Night without Borders

Chapter 385 One Battle Makes Him Famous Throughout the Land

As the long night deepened, the dazzling light of day gradually faded, and the world once again turned into an abyss. The land without fire springs was filled with a heavy, inky blackness.

Sun Chengjun was unable to move, covered in blood, with fist-sized holes in his chest and fine cracks all over his body.

If he hadn't blessed himself beforehand and maintained his golden body in an eternally stable state, his body would have already exploded.

Sun Chengjun felt deeply humiliated. All he could see now were his opponent's feet and those straight, powerful calves as he stood before him.

He couldn't even lift his head, forced to kneel on one knee. This forced submission made him wish he could just bang his head against the ground; he'd rather just faint.

"Why did you come here tonight?" Qin Ming asked.

Sun Chengjun felt a sharp pain in his head, as if it was about to explode. The other person's hand seemed to be exerting little force, but it had already made a clear sound of bones cracking in his skull.

He was furious, his chest felt like it was on fire, and he felt incredibly bitter. Finally, fear gripped him as he found himself in the shadow of death.

If you're not careful, he'll have a wild imagination.

Qin Ming possessed an ethereal and otherworldly aura, as if a banished immortal were gently touching the top of ordinary mortals.

The contrast between the two opponents' performances at different times created a huge difference.

Sun Chengjun is a man who cares a lot about his reputation, but now he is chewing on the fruits of his defeat in the most undignified way, and has actually fallen to this state.

He wanted to get up, but it felt like he was carrying the entire Flying Immortal Mountain on his back, and he couldn't straighten his back at all. His knees, which were kneeling on the ground, felt like they were about to break.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he suffered a miserable defeat, and his life was now entirely in the hands of his opponent.

Silence fell over all around. Everyone who witnessed this was momentarily stunned, feeling incredulous, and stared at the scene in silence.

In the past, he was a highly accomplished disciple of the Buddha's lineage, with an extraordinary status, as if his entire body was shrouded in a divine halo. But now, he... knelt down.

"A Spirit Realm cultivator defeating a Heart Lamp Realm cultivator—even calling it an underdog victory is insufficient to describe such a glorious achievement. After all, that cultivator is a successor of the Chaos Force!"

Someone murmured, their voice rising as they spoke, still feeling as if it were a dream, their tone filled with shock. This was an unbelievable battle.

"Qin Ming is still a teenager, yet he has already defeated the so-called successors of the orthodox lineage who are much older than him. This exhilarating battle tells the world that there is no need to be superstitious about the blazing sun from beyond the realm."

As some people whispered, the place was completely ignited, with all sorts of sounds mingling together, rising and falling.

"My God, Qin Ming won! I was a little worried about him at first, but I didn't expect that even though the battle was fierce, his sleeves weren't stained with blood or dust. He strongly suppressed his opponent!"

At Shanhe Academy, a lively discussion was taking place. Many young faces were filled with excitement, as this battle stirred their hearts and caused them to experience intense emotional fluctuations.

"Senior Brother Qin Ming, you're amazing!"

"Tonight's battle has established the prestige of our Shanhe Academy for fifty years. Even many years later, this battle will be remembered!"

Inside the university, some young men and women were the most excited, speaking passionately, and many of them had an admiring look on their faces, feeling proud of it.

Even some of the older generation smiled and nodded. This kind of competition between the best of the best better demonstrated Qin Ming's extraordinary talent.

"Truly worthy of being the seed of my immortal path!" an old man exclaimed.

Immediately, someone not far away couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Bullshit, Old Deng, have you no shame? He's clearly the face of Xinsheng Road!"

"As we all know, he is also a celestial being, and as you just saw, he used the 'Knife-Holding Technique' from the 'Golden Crow Illuminating the Night Scripture,' which is a rare and precious scripture that is not easily shown to people in the celestial land."

"Well, if you put it that way, I feel that at the last moment he used what my esoteric sect called the 'Refining the Body and Uniting with the Dao Scripture' to tear apart the 'Past Tathagata Field' with his bare hands."

Several elderly men were arguing there, all with smiles on their faces.

Qin Ming's resounding victory was like a hurricane, sweeping through the Shanhe Academy and quickly spreading throughout Kunling City, causing a huge sensation even though it was already late at night.

With a cracking sound, Sun Chengjun's skull, like a delicate piece of porcelain, was subjected to a terrifying force, resulting in numerous cracks.

He was terrified, feeling that his skull might "rebel" at any moment, and that he might end up "scratching his brains and liver." This experience of walking on the edge of death made him freeze, and he dared not resist in the slightest.

He was afraid of affecting Qin Ming's strength and accidentally blowing his head off.

"Get up." Qin Ming let go, no longer "stroking the head like an immortal."

Even though he loathed this person, he couldn't kill him in front of everyone, so he just crushed his skull.

However, if this person doesn't know when to advance and retreat, then the next time they meet, it will be their death day!

Sun Chengjun didn't dare to make a move. His head was extremely fragile, with hundreds of cracks crisscrossing it. If he wasn't careful, it could shatter on the spot.

He adjusted his breathing, not daring to use his domineering Hunyuan energy, and instead used the gentlest form of heavenly light to carefully cover his head, nourishing it with spiritual substances.

After a moment, he dared to get up.

Moreover, he dared not be angry and needed to remain calm, otherwise he feared his skull would explode.

Kunling City has many academies and Taoist temples, such as Taiyi Academy and Feixian Academy. There are so many young disciples that many people flock here, and the place is bustling with noise.

Those who had crossed paths with Qin Ming in the past were filled with mixed emotions at this moment.

"This person has truly soared to great heights. In just a year and a half, he's almost become someone from a completely different world from us," sighed Gan Jincheng of the Tianpeng Dojo.

Jiang Ruoli from Bodhi Academy said with a complicated expression, "It's unbelievable. Although he was very powerful back then, he was still our peer. Now... his opponents are all experts of the fourth realm."

"One battle and you'll be famous far and wide!" Luo Lianqing, the fairy flower of Feixian Academy, said in a low voice.

Qin Ming was already quite famous, but this duel was different. He fought fiercely against a powerful genius of the fourth realm in public, which was on a higher level, and he showed an incredibly terrifying combat talent.

If he really reaches the fourth realm, will he be able to spar with the older generation of figures?

"As expected of the most powerful junior brother in Shanhe Academy!" Liu Hanyue said.

Back then, the universities selected geniuses to explore the secret realm and seek opportunities. These people were attacked by demon seeds, but fortunately Qin Ming intervened, otherwise they would have been in grave danger that day.

Both esoteric and spiritual figures were present at the scene, and they felt a bit uneasy. They sensed that this guy was somewhat strange, constantly redefining the perceptions of those they knew about him.

Even the top-tier divine and immortal seeds of the fourth realm felt a sense of urgency. If Qin Ming's realm were to catch up and he were to step into the Heart Lamp Domain, it would be like a terrifying monster barging into their territory.

Dressed in white, Helian Yaoqing, disguised as a man, was dashing and debonair. Her beautiful eyes were sparkling with divine light. The person she had initially wanted to take in was already showing signs of becoming a future behemoth. Such a young man was difficult to control.

"Take care of yourself." Qin Ming said calmly. In fact, this was a warning: there would be no next time. If there was any more conflict, he would send the other party on their way.

Sun Chengjun was filled with gloom, as if he were trapped in a mental hell. Grief and humiliation were not enough to describe his feelings at this moment. He was undoubtedly the most disappointed person tonight, having lost miserably and completely losing face and dignity.

He stumbled away as if in a dream.

Earlier, he came uninvited and directly ordered Qin Ming to go with him, leaving no room for refusal. Now, all his arrogance and domineering nature have been destroyed in this battle.

He could already imagine how tragic his fate would be once the news spread, reduced to a mere backdrop to the boy. In this battle, the dazzling halo around him was shattered.

That night, in Kunling City, in various universities and famous buildings, everyone was talking about this matter. The impact of the uproar was far beyond imagination.

Of course, not everyone went to watch the game; some people appeared very calm and composed.

“The disciples of the Buddha’s lineage in the past were no good; they suffered such a crushing defeat,” said Gao Chan, dressed in black, inside the Imperial View Tower.

Su Mo Ran calmly said, "I can only say that this Qin Ming is quite remarkable."

She was extremely beautiful, with a scholarly air about her, and her body was shrouded in a hazy, ethereal light. Wherever she went, she would attract attention and become the center of attention.

Gao Chan said, "Unfortunately, the path he took had its limits already locked by the Jade Capital, and in the end, he would have to step into the realm of the strongman."

Su Mo Ran's flawless face was covered with a soft fairy light. Her expression was very calm. She said, "Since ancient times, there have been countless geniuses. Those who cannot open up new frontiers and pioneer new paths will eventually become nothing more than dust in history. Within three generations, not many people will remember them. How easy is it to break free from the shackles?"

They came from Tucheng, and each of them had a very mysterious background and a very important origin.

That evening, newspapers such as the Night News and the World News worked overtime to write articles, hoping to report on the great battle inside Shanhe Academy as soon as possible.

It is obvious that tomorrow "morning," the cities under the cover of night will be filled with discussions about this battle.

The Shanhe Academy gradually fell silent as the crowds that had flocked there dispersed.

Sister Crow stood by a pile of golden roe, grinning foolishly. Finally, she flapped her wings and offered a handful to Qin Ming.

"Don't think it's too little; it's a small gift but carries great meaning."

That night, Xiang Yiwu's brows relaxed. After watching the game, he talked with Qin Ming for a long time and smiled.

"Their chaotic energy has both prominent advantages and disadvantages; it would be more appropriate to call it the energy of the past Buddha!"

A cold wind blew, snowflakes fell, and the lake outside Qin Ming's courtyard froze over once more.

In the dead of night, an old figure appeared, carrying a faintly glowing cloth bag, and approached Qin Ming's residence.

“Sun Chengjun is more trouble than he's worth!” the newcomer whispered. His name was Wu Mochen.

In fact, Wu Mochen was very guilty. As the senior brother, and having brought a rare treasure, he was supposed to be there to cover for him and ensure everything went smoothly. However, he and Sun Chengjun were not on good terms, so he did not intervene immediately.

Then things got out of control. Yu Gengsheng suddenly appeared, and the higher-ups at Shanhe Academy were alarmed.

Compared to his junior brother, Wu Mochen lacked youthful vitality. He had damaged his vital essence, his temples were snow-white, and wrinkles piled up on his forehead, making him look older than his actual age.

At this moment, he wanted to mend his ways and make amends for his mistake. No matter what, he wanted to take Qin Ming away tonight. This was the young man that the Buddha Temple had specifically requested in the past, and he dared not mess things up.

“It’s time to end this.” The small, radiant cloth bag in Wu Mochen’s hand began to flow with runes, crystal clear. He loosened the rope at the top of the bag and pointed it toward Qin Ming’s residence.

He wanted to use the extraordinary treasure to directly put the boy into his bag!

Suddenly, his body stiffened slightly, as if he were being stared at by a prehistoric beast.

He turned around abruptly and saw a gaunt old man in the distance, his eyes like two small suns illuminating the void, and more than a hundred strands of hair on his head dancing in the night mist.

"You really haven't given up your evil intentions. You're so despicable and unscrupulous. Aren't you afraid of being retaliated against in kind, or even torn to pieces?" Yu Gengsheng said coldly, approaching at lightning speed.

At the same time, a divine lamp hung high above his head, and the tangible spiritual field around him expanded violently, like a divine sea spreading in the void, pressing forward.

Wu Mochen ignored the boy and pointed the bag at Yu Gengsheng, targeting the old master.

However, the light from the lamp opposite him, with its tangible mist rising, terrified him, as if countless flying swords were slashing down from the sky, forcing him to retreat decisively.

During this period, Wu Mochen used a cloth bag to fight back.

Even so, the expanding spiritual field still caused his blood to surge and blood to spill from the corner of his mouth.

Wu Mochen was horrified and dared not waste any more time, rushing towards the distance like a ghost from hell.

Suddenly, Yu Gengsheng stopped and did not make another move.

Ahead, a girl in white appeared, ethereal and otherworldly, like a celestial maiden descending to earth in the night. In an instant, accompanied by a clanging sound, she donned a unique golden armor and blocked the way.

Wu Mochen was furious. Are all teenagers these days so arrogant? They even dare to block him.

Li Qingyue didn't speak. With a wave of her hand, the Six Ding Divine Fire flew out from her slender fingertips. With a loud boom, it was as if a celestial fire descended from the night sky, covering the area in front of her.

Wu Mochen's pupils contracted, and he immediately raised the cloth bag in his hand, trying to extinguish the terrifying flames.

The armor on Li Qingyue's body disintegrated in an instant, like liquid water ripples, flying out like soft moonlight, and then, "like silk threads," it pierced through the cloth bag in a flash.

Amidst the splattering of blood, Wu Mochen let out a muffled groan. The magical artifact in his hand was pierced and disintegrated, and he himself was also pierced through.

He was bound by countless liquid threads and could not move at all.

He was shocked and horrified. It was a treasure-level weapon that even Buddha had coveted in the past, a legendary item, and he had actually encountered it.

Wu Mochen was imprisoned and unable to move. His whole body felt as if it had been pierced by dozens of immortal spears, and he was nailed to the void, unable to struggle.

……

In the dead of night, in the former Buddha Hall, a terrifyingly large figure suddenly opened its eyes, like two frightening lanterns being lit, emitting a terrifying light in the darkness.

He said, "I never expected that such a distinguished guest would arrive at the door in the middle of the night."

In an instant, everyone near the Buddha Hall was also alarmed. It felt as if a colossal figure was approaching, suppressing everyone's hearts, making their souls tremble, and making it hard to breathe, almost suffocating.

Who is this? How dare they barge into the Buddha Hall so brazenly!

"Lu Zizai?" Some people nearby guessed this with surprise.

They sensed a vibrant life force that extended far and wide, enveloping the area.

In the magnificent ancient hall, the Buddha sat peacefully, a faint smile on his face marked with centipede scars, and said, "Full of vitality, what a vibrant body."

Suddenly, his expression changed again, because within that vibrant blood energy, there were also wisps of decay, extremely terrifying and chilling, as if it were about to drag the entire former Buddha Hall into an abyss.

"Are you looking for my home, Zizai?" In the darkness, it seemed as if a majestic figure, as tall as the sky, pierced through layers of mist and approached this place.

“You are… Lu Yu!” the Buddha of the Past said.

"I have come in person, why don't you come out and greet me!" In the night fog, that terrifying figure that stood tall and imposing descended with a single finger, completely covering the entire "Past Tathagata Hall". Between heaven and earth, blood-red lightning intertwined, and torrential rain mixed with ice and snow poured down.

(End of this chapter)