Chapter 119: A Bountiful Harvest
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
At the edge of the giant pit, a handful of disciples from the Beyond descended, their bodies glowing with the protective aura of Pure Yang Blood Essence. The divine radiance surrounded them like shooting stars, piercing through the thick, colorful mist created by the celestial light.
With Pure Yang Blood shielding them, they could safely enter the pit, though they had previously avoided the risk themselves. After all, wasn’t that why they had enlisted Outer Saints to begin with?
Qin Ming stood beside a patch of ash on the ground, holding the radiant Eight-Trigram Furnace. He spoke softly, his tone cold: “The curtain rises. This stage belongs to the disciples of the Beyond. What were you interfering for? If you don’t act, you won’t die.”
Having finished off He Tai, he turned to look at Chen Xing Yuan and Li Tian He.
The two stood atop a slope, aloof and unaffected. Neither had intervened to assist He Tai.
Now, however, their expressions grew serious. Qin Ming’s clean and decisive handling of a disciple from the Great Ape King Lineage left them feeling pressured.
“He Tai wasn’t an Aberration, but he was fairly renowned. His death here will undoubtedly stir trouble.”
“The Great Ape King Lineage, due to its techniques, is known for producing hot-tempered and vengeful individuals,” said Li Tian He and Chen Xing Yuan in turn.
Qin Ming nodded. “The disciples of the Beyond will arrive soon.”
Though their words seemed unrelated, all three understood each other’s intent perfectly.
Chen Xing Yuan remarked, “When the disciples arrive, we’ll simply tell the truth—that He Tai went to assist but was tragically burned to ash by the celestial light.”
Qin Ming tapped the furnace with his finger. A crisp metallic hum rang out, like the chime of a sacred bell, cleansing the heart of any distractions.
“You won’t understand the wonders of the near-immortal artifact without hands-on experience,” Qin Ming said calmly.
“Let’s be honest. We do want to study it,” Li Tian He admitted.
“In addition to your ‘truthful explanation,’ I want some Celestial Light Force techniques,” Qin Ming said.
“You have quite the appetite,” one of them remarked with a raised brow.
“Helping you cover this up ensures we can never change our story later. Isn’t that enough for you?”
Their words were edged with frustration, and faint frowns creased their foreheads.
“You’re too stingy,” Qin Ming said with a faint smile. “You want to study the near-immortal artifact without offering anything in return? Do you think this is a charity? Your time is running out.”
What could have been a bloody confrontation shifted into an impromptu “negotiation.” It seemed He Tai would be the only one to suffer this day.
Although Qin Ming was tempted to thrash the two of them as well, the time and place weren’t right. Taking down another expert would escalate matters far beyond what he wanted.
“Fine. I have a Celestial Light Force technique,” Chen Xing Yuan relented.
Li Tian He followed suit, agreeing to offer a technique.
Both were eager to examine the Eight-Trigram Furnace, guessing that their sects’ records might hold valuable insights into it.
Qin Ming approached them, confident they wouldn’t act against him. They all understood that none of them had the power to instantly overpower the others.
“I’ve got an iron-leg technique…” Chen Xing Yuan began.
Qin Ming cut him off sharply. “Iron-leg technique? What kind of junk is that?” He glared at Chen Xing Yuan. “Your Five Elements Palace is loaded with treasures. Just give me a decent five-element technique—don’t worry, I won’t ask for anything too advanced.”
Chen Xing Yuan’s face froze. Qin Ming’s demand was outrageous. He himself was still in the midst of mastering advanced techniques; giving one to an outsider was out of the question. If he dared to leak such a method, the elders of the Five Elements Palace would flay him alive.
“How about Yin Earth Fist?” Chen Xing Yuan offered reluctantly, clearly feeling he was being extorted.
“I already have the Wu Earth Scripture. Why would I want that?” Qin Ming replied, shaking his head in disdain. “The Five Elements Palace isn’t as impressive as I thought.”
Chen Xing Yuan frowned deeply, glancing at the approaching disciples of the Beyond. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. Take Wind-Fire Force.”
“What’s its specialty?” Qin Ming asked.
“It combines the ferocity of fire with the swiftness of wind,” Chen Xing Yuan explained. “Not only is it a powerful offensive Celestial Light Force, but it also doubles as an exceptional movement technique.”
Qin Ming nodded immediately. “Demonstrate it. Recite the method while you’re at it. I’ll follow along.”
Li Tian He wisely distanced himself, giving the two some space.
Moments later, Chen Xing Yuan’s expression grew complex. He had only demonstrated the technique once, but Qin Ming was already nodding as if he understood. Was this an act, or was Qin Ming truly that gifted? Shaking off his doubts, he focused on the Eight-Trigram Furnace, trying to sense its mysteries. Unfortunately, aside from the clarity of mind brought on by tapping its surface, he uncovered nothing.
On the other side, Qin Ming completed his deal with Li Tian He, gaining the Jade Radiance Force.
This Celestial Light Force was known for its restorative properties. When practiced, it nourished the body and healed injuries. According to Li Tian He, circulating it daily was akin to consuming jade nectar, a powerful tonic for physical vitality.
Though exaggerated, the technique undoubtedly had long-term benefits.
“Pity. If He Tai were still alive, I might’ve been able to get another technique,” Qin Ming said, glancing at the pile of ash left behind.
By now, the disciples of the Beyond had arrived, though they kept their distance from the pit’s depths. Even with Pure Yang Blood protecting them, they were wary of the intensely concentrated celestial light below.
They watched as Chen Xing Yuan and Li Tian He examined the Eight-Trigram Furnace. This was no surprise—who wouldn’t be interested in such a relic?
The disciples made no attempt to interfere. After all, it had been retrieved at great risk.
Tang Xu Mi, Jiang Sheng Yu, and other key figures had not come in person, instead sending their most trusted representatives. A few disciples, clearly harboring their own ambitions, had also arrived.
“Everyone, we paid a heavy price to retrieve the near-immortal artifact,” Chen Xing Yuan announced, his tone flat. “Unfortunately, Brother He Tai was burned to ash by the celestial light. Truly, the heavens are envious of talent.”
Even as he spoke of such a tragic loss, his expression remained calm, almost indifferent.
Qin Ming observed him quietly, realizing this boy was deliberately cultivating an air of detachment. He seemed determined to maintain a facade of indifference, unaffected by joy or sorrow.
Li Tian He noticed Qin Ming’s gaze and explained, “He’s practicing the Withering and Flourishing Sutra. He’s currently in the ‘withering’ phase.”
“How tragic! Brother He Tai, so gifted, taken from us too soon. What a loss—a future Youth Master gone!”
One disciple after another offered token condolences, their words hollow. Their eyes never left the Eight-Trigram Furnace. Some even smiled faintly, struggling to suppress their excitement as they “mourned.”
After studying the furnace, Chen Xing Yuan and Li Tian He kept their word, calmly recounting the circumstances of He Tai’s death before returning the artifact to Qin Ming.
“Brothers, retrieving this relic cost He Tai his life, and I myself am gravely injured…” Qin Ming began.
“Junior brother, I have some spiritual medicine for you!” one disciple said enthusiastically, tossing over a jade bottle.
Qin Ming sighed. “The friend who brought me here to assist was badly injured and left early. Now, I don’t know who to give this near-immortal artifact to.”
“Junior brother, give it to me! It’s a dangerous thing to carry—it could bring disaster to you.”
At the edge of the pit, several disciples of the Beyond descended, their bodies shining with the protective radiance of Pure Yang Blood Essence. They streaked through the thick, colorful mists like meteors, their brilliance piercing the dense celestial light.
Using Pure Yang Blood, they could safely venture into such treacherous regions, though earlier they had refrained from risking themselves. After all, wasn’t that why they relied on Outer Saints to retrieve treasures?
Qin Ming, holding the radiant Eight-Trigram Furnace, glanced at the ash left from He Tai’s demise. He muttered under his breath, his tone cutting, “The curtain rises. This stage belongs to the disciples of the Beyond. What business did you have interfering? If you hadn’t acted recklessly, you’d still be alive.”
With He Tai defeated, Qin Ming turned his gaze to Chen Xing Yuan and Li Tian He.
The two stood calmly on the slope, aloof as they watched. Neither had intervened during He Tai’s final struggle.
But now, their expressions grew serious. Qin Ming’s swift and decisive handling of a disciple from the Great Ape King Lineage was no small matter. They could feel the weight of his strength pressing upon them.
“He Tai wasn’t an Aberration, but he had a solid reputation. His death here will undoubtedly stir trouble.”
“The Great Ape King Lineage, due to its techniques, is known for its fiery tempers and vengeful nature,” Li Tian He and Chen Xing Yuan remarked in turn.
Qin Ming nodded. “The disciples of the Beyond will arrive soon.”
Though their words seemed unrelated, each clearly understood the other’s intentions.
Chen Xing Yuan added, “When they arrive, we’ll tell the truth—that He Tai came to assist you but was tragically burned to ash by the celestial light.”
Qin Ming tapped the Eight-Trigram Furnace with his finger, producing a crisp, melodic chime like a sacred bell. The sound seemed to clear the mind of all distractions.
“You can’t truly understand the wonders of a near-immortal artifact without handling it yourself,” Qin Ming said, his voice calm.
“To be honest, we do want to study it,” Li Tian He admitted.
“In addition to your ‘truthful explanation,’ I’d like some Celestial Light Force techniques as compensation,” Qin Ming countered.
“You’re asking for too much,” Chen Xing Yuan said, his brow furrowing.
“If we cover for you, that’s already a favor we can’t retract later. Isn’t that enough?”
Qin Ming remained unfazed. “You’re being stingy. You want to examine the near-immortal artifact without offering anything in return? Life doesn’t work that way. And you’re running out of time.”
What could have easily turned into a bloody confrontation instead shifted into an impromptu negotiation. It seemed He Tai would remain the sole casualty of the day.
While Qin Ming was tempted to give the two a thrashing, this wasn’t the time or place. Killing another core disciple could escalate matters beyond control.
“Fine. I have a Celestial Light Force technique,” Chen Xing Yuan finally conceded.
Li Tian He followed suit, offering one of his own.
Both were deeply curious about the Eight-Trigram Furnace, suspecting their respective sects’ archives might hold valuable insights into its mysteries.
Qin Ming approached them confidently. He wasn’t worried about an ambush; they all understood that none of them had the power to decisively overpower the others.
“I’ve got an iron-leg technique…” Chen Xing Yuan began.
“Iron-leg technique? What kind of nonsense is that?” Qin Ming interrupted, glaring at him. “Your Five Elements Palace has plenty of treasures. Just give me a proper five-element technique. I’m not asking for anything too advanced.”
Chen Xing Yuan’s face froze. Qin Ming’s demand was outrageous. He himself was still in the process of mastering high-level techniques—how could he possibly share one with an outsider? If he dared to, the elders of the Five Elements Palace would surely punish him severely.
“How about Yin Earth Fist?” Chen Xing Yuan offered reluctantly, clearly unhappy with the situation.
“I already have the Wu Earth Scripture. Why would I need that?” Qin Ming replied dismissively. “Is the Five Elements Palace really this unimpressive?”
Chen Xing Yuan frowned deeply, glancing at the approaching disciples of the Beyond. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. Take Wind-Fire Force.”
“What’s it about?” Qin Ming asked.
“Wind fuels fire, and fire rides the wind. It’s not only a powerful offensive Celestial Light Force, but also an exceptional movement technique,” Chen Xing Yuan explained.
Qin Ming nodded. “Demonstrate it and recite the method. I’ll follow along.”
Li Tian He tactfully stepped back, giving them space.
Moments later, Chen Xing Yuan’s expression turned complicated. He had only demonstrated the technique once, yet Qin Ming was already nodding as if he understood it fully. Was this confidence, talent, or pretense? Shaking his head, Chen Xing Yuan turned his attention back to the Eight-Trigram Furnace, trying to sense its secrets. But aside from the clarity of mind brought by tapping it, he found nothing.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming completed his deal with Li Tian He, gaining the Jade Radiance Force.
The technique was known for its restorative properties, nourishing the body and healing injuries. According to Li Tian He, practicing it daily was akin to consuming jade nectar, a potent tonic for physical vitality.
“Pity. If He Tai were still alive, I might’ve gotten another technique,” Qin Ming remarked, glancing at the ash left behind.
By now, the disciples of the Beyond had arrived, though they kept their distance from the pit’s depths. Even with Pure Yang Blood, they hesitated to approach the most dangerous areas.
They watched as Chen Xing Yuan and Li Tian He examined the Eight-Trigram Furnace. This was no surprise—who wouldn’t be curious about such a relic?
The disciples refrained from interfering. After all, the furnace had been retrieved at great risk.
“Everyone, we paid a steep price to bring out this near-immortal artifact,” Chen Xing Yuan announced flatly. “Sadly, Brother He Tai was reduced to ash by the celestial light. Truly a loss.”
Despite the somber announcement, his tone remained calm and detached.
Qin Ming observed him quietly, noting his cultivated air of indifference. It was as if he wanted to project an image of someone untouched by joy or sorrow.
Li Tian He noticed Qin Ming’s gaze and offered an explanation. “He’s practicing the Withering and Flourishing Sutra. He’s currently in the ‘withering’ phase.”
“Tragic! Brother He Tai, so gifted, taken from us too soon. What a loss for the future Youth Masters,” said one disciple after another, their condolences hollow.
Their eyes, however, stayed fixed on the Eight-Trigram Furnace, some even smiling faintly as they spoke.
Chen Xing Yuan and Li Tian He honored their deal, calmly recounting He Tai’s fate before returning the artifact to Qin Ming.
“Brothers, retrieving this treasure cost me dearly. My friend, who brought me here, was gravely injured and left early. I don’t even know who to entrust this near-immortal artifact to now,” Qin Ming said.
“Junior brother, give it to me! It’s a dangerous thing to carry—it could bring disaster to you.” One disciple stepped forward eagerly.
Before anyone could argue further, the situation changed. A figure clad in flowing robes appeared, wielding a crystal bamboo staff. Standing on the slope, they blocked the path.
It was Li Qing Xu, who had personally entered the fray.
“Brother Tang… Brother Hu Ting Wen!”
The disciples immediately called out, summoning reinforcements.
Li Qing Xu moved like a streak of lightning, his hands gripping a shimmering purple bamboo staff. This artifact had once withstood the power of Outer Celestial Light without being destroyed, later refined by his master into a weapon capable of momentarily cutting through even the densest celestial radiance.
With a sharp bang, Li Qing Xu brought the bamboo staff crashing down. One of the disciples of the Beyond was sent flying over ten meters, unable to stand against him.
“Hand it over!” he demanded coldly, his voice as sharp as his movements. He became a flash of light, racing forward with the intent to seize the near-immortal artifact.
Down below, at the base of the slope, Qin Ming reacted swiftly. He unstrapped his Great Bow, its frame crafted from Blue Jade Iron, and nocked one of the special Blue Feathered Arrows. Channeling an immense amount of Celestial Light into the arrow, he pulled the string taut and let it fly.
The arrow tore through the air like a streak of pure energy, its sharpness unmatched.
Li Qing Xu was forced to react mid-stride. His hand bled as the blue arrowhead sliced through his flesh, carving a deep gash. The injury made him falter for a moment, his icy gaze sharpening into something even more terrifying.
Cold electricity flashed from his eyes, and his movements slowed. But despite the injury, he remained unshaken.
“Li Qing Xu is on another level,” Qin Ming muttered under his breath, realizing just how formidable the core disciple truly was. His arrow, enhanced by Celestial Light, hadn’t fully pierced Li Qing Xu’s hand or hit its intended target.
“Junior brother, you take it!” another disciple, currently holding the Eight-Trigram Furnace, shouted before tossing it back with a loud clang. The artifact tumbled through the air, landing near Qin Ming with a resonating thud.
Enraged by the defiance, Li Qing Xu charged forward again. With a single swing of his bamboo staff, he sent the unfortunate disciple flying over twenty meters. The force shattered bones and tore muscles, leaving the man grievously injured.
“Li Qing Xu! Even injured, you refuse to back down!” shouted a voice from the edge of the pit. Tang Xu Mi, Jiang Sheng Yu, and Hu Ting Wen had finally arrived, stepping into the battlefield.
Their arrival seemed to shift the tide. At this pivotal moment, every disciple of the Beyond appeared at the edge of the pit. The air buzzed with tension, all eyes locked on the Eight-Trigram Furnace. Its final owner would soon be decided.
Qin Ming scanned the crowd, recognizing several familiar faces. An idea sparked in his mind. Without hesitation, he bent down, grabbed the furnace, and hurled it with all his strength.
The sacred artifact, radiant with celestial light and shrouded in divine mist, flew through the air. With a loud clang, it landed squarely in front of Zheng Mao Ze.
Zheng Mao Ze’s pupils contracted as he stared at the Eight-Trigram Furnace lying before him. It radiated with an overwhelming aura of power, filling the air around it with brilliant hues of light. His thoughts raced. Was this a blessing—or a curse?