Night without Borders

Chapter 487 Return to the world
The Thunder King Bird stirred up a strong wind in the distance and let out a long cry.

The suspicious figure was startled and vanished into the thick night fog in the blink of an eye.

Qin Ming didn't want to make a move in Shuangshu Village. Now that he was far away, he could act freely. He rode the wind, rising more than ten meters off the ground, and swooped down at high speed.

"Hmm." The middle-aged man in black in front of him suddenly turned around, mainly because the surging wind was like thunder, violently surging, which startled him.

He is a master of the fourth realm. In the current environment, although he has physical problems, he is not seriously ill, which is already quite remarkable.

But now, someone behind him is coming on the wind, and the terrifying airflow makes him lose his balance and is about to be overturned.

"Black Gale!" He gasped. This kind of wind could dissipate a person's energy and spirit. If cultivated to a high level, it would become the legendary Wind Calamity.

He immediately retaliated, and it was at this moment that he saw the person hovering in the night sky, riding the wind, who was none other than Qin Ming. In an instant, his pupils shrank.

Clearly, he knew Qin Ming.

"I don't care who you are, if you overreach, you'll get chopped off," Qin Ming said in a deep voice. He sensed the other party's panic and knew they were up to no good.

The man in black unfurled a small silver flag, which rapidly expanded in the wind, soaring into the night sky and radiating layers of ripples.

Qin Ming remained unmoved, but when the wind howled, it instantly became many times more violent. Ten meters above the ground, the glowing silver flag was torn apart by the gale.

Then a storm raged, sending sand and stones flying across the ground like blades slicing through the air, tearing the wilderness apart and leaving gaps about a foot wide everywhere.

The man let out a scream as his arm was severed and thrown to the ground, then slammed back down with a thud.

He found it hard to believe that he, a master of the fourth realm, was so utterly vulnerable when facing a youth of the third realm, according to the intelligence.

This overturned his understanding. His opponent stood with his hands behind his back in mid-air, without even stretching his fists or using the legendary Hunyuan Jin, yet he still crushed him.

He considered himself a formidable figure, but now he couldn't even withstand a single move before being suppressed by the black gale, lying motionless on the ground, bleeding profusely from his severed arm.

"Please stop! I mean no harm. I've come here openly and honestly, and I have something to say," the middle-aged man in black cried out in anguish.

"You really think I'm not here because I haven't shown up for so long?" Qin Ming said coldly as he descended from mid-air to the ground, sensing the hostility from the other party.

He was too lazy to waste words on such a hypocrite. A gust of wind surged, dimming the other person's spirit and causing it to be blown out of their body and dissipate.

"Tell me, where are you from, and what is your purpose in coming to Shuangshu Village?" Qin Ming interrogated.

"Ah!" The black-clad man's consciousness was about to explode, his mental field was about to be extinguished like a candle flame in the wind, and he was terrified.

In an instant, a variety of strong emotions surged up, all of which Qin Ming resonated with easily and clearly.

The man in black came to Shuangshu Village with only one purpose: to find out if Qin Ming had returned.

Some forces are very interested in Qin Ming and want to know his movements.

In the past two years, Qin Ming has either secluded himself in the mountains or traveled to foreign lands, disappearing from the sight of those "concerned," but the relevant parties have always "remembered" him.

“I originally wanted to keep a low profile, but you all want a ‘response,’ which is difficult,” Qin Ming said in a low voice.

He had heard that a celestial being had recently attacked him, and his body couldn't withstand the damage, ultimately leading to his death.

This indicates that the overall environment is undergoing drastic changes, forcing many experts to go into hiding.

"It might be safer to make a move six months later," Qin Ming muttered to himself.

He looked down at the man, and a storm raged. Immediately, a terrified scream came from the ground: "No, Brother Qin, don't kill me! Let's talk this out!"

"You're no longer of any value," Qin Ming replied calmly.

The black gale surged, like countless black flying swords slashing through the air. The man's body was quickly torn apart, and his consciousness was extinguished.

Immediately, Qin Ming waved his sleeve, and the cracks in the ground were smoothed out by the gale, restoring the place to its original state.

Yu Que's jewel-like eyes widened, her bird-like face filled with astonishment. She said, "It's been a while since I last saw you. The Mountain Lord has become even more unfathomable. He suppressed this person to the ground without ever making contact with his opponent, causing him to die a humiliating death!"

The Thunder King Bird was also dumbfounded. This was truly a case of destroying enemy ships and towers with a mere laugh. From beginning to end, Qin Ming stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly detached even while killing his enemy.

"Uncle Qin!" After a series of events, the red squirrel no longer dared to be stubborn and had long since become obedient. All six eyes on its three heads were shining.

Qin Ming asked, "You must have some connection with the advanced alien beings deep within the Black and White Mountains, right?"

He knew that these three mutated creatures in front of him had been cultivating in the Black and White Mountains for the past two years.

"Mountain Lord, please feel free to give your orders if you need anything!" Yuque said, raising her three heads and flapping her chest with her wings.

Qin Ming said, "I asked someone to tell the dog in the Desolate Land... well, to tell that sword immortal that some people want to harm Shuangshu Village and may endanger Granny Liu. Now they have even kidnapped one of the Divine Child's playmates."

He was actually a little wary of that dog and didn't want to have any direct contact with it.

He had learned in detail that the Dog Sword Immortal was actually a former Beast God, a peerless and ferocious demon, and not very magnanimous.

Liu Mo hesitated before leaving, wondering whether he should kill it.

Qin Ming had seen the dog in its most wretched state and had even petted its head. Now that the Beast God had recovered to become a top-tier expert, if he didn't want to recall that unbearable past, meeting him might be extremely dangerous.

Yu Que said, "Mountain Lord, please rest assured. My Daoist partner has a certain status in Black and White Mountain this year. He is the leader of the messenger bird flock and will definitely deliver the message. Besides, Dog Master and we are acquaintances, and he will surely remember our past."

The red squirrel and the thunder king bird nodded as well; they were also quite familiar with the strange creatures of Black and White Mountain.

"You worthless bird." Qin Ming knew that Yuque was good in every way, but due to the influence of species instinct, it would change to a new partner every year.

He then reminded him that since the Dog Sword Immortal's status was different now, he must be careful with his words when delivering the letter, use respectful language, and not be arrogant.

"I see!"

"I hope it's still there," Qin Ming muttered to himself. He had already heard that even Earth Immortals and those who had accumulated seven days of cultivation couldn't hold on any longer, and ninety percent of them had already ascended to heaven.

The powerful figures from the old mountain strongholds in the sky did not engage in bloody conflicts with the experts on the ground.

They tolerated, compromised, and accepted each other. This was a helpless choice because, in the current environment, whoever made the first move might be the first to die.

……

Qin Ming set off alone towards the Lingxu Mountains, a renowned blessed land.

Generally speaking, famous mountains and legendary blessed lands are mostly occupied by top-tier Taoist lineages.

The Lingxu Mountains are one of the few exceptions, as they are home to many reclusive cultivators and some declining sects.

The man in black came from this place. Qin Ming came to investigate in person. In fact, he even resonated with the image of Xiao Wenrui in the fluctuating emotions of the man in black.

Qin Ming entered the mountain, silently stealthily making his way through the night fog, and went straight to Changqing Temple.

It was built on a not-very-high mountain. It was not small in scale, but it was very old. There were even cracks in the courtyard walls and moss growing on the tiles.

No matter how you look at it, Changqing Temple is not a place where people have settled.

Qin Ming saw Wen Rui, and his heart sank.

That wasn't the build a child who was just over nine years old should have; he was an inch taller than an adult and had a rather robust physique.

After embarking on his new life, Qin Ming practiced the rare and precious Silk Calligraphy. Even though his body underwent multiple transformations, it maintained the golden ratio and never went out of control. He was only one head taller than ordinary people.

He stood in the night mist, quietly watching the figures in Changqing Temple.

Wenrui still had a youthful face and was still a child, but his height and development were definitely severely unbalanced.

"Is this the most basic beginner's method?" His eyes were deep, and a murderous aura rose in his heart. Did this so-called reclusive master intend to ruin people by giving them such a crude technique?
He had assumed those people would teach him the path to immortality.

Because even in aristocratic families or large organizations, where there are experts controlling and protecting them, the methods of the New Life Path can only be practiced at the age of thirteen or fourteen, while ordinary people can only begin at the age of fifteen or sixteen.

Qin Ming entered Changqing Temple and was already close to Xiao Wenrui.

"Is this special route belonging to the Road of New Life the road of the Giant Spirit God?" Qin Ming stood not far away, finally figuring out the truth.

His brow furrowed even more deeply. The Path of the Giant Spirit God could almost stand alone as a system, detached from the Path of Rebirth.

This path is not one that everyone can walk. When Qin Ming first came into contact with cultivation, he already knew that many people who walked the path of the Giant Spirit God would die young.

"This is not careful nurturing at all..." Qin Ming's murderous intent almost burst forth from his body.

He silently observed and carefully considered, feeling that if he intervened, he could still correct the situation, allowing Wenrui to change his method and interrupt the path of the Giant Spirit God.

He did not immediately recognize her, but instead appeared like a ghost in Changqing Temple to investigate the situation of the nearby mountains.

Changqing Temple had long since fallen into ruin, with only an old man at the third realm and his dozen or so disciples remaining.

With a little manipulation, Qin Ming made the old man lose his senses, and without the old man's awareness, he invaded his mind and resonated with the information he needed.

The old man treated Wenrui fairly well, indeed teaching him seriously as a disciple, but the methods he imparted were truly indescribable.

Wen Rui was not brought back to Changqing Temple by the old man, but was sent to him by people from Lei Ze Palace in Lingxu Mountain Range. They also gave him a Giant Spirit God Technique and some medicines, asking him to teach him.

Thunder Palace, Star Mountain, and Purple Cloud Cave are all old mountains in the heavens. In the past two years, the connection between the heavens and the earth has become increasingly close, and Thunder Palace has a foothold here. Qin Ming has already learned some of these details from the man in black.

Qin Ming sighed. Fortunately, Wen Rui did not suffer at Changqing Temple. The old man had treated him fairly well, but the cultivation method was too bad and not suitable for him.

Clearly, the old man had no choice; he was threatened by the Thunder Palace and could only pass on the Giant Spirit God's techniques. He himself felt that without various precious medicines, this path was truly unsuitable.

Qin Ming left and traveled through the mountains on the wind. Before long, he found the location of the Thunder Palace.

This place is clearly a blessed land, located in the heart of a blessed land coveted by many independent cultivators and declining sects. A brand-new palace has been built here, which is very magnificent and tall.

Qin Ming seemed like a god or demon traversing a sea of ​​night mist, silently descending from mid-air onto the mountain.

The strongest person here is only at the late fourth stage; there are no grandmasters at all. This is understandable, as people with real backgrounds and formidable strength would not be "exiled" to the ground.

Soon, Qin Ming learned part of the truth.

"They suspect I am Taiyi and want to find me to confirm?"

The people in the heavens have been searching for the former top spot, not only because they still harbor resentment, but also because it seems they received a death order from above.

This is a message that Qin Ming resonated with from a young disciple.

His brow was furrowed; something was wrong.

Soon after, he targeted a middle-aged man at the fourth level, exploring his mental field.

"Some even speculate that Taiyi, Jingjiepai, and Yijian are the same person? And I am one of the suspects, so they want to track my movements and hope to find out the truth."

Qin Ming's expression was grave; this was not good news.

What unsettled him most was that this order was issued by all the top-tier Earth Immortals together, and it vaguely involved... important figures in the Jade Capital.

Qin Ming narrowed his eyes slightly. He thought of the battle in the heavens, where he inexplicably encountered a young man who possessed an innate golden body and was also the temporary owner of a piece of exotic gold cloth.

"Could it be that guy who used methods to send messages to various old strongholds, trying to track down a mysterious opponent with suspicious movements?"

If that's the case, the problem will be extremely serious and terrible. How can he afford to offend the creatures in Jade Capital right now?
Suddenly, Qin Ming laughed again and said, "Well, it's not a big problem. Yujing has disappeared."

"who?"

It must be said that this stronghold of the Thunder Palace is quite remarkable, as it has actually set up an extraordinary magic array. Qin Ming accidentally triggered it, alerting the people here.

"Now that I've been discovered, I'll return to the scene and settle my scores with you," Qin Ming murmured.

He invited the Dog Sword Immortal out of the mountains, naturally to make an example of him and deal with the truly important figures.

As for this place, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? He can clean it up himself, and it's necessary for him to personally oversee and clean it up.

"It's actually you..." The old man in the late stage of the fourth realm was startled and recognized Qin Ming immediately.

"Come here!" Qin Ming shouted, then reached out his large hand and grabbed at the other person.

"You've actually broken through to the fourth realm! Could it really be you, One Sword?" The old man was shocked. Based on the information they had gathered, they had repeatedly confirmed that Qin Ming was still in the late stage of the third realm.

Therefore, in the eyes of many people in the heavens, Yi Jian, Tai Yi, and others could not possibly be the same person, because Yi Jian's killing power in the third realm is unparalleled. To support such a mythical record, one would need to be at least at the Great Perfection of the third realm.

Normally, one needs a higher level of understanding to make up for the shortcomings of a lower level.

But what does he see right now?
A black gale surged, and a giant hand made of storm enveloped him, pulling him in front of Qin Ming.

The old man was very strong and fought back with all his might.

As a result, Qin Ming's Samadhi True Fire transformed into a longsword, dazzling and brilliant, with three-colored flames dancing around it. It severed his shoulder on the spot, and with just one strike, he suffered a crushing defeat.

"Could it be that you really pierced through the thirty-sixth heaven with a single sword strike?" The old man convulsed in pain. He couldn't believe it. He had investigated this young man, and in just four years, how could he have advanced to the fourth realm? This was nothing short of a mythical speed!

His severed body was covered in blood, and he knew very well that if the other party hadn't tried to force a confession, he would have been killed with a single blow.

"How can you be so strong?" the old man groaned in pain.

Qin Ming said calmly, "What's so surprising? Is it hard to accept? You're only at the seventh level of the fourth realm. In front of me, what difference is there between you and a clay chicken or a clay dog?"

Inside the Thunder Palace, a group of people rushed over upon hearing the news, surrounding Qin Ming. Some made a move, while others turned pale and dared not step forward. The bloody scene before them made them realize that this man was far too difficult to deal with.

Especially when they heard the old man say that he suspected he was a "combination" of Taiyi, Jingjiepai, and Yijian, everyone felt a chill run down their spines and a sense of dread.

A person's reputation is like a tree's shadow; with the top three on the list combined, who can afford to offend them? Unless the seriously ill seniors emerge from seclusion with their wounded bodies, there is no solution.

Some were very loyal and charged forward.

Qin Ming scanned them, his killing intent palpable. Ever since he saw the path Wen Rui had taken, he had long wanted to unleash a massacre.

Within his body, a heart lamp appeared, instantly becoming incomparably brilliant, blessed by three kinds of divine fire and surrounded by nine kinds of sacred evil.

With a hissing sound, the light of its heart lamp burst forth, shooting out divine rays, each one terrifying beyond compare.

"Ah..." In an instant, everyone in the hall fell backward, most of them with their foreheads pierced, dying instantly.

Those of slightly higher status had their chests pierced, but were spared their lives temporarily while awaiting interrogation.

Qin Ming didn't waste any words. After taking down everyone, he interrogated those who needed to confess and invaded their mental realms as needed. With the help of resonance, he quickly obtained what he needed.

"Well, although the people in the sky have some doubts, nine out of ten people don't believe that Yi Jian and Tai Yi are the same person, mainly because their cultivation levels don't match."

Qin Ming sighed softly. Keeping a low profile allowed him to avoid a major storm. If it had been determined that the top three spots belonged to one person back then, the trouble would have been much greater.

"Regarding Taiyi's identity, I am just one of the suspects. There are people behind this."

Soon, he discovered that some people were stirring up trouble, believing that Qin Ming was Taiyi, and that if he didn't appear for a long time, they could start by looking at his close associates.

"Wenrui was implicated as a result and was brought here by a so-called hermit master."

In fact, after Wen Rui was brought here, the people from Lei Ze Palace reported it, saying that they would be able to keep track of Qin Ming's movements as a result.

"Leize Palace, Star Mountain..."

Qin Ming's eyes were filled with murderous intent. A person of higher status had once inspected this place and said indifferently that he could teach Wen Rui, but he needed to be arranged to be a strongman.

Therefore, Xiao Wenrui was taught the methods of the Giant Spirit God.

"Fine, Thunder Palace and Star Mountain, a bunch of sickly weaklings, I'll settle accounts with you sooner or later!" Qin Ming muttered.

After examining it carefully, he revealed an angry expression.

The person who was making the commotion was not from this stronghold.

"You claim to be Taiyi and suggest starting with those around me, but it turns out you're just a notorious rogue cultivator in the mountains. How dare you harbor such malicious intentions and harm me and those around me? You're courting death!"

Qin Ming's face was icy cold. How dare a rogue cultivator from the Lingxu Mountains bully him like this and give such a suggestion to the people of the Lei Ze Palace?

"Old Huang, after you've finished enjoying the blood feast, it's time for you to do your part and erase all traces of my presence here, so they can't use their magical artifacts to track me down." Before leaving, Qin Ming asked Huang Luo Gai San to lend a hand.

Soon after, he headed west towards the mountains.

He had already recognized the identity of that famous rogue cultivator as Old Man Yunfeng, a renowned figure in the mid-stage of the fourth realm, who had passed away a few months ago in the mountains.

"Even on your deathbed, you're still harming people?" Qin Ming frowned, feeling hateful and unable to quell his anger. He decided to go and investigate personally.

In a rather dilapidated building, only a few of Yunfeng Old Man's disciples and grand-disciples remained.

Finally, Qin Ming found his grave and unceremoniously opened the coffin; the body was already decomposed beyond recognition.

"Such strong resentment..." Qin Ming stared at the jade pendant on the old man's body, where a strong emotion remained, and he immediately resonated with it.

"Why...why did you do this? We're friends, and I did you a small favor. How could you turn around and try to kill me?" Old Man Yunfeng seemed extremely grief-stricken.

Someone asked him to offer advice at the Leize Palace, and then, not long after, he was dealt with by that person.

Even the subtle emotional fluctuations of the other two individuals remained, revealing their ease and joy, vaguely recreating the scene at that time.

"Is it really necessary?" a young man said with a smile.

Another older man spoke up: "What if he accidentally reveals our identities? Let's just kill him."

The young man said, "Actually, I don't think it would be very effective to suggest to him that Qin Ming is Taiyi and to start with the people around him."

The older man smiled faintly and said, "Well, it was just a casual move. We suffered no loss. If the people in the sky really take action because of this and have a serious conflict with Qin Ming, then that would be an unexpected bonus."

The two of them, oblivious to everyone else, discussed this in front of Old Man Yunfeng. As a result, the latter died with endless resentment and unquenchable grief.

Qin Ming's face was icy cold as he said, "You're really courting death! I haven't even settled accounts with you yet, and you dare to provoke me. Playing a game of chess? Fine, wait and see, I'll play a game of chess to the death with you!"

(End of this chapter)