Under the night sky, the mountains and forests were dim. Vast stretches of land were silent today; apart from herbivores, it was hard to encounter a single beast of prey.
Qin Empire Ming raced all the way. When he passed through a dense forest, he abruptly stopped, removed his armor, set down the Long-handled Black Gold Hammer, and dug a gleaming suit of Fine Gold Armor out of the snow.
These were the belongings of Wang Nianzhu, who was already dead yet still wanted. Qin Empire Ming quickly changed clothes here. He worried that there might be bear cubs or calves where he was headed. If they were highly spiritual and remembered his appearance, that would be troublesome.
Everyone knew that Wang Nianzhu had slain Blood Snake and wiped out Fu Entao, Feng Yi'an, and the others from the Mountain Patrol Group. Taking advantage of the chaos to enter the lair of the different species was perfectly normal behavior.
After hanging Wang Nianzhu's long sword, clear and bright as a pool of spring water, at his waist, Qin Empire Ming found a piece of cloth and covered his face. There was no helping it—he was not strong enough yet, so he could only be more cautious.
Then he ran eight li in one breath and arrived at a stone forest surrounded by woods. Rocks lay everywhere here, and in some places they had nearly piled into stone mountains.
"It stinks!" Qin Empire Ming could barely stand it. The white giant bear lived here, and it truly had no sense of cleanliness. He had only just approached when he caught the smell of bear droppings.
Deep within the stone forest was a Fire Spring, wrapped in crimson haze and rippling with light. It was about the same size as the Fire Spring in Silver Vine Town, and both had reached Tier Two.
Although the white giant bear had mutated many times and was extremely formidable, it still lacked the qualifications to enter the depths of the mountains and claim a more splendid Fire Spring.
But to mountain folk, this was already a treasure land.
Yet such a fine place had been ruined beyond recognition by that giant bear. Animal hides, bones, and other remains were scattered everywhere. Enormous piles of bear dung lay one after another, all left near the Fire Spring.
Clearly, its Hibernation had been far from sufficient. It still often hunted in the mountains.
"It should be an old male bear. Too solitary—such a huge territory, and it lives here alone. What a waste of this treasure land." Qin Empire Ming searched around, but the place reeked, and there was almost nothing here.
He was thoroughly enraged. He had come all this way and taken such enormous risks, yet aside from smelling the stench of bear dung, he had found nothing.
Qin Empire Ming truly wanted to set a fire and burn the whole place clean!
Even if the old male bear had descendants here, he could vent his anger on them. If nothing else, he could chop off two bear paws and take them home.
He could not even say this place was poor enough to be clean, because the truth was that it was so filthy he could not bear it. The stench made him nearly vomit.
This was the first time Qin Empire Ming had hit a wall and felt utterly helpless. His chest felt especially stifled. He wanted revenge, but in the end, he pinched his nose and gave up. He did not want to remain here for even another moment.
Just as he turned to leave, he suddenly saw scales flash in the Fire Spring. His spirits immediately soared.
"That old dog bear actually knows how to raise fish?"
Qin Empire Ming rushed to the edge of the Fire Spring and saw fish shadows in the pool, which was six or seven zhang across.
Yet before long, all he could do was stare blankly. They were all fish fry.
"This revoltingly stinky old bear is truly shameless. These fish probably can't grow large at all before it scoops them up and eats them!"
In the end, he made his move on the fish fry. He ignored those shorter than a finger, but took every one close to palm-length. The two largest were only seven cun long, and there were just over twenty in total.
This was a kind of Spirit Fish, shimmering blue, with some parts translucent. They could grow over a meter long, and when mature, they contained rich spirituality and life force.
Unfortunately, with that impatient old male bear here, they could never grow that large.
"They may still be small, but they have some spirituality. They count as a powerful tonic."
Whenever Qin Empire Ming entered the mountains, he always brought animal-hide bags. The harsh living environment had made this simple habit part of him, and now it came in handy.
This was also one of the reasons Huang Jingjun had curled his lips and secretly mocked him.
Without looking back, Qin Empire Ming swiftly charged toward Wild Bull Ridge, seven li away. He was exploiting the gap in timing; he had to move fast.
Under the night sky, mountain ridges stretched endlessly, blanketed by vast forests.
The instant Qin Empire Ming entered the golden giant bull's territory, he was stunned.
Deep in the forest was a Tier-Two Fire Spring. Its fiery red, glowing liquid had not gathered in a pool, but had been channeled to irrigate a number of disorderly Fire Fields.
The Fire Spring was not hot, nowhere near as warm as the human body's surface, but it could still ward off the bitter cold brought by wind and snow. The Fire Fields were unexpectedly lush and flourishing, a riot of crimson and violet.
"That old yellow ox is hardworking indeed!" Qin Empire Ming praised.
The mountains were covered in snow, and flakes still drifted down from the sky, yet this area displayed such vigorous life. It truly drew the eye.
A green vine was laden with Fire Pears. Twenty or thirty of them had already ripened to a brilliant sheen, releasing an enticing fruity fragrance.
"These fruits can replenish qi and blood." Qin Empire Ming quickly picked them.
Then he discovered a patch of low plants. Though only about a chi tall, every stalk was laden with purple berries, sweet and tart in flavor.
"So many Purple Sun Fruits. Eat a few when exhausted, and they can quickly restore your energy. Everything this old bull planted is good stuff!" Qin Empire Ming's favorable impression of the golden giant bull greatly increased.
This disorderly Fire Field had not received much care either, but the Tier-Two Fire Spring possessed high spirituality, and every plant grew extremely well.
Unfortunately, the old yellow ox had a vast household. It led a herd of wild bulls and lived in these mountains, so no spiritual matter capable of granting New Life had been left behind. It had likely all been eaten by its calves and descendants.
Qin Empire Ming was disappointed. He had risked entering the lair of a creature that had mutated many times because he naturally hoped to gain something and achieve a Third New Life.
"Old dog bear, old yellow ox—there's no hope with either of you. It looks like Old Man Liu is the reliable one. I'll go into the mountains with him later!"
There were many fruits and melons in the Fire Fields, each carrying a trace of spirituality. To ordinary people, they were all powerful tonics, and some had already ripened. In this world of ice and snow, the sight of such delicious fruit temporarily dispelled Qin Empire Ming's disappointment, and light gradually returned to his eyes.
Whether scarlet fruits or golden melons, he picked every ripe one. Both animal-hide bags were stuffed full.
"Did any calves stay behind?" Qin Empire Ming looked toward the depths of Wild Ox Territory.
"Hm?" Suddenly, his pupils contracted. He did not see any calves, but there was a donkey colt.
It looked very much like Old Weasel's mount, but it should not have been the same one, since this was merely a little donkey. And it was actually stealing melons too!
In the distant Fire Field, there was a plop as the melon in the donkey colt's mouth fell to the ground. It was startled as well, frightened by the sudden sight of an armored two-legged beast.
"Donkey colt, don't you dare bray!" Qin Empire Ming turned and ran.
This little donkey posed no threat, but its backing was powerful. If it started braying here, who knew what kind of monster it might summon?
Qin Empire Ming believed it had to be the descendant of Old Weasel's mount. Otherwise, how could a mere donkey colt dare come here to steal melons?
Qin Empire Ming sprinted away at full speed and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Amid the disorderly Fire Fields, the donkey colt was equally bewildered. It had been about to kick up its heels and flee, yet that two-legged beast had actually escaped before it did.
Feeling guilty as a thief, it did not dare bray. It wandered around like a street loafer, stuffing itself with food and drink all the way. Then, after letting out a full belch, it flicked its tail and ran off in a puff of smoke.
Long afterward, a large white bull finally emerged from the depths of Wild Bull Ridge. This was a creature that had undergone Third Mutation. The old yellow ox had a vast household, so naturally it had to leave bulls behind to guard the home.
The large white bull had noticed the donkey colt the moment it appeared. Not only had it not driven it away, it had hidden itself, knowing the little donkey's background and unwilling to disturb it.
"There's no need for that little fellow to notice anything. Later, we only need Senior Donkey to know that we've always fed and cared for its descendant well." The large white bull spoke in bull language. Even in these mountains, being born a bull meant one still had to understand worldly relationships.
"I... moo, could a herd of donkeys have come?!" When the large white bull approached the Fire Fields, it was utterly dumbfounded!
Qin Empire Ming dashed six li in one breath. Only after finding no movement behind him did he let out a long breath. Then he continued on his way, intending to retrieve his own armor and long-handled hammer.
He also brought along the piece of Mutton Fat Jade Iron he had hidden in the mountains. All the dangerous experts had now gone to the Great Rift Valley, leaving the outside empty and deserted.
"Little Qin Empire, you finally returned safely! If something had happened to you, we would have blamed ourselves for the rest of our lives!" Xu Yueping, Yang Yongqing, and the others had been waiting at the village entrance.
"I'm fine. It was a close call, but no real danger. I even brought back some mountain goods along the way." Qin Empire Ming briefly explained what had happened at the Great Rift Valley.
Xu Yueping was shocked. The different species had launched a large-scale, organized counter-hunt, leaving him so stunned he could not speak.
Yang Yongqing was also shaken and frightened in hindsight. Forget people like them—even the noble elites of Red Haze City were destined to be stripped of a layer of skin there.
Once they learned that all the mountain folk had safely emerged, they fell silent again, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. They could only sigh at life's unpredictability. The people most likely to meet with disaster had instead all escaped.
"Uncle, it's so wonderful that you came back safely. We were worried to death!" Wen Rui rubbed his little hands, white mist billowing from his mouth and nose. Standing in the snow outside the household gate, he jumped happily the moment he saw Qin Empire Ming return.
Over the past half day, he had run out more than ten times. Each time he saw that the gate to Qin Empire Ming's courtyard was still locked, he became deeply disappointed, afraid that his uncle had met with trouble.
After all, he had already learned from Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing that people from Golden Chicken Ridge had taken his uncle away to do something extremely dangerous.
Though Lu Ze had once suffered severe injuries, his constitution was excellent, and he could now leave the house. Supported by Liang Wanqing, he walked outside.
A quarter of an hour later, Qin Empire Ming carried a huge bag of bright red and golden yellow fruits into their small courtyard.
When entering the mountains in ordinary times, they might occasionally find wild fruits left over from autumn beneath the snow, but they could never be this fresh.
"Wow, these aren't mountain persimmons this time—they're my favorite red berries! Uncle, you're amazing!" Wen Rui's little face was rosy as he ate and shouted joyfully.
Wen Hui, who was just over two years old, hugged Qin Empire Ming around the neck and gave him a loud kiss, expressing his joy in slurred words.
Inside the iron cage, the fire-red Mutant Squirrel leaped and scurried about. It was nearly drooling itself to tears, staring eagerly and squeaking without pause.
"Give me a bow, and I'll give you a little red fruit to eat." Qin Empire Ming smiled.
To his surprise, the squirrel really stood in its cage and repeatedly clasped its paws in salute. Each time it bowed, it squeaked once, as if it were counting.
"Have you really become a spirit?" Qin Empire Ming's heart skipped a beat.
Those who had entered the mountains had yet to return, naturally causing concern everywhere. The major Lineages had left small groups of people behind in places such as Silver Vine Town, and they realized something had happened.
After Qin Empire Ming returned, he had Xu Yueping deliver word to Silver Vine Town. In truth, once the old hunters from other villages recovered from their shock, they too went to report the news.
Before long, several birds of prey were released into the night sky. The people each household had left behind began seeking aid from Red Haze City, informing them of the enormous danger that had arisen here.
That very night, experts from Red Haze City set out. Saving people was like fighting a fire; this could not be delayed. A moment too late, and many people might die.
The different species in the mountains had not intended to slaughter everyone, fearing they would provoke Red Haze City's bloody retaliation. Late at night, they began to withdraw. Before Red Haze City's experts could arrive, the crisis resolved itself.
Every household had suffered losses, more or less.
Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, and the others had been in the deeper regions of the Great Rift Valley, yet even they had lost people.
Some Lineages lost twenty to thirty percent of their members, while others lost forty to fifty percent. The Huang Family, for instance. Of course, the most miserable were Golden Chicken Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect. At the entrance, they had nearly been wiped out.
In the end, only several old men from those two groups escaped, their bodies covered in blood as they supported one another.
When the two chieftains of Golden Chicken Ridge learned the details, they were so furious that they nearly came rushing over to kill someone. They cursed that group as trash, saying they were not even as good as a bunch of mountain folk.
The several core figures of the Three-Eyed Sect in this region were also dumbfounded upon hearing the news, nearly coughing up blood.
The next day, Qin Empire Ming, Old Man Liu, and the others went to see them off, because Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, and the others were leaving. The Special Node had appeared, the struggle for mysterious products was over, and this Mountain Sweeping Operation was drawing to a close. When the music ended, the crowd would disperse.
"Qin Empire Ming, leave this place sooner rather than later. It's far too remote. You should enter Giant City and exchange knowledge with others there. That place is rich in natural treasures and outstanding people..."
"Yes, the world beyond is dazzling and colorful, and its radiant cities are incomparably prosperous. You can see all kinds of living beings there. Even gods may take human form and walk among people. It is far beyond your imagination."
"Five hundred years ago, Black White Mountain was famous throughout the world, but not anymore..."
Before parting, they all urged Qin Empire Ming to leave this place as soon as possible.
During this time, Qin Empire Ming also saw Nie Rui, Shen Jiayun, and the others. They came over warmly to greet him.
At last, those people departed into the distance.
That night, Qin Empire Ming carried a bag of fruits and melons to visit Old Man Liu.
"Fire Pears, Purple Sun Fruits, Silver White Melons... Kid, whose powerful mutated creature's lair did you run into? Unless it's a monster with Fourth Mutation or above, it wouldn't take the initiative to tend Fire Fields. You really are something!" Old Man Liu's eyelids twitched in shock.
"Let me think. That old bear definitely wouldn't do—lazy, brutal, and filthy as can be. That Mountain Lord, although exceptionally powerful, rarely eats plants. The old yellow ox is the most diligent. You didn't go there, did you?!" Old Man Liu was thoroughly astonished.
Qin Empire Ming could not help admiring how Old Man Liu knew every region in the mountains like the back of his hand. He was simply too familiar with them.
That was precisely why he had come here.
Qin Empire Ming said, "Old man, that dog bear and that yellow ox bullied me terribly. They nearly got me killed in the Great Rift Valley. When are we going to the place you mentioned to look for spiritual matter?"
Old Man Liu glanced at him. "You came out fine after being harmed by creatures that have mutated many times? You definitely exploited some loophole, raided their lairs, and now you're acting innocent after taking advantage."
Then he realized that Qin Empire Ming's strength must have risen sharply. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to seek spiritual matter? He thirsted for another New Life.
"Have you undergone Second New Life?" he asked in a low voice.
"Yes. I've been feverish lately. It should be almost complete. What about you?" Qin Empire Ming asked.
"Give me another two days, and I should be nearly done too." Old Man Liu closed the door, then added, "Listen. Don't spread the word about the two of us undergoing Second New Life for now."
"Alright!" Qin Empire Ming nodded.
The two exchanged a smile.
Two days later, Qin Empire Ming and Old Man Liu gathered together and studied the matter for a long time, preparing to enter the mountains!
Before you continue