Chapter 101: The Gathering of All Sides
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming’s words held no falsehood. Just moments ago, he had truly witnessed a vision of an ancient grandmaster approaching him. The figure held a massive halberd, stirring the sky into chaos as black clouds rolled and lightning crashed. His unparalleled bearing was enough to shake the heavens and the earth.
But the Overlord had indeed met his end—and it had been a tragic one. After piercing the glowing, jade-like hand of the elder pursuing him, the Overlord was bound by golden celestial runes. The elder, a figure renowned across the Night Fog World, delivered six strikes from a distance. Each palm strike shattered a part of the Overlord’s body: his limbs, torso, and finally, his head.
In the moment before his head was destroyed, the Overlord said nothing. His furious glare radiated unyielding defiance, and his eyes emitted two streaks of golden lightning. Yet the elder, with his snowy hair and youthful face, brushed aside the lightning with a simple wave of his jade-like hand. The golden bolts dissolved into nothingness.
Although the Overlord’s cultivation was weaker than the elder’s, the fact that he managed to wound such a legendary figure—causing blood to flow from his opponent’s right hand—had been a moment that shook the world over a century ago. After the Overlord fell, his crimson blood glowed brightly, refusing to fade. It shone like undying flames until the elder stomped down, turning the ground to scorched earth and dispelling all the strange phenomena.
Before his death, the Overlord had been able to flee and record his life’s teachings, a feat remarkable in itself. His writings, born of his essence and experiences, served as his legacy. This achievement, however, was partly due to the elder’s deliberate, unhurried pursuit.
“On this path, I saw a glimmer of hope. I wanted to leave something behind for future generations—to share what I had seen and felt, to pave a road for those who might walk farther than I ever could.”
This was the Overlord’s reasoning as he fled, wounded but resolute, determined to write down everything he had learned in life. In truth, he completed his writings. But the elder tore half the manuscript apart after reading it, reducing it to ash. The bloodstained black beast-skin book that now remained had been tossed down by the elder himself, left as a test to see who might dare to inherit the Overlord’s teachings.
“A hundred years have passed. All has returned to dust. The Overlord’s legacy was severed, and his regrets linger. Yet the elder remains alive, high above the mortal world, and has even begun taking disciples again in recent years.”
Qin Ming dared not voice these thoughts aloud but reflected on them silently. In most cases, the Beyond’s cultivators could suppress those on the Awakening Path, especially within the same realm. But the Overlord had managed to defy this natural order, ascending beyond what seemed possible. To many of his time, he was considered “heaven-defying.”
One of the disciples of the Beyond spoke up. “The Overlord was brave, but he’s gone now. A hundred years have passed, and few even remember him. Meanwhile, that elder remains as radiant as the sun. This is the divide between the immortal and the mortal.”
Tang Xumi nodded in agreement. “Well said. We must strive to match the greatness of those before us, to approach the near-immortal and seek truth.”
He then handed a small jade bottle, no more than two inches tall, to Qin Ming. “Brother Li, you look injured. Take this medicine—it will strengthen your essence, qi, and spirit.”
“I’m fine,” Qin Ming replied, politely refusing.
Tang Xumi, however, insisted, pressing the jade bottle into Qin Ming’s hand. The gesture carried an unspoken message: You are not fine. Qin Ming couldn’t refuse the gift without being rude. He realized it wasn’t just medicine but also a gesture of goodwill and acceptance. To reject it further would seem ungrateful.
Tang Xumi smiled. “Brother Li, since this is your first time in Luo Fu City, why not have Sister Li show you the ancient relics? They’re worth seeing. We’ll leave now and let you enjoy the sights. We’ll meet again another day.”
“Are all disciples of the Beyond this warm and welcoming?” Qin Ming wondered aloud. He had developed a favorable impression of these elite cultivators. Without their help, he doubted he would have had the chance to interact with the Overlord’s legacy.
Li Qing Yue, however, had a more cautious take. “Tang Xumi isn’t a bad person, but he’s not as simple as he appears. He’s testing you.”
They had returned to the bustling streets, heading toward the district of ancient buildings to find a place to eat. As they walked, Li Qing Yue glanced at the jade bottle and said, “This material is unusual. It carries a trace of Tang Xumi’s spiritual light. Once it’s in your hand, it will quickly merge into your body.”
Qin Ming stiffened but quickly calmed himself. With his heightened focus and special resonance ability, he sensed a faint glow at the base of the bottle.
“He doesn’t know that I’ve cultivated a unique form of spiritual eyes,” Li Qing Yue said. “I can see that trace of light. He wants to know how long it takes for me to notice it after it merges into your body.”
If she remained unaware, Tang Xumi could use the light to track Qin Ming in the spiritual cave, sensing his location clearly within a certain range.
Li Qing Yue looked intrigued. “Your celestial light force is quite remarkable—it even blocked his light of the mind.”
Qin Ming nodded knowingly. His celestial light force had become highly refined, naturally shielding his body. Not even dust or insects could come near him, and his protective barrier remained unshaken.
“My celestial light is indeed formidable. If I carry this bottle, I might accidentally destroy that trace of spiritual light.” He took out his flood dragon armor and wrapped the jade bottle in it temporarily.
He sighed. “I thought Tang Xumi was just being friendly. Turns out he’s got plans for me.”
Li Qing Yue nodded. “To rise among the disciples of the Beyond, one can’t be simple. He and I are both contenders for the near-immortal artifact, so it’s only natural for there to be some probing.”
Qin Ming smirked. “We should get a slightly spiritual sparrow, take it into the spiritual cave, and release it. Let Tang Xumi spend his time chasing birds.”
Li Qing Yue chuckled. “That could work.”
Her tone grew serious as she warned Qin Ming, “There’s word that someone has brought a Tathagata’s abandoned disciple to this competition. They could pose a serious threat to the golden armor protectors.”
Qin Ming’s eyes widened. The name of the Tathagata force was legendary. Ever since stepping onto the Awakening Path, he had heard it mentioned frequently, its reputation as vast as thunder rolling through the skies.
Li Qing Yue shook her head. “Not a true inheritor. They say he only learned the basics before being expelled. But he’s managed to integrate other forms of celestial light force, making him strong enough to injure figures from the Beyond.”
“An abandoned disciple?” Qin Ming mused. “Even so, I’d like to see him in action.”
He then asked about the other notable golden armor protectors.
“Your cousin, Cui Chong Xuan, is one to watch. He’s trained in the Six Imperial Heart Sutra. Though he’s only partially mastered it, his strength is already domineering. He can injure those from the Beyond.”
The Six Imperial Heart Sutra was a legendary text, one that even the Beyond feared.
When Qin Ming had been with the Cui family, he had come within three feet of the text but had been forbidden from reading it.
This time, Cui Chong He wouldn’t participate, as the elders of the Beyond had decreed that only disciples who had joined within the past three years could compete. Their reasoning was simple: limiting the competition to new disciples would keep the battles more manageable. Even if there were injuries or deaths, the losses wouldn’t be catastrophic for any faction.
“If older disciples were allowed, then we elders might as well fight ourselves,” one elder had remarked. “The near-immortal artifact is most suitable for the younger generation.”
With these thoughts lingering, Qin Ming and Li Qing Yue continued their journey through the streets of Luo Fu City.
“If older disciples were allowed to compete, we elders might as well fight each other directly. The near-immortal artifact is highly unique and better suited for younger disciples.”
When Cui Chong He heard this decision, he immediately sought out his teacher. “How can I be considered an ‘older disciple’?” he protested.
Although his teacher was renowned throughout the Night Fog World, there were others in the Beyond who could rival him. Unfortunately for Cui Chong He, his objections were overruled.
Determined to obtain the legendary item hidden in the spiritual cave, Cui Chong He took matters into his own hands. He began mentoring a younger disciple, personally assisting him in acquiring the Yin-Yang Great Medicine to strengthen his abilities. Not stopping there, he even recruited his own younger brother, Cui Chong Xuan. Cui Chong Xuan’s mastery of the Six Imperial Heart Sutra allowed him to injure those from the Beyond and even disrupt their celestial light force. His strength would be a key advantage.
“This time, older disciples are barred from participating, and even the golden armor protectors must meet strict age limits,” Li Qing Yue explained. “They must also be no older than a youth.”
Without this rule, she added, some noble families would simply bring their senior elders along as protectors.
“Even with the age limit, some younger golden armor protectors are already at the outer manifestation realm, aren’t they?” Qin Ming asked.
Li Qing Yue nodded. “Most of them are at the entry stage of the outer manifestation realm, though a few, especially those with unique celestial light force, may still be in the Awakening Path.”
“I hope I’m not the weakest one there,” Qin Ming muttered, feeling a bit self-conscious.
Li Qing Yue smiled warmly. “You started late and have only just stepped onto the Awakening Path, but Uncle Meng told me your potential is boundless. I’ll protect you during this competition. The only time you’ll need to act is when dealing with celestial light force incursions.”
Qin Ming felt uneasy at the idea. How could he, a golden armor protector drafted at the last minute, allow Li Qing Yue to defend him? He was going up against threats like a Tathagata’s abandoned disciple and Cui Chong Xuan, whose Six Imperial Heart Sutra could wound those from the Beyond. Qin Ming clenched his fists, determined to prove that his own strength wasn’t lacking.
The two stopped to enjoy some local delicacies before heading back to their lodgings.
“I should be the one escorting you to the inn,” Qin Ming said with a hint of exasperation.
“This place is filled with disciples from the Beyond, and their methods are unpredictable. You haven’t yet developed any abilities related to the consciousness realm, so you’re vulnerable to their probing. It’s better if I see you safely back,” Li Qing Yue replied firmly.
Walking through the streets together, the striking Li Qing Yue inevitably drew attention. As she escorted Qin Ming to his inn, many young cultivators turned their heads, their curiosity and admiration evident.
Once back in his room, Qin Ming began to study the Overlord’s legacy. The earlier sections of the bloodstained beast-skin book were not particularly remarkable. However, as the techniques advanced into the spiritual field realm, their complexity increased dramatically. Though Qin Ming wasn’t ready to fully practice them yet, he realized that this text was a priceless treasure—a true masterpiece that he would have to carefully cultivate in the future.
In the courtyard, Qin Ming wielded his bronze staff, practicing movements as swift as the wind. Each strike seemed capable of cleaving mountains or piercing the night sky.
“This wind force is unique,” he observed, “likely a fusion of several other force techniques.”
The Overlord’s legacy emphasized wind force and dominating force in its earlier stages, and Qin Ming had already begun training with them. He practiced diligently, even late into the night.
Over the next two days, Li Qing Yue accompanied Qin Ming as they explored Luo Fu City. They visited ancient relics, sampled local cuisines, and immersed themselves in the city’s vibrant history. During this time, Qin Ming continued to refine the two special force techniques. He found dominating force particularly intriguing—it revealed extraordinary potential, subtle in its early stages but destined to unleash unparalleled power when combined with the spiritual field realm.
“Mastering the basics isn’t too difficult,” Qin Ming noted, “but the transformations that come later will be incredibly challenging.”
By the end of the second day, Qin Ming had successfully developed the foundations of two forms of celestial light force.
“It’s time to set off,” Meng Xing Hai said, pleased to see Qin Ming still practicing diligently at the inn.
“Where’s my golden armor?” Qin Ming asked. He had already donned his flood dragon armor, slung twelve short spears on his back, equipped his bow and arrows, and carried his bronze staff.
“It’s all waiting at the Luo Fu Mountain ruins,” Meng Xing Hai replied, accompanying him.
The day was bustling with activity. Luo Fu Immortal Town, located near the ruins, was teeming with cultivators. Disciples from various doctrines and legacies had gathered, and even many inheritors of the Blessed Lands were present.
“Disciples of the Beyond have all converged at Luo Fu Immortal Town,” someone said. “An intense competition is about to begin!”
Word of the event spread quickly, drawing attention from far and wide. The upcoming contest had been a hot topic of discussion for days.
Li Qing Yue was called away by her sect, where she received last-minute guidance and reminders.
Luo Fu Immortal Town, situated beside the ruins, was steeped in history. The area featured Fire Springs, ancient architectural remnants, and a profound sense of age and mystery.
As Qin Ming roamed the town, he recognized several familiar faces: Cui Chong He, Wang Cai Wei, and Zheng Mao Ze. After two years, he even caught sight of Li Qing Xiao once again.
Rather than engaging with them, he quietly returned to his room at the inn. There, he entertained himself by playing with a spiritual sparrow, calmly awaiting the next day’s competition.