Night without Borders

Chapter 475 A year in a hurry

"Do you all know your crimes?!" A sharp shout echoed through the heavens.

In the sky, the old subordinates of Star Mountain, Thunder Palace, and others, from the high-ranking officials in charge to the newly initiated disciples, were all trembling with fear, as if the deafening sound was ringing in their ears.

Everyone knew that the High Land had indeed recovered, and all previous wishful thinking had vanished.

Paper stained with the blood of the earth immortal fell from the sky, fluttering and scattering. When it exploded into ashes, the words revealed shone brightly.

The young disciples were all horrified, thinking it was an imperial edict that had fallen from the heavens to condemn them. Their faces turned pale and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

Especially when they looked up, the mysterious city revealed a blurry outline, ancient yet extremely oppressive, as if it stood right in their hearts.

The higher-ups knew that the two places were extremely far apart, and the voice that resonated clearly in their hearts came from the abyss rift in front of the "old mountain" in the sky.

The special blood-stained paper they used served as a medium for communication.

Previously, the high-ranking officials in heaven used it to pray and hold blood-red rituals, begging the great figures in the Jade Capital to forgive their sins.

In the pitch-black abyss, a grand and majestic voice boomed into their hearts like thunder, sending chills down their spines and making their bodies tremble slightly.

"The night is endless, and the aura of calamity spreads. You all bear the responsibility of protection, yet you sit high in the nine heavens, drinking and reveling, seizing the blessings of creation. Have you ever cared about the people on earth? The music in the heavens never ceases, and fine wine and Daoist tea are used to feed the koi. The night wind howls on the earth, the fire fields are dwindling, and the spirituality is gradually withering. Compared to each other, the difference is like heaven and earth."

In an instant, even the most powerful immortals turned pale, prostrated themselves on the ground, and dared not raise their heads.

"Whose heaven is this? A monkey in a crown, a servant usurping a master, daring to act recklessly, who gave you such audacity?"

The shouts that came from the highest place, transmitted through the abyss rifts, were incredibly heavy, like one heavy hammer after another, striking the hearts of the supreme immortals, making them panic and extremely frightened.

Because they knew all too well how terrifying the beings who truly dwelled in the Jade Capital were. Even in this age of decaying true gods and extinct celestial beings, when the power of most people in the highest realms had diminished, they still aweed all the heavenly realms.

Recently, the various earth immortals of the old mountain have been touring the mortal world, looking down upon the world with great pomp and circumstance. However, today they were reprimanded and forced to kowtow on the ground, not daring to utter a single word.

The sound traveled through the dark clouds and beyond the Pure Land.

In the sea of ​​night mist, a group of people approached. They were some of the useful people that "Divine Lord" Zhuo Kun and others had "educated" and subdued along the way after descending to the ground. These included grandmasters and geniuses with extraordinary aptitude. At this moment, they were being sent to the heavens by a treasure ship.

"I want to go back to the ground." The old master's dim eyes suddenly lit up with divine light. They had been "purified" in their spiritual realm by the chanting of the Eight Earth Immortals and had been passively brought to the heavens. Now, he was awakened by the thunderous and majestic voice in the Pure Land and no longer obeyed the "teachings".

In addition, another group of people is quietly setting out in the sea of ​​night fog.

These are some clever people in the heavens who actually escaped ahead of time.

They knew the inside story: the High Land was transmitting its message through the abyss rift, and it had not yet truly descended. If they were to be punished in the end, this would be their last chance to escape.

The two groups met unexpectedly. The celestial beings who had escorted the grandmaster and genius saw a top-level earth immortal silently leaving with his descendants, and their mouths went dry.

Without exchanging words, the two teams plunged headlong into the ground.

Soon after, a secret began to circulate.

"Jade Capital has been revived. A mysterious and powerful figure is furious about the actions of the various celestial departments and has issued a stern rebuke, perhaps even ordering their extermination!"

"How do you know such details? Is it credible?"

"The masters who were sent to heaven after being 'educated' have escaped and returned. They sensed the true 'divine might'."

On that day, the news that shocked the world spread, and it seemed that all the old sects, from the highest immortals to the lowest disciples, would be held accountable.

Yezhou was in an uproar.

The rumors seemed to have sprouted wings, spreading through the mist gate to the outer realms.

“Those heavenly messengers have been acting arrogantly lately, displaying an attitude of ruling the world and commanding all races. They talk about slaying demons and monsters, but little did they know that they are going against the tide and will be punished.”

"It's hard to imagine that those high and mighty Earth Immortals were scolded like grandsons, kneeling on the ground, not daring to move..."

Obviously, some of the rumors and images are just people's imaginations, but they are not far from the truth.

The news that the people of heaven had knelt and been reprimanded by the beings of the highest land spread far and wide, severely damaging the reputation of all the heavenly realms.

The situation has sparked widespread discussion, with people finding it hard to believe that such a scenario could have occurred.

In the distance, the members of the Ancestral Master Group were also in a daze, not even they had expected the situation to reverse so quickly.

When the royal family of Da Rui heard the news, they were all like clay statues. They had moved towards the old mountain in the sky on their own initiative, not because they had been subdued under pressure. Now, hearing such rumors, they were all disheartened.

"Can Yezhou still be unified by my Rui Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, the old emperor of Da Rui felt a deep sense of loss, knowing that his dream of becoming the "Earthly Sovereign" was likely shattered.

Many others laughed, feeling a sense of relief. The heavenly visitors who once looked down on them had finally met such a day, and now most of them were bowing their heads to the ground.

"Do you know that the Divine Lord, along with the eight Earth Immortals, is still kneeling, hesitant to rise from the edge of Night State?" People were discussing this matter.

In fact, Zhuo Kun and the eight earth immortals did not make a choice for the time being. They did not return to heaven, nor did they immediately flee far away. Instead, they were observing the wind direction.

Zhuo Kun has one foot in the realm of gods. He is very old and holds an extremely high position. He is one of the true core figures of the high-level beings in heaven and knows enough secrets.

After his initial shock subsided, he calmed down and realized that the highest place was in the Great Nirvana, and those who lived there might not be able to emerge!
Moreover, he knew that the world had changed, the Dao had changed, and the real world was unveiling its final veil, sweeping down and affecting all aspects. Even if a powerful figure emerged in Jade Capital, he would most likely decay to the seventh realm.

……

Qin Ming strode forward leisurely. He had originally planned to run away for a while and go to explore foreign lands on his own, but now that the people in the sky had suffered a major setback, causing the creatures of Jade Capital to revive, he was no longer in a hurry.

He was on his way to Crimson Cloud City, reflecting on his recent experiences along the way.

"The Emperor's Umbrella, the Altar, the New Lord of the Jade Capital... Hiss, isn't that me?" Qin Ming heard some rumors along the way and gasped in the night fog, his mind racing.

When did he become so influential?

Unwittingly, he managed to influence certain major trends.

It is said that the God Lord Zhuo Kun and eight other Earth Immortals were terrified when they saw a figure standing under a hazy yellow canopy, and they kept kowtowing.

Qin Ming showed a surprised expression, then felt a surge of joy. He truly hadn't expected that even a glimpse of his afterimage would make a terrestrial immortal tremble in fear and worship him.

"Haha..." He laughed loudly in the night, the unpleasant experience of being chased by the celestial beings was greatly diluted.

He quietly returned to Crimson Cloud City. Now was the most chaotic time in the heavens, and no one would pay attention to this place. It was the perfect time for him to travel leisurely.

In the living room, Meng Xinghai lit a newly acquired calming incense, which could soothe the mind and create a faint white mist that isolated the room from the outside world.

"I'm so glad you're safe and sound!" He looked at Qin Ming and breathed a sigh of relief. In the past few days, there had been shocking news coming out every day, and his heart had been constantly in suspense.

First, celestial messengers descended, then the four earth immortals stepped into the world, followed by their tragic deaths, and eventually, the heavens were breached...

These facts are too shocking to be true.

Qin Ming briefly recounted his experience of going out, which shocked Lao Meng so much that he was stunned on the spot.

Soon, Lord Meng came to his senses and said, "By the way, there's your letter, and someone cares about you and sent you important weapons."

Qin Ming was notified by special personnel from the New Life Path, the Secret Sect, and the Immortal Path that he should flee far away and temporarily leave Yezhou.

Then, Qin Ming opened Xiao Wu's letter.

“Brother Ming, I don’t know if you’ve already left. By the time you see this letter, I should already be far away, no longer in Yezhou. That ruthless cultist who broke through the Fourth Forbidden Zone—he became a seventh-realm expert without changing his life form. I feel helpless and lost…”

Without a doubt, Xiao Wu departed with a heavy heart. He declared that he was going to seek his own path in the distance. The emergence of Chu Canglan, the peerless master of the esoteric sect, brought Xiao Wu immense pressure.

Xiang Yiwu's letter was tucked inside Xiao Wu's letter, which reassured Qin Ming somewhat. The two of them being together meant they could look after each other even if they entered a foreign land.

In Jiang Ran's letter, there was surprisingly the writing of "Six Desires," the spirit of the special weapon she possessed. It had secretly left behind golden immortal script, which, after being activated by Qin Ming, emitted a faint glow on the paper. "Little Qin, what's your decision?" Six Desires' way of addressing him had changed, becoming increasingly affectionate.

From the flowing light on the paper, a clear voice emanates: "Come with me, and I will do everything in my power to arrange everything for you, such as the most supreme scriptures, the rarest precious medicines, and... Consort Ran."

"Who is Consort Ran?" Meng Xinghai asked suspiciously.

"This is an old monster spouting nonsense," Qin Ming said, genuinely worried that Lao Meng might misunderstand something.

Meng Xinghai commented, "Jiang Ran? Hmm, she has exceptional talent. Even though she has hidden a lot of her strength, she still shines brightly in the Immortal Land. She is a future standard-bearer of the Immortal Path. Given her status, she and you are a perfect match."

"Good child, do you still need to hesitate? Come with me, and even I will be yours." The spirit Liuyu shamelessly brought up the old story again.

Meng Xinghai was taken aback and secretly asked in a telepathic message, "This old monster... is a female senior?"

Qin Ming wiped his sweat and said, "The artifact spirit is not human!"

The light on the paper dissipated, clearly indicating that it was just a message and could not be used for communication. The letter left a map of the route to the depths of the foggy world.

Meng Xinghai said, "Even if a great figure has been revived in Yujing, this area is still very chaotic. You might consider traveling far away."

Qin Ming sighed. The spirit Liu Yu had said that to enter that supreme place, one needed to plant a "blood chain" to ensure that one's identity was not problematic and that there would be no hidden dangers in the future.

It is conceivable that even some so-called supreme doctrines have been infiltrated, and the sense of vigilance is very strong.

It's just unknown whether the Xuan Nu lineage, which corresponds to the other weapon spirit in the special weapon that Jiang Ran possesses, would also have such a requirement.

Qin Ming felt that joining a distant lineage was not as good as being a free and easy cultivator. He had gotten to where he was today by studying the scriptures and comprehending the laws on his own, without needing the support of a sect.

As long as he can obtain the true scriptures, it doesn't matter where he practices.

He had tattered clothes on him, which were clearly objects that could cause great chaos. If he were to enter a supreme place similar to Yujing, the important figures there might very well notice something amiss.

Qin Ming noticed Jiang Ran's own message. She and Li Qingyue had only temporarily left Yezhou and had not yet entered the depths of the Night Mist World. In the letter, she asked him if he wanted to go far away with her.

Then, Qin Ming opened the package sent by Li Qingyue. Besides the letter, there was a heavy wooden box.

"It flew here on its own," Meng Xinghai told him.

"Huh?" Qin Ming quickly opened it and found that it was actually a badly damaged furnace lid, which was part of the Bagua Furnace.

He was immediately startled. If that were the case, the special weapon in Li Qingyue's hand would be incomplete, becoming a damaged weapon.

"Recently, there has been great turmoil in Yezhou, and she asked me to come and protect your safety." A part of the spirit of the Eight Trigrams Furnace split off inside the ancient furnace lid.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming felt a surge of warmth in his heart and asked, "Does your lineage also need to plant things like blood chains and Dao chains?"

The spirit of the Eight Trigrams Furnace immediately responded: "Even if we don't plant it, we still need to thoroughly investigate you. Hmm, the umbrella on your body is filled with demonic energy, which obviously does not allow it to enter the highest realm."

"You old-fashioned fellow, do you know my origins?" The yellow parasol glowed and appeared directly, spinning above Qin Ming's head. Instantly, a dense purple aura descended along the tassels.

“You’re old too.” The stove lid rippled.

"I am in the prime of my life."

Meng Xinghai was lost in thought; these were clearly extraordinary weapons, each with a remarkable origin.

"You're useless," the stove lid added, its expression calm and unwavering.

The dusty imperial umbrella suddenly shook down a rich "evening glow," turning the nearby night fog red.

"Stop!" Qin Ming was genuinely afraid they would clash.

He looked at the stove lid and said, "The chaos in Night State is about to subside. I'm not in any danger here. You should go back. The depths of the Night Mist World are extremely mysterious and unknown, and dangerous at every turn. Qingyue's weapon is incomplete, and I'm worried something might happen."

The spirit of the Eight Trigrams Furnace told me: "If you are unharmed, she told me to set off again in a year. She is currently with Jiang Ran and will not travel far so soon. She will also temper herself on the journey."

In fact, Li Qingyue left it here completely to protect Qin Ming.

As the sacred artifact of the Eight Trigrams Furnace of the Eight Views Palace, it is impossible for it to remain in Yezhou; it must be sent far away.

Qin Ming said, "Actually, you can really fly away right now."

The Eight Trigrams Furnace did not comply; it had promised to stay but would not set off early.

Qin Ming asked it for the relevant coordinates, so that when his cultivation was advanced enough, he could go to the depths of the Night Mist World to find the location of Li Qingyue and Jiang Ran's lineage and travel around.

……

No one knows what happened in the heavens, and it is unclear whether the great figures who revived Yujing have thoroughly purged those old subordinates.

Some time later, an envoy from the heavens descended to earth again, but this time he was much more low-key and pragmatic, no longer looking down upon the world.

Subsequently, it was discovered that they were firmly pushing for one thing: the unification of the land.

Moreover, above the dark clouds, a faint celestial light scatters down and radiates onto the earth.

"This is a good thing!" An elderly earth immortal from the heavens descended and earnestly informed the people on the ground.

However, the divine and immortal beings from all paths are currently in the outer realms and have not returned, all fearing that the situation has not yet calmed down and there may be more major incidents.

Qin Ming had considered entering the Night Ruins, but upon discovering that experts from the heavens would enter every so often, he immediately abandoned the idea and would not approach it for the time being.

Furthermore, for safety reasons, he also came to the outskirts of Yezhou, but did not travel far. He secluded himself in a place with a fire spring and quietly cultivated himself.

Time flies, and a year has passed.

When Qin Ming emerged from seclusion, he frowned slightly. Sure enough, after reaching the fourth realm, it would take many years to break through even a small barrier. In one year, his cultivation had improved, but it was still not enough to advance to the next level.

He was not discouraged at all, because he had not been cultivating for very long, yet he had already reached the Heart Lamp Realm, almost catching up with the top seeds of each path.

What more could he possibly want now?
Give him some more time, and he won't be intimidated even when facing senior figures.

Upon closer examination, even a newly promoted grandmaster who is nearly a hundred years old is still considered a vigorous "young man." One can imagine how difficult the path is from the fourth realm onwards.

"I'm already very fast, but it's still not enough. I need to speed things up!" Qin Ming was considering whether to travel to distant places and explore on his own.

After all, without good fortune and opportunities, it would take him at least twenty or thirty years to become a Grandmaster of the Fifth Realm. For many people, that would be considered incredibly fast, but for him, he thought it was too slow.

In the past year, the furnace lid has been disappearing from time to time, either disappearing into the Night State or going to explore distant places. It has not been idle while ensuring Qin Ming's safety.

"How is Yezhou?" Qin Ming asked, knowing it was time for Lu Gai to leave.

“The ground is shimmering with spiritual light, the unification is still underway, people from all walks of life in Yezhou are looking around, and the prodigies and patriarchs who have gone far away have not yet returned.”

Qin Ming nodded and said, "You can go now. I can protect myself."

"Good!" The furnace lid hovered in the air, emitting a dazzling light. In the final moment, it told us that Li Qingyue and Jiang Ran had not completely left the area radiated by Yujing. The two were still together, honing their skills in the distance.

It sometimes goes out, clearly because it is worried about the innate fire body.

"Hmm, they're still here? If that's the case, take me there!" Qin Ming said. He had originally intended to explore the land, and now was the perfect opportunity to see the two women.

He hesitated slightly before agreeing to the stove lid, but eventually did.

Soon after, it transformed into a rain of light, completely liquefied, and covered Qin Ming's body, becoming a dazzling divine garment, which instantly pierced the night and disappeared into the distance.

Qin Ming immediately exclaimed that this was the best weapon, both useful and to his liking, far superior to the yellow silk umbrella he carried and the tattered cloth that hadn't been used for a year!
Suddenly, I found that my daily routine immediately returned to normal.

(End of this chapter)