New Life

Qin Empire Ming solemnly nodded. It was time to figure out how to achieve "New Life."

This was a major matter, one that concerned his entire life and would shape his future fate.

Fifteen or sixteen was the Golden Period. Achieving "New Life" at this age brought the greatest benefits; missing it would be a terrible pity.

But it was difficult. The standouts of Double Tree Village had all gained "New Life" after turning twenty, while some had not succeeded until after thirty.

Even so, among the village's more than forty households and over two hundred people, fewer than ten New Life Evolvers existed in total.

Lu Ze said, "Er Bingzi from the neighboring village made it. He happened to be within the Golden Period."

Qin Empire Ming remembered Er Bingzi: thin-bodied, sallow and emaciated, carrying a faintly sickly air. Even his hair was sparse and the color of withered grass.

He was deeply surprised. That youth, who had not looked robust in the least, had actually achieved "New Life" during the Golden Age.

"When did it happen?"

"Almost a month ago," Lu Ze told him. After gaining New Life, Er Bingzi had directly lifted the four-hundred-pound black donkey in the yard, completely changing his former frail appearance.

"That really is strange." Qin Empire Ming truly had not expected it. So many boys built like oxen had suffered setback after setback, yet Er Bingzi had succeeded in one stroke.

Lu Ze also felt something stir within him. He was strong and healthy, a formidable figure even among young and middle-aged men, yet he was already twenty-three and still had not achieved "New Life."

"It is said to be related to one of his relatives." Lu Ze knew some of the inside story.

That relative of Er Bingzi's, though not closely related by blood, traveled abroad all year round. When he returned this time and saw him, he declared Er Bingzi to be a fine seedling.

The man said that Er Bingzi had suffered a minor physical problem in the past and had failed to lock in his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, which was why he had seemed perpetually ill. But his potential had actually been tremendous.

Most crucially, that man had brought back an Advanced Willpower Skill and had Er Bingzi switch to practicing it. The results had been exceptionally remarkable, and he had ultimately gained "New Life."

Qin Empire Ming was lost in thought. A person's fortunes truly were impossible to predict.

"Afterward, that man said Er Bingzi's inborn 'foundation' was far more solid than he had initially guessed. Perhaps he can go very far."

Lu Ze had never imagined that someone who had carried a sickly look year-round could become so formidable.

"Although we do not have an Advanced Willpower Skill, we do have workable methods. Little Qin Empire, I think you should change that unusual way you train," Lu Ze advised.

In his view, Qin Empire Ming's physical constitution was extremely strong, even stronger than his own. He had long surpassed ordinary people by a great margin.

Yet despite such excellent conditions, Qin Empire Ming had failed to achieve "New Life" for so long. The problem was most likely in the way he tempered himself. It could not nurture New Life Power, and could not carry him forward.

He had already just turned sixteen. If this continued, he really would miss the Golden Period.

Liang Wanqing also urged, "Little Qin Empire, why not switch to practicing your Brother Lu's Black Night Meditation Art?"

Eternal Night shrouded heaven and earth, and the wilderness was incomparably dangerous. Under such conditions, some openly available manuals of power existed everywhere, so that everyone could improve their constitution and protect themselves.

Naturally, such books could not be considered high-end, and were worlds apart from rare secret tomes.

Qin Empire Ming was not a stubborn mule. He understood their good intentions and nodded. "I'll seriously give it a try from now on."

Lu Ze softly sighed, believing Qin Empire Ming had been held back by the "Wild Style" he usually practiced. It was far inferior even to the low-grade Black Night Meditation Art Primer, but there was too little time left to switch now.

He pondered it, thinking that only an Advanced Willpower Skill could help Qin Empire Ming change his situation in a short time.

Lu Ze let out a breath of stale air. "Sigh, even an intermediate secret manual would do. With your conditions, if you miss the most precious Golden Period, that would be far too regrettable."

However, the only books circulating in this region that could help people achieve "New Life" were a few such as Fleeting Life Skill Guidance Chapter and Black Night Meditation Art Primer. Their standards were roughly comparable.

Qin Empire Ming was not anxious, mainly because the movements he had practiced year after year had begun to show results. The flowing light on his skin and the silver ripples, though faint, had truly manifested before. Things were no longer the same as in the past.

His handsome face carried a healthy flush, and his eyes shone brightly. "Brother Lu, sister-in-law, wait a little longer. I should be able to make it."

New Life meant that, atop one's original physical foundation, vigorous vitality surged forth, as though one had returned to the womb and once more nurtured thriving New Life Power.

Amid the turbid air of the mortal world, one's physical conditions had originally become fixed. If one's "foundation" underwent another round of development, it was akin to an Acquired Fetal Transformation.

Who would not be tempted by that?

Take Er Bingzi, for example. He had originally been somewhat weak, but after New Life, with both hands exerting force, he could seize a living creature weighing several hundred pounds and raise it overhead.

Such a transformation was truly astonishing, no less than changing one's fate.

Just imagine: after practicing the Black Night Meditation Art, Lu Ze could already snap green bricks and strike through wooden training posts. If he underwent "New Life" and his strength increased dramatically, how terrifying would his fists and kicks become?

"After the lingering illness left me, I felt different. My body has never been in better condition." Qin Empire Ming was now full of confidence.

Before Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing could say anything, five-year-old Wen Rui was already nodding earnestly. His rosy little face was full of anticipation as he said, "Little Uncle is the strongest! Once Little Uncle succeeds, catch mountain beasts and stew their meat for us. I... I'm craving it."

Two-year-old Wen Hui, still unsteady on his feet, also toddled over to echo him. His words were unclear. "Little Uncle... strong, eat meat."

Qin Empire Ming immediately laughed. "There is no need to wait until later. I can satisfy you today."

As he spoke, he took down the Red Squirrel hanging from the hunting fork.

The Mutant Squirrel's black-jewel eyes nearly bulged out, and then it revealed a look of terror.

"Oh? It's alive again. Even better—the meat is far more tender than if it had been frozen." Qin Empire Ming held it up and examined it again and again.

"This squirrel is so pretty, and kind of cute." Wen Rui blinked his big eyes, genuinely fond of such furry little animals.

"It'll be even cuter once it's stewed. I guarantee you'll enjoy eating it." Qin Empire Ming smiled.

Wen Rui immediately became conflicted. He truly craved meat and had not eaten any in a long time, but seeing this little creature with glowing fiery-red fur, he could not look away. He wanted to get close to it and hoped to raise it.

Little Wen Hui followed behind his brother's backside, copying him. The Red Squirrel's reflection lay in his bright eyes as he shouted indistinctly, "Squirrel... cute."

Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing looked at the two children and both laughed.

Qin Empire Ming agreed. "It really is cute and capable. Look, it has so much food stored for winter—pine nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, red dates, and everything else imaginable. There are no fewer than a dozen kinds, and it even stored mushrooms. Perfect. Squirrel stewed with mushrooms: delicious and nourishing."

"R-Really? But I don't want it to die." Wen Rui tugged at the corner of his clothes, his little face full of distress. Naturally, he did not forget to swallow a mouthful of saliva.

"Of course. Look, among these mushrooms are Tiger Paw Mushrooms and Cuckoo Mushrooms. Those are both rather famous mountain delicacies. You two are in for a treat. As expected, mutant creatures only select the finest goods." Qin Empire Ming praised.

The Red Squirrel was extremely temperamental, and all its fur bristled upright.

Qin Empire Ming drew his short blade and carried it toward the yard, preparing to skin it. Such bloody scenes were unsuitable for the two children to see.

"Squeak squeak!" The mutant little mountain beast was instantly horrified. It cried out frantically and struggled violently, the iron wire wrapped around it nearly cutting into its flesh.

"Little Uncle, how about... keeping it?" Wen Rui stopped him. He tried hard to forget the taste of stewed meat and, as if making up his mind, pleaded here.

"What fine ingredients. Mutant creatures have the freshest, tastiest meat." Qin Empire Ming smiled temptingly.

"We won't eat it this time. Once Little Uncle achieves New Life, you will definitely be able to hunt huge, ferocious mutant creatures. I'll wait for Little Uncle to succeed." Wen Rui's sympathy rose up, and he resisted the temptation of food.

The Mutant Squirrel was on edge. One moment it looked at the blade in Qin Empire Ming's hand, the next it squeaked at Wen Rui, as though asking him for help.

Liang Wanqing said in surprise, "This little mountain beast is incredibly spiritual. It seems to understand what you are saying. Look at that little face of its—it is so nervous that it has wrinkled up."

Qin Empire Ming put away the short blade. Such a small creature had little meat to begin with, and he had only intended it to satisfy the children's cravings. Since they liked living creatures, they could raise it instead.

Lu Ze slightly frowned. "This winter is unlike previous ones. Where will we find extra food for it?"

The Mutant Squirrel stared longingly at the bulging animal-hide sack. That was its entire fortune!

Qin Empire Ming also noticed that this little mountain beast was indeed astonishingly spiritual.

He picked out some acorns from the pile of dried fruit. "These nuts need to be processed before they can be eaten. Otherwise, they are mildly toxic and a little bitter. They can be kept to feed the squirrel."

The Red Squirrel made no sound, merely staring at him with wide eyes, its breathing slightly rough.

"You're still dissatisfied after getting to live? And if you dare bite someone, I guarantee I'll stew you." Qin Empire Ming warned, locking it into an iron birdcage.

Lu Ze felt it would be better to sell the Mutant Squirrel. Its blazing red, brilliant fur was valuable, and raising it would waste both food and effort.

But when he saw the two children's incomparable joy, laughing and jumping about, he no longer voiced any objection.

When they parted, Lu Ze took the iron cage and a pile of acorns, refusing the other dried goods.

Qin Empire Ming did not say much to him. He stuffed the cloth bag containing walnuts and pine nuts into Liang Wanqing's hands as snacks for the two children.

After temporarily escaping the predicament of lacking food, Qin Empire Ming began seriously considering the matter of New Life.

Lu Ze's words that the "Wild Style" had delayed him had indeed stirred a few ripples in his heart.

He vaguely remembered a few blurred fragments from childhood. Someone had once told him that those movements had some origins, but likely could not be mastered.

A moment later, he arrived in the yard. He first followed his own rhythm. The "Wild Style" he had practiced for more than ten years was clearly different now; there was no reason not to continue.

Qin Empire Ming loosened his joints and stretched his sinews and bones, twisting, whirling, turning, flipping—round and fluid, without any sluggishness.

He suddenly sprang up from the ground, swift as an iron arrow released from a bow. Yet when he landed, he was light and nimble as a swallow, touching down without a sound.

He shifted between stillness and motion: sitting like a tiger crouching, walking as though wading through mud, circling and turning naturally as his heart desired.

Then he spun, whipping out a leg with lightning speed, like a dragon-python lashing its tail through the air, producing a dull boom.

After a simple warm-up, Qin Empire Ming began performing all sorts of high-difficulty movements.

"Exhale and breathe, cast out the old and draw in the new, bear stretching and owl gazing..."

He stretched his body, strong and forceful, actually stirring up fierce wind that swept snow from the ground, making it surge and dance around him.

Very soon, the familiar sensation came. In Qin Empire Ming's pores, incredibly faint threads of silver intertwined, rippling into waves and forming a thin layer of flowing light over his skin.

Gradually, white mist rose from all around him.

A stream of heat flowed through his flesh and blood, like sweet rain falling everywhere after a great drought, while cracked earth greedily drank in every raindrop.

Qin Empire Ming's movements consumed an enormous amount of energy, yet he felt no fatigue. On the contrary, he was bursting with vitality.

His body seemed to be cheering, as though it had starved for a long time and wished to eat its fill, continuously drawing in the silver ripples.

His flesh itched, and strength was growing throughout his entire body. Could this mean he was about to achieve New Life?

Qin Empire Ming's body burned hot, and he felt an urge to run, to fully vent his overflowing vigor. So he put it into action.

He raced through the wilderness like a meteor streaking beneath the night sky, speeding ever farther away until he was nearly at the forested region.

In the distant snowfield stood a tall, slender woman. A faint Dark Light flowed over the black fur cloak draped over her body, concealing her fair neck and revealing only her exquisite chin, carrying a mysterious, aloof coldness.

A crow stood atop a clump of thorns beside her and spoke in human words. "Oh? The body is achieving New Life on its own. There are unusual signs even at the initial stage, as though moonlight has fallen over its surface, stirring layer upon layer of Shattered Gold Ripples."

"I think this is a fine seedling, truly rare. To think one appeared in such a remote place." Its black feathers were like dark gold, and its purple eyes gazed ahead. "Isn't your teacher selecting a final disciple? This youth may be suitable."

The woman stood atop a large bluestone. The cold wind blew past, pressing her loose cloak against her body, unable to conceal her exceptionally beautiful curves. Yet her voice was somewhat indifferent. "There are people more suitable than him."

Qin Empire Ming seemed to sense something. He turned his head toward the distance, already holding bow and arrow in hand.

"A very keen instinct," the crow commented. By then, it was already within the dense forest. It said to the woman beside it, "Your teacher's path is extraordinarily special. Do not truly miss a seed that may grow in flourishing splendor."

"If he is not chosen, that is a regret he does not know of. What could I possibly miss? The best candidate has already been found." Mountain winds howled, lifting the woman's glossy black hair to veil one side of her jade-white cheek. Her black garments fluttered fiercely, making her cool, exquisite beauty appear even more frosty. She walked forward and said, "Investigating the mountains is more urgent for now."