Night without Borders

Chapter 381 Welcoming an Unprecedented Golden Age

Under the cover of night, the fire spring meanders across the snow-covered ground. As the wind blows, snowflakes fall softly from the green bamboo, and the golden vines glow with a warm light like the morning sun in the bitter cold.

This was at Shanhe Academy. Qin Ming stood in front of his old residence, read the letter, and flicked his finger, turning the paper into dust.

“Let me go on a pilgrimage. The ‘Past Tathagata’ lineage is as powerful as ever.” He gazed at the frozen lake ahead.

Without a doubt, these people have already established themselves in the Buddha's teachings and have many followers.

In the past, Tathagata himself was already extremely terrifying, with unfathomable strength. After all, having mastered the Chaos Force, he was probably unmatched in the sixth realm.

Moreover, he was also the senior master of the Buddha in this world, and his seniority and spiritual attainment were unparalleled.

However, Qin Ming had even greater respect for the "Old Buddha" who died in the Battle of the Divine Grief Plains.

In a sense, the "past Buddha" who returned from Pukung usurped the title of the "old Buddha".

Qin Ming frowned deeply, his expression quite solemn. Looking across Yezhou, there were not many people who could restrain the "Supreme Emperor" of the Tathagata Sect.

Now, the fact that his teacher—one of the originators of silk calligraphy—is about to return in person is definitely a major event that will shake the world.

That living sage is a renowned figure in foreign lands. It is rumored that he will likely reach the seventh realm by using the remnants of a cave in Pugong.

If the news is true, it would be quite alarming.

Qin Ming seriously doubted that even a terrestrial immortal would be no match for this ancestor.

No one knew better than him the terrifying aspect of silk calligraphy: after integrating various extraordinary skills and methods, it could defeat opponents with higher levels of cultivation.

The premise is that you must ensure that you do not explode.

Because once this method enters the fifth realm, it becomes extremely unstable and is exceptionally dangerous to both oneself and others.

This living sage has been gone for over five hundred years and is about to make a triumphant return, stirring up a new era!

If this patriarch were to return to Yezhou, it would be fine for Qin Ming, as a junior, to pay his respects. However, the Tathagata lineage had always acted too arrogantly in the past.

The letter he just received was written in a very forceful tone, as if it were an order or command. It was just a notice tied to the crow's leg that made him humble himself and rush off immediately.

Clearly, the other party considered themselves the legitimate successor and always looked down on the "collateral branches." No matter how amazing Qin Ming was, he was slighted because he had no one behind him.

In fact, he was the only one left in this lineage, a junior. In the eyes of the Buddha's lineage, the declining "collateral branch" naturally had to obey the orders of the main lineage.

Since the sage has not yet officially returned, Qin Ming remained calm and did not need to respond immediately.

Snowflakes landed on his neck, feeling slightly cool, and he came back to his senses.

"Hey, there's someone at that residence over there." In the distance, a disciple of the Mountain and River Academy exclaimed in surprise.

"Isn't that the residence of Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu, two of the most legendary figures in our academy?"

"It's very likely that Qin Ming has returned."

Amid the wind and snow, some disciples were talking amongst themselves, causing a commotion, but no one came to disturb them.

Qin Ming was speechless. He was also a disciple of the Mountain and River Academy. He had been away for almost a year and a half because of his participation in the Western Frontier War and other operations, and had become a "legend".

Many disciples looked on with fervent eyes.

Qin Ming, as the face of Xinsheng Road, has been frequently mentioned in the night newspaper recently, causing a sensation. The younger students in the university are all proud to hear about it.

As for his senior brothers and sisters, their feelings were even more complicated, as many of them had witnessed his rise to prominence.

Qin Ming chose to meditate here for a period of time, and also planned to consult some materials in the libraries of various universities.

"Brother Qin!" Xin Youdao came to visit with his childhood sweetheart, Cheng Rui.

A lot happened in just a year and a half. The elites of Shanhe Academy participated in the Western Frontier War, and some of them were left forever on the Godslaying Plains.

Xin Youdao had clearly matured a lot and said, "Speaking of which, these two lakeside houses were taken from us by you and Wu Yaozu."

They all laughed when these things were mentioned, as if it were just yesterday.

Wu Yaozu returned in the evening.

Recently, Kunling has become a place of great interest. People from Tucheng have emerged, and the scorching sun shines from beyond the borders. Xiao Wu, who loves excitement, often goes out to parties and enjoys them immensely.

Xiang Yiwu also returned with him; the abandoned disciple of Buddha was unwilling to return to his somewhat chaotic mountain sect.

With a thud, Qin Ming flicked his finger and created an ice hole in the lake. He then used the light from the sky as threads to fish out several dragon carp.

Soon, the colorful fish meat in the hot pot was almost cooked, and the fresh grilled dragon carp was also ready to be served.

Even after Li Qingyue appeared, she had not yet left.

For several days, the ancestral temples of various religions have been in chaos. Earthly immortals have emerged and are forcefully pushing for unification. Whether it is Tantric Buddhism or the path of immortality, there is no longer a pure land.

These days, Li Qingyue is very relaxed. Accompanied by Qin Ming, she travels all over Kunling City, going in and out of the streets and alleys, eating all kinds of local delicacies. She is no longer so ethereal and otherworldly, and is quite down-to-earth.

She was even interested in the beads and jade hairpins sold at the street stalls, and once tried wearing them on her head.

When Wu Yaozu saw Xin Youdao carefully handing Cheng Rui a freshly roasted, fragrant carp, he couldn't help but say, "Old Daoist, you're such a good man."

Then he discovered that Qin Ming was in charge of showcasing his cooking skills, while Li Qingyue was putting the deboned fish meat into the former's bowl.

Wu Yaozu immediately sighed and said, "I have a feeling I shouldn't have come back tonight. This spirit fish has lost its flavor, and I'm already full."

Xiang Yiwu said, "Are you full? Then hurry up and roast five dragon carp for me."

"Da Xiang, you've gone too far!" Wu Yaozu said. In such a gentle atmosphere, it was really inappropriate for a burly man to be his servant.

……

For the next two weeks, Yezhou was in turmoil.

In the Great Qian Dynasty, an old imperial uncle explicitly opposed the annexation of the dynasty and refused to obey the will of the Earth Immortal, otherwise he would rather die.

He died suddenly that night.

It should be noted that this was a Grandmaster at the peak of the fifth realm, still in the prime of his life, and his sudden death caused a huge uproar.

At the time, Mu Qinghe was in the Heavenly God Palace, an important sect of Esoteric Buddhism, so it was clearly not her doing.

But this is more intimidating; even if the Earth Immortal doesn't make a move, someone else will still do it for him.

To dare to attack a Grandmaster of the Imperial Dynasty shows just how domineering and powerful the opponent is. Many people believe that the mysterious expert is carrying out the will of the Earth Immortal.

Many people already know that Mu Qinghe will first try to be polite and then resort to force, but now she may be about to show her tough side.

"Why is she so ruthless, with a sense of urgency, and even a bit impatient? What exactly does she plan to do after unifying Yezhou?"

Major organizations have had to take this matter very seriously and are all analyzing and studying this earth immortal.

"Could it be that she intends to use the power of unification to achieve the status of a Celestial Immortal?" a senior cultivator at the sixth realm speculated.

Immediately, many people showed solemn expressions.

In ancient times, once a powerful figure reached the sixth realm, they could consider becoming a god or an immortal.

Most beings can only become hair gods or feather immortals, while the most exceptionally talented can become earth immortals or earth gods. After that, their potential is mostly locked.

However, since ancient times, there have been legends of gods and immortals.

"It is extremely difficult for an Earth Immortal to break free from the shackles and ascend to the Heavenly Immortal realm, but it is not impossible. However, the conditions are extremely demanding. Could it be that she is seeking one of the paths to Heavenly Immortality?" People couldn't help but wonder.

However, some people quickly shook their heads, saying that even if Mu Qinghe wanted to break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm, she probably wouldn't dare to do such a thing.

After all, Tucheng is related to Yujing, how could she dare to do this for her own selfish reasons?

The fact that Yujing is not appearing in the world does not mean it is completely dead. If Mu Qinghe dares to act recklessly, the inverted city will likely bring great calamity upon her. "If she is truly following Yujing's will and is trying to unify Yezhou as quickly as possible, then it is even more terrifying. What is the reason, and what major event is involved that requires such a push?"

Even the patriarchs of each path began to be suspicious, and some things became more unsettling the more one thought about them.

The following day, a rumor spread that a princess of the Great Yu Dynasty had been exceptionally accepted as a disciple by the Earth Immortal Mu Qinghe, which caused a huge uproar.

Two days later, in the wild north, a descendant of an Earth Immortal entered Yezhou and paid respects to Mu Qinghe.

Mu Qinghe smiled and praised the envoy highly, showing her great approval.

Subsequently, the closed-door disciple of the old earth immortal of Bodhi Ridge in the East also came to Yezhou to pay respects to Mu Qinghe. It is said that the atmosphere between the two was very harmonious when they met.

Subsequently, envoys from the Immortal Island of the Western Sea and the demon civilization of the Western Region entered Yezhou one after another, heading to Tucheng to pay homage to Mu Qinghe.

This will trigger a major earthquake. Will the Earth Immortals of Night State attract various super powers from outside the region?

Normally, immortals from outside the realm wouldn't dare to trespass on the mysterious territory of Yezhou. However, if there is a special pardon from the Jade Capital, then the situation is completely different.

"Can a mere Earth Immortal really wield such influence?" someone sighed.

"Earth Immortals are currently the most powerful combat force. Moreover, she wields a powerful weapon, and the scroll depicting the Jade Capital on her body can kill the Great Dream God Mushroom. Who wouldn't be afraid of her?"

"Most importantly, she has the Jade Capital behind her. She walks the world in accordance with the supreme will. Who is not afraid? Who dares to disobey? Just watch, in the end, all sides will bow down."

Meanwhile, a secret message was circulating in a small circle, saying that several Earth Immortals from outside the realm might eventually enter Yezhou to help Mu Qinghe.

This caused an uproar. People dared not discuss it openly, but it was hotly debated in private.

"Is this... such a trend that it cannot be stopped?"

A few days later, the Great Yu Dynasty was the first to express its willingness to relinquish the imperial title, support the unification of Yezhou, and usher in an unprecedented era.

Once the first force steps forward, a second, a third, and so on will naturally follow...

For example, some of the dozen or so dynasties that had been weak for many years and whose rule was unstable now went with the tide and sided with that earth immortal who stood in the clouds.

"A golden age, an immortal dynasty, is about to begin!"

In such a short period of time, some major powers have bowed down one after another, truly fearing an attack from an Earth Immortal.

Many people turned their attention to the patriarchs of each path and the ancestral temples of each major lineage.

Whether it's the secluded places, esoteric Buddhism, or the path of new life, things have been relatively quiet lately. The patriarchs have chosen a retirement-style approach, gradually delegating authority.

Some patriarchs even stated that since there was a "retired emperor" in the sect and the "first patriarch" had returned, they were prepared to "live off their parents" and take a good rest.

Subsequently, a patriarch also expressed his opinion, saying, "As long as Night Prefecture remains peaceful and all paths flourish, we are naturally willing to follow the will of the Earth Immortal!"

In the past, when Tathagata took action, although he had returned from Pugong, he did not treat him as an outsider. He had a huge influence, was of high seniority, and had unfathomable Taoist cultivation. He personally went to see Mu Qinghe.

These ancient families, each with a keen sense of destiny, felt that the trend was irreversible and believed that everything was already predetermined from the moment the Earth Immortal was born.

“My Cui family wholeheartedly supports the unification of Yezhou. It’s time to end the situation of the coexistence of imperial dynasties and dynasties.”

The Cui family stepped forward, clearly supporting Mu Qinghe. Moreover, a Grandmaster-level figure went to Tu City, indicating that the clan would immediately cooperate and execute any orders given by the Earth Immortal.

Almost all the established families have taken sides, all expressing their obedience to the decree of the Earth Immortal.

This is a massive storm that has swept across the land.

Even though the old imperial uncle had died suddenly, some people in the Great Qian Dynasty began to bow their heads and secretly went to Tucheng, fearing that the later they expressed their opinions, the worse their situation would become.

Although most of the top powers have yet to speak up or bow their heads, people already have a premonition that the power of the Earth Immortals is already established, and in the end, no one will dare to stop them.

Just then, news came from afar that the living sage of Pugong had indeed reached the seventh realm, and had clearly stated his position, supporting the unification of Yezhou.

Moreover, after some time, this sage will return to his hometown.

This is the first Earth Immortal-level being from outside the realm to indicate that they intend to enter Night State.

"Everyone, what else is there to consider? Let's embrace this unprecedented golden age! Yezhou is about to be unified, and Yujing may bestow its blessings!"

The "founding ancestors" of Tucheng traveled to various places, contacting the leaders of various organizations to persuade and lobby. Overall, things went smoothly, and various obstacles were almost gone.

The founder of the Silk Calligraphy tradition is about to return to Yezhou. His magical abilities may be even more terrifying than those of the Earth Immortal Mu Qinghe. With such a figure supporting him, many hesitant people immediately expressed their willingness to serve Tucheng.

……

The Cui family not only sent people to Tucheng, but also actively contacted the lineage of the Buddha.

After all, these are currently the only two transcendent forces in Yezhou with Earth Immortal-level beings residing there.

"Some of the elite members of my Cui family are also diligently practicing Hunyuan Jin, but we are a collateral branch and have been declining for a long time, so it is difficult for us to achieve anything. We hope to receive guidance from the masters of the main branch." The Cui family leader adopted a very humble attitude.

In the past, a grandmaster of the Buddha's lineage received them and, upon hearing these words, immediately smiled.

The two sides then had a very pleasant conversation.

After the Cui family received Qin Ming's silk scroll, they did select a group of disciples to practice Hunyuan Jin, but without guidance, they could not master it. Their visit was merely to express a certain attitude.

Moreover, they brought Cui Chonghe's younger brother, Cui Chongxuan, to this place.

"Hmm, a young prodigy with decent aptitude, having practiced the Six-Force Technique? In that case, if he were to learn our Primordial Chaos Technique, it would be as if he had laid a solid foundation in advance."

Upon hearing this, the Cui family lowered their stance even further and immediately presented some extremely valuable gifts.

Finally, they even had the opportunity to pay homage to the Buddha of the past.

"Our ancestor is about to return from Pugong, and people from all sides have come to pay their respects in advance, wishing to see the sage. But that young man from the collateral branch hasn't responded yet?" someone from the former Tathagata lineage said with dissatisfaction.

"I heard he was an abandoned son of the Cui family. Even those from the Cui family who hadn't mastered the Chaos Force came, but he, the true collateral branch, remained silent."

In fact, some people in the Buddha's lineage had long "concerned" about Qin Ming and had already heard rumors that he might not have had anyone to guide him and had to rely on himself to master this technique.

In any case, they all wanted to find out the truth.

“Even though the old sage has not yet crossed over to this realm, with the past Buddha presiding over this place, he should come to pay his respects first, both out of courtesy and reason.”

"A young man who doesn't know manners!"

……

Outside, amidst turbulent times and unstoppable trends, Qin Ming frequented various universities, borrowing and studying rare and ancient books with great care.

He already knew that even if one mastered certain extraordinary skills to perfection, it would be difficult to uncover "hidden treasures" and find places like the Great Thunderclap Temple.

Some extraordinary feats are destined to bring surprises.

Qin Ming searched for clues among these rare books and determined that if he could cultivate the "Heluo Jing" to the limit of perfection, he should be able to dig out the "Fuhai Jing".

Recently, he has ignored the ups and downs of the outside world and has been studying ancient books and comprehending scriptures, constantly striving to improve himself.

That day, he suddenly opened his eyes in his room and sensed that someone had come.

Outside, the green bamboo and golden vines were weighed down by the white snow. A young man stepped on the frozen lake and approached the place silently.

Qin Ming sensed that this person was extremely strong, and that his own practice of the Silk Calligraphy had reacted, suggesting that the other person was from the same source as him and had also mastered the Hunyuan Jin.

The young man was very composed, with a tall and sturdy build. He came into the courtyard, his eyes shining like two magic lamps as he looked at Qin Ming and said, "Not bad."

Then, he carefully examined Qin Ming, as if inspecting a fine "goods," nodded slightly as if he had taken a liking to him, and said, "Come with me."

"Why should I go with you?" Qin Ming asked calmly.

"I will bestow upon you an immense opportunity; go and see my master!" the young man said calmly, seemingly leaving no room for refusal, urging Qin Ming to immediately set off with him.

(End of this chapter)