Chapter 42: Understanding
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Shen Jia Yun stiffened slightly, feeling the subtle tremor in the air caused by the spear’s tip. It was as if a gentle breeze had brushed past her. This was the first time someone else had helped her adjust the ornament in her hair. She pulled the blue, gleaming pearl flower from her waterfall-like black hair and held it delicately in her hand.
Qin Ming retracted his spear and then turned to return it. The spear’s owner, a young noble, looked a bit embarrassed. Earlier, when he lent it out, he had boasted about it being involved in a duel with Nie Rui. Clearly, he had been flattering himself.
But now, as he took the weapon back, how could he continue to brag about it? Should he claim that his spear helped defeat the strongest pair of warriors Scarlet Dawn City had seen in the past twenty years? He thought it might be better to store the spear away once he got home. Using it again would only remind everyone of today’s battle—and how the same person had defeated both Nie Rui and Shen Jia Yun.
“You should keep that spear safe,” Mu Qing said with a mischievous grin. “It’s going to have quite a bit of sentimental value after today.”
The young noble winced, his embarrassment doubling.
At that moment, many of the onlookers finally snapped out of their astonishment. It was hard to imagine Nie Rui and Shen Jia Yun losing to a boy whose physical strength wasn’t even close to theirs.
“That kid’s spear technique… it’s like he stripped away all the unnecessary flash and found the pure essence of battle. Right there, on the edge between life and death, he showed us the true art of combat,” commented a nobleman in his thirties, who had experienced awakening three times and had a sharp eye for such things.
“His killing intent was restrained. At first, it was like he was taking a stroll, enjoying the spring rain. Then suddenly—bang! It was like lightning struck. The spear moved as quick as a thunderbolt. Impressive, to say the least.”
The fact that the twin stars of Scarlet Dawn City had tasted defeat in a remote area, and by someone their own age, was bound to cause a stir. If the news spread, few would believe it. But the truth of the battle was right there. A group of young nobles had seen it with their own eyes.
“He was so impressive, that spear move… it dazzled me,” whispered a noblewoman, barely audible over the murmur of the crowd.
“Look, Shen Jia Yun’s still holding that pearl flower, staring at it like she’s lost in thought,” another young woman observed.
…
Shen Jia Yun gracefully mounted the black tiger she had ridden in on, joining the group of nobles as they prepared to leave. The crowd began to disperse. Before departing, the twin stars of Scarlet Dawn City took the time to exchange a few more words with Qin Ming. They spoke of how vast and mysterious the dark world was and how they hoped that each of them would have reached even greater heights the next time they met.
As the nobles left, many of them cast deep, thoughtful glances at Qin Ming. A few even approached him to chat briefly, inviting him to visit them in Scarlet Dawn City if he ever had the chance.
This battle was completely unexpected, but it had already made Qin Ming’s name known before he even set foot in Scarlet Dawn City.
To many, Qin Ming’s physical abilities weren’t among the strongest. But the way he turned the ordinary into the extraordinary with his combat techniques and uncanny ability to rise to the occasion left a lasting impression. His fighting talent was rare, almost frightening. He was, without a doubt, a rising star.
“I can’t believe how strong he is. Even Nie Rui had to admit defeat. After this, Nie Rui’s not going to hesitate anymore; he’s headed down a different path now,” one noble commented as they trekked through the Black White Mountains.
Many of the young nobles were still shocked; some had even come specifically to see what Qin Ming looked like. Thankfully, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and Wei Zhi Rou were able to deflect much of the attention, allowing Qin Ming to finally have some peace.
“Qin Ming,” Mu Qing said, “You should head to Scarlet Dawn City by early spring next year. No later than summer, alright? But there’s one problem—you’re still a bit underpowered.”
“Huh?” Qin Ming blinked in confusion.
Wei Zhi Rou clarified, “By then, you’ll have the chance to access higher-level knowledge. You might even learn some of the secret, high-level techniques that have never been revealed to the public.”
Cao Long added, “The great cities will come to select people. If you stand out, it could change your life.”
Had Qin Ming not fought and beaten both Nie Rui and Shen Jia Yun today, Cao Long and Mu Qing might not have even bothered telling him all of this—it wouldn’t have mattered much before.
“If it doesn’t work out, you can still spend a year studying in Scarlet Dawn City, waiting for the next opportunity,” Cao Long said. “By then, you might have undergone your third awakening, which would give you a better shot. Maybe you could even get into one of the more famous cities.”
They all knew Qin Ming had a golden foundation, so it wouldn’t take long for him to undergo a second awakening. But even that wouldn’t be enough unless he had “divine wisdom” or some special talent. Without those, it would be hard to stand out early.
Xu Yue Ping and Yang Yong Qing knew that by the time spring arrived, Qin Ming would likely be leaving this place.
Qin Ming took in the information, casually asking a few more questions since the conversation was relaxed. When they mentioned materials that could help someone achieve awakening, Cao Long brought up a substance called “mineral essence,” and Qin Ming immediately took the opportunity to ask for more details.
“Mineral essence is an active substance extracted from mineral veins,” Cao Long explained. “Drinking it can improve your physical abilities. But whether it leads to awakening or not is down to luck. Even so, it’s extremely expensive.”
“Why?” Qin Ming asked, furrowing his brow.
Cao Long continued, “Because as long as it’s your first time drinking mineral essence, no matter how many times you’ve been awakened, it will improve your body. There’s even a fifty percent chance it could trigger another awakening.”
Wei Zhi Rou added, “That’s why it’s so valuable. It’s a favorite among the elderly whose strength has plateaued. Other methods don’t work for them anymore, but mineral essence gives them a shot at awakening.”
Qin Ming’s curiosity grew. “And the second time? Does it still work?”
Mu Qing shook her head slightly. “Not nearly as well. It’ll have about one-tenth of the effect it did the first time. Unless you can get your hands on a higher-grade mineral essence, like the bright red kind that looks like sunset clouds. They call it the ‘blood of the earth,’ and you might not even see a single bottle of it in Scarlet Dawn City all year.”
From the way she spoke, it was clear that higher-grade mineral essences existed, but they were only found in the grand cities.
Qin Ming knew they would likely be leaving in two or three days, so he took the opportunity to ask more questions. When the topic turned to the mysterious products found at the nodes, Qin Ming couldn’t help but ask about the unique properties of a material called “White Jade Metal.”
The three of them were clearly interested in the subject and dove into the conversation with enthusiasm.
“Every time the heavens shine down, they nourish some incredible things,” Cao Long said, his eyes burning with excitement. “Some of these materials can be crafted into weapons that can be passed down through generations, capable of protecting and strengthening an entire family. There are even world-class treasures that can safeguard an entire nation.”
That was why he was so keen on searching the mountains—anything could be hiding in the nodes.
“Jade Metal might not be the rarest material, but it’s incredibly valuable, far superior to common metals, and has many uses.”
Finally, the three of them touched on the topic Qin Ming was eager to learn about. Jade Metal didn’t need to be hammered or refined a thousand times, and even if you tried to refine it a million times, it wouldn’t improve. Its quality was already exceptional. Once forged into a weapon, it could cut through the scales of giant beasts and pose a serious threat to those protected by light auras.
But that wasn’t its most important trait. After all, many materials could create weapons that were just as strong and sharp.
“The truly remarkable thing about a weapon made from Jade Metal,” Mu Qing continued, “is that if it gets damaged—assuming it’s not completely destroyed—it can be restored slowly by basking it in Celestial Light.”
Qin Ming’s eyes widened. A weapon or armor that could repair itself? That was a rare and almost magical trait.
“The most amazing thing about Jade Metal,” Mu Qing said with a mysterious smile, “is that it can kill certain… special things.”
Qin Ming’s heart skipped a beat. He realized just how little he truly understood about the world around him.
Mu Qing went on, “In this vast, endless world of darkness, how many places are there with Flame Springs? Those magnificent cities may seem bright, but in the boundless night, they’re nothing more than flickering fireflies. The larger part of the world remains an abyss of darkness. Sometimes, you need a rare weapon, like one made from Jade Metal, to deal with certain… things.”
Intrigued, Qin Ming pressed her for more details. He was still completely in the dark about what she was talking about.
Mu Qing explained, “For example, there are things that can’t be seen with the naked eye. If you try to stab them with a normal spear, it’s like stabbing into thin air. But if you use a weapon made of Jade Metal, one strike might cause a burst of strange blood, killing whatever it was.”
Qin Ming sighed, “I had no idea about any of this. The world beyond the remote places I’ve lived in is far more mysterious than I could have imagined.”
Wei Zhi Rou spoke up, “Do you know why some secret cults worship gods? It’s because there are so many unknown and mysterious things out there. Some things just can’t be explained.”
Old Liu patted his chest. “Good thing we don’t have any of that stuff around here!”
Mu Qing laughed. “How do you know that? Even if they do exist, normal people can’t see them.”
“Don’t scare me like that!” Old Liu grumbled. “The older I get, the less I like surprises. I’m planning to live for a few more decades, you know.”
Cao Long chuckled. “Don’t worry. We’ve never seen anything like that either.”
Qin Ming thought for a moment before asking, “Are the people from the ‘Outside’ really that strong?”
Wei Zhi Rou nodded. “Some of them walk paths so powerful and brilliant, it’s hard for anyone to compare.”
“How strong are we talking?” Qin Ming asked, curiosity evident in his voice. He had to know, especially since the boy who had seriously injured him, the one wearing the feathered robe, was most likely one of these ‘Outsiders.’
Mu Qing cut in, “Don’t worry about them for now. Your main focus should be on improving yourself. When you reach the grand cities and increase your strength, if you have special talents, you might even be able to change your path.”
Although they didn’t say much, it was clear from their words how frightening these ‘Outsiders’ were. And, from the way they spoke, it seemed like they had changed their own paths too.
Qin Ming thought it over briefly. He already knew they weren’t typical awakened individuals. One had long chosen the path of the Giant’s, and the other… well, the tail was a dead giveaway. As for Wei Zhi Rou, there was no doubt she had something special about her as well.
After another sleepless night, Qin Ming finally drifted into a deep sleep, finding some much-needed relief. Not being able to sleep was a kind of torture he wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Meanwhile, in Scarlet Dawn City, the giant beasts dragging the food carts finally made it through the snow-blocked mountain roads. The whole region buzzed with excitement. Although food prices were slightly high, considering the cost of transporting it, they were still reasonable—after all, the goal was to help people survive.
“Don’t worry about rushing to buy everything,” the merchants assured the people. “There will be more coming, and prices won’t rise.”
…
Cao Long, Mu Qing, and Wei Zhi Rou were already packing their things and preparing to return. Just then, news arrived from the mountains. A special area in the huge ravine had been found, full of unique nodes. More nodes were being discovered by the day.
Immediately, three teams rushed into the mountains, asking Qin Ming, Old Liu, and a few others to guide them.
This time, even some of the older figures came along—like Cao Long’s seventh uncle, who had extended his life by eating a piece of the Longevity Tree.
When the black mountain goat that Yang Yong Qing rode saw him, it immediately started urinating in terror. Old Liu’s big yellow dog had a similar reaction, getting so nervous it… well, let’s just say it made a mess.
Cao Long’s seventh uncle almost blew his top when he saw this, grumbling about how he’d have roast goat and dog for dinner soon enough.
Everyone else struggled to hold in their laughter.
“Once you drop us off, you don’t need to stick around. It’s going to get dangerous from here on out,” Cao Long warned.
There was no doubt that this would be their final mission before they left, and it would probably turn into a fierce battle. With the nodes popping up everywhere, all sides would go mad trying to claim them.
Sure enough, after guiding the group to the huge ravine, Old Liu, Qin Ming, Xu Yue Ping, and Yang Yong Qing immediately turned and fled back to the village.
Old Liu patted Qin Ming on the back, saying, “We’ve survived ninety-nine near misses. We’re almost home free. Let’s just stay safe this last time and make it out of here in one piece!”
Qin Ming knew he could rely on the fact that the Celestial Light wouldn’t harm him inside the nodes, allowing him to move freely. Still, he held back.
At this point, it wasn’t just the people of Scarlet Dawn City who would be fighting over the nodes. Even the strange creatures in the mountains would be drawn to them.
However, some local organizations weren’t playing fair. They sent out orders, demanding that each village send people to join them in the search.
The messenger, a newly awakened warrior from Golden Rooster Ridge, arrived riding a high-speed ground chicken. He was just a low-level errand boy following orders, but the real bandits of Golden Rooster Ridge were coming.
By now, they were desperate. They had even teamed up with the Three-Eyed Sect, hoping to snatch the mysterious materials in the Black White Mountains.
“This isn’t just our decision. We’ve partnered with the Three-Eyed Sect,” the rider said smugly. “If you don’t send people, there will be consequences later!”
It was clearly a threat. If the villages didn’t comply, they would be punished after the fact.
“Every village needs to send people, based on their population—but they must be newly awakened.”
Qin Ming quickly realized what they were doing. These people were afraid of the Celestial Light in the nodes, so they were forcing others to go in their place. They didn’t care about the lives of the awakened from the villages.
“I’ll go!” Qin Ming declared firmly, pushing Old Liu, Xu Yue Ping, and Yang Yong Qing back. For a small village like theirs, sending one person was enough.
He followed the awakened warrior from Golden Rooster Ridge into the mountains, calm on the surface, but inside, his killing intent was beginning to boil over.