Night without Borders

Chapter 477 The Remnants of Flying Immortal Mountain

The Abyss is the official name of this place.

It is outside the range of Yujing's radiation, bordering only its outermost region.

Some thoughts of higher beings are shared. After the sun disappeared, the locals believed that their home had fallen into an abyss, hence the name.

The remnants of Feixian Mountain, located in the central region of Shenyuan, have seen their fame soar as more and more outsiders arrive.

The Abyss is a vast and sparsely populated area, with the population mainly concentrated in the north and central parts adjacent to Yujing. As for the south side, it connects to the boundless world of night fog, which has no end.

The vast Abyss is home to more than a dozen major powers, each with its own publicly known leader, chief, and clan head who are all Grandmasters, but they are all currently in seclusion and dare not come out.

Because they were all severely injured by the dramatic changes in the world.

“Far from the highest realm, a Grandmaster is still considered a top-tier combat force with considerable prestige.” Qin Ming looked surprised.

Upon his first arrival in the central region of the Abyss—the remnants of Feixian Mountain—he quickly integrated into the local community and learned a great deal, provided, of course, that he possessed the Day Gold.

Gold is a hard currency everywhere, and it is said that if there is enough of it, a very mysterious and magical substance can be extracted from it.

Its value is no less than that of rare metals.

"Sir, you're mistaken. Grandmasters are definitely not the ultimate beings of the Abyss. Heading south, into the depths of the Night Mist World, those areas are simply unimaginable."

Out of consideration for Zhou Jin, the innkeeper personally and enthusiastically answered Qin Ming's questions.

“Occasionally, mysterious creatures pass through the area, and hurricanes howl, blowing away the city gate towers of some important towns in the south. This is why the population gathers in the central and northern regions.”

The man added, "Yes, on the south side of the Abyss, legendary creatures occasionally appear, such as the White Roc, which is pure white and can swallow thousands of people with a single breath."

The shopkeeper said, "There are also crazed, god-like creatures that have escaped from the depths of the Night Fog World. Some are enormous, like suns hanging in the sky, and the terrifying beams of light they radiate can drive the people of an entire city insane..."

The man said, "Things are a bit better now. In the past year, the environment of the world seems to have changed, and those terrible species haven't shown up much."

Qin Ming naturally knew the reason; now even people in the third and fourth realms were affected.

He doesn't understand the local language, but he can still communicate smoothly with the two of them, mainly through the spiritual realm.

He wasn't worried about his outsider status attracting attention, because there were just too many adventurers outside the remnants of Feixian Mountain. Not to mention normal people like him, even talking donkeys could stay at the inn.

Outside the remnants of Feixian Mountain, there are many taverns and inns scattered like stars in the sky. There are no city walls, at most some slightly larger stone fortresses.

Qin Ming looked out of the inn and saw a large silver-furred rat walking upright, one paw stroking its mustache, and the other paw around a woman in a black dress swaying like a cat.

He was surprised; was that a silver rat with a black cat? The woman in the black dress had cat ears.

He realized that this place was truly "inclusive," where even naturally opposing species could come together.

"That's a female black tiger," the innkeeper noticed his expression and told him discreetly.

It's not a cat, it's a mouse with a tiger, has this been upgraded? Qin Ming's expression was strange.

Only after seeing the silver rat embrace the tiger woman and walk away did the innkeeper dare to speak: "Don't underestimate him, that ground rat is a grandmaster!"

He subtly implied that in the Shenyuan region, as long as one is strong enough, it is common for a Grandmaster-level old toad to marry a fallen noblewoman as his bride.

Qin Ming remained calm. He had heard similar stories before: the Grandmaster of the Immortal Path, Ling Canghai, married a woman born of an Immortal Seed. The key point was that his father-in-law was born when he was 190 years old.

"Boss, I need to rent a courtyard with rare and exotic flowers and herbs." A palm-sized humanoid creature flew in first, with a pair of golden butterfly wings on its back.

"Alright." The innkeeper was also a cultivator and was used to such things.

Soon, a dozen or so golden butterflies fluttered in and settled into the inn.

Subsequently, because of Zhou Jin, the innkeeper was very patient and answered Qin Ming's questions in detail, and even gave him a rough map of the remnants of Feixian Mountain.

“In many areas, the terrain maps are not detailed because they are too dangerous, especially the core areas. Although there are many good things there, batches of people have gone in and died tragically.”

The concerns of outsiders can be addressed here, mainly because so many people come that the locals have become "skilled" in their work, and many high-end inns and taverns have sprung up as a result.

Qin Ming discovered that his problems were nothing at all. There were experienced exploration teams here that could guide newcomers to Feixian Mountain and provide protection.

Of course, joining requires paying a considerable fee.

In addition, even if it is the first time a newcomer is on an expedition, they must fulfill their obligations. If a crisis occurs, they must work together and assist the team.

However, if someone gains something, newcomers will have fewer opportunities.

Some expeditions aren't even for exploration; they're just there to guide newcomers around Feixian Mountain, helping them quickly familiarize themselves with the various dangerous areas.

The innkeeper cautioned, "Some famous teams are either protected by powerful local forces or influenced by powerful civilizations from beyond the region."

According to him, bringing in newcomers is just a sideline for those large organizations. Although they provide shelter, it is actually a way to recruit peripheral members to explore and learn more about the terrain.

Soon, Qin Ming learned from various sources and selected several reputable teams, mainly due to their low mortality rate. He contacted them that very day, hoping to enter the mountains as soon as possible.

Outside the remaining ridges of Feixian Mountain, there is a stone fortress, entwined with vines and adorned with delicate purple flowers. The fragrance wafts in the night breeze, creating a rather pleasant environment.

Qin Ming noticed that the cultivators who came here were mostly older people, with relatively few young people.

The expedition team had a grand name: Godlike.

"What realm are you in?" In front of the stone fortress, behind a table, someone was in charge of registering.

"The third realm..." Qin Ming had just started to speak, before he could specify whether it was the middle or late stage, when he was interrupted by the other party.

"I'm sorry, but the path our god-like organization takes is too dangerous and may not be suitable for you. You should consider joining another organization."

Qin Ming hadn't expected that simply signing up for an expedition team would come with such a hurdle.

He didn't say much, mainly because he had concealed his strength. In an unfamiliar environment, how could he possibly reveal his true abilities to outsiders? Joining some lower-level teams would be safer. His first trip into the mountains was primarily to familiarize himself with the surroundings.

The person in charge of registration at the pantheon waved him off, telling him to go to the next place, which was next door, saying that it was more suitable for him.

"Hurry up, don't block the way." The members of the god-like organization were getting impatient. This place took a high-end approach and looked down on explorers from the third realm.

High above the stone fortress, a young couple looked down. They were important figures in the pantheon and rarely appeared here.

The man had long, fiery red hair, crimson eyes, and even his body seemed to be covered with a layer of blood-red patterns.

The woman was dressed in white, her hair was silver, and she had an outstanding appearance, giving people a sense of serene beauty.

This organization has a very powerful background, originating from the deeper parts of the Night Fog world.

The red-haired man said, "I think that young man was quite extraordinary. He was calm and had clear eyes. Even in this environment, his Daoist aura remained completely undisturbed. Perhaps we should call him over and recruit him into our core team."

The woman glanced at him and said, "That person has no spiritual light shining through him. Even if he is outstanding, he's just so-so."

A crescent moon appeared between her brows as she gazed at Qin Ming's retreating figure. She frowned slightly and said, "Hmm, his inner spirituality seems quite remarkable. However, there's no need to call him back."

"Moon Goddess, you mustn't be mistaken," the red-haired man said.

"Then use your Blood God Mist to investigate and see what's going on." The woman with a crescent moon mark between her brows glanced at him.

A faint mist of blood emanated from the red-haired man's body, flowing with a sunset-like light that silently spread outwards.

He quickly shook his head and said, "This person is indeed remarkable, but he's not quite at the point where we should reiterate our invitation to join us."

Nowadays, the older, more powerful figures dare not move around freely, as these young powerhouses are already core members of the local god-like organization. Moreover, their titles are quite unique: the woman in white is called "Moon Goddess," and the man with red hair is called "Blood God," both referring to themselves as deities.

Qin Ming blended in with the surroundings, making him easy to overlook. In unfamiliar places, he didn't want to attract too much attention.

But his keen intuition was not ordinary; he had already sensed that the Moon God and the Blood God above the stone fortress were investigating, and sensed that they were two extraordinary figures.

"Hmm, anyone who dares to venture from outer realms to explore this place is no ordinary person." He reminded himself that he couldn't be careless here, as he might encounter saints from top civilizations.

……

Next door, there was also a stone fortress, and the name of the exploration organization was: Shenxing.

It can be said that the core principle of this team is contained in its name, which is concise and to the point: they will not venture into dangerous places and will prioritize safety.

Their mortality rate is extremely low; they rarely have an accident on multiple trips, and most of them return safely.

Qin Ming readily paid the day fee, joined them, and agreed that they would enter the mountain after nightfall the next day. Each trip would take five to ten days, which would allow them to traverse the main areas of the Feixian Mountain remnant.

Of course, this team really just passed through, rather than going on a deep adventure.

An elder from the Shenxing organization said, "Please wear this bronze mask. Anything can happen when you go into the mountains. For example, you might accidentally offend someone. To avoid being retaliated against later, it's better not to reveal your true face. This is also a form of protection."

He will lead the team into the mountains tomorrow.

Qin Ming readily accepted good advice; in fact, he was already prepared and didn't need any outside reminders.

The elderly man leading the group laughed and said, "We don't call people by name here. We refer to them by numbers one through fifteen. You're late to register. Only number fourteen hasn't been selected yet, and you're number fourteen now."

Qin Ming nodded, it didn't matter. So what if it was the 4th, let alone the 14th? What impact could it have?
Then, the elderly man leading the group told us that he was number four.

"Alright!" Qin Ming left.

……

In the same area, Bai Meng was talking to Tang Yushang.

"Sister, I feel that the figure in the back really looks like Brother Qin Ming." Obviously, although the influence Qin Ming had exerted on him back in Tucheng had faded, it still left some aftereffects, and he habitually called Qin Ming "brother".

In fact, he felt that he was also at fault in the conflict at the Great Thunder Temple. Although he was "blinded" of some of his consciousness in Tucheng, he did think that Qin Ming was a good person when he interacted with him, so his resentment had almost subsided.

He even advised Tang Yushang to let it go, saying it wasn't a deep-seated hatred.

"Have you been brainwashed by him and still haven't recovered?" Tang Yushang asked, displeased.

She was dressed in red, a color that most people couldn't pull off; it would look tacky. But she had cascading black hair, a flawless, fair face, bright, sparkling eyes, and a perfectly curvaceous figure. In her red attire, she truly deserved to be called the most beautiful woman in the area.

Bai Meng said, "It's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. My good buddy isn't a bad person. Actually, I got beaten up much worse by him back then. Sis, you only got kicked, right? If you see him again, you can just jokingly kick his butt back, and that'll even things out, won't it?"

He was completely unaware that his "rough" words had caused the beautiful face of Tang Yushang to change color. In Tang Yushang's eyes, what kind of lewd words were these? She least wanted anyone to mention the old incident of kicking her in the buttocks.

"Sister, be more magnanimous!" Bai Meng hadn't noticed that the person opposite him was looking at him differently.

"I see you haven't recovered yet after he 'planted a demon' in your heart." Da Tang took action, suppressed him, and then directly "stepped on his true brother."

Bai Meng grimaced in pain, but still tried to comfort her: "Sister, are you still upset about your only defeat? It was just a narrow loss. I know it's mainly because you imitated my mental field when you entered the Great Thunder Temple, so you couldn't use your true abilities... Actually, none of that matters."

"Shut up!" Tang Yushang said with all her might, causing Bai Meng to scream in agony.

The next day, as night fell, Qin Ming set off with the "Shenxing" team. He glanced back casually and saw an expedition team in the distance. Suddenly, he felt a sense of familiarity with the two figures.

"No way, I can run into acquaintances even in such a faraway place?" he wondered to himself. He couldn't recognize the two people's faces, but he had a special feeling about them.

In fact, Taixu, where Tang Yushang is located, is not far from Shenyuan. It only takes passing through three fog gates to get there.

In the distant past, Taixu was once the place where Yujing merged with the earth, and it had a very great origin, which led the advanced beings there to consider themselves a holy race.

Every day, many expedition teams venture into the mountains. Qin Ming, as the fourteenth member of the team, officially set foot in the remnant vein and was deeply surprised by this place.

In just half a day in the mountains, he saw all sorts of strange places. For example, in the blood-red swamp, light from immortals would occasionally rise up, making it impossible to look away.

Some assert that many powerful figures died below, and that there are likely Earth Immortal-level ruins, or even a Heavenly Palace.

The old man leading the group, number four, said with a serious expression, "Everyone, let's just take a look and move on. It's true that some people have dug up good things here, but many more have gone deep into the swamp and disappeared forever. Even grandmasters couldn't escape and were swallowed by the bloody mud."

On the third day of their journey into the mountains, Number Four led them into an area of ​​towering peaks, where ethereal mists swirled and auspicious clouds occasionally rose, creating a truly sacred atmosphere.

"A celestial palace!" Most of the group were newcomers and were immediately surprised. Deep in the mountains, palaces appeared and disappeared, looking extremely mysterious.

"Just take a look and that's it." Number Four was very responsible and earnestly reminded everyone that they could only observe from a distance and should not get involved.

They watched quietly for a short while when they heard a shrill scream. A very powerful dragon with golden wings on its back flew silently toward the celestial palace, but was intercepted along the way.

It was a swarm of strange insects, like a boiling crimson rain of light. In the blink of an eye, they devoured the dragon, which was close to the master level, completely, leaving not even a skeleton. Only a few scales, stained with blood, fell into the night sky.

"The Crimson God Worm, one of the top twenty rare insects in the world, actually has a nest here, how terrifying!" Many people turned pale on the spot.

At the same time, their impression of Number Four improved greatly. Fortunately, they had such a responsible leader; otherwise, if they had accidentally wandered into it, they would have died without even knowing how.

The old man leading the group said, "There are indeed many good things in the remnant vein, but there are even more dangers. Let's prioritize survival and go to the next place to observe."

"Aren't there any relatively safe areas where there aren't so many dangers?" someone asked.

Number Four thought for a moment and said, "Yes, there is, but whether we can obtain good fortune depends entirely on luck. Since you've mentioned it, let's head to the next place and give it a try."

A dark mountain range stretched out, with strong winds constantly blowing. However, led by the old man, they found a special mountain path that allowed them to avoid the black storm and proceed in a circuitous manner.

Number Four explained: "Sometimes, strong winds can blow good things out of the mountains, such as fallen petals of rare herbs, leaves of divine trees, and even fragments of bronze scriptures. It seems that the depths are an extraordinary place. Let's wait in a safe area and try our luck."

Suddenly, some people in the group inexplicably exploded, covered in blood, with even their bones and fragments of consciousness scattering, their bodies and spirits annihilated.

Qin Ming was horrified. Instead of retreating, he rushed forward, because the danger was spreading from behind him.

"You've gone into the mountains ten times, but you only bring in blood offerings once. Aren't you being a bit too cautious?" A deep voice rang out from the gale.

"The mortality rate can't be too high." Number Four smiled faintly. This blood sacrifice was considered complete, and the other party would soon open a safe path for him.

“You…” Someone was still alive, struggling with half a broken body, furious, pointing at the old man leading the group.

Number Four smiled and said, "Don't blame me, you're just unlucky to have been caught in this batch. Today is the day for the blood sacrifice."

Deep in the mountains, Qin Ming saw a fan swaying slightly on a mountainside, from which all the gales were being emitted.

“How could this be…” The spirit of the Eight Trigrams Furnace was startled and murmured.

"Did you sense Qingyue and Jiang Ran?" Qin Ming asked.

"Yes, behind this mountain where the gale is raging," the spirit replied, its gaze fixed on the giant mountain where the fan was located.

"You've seen it before?" Qin Ming asked in surprise, staring intently at the badly damaged fan. To be precise, it had rotted and deteriorated on its own.

"The fan from the Eight Views Palace has actually fallen here," the spirit said in a deep voice.

Qin Ming was shocked. It must have been an extraordinary treasure, but its material was... rotten.

The mountain winds were chilling, and Qin Ming sensed it. He immediately activated the "Wind Control Scripture," and in an instant, two divine beams shot out from his eyes. He sat down cross-legged and focused his mind on capturing some mysterious fluctuations.

(End of this chapter)