path within the Spiritual Veins created by Heavenly Light.
Even schemers like Ling Xu and Old Weasel no longer had the mood to fish. Instead, they had turned themselves into bait, all plunging headfirst into the Nodes and entering the Underground World.
They had a feeling that after those two mysterious products fused, they might have completed their final transformation and were about to emerge into the world. They had to strike with all their strength.
The competition grew increasingly fierce. Higher Lifeforms directly died underground, never able to return.
Once they vanished from the surface, the people outside the mountains all let out long breaths.
"Old Wang, do not go too far! This little spiritual tree is already mine. Are you trying to snatch it by force?!" In the distance, an old man covered in blood escaped from a Node, clutching a small tree about a foot tall that flowed with Purple Mist.
"Stop him! That old bastard from the Cao Family dug up a Longevity Tree. It can extend one's life by ten years!" an elderly man surnamed Wang roared as he gave chase.
"Seventh Uncle, come over here! Let's see who dares stop you!" Cao Long shouted. He sat atop a crimson giant bull taller than an adult, gripping a Great Spear that gleamed with cold light.
"Good nephew, hurry and bring people to help me stop them."
An elderly man in shattered black armor ran over. As he did so, he noisily wolfed down the little tree, not even sparing the roots with bits of dirt still stuck to them, chewing them all to pieces and swallowing them.
"Old bastard Wang, I've already eaten it into my stomach. What can you do about it?" the Cao Family elder laughed.
"Everyone, cut open his belly! The medicinal effect is still there!" the elderly man surnamed Wang shouted.
Nearby, six or seven old men approached, their gazes frightening. To them, extending their lives was more precious than any mysterious product.
"Old bastard Wang, you are rotten from head to toe. No wonder your youngest son, Wang Nianzhu, committed every kind of evil and became a wanted criminal. You are no better yourself!" Cao Long's seventh uncle was extremely agitated. Looking at the elders closing in, he said, "If you truly intend to kill me, do not blame me for disgusting you to death!"
He looked at the Big Yellow Dog beneath Old Man Liu, then glanced at Black Sheep Knight Yang Yongqing's Black Mountain Goat. "If you force me, I'll cut open a goat's belly right now and drink its urine. Then go ahead and eat this Longevity Medicine!"
Old Man Liu and the others were all dumbfounded. This was truly a ruthless man. But why was he staring at the Big Yellow Dog?
Beside them, Yang Yongqing's Black Mountain Goat immediately began urinating in a rush. It had clearly long since gained spirituality and sensed that something was terribly wrong.
The Big Yellow Dog beneath Old Man Liu also reacted and promptly took a dump.
"I... why are you two reacting so strongly?" Cao Laoqi was furious.
"Fine. If you, Cao Laoqi, are truly that ruthless, we will turn around and leave. We will stand right here and watch. Do you dare do it?!"
"Enough!" Cao Long moved. Urging the giant bull forward, he charged over and swung his Great Spear straight down at the elderly man surnamed Wang.
"Young man, I know you are formidable, but... ah!" The Wang Family elder's long saber was sent flying from his hand. Blood covered his palm, and he himself was blasted away.
"Good nephew, you have become so powerful! You did not study for nothing in that Giant City!" Cao Laoqi exclaimed in shock and delight.
At once, several old men retreated.
Cao Long had sent an elder sprawling with one strike, making all sides wary. None dared approach, leaving their side quite safe.
During this time, Qin Ming asked people from the Mu Family, Cao Family, and Wei Family about the various mysterious products and their characteristics.
For the people of Red Haze City, such matters had already become public knowledge. There were no secrets to them. A few casual words were enough to broaden the horizons of Qin Ming, Xu Yueping, and the others.
"Spiritual products such as plants and earth liquids are easy to pick and collect. The troublesome ones are special products wrapped in stone skin. They are often overlooked, and one might miss them with the slightest lapse of attention."
Qin Ming learned much useful knowledge, and some of his doubts were resolved.
Unless a special product was itself dazzling and radiant enough to illuminate heaven and earth, once it was peeled open and the small amount of Heavenly Light dispersed, it would return to stillness.
Qin Ming considered this. He could split open the stone he had found and take a look now. There should not be much of a problem.
As Shallow Night was about to end, he hid in a hollow in the snow and peeled open the stone skin. Sure enough, threads of Heavenly Light escaped and entered his body.
A patch of pure white jade light was revealed beneath the stone skin, crystalline and translucent.
"Could this be the Mutton Fat Jade Iron they mentioned?" Qin Ming had only heard a few brief remarks about it and knew that it was a rare material whose forged weapons possessed a mysterious quality.
Of course, while Mutton Fat Jade Iron was rare, it was not priceless. Every place where Heavenly Light descended produced some materials of similar quality.
Even in the same location, several portions of Mutton Fat Jade Iron could potentially be collected.
He buried the stone again after peeling open one corner. Since it was not some Spiritual Matter that could be directly consumed, there was no need to hurry. He could retrieve it later.
It was already late. Qin Ming had long since finished his guide duties and was preparing to leave the mountains.
Boom!
The earth shook and the mountains trembled. Boundless rosy light burst forth in the distance, even more dazzling than before. It stabbed at people's eyes until they hurt and made them weep despite themselves after looking at it.
"What happened?" Everyone was shocked.
Deep in the mountains, five colors and ten lights shone. A mysterious product had emerged, been seized by someone, and been brought charging out through an underground fissure.
A woman raced through the forest at extreme speed, but she could not conceal herself at all. Though the special product she had obtained was sealed within stone skin, its intense fluctuations still spread in all directions, and it continued to glow. It appeared that it would take some time before the light completely faded.
During this time, she summoned a golden giant bird and immediately leaped onto its back. The giant bird carried her into the sky, about to flee beyond the horizon.
However, the Moon Insect, a winged humanoid lifeform, and the winged woman standing atop the Azure Bird—six Higher Lifeforms in total—blocked her path.
"Her?" Qin Ming was astonished. It was the Green-Clad Woman he had seen at the village entrance last night. She was so young, yet so powerful that she dared snatch food from the mouths of a group of Higher Lifeforms.
The Green-Clad Woman was suppressed by the six great experts and forced back toward the forest once more.
Qin Ming turned and ran, pushing "Light Harmony with Dust" to its utmost limit, because they were not far from him.
Swoosh! While suspended in midair, the Green-Clad Woman snapped in half the stone in her hand, which was about a foot long, and directly extracted the mysterious product from within.
The light in her hand became even more brilliant. Five colors and ten lights interwove in the void, tearing through the night curtain.
The outermost layer of that object was light mist, concealing some unknown dazzling thing. She pressed it toward a crystalline red mole between her brows.
The dazzling ball of light actually sank directly into it. Standing on the golden bird's back, she was no longer suppressed into the forest and instead skimmed over the woods at extreme speed, shooting into the distance.
"Chase her!" The experts of all the major organizations and the Higher Aberrants all pursued her.
After an unknown amount of time, Qin Ming finally let out a breath and emerged from the dense forest. He moved through the heavy night, successively finding the two halves of the snapped stone.
"Hm?!" He froze. After undergoing the erosion, cleansing, and adaptation to the Heavenly Light within the Earth Fissure, he had gained a special perception. The stone in his left hand seemed to contain a faint trace of fluctuation.
Before you continue