Chapter 115: The Struggle for Dignity
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
A radiant Celestial Light Force rippled around the young man, making him appear almost like one of the Disciple of the Beyond near-immortal beings.
Zheng Mao Ze, who had been sent flying by the youth’s punch, lay sprawled on the ground, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. He groaned in pain, looking utterly defeated. Known mockingly as “Zheng the Sturdy,” he now seemed anything but sturdy—a stark contrast to his usual persona.
His Spiritual Light, normally vibrant and fluid, now flickered weakly, riddled with holes from the punch that had burned through it. Worse, the sound of cracking bones had echoed like popping beans as the strike landed. It wasn’t a simple fracture or two—several ribs had snapped clean.
The crowd watched in stunned silence. The boy’s strike had been lightning-quick, leaving Zheng Mao Ze with no chance to react.
As the faint glow of Celestial Light receded into Qin Ming’s body, his hand shimmered with an almost crystalline purity. Standing tall, he appeared calm and otherworldly, as though the violence of the blow could not have come from him—except for his still-clenched fist, which betrayed the truth.
Zheng Mao Ze struggled to gather himself, coughing up another mouthful of blood as he examined his internal injuries. His voice, though weak, was filled with anger and disbelief. “Eighteen bones… fractured.”
He had underestimated the boy in golden armor, dismissing him as a mere Golden Armor Protector, only to be crushed in an instant by a punch that felt like the stomp of a dragon-elephant.
Many Disciple of the Beyond exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating to intervene. The young man’s claims of being a direct inheritor of the Six Imperial Heart Sutra now seemed plausible. Otherwise, how could his Celestial Light Force be so dominant, capable of burning through Zheng Mao Ze’s defenses?
Even among the Disciple of the Beyond, certain lineages were treated with caution. Techniques like the Sky-Supporting Force, Tathagata Force, and Six Imperial Heart Sutra were famed for their ability to inflict serious harm, even on practitioners of the Beyond path. Such techniques, though slower to progress at higher levels, still allowed their practitioners to reach extraordinary heights over time.
“Apologies,” Qin Ming said, his voice gentle and unassuming. “I’ve just come down from the mountain and don’t have much experience in real combat. I guess I got a little nervous.”
His words only added insult to injury. Zheng Mao Ze’s face turned a deep red—whether from shame, anger, or both was unclear. Being reduced to a mere backdrop for a “rookie’s” debut was a humiliation he couldn’t bear.
The other disciples of the Beyond seemed to accept Qin Ming’s explanation. A Six Imperial Heart Sutra inheritor, while not one of their own, was at least a peer worth respecting—not just another protector or servant.
Qin Ming, meanwhile, felt elated. His debut punch had exceeded even his own expectations. Despite revealing his trump card—a fusion of three mystical arts and eighteen kinds of Celestial Light Force—the satisfaction of seeing Zheng Mao Ze humbled made it worth it.
He had not forgotten the antics of Zheng Mao Ze and his brother, Zheng Mao Rong. The former had feigned friendliness while belittling him, and the latter had subtly incited hostility against Qin Ming during past encounters. Their behavior had made them his silent adversaries for far too long.
With a cheerful demeanor, Qin Ming turned his gaze toward another familiar face. “Brother Zeng Yuan,” he called, his tone amicable. “Might I ask for a favor?”
Zeng Yuan, visibly tense after witnessing Zheng Mao Ze’s defeat, hesitated before responding cautiously. “What is it?”
Qin Ming crouched and pressed his hand to the ground. Using Adhesive Force, he lifted a pool of Zheng Mao Ze’s blood into the air, ensuring it didn’t touch his skin. The blood hovered in a shimmering red sphere, encased in a layer of his Celestial Light Force.
“I’ve noticed everyone contributing a drop of Pure Yang Blood Essence,” Qin Ming said with a polite smile. “I wouldn’t want to be the exception. Could you help refine this into something suitable?”
Zeng Yuan was dumbfounded. Of all the favors Qin Ming could have asked, this was the most bizarre. Asking someone to refine the blood of a defeated foe into Pure Yang Blood? It was outrageous.
The absurdity left Zeng Yuan at a loss for words, and his gaze darted toward Zheng Mao Ze, who lay nearby, his face twisted in fury. Qin Ming, meanwhile, continued to smile as if he were oblivious to the tension.
“You wouldn’t want precious blood like this to go to waste, would you?” Qin Ming asked innocently.
Faced with the looming threat of another devastating punch, Zeng Yuan reluctantly nodded and began refining the blood. Despite his irritation, he knew better than to provoke someone with such raw power and unpredictable methods.
Zheng Mao Ze’s eyes burned with fury as he watched his own blood being turned into Pure Yang Blood Essence. His anger and frustration boiled over, manifesting in a violent coughing fit. Desperate not to lose more blood, he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Qin Ming, still wearing his serene smile, walked over to Zheng Mao Ze and offered him a hand. “Are you alright, Brother Zheng? I didn’t mean to hurt you so badly—it was my inexperience in battle.”
Zheng Mao Ze bit back a retort, refusing to engage further. Leaning on his battered Spiritual Light, he staggered away, wanting nothing more than to escape this mortifying situation.
However, before leaving, Qin Ming discreetly gathered the fresh blood Zheng Mao Ze coughed up using his Adhesive Force and delivered it to Zeng Yuan as well.
At this point, the onlookers didn’t know what to make of Qin Ming. Was he truly a clueless novice or a master provocateur? Either way, his actions left an indelible impression.
Even Zeng Yuan, now burdened with refining more blood, was at a loss. “What kind of trouble magnet is this boy?” he muttered under his breath, regretting that he had been dragged into such a bizarre ordeal.
As Qin Ming walked away, his calm demeanor hid a growing sense of satisfaction. Each step solidified his confidence. Whether by power or wit, he was determined to stand tall—even among the Disciple of the Beyond.
Qin Ming clenched his jaw in frustration. That hothead truly has no consideration for others!
Despite the bumps along the way, the collection of Pure Yang Blood Essence proceeded smoothly. Most Golden Armor Protectors were loyal followers of the Disciple of the Beyond, willing to comply without complaint.
Only a few Outer Saints refrained from contributing their blood. These individuals, clearly invited as allies, had no obligation to do so. Qin Ming noticed the gazes of certain disciples lingering on him, particularly those practicing specialized techniques like Chen Shu Hang, who wielded the Five-Colored Thunderfire Force, Jiang Cong Yun of Pure Yang Palace, and a youth suspected to have mastered Jade Purity Force.
These individuals, adept at resisting the oppressive Celestial Light of the pit, were likely the ones Qin Ming would face in the upcoming struggle.
As time passed, preparations were completed.
Containers such as jade bottles and crystal flasks, typically used for storing elixirs, were now filled with Pure Yang Blood Essence, glowing vividly with radiant energy. Each drop of blood sparkled like a sacred relic, brimming with vitality and potency. Combined with rare herbs, it would make a formidable elixir.
Similarly, wisps of Pure Yang Spiritual Light gathered into a soft, luminous orb resembling a miniature sun.
When it came time to select who would descend into the pit’s depths, minor disputes arose. Though some individuals had already been chosen, the risks involved were significant. No one could guarantee their safety, even with Pure Yang Spiritual Light or Blood Essence as protection.
Qin Ming caught the attention of some core disciples, who hoped to recruit him for the expedition. Despite his initial reluctance, he did not outright refuse. His curiosity about the Near-Immortal Artifact drew him in, wanting to ensure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands.
“We don’t officially collect techniques from other schools, but our library occasionally contains rare works…” Hu Ting Wen, Tang Xu Mi, and the other core disciples approached him discreetly, offering a deal.
“I’d like a complete mystical art,” Qin Ming responded plainly.
“Well,” Hu Ting Wen replied, “we might have something tucked away, though it would take time to locate. What I can promise immediately is a remarkable technique—perhaps a partial version of the Divine Ape Force.”
Eventually, the expedition team was finalized: Chen Shu Hang with his Five-Colored Thunderfire Force, Jiang Cong Yun of Pure Yang Palace, and Qin Ming would lead the effort to retrieve the artifact.
The group made their way into the pit. Qin Ming reluctantly coated his golden armor with Pure Yang Blood Essence, his entire body emanating a vibrant red glow that pulsed with sacred energy. Chen Shu Hang opted to shield himself with Pure Yang Spiritual Light, while Jiang Cong Yun used a mix of both blood and spiritual light for protection.
In many ways, the trio was serving as test subjects—pioneers whose experiences would inform the others waiting above.
The pit’s depths were oppressive, with the violent Celestial Light akin to divine flames. Their armor began to smolder, thin wisps of smoke rising as the Pure Yang Blood Essence and Spiritual Light were gradually consumed. Yet, the protective measures proved effective, allowing them to press forward.
“Do neither of you have any other plans?” Jiang Cong Yun asked as they trudged deeper. “Surely, we could study the Near-Immortal Artifact or even borrow its power temporarily?”
His words carried weight. The Pure Yang Palace, with its illustrious history and widespread influence, was no small force within the Night Fog World.
“We should indeed study it,” Chen Shu Hang agreed.
Qin Ming nodded. He saw no need to argue—he had already expected his companions to harbor ulterior motives.
“Perhaps treasures or relics have scattered around the artifact’s vicinity,” Jiang Cong Yun added with a smile.
Qin Ming’s mind sharpened at the remark. The Pure Yang Palace was ancient and powerful, and it seemed Jiang Cong Yun might possess knowledge about secrets hidden within the pit.
As they moved closer to the center, the oppressive glow intensified. At last, they glimpsed their destination—a radiant source of multicolored light shrouded in swirling mist.
Qin Ming’s caution grew as they neared. His confidence was strong, but the dangers of this place were not to be underestimated.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from above.
High above the pit, chaos erupted among the core disciples.
Tang Xu Mi, Su Jing Shu, Jiang Sheng Yu, and Luo Qing Ge, despite their earlier conflicts, had unexpectedly joined forces to attack Hu Ting Wen and Sun Jing Tian. However, their efforts were in vain—the two had anticipated the ambush and escaped with only minor injuries.
The battle spread, drawing closer to the onlookers. Startlingly, the six combatants turned their attention to a seemingly ordinary disciple.
In an astonishing display, the previously unnoticed individual erupted with dazzling Five-Colored Radiance, launching an attack that sent Luo Qing Ge flying.
It was none other than Cui Chong He. His cold, piercing eyes betrayed no emotion as he stood amidst the chaos. Though surrounded, his calm demeanor hinted that he had already accepted he might lose this chance at the artifact.
Meanwhile, at the pit’s center, Qin Ming, Chen Shu Hang, and Jiang Cong Yun arrived at their destination.
The air crackled with energy as Chen Shu Hang unleashed the power of his Five-Colored Thunderfire Force, thunderclaps echoing through the cavern. Jiang Cong Yun followed suit, his Pure Yang Force blazing brilliantly, dispersing the nearby Celestial Light in an instant.
Qin Ming stepped forward, his expression composed. It was time for him to act. His Celestial Light Force surged, radiating the presence of a Youth Master—a true master in the making.
In that moment, he knew the confrontation was far from over. The battle for the Near-Immortal Artifact had only just begun.