Night without Borders

Chapter 529 The World is Complex

In the quiet room, the tea table has a clear wood grain, with gnarled branches winding along its edges, adorned with emerald green leaves and silvery-white buds, and a faint fragrance lingers in the air.

Qin Ming sat quietly, finding the tea room quite elegant.

The middle-aged man sitting opposite him was named Zhou Xiuyuan, who came from Tianshenling. He had used a treasure ship to invite Qin Ming for a chat and tea, clearly intending to win him over.

As for Bai Meng, Zhou Xiuyuan thought he was a madman, but after learning that he came from Taixu, he didn't want to argue with him, so he invited him to have tea elsewhere.

Legend has it that Taixu should have ascended to the heavens, but instead remained on the ground. It is no ordinary place, and it is said that the descendants of the Jade Capital's ruler reside there.

Zhou Xiuyuan clapped his hands, and two graceful women walked in, their clothes fluttering and skirts swaying, displaying light and graceful dance moves.

Qin Ming was surprised and said, "Brother Zhou, aren't we drinking tea?"

Zhou Xiuyuan said, "First, pay homage to the Tea God and perform the sacrificial dance."

After the dance, two beautiful young women came over. They were slender and graceful. They first boiled the glacial water, which was full of spiritual energy, and then began to wash the tea set. Their movements were graceful and flowing.

As Qin Ming watched them demonstrate their exquisite and beautiful tea-making skills, he asked, "When the floral and tea aromas gradually blend together, won't the primary and secondary aromas become indistinguishable?"

His fingertips touched the branches on the edge of the tea table, the lush green leaves rippled like a green glow, and the crisp fragrance of flowers filled his nose and mouth.

Zhou Xiuyuan smiled and said, "The wooden table is made from a kind of spiritual tree. Its flowers have a light and unique fragrance that can blend into the tea aroma without ruining the original tea fragrance. Instead, it adds a touch of mellowness and lingering sweetness."

The tea soup flowed with a rosy glow, and its aroma spread far and wide. It was indeed no ordinary tea, but Qin Ming only took a small sip before sitting quietly with the cup in hand and saying, "Very exquisite."

In fact, he felt it was not as good as the Enlightenment Tea treasured by Shenzi Lin Shuyue in his storage bracelet.

Zhou Xiuyuan put down his teacup and said, "Brother Qin, some of the older generation in Tian Shen Ling admire you very much, and the younger generation also respects you greatly."

Qin Ming said, "I am not worthy of such praise from a senior master. I am just a rogue cultivator and I know my own limitations."

Although he dislikes socializing, he can easily spout these kinds of polite phrases.

Drinking tea was just a pretense; Zhou Xiuyuan revealed his serious expression and began to discuss serious matters in a measured manner.

"A grand and prosperous era of Daoist culture will eventually appear in the future, perhaps decades or even centuries. But before it arrives, we, the 'remnants' of the old era, find cultivation in the current special circumstances extremely difficult and painful."

Zhou Xiuyuan used the term "remnant of the old era" to mock himself, while also referring to everyone in this era in general.

"After all, even grandmasters don't dare to make a move easily now, otherwise they might die a tragic death. Even if someone is exceptionally talented, if they toil away for decades or even centuries, they will waste their time and find it difficult to reach the heights they deserve."

He poured out his grievances, hoping to evoke a sense of empathy and understanding from Qin Ming.

"Brother Qin, you are exceptionally talented. Since your debut, you seem to have never been defeated. Even Cui Chonghe, who is ranked quite high on the new list, was defeated by you. You are truly remarkable. Our Heavenly God Ridge is eager for talented people. In this difficult era, we cannot bear to see such a gem go to waste. We wish to support some extraordinary individuals. At the same time, we also want to preserve the seeds of true gods for our sect, making them our foundation, and waiting for the unpredictable great era to arrive."

After laying the groundwork, Zhou Xiuyuan stated that even under the current difficult circumstances, Tian Shen Ling could provide Qin Ming with excellent conditions to ensure that his journey would not be hindered.

Qin Ming listened attentively the whole time, occasionally nodding or humming in agreement.

To avoid awkward silences, he would occasionally take the initiative to speak, saying, "Brother Zhou, you are somewhat pessimistic. This is not an era of the extinction of the Dao, but the Daoist principles are fluctuating too violently. It is not impossible to find a new path."

"Based on Brother Qin's words alone, I am certain that your future is limitless and that you have great ambitions. There are indeed people researching cultivation methods within the turbulent Daoist rhythm, but they are still far from reaching maturity."

Zhou Xiuyuan then emphasized the following: law, land, wealth, and companion.

"The methods, the secrets to cultivating the Dao, involve top-tier scriptures and legendary masterpieces, all concentrated in the hands of the great sects. The environment, the cultivation grounds; above the nine heavens lies the Land of Locked Heaven, indescribably wondrous. Wealth, all sorts of rare resources, you won't be left out. Companion..."

Regardless of whether Zhou Xiuyuan was engaging in fictitious lending, his attitude was quite good; he patiently explained and presented a splendid future.

Of course, if he can't do it, then he's just making empty promises.

Qin Ming listened quietly, and after a while asked, "What do I need to give in return?"

Zhou Xiuyuan said, "It's very simple. You are a rogue cultivator, so you can join the Heavenly God Ridge from now on."

"Is that all?" Qin Ming asked in surprise.

Zhou Xiuyuan's words were simple and general, but he quickly responded in detail, saying that once one joins the lineage, one must be loyal to Tianshenling and remain active for life, which involves the constraints of the Law Chain.

Qin Ming's expression changed slightly. He was unwilling to touch the Dao Chain. If he could accept such conditions, he would have already traveled far away with Li Qingyue and Jiang Ran and joined the Supreme Dao Academy.

Now, even a seventh-realm Daoist temple in Tian Shen Ling wants to put him in shackles? He has no way of signing a contract of servitude.

Qin Ming shook his head and declined, clearly unable to accept it.

Of course, some polite words still need to be said, such as thanking the other party for their appreciation, and saying that he is used to being undisciplined and would probably cause trouble if he entered Tian Shen Ling.

Zhou Xiuyuan said, "Brother Qin, you can consider it more carefully. We can also discuss the specific conditions. For example, you can serve my Tian Shen Ling for 150 years."

"I'll consider it." Qin Ming stood up to take his leave.

Zhou Xiuyuan presented a gift at the opportune moment, saying, "With the great battle imminent, you are not far from reaching the Heart Lamp Realm, so I will give you a bottle of precious medicine for the fourth realm."

This is what Pei Shuyan meant when he said that as long as you come, you'll get something good from the meeting.

Qin Ming, adapting to local customs, gladly accepted the gesture, coming here for tea and a casual chat. There was no need to be aloof and strain the relationship.

Outside the teahouse, Pei Shuyan and Bai Meng had been waiting for a long time.

"Brother Qin, there are still two matches left. Do you want to go and deal with them? Neither of them are from any major lineages, so it's fine if you don't go."

As expected of a scion of a prominent family, Pei Shuyan has become quite familiar with this place in just a few days, and has even started doing business as a middleman while welcoming and seeing off guests.

"You're from the Gao family of Sky City, are you Gao Chan's sister?" Qin Ming asked in surprise, encountering an acquaintance's cousin in the second round.

His deepest impression of Gao Chan was that he always revolved around Su Mo Ran.

Finally, Gao Chan arrived, his expression somber, and watched Qin Ming depart.

The next day, Qin Ming heard that the number of experts recruited this time far exceeded his expectations, and even more people would be arriving soon.

Whether in the sky or on the ground, it was as if a hurricane was sweeping through, causing intense unease in the hearts of all parties. How big of a war was going to be?

Taking Yezhou as an example, over the years, anyone who has ranked in the top ten in a city competition is within the scope of recruitment.

Meng Xinghai donned his armor, carried a bronze censer on his back, and took his chime bells with him, then went to report for duty on time.

In his youth, he won first place in competitions across dozens of cities, but this was a path of new life that he had "wasted." Now, he focuses on the profound methods of esoteric Buddhism, and his skills are even more formidable.

In Kunling City, amidst the hustle and bustle of the world, Golden Sheep, who had been pulling a cart for over twenty years, looked up at the sky and said, "For me, the path to becoming a Grandmaster may lie in the outer realms."

As an outstanding graduate of Shanhe University more than 20 years ago, he was happy to prepare to ascend to the heavens.

Not to mention other places, the universities and academies were in an uproar. People who had interacted with Qin Ming in the past, such as Xin Youdao, Luo Lianqing, and Gan Jincheng, were all preparing to set off.

Yu Gengsheng emerged from seclusion and became one of the team leaders.

At this point, people both in heaven and on earth were restless, many feeling uncertain about the terrifying consequences of such a large-scale war.

"If we win, we might be able to devour a supreme civilization and acquire the resources of a vast world!"

"What if...we lose?"

The latter outcome is something many people dare not even imagine.

Even ordinary people feel that the environment is too oppressive, and they feel that a storm is brewing.

……

Beyond the realm, in a dilapidated temple, a jet-black lotus stands out starkly against the weed-covered backyard, its roots firmly planted in the dried-up Seven Treasures Pond.

On the plaque outside the temple, there is a blurry, indistinct celestial script: Lower Temple of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

In the Black Lotus Pool, Wu Yaozu broke free of all the seals on his body, clutching his head in agony as various images flashed through his mind. His eyes held bewilderment, devastation, and an abyss of despair. Only after a long time did he regain his composure and examine himself. Was he still the same boy he once was?

"Little Wu, who exactly are you?" Xiang Yiwu asked from the other side of the Black Lotus Pond.

He himself had changed a lot; his hair was disheveled, his body, which was much wider than that of an ordinary person, was covered in bloodstains and interwoven with glowing patterns.

Wu Yaozu said, "Da Xiang, I died once. If I hadn't drunk that bowl of turtle jelly in the capital of Dayu back then, I might have been completely lost and perished."

Then, he looked at Xiang Yiwu and said, "Aren't you also...?"

"My Tathagata Force has completely transformed into the Three Burial Force, and I have awakened some of my innate wisdom, involving the light of wisdom, which is the way of Tantric Buddhism." Xiang Yiwu murmured. He looked back and saw the pair of huge millstones in the light of his new life, and the strands of divine wisdom power that they crushed out.

A tall figure, though blurry, possessed an indescribable aura. With black hair and cold, electric eyes, he stood behind Xiang Yiwu, beside the millstone, like a god-king.

“We all died once!” “We paid a lot, but the losses outweighed the gains. I feel like my heart has aged a hundred years.”

"Back to Yezhou?"

"I want to try again, to cut away the vicissitudes of a hundred years, and let this black lotus of reincarnation pierce through flesh and blood once more."

They struggled in a foreign land for the sake of cultivation and survival.

……

Qin Ming discovered that in the past two days, many people in the golden consciousness space had challenged him to a duel, most of whom he did not recognize.

He guessed that some major religions probably wanted to see his true worth and whether he was truly worthy of "funding".

Bai Meng ran over and said, "Brother Ming, do you know? The four people we met the day before yesterday, Wen Dao and Wei Shouzhen, were actually received by an Earth Immortal and drank with him."

Qin Ming laughed and said, "It's not surprising. Even the Earth Immortals are in training. Are they not allowed to relax at night and go into the city for drinks?"

Bai Meng muttered, "How come the same thing sounds different when you say it? I meant to say that the status of a young grandmaster is really very high."

In the evening, someone invited Qin Ming to a chat, and he couldn't refuse their hospitality. Mainly, he had previously drunk tea with people from Tian Shen Ling, and it wouldn't be appropriate to refuse a powerful sect of similar caliber now.

When invited by the people of Xingchen Mountain, Qin Ming still let Pei Shuyan and Bai Meng come along to freeload.

Along the way, they saw many familiar faces. In fact, every evening, many treasure ships would come to pick up and drop off top geniuses.

Pei Shuyan saw a streak of light flash by and looked surprised and asked, "That's... Wen Dao. He has acquired a special liquid treasure robe and can fly in the sky with his physical body!"

"Becoming a core saint, obtaining supreme inheritance, and even getting special weapons?" Many people on the way were envious and extremely surprised.

Subsequently, a rumor began to circulate.

"During the training camp, anyone who performs exceptionally well will have the opportunity to enter an abyss and try to find fragments of special weapons, which they can temporarily possess."

The news caused an uproar in Sky City, and many people were greatly shaken.

"A weapon that even Earth Immortals would covet is now being bestowed upon us, and we have a chance to obtain it too?" Everyone could hardly believe it.

"Everything is for the upcoming great war. These are just temporary gifts, mostly weapons prepared for the true gods. As for the younger generation, I estimate that a few special individuals who need special protection will be given them."

However, Jinbang quickly responded: "Acquire it by fate!"

Even it cannot intervene.

Those weapons all have problems. They've been dormant for too long, and their spirits have been extinguished and revived more than once. Outsiders don't know about the "magic" associated with these items.

Unless those weapons awaken on their own and encounter a destined person, no one can control them.

Countless people were excited and eager to try; who wouldn't want to be one of the chosen ones? Many believed they were different, special, and deserving of recognition.

The Immortal Pavilion is a restaurant that offers a panoramic view of the bustling area. Qin Ming went to the twenty-first floor to keep his appointment and met an old man with a full head of white hair in a private room.

Upon first meeting, the other party tries to appear very polite, but is actually quite assertive at heart.

"I am Xie Muze, from Xingchen Mountain." He said succinctly, then took out a contract and said, "Take a look, and sign it if it's suitable."

Qin Ming frowned; this grandmaster was indeed very direct.

"Senior, isn't this too fast?" Bai Meng asked. Isn't this asking too much of a question?

This time, he and Pei Shuyan had the opportunity to participate.

"I wasn't talking to you." Xie Muze glanced at him indifferently, instantly immobilizing Bai Meng, who couldn't even open his mouth.

“Senior…” Pei Shuyan began, trying to smooth things over.

As a result, he was glanced at by Xie Muze and felt a heavy pressure coming at him.

Qin Ming initially thought that this grandmaster was straightforward and didn't like to say much, but now he thinks that the other party is simply too domineering.

He said, "Thank you, senior. These two are my friends."

He was invited for a talk, but Bai Meng, who spoke up for him, was suppressed. What kind of nonsense is this? They didn't give him face and didn't respect them enough.

Xie Muze withdrew his Grandmaster Domain, and Bai Meng was immediately able to move again.

Qin Ming waved his hand, signaling Bai Meng to be quiet.

He quickly glanced at the contract and was instantly displeased. Was this a contract of servitude? Either it involved the legal code, or after signing the contract, he would serve Star Mountain for five hundred years.

What he can gain is not clearly stated in the text.

In a different setting, Qin Ming would have liked to slap him.

Qin Ming said, "Thank you, senior, but I'm sorry, I cannot sign this contract."

Xie Muze said, "You should think this through. Missing out on my Star Mountain will be a huge and immeasurable loss for you."

Qin Ming laid down the contract, offering him to be a beast of burden. When he refused, it resulted in an immeasurable loss for him.
Xie Muze looked at him and said, "I understand your new student system; this path is very difficult. Now, our Star Mountain has given you an excellent opportunity to transform you into a Celestial Body Refiner. Don't you cherish it? This involves precious medicines and top-tier true scriptures. In one's life, it's rare to encounter an opportunity to change one's fate; it all depends on whether you can seize it."

Qin Ming was certain that if he signed such a contract, he would truly lose control of his own destiny.

Therefore, he firmly shook his head. Even if it wasn't tactful enough and might upset the other party, he absolutely couldn't give them the wrong impression that he would never agree to this matter.

Xie Muze looked calmly at Qin Ming and said in a deep voice, "This world is complicated. You are an adult now and you need to be responsible for your words and actions. Think it through."

Was this an implication or a threat? Qin Ming met his gaze and said, "The senior who manifested from the Golden List once told us to act according to our own conscience."

Xie Muze scrutinized him and said calmly, "I'm not threatening you. Just don't regret it. Think it over, consider it carefully, for yourself, for your future, for your family and friends. Star Mountain is powerful enough to lift you and those around you up."

Qin Ming calmly replied, "I come from Black and White Mountain. There is someone by my side who you have probably heard of. He is the former Beast God and today's Sword Immortal!"

Xie Muze stared at him and said coldly, "It's good that you've thought it through!"

The evening gathering was destined to end unhappily.

Before the dishes were even ordered and the tea was even touched, Xie Muze got up to leave. As he pushed open the door for the last time, he turned back and gave Qin Ming a deep look.

"Rubbing...mud." Bai Meng opened his mouth, indignant, shouting that Taixu was not afraid of the old mountain in the sky.

Qin Ming waved his hand and said, "There's no need to be angry. Come on, let's order some dishes and try the special delicacies of Sky City."

Since the other party told him that the world is complicated and adults should be responsible for their words and actions, then let's wait and see.

"Brother Qin, this is too extravagant! This is dragon meat, a highly nutritious food, but it's shockingly expensive!" Pei Shuyan exclaimed in surprise.

"You're welcome. I'm a little better off lately," Qin Ming said with a smile. He had just returned from another world. Although his main gains were large medicines and rare metals, the storage bracelets of the several grandmasters still contained a large amount of daylight gold.

The three of them enjoyed a delicious meal that night, which dispelled their previous unpleasantness, and they left satisfied.

The following day, the Golden List opened an abyss deep within the Sea of ​​Night Mist, where anyone could go without restrictions and attempt to awaken the broken, mysterious weapon.

"Hiss, so fast! Xiao Jinye rushed out wearing liquid armor, his physical body soaring into the sky, unleashing terrifying divine power. It's too frightening. He's the grandson of the old barbarian god. Could there be some kind of conspiracy?"

"Don't talk nonsense. It's all about 'fate.' I heard that someone else succeeded today, but he didn't have a powerful background and was... a weakling!"

This immediately caused a sensation. From ancient immortals to young disciples, everyone was excited and wanted to try their luck.

Qin Ming also arrived, his mood unusual. He was naturally unwilling to miss the opportunity to come into contact with special liquid weapons, having been eyeing them for a long time.

"I suspect he won't get anything," said Xie Muze, a grandmaster from Xingchen Mountain, standing in the distance. He was also in training and could only go into the city to see Qin Ming in the evenings.

The people around him were all grandmasters.

Some people were initially surprised, then understood, and then laughed, saying, "Are you so sure?"

Xie Muze remained calm and said, "Of course, he is destined to gain nothing. If you don't believe me, let's gamble a little for fun."

In the Sea of ​​Night Mist, the abyss is vast and boundless, like a prehistoric beast opening its jaws to swallow the heavens and the earth.

As soon as Qin Ming approached the place, he began to resonate with the surroundings; he didn't want to miss any valuable clues.

“You… have finally arrived…” Suddenly, such a voice rang in his ears, its source seemingly deep within the abyss.

Finally, it's time to update at the regular time again. A call for guaranteed monthly votes, and thank you all, fellow readers.

(End of this chapter)