Night without Borders

Chapter 489 Disabling the Main Branch of the Cui Family
The thick night fog covered the sky like a curtain, making the mountains appear even more oppressive as they pierced through the heavy black fog. The exposed mountain peaks floated above the vast sea of ​​fog, like isolated islands suspended in the sky, scattered like stars.

Qin Ming rode the wind, initially relying on the ground for support. Later, as his mastery of the wind grew, he gradually rose into the clouds, occasionally stepping on the "isolated islands" to land and traversing the high sky.

For him, it was a novel experience and a huge step forward, no less than actual flight.

Since he mastered the Gale technique, even if he suddenly falls from the sky without a parachute, he can land safely.

Sunset Forest Plain, five thousand miles from Black and White Mountain, is a vast plain covered with dense, lush forests that exude a rich vitality.

Fire springs flow across the ground, turning large areas of woodland golden red, like the afterglow of the setting sun, which is the origin of the name Sunset Forest.

"The scenery is really nice." Qin Ming stood on a high ground on the outskirts of the forest, quietly gazing ahead with his hands behind his back.

He had been away from Black and White Mountain for several days, not because he was traveling slowly, but because he had spent a lot of time investigating Cui Changqing's whereabouts.

If he weren't skilled in resonance techniques, it would have taken even longer.

Cui Changqing usually keeps a low profile, especially now that he wants to break through to the Grandmaster realm, he is becoming increasingly cautious and has even kept it a secret from many members of the Cui family.

Apart from his own blood relatives, only a few people in the core high-level of the Cui family knew his current status.

Absolutely no information may be leaked to outsiders.

Many people now "know" that Cui Changqing made a "mistake" in his training, suffered serious injuries, and lost his vital essence. Currently, Cui Changhe and Cui Changming, who are very close to him, are going out to seek precious medicines for him.

No one doubted it, because in today's environment, almost all the strong are already seriously ill.

"You really are cautious." Qin Ming smiled faintly as he walked towards the endless forest through the night mist tinged red by the fire spring.

He investigated for a long time before confirming that the other party had come to this place to "recover from injuries".

"That's good too. It'll be quiet and peaceful, with no one to bother us, and it'll be easier to settle things with you all." Qin Ming disappeared into the forest.

Cui Changqing has been practicing the "Scripture of Staying in the World" for nearly a century. He prefers places with lush vegetation, which he has carefully selected as a wonderful place to break through barriers, hoping to achieve the status of a master here.

Qin Ming walked steadily, alone and unhurried. He was already close to his destination. Along the way, he noticed something unusual: large areas of trees were withered, their leaves were turning yellow and falling in the wind, as if it were late autumn.

"The old fellow is practicing the World-Preserving Scripture very diligently, absorbing a lot of the essence of plants and trees. It seems he has indeed reached a critical stage."

Cui Changqing was cultivating by drawing on the essence of mountains, rivers, plants and trees. In this era of intense and turbulent Daoist influence, although he was also affected, he had certain advantages because year after year, he accumulated a special kind of longevity energy, mainly because he had practiced his health cultivation exercises very well.

He wanted to risk breaking through the barrier by using the fluctuations of the Daoist energy and borrowing the most terrifying impact to help himself break through. Of course, he might also be severely injured. At the critical moment, he could rely on the longevity essence accumulated through comprehending the Scripture of Preserving the World to prolong his life.

……

Ahead lay a manor, not small in size, quiet but not lifeless; people could be seen coming and going, and there were many men in black guarding it.

Undoubtedly, those were people Cui Changqing trusted, practically his death squad.

The firelight illuminates the entire mountain villa, bathing it in a red glow. The roof tiles appear to be shimmering with golden light, and the walls and roof ridges seem to be outlined with golden edges.

Under the glow of the setting sun, the dense forest and the tranquil manor glowed softly, creating a sense of otherworldly and serene beauty.

Unfortunately, this place is destined to become a blood-stained land!

"You guys got a good deal, choosing such a scenic cemetery." Qin Ming had been exploring the area for dozens or even hundreds of miles around.

Clearly, there are various sentries hidden in the dense forest, and there are also fast-moving birds such as Zapdos and Flounder, which can report information at any time.

"Yes, Cui Chongye is also in the manor, so I'm relieved." Qin Ming overheard the whispers and conversations among the people and knew that Cui Changqing's favorite grandson was also there.

Deep within the Lingxu Mountains, after the grandfather and grandson killed Old Man Yunfeng, they acted nonchalantly and detachedly, which greatly displeased Qin Ming.

"The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is so strong that they would rather die together." Without a doubt, Qin Ming, brimming with murderous intent, was indeed speaking in a somewhat "contrarian" way.

He took action, swiftly eliminating all the hidden sentries in the surrounding area with ruthless methods, not even sparing the birds that relayed messages. After the complete purge, he strode towards the manor.

"Zhu Shi Manor." He looked at the four large characters on the manor's plaque under the "evening glow," sneered, and threw a punch.

Instantly, the entire void seemed to be compressed, and even the gatehouse of the manor seemed to shrink, while only the radiant fist rapidly grew larger.

It was both real and illusory. Qin Ming's fist was surrounded by dense heavenly light, and the force of his fist traveled far and wide, as if a giant god was throwing a punch, smashing the gate and plaque.

He just barged right in through the gate without any attempt to hide it.

As expected, the men in black in the manor were well-trained, and many of their elites were surnamed Cui, related to Cui Changqing by blood.

They rushed in silently, activating the magic array to quickly surround and annihilate the invading enemy.

However, when Qin Ming destroyed the main gate, he had already started dismantling the magic array; otherwise, he wouldn't have wasted that terrifying punch.

At the same time, he summoned the Yellow Silk Umbrella, which hovered above his head, suppressing the light of the magic array that was shining nearby. As he took a step, many of the patterns on the ground that looked like red-hot irons went out.

With a loud boom, as he stepped out with nine-colored evil energy, black cracks appeared everywhere on the ground, and the protective array that had already been torn open continued to collapse.

"You are... Qin Ming?" The men in black, who had remained calm even when facing a crisis, were shocked when they saw Qin Ming's true face, and their expressions changed drastically.

The person in charge was a direct descendant of the Cui family, someone Qin Ming had met before but was relatively unfamiliar with, someone he hadn't had much contact with, but he had already recognized the person under the umbrella.

He found it hard to believe that the "discarded pawn" had become so powerful. It had actually come to his doorstep on its own initiative. How powerful and fierce was that?

Upon hearing this, the others also narrowed their eyes and stared at the figure.

Under the setting sun, the imperial umbrella slowly rotated, with the afterglow of the sun, moon, and stars entwined around the edges of the tassels, and purple mist dripping down. On the umbrella surface, celestial dragons flew out, and phoenixes shone, with the roar of dragons and the cry of phoenixes, displaying a sacred aura.

Qin Ming was tall and upright, with a calm and indifferent expression. As he walked forward step by step, he appeared as if a god or demon had been born, and he alone intimidated everyone.

"Kill!" the leader shouted.

A group of people were indeed fearless, their black clothes fluttering, their blades flashing, their spears clanging, some casting spells, some summoning flying swords, and some activating strange treasures.

In an instant, all sorts of spiritual lights lit up in this area, sword bodies, lightning and fire shields... densely packed, all pouring towards Qin Ming.

However, he remained unmoved, his hands behind his back, looking down at everyone. Tangible ripples spread rapidly outward from his body, covering the area in front of him.

In an instant, it was as if Mount Sumeru was suppressing everything, or as if a celestial demon was roaring, distorting the void, and one after another, the Great Dream Mushrooms appeared...

Qin Ming himself did not move, but the expansion of his spiritual field formed a destructive domain. The dazzling flying swords dimmed instantly and shattered in mid-air, while the flying spears and gleaming longswords were easily crushed like window paper and disintegrated in the process.

As for those spells, they were extremely weak, all of them suppressed and extinguished. The rare treasures such as the Fire Fan and Thunderfire Shield were even more fragile, like rotten wood, shattering in front of Qin Ming's fused spiritual field, utterly vulnerable.

Then came those people. Although their courage was commendable, they were no match for Qin Ming, who was like a god or demon incarnate. After his spiritual aura enveloped the area, those people screamed and exploded one after another on the spot, their crimson blood splattering all over the courtyard.

Qin Ming stood under the yellow parasol, hands behind his back, without moving an inch. As a result, the group was completely wiped out after they launched their attack.

In the courtyard, various broken flying swords and strange treasures were scattered all over the ground, and blood and broken bones were even blasted onto the courtyard walls. It was simply a bloody battlefield.

The group of people from the second courtyard had just rushed over when they were all stunned. A chill ran through them from head to toe, their scalps tingled, and their hearts sank.

Qin Ming sensed something and rose into the air, more than ten meters above the ground, looking towards the depths of the manor. He immediately saw Cui Chongye and three elderly men who had been startled and came out of their houses.

He smiled faintly and charged straight into the depths of the manor, traversing the night mist stained red by the fire spring, heading straight for the heart of the matter to kill the main culprit.

Along the way, he showed no mercy, sweeping indiscriminately. Those who stood in his way, whether they were offering up rare treasures or throwing spears, were all swept up by the black hurricane and then torn apart by the spirit field.

"How dare you! It's you!" an old man shouted, his full head of silver hair standing on end like a platinum lion.

There were indeed experts here. The old man was in the late stage of the fourth realm. He held a long spear that emitted immortal light and soared into the sky, aiming to stab Qin Ming.

The old man was covered in silver light, like a cluster of dazzling divine flames burning in the night mist. His spear was like a dragon, accompanied by a real dragon shadow flying out. He made the entire night sky tremble, which showed his power.

Qin Ming hadn't used his weapon in a long time. Upon seeing this person, he recalled the events of the past and immediately took out his enormous black jade hammer.

Because the old man was one of Cui Laowu's brothers, a direct descendant of the Cui family, and considered a high-ranking member. He was also harsh and ungrateful, and had not treated Qin Ming well when he was young.

With a loud bang, Qin Ming swung his hammer, smashing the spear that emitted celestial light into pieces. The black hammer, with its crystalline luster, continued its trajectory, startling the old man. He tried to retreat and move sideways, but it was to no avail.

With a soft "poof," Cui Chong and a senior member of the Cui family from his grandfather's generation were smashed to pieces by Qin Ming's hammer, turning into a rain of blood that scattered everywhere. A few bone fragments shot into the courtyard wall and into the houses.

Inside the manor, a group of people stared in disbelief, including Cui Chongye and two very old and powerful individuals, feeling a chill run down their spines.

What kind of terrifying power is this?

It should be noted that the old man had advanced to the late stage of the fourth realm, belonging to the high-end combat power, but he was blasted to pieces in one move in front of that figure who stepped on the void and brought with him a gale. This scene made them feel horrified.

In particular, they had already clearly seen the faces of the people who had come.

“This…” Cui Chongye involuntarily stepped back. Had the boy from back then really grown to this extent?
You have to understand, back when he was in the Cui family, he could crush the other party with a single finger, and in just four years, the other party has reached this level.

The remaining two elders looked even more grim. According to the information they had received, Qin Ming, the abandoned pawn, was at most at the late stage of the third realm. But what were they seeing now?
They were facing a terrifying threat. The terrifying killing intent that distorted the night sky chilled them to the bone. Their opponent had definitely stepped into the fourth realm, and not just in the early stages. He dared to face all of them alone.

Such a rapid pace of cultivation was terrifying, making them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

Even if Cui Chonghe were sent to a secluded place and received careful training from Sun Taichu, his breakthrough speed would not have been this rapid.

"Only four years, and he was mainly a new student. How could he have reached such a level?" an old man from the Cui family murmured, his eyes almost glazed over.

They knew that the person in front of them was intentionally revealing their true appearance and identity to intimidate them directly, and that this had indeed made them feel fear and regret, stirring up a huge storm in their hearts.

What you sow in the past, you reap today.

Cui Chongye spoke up: "Qin Ming, it's been years since we last met. I never imagined you'd broken through to the fourth realm, like a divine being reincarnated. This touches me deeply, and I'm happy for you. We were cousins, and although the Cui family and you had some unpleasant experiences, those are all in the past. Why are you here so murderous? If the Cui family hasn't appeased you, I, on behalf of the clan, sincerely apologize to you. We were brothers in the past, and we will be in the future..."

Qin Ming interrupted him, saying, "It's all talk. Are you afraid? Are you scared?"

Cui Chongye's expression froze slightly, but he quickly revealed a bitter look and said, "I know you resent the Cui family. Some people have indeed gone too far. I am willing to resolve this and help those who are targeting you..."

Qin Ming laughed, but it was a cold laugh. He was too lazy to watch Qin Ming's act and said, "Where is your composure in the Lingxu Mountains? How nonchalant you were when you killed Old Man Yunfeng. You even had him act as a go-between to create an enemy for me. You and your grandfather thought you were above the world and would just watch the storm rise and fall. Why are you being so humble now?"

“You…” Cui Chongye’s expression changed completely, and he staggered backward. He was horrified. This matter was so secretive that there was no way to prove it. How did the other party know?

At that moment, a chill ran through the deepest part of his heart. Was the figure in front of him a human or a ghost? They had even managed to uncover such a truth. Qin Ming immediately attacked, his palm strikes as swift as a rainbow, as fast as a ghost. His primordial energy flowed through his body, and he flashed past like a streak of light.

With a soft thud, Cui Chongye's head was severed, and his headless body fell to the ground.

Qin Ming lifted his head with clean and swift movements. Even though blood splattered, it was repelled by the protective aura around him, leaving not a single drop of crimson on his body.

Cui Chongye's consciousness was still intact. He opened his mouth and made painful and indistinct sounds. He looked like a young man, but he was already over forty years old and had already stepped into the fourth realm. However, in front of his opponent, he was like a weak chicken and his head was chopped off directly.

The two old men nearby tried to stop them, but it was too late.

Immediately, they roared and attacked with all their might. The two knew very well that there was no use backing down now. This pawn was bloodthirsty and had come to destroy them.

Qin Ming unleashed the Nine-Colored Sword Aura, instantly killing them. The yellow canopy cast a sunset-like light and a dense purple aura, which swept away their vitality.

"Cui Changqing, you're really good at keeping your composure." Qin Ming transmitted his voice. With such a commotion, how could the other party not hear it? He was still in seclusion.

Qin Ming could clearly sense a vibrant green light, full of life force, sitting quietly deep within the manor, refusing to come out.

He strode forward and said, "Look, Cui Chongye, who looks most like you, has been beheaded by me. Shouldn't you two, grandfather and grandson, have a reunion?"

He could clearly sense that the green glow deep within the manor was surging, enraged, and its emotions were fluctuating violently.

"Changqing, calm down. You either escape immediately or charge through the barrier in one go," an old man with almost no hair said in a deep voice.

"Form ranks and block him!" another man shouted.

Normally, Cui Changqing would take advantage of the surge of Daoist energy to repeatedly try to break through the barriers, and eventually enter the Grandmaster realm in a relatively safe way.

But now, the situation is critical. He has been alerted and has decided to go all in, no longer seeking stability, and wants to break through to the fifth realm immediately and then kill that kid.

"Everyone, move over here and protect Changqing as he breaks through!" the old man, whose hair was almost completely gone, roared.

There were more than a hundred people in the entire manor. Qin Ming had already killed more than half of them. The remaining people were indeed all suicide soldiers. They were not afraid in the face of a terrifying enemy and gathered in the depths of the manor.

Qin Ming did not ride the wind; he simply walked on foot, approaching the depths of the manor. His steady footsteps, like a demonic sound or a drumbeat, resonated clearly in everyone's hearts.

Cui Changqing, who was in seclusion, was restless and furious, but he gritted his teeth and suppressed his turbulent emotions. He calmed himself down and nourished himself with a small amount of longevity essence before he began to break through the barrier.

Suddenly, Qin Ming let out a soft shout, which rang in his ears like a thunderclap, shaking his body and nearly causing him to vomit blood.

It was obvious that the other party was doing this intentionally, blocking his path and preventing him from breaking through the barrier.

"Those who obstruct my path, I will surely destroy you!" Cui Changqing's full head of green hair flew up, and his eyes shot out green light, making him look as terrifying as an old demon.

However, although he appeared angry, he was actually calming himself down and starting to break through the barrier again.

"It's all in vain. I've already come here in person. How dare you defy the heavens!" Qin Ming's "rebellious words" really angered many people.

"Changqing, calm down!"

The four old men lined up in a row, blocking the way, while dozens of others surrounded them from all directions.

As Qin Ming approached, the head he was carrying still emitted a flickering light of consciousness, indicating that Cui Chongye was not dead and his spiritual field had not been destroyed.

“No… Chongye!” Cui Changqing whispered, but there was no fluctuation in his eyes. He was very calm at this moment, but he wanted the demon-like figure outside to misunderstand that he was in a state of turmoil and had lost his composure.

With a bang, Qin Ming tossed the head into the air, and then a flash of light slashed through the air, and Cui Chongye's head was blown off in despair.

"You fiend!" the four old men opposite shouted angrily.

Qin Ming looked over and recognized two of them: Cui Changhe and Cui Changming. Although they were not brothers with Cui Changqing, they were very close and both were very powerful.

The other two old men were bald on top, with very little hair left, and their skin was so wrinkled that even Qin Ming had never seen them before.

This person is of a higher generation than Cui Changqing, and is already over 160 years old.

At their peak, they had all reached the Great Perfection of the Fourth Realm. Unfortunately, they failed to break through to the Grandmaster realm multiple times, which damaged their bodies. In addition, due to their advanced age, they are now barely maintaining the Ninth Heaven of the Fourth Realm, no longer at perfection.

"You little brat, you've really grown up and are now threatening the direct descendants of my Cui family. I should have crushed you back then, no matter the cost!" a bald old man roared.

Furthermore, he opened up the interior space and moved his body at lightning speed.

He opened up his decaying inner world, intending to take Qin Ming inside and seal his opponent within.

Unexpectedly, Qin Ming did not dodge and entered the old man's inner world.

"You'd better die here!" the old man roared. His body glowed, almost burning, as he closed his inner vision, trying to refine the figure.

Those present saw Qin Ming's entire body glow, as if he were an immortal golden body. Before the inner realm had even closed, he launched his attack, blasting the place apart.

"Ah..." the old man screamed in agony. His inner vision shattered, and his physical body and spirit seemed to be struck by a divine hammer, about to collapse. At this moment, blood splattered everywhere.

Qin Ming has mastered the "Ultimate Golden Body Scripture," and today he tested it on himself with astonishing results.

He was bathed in golden light and walked out of the collapsed inner realm. The old man's screams stopped abruptly, and he died on the spot.

"Attack together, kill him!" Another bald old man, whose eyes were bloodshot, was a brother of the old man who had just died. He immediately led the attack.

"Kill!" Cui Changhe and Cui Changming also attacked fiercely. Their cultivation was also in the late stage of the fourth realm, but only at the eighth level.

"I've already wasted many days on this trip, it's time to wrap it up," Qin Ming said.

In an instant, he soared into the air, a lamp within his body lit up, and the Samadhi True Fire enhanced him. The Nine-Colored Sword Aura was poured in like lamp oil, and the two were perfectly in harmony.

In an instant, brilliant divine rays shot outward from Qin Ming's center, the Heart Lamp hanging high, illuminating all things—this was a deadly attack.

Those dazzling beams of light shone out in dense array, invincible.

Dozens of people screamed as they were pierced by the beam of light. Some had bloody holes in their foreheads, some had their hearts pierced, and some had large chunks of their bodies explode.

“You…” Cui Changhe and Cui Changming were horrified. Even they were pierced by the beam of light, unable to stand steadily, and were trapped in a desperate situation.

The bald old man roared and transmitted his voice to the two of them, demanding that they join forces to consecrate a blood banner. This banner of slaughter flowed with terrifying patterns and crashed towards Qin Ming.

However, the god-like figure in front of them stood in mid-air, amidst surging winds and storms, undaunted, and the lamp in their heart shone even brighter.

The heart lamp shone, its flames rising, and countless beams of light merged into one, shooting out a single beam that, with a hissing sound, was like a celestial blade slicing through the air, or a celestial sword tearing through the void, shattering the blood flag.

Then, the three old men screamed in agony as they were all cut in half at the waist, their bodies broken into six pieces, rolling on the ground.

"Cui Changqing, are you still able to keep your composure?" Qin Ming asked.

"Break open for me!" Cui Changqing shouted.

His entire body was engulfed in green flames, a vibrant life force protecting him. He wanted to step into the Grandmaster realm, no longer cautiously probing, but fighting desperately.

Qin Ming commented, "Given your current state, you're being a bit too hasty. You need some more time before you're 80% confident in breaking free from your constraints."

Although Qin Ming believed that his opponent had a greater chance of losing, he still did not give them the opportunity for a final leap.

His inner light emitted a soft beam of light, like a divine chain of order spreading forward, penetrating the secret chamber, and locking away Cui Changqing's essence, energy, and spirit.

“You…” Cui Changqing growled in pain. He was being interfered with and felt that the chances of failure were increasing.

His spirit and energy had originally climbed to the fifth realm, and he had indeed stepped into it with one foot. However, the beam of light behind him was like a chain, binding him and pulling him back.

"No!" Cui Changqing roared.

"Back in the Lingxu Mountains, I swore that even if you had the chance to reach the fifth realm, I would bring you down!"

Without a doubt, Qin Ming is now keeping his promise and has pulled him back.

He then added insult to injury, saying, "In fact, there was no hope for you to rush through the level right now."

With a loud bang, the secret chamber exploded, and Cui Changqing's full head of green hair flew backward. His still young and fair face was filled with hatred. He strode out and said, "The hatred of obstructing the path is irreconcilable. Today, I will fight you with the strength of the fourth realm at the Great Perfection!"

He was indeed very strong, which made Qin Ming dare not be careless. After all, he was an old monster who had cultivated the "Living in the World Scripture" for more than a hundred years. His life essence was vigorous and very amazing.

At this moment, Cui Changqing's entire body shone with a vibrant green glow, as if he were breathing in a vast amount of plant essence. He was also clad in armor, radiating wisps of celestial light, ready to fight his opponent to the death.

Qin Ming remained calm as he slowly ascended into the air. A vibrant green leaf appeared beneath his feet, lifting him high into the sky. In his hand, a branch with tender buds appeared, brimming with vitality, even more abundant than that of Cui Changqing.

“You…” Cui Changqing was horrified. What was that?
Having cultivated the "Scripture of Longevity" for so many years, how could he not know that it was the sword intent of immortality that was not recorded in writing, and that no one had been able to master it for thousands of years?

Back then, that abandoned son had only hastily skimmed through the Cui family's scriptures, and in just two or three years, he had already mastered that legendary sword intent.

"If I can grasp the true meaning, one day I may be able to ask about immortality with my sword..." Cui Changqing's lips were trembling, not from fear, but from resentment and grief.

He had practiced the World-Preserving Scripture his whole life, yet he couldn't match Qin Ming's achievements in just two or three years. How could he bear it? He was filled with endless anger and resentment.

"cut!"

Qin Ming spoke, and a dazzling sword light flashed, causing the void to tremble.

Despite using various techniques, Cui Changqing was still cleaved in two, covered in blood, and sent flying backward.

This was only Qin Ming's first sword strike, yet it had already extinguished his magic and shattered the magical artifact.

"Slay again!" Qin Ming still used the Longevity Sword Intent, using the highest secret of the Cui family's "Scripture of Preserving Life" to deal with this person. This was not only killing, but also destroying his spirit.

Cui Changqing groaned, his green aura surging. He tried his best, but blood was still splattering everywhere. A terrible wound severed his body.

It wasn't that he wasn't strong enough; on the contrary, he was indeed incredibly skilled. The main reason was that Qin Ming was unleashing his terrifying Longevity Sword Intent without reservation.

……

In the Cui family, a very small number of people who knew the inside story were drinking tea. The atmosphere was completely peaceful and serene. Someone smiled faintly: "If we calculate the time, in a few days, or at the latest half a month, Changqing should also step into the Grandmaster realm. Hmm, not bad."

(End of this chapter)