Night without Borders

Chapter 362 Coming in droves
"The southwest sky tilts, and the blood of the earth immortals is in chaos..."

When the people from Pugon received the secret report, they were shocked; something had happened back home.

Jian Huaidao, Xie Lin, and the others felt a chill run down their spines. Their lineage was related to the Seven-Day Stackers and Earth Immortals, so they were naturally quite worried.

The heavy snow and freezing weather couldn't compare to the chill in their hearts.

Those from Pugong who were traveling in Yezhou were eager to return immediately, but after calming down, they restrained their impulses, knowing that returning might bring a great crisis.

"The chaos of the Earth Immortal Bloodline doesn't necessarily mean it will truly affect my clan," Jian Huaidao muttered to himself.

There are four transcendent lineages in Pugong that are involved in the seventh realm. Now that a terrestrial immortal has fallen, the unharmed families may become even stronger as a result.

The young Buddha had short, naturally curly hair and a sturdy build. His eyes gleamed with golden light as he muttered to himself, "Of the four great Earth Immortal families, only two remain..."

A deep smile gradually spread across his face as he said, "In that case, the source of the Chaos Force, the strongest sage alive on the Path of Rebirth, will be able to reach the seventh realm by borrowing the remnants of the cave heaven!"

The bloodshed and chaos in Pugong were only known in a small circle, and even the grandmasters of Yezhou knew only a limited amount about it, mainly because the highest levels were keeping an eye on it.

Meanwhile, another piece of news caused a sensation, like a thunderclap in winter, leading to heated discussions from all sides.

"Kunling, deep within a mysterious space, shrouded in mist, the city of Tu has been revived and reappeared in the world..."

On that very day, a grandmaster went to investigate.

Subsequently, several patriarchs arrived in person, all with extremely solemn expressions, showing great concern for this matter, even more so than for the chaos caused by the Pugong Earth Immortals.

In the mist, the earthen city was quite astonishing, shaking almost every three days. The city was shrouded in mist, which shrouded the sky and rippled in layers, carrying a fresh and vibrant life force.

"The revival of Tucheng means that Yujing is in motion. Is something big about to happen?" Even the patriarch-level figures were in turmoil.

According to records, Tucheng existed because of Yujing.

Even several "retired emperors" rushed over. For example, in the past, when the Buddha himself arrived, he opened his Dharma Eyes, and two golden beams of light directly reached the earthen city.

……

In no time, all sorts of news flew around Yezhou.

Ordinary people were stunned; so much had happened recently.

Before the turmoil in the Golden Light Cave had subsided, Pugong immediately erupted in a blood calamity of earth immortals. Now, another strange phenomenon has appeared: the mysterious earthen city connected to the Jade Capital seems to be about to transcend reality and descend upon Yezhou.

Qin Ming, Xiang Yiwu, Wu Yaozu, and others returned together, discussing recent major events along the way.

They reasoned that some of the patriarchs who returned from Pugong were probably loyal to Yezhou and provided it with its core secrets, while others had likely strayed from their original intentions and sided with Pugong.

In any case, the tragedy that occurred at Jinguang Cave was quite beneficial to Yezhou, essentially cutting off the support of certain "wanderers" from their very foundation.

Perhaps, from this point on, they will be forced to stand on the side of Night State again.

Human nature is complex; it cannot be simply black and white.

Some people and things can be corrected, and one's stance can be changed.

Of course, the return of the "retired emperor" and his re-entry into the central government of various religious ancestral temples to engage in a power struggle with forceful means is undeniable and not a mere performance.

Qin Ming, Xiang Yiwu, and the others were not at a high enough level to know that the Golden Light Cave was involved in the ultimate truth of the Immortal Tomb.

After returning to Yezhou, they will soon part ways. Wu Yaozu plans to cultivate himself while enjoying the scenery.

Qin Ming wanted to return to Chixia City, because it was Meng Xinghai's territory, which was relatively safe, and it also contained the Thunderfire Alchemy Hall that he needed.

This time, he set his sights on the real thunder and fire.

Xiang Yiwu's expression was very solemn. He was going to return to the Tathagata Sect, and it was very likely that he would have to fight against the disciples of the past Tathagata lineage who had mastered the Chaos Force.

On the way, he asked Qin Ming for a lot of "tips and tricks".

He said in a deep voice, "Well, not everyone is like you, brother, who can integrate so many extraordinary skills and techniques. My improved Tathagata Force may not be weaker than the Chaos Force of the Tathagata lineage in the past."

In fact, through discussions with him, Qin Ming learned a great deal about the situation there, including how to deal with the Dharma of the past Tathagata.

Although the general principles are all based on the silk script, the Hunyuan Jin (Primordial Force) they develop is vastly different. In the past, the Tathagata lineage mainly integrated the Tathagata Jin.

To avoid exploding like the original founders, they probably wouldn't dare to freely merge various scriptures. Although they are very strong, they are not completely invincible.

Moreover, Xiang Yiwu is quite special, known as the Golden Cicada, because he wants to undergo a rebirth based on the Tathagata's Power, shedding the old cicada skin and regenerating a new power method.

Moreover, Xiang Yiwu has successfully achieved what all the famous figures in the history of the path to rebirth have been pursuing: each great realm requires a rebirth.

Taking all these factors into account, Qin Ming believes that Xiang Yiwu is not necessarily weaker than the seed of the Tathagata lineage in a contest of equal strength.

Crimson City, covered in silver, is far less prosperous and large than those giant cities and famous cities, but Qin Ming felt a sense of familiarity with it. Like Black and White Mountain, he regarded it as his homeland and hometown.

Scattered snowflakes drifted in the night sky, signaling the end of winter and the approaching spring when all things revive.

"Uncle Meng!" Qin Ming entered the city lord's mansion and took out a local specialty he had brought back from the Minotaur tribe—Niuhuang Anshen San (a traditional Chinese medicine for calming the mind and body).

Old Meng follows the path of Tantric Buddhism, burning calming incense every day to quiet his mind, and he quite likes the gift in front of him.

Meng Xinghai smiled and pointed at him, saying, "Good lad, you're getting wilder and wilder. You run out of Yezhou at the drop of a hat, and you even dare to mess around with the Golden Light Cave where Earth Immortals have fallen."

Qin Ming sighed, "There's no other way. Local cultivation resources are limited, so I have to look to external sources now."

“That’s true.” Meng Xinghai nodded. Yezhou had already been explored. Any place with abundant spiritual matter and Daoist charm, such as mountain and river spirit nests and river and sea secret passages, was already occupied.

After the Western Frontier War, there were too many wounded, and places that could heal people could no longer be open to the public. Grandmasters were all waiting in line.

Meng Xinghai said, "Let's wait a little longer. Now that the higher-ups have mastered the divine skill of constructing 'doors,' exploring a truly new world may not be far off."

Qin Ming sensed the underlying meaning: Could it be that the Golden Light Cave they unearthed this time wasn't the real new world?

Meng Xinghai secretly transmitted his voice, saying, "Yes, it's good that you know. Don't go around talking about it. The Golden Light Cave is a 'big pit' that leads to the Immortal Tomb."

Qin Ming opened his eyes wide and felt that the blood of the patriarchs was reddish-black.

At the same time, he was surprised by Lao Meng's extensive knowledge and information network, even knowing about such matters.

Meng Xinghai said, "By chance, I learned that my Meng family's ancestor invited a highly respected elder to help me assess the terrain of Chixia City. During our conversation, he gave me a few pointers."

The fourth stage in Esoteric Buddhism is "connecting with the spirits," followed by seeing the gods and performing rituals.

Crimson Cloud City is quite special. According to records, in the distant past, two deities chose the vicinity as their sacred site.

That's why the giant blue centipede once wanted to become a god here and devour the entire city.

When Meng Xinghai came here to become the city lord, he naturally considered various factors and set his sights on this place.

"Uncle Meng, could it be that he's approaching the fifth realm and about to become a god?" Qin Ming asked.

"At my age, how could it be possible?" Meng Xinghai shook his head. He was in his thirties, and even if he were a genius, he couldn't reach that level now.

The first three realms of Esoteric Buddhism and the Path to Immortality progress rapidly, but from the fourth realm onwards, they become difficult, often taking decades.

Of course, overall, these two routes are still much faster than Xinsheng Road.

Even if one follows the path of a tyrant, to become a grandmaster, one must be over 160 or 170 years old, and that's assuming everything goes incredibly smoothly.

In this case, the so-called "shortcut" has no advantage compared to top-tier immortal or divine seeds.

Qin Ming had carefully studied the "Overlord's Testament" and he suspected that the Overlord might have referenced various methods of Tantric Buddhism to replenish himself by drawing on the natural world.

Unable to find an extraordinary place, Qin Ming now decided to seek it from the heavens. He settled down in Crimson Cloud City, diligently studying various scriptures, practicing the Hunyuan Force, and patiently awaiting the first thunder of spring.

During this time, he also visited friends and had small gatherings with old acquaintances. He was surprised to learn that Xu Sheng, a retired merchant, and Sister Fenfang Zhou Lin had a son. Naturally, he had to give them a gift.

Having emerged from Black and White Mountain, Wu Zheng has come to a complete understanding of reality. He feels that he would be content with six rebirths by the end of his life and asks for nothing more.

“Brother Ming, not everyone can rise to prominence like you. When I first left my hometown, I had lofty ambitions, but now I have completely accepted the reality that I am just an ordinary person,” Wu Zheng said after offering a toast.

He wasn't discouraged at all; he was quite optimistic. He was much better off than his spendthrift grandfather. He had established himself in Chixia City, opened a pharmacy, and continued to practice his martial arts regularly.

During this winter, Qin Ming also met Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing.

Cao Long followed the path of the Giant Spirit God and is now three and a half meters tall, standing firmly in the second realm.

Wei Zhirou wore a pure white fox fur coat, looking elegant and refined. Her black hair fluttered in the wind, and her fair and beautiful face was filled with complex emotions.

Mu Qing was dressed in a black robe, and two fluffy golden tails had appeared behind her. She was on the path of mutation, and she looked at Qin Ming, speechless for a long time.

Last winter, the three of them went to Black and White Mountain to "sweep the mountain" and even took care of the boy in front of them.

It's only been a short time, just the second winter, and Qin Ming has already become famous far and wide. Even those far away can hear his name constantly in other major cities.

In winter, they returned to Chixia City to visit relatives and reunited with Qin Ming, filled with countless emotions.

"Sigh, I really should have made my move sooner and taken you back to the Mu family," Mu Qing said with a smile.

"It's not too late now. We'll get him drunk and then carry him away," Wei Zhirou said with a smile.

As the initial awkwardness faded, the group began chatting and laughing.

During this time, Qin Ming meditated, studied various scriptures, and did not concern himself with worldly affairs. However, he learned a lot of new information about the outside world from them.

In the past two weeks, Little Buddha has become famous throughout Yezhou.

He challenges all sides and is hailed as the strongest seed on the road to new life!
"He successively ascended to the Qingtian Sect, the Six Imperial Ancestral Court, and the Yuqing Ancestral Court, challenging all the masters of the Fourth Realm, and never suffered a defeat."

It is reported that he will next begin to challenge the seeds of esoteric Buddhism and the path to immortality, to see if he can be invincible in the same field and have few rivals.

Cao Long said, "It's highly unlikely. There are rumors that he unexpectedly encountered a mysterious figure, fought fiercely for an hour, and finally ended in a draw."

"Who is it? Jiang Ran, or someone from the esoteric sect?" Qin Ming asked, surprised but intrigued.

Because he knew that Little Tathagata was indeed very powerful, having blocked a Grandmaster's attack in the fourth realm without being injured, which was a remarkable achievement.

Cao Long shook his head and said, "Neither. Some people suspect that person came from outside the realm."

Qin Ming was taken aback. Could it be Pei Qingwu from Pugong? He then shook his head. These two came from the same place, so there was no need for them to fight in Yezhou.

He looked surprised and said, "Could it be that besides Pugong, people from other places have come to Yezhou?"

Cao Long said, "That's most likely the case. That person had a distinct foreign accent."

Wei Zhirou smiled faintly and said, "I guess they've all come for Tucheng."

Recently, many unfamiliar faces have appeared in the Kunling area, and every day some experts of unknown origin go to explore Tucheng.

"Tucheng is likely to emerge soon; we can already observe that it is full of life."

……

Beyond Yezhou, in the far north, where the ice and snow have not yet melted, many spirit trees have already begun to sprout and bud.

The tree species shrouded in ethereal mist were even more extraordinary; as the last snowflakes fell, their branches were laden with buds, ready to bloom.

At this moment, on a mountain covered in snow-covered flowering trees, a celestial being was playing chess with a human skin.

“The Jade Capital is in turmoil again. The earthen city associated with it is about to be born. Do you want to go there? Or should you send your disciples?”

"I'm not the real one, just an old skin. By the way, you are a creature from there. Do you want to go back to your homeland for a visit? Maybe you can become the ruler of a place."

"Hmm, I'm afraid a celestial being might descend to earth."

"I know you well enough. You must be itching to go back, eager for a great opportunity. You probably sent your disciples there already, right? By the way, in this desolate land, is that old barbarian god really a celestial being? Is it about to revive?"

……

In the western regions, within the realm of demon civilization, some old demons are holding a secret meeting.

"That is the Jade Capital! Even a slight ripple in reality can bring blessings to the whole land. That earthen city was born from the light of the Jade Capital, and we cannot miss it."

"I'm afraid of getting struck by lightning!"

“Send a disciple over to take a look first.”

In fact, from the patriarch to the disciples, the demon race was all discussing it and gazing towards the direction of Yezhou.

Some demon immortals even ventured out of their special regions, wanting to make the trip themselves.

A young man opened his eyes in the quiet room and muttered to himself, "Night State, my hometown. The people there are not simple. They actually slew my Heart Monkey and made me refine the Heart Medicine again. They do have some tricks up their sleeves. I'll go and see if I can fish out some great medicine from Jade Capital. That would be wonderful."

The Western Sea is a place of towering waves, teeming with monstrous beasts and ferocious monsters, making it incredibly dangerous. Even the demon civilization dares not easily clash with these sea creatures.

They maintained a buffer zone of hundreds of thousands of miles between them and lived in peace.

Deep in the Western Sea, islands glow and immortal mountains stand tall. Today, an old man rose, gazed in the direction of Yezhou, and said, "Luofu should have completely vanished into the mists of history by now, shouldn't it?"

"Master, we are ready and can set off immediately."

The old man nodded and said, "Go ahead, be careful on the road."

"Master, Earth Immortal Island, Sea God Island, and others are all recovering, and it is estimated that beings will travel to Night State."

"As expected."

……

In the distant East, some creatures must cross hundreds of thousands of miles of black fire to enter the Night State.

The ripples in Yujing and the revival of Tucheng have alarmed many creatures in the surrounding areas of Yezhou. Clearly, all sides have spies who have received secret reports.

In the depths of an underground palace in a secluded paradise, Li Qingyue was enveloped in celestial light, ethereal and otherworldly. The Eight Trigrams Furnace melted, transforming into a dazzling battle armor that covered her entire body.

After months of seclusion, her cultivation level improved once again, and she became even more compatible with this mysterious weapon.

"It's time to emerge from seclusion." She murmured, and with a flash of light, her battle armor transformed into wisps of light, which then reformed into the furnace body.

Within the same Pure Land, in Sun Taichu's medicine furnace, which was filled with immortal mist, yin and yang energies swirled, and Cui Chonghe's voice rang out: "Master, I have succeeded."

"Very good!" Sun Taichu commented, his face full of satisfaction.

As the ice and snow melt, early spring arrives, and all things begin to sprout, until the first spring thunder rumbles.

In Crimson Cloud City, Qin Ming looked up at the sky. Thick clouds were colliding, and blinding lightning was flashing. He immediately set off for the Thunderfire Alchemy Hall.

This time, he not only wanted to absorb the light of the heavens and other external substances, but also wanted some thunder and fire to help him break through the barrier. He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

At this moment, a light drizzle was falling, and in his eyes, the golden palace was dazzling and sacred, like a golden palace in the heavens.

(End of this chapter)