Chapter 198: A Boy Like No Other
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming stood motionless, his left hand behind his back, calm as an abyss. He had resolved to reveal his true Ancestor-Level Talent.
After being sent flying, Ling Yu staggered back several steps, each footfall accompanied by the sharp crack of the Lapis Lazuli floor beneath him. The once-unyielding stone split under the force of his retreat.
Tang Jun stood dumbfounded. Ling Yu, recently featured as the headline figure in the Night Report, a Young Ancestor renowned for challenging the world’s strongest, had been knocked back with a single strike?
Cheng Rui’s face stiffened. Ling Yu, who was even stronger than her childhood friend, had not been taken by surprise this time—and yet, he had been launched into the air.
Qian Chuan wanted to exclaim, No one understands the truth better than I do! Meanwhile, Xin You Dao, as a peer of Ling Yu, understood the significance of that strike. It wasn’t a trick or a lucky blow—it was sheer, overwhelming power.
“Gah…” Master Wu, who had been speaking, abruptly fell silent.
Even Tang Jin, who once advised Ling Yu to remain composed in the face of any calamity, found herself shaken. She could not maintain her usual calm in this moment.
“One such youth must be preserved!” one of the two elders murmured, their frail body trembling, causing the sparse strands of hair on their head to flutter.
The other elder, more audacious, transmitted his thoughts to Zhao Ming Hui, “That young boy training in the Immortal Land—he hasn’t found a companion yet, has he?”
Zhao Ming Hui was stunned. This elder, a highly esteemed figure in her family, had seen just one strike and already had matchmaking on his mind? She herself was equally shaken. Who was Ling Yu? A Young Ancestor, recognized and praised by all. Yet his humiliation only highlighted the unfathomable depth of Qin Ming’s strength.
Ling Yu stood dazed, staring at his hands in disbelief. Was this truly himself? Where was the invincible fist imprint he prided himself on?
Without hesitation, he charged again, faster this time, his Celestial Light Force burning like a starry river, divine phenomena blazing around him as he struck at Qin Ming.
Under normal circumstances, such a spectacle would draw admiration from all present. But now, silence reigned, for his opponent defied all expectations.
Qin Ming remained stationary, his azure robes billowing in the radiant storm. With the same calm motion, he extended his right hand and pushed forward.
Boom!
Ling Yu was sent flying once more, this time with a trace of blood at the corner of his lips. Still refusing to draw upon his Outer Saint Realm power, he leapt again, descending from the air in a holy and radiant arc, resembling a lone, resplendent moon in the sky.
But destiny seemed determined to mock him. Once again, Qin Ming’s simple palm strike sent him spiraling away. His clothes tattered, his mouth filled with blood, Ling Yu hit the ground heavily.
The arena remained silent. Was Ling Yu not strong enough? That couldn’t be further from the truth. He had once stood in the limelight, his talents unmatched and his brilliance acknowledged by all.
It was simply that Qin Ming was an anomaly, a monster beyond comprehension.
“Three strikes, three thousand Daylight Gold,” murmured the Purple-Eyed Crow, its voice barely audible as though afraid to provoke further tension.
Tang Jin considered calling off the duel, but Ling Yu showed no signs of stopping. This time, he activated his Consciousness Aura.
Initially, Ling Yu had relied solely on the techniques of the New Awakening Path, attempting to best Qin Ming in his domain. But now it was clear—the gap between them on this path was insurmountable. If Ling Yu was a Young Ancestor, Qin Ming was an Ancestor.
Even as Ling Yu unleashed methods learned from Exotic Lands, the results remained unchanged. This time, he was flung back even farther. Qin Ming’s palm strikes seemed to grow stronger in response to greater resistance. His right hand, glowing with radiant power, exuded the force of pure Yang, capable of burning through Consciousness Auras, threatening to ignite them with each strike.
Ling Yu’s pride prevented him from drawing upon his Second Realm power. On his fifth attempt, he infused a wisp of Pure Yang Aura into his Celestial Light Force, launching it forward with all his might.
But his defeat was inevitable. Blood spurted from his mouth as he collapsed onto the ground, staggering as he tried to stand. His pale face betrayed his exhaustion, his legs barely supporting him.
The audience should have erupted in applause for Qin Ming’s extraordinary performance, but doing so felt cruel. Throughout the duel, Qin Ming’s feet never moved, his stance unwavering as he fended off Ling Yu with a single hand. What manner of monster was he?
All eyes turned to Qin Ming, their gazes filled with awe. After careful thought, they reached a unanimous conclusion: this was Ancestor-Level Talent, pure and true.
“Five strikes, five thousand Daylight Gold. A flawless finish,” the Purple-Eyed Crow whispered, its tone subdued, refraining from provoking Ling Yu. Even so, nearby spectators were left speechless. Tang Jin, in particular, glared at the bird furiously.
Qin Ming, unfazed, turned to Ling Yu. “I told you to use your full strength. Show me the power of the Second Realm and let me fight without holding back.”
Ling Yu clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He was unwilling to concede. As a Young Ancestor, recently riding the high of his accomplishments, he had dreamed of standing atop the world. Yet here, against Qin Ming, he was crushed, as though confronted by an insurmountable mountain.
He couldn’t even fathom the mountain’s height. This was an experience he had never encountered before, one that shook his very soul.
“Call him back,” the Purple-Eyed Crow advised, sensing the danger. If this continued, it would no longer be about resolving Ling Yu’s internal struggle.
“Return,” Tang Jin commanded, her tone firm.
She, too, realized that if the duel continued, Ling Yu might bear an irreversible emotional scar.
“You don’t need to dwell on this,” Qin Ming said, his voice calm yet reassuring. “On this path, victory and defeat are both normal. No one can claim to dominate every opponent.”
Is he… comforting his defeated rival? The other girl thought.
Qin Ming stood with his left hand behind his back, calm and deep like an ocean trench, ready to display his true Ancestor-Level Talent.
After landing, Ling Yu continued to stagger back, each step echoing with sharp cracks as the supposedly indestructible Lapis Lazuli floor beneath him fractured.
Tang Jun was frozen in disbelief. Ling Yu, a headliner in the Night Report, hailed as a Young Ancestor and a challenger of the world’s strongest, had been sent flying by a single strike?
Cheng Rui’s expression stiffened. Ling Yu was stronger than her childhood friend, and this time, it hadn’t been a surprise attack—yet he was thrown aside in his very first clash.
Qian Chuan felt a pang of knowing frustration, inwardly shouting, No one understands the truth better than me! Meanwhile, Xin You Dao, who shared Ling Yu’s rank, comprehended the weight of Qin Ming’s dominance. That strike wasn’t just a demonstration of power; it was a statement of control.
The Purple-Eyed Crow, mid-sentence, abruptly fell silent.
Even Tang Jin, who had once advised Ling Yu to remain composed no matter the calamity, found herself unable to do the same.
“One such youth must be protected!” murmured one of the elders, their frail body trembling, sparse hair fluttering with the motion.
The other elder sent a private message to Zhao Ming Hui, saying, “That child training in the Immortal Lands—he hasn’t found a partner yet, has he?”
Zhao Ming Hui was taken aback. Was her highly esteemed elder seriously matchmaking after witnessing just one strike? Still, even she was overwhelmed. Ling Yu, a Young Ancestor, had been utterly outclassed. This only served to highlight the unfathomable depth of Qin Ming’s strength.
Ling Yu stood in a daze, staring at his hands, his disbelief evident. Was this truly him? The invincible fist imprint he had mastered seemed utterly powerless.
After a moment, he exhaled heavily, breaking the silence. “In the First Realm, I’m no match for you. By my understanding, you’ve reached the level of Ancestor-Level Talent!” His voice carried an uncharacteristic weariness as though admitting this had lifted a heavy burden from his heart.
Having faced the truth, Ling Yu’s tense demeanor relaxed. Though he had accepted defeat in the First Realm, he would not let it define him. He raised his head high, his gaze like lightning. “I’ll use my full power and fight you with everything I have!”
Though his earlier struggle had freed him from a mental impasse, Qin Ming’s repeated insistence for him to unleash his Second Realm strength still grated. Ling Yu couldn’t believe anyone could overturn a Young Ancestor, even if his title had been bolstered more by reputation than undeniable proof.
Qin Ming smiled. “Good. I’ve been eager to see the power of your lineage—how your system, built upon the combination of the Immortal Path and the New Awakening Path, stands apart. Show me your most unique methods.”
This statement not only ignited Ling Yu’s battle spirit but also caused a flicker of change in Tang Jin’s composed expression. Was this youth, after being challenged, planning to turn the tables and evaluate their system?
Tang Jin transmitted her thoughts to Ling Yu: “If you’re stepping into the Second Realm, I expect you to give it your all. Unleash every ounce of your strength. Do not lose!”
Ling Yu responded silently, “Yes, Senior Sister. I won’t let him challenge you!”
At the same time, his curiosity burned—how fearsome was this youth with Ancestor-Level Talent? How high was this mountain he couldn’t climb?
Qin Ming spoke calmly, “Take some time to recover. I want to see you at your peak.”
“You—!” Ling Yu’s battle spirit ignited fully, his black hair whipping around him as if caught in an invisible storm. His resolve burned hotter than ever.
“Step back and recover,” said Master Wu. Ling Yu complied, snapping a piece of high-quality crystal and drinking the silver liquid it held. Instantly, his injuries healed. Changing out of his tattered black robes, he donned a gleaming silver battle armor—not an enchanted treasure, but enough to restore his dignity.
“It’s done. Show me how you’ll overturn my Second Realm strength!” Ling Yu strode forward, his entire demeanor transformed. His Celestial Light Force radiated outward, pure and sacred, bathing the arena in ethereal brilliance.
The battlefield became a kaleidoscope of swirling mists and flickering flames, a spectacle produced by Ling Yu’s techniques. Yet amidst the beauty lay deadly intent. This time, he unleashed one of his lineage’s secret weapons, determined not to fail again.
Boom! A deafening roar filled the arena, the air itself trembling as if scorched by the heat of battle.
Outside, Qian Chuan, Tang Jun, and Cheng Rui felt their minds go blank, their spirits shaken to the core. The sheer intensity left them cold with terror. They weren’t even participants, yet the battle’s energy seemed ready to tear their souls from their bodies.
Nearby students passing by Arena One paused, puzzled. “Was that thunder?”
The sound was so immense, it left their souls unstable, their minds hazy.
In the arena, one elder murmured, “Your lineage has truly reached extraordinary heights. With these improvements, even disciples in the Outer Saint Domain can wield the legendary Soul-Suppressing Thunder.”
Ling Yu stood, his eyes deep and unwavering, his silver armor gleaming. Lightning arcs crackled around him as red thunderbolts interlaced and surged toward Qin Ming, enveloping him completely.
Qin Ming stood unmoved, his body surrounded by a misty aura of Five-Colored Light. The red thunderbolts, which should have shattered any opponent’s Consciousness Aura, failed to penetrate the haze.
“That mist… it can resist the Soul-Suppressing Thunder!” gasped an elder.
Ling Yu persisted, summoning more and more of the deadly thunder. Normally, even a single strike would extract an opponent’s consciousness from their body, leaving it vulnerable to destruction. But this time, Ling Yu’s focus wasn’t on annihilation; he sought only to rattle Qin Ming’s soul and gain a slight edge.
He invoked another secret art, his Consciousness Aura blazing with intense light. The radiant energy coalesced into a mirror-like shape, smooth and polished, and turned toward Qin Ming.
“Pure Yang Soul-Mirroring Technique!” exclaimed an elder. “This is a technique of the Immortal Path, adapted for the Huang Ting Domain. What an achievement!”
Combining the Soul-Suppressing Thunder with the Pure Yang Soul-Mirroring Technique, Ling Yu unleashed a devastating assault. Against any other opponent, this would have been impossible to withstand.
Yet Qin Ming’s soul remained unshaken, his foundation immovable. Surrounded by the Five-Colored Radiance, he summoned a faint, ethereal blade of light.
“What?! That’s impossible!” gasped the onlookers.
The blade, though fragile and shrouded in mist, had unmistakably formed—a feat unheard of in the Awakening Phase.
“That’s a Five-Element Blade,” said Zhao Ming Hui, astonished. “He’s mastered techniques across five elements!”
Qin Ming moved like a phantom, weaving through the battlefield with ghostly grace. His blade shattered the crimson lightning around him, scattering it in every direction. Then, like a rainbow piercing the heavens, his Five-Element Blade shot toward the Pure Yang Soul-Mirroring Technique.