Chapter 112: A Strong Return
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“The Wuji Sutra truly lives up to its reputation as a miraculous technique!” Qin Ming marveled. The sutra was vast and intricate, presenting a complete system that included combat techniques, defense, and even consciousness awakening. It was the kind of secret tome that many geniuses could spend a lifetime mastering.
Qin Ming was struck by how uniquely insightful the sutra was. Though rooted in the element of earth, it also delved deeply into the principles of yin and yang. Particularly impressive was its explanation of the third major realm, the Spiritual Field, which aligned intriguingly with the legendary Overlord’s Legacy Book. Qin Ming recalled how the Overlord himself had risen to prominence from this very realm.
However, these ideas were distant prospects for Qin Ming. For now, he focused on the present, diligently practicing the methods he could grasp. The sutra described Yang Earth Fist and Yin Earth Fist, each rooted in its respective polarity. When mastered, they could merge into the singular, formidable Wuji Fist.
Even without achieving the final form, derivative techniques like Underworld Fist, Yin Earth Fist, and Yang Earth Palm were already renowned. Qin Ming immersed himself in perfecting Yin Fist, finding it resonated with the Yellow Mud Palm he had trained in previously, both being grounded in the element of earth.
The abundant Earth Vein Qi in the Mountain River Spiritual Nest provided him with endless energy, surrounding him in a golden mist as he channeled Yin Earth Force. The areas touched by his fist radiated an eerie underworld aura.
Interestingly, as he advanced in Yin Fist, his mastery of the Yellow Mud Palm improved as well. The unique terrain of the nest allowed him to continually draw on the Earth Vein Qi, reinforcing his techniques.
“I can’t neglect Yang Fist either,” Qin Ming reminded himself, diving into practice. “It would be a waste to not make the most of this place.”
Eventually, he succeeded in manifesting both Yin Earth Force and Yang Earth Force, bringing him closer to mastering the unified Wuji Force, a skill capable of rivaling the Separation Flame Force and Golden Silkworm Force.
Qin Ming was well aware that combining the Wuji Force with his other techniques would significantly enhance his power. His transformation during the fusion of his previous two miraculous techniques had fundamentally elevated his Celestial Light Force, and now, with this third technique, he anticipated even greater progress.
Meanwhile, the Mountain River Spiritual Nest continued to stimulate his Mental Field and elevate his Consciousness Light, which in turn nourished his body.
He estimated his strength now exceeded 7,000 jin, possibly more—clearly surpassing the power of a cultivator who had undergone six awakenings. Yet, the process didn’t feel like an ordinary awakening; rather, it seemed to bolster his latent potential and deepen his foundation.
Reflecting on this, Qin Ming thought of his younger brother Cui Chong Xuan, who, despite not being an Aberration, was transforming into one through his practice of the Six Imperial Heart Sutra, which similarly reinforced the body while laying a profound foundation.
Qin Ming began to wonder if the Silk Script Method was comparable to the Six Imperial Heart Sutra, perhaps even reshaping his physique in tandem with the unique energies of the nest.
Li Qing Yue, ever perceptive, confirmed his suspicions. “I’ve heard tales in the Beyond, and I’ve read accounts of figures like the founders of Sky-Supporting Force and the Six Imperial Heart Sutra. Both relied on external forces to bolster their early foundations.”
This piqued Qin Ming’s curiosity. “Do the records describe their strength during their first awakening?” he asked.
“They were extraordinary,” Li Qing Yue said solemnly. “Their first awakening saw their strength surpass 1,000 jin, rivaling even Aberrations. Some reached as high as 1,100 jin, a testament to their unparalleled gifts.”
Such legends naturally became figures of reverence, embodying immense danger to others in their era.
“Legends indeed,” Qin Ming remarked with admiration.
Up to now, he hadn’t encountered an Aberration, let alone anyone who surpassed one. Yet the thought of someone like Xiang Yi Wu, with his massive physique, crossed his mind. “If he’s not an Aberration, then who is?”
Li Qing Yue noticed his composure and couldn’t help wondering about his own foundation. “How much stronger did they become after enhancing their foundation with external methods?” Qin Ming pressed.
Li Qing Yue recalled fragments of the records. “After altering their physiques, their first awakening strength would have been equivalent to around 1,200 jin,” she explained.
She turned a curious gaze toward Qin Ming. “What about you? Where do you stand?”
Qin Ming, never one to hide much from her, shared the truth.
For once, Li Qing Yue’s typically serene and ethereal demeanor cracked. Shock painted her delicate features as she absorbed his revelation.
“You’ve had a foundation of over 1,200 jin before this enhancement? If this place truly bolstered your foundation further, where will it place you now?” she murmured. Her astonishment hinted that she believed Qin Ming might rival even the best of the Beyond’s cultivators.
Qin Ming remained calm. “Your path seeks to approach immortality, and your ultimate goal is truth. Meanwhile, those of the Secret Sect are far more irreverent toward the godlike beings they encounter. Compared to your ambitions, my achievements feel minor.”
His steady demeanor made it clear he hadn’t allowed his growing strength to inflate his ego.
“Still, it’s remarkable,” Li Qing Yue said with a smile.
Qin Ming chuckled wryly. “Think of the Overlord, a legend of his time. Yet when the old masters of the Beyond took notice, they crushed him without effort. Even someone as unparalleled as him met such an end—it’s humbling.”
Li Qing Yue nodded. “The Overlord fell prematurely. If he had lived longer, he might have equaled or even surpassed the founders of Sky-Supporting Force and the Six Imperial Heart Sutra.”
Qin Ming’s Mental Field suddenly quaked, signaling he had reached his limit. His Consciousness Light stopped growing, and the process of nourishing his body concluded. A splitting headache left him no choice but to leave the core region.
Half an hour later, Li Qing Yue also reached her threshold, successfully breaking through to the next level of her cultivation.
“Such a pity,” she remarked, glancing back at the nest. “When the Celestial Light descended upon this place long ago, it left severe damage. The remaining energy is far less than I expected.”
The two departed the Mountain River Spiritual Nest, crossing the golden maple forest, where Xiang Yi Wu awaited them.
“There you are,” he said, greeting them with his usual bluntness. “That beggar came by several times.”
“Beggar?” Qin Ming asked, confused.
“The one with the Dog-Beating Stick—wait, no, the Dragon-Beating Stick!” Xiang Yi Wu corrected himself with a disgruntled look. “He hit me with it.”
Qin Ming couldn’t help but recall his own unpleasant encounter with Li Qing Xiao’s bamboo staff, feeling a twinge of camaraderie.
“Did he get the better of you?” Qin Ming asked, concerned for Xiang Yi Wu, who had been standing guard for their sake.
Xiang Yi Wu shook his head, saying, “Not really. I always return the favor. He hit me with his staff, so I gave him two good slaps.”
“He’s gone now,” Li Qing Yue remarked, gazing at the distant mountains.
From a peak far away, Li Qing Xiao cast a glance in their direction before turning and disappearing. He had realized that Li Qing Yue had drained the problematic Mountain River Spiritual Nest of its remaining energy.
“Well then, since everything’s settled, I’ll take my leave. I’m itching to refine my Golden Silkworm Force with the help of the Separation Flame Sutra—time to break free of my shell and take flight!” Xiang Yi Wu had been eager to leave for a while now.
Concerned, Qin Ming suggested, “Why don’t you travel with us? You beat up an elite disciple pretty badly. Won’t his elders come looking for revenge?”
“Not likely,” Xiang Yi Wu replied. “I wasn’t his follower—I was just hired to help by their branch. Besides, his elders know my background and my former teacher. Even though I’m close to becoming an ‘abandoned disciple,’ wandering on my own, they wouldn’t dare trouble me right now.”
Xiang Yi Wu extended his massive hand, and Qin Ming gave him a firm slap on the palm. “You’re a good guy, brother. Let’s keep helping each other out along the way. By the way…” He peered at Qin Ming with wide, incredulous eyes. “Your strength feels… different. It’s like you’ve grown stronger since the fight in the White Bamboo Grove.”
Before leaving, the burly young man’s bronze-bell eyes revealed his amazement. As a disciple of the Tathagata Lineage, he could see through surface appearances and was now speculating about Qin Ming’s actual awakening count.
“Hmm… seems like I’ll need more than just the Separation Flame Sutra for my Golden Silkworm Force. I should start feeding it with some Longevity Greenwood Dew soon.” With that, Xiang Yi Wu turned and departed.
“Brother Xiang, is that another miraculous technique you’re working on? Let’s trade notes next time!” Qin Ming called out.
Li Qing Yue added with a faint smile, “We’ll be rooting for you, Xiang Yi Wu—may you truly become the Tathagata of this era.”
Not long after, Li Qing Yue stopped a few elite disciples in their tracks. Her face was as cold as snow, and her icy demeanor forced them to hand over their Protective Golden Robes without hesitation.
The group’s expressions were pale. Though they hadn’t personally attacked her in the White Bamboo Grove, they had joined in the blockade against her. To encounter her here was an unexpected misfortune.
Clearly, they had long since pledged themselves to the five core disciples. One of the elite disciples suddenly shuddered as a beam of Consciousness Light struck him. Blood spurted from his mouth, and the radiant glyphs of his protective robe flared up, shielding him from certain death.
The very next moment, another wave of Five-Colored Radiance sent him tumbling through the air, leaving him severely injured and sprawled on the ground.
The rest of the group was horrified. How had Li Qing Yue, who had been gravely injured by the combined attack of five core disciples, not only recovered but grown stronger? Her newfound strength made it clear she had broken through to another level, enabling her to effortlessly suppress an elite disciple.
Frightened, the remaining disciples quickly removed their robes, bowed deeply in apology, and openly expressed their willingness to follow her.
“Were there casualties among the elite disciples closely aligned with me?” Li Qing Yue asked calmly.
A female disciple hesitated before answering, “No, they were only driven away. If there had been casualties, it would’ve caused irreparable strife among the various factions.”
“And who’s recuperating nearby? You must be guarding someone as they heal,” Li Qing Yue pressed. She had seriously injured two core disciples earlier.
“Ren Yi Ping,” one disciple whispered.
Li Qing Yue waved them off, letting them leave.
Soon after, Qin Ming donned one of the soft Protective Golden Robes commonly worn by disciples of the Beyond, and both he and Li Qing Yue added an extra layer of protection with the robes they had taken.
Li Qing Yue remarked softly, “I wanted a fair contest to decide who deserved the near-immortal artifact. Since they chose to gang up on me, I have no choice but to retaliate aggressively.”
Before long, she confronted a group of Golden Armor Protectors, subduing them effortlessly with a dazzling display of Five-Colored Radiance. They were immobilized on the spot.
Moments later, Li Qing Yue and Qin Ming were clad in Golden Armor, their faces obscured by the gleaming masks of the protectors.
Ren Yi Ping, a core disciple, was a formidable cultivator who had risen to prominence among the geniuses of the Beyond. His strength was undeniable. He had recently consumed an expensive Great Medicine, which had fully restored him, but he chose not to rush toward his destination. Instead, he waited patiently, suspecting the nearby contenders would clash and clear the way for him.
However, a sudden blow to his back shattered his protective robe. The radiant glyphs burned fiercely as his defenses failed.
Ren Yi Ping staggered forward, coughing up blood. His freshly recovered body was now severely injured again, rendering the effects of the Great Medicine utterly wasted.
“Who’s there?!” he demanded, rising unsteadily from the grass, blood dripping from his mouth. When he looked up, his confusion turned to shock.
Two figures in Golden Armor stood before him. One was a tall and slender figure with an unmistakably feminine frame. Even with her face concealed by a golden mask, her figure betrayed her identity.
Moments later, Ren Yi Ping found himself flying through the air once again, his chest and abdomen crushed by a devastating kick from the woman. The sound of snapping bones echoed as fragments pierced his organs.
“You—” he stammered, his voice weak, but he had already guessed her identity.
“Junior Sister Li, I’m willing to pledge myself to you! I’ll even swear an oath using the forbidden arts of the Beyond!” Ren Yi Ping quickly capitulated, bowing his head in submission to avoid death.
His heart pounded in terror. Not only had Li Qing Yue healed from her injuries, but she had also advanced further. How could anyone oppose her now?
Broken and defeated, Ren Yi Ping staggered away, coughing blood with every step. His foundations were shattered, leaving him in a desperate state.
Outside the Luo Fu Mountain ruins, someone suggested, “Li Qing Yue hasn’t emerged yet. Should we send someone in to check on her, just in case?”
“A core disciple incapable of protecting herself? You all claimed she was destined to shine in the future. Overrated nonsense!” another sneered.
Meanwhile, Li Qing Yue and Qin Ming, disguised as Golden Armor Protectors, were steadily making their way toward the final destination.