Chapter 137: A New Option
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The dense night fog enveloped the battlefield, but the silver flames had long been extinguished. All that remained was Qin Ming’s fist, radiant with the blazing power of celestial light, hovering just in front of Yu Zhuo Han’s brow.
Yu Zhuo Han lay motionless on the ground, completely unconscious.
In the distance, Cui He and Cui Shu Ning were overwhelmed with a flood of emotions, their chests tight with frustration. The worst-case scenario had come to pass. The strength of this “fake Cui Chong He” far surpassed their expectations. If he were truly a member of the Cui family, they might have been cheering for such a dazzlingly talented youth.
But the chasm between Qin Ming and them was too vast to bridge. Their enmity made any reconciliation impossible. More troubling still, if Qin Ming continued to grow unchecked, neither Cui He nor Cui Shu Ning would sleep peacefully again.
The wilderness fell into silence. Among the observing youths, waves of astonishment rippled through their hearts. Slowly, the quiet was replaced by a buzz of animated discussion.
“Wake up!” Qin Ming nudged Yu Zhuo Han. How could he faint like this? Qin Ming had hoped to trigger a resonance at the height of his opponent’s emotional turmoil.
Realizing that his unified celestial light exerted a suppressive and harmful effect on the Secret Sect’s Divine Wisdom, Qin Ming sighed and reined in the aura of his fists. With no other choice, he decided to search for spoils of victory.
Just as he reached out to begin his search, a chilling premonition made the hairs on his body stand on end. Somehow, two figures had silently appeared nearby, observing him.
One of them was Meng Xing Hai, which eased Qin Ming’s tension somewhat. The other, shrouded in a black robe, was indeterminate in gender but clearly cared deeply for Yu Zhuo Han.
These two were likely here to prevent Qin Ming from killing Yu Zhuo Han outright. Qin Ming had no intention of doing so—he didn’t wish to make unnecessary enemies. After all, the silver-haired youth had once defied Cui Shu Ning, claiming that such conflicts were a way to sharpen himself. It was clear he wasn’t entirely loyal to the Cui family.
Qin Ming figured that Cui He and Cui Shu Ning might even be relieved if he killed Yu Zhuo Han, given that the youth likely had a notable background and a strong future in the Secret Sect.
His hand was already extended, ready to retrieve some treasures from Yu Zhuo Han’s belongings, when he noticed both Meng Xing Hai and the black-robed figure watching his every move.
Awkward but unfazed, Qin Ming smiled politely and quipped, “Brother, the ground’s soaked with dew. You should get up—I didn’t even hit you that hard.”
Turning his extended hand into a helpful shake, Qin Ming lightly tapped Yu Zhuo Han’s shoulder, attempting to rouse him.
The black-robed figure spoke, “We’re all members of the Secret Sect, so where’s the harmony in this? Your nephew doesn’t seem to hold back—those sun-like fists of his could’ve burned through any ordinary sect member’s Divine Wisdom.”
Meng Xing Hai shook his head. “It’s his first time fighting a Secret Sect member. He doesn’t know the nuances of our techniques, so he misjudged the intensity.”
Hearing this exchange, Cui He and Cui Shu Ning, listening from afar, felt as though their minds were about to unravel. It seemed that Meng Xing Hai had known about the youth they had recruited and even had a connection with him!
Yu Zhuo Han finally regained consciousness. The first thing he saw was Qin Ming’s radiant smile—a sight that filled him with dread. The oppressive presence of this terrifying opponent loomed nearby, and the sheer brilliance of his celestial light threatened to obliterate his Divine Wisdom entirely.
“Don’t worry,” Qin Ming said quickly, trying to soothe him. “Just don’t faint again.”
The black-robed figure stepped forward. “Stand up,” they said.
Flushing slightly, Yu Zhuo Han insisted, “I didn’t faint out of fear. It was the scorching power of his sun-like fists that injured my Divine Wisdom!”
Qin Ming looked regretful as he watched Yu Zhuo Han retrieve his Red Jade Iron Sword. The silver-haired youth remained vigilant, convinced there was something unsettling about Qin Ming’s gaze.
With this, the battle officially came to an end. Some were jubilant, while others were filled with dismay. The onlookers in the wilderness each had their own reactions to what they had witnessed.
Among a group of young spectators, the atmosphere was especially lively. They were utterly shocked by the strength of their former acquaintance.
None of them had anticipated Qin Ming’s meteoric rise. Two years ago, it was widely known that his life had taken a drastic turn, and many assumed his path had been irreversibly altered.
Given the setbacks he had faced and his late start on the path of awakening—less than half a year—how could he possibly catch up, let alone surpass them?
Yet Qin Ming had defied all expectations. After two years of silence, the once-forgotten youth had resurfaced as an aberrant, his power undeniable.
Zheng Mao Rong felt a chill crawl up his spine. He had believed his old acquaintance had been buried in obscurity, easily crushed in some remote corner. Yet now, Qin Ming had grown so fearsome that the very thought of it unsettled him deeply.
Nearby, some familiar faces were already planning to invite Qin Ming to a small gathering in Red Glow City.
“I always knew he’d pull himself back together sooner or later!” someone said, smiling.
Whether such words were genuine or not was hard to tell. Still, a few were sincerely happy for Qin Ming. In the past, many had hesitated to visit him in Red Glow City, constrained by external pressures. Seeing him rise from adversity, earning the recognition of Meng Xing Hai and even the elders of the Li family, brought them a sense of relief.
Meanwhile, the members of the Li family chuckled openly, ignoring the dark expressions of Cui He and Cui Shu Ning. Compared to past conflicts—like Qin Ming kicking Li Qing Xiao—this was nothing.
Each of Qin Ming’s triumphs felt like a slap to the face for Cui He and Cui Shu Ning, stoking their frustration.
Even Li Qing Xu, who had nearly killed Qin Ming in the past, left some of his family uneasy. The failure to deal with him thoroughly back then had created this looming threat.
By contrast, Qi Dao Ming smiled easily, chatting with Meng Xing Hai about their youthful escapades.
Cui He and Cui Shu Ning, however, struggled to compose themselves. The defeat of a “seed” chosen by the Secret Sect only underscored that Qin Ming had the potential to enter the Six Rulers Sect’s inner circle, revealing a talent even greater than they had feared.
As Cui Shu Ning turned, she caught sight of the Wang family leaving the scene without a word, disappearing into the depths of the night fog.
Cui He fumed silently. Not only had he been humiliated in front of his peers, but he now had to hand over the remnants of the Wood Sutra and Longevity Sutra. It was a bitter pill to swallow.
Sure enough, Meng Xing Hai walked over with a bright smile and extended his hand without any hesitation, blatantly demanding the prize in front of everyone.
From a distance, Li Qing Yun sat atop a large green stone, chuckling. “Cui Fifth Master, what do you think of my judgment? Not bad at picking people, right?”
Cui Fifth Master clenched his jaw, tempted to slap the smug grin off Li Qing Yun’s face. This was nothing but a thinly veiled jab at his own poor foresight.
He replied coolly, “The path of the newly awakened isn’t easy. Few ever make it to the end. Across the ages, how many have truly risen to the rank of ancestor-level figures?”
As he spoke, his frustration gradually faded. The path of the newly awakened demanded immense time and effort. By contrast, Cui Chong He, blessed with near-immortal potential, walked the Exotic Path, which promised rapid ascension.
In his view, Cui Chong He would not only surpass his peers but also stand above several generations of newly awakened, from young adults to elders.
Meanwhile, Lu Yu Zhi strode gracefully through the night fog, her figure radiant as if she were a spirit of the mountains. Her ethereal beauty stood out, untainted by the world. She approached Qin Ming with a warm smile.
“I never expected you to be an aberrant,” she said. “Back in the Purple Bamboo Forest of Jin Rui City, when you deciphered the eight-colored Celestial Light Force, it left me truly astonished.”
Her admiration was genuine. She marveled at the depth of Qin Ming’s understanding of Celestial Light Force, particularly for someone who had not yet joined a sect like Yuqing or the Six Rulers. It was nothing short of extraordinary.
In Lu Yu Zhi’s eyes, even the secretly nurtured prodigies of great sects couldn’t surpass Qin Ming. She believed that, with proper guidance from the elders of Yuqing, combined with rigorous training in the sect’s core techniques, Qin Ming might one day compete for titles such as “Young Sect Leader” or even “Young Grandmaster.”
Her smile widened as she asked, “Have you considered joining the Yuqing Lineage?”
Qin Ming paused, intrigued. He knew the Yuqing Lineage was preparing for the upcoming era of great expansion and rapidly recruiting disciples. While this approach might dilute the quality of their training, the opportunity still piqued his interest.
Lu Yu Zhi handed him a golden slip of paper, explaining that it served as an invitation for the Yuqing Lineage’s core disciple trials at their headquarters.
Qin Ming accepted it with a smile, thanking her sincerely. Whether or not he decided to go, having another option was always a good thing.
Not far away, Cui He and Cui Shu Ning’s hearts sank. The Yuqing Lineage had extended an invitation to Qin Ming—an act that only deepened their frustration. To make matters worse, the one offering the invitation was none other than Lu Yu Zhi, an aberrant herself and someone they couldn’t afford to offend, even as members of the older generation.
“Qin Ming!” A group of young men and women approached with enthusiasm, surrounding him. With Lu Yu Zhi present, they naturally gravitated toward her company.
“It’s been a while,” Qin Ming greeted them warmly, his smile cordial.
“Hand it over!” Meng Xing Hai, noticing Cui He’s reluctance to part with the scriptures, took matters into his own hands. Without waiting, he snatched the texts directly.
“You’re crossing the line, Meng!” Cui He fumed, his hair turning a vivid green in his fury.
Meng Xing Hai, now holding the scriptures, ignored him completely and walked away without another word.
By this time, Qin Ming found himself surrounded by a lively crowd. Even Yu Zhuo Han had joined them, showing that their earlier battle had forged a begrudging camaraderie.
Meng Xing Hai turned and extended an invitation. “You’ve come from afar. Let’s head back to Red Glow City. I’ll host you all and give you a proper welcome.”
As they journeyed back, Qin Ming contemplated his next steps. With so many paths now open to him, he wondered which would suit him best.
Meng Xing Hai, walking beside him, spoke with uncharacteristic seriousness. “You need to think carefully. Make sure you secure a golden invitation from the Six Rulers Sect as well. It’s always better to have more options than none.”
He then handed the remnants of the Wood Sutra and Longevity Sutra to Qin Ming.