Chapter 125: The Tome That Stumped Generations
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming smiled faintly. “I didn’t expect it to come so soon. Clear Moon told me about this.”
“Who else could it be?” Meng Xing Hai nudged him. “Hurry up and give it a try.”
Qin Ming nodded but added, “Actually, there are others. Tang Xu Mi, Hu Ting Wen, Su Jing Shu—they still owe me a famous technique.”
Those three had mentioned discovering the God Ape Force in the scripture hall—a well-known Celestial Light Force.
Whether they would honor their word remained uncertain. Even if they did, the scriptures would likely be sent to Li Qing Yue first for review.
Meng Xing Hai chuckled. “Not bad, kid. You’ve gained quite a bit this time.”
Qin Ming nodded in agreement. His journey had been rewarding enough to leave him thoroughly content.
Without delay, he followed Meng Xing Hai to meet someone.
The ancient hall exuded an air of antiquity. It housed items such as a bronze tree, a three-legged cauldron, and other relics. From an incense burner, Calming Incense coiled upward in thin, ethereal streams of smoke.
An elderly man sat quietly, sipping tea. Though advanced in age, his complexion was ruddy, and his energy seemed inexhaustible despite his snow-white hair.
Meng Xing Hai greeted him respectfully. “Uncle Li.”
Recognizing the interaction, Qin Ming instinctively lowered his own standing and offered a formal greeting to the elder. “Greetings, sir.”
The elder’s eyes gleamed like golden lanterns as he opened them. Standing up with a genial smile, he said, “Good child. I came specifically to thank you for helping Clear Moon secure the Near-Immortal Artifact.”
It became clear that this elder was part of the Hidden Li Family and closely related to Li Qing Yue.
“I didn’t contribute much,” Qin Ming said humbly. “Without me, Clear Moon would have claimed victory regardless.”
The elder chuckled but didn’t pursue the topic. Instead, he presented three sheets of paper, saying, “I’ve brought a special technique. It has a significant lineage but is notoriously difficult to master.” He handed the pages to Qin Ming. “Take your time. There’s no need to rush.”
Curious, Qin Ming accepted the pages. The very fact that an elder of such stature personally delivered the technique hinted at its extraordinary value.
The pages were freshly copied, their faint ink scent still lingering. Each stroke and curve of the characters appeared meticulously reproduced.
“This is identical to the original,” the elder explained. “Every single stroke has been replicated faithfully to ensure there are no hidden tricks.”
Hearing this, Qin Ming felt a newfound seriousness. If the technique required such meticulous reproduction, it must be extraordinary.
The elder then brought out three copper plates. Each bore a faintly discernible humanoid figure etched with intricate lines.
“These correspond to the three pages,” he explained. “Even the blurriness has been faithfully preserved.”
Qin Ming nodded solemnly. With such attention to detail, the elder clearly placed great importance on this technique. Qin Ming carefully compared the papers with the plates, deeply studying their contents.
Before long, Qin Ming frowned. The text was cryptic, speaking broadly about the physical body and spirit with lofty and distant goals.
“‘Life as vast as the heavens, with no end…’” Qin Ming murmured. He exhaled slowly. He was still practicing Celestial Light Force and had only just begun his journey on the Awakening Path, yet here was a technique expounding on eternal life.
Even in The Beyond, where powerful elders and the top ranks of the Secret Sect resided, none had achieved immortality. Everyone eventually reached the end of their lifespan.
Most perplexing of all, the scriptures seemed like little more than vague musings. The instructions were overly general, paired with three blurry diagrams that could be interpreted in countless ways.
If not for Li Qing Yue’s connection, Qin Ming would have dismissed this as the ramblings of a charlatan.
The elder, Li Qing Yun, sipped his tea and remarked, “Don’t pressure yourself. Many have struggled with this. Those who achieve even a sliver of understanding are extraordinary.”
“What have others gained from it?” Qin Ming asked.
The elder smiled. “Very few have derived anything, but those who have are renowned. Some extended their lives late in their years, granting themselves an extra half-lifetime. Others, once dull, experienced sudden enlightenment. There are those whose average talents transformed entirely, altering their natural aptitude. And there are even cases of individuals with decayed bodies who lived a ‘second life’ purely through their spirit.”
He seemed lost in thought, admiring these possibilities.
Meng Xing Hai added, “The figures he’s mentioning are some of history’s most notable individuals—like the Reformation Patriarch of the Pure Sun Palace, the former Grandmaster of the Yin-Yang Pavilion, and the Founder of the Five Elements Palace.”
Hearing this, Qin Ming was stunned. The scriptures before him were linked to some of history’s most illustrious figures.
“I need to study this more closely,” Qin Ming said, his expression growing serious as he delved deeply into the text and diagrams.
Li Qing Yun reassured him, “There’s no rush. I’ll be here for half a month. As long as you sense something—anything—whether in your body or spirit, it shows you’re connected to the technique. That’s how it’s been throughout history. At first, people merely felt something unusual. Over time, through consistent practice and reflection, they underwent a transformation.”
Meng Xing Hai elaborated further. This scripture originated from the depths of the Night Fog World during the era of the Great Expansion. However, only a select few ever unlocked its secrets.
Even highly accomplished individuals sometimes failed to gain any insights. For instance, the founder of Sky-Supporting Force, whose physical strength was said to rival the heavens, spent three years studying the tome. Yet, he grasped nothing and nearly tore the book apart in frustration. It was only the intervention of others that preserved it.
Qin Ming studied for half an hour before pausing. His brow felt hot, an unusual tension building within. He set the pages down to rest briefly, knowing there was much to uncover.
Li Qing Yun set down his teacup and said, “In a way, this can be considered a foundational scripture. It might not give you specific methods, but it offers inspiration and possibilities.”
The tome was particularly suited for those pursuing the Mutation Path, as many of its historical beneficiaries had gained fame in this route.
Seeing Qin Ming temporarily put down the three pages, Meng Xing Hai chimed in, “Even the mighty figures of The Beyond, like Li Qing Xu’s master, attempted to study this book over a century ago. That old master was so proud and ambitious, but after five years, he gained nothing. It’s said his face stayed dark with frustration for more than half a year.”
Qin Ming raised his eyebrows. Clearly, this book had quite a reputation.
Li Qing Yun nodded. “Yes, the original text is preserved in the scripture hall of The Beyond’s Blessed Lands, but it’s been collecting dust there for years.”
This irony wasn’t lost on anyone. A tome so pivotal to the Mutation Path was held in the hands of those who largely dismissed it, underscoring the disparity in status between the two cultivation paths.
Meng Xing Hai added, “In recent history, only a handful of individuals have managed to derive anything meaningful from it.”
“It really is difficult,” Qin Ming muttered, resuming his study. Soon, he felt his forehead heat up again.
He paused, heart pounding. Could this be the ‘unusual sensation’ they mentioned?
Li Qing Yun noticed and nodded. “That’s already significant. Over the last millennium, how many people have managed even that? Truthfully, no one has ever comprehended the entire tome. They only glean parts.”
Qin Ming had to pause again, sipping tea to reflect on his state and see if any changes had occurred within him.
Meng Xing Hai then said, “The Li Family recently enlisted Lu Zhen, a core disciple of the Yin-Yang Pavilion, as a Golden Armor Protector to assist Li Qing Xu in the competition for the Near-Immortal Artifact. In return, they offered him rare treasures and promised to arrange for him to study this scripture at The Beyond’s scripture hall.”
Although the book resided within The Beyond, it wasn’t sealed away. Those who paid a sufficient price could study it.
Even someone like Cui Chong Xuan, who had practiced Six Imperial Force, was being prepared by his family to visit the hall for this purpose.
As for the more prominent Cui Chong He, an undisputed core disciple of The Beyond, he had already studied the tome. Whether he gained anything, however, was unknown.
Qin Ming’s access to the scripture this time was largely due to Li Qing Yue’s efforts. To ease any pressure Qin Ming might feel, Meng Xing Hai said, “Don’t stress over this. It’s all about fate. Even the founder of Sky-Supporting Force couldn’t make sense of it and ended up angrily throwing it out of a window. If it doesn’t work for you, we’ll just get another technique.”
“The founder of Sky-Supporting Force sounds very… down-to-earth,” Qin Ming remarked, chuckling.
“You’re missing the point,” Meng Xing Hai said, shaking his head. “I’m telling you to relax.”
“I am relaxed. My forehead just feels warm,” Qin Ming replied.
“That’s good… Wait, what did you say?”
Both Meng Xing Hai and Li Qing Yun froze, their gazes locking onto Qin Ming, their eyes beginning to shimmer with brilliant light.
“I said I’m starting to feel something,” Qin Ming explained. “It’s faint, but let me try to figure it out.”
Li Qing Yun shot to his feet. This tome had confounded countless great figures and was considered one of the most challenging ancient texts. Its comprehension depended entirely on “fate.”
Even the founder of Six Imperial Force had secretly tried to decipher it, only to come away with nothing. Unlike the blunt founder of Sky-Supporting Force, this figure had demanded secrecy, threatening anyone who revealed his failure with annihilation by Six Imperial Celestial Light.
Li Qing Yun himself had studied three pages in his younger years without gleaning anything. Now, watching a young man possibly grasp its essence left him utterly astonished. Could Qin Ming’s achievements rival those of legends?
Meng Xing Hai’s emotions surged. He had always believed in Qin Ming, but the young man’s ability to exceed expectations yet again filled him with pride. Performing well in front of Li Qing Yun, a prominent elder, was no small feat.
Initially, Meng Xing Hai expected Qin Ming to come up empty-handed with this nearly impossible text. Yet, Qin Ming once again proved relentless, extracting insights even from the toughest of challenges.
Qin Ming furrowed his brow and said, “I’m not in the best state today. It’s exhausting to study this. My forehead keeps heating up, and there’s a dull ache. But as I continue, it feels like I’m starting to grasp something. The three diagrams—well, they’re starting to look clearer, like they’re changing.”
Li Qing Yun stared in disbelief. “You’re saying you’re having this much progress even in an off state?” He turned to Meng Xing Hai and asked, “Does this boy always talk like this?”
Meng Xing Hai coughed awkwardly. “Yes, he tends to pick things up quickly.”
“This is truly maddening,” Li Qing Yun muttered. “I spent years bathing, burning incense, and meditating over this and got nothing! Now here’s this boy, casually sipping tea, claiming to see the diagrams shift!”
Li Qing Yun imagined how Li Qing Xu’s master or other venerable figures would react to such news. He could almost see them leaping out of their secluded chambers to pulverize Qin Ming in frustration.
“I think my body is also starting to heat up,” Qin Ming said, his voice tinged with wonder. “It’s subtle, but it’s there.”
Li Qing Yun couldn’t sit still any longer. Experiencing two distinct sensations while studying this text was unheard of. This boy, it seemed, was destined for greatness.