Chapter 108: The Final Battle
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
That night, anguished cries echoed everywhere. Countless people realized they had placed their bets on the wrong individuals and were now teetering on the brink of financial ruin.
Nobody had expected Cui Chong Xuan, wielder of the legendary Six Imperial Force, to lose to an obscure youth like Qin Ming.
At least, that’s what the faraway betting circles had thought, as their information lagged behind the events unfolding at Luo Fu Mountain.
“Li Ye, who the heck is that? I’ve lost everything—my last coin, my pride, even my dignity!” gamblers wailed.
Qin Ming, disguised as Li Ye, a supposed cousin of Li Qing Yue, had unintentionally made a name for himself in the Night Fog World, leaving bettors stunned.
“Cui Chong Xuan, what was the point of all your training with the Six Imperial Heart Sutra? You lost so pathetically, and now I’ve lost so much money! I could cry…”
While Zhou Cheng Ru’s defeat at the hands of Li Qing Yue was widely anticipated, Cui Chong Xuan losing to Li Ye was much harder to accept.
With his status as a scion of a thousand-year-old aristocratic family, his mastery of the Six Imperial Force, and his exceptional talent, there seemed to be no logical way he could have been defeated.
Now, gamblers who had lost everything vented their frustrations with colorful language late into the night.
Outside the ruins of Luo Fu Immortal Mountain, members of the Cui Family wore grim expressions. They had never expected the first to be eliminated would be their own champions.
Rumors had spread earlier that various factions in the Path of the Beyond had reached an unspoken agreement: they would eliminate Li Qing Xu first to spite his overprotective and domineering master. Yet while his position was precarious, he hadn’t been eliminated yet.
The official gazette avoided reporting such matters, but underground news services seized the opportunity. They eagerly published sensational updates, fueling the growing fervor.
Many began to speculate that Li Qing Yue would claim the Near-Immortal Artifact.
Some even believed her “cousin” Li Ye might accompany her to the final stages, showcasing extraordinary skill in the ruins of Luo Fu Mountain.
Qin Ming quietly absorbed fragments of the Six Imperial Heart Sutra. However, his attempts to harness the emotional resonance of those nearby proved largely ineffective. The sheer “noise” of their emotions left the gained knowledge fragmented and scattered.
“The Six Imperial Force—it seems Cui Chong Xuan has only mastered the Bright Imperial Force. To truly succeed at the Awakening Stage, one must master at least two Imperial Forces.”
As Qin Ming compared the Six Imperial Force to the unified celestial light techniques of the Silk Script Method, he reminded himself not to grow complacent. Despite his victory over Cui Chong Xuan, the latter had yet to reach his full potential.
“I still have a long way to go. My current unified celestial light technique isn’t on par with the Six Imperial Force, Tathagata Force, or Jade Purity Force in their prime. I need to keep training and integrating other celestial light techniques. If I can suppress two Imperial Forces at the Awakening Stage, I’ll stand a chance against the legendary methods.”
Li Qing Yue approached, her elegant and ethereal aura commanding attention. She turned to the two men and one woman accompanying her. “You’re all injured. It’s time to return. You’ve done enough.”
The three Golden Armor Protectors hesitated, wanting to protest, but ultimately nodded in agreement. They understood that the battles ahead would only grow fiercer and bloodier.
This contest among core disciples was about more than the Near-Immortal Artifact. It was a battle for status and future resources.
Qin Ming broke the silence. “Cui Chong He almost pulled it off. Without your Spiritual Eyes, he might have fooled everyone and walked away with the prize.”
Li Qing Yue nodded. “Indeed. With his level of power, if he’d remained undetected, he likely would have claimed the artifact.”
The two continued forward, skirting the fiery lake. Beyond its crimson glow, the landscape grew dim and shadowy. The fiery springs dwindled, and the night became so dark it was nearly impossible to see one’s hand before their face.
Moving cautiously, they stayed on high alert.
“Is this really a Spiritual Cave?” Qin Ming muttered. When Meng Xing Hai had first mentioned it, he’d imagined a small cavern, like the opening of a well.
Li Qing Yue explained, “Long ago, some great figures from the Path of the Beyond attempted to elevate Luo Fu Immortal Mountain from a Blessed Land to a Cave Heaven. Unfortunately, they failed, leaving it a scorched wasteland. Only after a thousand years has it begun to recover.”
Qin Ming was speechless. What he had thought of as a “cave” turned out to be a failed Cave Heaven—a monumental undertaking.
“How much farther to the area of intense celestial light? The place Meng Xing Hai described?” Qin Ming asked eagerly. He wasn’t just here to help an old friend retrieve the artifact; he also hoped to bathe in the celestial light and achieve another awakening.
Li Qing Yue replied, “While the ruins of Luo Fu Immortal Mountain are vast, the location isn’t far. But stay alert. It’s far too quiet, and we’ve encountered too few disciples from the Path of the Beyond.”
As they passed through the desolate, barren landscape, the remnants of the celestial light’s devastating impact remained palpable. The air carried a lingering, violent aura.
Pressing onward, the darkness eventually gave way to a region of light, where fiery springs reappeared. The vegetation grew lush and vibrant, with verdant peaks dotted by streams of molten fire cascading like rivers of lava.
Some mountains even had fiery waterfalls tumbling from their heights, creating a dazzling spectacle like stars raining down from the heavens. The radiant glow illuminated the entire area.
Li Qing Yue’s face lit up with joy. “This area is truly recovering. Our ancestors once left their marks here. I wonder what remains.”
“We’ll come back later to investigate,” she said regretfully. “For now, we can’t afford delays. If we linger, someone else might claim the artifact.”
Qin Ming gripped his bronze staff tightly, his vigilance unwavering.
They entered a mist-shrouded forest filled with pale bamboo. Every stalk and leaf gleamed as if carved from white jade. The dense fog gave the area an otherworldly, almost divine atmosphere.
“Turn back. Now!” Li Qing Yue whispered sharply.
For the first time, she drew her weapon—a short sword wreathed in five-colored light. A crystalline wooden shield floated before her, gleaming faintly.
Qin Ming immediately knew something was wrong, though he hadn’t yet detected the threat. Li Qing Yue’s higher cultivation level had clearly picked up on it first.
Focusing his senses, Qin Ming finally noticed the oppressive aura closing in. It felt as if numerous fearsome beasts were silently converging on them, the weight of their presence growing suffocating.
Li Qing Yue led him in a cautious retreat along their original path.
“I told you,” a voice rang out, blocking their way. “Li Qing Yue’s keen senses mean she’ll never reach the artifact’s most ideal location.”
“Well, no matter. We have enough people, and our preparations are complete. The others are already on their way to join us,” another voice added.
Luo Qing Ge and Jiang Sheng Yu, two formidable core disciples, blocked the path ahead, flanked by several elite disciples who joined in the ambush.
Qin Ming recognized them from Luo Fu Immortal Town. Back then, Luo Qing Ge had been the first to provoke Li Qing Xu, which led to Li Qing Yue drawing her sword. This, in turn, had spurred Tang Xu Mi, Jiang Sheng Yu, and others to get involved.
Dressed in a blue robe, Luo Qing Ge’s smile was bright and charming. “Li Qing Yue, my apologies,” she said with a cheerful demeanor. “You’re just too strong. Out of respect for your power, we’ve decided to join forces to send you out of the contest.”
Jiang Sheng Yu, his face solemn, merely nodded. His cold and severe expression underscored the seriousness of the confrontation.
Li Qing Yue showed no interest in conversing. She refused to waste a single moment. Her five-colored short sword shot forward, radiating brilliant light that flooded the forest ahead.
With a deafening roar, like a giant wielding a hammer, the bamboo forest ahead was obliterated. Li Qing Yue’s sword obliterated the space in an instant.
Luo Qing Ge and Jiang Sheng Yu disappeared, reappearing a short distance away, already brandishing their weapons to block Li Qing Yue’s advance.
“Apologies, Li Qing Yue!”
“Li Qing Yue, forgive us, but this is about the path to supremacy. We must remove the greatest threat—”
“Li Qing Yue, you have my respect, but this is where it ends,” said Tang Xu Mi, the last core disciple to arrive.
Li Qing Yue withdrew her five-colored sword, standing silently amidst the white mist of the bamboo grove. Now surrounded, there was no point in stalling further.
Qin Ming stood beside her, his bronze halberd glowing faintly with celestial light. This was going to be a bloody battle—every adversary here was a master.
The gathered core disciples included Tang Xu Mi, Jiang Sheng Yu, Ren Yi Ping, Su Jing Shu, and Luo Qing Ge, surrounding Li Qing Yue.
Elite disciples positioned themselves strategically in the area, while Golden Armor Protectors stood guard even farther out.
“Did you block the disciples who support me?” Li Qing Yue asked.
Qin Ming suspected their path into the ruins had been deliberately arranged to isolate them.
Li Qing Yue’s expression remained calm. “So my encounter with Li Qing Xu at the very start wasn’t just coincidence?”
“Purely chance,” said Ren Yi Ping, his face adorned with a polite smile. Even if there had been foul play, no one here would admit to it.
Qin Ming didn’t know much about the Path of the Beyond, but he could sense that competition between core disciples was ruthless, involving all kinds of underhanded tactics.
Because Li Qing Yue was so powerful, she posed a serious threat to the other core disciples. Even Tang Xu Mi, who had once shown admiration for her, now chose to strike against her.
For core disciples like Tang Xu Mi, personal feelings—even admiration for someone as stunning and talented as Li Qing Yue—were fleeting. The chance to claim a Near-Immortal Artifact outweighed everything else.
Li Qing Yue spoke calmly. “Let my cousin leave first. He’s not of the Path of the Beyond.”
Qin Ming’s heart raced. Would these core disciples really go as far as to kill Li Qing Yue? His celestial light surged as he gripped the halberd tightly.
Ren Yi Ping and Su Jing Shu were about to respond, but Tang Xu Mi cut them off. “Fine. Li Ye, this is a battle for core disciples of the Path of the Beyond. You don’t belong here. Go.”
He added with a half-smile, “Even though you made me chase after that bird you released for over a hundred miles, I’ll let it slide this time. After all, we’ve shared a drink or two.”
Li Qing Yue turned to Qin Ming. “Leave now,” she said, her tone calm. Sensing his worry, she used a secret technique to transmit her voice directly to him: “I’ll be fine. I can protect myself.”
Qin Ming took a deep breath. He had only begun walking the Path of Awakening a few months ago and was still a full realm below the core disciples.
Frustration bubbled within him. He hated that he couldn’t help.
Without another word, he gripped the halberd and strode away, each step heavy with reluctance.
Behind him, the white bamboo forest erupted in brilliant colors as celestial mist surged and divine light raged. The sheer force of the disciples’ auras twisted the space around them.
The bamboo forest shattered as the six core disciples clashed. They showed no mercy, each one unleashing their full strength.
Qin Ming had barely made it out of the grove when several figures barred his way. They were all Golden Armor Protectors—Tang Xu Mi’s promise clearly meant little to them.
He glanced back but could no longer see Li Qing Yue. However, he could still feel the tremendous battle taking place in the grove. Five core disciples were attacking her simultaneously.
“So, you want to take me down too?” Qin Ming asked coldly, gripping the halberd.
“Yes,” one of the Golden Armor Protectors replied bluntly.
“And you plan to kill me?” Qin Ming’s brow furrowed as his concern for Li Qing Yue grew.
The Golden Armor Protectors remained silent.
Raising his halberd, Qin Ming pushed himself to his peak state. It felt as though flames roared within his chest. In the blink of an eye, he charged forward, the halberd slicing through the air like lightning.
With a loud bang, the Protector who had answered him was sent flying. Before the man could even hit the ground, Qin Ming caught up, the halberd’s blade gleaming coldly as it pierced through the man’s hand and into his golden armor.
A piercing scream echoed as the Protector’s entire arm shattered. The terrifying celestial light coursing through Qin Ming’s weapon spread, ripping through the man’s organs.
Moments later, his body burst apart within the golden armor.
Qin Ming shook the halberd sharply, sending the armor flying into a nearby boulder. Blood spilled across the rocky ground.
A thunderous roar erupted as another opponent charged forward. This one wielded a unique technique, his celestial light extending half a meter from his body as he closed the distance almost instantly.
Qin Ming brought the halberd down in a fierce arc, but two others intervened, their weapons blocking his strike.
With a loud crack, Qin Ming turned to clash directly with the newcomer. The two traded a series of bone-shaking blows, their fists meeting repeatedly in a furious exchange.
Finally, Qin Ming’s opponent let out a scream. His fist shattered, blood spraying as his arm disintegrated from the spreading celestial light. The destructive energy tore through his body, ripping apart his internal organs.
“Kill!” Qin Ming shouted, his voice ringing with defiance.
At that moment, a burly figure emerged from the bamboo forest. “Need a hand?” the newcomer asked casually.