Night without Borders

Chapter 502 Otherworldly Forbidden Zone
Achieving the Grandmaster level is only the most ideal state.

"I was overthinking things." Qin Ming calmed himself down and carefully studied the information that had already been made public.

He believes that a deeper understanding is needed and that we should not be careless.

As people from Yezhou, they are all very vigilant, which can be said to be innate.

Although some people who engage in regional discrimination always say that the founder of Yezhou is "infamous," it also shows that the people of Yezhou have some very high moral character.

Qin Ming wondered if this was a setup or a trap.

Yezhou is a land of outstanding people and simple folk customs. If he were to "misstep," wouldn't he be disgracing himself in another world? He would be ashamed of his origins.

The main issue is that the conditions mentioned in the current reports seem far too favorable.

Putting everything else aside, the keywords alone—direct access to forbidden zones, ancient medicinal fields, and celestial medicines—are enough to make people envious and restless.

The so-called "can no longer be kept secret" does not necessarily mean that the information was leaked from the bottom of the heart; it could also mean that someone deliberately took the opportunity to secretly spread the news.

Of course, we shouldn't always think the worst. These days, everyone is cautious and not so easily fooled. Everyone wants to be a part of the meal and get a share, rather than becoming someone else's food.

This wasn't Qin Ming's first visit to Luofu City. He had once toured the city with Li Qingyue and helped her retrieve the Bagua Furnace from the ruins outside the city.

Years later, he revisited the place, but this time he was alone. As he watched the ancient buildings, such as the Green Pagoda and the Black Gold Palace, bathed in the golden glow of the fire spring, and tasted "roasted dragon meat" again by the Jade Dragon Lake, his state of mind was completely different.

"Tang Jin, Master Wu!" Qin Ming spotted familiar faces in the distance in the city, but didn't greet them. He had come in a low-key manner this time in order to break through his cultivation barrier and didn't want to be targeted.

Tang Jin was tall and slender, and the black fur cloak she wore shimmered with a faint dark light, covering her fair neck and revealing only her delicate chin, giving her a mysterious and aloof air.

She was just as she had always been, as if they had first met at Black and White Mountain.

Master Wu's feathers are as golden as gold, and he was born with a special purple divine eye, which makes his perception exceptionally sharp. Now, he has the ability to almost dispel illusions.

“Little Tang, I feel like I’m seeing an old friend, someone who looks a lot like him… uh, I’m mistaken, it doesn’t seem to be him,” Master Wu said.

Qin Ming found it absurd. Could a mere fourth-realm crow be so perceptive? Perhaps it was just a fleeting glimpse of insight. After all, he had altered his essence and spirit, and by simply passing by from the side, he shouldn't have been recognized.

Beside Tang Jin and Master Wu was a young man with an extraordinary bearing. He even had dimples when he smiled, and he was very approachable.

Furthermore, Qin Ming could sense that this person possessed abundant spirituality, with pure Yang energy overflowing outwards, making it impossible to conceal. His innate talent was exceptionally outstanding.

"Could this be the reclusive disciple?" Qin Ming didn't examine him closely, only glancing at him thoughtfully.

Ling Yu was merely a junior disciple that Tang Jin had found for his teacher, a backup candidate. It was said that there was another exceptionally talented true successor.

Qin Ming learned from Yu Que that he had been one of the candidates in the past.

He even knew that when Tang Jin gave up on him, she said, "The person I chose is like the blazing sun waiting to break through the black clouds, but it is not advisable to expose himself too early, otherwise I may be envied by the heavens. I have already sent him away in advance."

Five years have passed, and the reclusive disciple should have completed his studies and come out into the open.

"Who did you mistakenly think you saw?" Tang Jin asked.

"The boy from Black and White Mountain," Master Wu secretly transmitted his voice.

Tang Jin fell silent immediately.

Regarding missing out on Qin Ming, Master Wu brought up the old story many times.

Although she met and reconciled with Qin Ming in Kunling City and had a good relationship with him, she still felt a little upset every time Master Wu mentioned him.

Looking back, she felt a mix of emotions and genuine regret. The boy from that remote place had now become famous throughout the land as a rogue cultivator.

Fortunately, her junior brother Qi Qianchen was also incredibly talented, possessing innate wisdom that would only grow stronger with time, destined to shine brightly in the Night Mist World.

Despite his exceptional talent, Qi Qianchen was told by his teacher, Li Wuwei, that "he has not yet fully awakened and will likely achieve great things later in life."

It is evident how terrifying his potential is; those who know him are extremely optimistic about him.

Tang Jin said, "In the past, if you had entered that forbidden ancient medicine field, you should have gone all out and used your innate special abilities to seize the rare medicine that could help you break through the barrier."

Qin Ming's presence in the city was not to reminisce about the past, but mainly to gather information. He did not hesitate to use resonance techniques to thoroughly understand the world behind the Ancient Mist Gate.

Soon after, he saw a young man who looked somewhat familiar.

"It was him." Qin Ming thought back and was deeply surprised when he remembered who it was.

Qian Cheng, a dull-witted boy from Chixia City, lived a life of hard labor, relying on his grandmother for survival. He was often kicked and slapped, living a life of poverty and bullying. After his grandmother's death, he entered the Thunderfire Alchemy Hall. Some people, seeing his tragic past, wanted to help him and advised him not to risk his life, but he sullenly refused.

Qin Ming still remembers his words: "No, being pitied by others will eventually wear down the friendship over time."

Back then, only Qin Ming and Qian Cheng survived in the Thunderfire Alchemy Hall, and Qian Cheng disappeared without a trace afterward.

Qin Ming never expected that he would meet him in Luofu City after more than five years.

Qian Cheng's demeanor was completely different; all traces of his former dullness had vanished. He was now composed, calm, and confident, with eyes as deep and unfathomable as the starry sky.

His every move was unlike that of a poor boy who had suffered humiliation in a small town; he possessed a restrained brilliance and extraordinary demeanor.

This kind of temperament can be described as a complete transformation.

If it weren't for the fact that his face hadn't changed and even the red mole in his eyebrow was the same, Qin Ming would have really thought he had mistaken someone for someone else.

Most importantly, Qin Ming actually failed to see through him. This was clearly a person with profound knowledge, yet it was impossible to discern what level he was currently at.

Qin Ming didn't stare at him. He felt that there was something wrong with this person. He was too strange. Even though he had been taken in as a personal disciple by the old monster and had extraordinary opportunities, the change in his mental state was too great. It was as if he had become a different person.

That composure was completely unlike that of a young man.

Qin Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but overthink.

Chixia City is adjacent to Black and White Mountain.

Meanwhile, on Black and White Mountain, a blood-stained kite flies, guarding Liu Mo's rebirth.

Qin Ming thought of Liu Tianshen and immediately associated Qian Cheng with this old monster. Could he also be a special being who had come back to life?

He realized with a deep sense that the world was indeed about to descend into chaos, or that some "old trees" were sprouting "new buds".

If Qian Cheng were a resurrected being, it would be terrifying, after all, he emerged before Liu Mo.

Qin Ming walked away without looking at the other person again, maintaining his calm expression. He thought to himself that perhaps he was overthinking things.

"Where in the world are there so many withered trees that can spring back to life? Once they rot, they are hard to revive."

According to legend, such creatures belong to one of the many taboos.

Qin Ming spent two days lurking around Luofu City and the ancient Misty Gate in its suburbs, gathering enough information to get a general idea of ​​what was going on. This was definitely not a deliberate trap; the rumors were true.

Most importantly, the patriarchs of each path, as well as the earth immortals of Yezhou, have informed their disciples that the ancient books they consulted recorded it in this way, and that those rumors were the truth.

There is only one point to note: the Misty Gate has been sealed for too long, and with the passage of time, it is unknown whether that forbidden area has changed since then, so we cannot be careless.

As long as it's not a setup, then it's normal to have both risks and opportunities.

Furthermore, certain indicators also reveal something: the descendants of some important figures have personally visited this place and are actively exploring it.

Lu Zheng, a descendant of the Celestial Venerable, had secretly arrived two months ago and entered the Ancient Misty Gate several times.

Xie Lin, a descendant of the Pugong Earth Immortal, Xiao Jinye, the grandson of the Old Barbarian God, and Li Wanfa, the youngest disciple of the Sage, all made appearances.

As for the celestial figures like Lieyang Fengzhige, Yan Zhuohua, and Zhou Tiandao, and the terrestrial figures like Tang Yushang, Pei Qingwu, and Chunyangzi, almost all the prominent figures were present.

In particular, Qin Ming had personally witnessed Pei Shuyan, Helian Yaoqing, Cheng Sheng and others go in and then come out safely.

After that, he saw that Qian Cheng, Master Wu, Yao Ruoxian, and others had all entered separately and returned unharmed, which put his mind at ease.

"No problem, I'll go and see for myself." Qin Ming immediately went to follow the "procedures".

The Ancient Fog Gate connects to an unknown world, and the other side may be extremely dangerous.

Therefore, a special "destiny talisman" is required for entry and exit. Each talisman is unique and bound to a specific person in advance. If the identity does not match, one cannot embark on the journey home.

Qin Ming discovered that, like him, 80% of the people who had spent day's money to queue up for the "Life Talisman" were elderly figures. They were both men and women, all with dull skin, wrinkled faces, and mostly bald; it was clear that their lives were nearing their end.

Rather than describing them as a group of elderly pioneers with high fighting spirit, it would be more accurate to say they were desperate people fighting for survival, making a last-ditch effort.

Among these people are those who have reached the Great Perfection of the Fourth Realm and those who have reached the Grandmaster of the Fifth Realm; their cultivation levels are not low.

In addition, there was an elderly man, trembling and skeletal, who kept coughing up blood when the Taoist energy surged.

Qin Ming had some doubts. Could it be that the Grandmasters who were difficult to revive were struggling to hold on, and that some of them had also come?
Then, Qin Ming sighed softly. Wasn't he also here to survive? The Night Fog World was vast and boundless, and there were far too many dangers. It was difficult for anyone to truly transcend them.

"Hmm?" He was surprised to see Cui Chongxiao. Could he be one of their companions?
The next day, Qin Ming went to scout ahead, wanting to see what this forbidden zone was like and what kinds of precious medicines it contained that drove everyone crazy.

As the saying goes, hearing is believing, seeing is believing.

The fog was thick inside the open doorway. Qin Ming walked in, and the vast night seemed to be an eternal theme.

In a daze, he had a strange feeling, as if he had come to the universe and starry sky described in ancient books.

He even saw many bizarre illusions and hallucinations, with black mist surging, spreading out to form land, and turning into bridges that connected him to a... planet.

"A hallucination?" He shook his head vigorously, the Primordial Heart Lamp shining brightly, dispelling the fog before his eyes.

This time, what he saw was much more real; he saw a vast, boundless land that stretched as far as the eye could see.

At this moment, he also came out and saw the so-called forbidden zone, which was desolate, remote, and vast, like an endless desert, lacking vitality and barren of vegetation.

Among those who came with him were many elderly people and young adults. They quickly dispersed, wary of each other, while others formed teams in advance to watch out for each other as they moved forward.

Qin Ming set off alone, heading deeper into the darkness of the earth.

It wasn't until he had traveled hundreds of miles that he saw sparse vegetation, and the spiritual matter and Daoist aura became increasingly abundant.

Along the way, he looked solemn. He once circled around a deep abyss that stretched for hundreds of miles, only to find that it was just a finger-shaped hole. There had been an extraordinary battle here in the past.

Then he saw a spine as tall as a mountain range, which had lost all its vitality and crumbled like rotten wood with the slightest touch.

Not long after, Qin Ming saw a dragon skull. The bone was dull and decayed, and there was a terrible fist hole in the dragon's head. It was biting a rotten severed hand in its mouth, which still emitted a foul stench.

Qin Ming frowned deeply. No wonder this place was called a forbidden zone; all signs indicated that it was far from simple.

In the distance, a stench filled the air; it was a blood-red lake, shrouded in mist. Just looking at it made one feel disoriented and on the verge of collapse.

"How bizarre! The blood lake is rotten and stinking, how can it still affect a person's spirit and will?"

Qin Ming avoided them from a distance and continued on his journey alone once again.

He sighed inwardly. His good brothers Xiang Yiwu and Wu Yaozu had gone far away. Otherwise, they could have explored together here. He wondered if Li Qingyue and Jiang Ran had already set off. Of the former Emperor and Huang Mao's group of five, only he remained.

On the way thereafter, Qin Ming saw the corpse of the giant spirit god, which was ridiculously large, like a mountain sitting there silently, motionless.

"It's a bit strange. These are all creatures within our knowledge. In areas far from the radiation of Yujing, there should be a large number of new species."

Finally, Qin Ming saw the medicinal fields, one after another, which was different from what he had imagined. They were scattered and all intertwined with blood-red divine chains, locked in the pure land.

In the desolate, empty land, the medicinal fields were filled with an extremely rich spiritual energy. All kinds of herbs were there, including heart-shaped red fruits, golden buds like the blazing sun, and tea trees that exuded an astonishing Daoist charm...

"What a wonderful place!" Qin Ming exclaimed. If it weren't for the seal and the unlocked herb fields, it would truly make one's heart race many times over.

With just a quick glance, he saw herbs that could help one break through to the Grandmaster level. He even saw a rare medicine needed in the mid-to-late stages of the Fifth Realm. It was a vine that shone like a galaxy, with natural runes on its leaves and buds.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to harvest them now.

According to records, all restrictions will only be lifted when the main medicine in the restricted area is fully mature, including the sealing array at the edge of the restricted area.

At that time, creatures from outside the restricted area will swarm in.

The beings of the Jade Capital region opened that ancient mist gate and entered the forbidden area ahead of time, gaining an advantage and getting closer to the medicinal fields than many other beings in this other world.

Qin Ming walked forward and finally saw the most important ancient medicinal herb field.

A silver mountain peak is extraordinary because of a single silver grass. The soft glow emanating from the grass leaves diffuses across the entire mountain, turning it silver.

"At the very least... it's a Celestial Immortal herb!" Qin Ming was deeply moved. Was this really a herb field they could possibly access? The level was far too high.

Moreover, can they really gain the upper hand and intercept the main medicinal herb of this place with just an ancient mist gate?

Qin Ming didn't sense any danger, but he still felt uneasy. Who would give away such a great opportunity for nothing? Does this place really have no owner?

There are three main medicinal herb fields within the restricted area.

The second main medicinal field is the abyss, where there is an immortal old tree root that has now come back to life, sprouting a tender branch that sways green in the dark underground, accompanied by an incomparably rich and vigorous vitality, seemingly able to give people a second life.

The third main medicinal field was well-proportioned and flat, filled with a riot of colors and rare herbs, though their quality was difficult to determine. At its very center, golden clouds surged and celestial mist billowed, covering a hazy, indistinct plant. Clearly, even at its worst, it was a high-grade terrestrial herb.

"Are they crazy? So many rare medicines and divine herbs, who is worthy to enjoy them? Can outsiders really pick them?" Qin Ming was greatly shocked.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, he looked up and saw Qian Cheng. He didn't know when this person had come in again and was wandering around the three main medicinal fields. Qin Ming didn't know if the other party was a kind of creature among the forbidden ones.

(End of this chapter)