Night without Borders

Chapter 398 Mutual Fulfillment
In the darkness, the Dog Sword Immortal, wearing a bamboo hat and a raincoat, carrying a bamboo sword, returned to Shuangshu Village through the snow.

It wandered around for two days and successfully completed its mission.

Beneath the black and white twin trees, Old Liu braved the bitter cold, standing beside the fire spring that emitted a soft glow, gazing up at the dark and deep night sky.

He muttered to himself, "The Dao Chain is out of control. Above the Nine Heavens, the 'inventory' in the Golden Palace... is all exhausted. Even if they sense something now, they won't be able to hit me."

"Master, are you alright?" the dog sword immortal asked. It had witnessed the entire battle. When those envoys saw the full force of the True Calamity Light pouring down, they were all as if they had seen a ghost, and they couldn't stop it even if they wanted to.

Its eyes looked strange. It seems that Old Liu is a real scoundrel. He openly ordered it to deliver a message to lure out the other two gods to get beaten up, but he himself had other big plans and went straight for the heart of the enemy.

"You made a move?" it asked with concern.

Liu Mo shook his head and said, "My physical condition... has been very bad, and I am not suitable to take action. Originally, I wanted to risk a great loss of energy to achieve something in the sky, but I made another discovery, so I restrained my impulse and just followed the trend."

"Are you about to begin?" The Dog Sword Immortal's expression turned serious.

"Life and death are predestined." Liu Mo sighed. He had done everything he could. This was his last chance. He would wait for the seeds under the frozen soil to revive, or for them to sprout and die.

……

In Tucheng, Qin Ming never expected that he would have a disciple.

How old is he? Two years ago, in the winter, he embarked on a new life at the prime of his life, and he is only in his early thirties now. It is far too early for him to be taking on apprentices today.

Su Mohua was very stubborn; she knelt down and refused to get up.

She was only about fifteen years old, not much younger than Qin Ming.

Nearby, among the group of teenagers, some were stunned, some had faint smiles, and some had strange expressions, with a hint of schadenfreude.

Only a few people who were close to Su Mohua stepped forward to try to dissuade her, but she wouldn't listen, her face showing determination, and she was determined to do it.

Su Mohua is known as a genius girl even in the heavens. With a halo around her, one can imagine her talent. Apart from being a little rebellious at times, her performance is usually quite outstanding.

Moreover, she had exquisite features, fair skin, and a striking appearance, which made her extremely famous.

Right now, Su Moran is having a bit of a headache. It's hard to change her cousin's mind once she's made up her mind, which makes her feel a little awkward, since she's a generation younger than Qin Ming for no reason.

Beside him, Gao Chan also felt like he had seen a ghost. That girl was usually very intelligent and exceptionally gifted. Was she possessed by an evil spirit today? It made him also fall in rank.

Qin Ming felt it was outrageous; he hadn't even agreed to be recognized as a disciple yet, and he was being forced to become one.

The news spread in a small circle, and the group of teenagers from the sky reacted differently upon hearing it.

"Has Su Mohua gone mad? We come from Sky City, and we were only banished to the ground to hone our skills. The natives are just sparring partners. How can she actually become our disciple? How are we supposed to accept this?"

"Isn't this a joke? Her actions have made us all lose face!"

"She's gone mad with her cultivation and actually took a young man on Earth as her master. I even considered her a rival. This so-called True Phoenix of the Su Family... is finished."

In just one night, this incident caused a huge uproar among the teenagers from the sky.

Clearly, these young men and women spoke mostly negatively about the matter.

A group of geniuses aspiring to compete for the title of "Sun and Moon" were all upset, feeling that Su Mohua had unjustly lowered their "class".

In their eyes, is this what it means to learn from ordinary people and make up for one's own shortcomings? No, it's self-degradation.

"Could she be doing this on purpose? In the Heavenly Palace, there is a special kind of cultivation method that emphasizes tempering one's spirit with the fires of the mortal world. No matter how many waves the outside world crashes over, one's inner self remains calm and undisturbed, cultivating a pure Yang consciousness, and then breaking through the barrier." Some people doubted.

However, many others shook their heads, believing that it was unnecessary to do so.

A small group of radical teenagers came looking for Su Mohua that night.

Su Mohua tried her best to explain in a gentle tone, but in the end she couldn't bear it any longer, and a fierce argument broke out between the two.

In the end, they even took action.

If Qin Ming hadn't intervened, and Xiang Yiwu and Wu Yaozu hadn't also stepped forward to forcibly separate the two sides, the conflict might have escalated and resulted in bloodshed.

At the last moment, Su Mohua changed her gentle and ethereal temperament, becoming very assertive. She was determined to fight against these young men and women all by herself, which truly demonstrated her extraordinary abilities.

"Why are you so determined to become my disciple?" Qin Ming asked the girl in front of him at his residence in Tucheng at night.

“If I said it was a sudden impulse, an instinct, you might not believe me.” At this moment, Su Mohua was quite frank.

She has a special talent: occasionally, a surge of emotion leads her to make crucial choices—moments of profound spiritual clarity, akin to a communion with the divine.

Based on her past experiences, several of her major life decisions were made in accordance with a certain instinct, and all yielded great results.

"Come here." Qin Ming beckoned and placed his hand on her head.

Then, he frowned, resonating with some fragments of the story. This girl actually had extremely rare moments of "spiritual clarity" that allowed her to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune!
"Alright." Qin Ming nodded, temporarily accepting her as a disciple in name only. Whether she would be truly included in the main lineage would depend on her future performance.

Su Mohua let out a long breath, and a light rose in her heart, covering her spiritual field and flowing into her flesh and blood.

In this moment of clarity, although she saw raging waves ahead, she was certain that the path she was on was correct and of great benefit to her, and she couldn't worry about anything else for the time being.

As night deepened, Qin Ming was taken aback. This disciple had actually brought him water to wash his feet. At their level, they were so clean and free of dust, why would they need such washing? This was the other party showing respect.

“No need for that,” he waved his hand.

Wu Yaozu was extremely envious. It was just a joke of his, and Ming Ge gained a disciple who was as ethereal as a fairy.

He wondered if he should also make his stance clear and take on a disciple of the immortal.
"What exactly is Su Mohua doing?" the girl who chose to approach Chunyangzi muttered to herself.

Around the same time, the boy who was very close to Yuan also became suspicious and even talked to Yuan about Qin Ming's background.

A group of top geniuses with lofty ambitions do not understand Su Mohua and hold a negative attitude towards her.

Some people teased her privately, while others made timely sarcastic remarks in public. Among them were Su Mohua's competitors and rivals, as well as her former best friends.

That very night, some of the young powerhouses bypassed Su Mohua and wanted to challenge Qin Ming directly, which was naturally due to instigation and manipulation.

Su Mohua walked out, trying to drive the other person away.

Qin Ming waved his hand and flicked his finger, unleashing a burst of Hunyuan energy that, like a golden crow soaring through the sky, severely injured the boy, sending him flying backward covered in blood.

"Seventeen years old in terms of bone age, not young anymore. People in heaven aren't as geniuses as we imagine." Qin Ming turned and left.

In the shadows, someone exclaimed in amazement, "Qin Ming's combat power in the third realm seems to have broken through some kind of limit. He's really something!"

The next day, Qin Ming, Xiang Yiwu, and Xiao Wu discussed leaving Tucheng and returning to Kunling.

Wu Yaozu was unwilling to go to Sky City as a phoenix tail, and besides, there seemed to be some changes in the sky now, so it probably wasn't a good place to go.

Having experienced the Five-Colored Stele incident and torn apart the Dao Chain with a rag, Qin Ming was quite wary of Sky City.

"The patriarchs have moved into the earthen city," Xiang Yiwu brought the latest news.

"Why?" This surprised Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu, who were originally about to leave. These ancestors with poor reputations would not do anything meaningless. Xiang Yiwu obtained inside information from the Tathagata Sect and said, "It is said that the light of the true tribulation in the sky has inexplicably dissipated. Tucheng absorbed a small amount of it. The ancestors came here to feel the aftereffects, which will be beneficial for their future breakthroughs."

“Then we’ll stay here for now!” Wu Yaozu said. The patriarchs have already set an example, so we can just follow and learn from them. After all, the group of old men have been winners lately.

Not long after, Qin Ming asked his disciple, "We are on different paths. What do you want to learn from me, and what is your main cultivation method?"

"Master, aren't you cultivating both the Immortal Path and the Path of Rebirth?" Su Mohua asked.

"That's true." Qin Ming nodded, almost forgetting his identity as a celestial being.

Su Mohua hesitated. She had heard of the Chaos Force. Even the Earth Immortal Mu Qinghe had personally seen Little Tathagata and carefully evaluated it, believing that this technique was extremely powerful and unparalleled among those of the same level.

However, this method of force has hidden dangers in the later stages, as it can easily cause the body to explode.

Therefore, as soon as the thought arose, she suppressed it and decided not to ask for guidance on this mysterious and terrifying Hunyuan Jin for the time being.

"I specialize in the 'Nine Heavens Book'," Su Mohua said, revealing the immortal technique she practiced. Even in the golden palace of heaven, this was a priceless scripture.

She further explained: "The light of the soul can cover the nine heavens, planting seeds in the heart so that they can take root and sprout. If one cultivates this scripture to perfection, one can attain the position of a celestial being."

Qin Ming was taken aback and said, "Below the mind lies an abyss, and deeper still, there is hell. If one falls in, the outcome is unpredictable."

"Master obtained this true scripture?" Su Mohua asked in surprise.

Qin Ming was certain that this was the scripture he had obtained from Qi Yunxiao, called "Spiritual Seed of Gods," which was hailed as one of the strongest true scriptures in the Eastern Land. However, few people dared to practice it because they were likely to ruin themselves and fall into the abyss.

Su Mohua said, "It is also called the 'Hell Scripture' and has another name, 'Abyss Strategy'."

After saying that, she took out a scroll of notes. This was not the "Nine Heavens Book," as true scriptures cannot be taken out of the Golden Palace in the heavens. This was the cultivation experience of the predecessors regarding the "Nine Heavens Book." She carried it with her and often pondered and studied it.

Qin Ming didn't stand on ceremony and took it to look at.

Soon, he was deeply moved. The text contained some legends, such as one that mentioned that someone who practiced this scripture was killed by an earth immortal, whose head was crushed and whose pure yang consciousness and spiritual light were burned away.

However, several years later, the arm that this person had managed to snatch back from his sect's experts not only did not decay, but actually began to revive.

"His consciousness, having returned from hell, is now even stronger..."

Qin Ming was shocked. This scripture was truly extraordinary. Even after being killed by a terrestrial immortal, it could be revived. At that moment, the life and death of this person was actually concealed from beings of the seventh realm!
He perused the notes, pondered them carefully, and studied them for a long time.

"He who disappeared, returned from hell, it's hard to say whether he was a god, an immortal, or a demon, but perhaps he was the one who underwent Nirvana?" This was the question posed by the owner of the journal.

Therefore, Qin Ming spared no effort to resonate with the audience and delve deeply into the subject.

His body swayed suddenly. Sure enough, many old guys had studied this notebook, and the intense emotions it left behind had a significant impact on him.

However, as Qin Ming's own cultivation level increased, becoming far stronger than before, even if he resonated with this manuscript, his head wouldn't explode.

Finally, he slowly opened his eyes and decided to practice the "Nine Heavens Book," also known as the "Hell Scripture."

In the past, he had kept it on a shelf because there were many scriptures to choose from. Now that he had read the notes, he realized that this scripture was amazing!
It can save lives; in fact, in Qin Ming's plan, it complements other scriptures and may even enable some kind of great nirvana.

He practices Hunyuan Jin, taking a new path, but also integrates consciousness, spiritual light, and divine wisdom. One day, he will inevitably achieve great unification, perhaps undergoing some kind of profound transformation.

Therefore, any unusual scriptures that can be incorporated into the silk manuscript need to be prepared in advance.

This notebook made Qin Ming realize that the "Nine Heavens Book" was extremely important and would become one of the key elements in his construction of his own cultivation system.

"Master, how are you feeling?" Su Mohua asked with a strange look in her eyes. Could this teacher be shocked by the records in the notes?
This scripture is so famous that many have achieved some level of mastery over the centuries, but very few have truly mastered it to perfection, since it involves the position of a celestial being!

Qin Ming said, "This scripture is excellent, extremely profound. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

Su Mohua's long, black hair cascaded down to her waist, so smooth it was almost reflective. Her fair and beautiful face was filled with surprise. She wanted to say: Master, are you bragging?

In a moment of spiritual clarity, she followed her instincts and became a disciple, hoping for great opportunities ahead. However, she did not expect the other party to guide her spiritual practice. Yet, the "little teacher" was so confident!
Since that's the case, she decided to test the waters, biting her bright red lips as she began to ask for advice.

Then, she was... stunned!

Qin Ming's understanding of the "Nine Heavens Book" far exceeded her expectations. Even the most tricky questions she asked, which could stump the elders in her family, were answered by this little teacher.

She had a deep understanding of this scripture and tried to verify it carefully. She discovered that Qin Ming was not talking nonsense, but was actually giving guidance.

"This..." She was stunned. Even some old monsters in the sky found the question ambiguous, but this young teacher was able to give a true answer after careful consideration.

Qin Ming had a deep understanding of the preceding texts of the "Nine Heavens Book," and with the resonance of the handwritten notes and the sparks of wisdom from the ancients, he naturally had unique insights.

At this moment, Su Mohua respected him greatly. For a moment, looking at his face that was glowing with focus, she felt awe and almost regarded him as a young celestial being.

Initially, she became an apprentice out of instinct to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, but now she is truly convinced and has performed a grand ceremony here.

In fact, Qin Ming felt that this was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and he himself had gained a great deal. Just for this notebook alone, it was worth taking on a disciple.

Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, the founder of Yezhou prepared to dig a new hole and officially go to explore the foreign land.

When the local immortal Mu Qinghe heard about this report, he was horrified. The old monsters in the city were even more shocked. Was that digging a hole? That was practically digging up the lives of a group of old men!
"You're making more and more noise each time; sooner or later you'll dig up a wild god!"

Over the past two weeks, Qin Ming has mastered the techniques in the "Nine Heavens Book" and is also venturing into the hellish depths of his mind.

"What's wrong?" He noticed that Su Mohua looked worried.

She whispered, "It's been half a month. My first sparring session with some competitors is scheduled for tomorrow."

Recently, she has been under a lot of pressure because many people are talking about her. Some ridicule her, some secretly mock her, and some stand by and watch, waiting to see her make a fool of herself. They are all her former acquaintances, and even her best friends.

If she loses badly in this battle, who knows what nasty things those people will say.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming nodded and said, "I see. Since you are my disciple, I should help you improve. I have never suffered a defeat in a contest against someone of the same level before, and you cannot be outdone."

Su Mohua didn't know much about this young teacher. When she heard that he was undefeated among his peers, her beautiful eyes widened. How arrogant this teacher was!
"The competition is tomorrow, and there's only one night left. Can you still... improve?" She really didn't believe it.

Qin Ming nodded and said, "Yes, after the upgrade, you will at least be stronger than you are now."

Suddenly, he realized that ever since he planted a seed in the highest heavens of his mind and ventured into hell to leave behind a divine seed, his telepathic abilities had become much sharper.

Qin Ming even wondered if, in the long run, he too would experience a moment of "mental clarity."
At this moment, he sensed that danger was approaching, and he even realized that it was related to the "ape"!
Qin Ming's eyes sharpened. Tomorrow, Su Mohua will be competing against someone, a battle of geniuses. And tonight, a powerful opponent is planning to launch a night attack on him.
Was this an attempt to severely injure both master and disciple? To many, this was naturally a source of amusement.

"The one who refines the Heart Ape... has appeared!"

Qin Ming thought this person was extremely bold; how could he dare to make a move even in Tu City? He must be fearless!

"Master, what's wrong?" Su Mohua asked.

"It's alright. Just focus on your performance tomorrow and try to sweep aside your best friends and rivals." Qin Ming said, slowly getting up and looking out at the night view shrouded in black mist.

(End of this chapter)