Chapter 114: The Aura of a Young Grandmaster
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The massive crater resembled a sloping bowl, and the deeper one ventured, the denser and fiercer the glowing mist became.
At the bottom of the pit, though bright with multicolored spiritual mist, Qin Ming’s figure was obscured. Even as he stripped off his armor, no one could see his movements, except for a few exceptions—such as Li Qing Yue, whose Spiritual Eyes pierced through the fog and miasma.
Standing on the sloped terrain, Qin Ming wore only a light inner layer, practicing Yang Fist and Yin Fist. As his movements became more refined, the two forces merged seamlessly into the Unified Earth Fist.
At this moment, the yin and yang energies complemented each other, amplifying the power of his strikes. His fists exuded a faint mist of energy, ready to unleash both masculine strength and feminine suppleness at will.
Beneath his feet, the Earth Vein Qi surged upward, spreading throughout his body and filling him with unparalleled power.
The Unified Earth Fist, representing the essence of the earth, divided into Yang Earth Force and Yin Earth Force, forming the basis for Yang Fist and Yin Fist.
Standing firm on the ground, Qin Ming felt an inexplicable sense of stability and boundless strength coursing through his body. Even he was surprised—after leaving the Mountain River Spiritual Nest, such a feat should have been impossible outside of an Outer Saint’s capabilities. Yet here he was, achieving it naturally.
“I understand now,” he murmured. “The true brilliance of the Unified Earth Sutra lies in its ability to draw power from the earth. As long as I remain grounded, I’ll always have strength to borrow.”
The realization brought him immense joy. Achieving mastery over the Unified Earth Fist was something typically reserved for the Outer Saint Realm, yet he had already reached it. He attributed this remarkable feat to his journey through the Mountain River Spiritual Nest, where he had absorbed vast amounts of Earth Vein Qi, laying the groundwork for this success.
What’s more, his time in the nest had strengthened his foundational potential.
“No wonder the founders of Sky-Supporting Force and Six Imperial Heart Sutra sought the aid of the Beyond to enhance their roots. The benefits are immense!” Qin Ming thought. Reflecting on his own progress, he realized he had surpassed typical Youth Aberrations. Perhaps he could now be considered a “Young Grandmaster.”
“Given that I’ve reached this level, it’s only natural for me to master some Outer Saint techniques. After all, how could a ‘Grandmaster’ be constrained by conventional standards?”
Determined not to settle for mediocrity, Qin Ming continued honing his craft.
His Unified Earth Fist grew more refined as his Yin Earth Force flowed through his left hand, Yang Earth Force through his right. Gradually, the two forces fused seamlessly, forming the Unified Earth Force, embodying an increasingly profound intent.
As he trained, a vision seemed to materialize—of a lone youth forging ahead through a desolate land, breaking through endless barriers with nothing but his fists, carving his path with unmatched determination.
Above the crater, Li Qing Yue watched in astonishment. This was the first time she had seen Qin Ming train with such intensity. For a moment, he exuded the demeanor of a true Youth Master.
She recalled the records of the founders of Six Imperial Heart Sutra and Sky-Supporting Force from the Beyond, wondering if their youthful brilliance had looked much the same.
At the bottom of the crater, Qin Ming’s entire body radiated Unified Earth Force, as though he had become one with the ground itself. His breath exhaled a wisp of Celestial Light, signaling the conclusion of his practice.
Satisfied, he thought, For someone of my stature, mastering the Unified Earth Sutra to this degree shouldn’t be shameful.
Shifting focus, Qin Ming turned to perfecting Wind Force and Dominating Force—the techniques recorded in the Overlord’s Legacy. He began to understand why the Overlord had grown increasingly unstoppable after reaching the Spiritual Field Realm.
“The Overlord’s field drew on the forces of the world itself—wind summoned storm clouds, lightning merged with Dominating Force. No ordinary opponent could hope to withstand such a strategy.”
Though Qin Ming lacked the ability to fully replicate such feats, he theorized that in special locations, he might be able to attempt something similar.
With the Unified Earth Sutra at his disposal, he could temporarily merge with the land. Given the dense Celestial Light in this crater, perhaps he could use Wind Force and Dominating Force to borrow power from the surrounding environment.
Qin Ming’s Flying on Grass Technique also relied on Wind Force, but it paled in comparison to the Wind Force described in the Overlord’s Legacy, which was devastating and unrelenting.
After much deliberation, Qin Ming pushed both his Wind Force and Dominating Force to their limits. He even considered combining them with the Unified Earth Sutra but decided against it, fearing he might unintentionally ignite the Celestial Light within the crater.
Aware of the potential danger, he temporarily set aside his experimentation and focused on refining other techniques.
His attention shifted to the two most impactful techniques in his arsenal—Separation Flame Sutra and Golden Silkworm Skill. With the strengthened foundation he had gained from the Mountain River Spiritual Nest, he hoped to overcome past hurdles.
Sure enough, when Qin Ming revisited the Separation Flame Sutra, he found that progress came far more easily than before.
A radiant flame enveloped his body, shimmering like divine fire. Strangely, it neither scorched his flesh nor burned his hair. Instead, it nourished his very being while radiating intense heat capable of incinerating an opponent’s Celestial Light. A single controlled burst caused a nearby patch of natural Celestial Light to erupt violently.
“What a technique!” Qin Ming exclaimed. “No wonder Disciple of the Beyond Meng Xing Hai was eager to trade for it.”
Next, he turned his focus to the Golden Silkworm Skill. As expected, this technique too yielded to his efforts, progressing to new heights. Golden threads began to emerge from his skin, intertwining into a protective mesh around him.
When he attacked, the golden threads shot outward, extending up to three inches from his body. These threads were razor-sharp, capable of piercing through both an opponent’s Celestial Light and their flesh.
“Using Separation Flame Sutra to refine the Golden Silkworm Skill really works. Fire tempers gold—it’s both a challenge and a catalyst!”
By the time he concluded, Qin Ming had achieved remarkable results. Both the Separation Flame Sutra and Golden Silkworm Skill had reached realms typically reserved for the Outer Saint Stage, joining the ranks of his Unified Earth Force.
He wasn’t done yet. “Yellow Mud Palm, Silk Wrapping Force, Vajra Force… they all need improvement too!”
When Qin Ming grew tired, he would nibble on some dried rations and find a spot where the glowing mist was sparse to catch a quick nap.
Time passed swiftly, and over the course of more than a day, his sixth awakening neared completion.
During this time, the Disciple of the Beyond employed various methods that often startled Qin Ming. They used explosive materials derived as byproducts of alchemy in an attempt to “flood” the massive pit with Celestial Light, but the explosions accomplished little more than noise. Others tried to redirect Fire Springs to engulf the crater, while some even deployed mechanical beasts crafted by Beyond’s artisans—only to see them corroded and destroyed by the intense light within moments.
A suggestion soon arose from the group. “Let us each extract a single drop of pure yang blood essence and a wisp of pure yang spiritual light from our own bodies, stripped entirely of any ‘shadow god’ properties. Attach these to a few Outer Saints to protect them as they enter the pit and retrieve the near-immortal artifact. What do you think?”
The proposal caused an uproar. Though it seemed viable, requiring each individual to part with such essence was no small matter. Even if recovery was possible after some rest, the effort was significant, and many hesitated—particularly the elite disciples, who saw it as a loss of their pure yang nature for someone else’s gain.
After much back-and-forth, the Core Disciples reached a consensus. The others reluctantly complied, knowing that they were already beholden to their superiors. For many, joining this mission had meant pledging their loyalty, and they had little choice but to follow through.
However, trust among them ran thin. Each group carefully monitored the other, suspicious that some might not contribute genuine pure yang essence.
By this point, Qin Ming had long since completed his sixth awakening. He sat cross-legged, meditating to process the changes within his body.
“I think my strength now exceeds nine thousand jin,” he murmured, relying on an innate sense of his newfound power. The Mountain River Spiritual Nest had played a pivotal role in this transformation.
“I owe Qing Yue a great debt of gratitude,” he reflected, his tone tinged with admiration.
As he compared himself to others, Qin Ming realized the magnitude of his progress. While his younger cousin Cui Chong Xuan relied on the Six Imperial Heart Sutra to transform and strengthen his foundation into that of an aberration, Qin Ming had far surpassed such incremental gains. If his strength were recalculated in terms of an initial awakening, his foundation alone would equate to 1,500 jin—an unimaginable feat.
By comparison, even a Youth Aberration with nine awakenings would peak at roughly 8,000 jin. For Qin Ming to have already reached 9,000 jin at six awakenings placed him firmly at the level of a Young Grandmaster, if not beyond.
“Physical strength is just the surface,” he mused. “True significance lies in the depth of my foundation—it’s a hint of my potential.”
A wry smile spread across his face as he whispered, “It seems I’m on the path of a grandmaster after all. This road isn’t something anyone can predict.”
Satisfied with his physical transformation, Qin Ming turned his focus to consolidating the various Celestial Light Forces he had mastered. Using the Silk Script Method, he directed all his techniques into a harmonious union.
The three great mystical arts and eighteen styles of Celestial Light resonated, producing a radiant, sacred halo that enveloped him entirely. He appeared otherworldly, like a celestial being gracing the mortal realm.
With a deep exhalation, the shimmering light drew back into his body, and he resumed his usual clear and composed demeanor.
No test was necessary to confirm his progress. Qin Ming knew his unified Celestial Light had evolved significantly, reaching a whole new level of potency. Furthermore, he sensed a peculiar “strange light” coursing through his blood and flesh—a new ability birthed by this awakening.
This phenomenon often manifested after the sixth awakening among those who followed his path. Some gained minor, almost useless abilities, while others acquired something truly remarkable. Qin Ming refrained from activating this light prematurely, unsure how long it might take to recover after use. With a looming battle ahead, he chose to save it for the right moment.
Standing tall, he released a ripple of Celestial Light Force, purifying his body. His skin shone like polished jade, and even his hair glistened with crystalline clarity, free of a single speck of dust.
Donning his golden robe and armor once more, Qin Ming ascended from the pit. He avoided approaching the rumored near-immortal artifact directly, knowing that whoever dared to touch it first would become the target of everyone else. Instead, he allowed the others to expend their pure yang blood essence and spiritual light. He would strike when chaos descended, aiming to draw all players into the fray.
As he reached the surface, the fresh air invigorated him. Gazing at the brilliant flow of Celestial Light within the giant crater, Qin Ming felt an overwhelming fondness for the place.
“If only I could stay here and continue awakening,” he sighed. Unfortunately, even his body required intervals between such transformations. For most, five awakenings in a year was the limit. Although Qin Ming had already surpassed this restriction without harm, even he couldn’t rush the process indefinitely.
“I think another ten days or so, and I’ll be ready for a seventh awakening,” he estimated wistfully. “But the Disciples of the Beyond aren’t likely to give me that much time.”
Curious about the pure yang blood essence, Qin Ming ventured toward the gathering disciples, spotting familiar faces like Zheng Mao Ze and Zeng Yuan.
Though neither were Core Disciples, their strength had reached considerable heights, having already entered the Yellow Court Realm, the second major stage.
“They’re strong,” Qin Ming admitted, though he held little affection for either. Memories of veiled mockery and disdain from past encounters resurfaced. Without his exceptional talent, he likely would have struggled to reach even their current level.
Elsewhere, Wang Cai Wei, Lu Zhen Yi, and Chen Bing Yan stood together, biding their time. Qin Ming observed their attempts at refining pure yang blood essence with detached interest. “It’s not particularly impressive,” he thought. “My own blood seems just as pure, given how easily I’ve adapted to the Celestial Light.”
Just then, Core Disciple Hu Ting Wen proposed a new approach: “The Outer Saints here should also contribute pure yang blood essence.”
The suggestion provoked immediate dissent. “Why should we?” many objected. “We’ve already made sacrifices.”
As voices clashed, Qin Ming turned to leave, unwilling to waste his strength for their schemes.
“You there—stop!” someone called out.
Ignoring the command, Qin Ming walked on with measured steps.
Zheng Mao Ze moved to block his path, his tone accusatory. “You! Why don’t you comply?”
“I’m here as an ally, not a follower,” Qin Ming replied calmly. “And my collaborator has already left. I owe none of you anything.”
“Ally or not, since you’re here, you’ll follow the rules,” Zheng Mao Ze retorted, advancing.
Qin Ming’s eyes narrowed. “I am a direct inheritor of the Six Imperial Heart Sutra. Do you truly think you can command me?”
Zheng Mao Ze scoffed. “If that’s true, why don’t you claim to be the founder himself?”
When Zheng Mao Ze struck, Qin Ming responded without hesitation. Summoning the full power of his fused Celestial Light Force, he delivered a single punch.
A radiant brilliance erupted as Zheng Mao Ze’s protective spiritual light shattered. His body crumpled under the blow, bones cracking audibly. He was flung twenty meters before landing in a broken heap, coughing blood.
Qin Ming straightened, his serene expression belying the force he had just unleashed. The path of a grandmaster demanded strength—and he had it.