Famous Everywhere

"Skills never weigh a man down. Learning more is always good; it might save your life at a critical moment. Besides, you really do learn things incredibly fast." Old Man Liu approved, yet sighed again. In such a remote region, there were pitifully few households with any pedigree.

More importantly, even if those households had declined, they still followed their ancestral teachings and would not readily show their family's hidden books to outsiders.

"I'll ask around and give it a try later," Old Man Liu agreed.

Qin Ming was delighted. If he happened upon another old secret manual carrying the crystallized heart's blood of those before him, his gains would undoubtedly be immense.

He felt there was hope. Though declining households had their own principles, not everyone could cling to the old ways.

"Old man, how is your health?" Qin Ming asked with concern.

Old Man Liu had struggled for half his life before obtaining a red blade of grass brimming with spirituality from Fire Bat Cave, only to be targeted by people from Golden Chicken Ridge, who silently dealt him a Yellow Mud Palm.

He sighed. "It won't take my old life, and the injury can be nursed back to health. But as for achieving Second New Life, I can no longer control it. I'll leave it to fate."

Qin Ming returned home, stripped meat from the Fire Snake, laid it on an iron plate, then grabbed the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer and smashed it furiously, pounding it thoroughly into minced meat.

"There shouldn't be any smell of human blood, right? I washed the Black Gold Hammer twice."

Half an hour later, Qin Ming carried a jar of meat porridge to Old Man Liu's house again. "I hunted a small spiritual creature in the mountains. It can't help someone achieve New Life, but it is still nourishing. Its nature is somewhat cold, which should counter the heat of that fiery-red grass."

Old Man Liu was suspicious, but he accepted it anyway. "You've put some thought into this, kid."

The next day, as soon as Shallow Night arrived, Old Man Liu came pounding on the courtyard gate. The moment he saw Qin Ming, he grabbed his hand. "Little Qin, what did you feed me?"

Compared with ordinary snakes, the Fire Snake was practically a different kind of creature altogether. Its meat tasted entirely different. Even Old Man Liu had no idea what he had eaten, but his whole body had improved, and he was no longer sickly and listless.

"This old man thinks that with my current body, I might even have another son in my later years!"

That day, everyone felt that Old Man Liu was bursting with energy. Even his voice had become much more resounding.

"Black White Mountain has made its name known everywhere this time. Many splendid cities are discussing it heatedly. The Ten-Colored Light Pillar tore open the night curtain and shocked the world!"

While searching the mountains for Special Nodes, Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, and the others were discussing the matter. Their information was exceptionally well-connected, as they exchanged letters with the outside world through a bird of prey.

Qin Ming immediately perked up and listened carefully. He was extremely interested in the mysterious products connected to the scraps, and he also wanted to learn about the world beyond.

"Many major organizations are regretting themselves to death for failing to attach sufficient importance to this place. After assessing the most mysterious product this time, they believe it to be a heaven-bestowed divine treasure worth a city in gold. Even some ancient sects that had originally sealed their mountains have been alarmed. They take this matter very seriously and have sent people out to learn the details."

In a single day, Black White Mountain, silent for years, became the focus of discussion everywhere.

"Two hundred years ago, Heavenly Light pierced Black White Mountain. Among the experts who rushed here from the Royal Capital, some were actually still alive. It is said that one old fellow flew into such a rage that he went without sleep for two days and nights. In the end, he ran into the deep mountains and vast marshes with red eyes, intending to hunt down that legendary Six-Tusked White Elephant."

"Six-Tusked White Elephant? Isn't that the mount of a deity worshipped by some Esoteric Sect Attendant? Even if one exists in reality, it is probably in the world hidden within the deepest night mist."

Qin Ming listened with great relish. He yearned for the Vast and Boundless world outside. Merely hearing these fragments made it seem dazzling and colorful, and he wanted to leave this remote land to see it for himself.

"Forget the Royal Capital. There is news that even high-ranking figures in the Imperial City of the immensely powerful, faraway Yu Country have been alarmed. The national preceptor personally asked about this matter. After all, the Ten-Colored Light Pillar and Five-Colored Haze appeared together and fused—there is no record of such a thing in any text."

Some people coveted that mysterious product, but they ultimately could not pursue the investigation any further because they encountered powerful resistance. Beyond the Mundane People of extremely lofty status had intervened.

"Those Blessed Lands, and those Spirit Mountains steeped in Heavenly Light, have this time been deemed..."

Qin Ming dearly wanted to urge them to Say More, but though they got along fairly well, they were not close enough for that. He knew his place clearly and said nothing.

After another fruitless day searching for Special Nodes, Xu Yueping discussed matters with Old Man Liu and proposed taking three teams to the nests of the Flying Scythe Birds.

Xu Yueping frankly admitted that he could not be certain whether there was any Spiritual Matter there, but it was indeed an excellent place to temper New Life Evolvers.

He was conscientious and responsible toward the village, and wanted to ask Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing to eliminate the menace.

The shortage of food that winter had much to do with the Flying Scythe Birds. Before the autumn harvest, they flew out of the mountains, swept over the Fire Fields close to the ground, and with a single bite from their sickle-like beaks, several clusters of grain ears would be left stripped bare.

Wei Zhirou nodded. "The original Mountain Sweeping Operation was meant to clear out all kinds of harmful beasts. Since there are such vicious birds, let's go take a look."

Xu Yueping was immediately filled with gratitude. Everyone knew that sweeping the mountains was merely a smokescreen; the true purpose was to search for special products within them.

Cao Long said, "Aside from seeing a little blood in Fire Bat Cave, this batch of youths who achieved New Life this year has yet to undergo any proper tempering. The Flying Scythe Birds are perfect."

Before long, they arrived before a stretch of low cliffs. The snow was covered with bird droppings, and the cliff face was riddled with crevices where the Flying Scythe Birds dwelled.

Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others were highly professional and thoroughly prepared. They had even brought casting nets woven from fine metal wire. More than a dozen large nets were thrown out, covering the areas where the bird nests were most densely packed.

Even so, huge numbers of Flying Scythe Birds shot into the air, dense as clouds. At least a thousand slipped through the net; they truly had become a plague.

They were about a foot long, with exceptionally large, sharp beaks, and were fiercely vicious. Once their nests were attacked and covered, every one of them dove down without fear of death.

Fortunately, everyone wore armor. When swarms of Flying Scythe Birds swooped down, even if some broke through to their fronts, they could still be blocked.

Qin Ming, Xu Yueping, and the others were no exception. Over the past few days, they had helped guide the three teams through the mountains and had each been given a set of armor.

In the end, vast numbers of Flying Scythe Birds were killed, especially in the nests trapped beneath the large nets. Once the ones on the cliff had been dealt with, a layer of bird corpses carpeted the ground.

Although quite a few vicious birds still flew away, most had been dealt with, and their nests had been disrupted. They would not dare return for a while, and with their numbers reduced, the villagers would also dare hunt them.

Black Sheep Knight Yang Yongqing was responsible for notifying the villagers to bring sacks and collect the bird corpses. Throwing away so much meat would have been far too wasteful.

During these days, Qin Ming had been carefully observing the various groups in the mountains, but he never found the people he was looking for.

"Those two were in their early thirties. The woman had a mole in her right eyebrow, while the man had very long arms. Sadly, there was no one who matched."

Back then, those two had rescued him from the Feather Robe Youth. They had taken him far from the city and brought him to this remote place. After leaving him in Silver Vine Town, they had once explored Black White Mountain, yet they had not appeared this time.

During this period, Qin Ming kept his promise and contacted the Old Noble's people many times, telling them what he had seen in the mountains and which organizations had obtained relatively special products.

Old Noble Xie Jingrui sighed. The thing he needed had still not appeared.

Today, he personally entered the mountains—and actually went straight into their deepest reaches. This left many old men from Red Haze City deeply shaken.

Since Ling Xu and the Civet Cat had left, no one dared venture deep inside. In the mountains, forget that mysterious mountain lord—even the foot-long Old Weasel was terrifying when it went mad, carrying a donkey as it ran all over the mountains and plains. After being intercepted by the Green-Clad Woman, its mentality had clearly shattered. Who would dare go looking for trouble?

Half a day later, Old Noble Xie Jingrui silently emerged, pinching two very short plant roots in his hand, one black and one white.

He sighed softly. "Sure enough, remnants of the Black White Tree's roots remain in the depths of the mountains. Nourished by Heavenly Light, they have transformed into an extraordinary mysterious product!"

Qin Ming was moving alone, searching for special Nodes. When he saw the old noble approach, he asked, "Did you find what you wanted?"

"I found something, but someone beat me to it." Xie Jingrui stood amid the forest, looking rather helpless. He sighed. "Unfortunately, I am injured and cannot fight in chaos for long. Otherwise, I would have entered the mountains long ago."

"No clues left behind?" Qin Ming realized that the Black White Tree roots nourished by Heavenly Light were very important to the Old Noble. He had come here two years ago precisely to obtain them.

Xie Jingrui said, "I know who took them. I must make a trip to Red Haze City."

"Could City Lord Ling Xu have taken them?" Qin Ming asked.

The Old Noble nodded. In the deep mountains, he had asked Wei Mo, who followed the Giant Spirit God path, and Wei Mo had told him that Ling Xu had lingered there for a long time.

Xie Jingrui said, "No wonder Ling Xu, after missing the strongest mysterious product, immediately ran back to Red Haze City. They all say he was so furious he nearly slapped his thigh in half, regretting that he had not bought a flying mount. In truth, he feared others would learn that he had made another great gain. He used this chance to run away. What a thief! Dressed in white and acting elegant? I think he ought to wear black instead."

Qin Ming was speechless for a moment. At the same time, he found it strange that the Old Noble would say so much to him before leaving.

He soon learned the answer. Xie Jingrui said, "That Purple-Eyed Crow thinks highly of you. Work hard. This place is too remote and closed off—leave it as soon as you can."

He would soon leave Silver Vine Town and set off immediately upon returning.

"Will Miss Xie leave with you as well?"

"Yes. If fate allows, we will meet again!" Old Noble Xie Jingrui flashed away and vanished directly into the woods, moving at an unbelievable speed.

A great commotion came from the distance. When Qin Ming hurried over, he found a group of finely dressed nobles on spirited steeds confronting Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing.

The major families of Red Haze City were not one harmonious whole. The Cao, Wei, and Mu families had come together, and naturally other great families had also banded together to enter the mountains.

Just moments ago, someone had exchanged blows with Cao Long, but had been defeated quickly and sent flying by a slash, greatly shocking everyone.

At that moment, a young man clad in Golden Armor rode forward on a mutated Golden Leopard, imposing and powerful.

Cao Long said coldly, "Feng Xing, don't go looking for trouble. That old man from the Wang Family tried to seize my Seventh Uncle's Longevity Tree, and I drove him back. Is there a problem? Are you going to stand up for the Wang Family?"

The young man on the Golden Leopard, Feng Xing, spoke calmly. "We have not met for two years. I heard your strength has risen by a great deal. We have fought our way up together, so let's spar now."

"Isn't it just a fight? Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

The people around them were also from Red Haze City and knew one another. Though they were mainly divided into two groups, there were neutral nobles as well, and some spoke up to mediate.

"Brother Feng Xing, Brother Cao Long, you are both outstanding figures from Red Haze City who entered Giant City. Do not harm the harmony between you. Your strength is so high now that if you accidentally lose control, the consequences would be hard to predict."

Anyone who dared forcefully step forward to stop them in such circumstances naturally had some standing.

The speaker was a youth riding on the back of a White Rhinoceros. He approached from afar and entered this patch of dense forest. He was exceptionally handsome, and his silver armor set off his heroic bearing, making him seem extraordinary.

Beside him was a young girl riding a Black Tiger. Her figure was graceful, and she wore purple-gold armor. Her brows curved delicately, her large eyes shone brightly, and she was dazzlingly beautiful. Many young men could not help but glance at her several more times after noticing her.

After this outstanding young man and woman appeared, quite a few people warmly greeted them. Even those older than them treated the pair with great courtesy.

Behind this exceptionally striking young pair followed a large group of people, surrounding them as stars encircled the moon.

From the hushed conversations around him, Qin Ming learned why the two drew so much attention.

When these two became New Life Evolvers that year, they had caused a sensation in Red Haze City. They were the most dazzling talents of the past twenty years, stunning the entire region. Those who had built a Golden Foundation in recent years paled far in comparison to them.

Sure enough, after the youth spoke, Feng Xing gave him face and actually put away his weapon, smiling as he exchanged a few words with him.

"Who is Qin Ming?" The silver-armored youth Nie Rui, seated on the White Rhinoceros, spoke up. Handsome and radiant, he searched through the crowd.

Qin Ming frowned. How did he know about him?

Nie Rui smiled. "I visited Master Xu Kong, and while there, I wanted to spar with his disciple. But Zhou Wubing said he was unwell and could not fight, then strongly praised you instead, saying you were stronger than him. I was truly curious. Is there really a youth here stronger than the disciple personally taught by Master Xu Kong? So I came to take a look."

Qin Ming was stunned. Er Bingzi really was sick in the head!