Chapter 110: The Mountain River Spiritual Nest
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“The Mountain River Spiritual Nest—what exactly is that?” Qin Ming asked curiously, his brows furrowed.
Supporting Li Qing Yue, he guided her through the lush terrain, keeping a vigilant eye out for any threats.
“It’s a naturally occurring formation,” she explained, her voice soft and weary. “With some arrangement, it can become a miraculous place. Some nurture rare medicinal herbs, while others are favored by royal families as burial sites for their ancestors…”
Her once flawless and elegant face was now pale, her silver armor in tatters, barely clinging to her body. Only the plating on her left shoulder remained intact, while her white, slender arm was fully exposed. The shattered armor, stained with blood, lent her a strangely poignant beauty.
Li Qing Yue was gravely injured. Her silver armor wasn’t the only casualty—her inner protective garment, woven with life-saving runes, had been destroyed as well, its golden radiance utterly extinguished.
Qin Ming took out the healing medicine given to him by Tang Xu Mi and asked, “Will this help? Should you take it?”
Li Qing Yue shook her head. She had already consumed spiritual medicine earlier, but its effects had been minimal. Her narrow escape from death had nearly extinguished the divine radiance in her Huang Ting. The light of her Consciousness Force, once as dazzling as the sun, now flickered like a candle in the wind.
Outside the ruins of Luo Fu Mountain, Meng Xing Hai was filled with unease. He was convinced that someone was orchestrating Li Qing Yue’s downfall.
As bloodied Golden Armor Protectors and defeated Elite Disciples emerged from the ruins, the truth of the battle began to surface.
Many were shocked to hear the details: five Core Disciples had joined forces in the white bamboo forest to severely wound Li Qing Yue, leaving her gravely injured and unable to compete for the Near-Immortal Object.
“At least ten Golden Armor Protectors died at the hands of her so-called cousin, Li Ye,” someone said, using Qin Ming’s alias. “But even he was left bloodied, heavily injured, and defenseless.”
Meng Xing Hai’s expression darkened. He felt his suspicions confirmed—this had all been arranged. From the moment Li Qing Yue entered the Spiritual Cave, the other Core Disciples had conspired against her.
“She was the most likely to claim that legendary item,” an elder said regretfully. “To survive an ambush by five Core Disciples and still break through their ranks speaks volumes about her strength.”
Yet there were murmurs of admiration. A middle-aged man, his demeanor refined, remarked, “Even if she doesn’t obtain the Near-Immortal Object, Li Qing Yue’s accomplishments today have secured her reputation. Few will dare challenge her moving forward.”
Still, others dismissed her. “All that talk is pointless. She’s out of the running.”
In the Night Fog World, gamblers in various cities howled in despair. Even the usually authoritative Night Report had misled them into betting on Li Qing Yue.
“Mountain gods, just end it already! I can’t take this anymore!” a voice cried.
Amidst this chaos, Li Qing Yue continued her explanation to Qin Ming about spiritual sites. “Some become Spiritual Nests, others transform into shadowy burial grounds, and still others gather ominous energies to become cursed places…”
This verdant area was bursting with life. Trees and plants thrived, and fiery streams from the nearby springs snaked through the valleys, nourishing the land.
“This is magnificent,” Qin Ming marveled.
Ahead of them, a massive waterfall, a thousand feet tall, cascaded in shimmering waves of fire. The crimson glow illuminated the surrounding mountains, a breathtaking spectacle.
“Incredible,” Qin Ming murmured, staring at the fiery streams and glowing landscape.
“This was once one of the finest Blessed Lands,” Li Qing Yue said. “Centuries ago, the great figures of the Beyond tried to elevate Luo Fu Mountain to the level of a Celestial Cave, but their efforts failed. Now, after a thousand years, the mountain is only just beginning to recover.”
“Are there any Celestial Caves in the Night Fog World?” Qin Ming asked.
“To my knowledge, no,” Li Qing Yue replied. “Luo Fu Mountain came closest, but it never fully transformed.”
As they walked, Li Qing Yue ran her fingers over the moss-covered stone walls. “Look—our ancestor left markings here. We should follow this path,” she said.
Suddenly, she stumbled. Qin Ming caught her just in time, his concern deepening. “You’re seriously injured. Will your Sea of Consciousness and Huang Ting hold up?”
“If we find the Spiritual Nest, it won’t matter,” she replied, leaning on him for support. “They didn’t escape unscathed, either. I nearly killed two of them, and the others were badly wounded.”
Qin Ming couldn’t help but marvel at her resilience. “You’ve come a long way,” he said, thinking back to the delicate girl she used to be. Now, she could stand against the strongest Core Disciples of the Beyond.
“I still have a long way to go,” Qin Ming muttered to himself. He was dissatisfied with his own performance. Though he had slain foes like Tan Yu, the others he faced weren’t particularly renowned.
“Don’t undervalue yourself,” Li Qing Yue said. “You’re already remarkable. You’ve only undergone five awakenings, yet you’ve defeated Outer Saints. Those others are nurtured by their doctrines and have long surpassed the Awakening Stage. You’ll catch up and surpass them soon.”
Qin Ming nodded, steeling himself. He couldn’t afford to stop now.
Suddenly, Li Qing Yue’s expression brightened. Her eyes gleamed with a radiant light as she scanned the area with her mystical vision.
“There—it’s over there,” she said, pointing toward a path winding through the vibrant landscape.
This area was covered with golden maple trees, their leaves shining brilliantly yellow under the light of the fiery springs. It was a picturesque place, perfect for building a secluded home. Supporting Li Qing Yue, Qin Ming led her through the falling golden leaves toward a stone mountain devoid of soil or vegetation.
The stone mountain had carved steps leading up to its steep midsection. The incline was incredibly sharp.
“This is the place. I hope the Spiritual Nest here is still functional,” Li Qing Yue said, spotting the markings left by her ancestor on the rocky surface.
Helping her climb the steep mountain, Qin Ming brought her to a sealed stone door halfway up.
“There’s movement in the distance!”
“It’s Li Qing Xu!”
The two noticed a figure on a far-off peak—it was Li Qing Xu, locked in a standoff with the Tathagata’s Abandoned Disciple, Xiang Yi Wu. It seemed the two had just exchanged blows.
“That shadow,” Qin Ming muttered, eyes narrowing. “He must have followed us, knowing you’re injured, and plans to make his move.”
“It’s not just about revenge,” Li Qing Yue said. “He might have heard rumors about my ancestor’s arrangements here and is after the Spiritual Nest too.”
Although such knowledge was deeply hidden, Li Qing Xu’s master held a high status and had the authority to access sealed records. He could have pieced together clues about this location.
“Xiang Yi Wu is truly formidable, holding off someone like Li Qing Xu,” Qin Ming remarked, his expression growing grim. Without the Tathagata’s Abandoned Disciple nearby, both he and Li Qing Yue would likely face a dire situation.
This journey into the Spiritual Cave was far more perilous than he had imagined.
Soon, Li Qing Xu vanished, leaving without further confrontation with Xiang Yi Wu.
“I’ll go talk to Xiang Yi Wu,” Qin Ming decided. “I need him to stall Li Qing Xu. If that guy comes here at a critical moment, things will get messy.”
Li Qing Yue nodded. Given enough time, Li Qing Xu could indeed track them down.
Shortly after, Qin Ming approached Xiang Yi Wu. Before he could speak, the Tathagata’s Abandoned Disciple grumbled, “What’s with this situation? Ever since meeting you, I’ve been running into Core Disciples from the Beyond. It’s way too risky.”
“I’ll give you the Separation Flame Sutra now, but you have to help me block Li Qing Xu. I trust your honor,” Qin Ming said firmly.
Hearing this, Xiang Yi Wu’s large, copper bell-like eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
“Well, that’s a relief! I’m a fair man—if someone respects me a foot, I’ll give them ten in return. I won’t let you down. Besides, I have the Wu Ji Sutra, which is even more precious than your Separation Flame Sutra.”
The moment Qin Ming heard the name, he knew it was extraordinary. The mere mention of “Wu Ji” carried weight and history. Qin Ming began reciting the Separation Flame Sutra, while Xiang Yi Wu closed his eyes, listening intently and silently memorizing it.
“You can memorize an entire sutra perfectly after hearing it once?” Qin Ming asked, astonished by his talent.
“It’s a skill we develop after stepping into the Outer Saint Realm,” Xiang Yi Wu explained. “My sect has a secret method that lets us temporarily imprint heard text into our minds for a few days. Since we don’t have pen and paper here, this will have to do.”
“Are you really an ‘abandoned disciple’?” Qin Ming asked, still skeptical.
“I wouldn’t say abandoned, exactly,” Xiang Yi Wu admitted. “Think of it as being ‘wild-raised.’ The competition in my sect is brutal, so I’m left to fend for myself. The elders are experimenting with expanding the Tathagata Techniques, trying different paths. I’m just testing one of them.”
He sighed. “Whether I succeed or fail is entirely up to me. The elders say anyone who achieves greatness must first endure hardship. Staying on the sacred mountain would only spoil me.”
“And if you fail?” Qin Ming asked.
“Then I’ll truly become abandoned. But if I succeed and surpass my peers, I’ll be welcomed back as the next Tathagata,” Xiang Yi Wu replied with a bittersweet smile.
“Well, here’s hoping you achieve that,” Qin Ming said, grinning.
Xiang Yi Wu shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on it. Some of my senior brothers are terrifyingly strong. I still have a long way to go. It’s tough out here for a ‘wild one.’”
After memorizing the Separation Flame Sutra, Xiang Yi Wu began reciting the Wu Ji Sutra in return.
“Wait,” Qin Ming interrupted. “Recite it while demonstrating the techniques. I’ll learn better if I watch.”
Unlike Xiang Yi Wu, Qin Ming hadn’t reached the Outer Saint Realm or mastered the memory technique. He needed to rely on spiritual resonance to absorb the sutra.
Xiang Yi Wu nodded, combining the recitation with his practice of the techniques.
Focusing intently, Qin Ming entered a state of deep resonance, quickly grasping the essence of the Wu Ji Sutra.
“You’re still an Awakening Stage cultivator, yet you learned it this quickly?” Xiang Yi Wu asked, astonished. He had expected to repeat the sutra many times but found that one was enough.
“I’ve got the basics down,” Qin Ming replied modestly. “If anything’s unclear, I’ll come back to you later.”
Soon after, Qin Ming returned to the stone mountain.
Using her unique Consciousness Force, Li Qing Yue activated the stone door. It creaked open, revealing an interior filled not with stagnant air, but a refreshing, luminous glow.
“This place connects to the ancestral earth veins,” she said. “Its spiritual energy far surpasses that of most Blessed Lands.”
Her face lit up as she felt her weakened Consciousness Force becoming more active, the dim light within her gradually regaining strength.
Qin Ming also noticed a change. The moment he stepped inside, his mind grew sharper, his spirit seemingly on the verge of transformation.