Only Then, It Was Already Lost in Bewilderment

The Exotic Gold Cloth was called "night" in ancient times. Is there really a corresponding item called "day"?

Qin Ming naturally didn't believe it; there was no such coincidence. He was just making things up. Old Cloth, on the other hand, took the opportunity to provoke him, wanting to "teach" him a lesson and retaliate for his "backstabbing" not long ago, which was quite reasonable.

"Old Cloth, since we met, I've always been willing to share joys and sorrows with you, but you've abandoned me more than once. Are you going to put me in a desperate situation again today? My feelings for you have only been at the level of 'bickering,' but you've put them into action. Where is the trust between people and cloth?"

The rippling Exotic Gold Cloth dimmed and slowly returned to calm.

However, it did not "open the door".

It ignored Qin Ming's reminiscences of his glorious past.

This led to Qin Ming "getting what he sought," and perishing along with several Dao Venerable.

The entire Sky Curtain seemed to be ablaze, with streams of Daoist rhymes pouring down like magma waterfalls cascading from the heavens.

Ordinary people cannot see the true scene, but the strong are terrified as they stare at the tangible sea of Daoist energy surging and raging, with tribulation fire bursting down like a dam breaking.

No one could escape it; the young Dao Venerable had nowhere to run and could only passively endure it.

Outside the barrier, everyone was horrified. "Is this a prediction of the future?" Virtual Spirit Xi's face was filled with astonishment.

Pei Wangchuan asked in a heavy tone, "When the most extreme environment descends, must every strong person accept such 'heavenly punishment' and ultimately meet a tragic end?"

Jiang Yutian was mesmerized, and the Noblewoman in Black beside him was also stunned.

The Dao Child present were all somewhat pessimistic.

Let alone others?

A group of old monsters looked solemn; for them, this was the most terrifying era.

"Chaotic Daoist energy is everywhere; fortunately, this era is not the beginning, but rather the end."

"What if things go against the predictions? Is this just the beginning?"

"Then the strong will perish, and the world will be shrouded in silence!"

Outside the barrier, everyone who was watching felt their scalp tingle.

The "Great Battle" was nearing its end, and even those with the potential to become Dao Venerable Venerables could not hold on any longer. The short-haired Devil Venerable came from the Primordial God-Demon Clan and had an absurdly strong physique, but now he was covered in cracks, like a piece of porcelain that had been hit hard and then pieced back together.

The female Dao Venerable lost her composure; her unparalleled hallucinogenic domain collapsed; her lotus-like arm broke off; her jade feet were charred black; her elegance vanished; and her slender figure was torn apart by the Daoist energy.

The blond-haired young Dao Venerable, wielding a heavy halberd, was corroded by the Daoist aura falling like magma, his body becoming unrecognizable, and the Kunpeng beneath his feet had already exploded.

The Dao Venerable's earlier relaxed and carefree mood while walking his bird had completely vanished, and the birdcage had burst open.

The Inner Demon Dao Venerable's flesh and blood were dissolving, and even his own Divine Capital in chaos.

Qin Ming's External Demons was torn to pieces, leaving him in a very miserable state.

His true form held Torn Cloth, head bowed, gazing intently. Even as he endured extreme torture, he pondered whether the spirit of this cloth remained unaffected.

Exotic Gold Cloth seemed to know what he was thinking and responded, "It's just simulating Daoist principles; it's not like a truly dire situation is descending."

Qin Ming's true form was riddled with cracks and stained with blood.

Upon hearing this, he opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Is everything he's experiencing not real? Then why can't he distinguish between them, feeling like he's at his limit, about to crumble at any moment?

"After all, it is a method left behind by the Dao Venerable. If you can see through it now, what will the beings at the level of Heavenly Immortal and Heavenly God think?" With a whoosh, Qin Ming felt himself being moved out of the chaotic Calamity Soil, surrounded by birdsong and fragrant flowers.

To be precise, the boiling Daoist energy suddenly dissipated, and some inexplicable rule smoothed the place, allowing the beautiful mountain peaks to reappear, and the Feathered Immortal Bamboo Grove to once again shimmer with Golden Haze. Everything seemed to have been "reset".

Qin Ming and the other Dao Venerable recovered completely and looked at each other again, their expressions complex.

"Have we come to a complete end?"

"In my final moments, the Light of the Mind did not go out; it did not fall."

"Everyone, have I passed?"

Several people spoke at the same time.

Outside the barrier, everyone who had been watching for so long was naturally filled with shock and disbelief. The outsider— Qin Ming —had not been teleported out.

Does this mean he successfully passed the trials corresponding to the Sixth Realm?

There is no road ahead.

To be precise, even if there were a path, you couldn't walk it, since you haven't even reached the Seventh Realm yet.

Within the barrier, Dao Venerable spoke one after another. This time, they were very sincere, setting up a jade table on the green grass, laden with various fruits and fine wine, and inviting Qin Ming to take a seat.

Qin Ming faced the group again, completely at ease.

Soon, Dao Venerable master raised a cup to him, instantly making the atmosphere more harmonious.

Outside the barrier, even though Jiang Yutian's Dao heart was as firm as divine iron and he didn't care about worldly opinions, he was somewhat lost in thought at this moment.

In fact, no one laughed at him at all.

What did he do wrong? Was he less gifted than others? In fact, he was truly very powerful.

He just met the wrong person at the wrong time.

The local Dao Child were all somewhat silent, while the outsider, Qin Ming, was actually sitting at the same table with several Dao Venerable, drinking and chatting happily.

What an honor this is!

That's a mutual recognition of each other's strength; to put it more realistically, it's an affirmation of each other's status and position.

"To stand shoulder to shoulder with the ancient Dao Venerable!"

"In one-on-one situations, his record would be outstanding." In no time, many people surrounded Lu Zizai, Meng Zhiyu, and the others, taking the initiative to chat and build rapport.

Prior to this, several groups of people had done so.

Now, even the most aloof people from the opposing camp have come over.

"Gentlemen, if I may ask, what kind of Anomalies is Qin Ming in the world you can observe?"

It's obvious that some young Dao Child seeking psychological comfort come to this place, and if there are other similar people around them, it can really make them feel "uncomfortable."

My sixth brother is naturally very strong.

Upon hearing this, the group of people secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Tian spoke up, "Look, this is the fifth brother, who unfortunately lost to the Old Six brother."

Instantly, the smiles that had just appeared on the faces of the aloof individuals froze.

At the crucial moment, Si Yeli showed kindness and provided them with necessary psychological comfort.

Unparalleled Through the Ages!

These four words circulated within a small circle and became Qin Ming's nickname in this place. Inside the barrier, Qin Ming discovered that several Dao Venerable truly lived up to the prefix "young"; their temperaments were lively and unrestrained, and they really didn't seem like old monsters.

However, they clearly possess the memories of the Supreme Experts.

This struck Qin Ming as odd; the more they talked, the more he realized they were just a group of people his own age.

He felt it necessary to understand the matter more deeply and asked many questions on the spot.

Is this the heart of the Night Mist World?

"No."

What kind of place is that?

"Another form of pioneering, opening up new territory, but unfortunately, it's far from its intended end."

It later became a refuge.

Qin Ming frowned. The core area of Night Mist World was indeed not easy to approach; it was extremely dangerous. Even Dao Venerable who ventured deep into it would never return.

However, things aren't that simple here. According to them, this seems to be an exploration of another realm, an attempt to uncover the truth behind the Eternal Night.

Qin Ming talked to them a lot, mainly asking questions and seeking various secrets from these extraordinary people.

"What's going on? Is this wine really that easy to get drunk on?"

Or is it simply the rule here that has caused so many of the questions I just had to forget?

Qin Ming was horrified; many important details were blurry, and he couldn't remember them at all.

Unwilling to give up, he continued to ask questions, exploring the essential issues.

In their drunken stupor, these people dared to respond to anything.

"This place involves the study of gates, so it's naturally very mysterious and unpredictable. That bull rider took away our insights and experiences—he's owing a debt he won't repay!"

"Wait a minute, everyone, speak slowly!"

Qin Ming rubbed his temples hard, wondering how he could have forgotten so many important details again.

Outside the barrier, everyone stared in disbelief.

They discovered that it wasn't the wine that intoxicated them, but their own state of mind. Several Dao Venerable and Qin Ming got into a daze while drinking, some singing loudly, some playing music with sword blades, and even the female Dao Venerable joined in the dancing. Qin Ming also joined in, using Heavenly Light to condense a seven-stringed zither and pluck beautiful melodies, accompanied by wondrous scenes such as the sound of pine trees, clear springs, and the bright moon.

What are they discussing? Why can't we hear them?

Many people outside are eager to participate and wish they could get involved themselves.

Qin Ming asked, "Are you truly reincarnations of the Dao Venerable?"

The young writer responded, "Deep down, we don't actually agree."

The Inner Demon Dao Venerable also nodded Serious Expression.

Qin Ming also thought so; they were just young people carrying the memories of the Dao Venerable, full of vitality, without any trace of old age, and not at all gloomy or lethargic.

"The so-called Past Life Wisdom is merely an imprint left by the Dao Venerable between heaven and earth. To be on the safe side, it's not necessarily true that only one copy will remain."

"We sometimes feel lost because our deepest instincts conflict with ancient memories; our true self and our Past Life Wisdom cannot perfectly reconcile."

Qin Ming was surprised. What was going on?

"Our souls originate from ourselves, but having inherited the memories of the Dao Venerable, our instinctive choices sometimes contradict ancient experiences."

Qin Ming frowned and said, "In that case, are you still considered Dao Venerable?" The female Dao Venerable frankly replied, "Actually, I don't think so. If we have to define it, we are the chosen ones who have our One of Us trajectories, or perhaps we are the relatives of Dao Venerable, who have received gifts of memories and experiences, but we are really not their reincarnations."

Qin Ming thought it made sense; no wonder he felt the others weren't as "mature" as he'd imagined.

After careful review and evaluation, he concluded that the individuals were not necessarily a level above the best among the Great Sage.

At the very least, Qin Ming was confident that once he reached the Seventh Realm, he could kill such a powerful expert with innate Past Life Wisdom within the same domain.

Today, he looked up to the sky and sighed, "The Dao Venerable is too difficult to kill."

Qin Ming said, "If you weren't young Dao Venerable, who else could stand here?"

The Inner Demon Dao Venerable chuckled and said, "This is just a rough assessment."

The golden-haired youth said, "If we have to set a standard, then the most reliable one is naturally the ancient Supreme Experts ' own physical bodies reviving, gradually gaining spiritual power, and returning to a youthful state."

The Devil Venerable nodded and said, "That kind of extraordinary person who is resurrected and lives alongside you from the very beginning, existing in the same era, is perhaps the kind of young Dao Venerable who is flawless."

The female Dao Venerable spoke, "It's very rare to encounter one."

Qin Ming frankly admitted, "I've encountered them before, three in total. They were still in a period of confusion, their memories hadn't fully returned."

It's not entirely his fault for being careless; he needed to flex his muscles to ensure his safe escape. "Hiss!"

"Bro, you're awesome!"

"Details!"

"Come on, let's drink!"

These ancient figures seem to have shed the burden of being Dao Venerable and are becoming more like young people.

In the end, they found themselves getting along very well and felt as if they had known each other for a long time.

Qin Ming asked, "After you gained Past Life Wisdom, what level did you reach in your second life? Did you return to the Dao Venerable realm and become stronger than in your first life?"

The Devil Venerable spoke up, "Brother, there are rules here. The more questions you ask, the more your memories will fade. Even if we wanted to tell you, you couldn't take them with you."

Qin Ming instantly sobered up, realizing he had exchanged the Primordial God-Demon Body Refining Instruction for nothing.

"Old Cloth, you were there, I can't remember, but you can, right?"

Unfortunately, the Exotic Gold Cloth fell completely silent, offering no response. Most importantly, Old Cloth wouldn't open the door for him, preventing him from sending the External Demons inside to evade the rules.

"You're to my liking. I'll try to help you memorize the Body Refining Technique." Dao Venerable began to think of a solution.

Outside the barrier, people saw that several young Dao Venerable were getting closer and closer to Qin Ming. In the end, some of them even put their arms around Qin Ming's shoulders and kept clinking glasses with him.

The group talked about something, and while some were still laughing, tears started falling.

"What's going on? Did Old Six confide in them there?" Zhou Tian was shocked after reading it.

Niu Wuwei even more puzzled and asked, "What exactly did they talk about that made them so emotionally connected? They seemed like they wanted to become sworn brothers right there and then."

Many people were stunned; not long ago, those same people were fighting to the death, but now they were so close.

Without a doubt, there was no so-called Dao Venerable within the barrier at this moment; there were only a few young people who had temporarily severed the dazzling halo surrounding them.

Even the blond youth who rode Kunpeng and had a terrible temper was laughing loudly, putting his arm around Qin Ming's shoulder, clinking glasses forcefully, and drinking the wine in one gulp.

The female Dao Venerable was no longer aloof; her face had become very gentle, and her eyes curved when she smiled. She wasn't exactly stunningly beautiful, but she was very pleasant to look at and easy to approach.

Outside, a middle-aged man spoke up, "What's going on? That's a Dao Venerable! He reminds me of my first love!"

"Shut up, don't talk nonsense!" "I'm just telling the truth. For a moment, it felt like I was back in my youth, meeting an old friend."

Many people nodded in agreement; the female Dao Venerable, whose demeanor had softened, resembled the radiant face from their youthful memories.

Inside the barrier, Qin Ming drank countless bottles of fine wine, chatting with several people about the past, present, and future. He felt as if he were truly drunk.

The others were equally open with each other, discussing magic and reminiscing about the past.

Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns.

"Even if I burned away all my Heavenly Dao, I could not return to the past."

Several young Dao Venerable disguised themselves as drunkards, each displaying a certain sadness that was utterly inconsistent with their identities.

Qin Ming said, "Everyone, I'm afraid I can't continue on this topic. I can still return to my youth."

How did you do that?

"If that's what you mean, then we'll take it seriously. Please speak."

Qin Ming said, "Because I have never wasted my time, I still have the golden body of an eighteen-year-old. When I reach the Seventh Realm, I will make some efforts to try to become even younger."

"This time, I really want to gang up on him!" "Count me in!"

Towards the end of the drinking session, the group, who had been arm in arm, almost came to blows again.

Fortunately, it was just a momentary impulse on their part.

After a long while, the female Dao Venerable, seemingly on the verge of tears, appeared to be talking about something.

The onlookers were greatly shocked.

Qin Ming seemed to be feeling sentimental as well, and chatted with her for a long time.

What's going on?

Within the barrier, Qin Ming exhaled a breath of stale air and said, "You all have a place to come from and a place to return to in life, but I still don't know who my parents are or where they are, and I don't even understand my own origins. Isn't that even more pathetic and lamentable?"

The group chatted about the past, occasionally raising their glasses, each lost in their own thoughts.

Later, Qin Ming asked, "Are you really just branded beings? Why do I feel that you are no different from living people?"

The young man holding the pen said, "There is nothing absolute in this world."

The female Dao Venerable spoke, "Whether you gaze at the boundless Eternal Night or look up at the starry sky, you are seeing the real world. I stare at the dust in the light, at the lines in my palm, am I not also seeing the real world?" The Inner Demon Dao Venerable said, "You observe me, I observe it, layer upon layer, who can say who is real, who can say who is fake? Perhaps someone is also observing you from a dream."

Not long after, when the topic of the trial path to the Seventh Realm came up, the group told Qin Ming that there was no celestial music there, and that going there would only bring cold trials.

The female Dao Venerable asked, "Your own cultivation has not yet reached the Seventh Realm, do you still wish to try?"

Qin Ming nodded and said, "Let's give it a try!"

They talked about everything, and when they parted, they waved goodbye to each other reluctantly.

Qin Ming set off, embarking on the Dao Venerable Path corresponding to the Seventh Realm.

Sure enough, he tried it and died, exploding here and turning into a large cloud of blood mist. Without any suspense, he was immediately teleported out.

The Exotic Gold Cloth emerged as the sole winner, bringing with it a piece of cloth that merged with itself.

Brilliant Dao Patterns intertwined, Qin Ming was bathed in Immortal Light, and a faint medicinal fragrance emanated from him. He quickly reassembled his body and recovered in the first instant outside.

Many people surged forward, not only Si Yeli, Zhou Tian and others, but also locals, overwhelming the area.

Qin Ming looked back, feeling utterly empty. What exactly had he discussed with those young Dao Venerable?

Why did he feel a sense of bewilderment, a strange emotion arise? He kept resonating with it, carefully tracing back to the source.

When they failed and looked back, the area within the barrier was now completely silent; the figures of those people had long since vanished.

Soon, Qin Ming was escorted away from the place.

Dao Child arranged a banquet and gave him and Lu Zizai and others a grand reception.

During this time, he heard that other outsiders had also arrived, and some of them had embarked on the Dao Venerable Path.

Qin Ming and his group stayed here for more than two months, experiencing many things. They explored this realm and often communicated with the Dao Child.

During this time, spring arrived in Mu Shinian.

As they were about to part, the noblewoman in blue was reluctant to let him go and asked if he could stay.

Mu Shinian countered, "Can you come with me?"

The woman in green cried out, "I cannot leave."

I'll come see you again later!

"We may never see each other again," the Green-Clad Woman sighed softly. As the Ten-Colored Fire Spring rose and fell, Qin Ming and the others boarded the Small Boat. Many people on the shore saw them off, waving goodbye.

When the trial of the Dao Venerable Path ended, Qin Ming obtained twenty-four doses of Secret Medicine, as well as the prescription.

In the two months, he received many valuable gifts, including rare treasures from Virtual Spirit Xi, Pei Wangchuan, and others, as well as exotic items from Jiang Yutian, the Noblewoman in Black, and others.

Ten-Colored Fire Spring surged, Arched Gate appeared, constructed of characters, and a wooden boat passed through, sailing into the distance along a mysterious tunnel.

"How did we fall asleep?" On the edge of the enormous Abyss, many people awoke to find themselves lying on the ground, unaware of how long they had been asleep.

Even the experts at the Eighth Realm were no exception, all looking sleepy.

"What happened? How did we fall into a deep sleep?"

"Something's wrong. Fragments of memories are flashing through my mind, like I've experienced something, but I can't remember them at all."

"The location of the dried-up Ten-Colored Fire Spring, this mysterious Abyss is a bit strange!"

Many people are racking their brains, but they just can't recall the details.

Even the Blood Buddha and the Longevity Daoist frowned, as if recalling events from a dream.

"Are we in a dream? It's like there's a real world nearby, and we stumbled into it, but I don't remember anything after that." The group of Great Sage were in an uproar, their thoughts racing.

Qin Ming pondered deeply. He noticed charred black areas on the ground beside him, containing what appeared to be twenty-four glass bottle-shaped objects, all reduced to ashes.

"I remember it was twenty-four doses of the Secret Medicine. Did you send me two bottles less?" he blurted out.

Then, he froze. What was going on? Why did he feel so empty inside? Some images flashed through his mind, but he couldn't remember them.

Many people are lost in confusion, pulling at their hair, the more they search, the less they can remember their dreams.

The Purple-Haired Old Heavenly Immortal being spoke up, "These scattered fragments are probably not real experiences; rather, we were all affected!"

At that moment, everyone smelled a faint, exotic fragrance.

People searched for the source and discovered a cluster of colorful halos swaying from the bottom of the Abyss, consisting of ten colors.

"Could it be a miracle that only Dao Venerable level figures are fortunate enough to witness...?" Even the Blood Buddha lost his composure at this moment.