Clearing Doubts

Shen Jiayun's body stiffened slightly. By her ear, she could clearly feel the air rippling from the trembling spear tip, as though it had lightly brushed against her.

This was also the first time an outsider had helped her put on that string of hair ornaments. She pulled the glowing blue jeweled flower from her waterfall-like black hair and held it in her hand.

Qin Empire Ming withdrew the spear, then turned to return it.

The owner of the Purple-Gold Spear looked somewhat embarrassed. When he had lent it out earlier, he had said it would count as indirectly fighting Nie Rui, clearly trying to flatter him.

Now that the weapon was back in his hands, how was he supposed to praise Nie Rui? Was he supposed to boast that the spear in his hand had successively defeated the Twin Stars, Red Haze City's strongest pair in twenty years?

He felt that once he returned home, he should simply store the spear away. Using it again would be rather conspicuous. Every time people saw it, they would think of today's great battle, constantly reminding everyone that Nie Rui and Shen Jiayun had both been defeated by the same person.

Mu Qing dared to speak up. "You really ought to keep that spear well. It has commemorative value."

The young noble holding the spear immediately felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, his embarrassment doubling.

Only now did many people come back to their senses. It was hard to imagine that Nie Rui and Shen Jiayun had lost to a youth whose physical qualities were inferior to theirs.

"That youth's spear technique carried a certain air of returning to simplicity. Amid the plain and unadorned, it carved open the boundary between life and death, fully revealing the true essence of combat arts!"

Several nobles nearing thirty commented. They had all undergone Third New Life, and their eyes were exceptionally sharp.

"His killing aura was restrained. At first, he seemed to be strolling through a courtyard, listening to spring rain. Then, in an instant, he linked to thunder falling from the heavens, and the spear shadows erupted like lightning. Truly not simple."

The Twin Stars, who had dazzled Red Haze City, had tasted defeat in a remote land—and at the hands of someone their own age. Naturally, this matter would have no small impact. If word spread, few would believe it.

But the Actual Combat Record was right here. A group of young nobles had witnessed it with their own eyes.

"Such valiant bearing. The charm of that spear strike truly dazzled my eyes," some noble girls murmured softly.

"Oh? I noticed Shen Jiayun holding that jeweled flower. She even lost herself in thought for a moment."

Shen Jiayun lightly landed on Black Tiger's back and departed with the group of nobles. The people here gradually dispersed.

Before parting just now, Red Haze City's Twin Stars had specifically exchanged a few more words with Qin Empire Ming. They said the Night Mist World was vast and boundless, filled with countless mysteries, and that they looked forward to meeting again in the future, when each of them had reached a higher summit.

As those young nobles left, they all gave Qin Empire Ming several long looks.

Some even came over to strike up conversations with him. They chatted briefly and told him that if he ever went to Red Haze City, he could seek them out.

This battle had been purely accidental and unexpected, but Qin Empire Ming's name had indeed already reached many ears before he had even entered Red Haze City.

In many people's eyes, although his physical qualities were not among the very strongest, his combat arts that turned decay into magic and his exquisite improvisation left an extremely deep impression. Few could match his talent for battle. That was terrifyingly rare. He was already like a brilliant new star rising higher and higher.

"He was actually that formidable. He even beat Nie Rui into submission. After this battle, Nie Rui will no longer hesitate—he's going to take another path."

Within Black White Mountain, the other young nobles were all shocked when they heard this. Some even came by reputation, wanting to see what Qin Empire Ming looked like.

Cao Long, Mu Qing, and Wei Zhirou stepped forward and finally helped Qin Empire Ming block off much of the trouble. Things gradually settled down afterward.

"Qin Empire Ming, after early spring next year, and no later than midsummer, you should hurry to Red Haze City and register. It's just a pity that your current strength is still somewhat lacking," Mu Qing said.

"Ah?" Qin Empire Ming did not understand.

Wei Zhirou explained, "At that time, you may have the chance to come into contact with knowledge from a higher level. Even an Advanced Willpower Skill that has always been kept secret may be something you can learn in part."

Cao Long added, "When the time comes, the Giant City will come to select people. As long as your performance is dazzling enough, you may very well gain an opportunity to change your fate."

If Qin Empire Ming had not unexpectedly fought Nie Rui and Shen Jiayun today, and defeated both of them, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and the others would not have told him these things. There would have been little point.

"If it truly doesn't work, then study abroad in Red Haze City for a year and wait for the next year's opportunity. If you can undergo Third New Life, your chances will be greater. By then, you may perhaps enter a more famous Giant City."

They knew that someone with a Golden Foundation would be able to undergo Second New Life before long, but that was still not enough. Unless one possessed Divine Wisdom, special abilities, rare gifts, and the like, it would be difficult to gain early recognition.

Xu Yueping and Yang Yongqing knew that once early spring arrived, Qin Empire Ming would most likely truly leave this place.

Qin Empire Ming learned about the situation in detail. Since it was merely casual conversation, he asked many other questions as well, though he brought them up as if by chance.

For instance, when they spoke of which Spiritual Matter could help people undergo New Life, Cao Long casually mentioned Mineral Essence, and Qin Empire Ming seized the opportunity to ask about it in detail.

"Mineral Essence is an active substance extracted from mineral veins. Drinking it can improve one's physical qualities, but whether one can undergo New Life depends entirely on luck. Even so, it remains extremely expensive."

"Why?" Qin Empire Ming asked.

Cao Long said, "Because as long as it is your first time taking Mineral Essence, no matter how many times you have already undergone New Life, it can improve your physique, and there is a fifty percent chance that it will let you undergo New Life."

Wei Zhirou said, "That is what makes it most precious. It is especially beloved by old men whose strength can no longer advance an inch, because other conventional methods can no longer let them undergo New Life, while Mineral Essence offers them a possibility."

Qin Empire Ming asked, "Does the second dose no longer have any effect?"

Mu Qing said, "It's not entirely without effect. It has about one-tenth of the first dose's effect. Besides, unless you can obtain a higher-grade Mineral Essence—for example, a Mineral Essence as bright scarlet as evening clouds, known as Blood of the Earth. Even in Red Haze City, you might not see one or two bottles in an entire year."

From her words, Qin Ming judged that Mineral Essence clearly had higher grades. Those could only be found in Giant Cities.

Qin Empire Ming knew that they would likely truly leave in another two or three days. He could not help chatting with them a little more, quietly asking all sorts of questions.

When mysterious products from the Nodes were mentioned, Qin Empire Ming inevitably wanted to understand what was special about Mutton Fat Jade Iron.

The three of them were also very interested in this subject and spoke with great enthusiasm.

"Every time Heavenly Light descends, it can nourish countless remarkable treasures. Some incomparably rare materials can be forged into mysterious weapons that may be passed down through generations, sheltering and prospering a Lineage. There are even peerless mysterious products that can be used to stabilize a nation."

Cao Long's eyes burned hotly. This was why he had actively searched in the mountains. Products of any grade might exist within the Nodes.

"Although Mutton Fat Jade Iron is not among the rarest, it is still incomparably precious. It far surpasses ordinary iron and has immense uses."

At last, the three of them spoke of the information Qin Empire Ming wanted to know.

Mutton Fat Jade Iron did not require thousands of hammerings and refinements. Even if it were refined ten thousand times, it would gain nothing from it. Its material was superb. Once forged into a weapon, it could cut through the scales and armor of giant beasts and posed a tremendous threat to those protected by Heavenly Light.

This was not the most important part, because weapons made from some other materials were also tough enough and incomparably sharp.

"If a weapon forged from Mutton Fat Jade Iron is damaged, as long as the damage is not too severe, it can be nurtured with Heavenly Light and slowly restore itself to perfect condition."

Qin Empire Ming was astonished. Such weapons or armor truly were somewhat miraculous.

"The most wondrous aspect of Mutton Fat Jade Iron is that one can use it to kill certain special things."

These words startled Qin Empire Ming. He realized that he knew far too little about this world.

Mu Qing said, "In this vast and boundless black world, how many regions even have Fire Springs? Those Giant Cities may shine brilliantly one after another, but beneath the endless night, they can only count as faint firefly lands. The more immense territories are ink-black, deep and secluded like the Abyss. There are always things that cannot be clearly explained, and sometimes one needs relatively rare weapons like Mutton Fat Jade Iron to deal with them."

Qin Empire Ming asked her to explain further, because he was truly at a complete loss.

Mu Qing explained in detail, "For example, there are some things you cannot see with your eyes. Piercing them with an ordinary spear does nothing. The spearhead is like stabbing empty air. But if you switch to a weapon forged from Mutton Fat Jade Iron, one thrust might produce a string of strange blood blossoms and kill certain things."

Qin Empire Ming sighed. "I come from a remote place and know nothing about these things. This black and boundless world is truly too mysterious."

Wei Zhirou said, "Why do some Esoteric Sects worship gods? It is because there are all kinds of unknowns and mysteries. Some things cannot be spoken of, nor can they be explained."

Old Man Liu patted his chest and said, "Luckily, we don't have any of that here."

Mu Qing smiled. "How do you know there isn't any? Even if such things exist, ordinary people simply cannot see them."

"Don't scare me. The older a person gets, the smaller his courage becomes. I still want to live for several more decades."

Cao Long said, "Don't worry. Even we have never seen them."

After thinking for a moment, Qin Empire Ming asked, "Are Beyond the Mundane People all very powerful?"

Wei Zhirou nodded. "Some of their paths can be called incomparably glorious, impossible to compare with."

"How powerful are they?" Qin Empire Ming asked. He very much wanted to know, because the youth who had gravely injured him wore feathered robes and should have been one of the Beyond the Mundane People.

Mu Qing said, "Don't think so much about it. Right now, you only need to work hard to improve yourself. Once you enter a Giant City and your strength rises again, if you are found to possess special gifts, you can also change paths."

Although they did not say much, it was enough to show how frightening Beyond the Mundane People were.

Moreover, from what they said, it seemed that they themselves had already changed paths.

After giving it some thought, Qin Empire Ming also knew they were not ordinary New Life Evolvers. One had long since taken the Giant Spirit God path, one had a tail, and Wei Zhirou, who traveled with them, naturally had something special about her as well.

After staying awake for another night, Qin Empire Ming finally fell asleep. It completely freed him. Being unable to sleep was simply too painful.

During that time, Red Haze City's giant beasts pulled grain carts across mountain roads blocked by heavy snow and finally delivered the food. The entire region immediately erupted in excitement.

Although the grain prices were slightly high, considering the transportation costs, these were already very sincere prices. At their core, they were meant to relieve the crisis.

"No need to panic-buy. Rest assured, grain prices will not rise. More supplies will continue arriving without end."

Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, and the others had already begun packing their luggage, preparing to set out on their return journey. Then news came from the mountains: several special Nodes had been discovered in an area of the Great Rift Valley, and more Nodes were still being found one after another.

At once, the three groups hurried into the mountains and asked Qin Empire Ming, Old Man Liu, and the others to guide them.

This time, some old fellows joined the team as well, such as Cao Long's Seventh Uncle, who had eaten the Longevity Tree.

When the Black Mountain Goat beneath Yang Yongqing saw him, it immediately pissed itself in greeting.

The Big Yellow Dog Old Man Liu rode also had a stress reaction and directly relieved itself.

When Cao Laoqi saw this, his nose nearly twisted crooked with rage. He shouted that he would eat Black Mountain Goat meat and yellow dog meat when they returned.

Everyone else wanted to laugh, but could only hold it in.

"Once you deliver us there, you won't need to take part. It's too dangerous there!" Cao Long said.

Without question, this would be their final operation before leaving, and a great battle would very likely erupt. With Nodes appearing so densely, every side would fight until their eyes turned red.

In fact, after Old Man Liu led the group and delivered them to the Great Rift Valley, he immediately dragged Qin Empire Ming, Xu Yueping, and Yang Yongqing away. They turned around and ran straight back to the village.

Old Man Liu said, "We've made it through ninety-nine bows. We've been safe all along, and only the final shiver remains before it's over. We absolutely have to stay far away from that place, hold the line of safety, and be fine as long as nothing happens!"

Although Qin Empire Ming had some confidence—once he entered the Nodes, he would not be eroded by that Heavenly Light and could remain safe inside—in the end, he restrained himself.

At this point in time, not only would the people of Red Haze City fight until their eyes turned red, but the aberrant creatures in the mountains would probably be drawn over as well.

However, some local organizations refused to act like human beings. They ordered every village to send people and enter the mountains with them.

The messenger was a New Life Evolver from Golden Chicken Ridge. He arrived riding a ground-running chicken at high speed. This time, he could only be considered a lackey acting under orders. Golden Chicken Ridge had sent true bandits.

At the final stage, their eyes had turned red as well. They wanted to seize the mysterious products in Black White Mountain.

"This is not our decision alone. We have joined forces with the Three-Eyed Sect. Weigh things carefully yourselves. If you truly refuse to provide manpower, there will be consequences afterward!"

This was clearly a threat. If they did not comply, they would suffer retaliation afterward.

"Each village will provide people according to its population, but they must be New Life Evolvers."

Qin Empire Ming immediately understood. These people feared the Heavenly Light within the Nodes and wanted to find others to enter and search in their place. They truly did not treat the New Life Evolvers of the villages as people and did not care whether they lived or died.

"I'll go!" Qin Empire Ming insistently pushed Old Man Liu, Xu Yueping, Yang Yongqing, and the others back. For a small village like theirs, sending one person was enough.

He calmly followed the New Life Evolver from Golden Chicken Ridge into the mountains, but the killing intent in his heart gradually began to boil.