Chapter 141: An Unexpected and Astonishing Gain
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The pitch-black night cloaked a vast plain brimming with dense forests.
In the stillness, a half-human-sized weasel stood in Qin Ming’s path, speaking in a clear human voice. Its yellow fur gleamed like polished silk, and it wore azure-gold armor paired with a helmet. Faint arcs of electricity flickered around its body, lending it an aura of mystery and danger.
“What do you want, blocking my way?” Qin Ming asked calmly.
“Youngsters nowadays are truly reckless,” the weasel replied, its tone condescending. “You’ve slaughtered all the young wolves in the Wolf Ridge, and now you play dumb?”
“And what does that have to do with you?” Qin Ming retorted coldly.
The slender weasel stood its ground and replied, “They’re wolves, and as one of their kin, they call me Uncle Huang. What do you think?”
Qin Ming scrutinized the creature. Despite its claim, it was clearly a weasel and not a member of the wolf race. He sneered, “If you miss your so-called nephews so much, you should join them in the afterlife. That way, your family can be reunited.”
“I am Huang Yuan, and I do not kill nameless fools. Young man, I’ll give you the chance to leave your name before you die,” the weasel said, slowly drawing a pitch-black blade nearly as long as its own body from its back.
“You’re just a weasel; stop pretending to be a big-shot wolf!” Qin Ming taunted, but his heart remained alert. Despite its appearance, the weasel exuded a sense of real danger. Qin Ming tightened his grip on his blade and stared it down.
“For the past few years, I’ve seen many like you,” Huang Yuan continued, adjusting its helmet with its small claws. “Youthful zeal, burning passion. You all charge into this Shenzhang Plains to slay demons and protect the people along the borders.”
Shenzhang Plains? The name startled Qin Ming—it suggested ties to pseudo-godlike beings.
Huang Yuan chuckled darkly. “And how do you think they fared? Dead. Every last one of them. I’ve even kept a few souvenirs—finger bones, plucked from their corpses.”
With a tap of its blade handle, it gestured at a necklace of small bones hanging from its neck. “They call these ‘heart bones,’ as fingers are said to connect directly to the heart. I’ve collected thirty-five so far. With yours, the number will reach thirty-six, the full count of heavenly stars.”
Qin Ming’s killing intent flared as his gaze fell on the grisly necklace. These were indeed the finger bones of human youths. Yet, he didn’t act impulsively. Although he was still a newly awakened being, his sharpened intuition and fragments of divine insight warned him—there were two hidden presences nearby, lying in wait to launch a fatal ambush in concert with the weasel.
Qin Ming sighed inwardly. Even a weasel knew how to employ strategy—mocking him to provoke recklessness while coordinating with its allies for a flawless kill.
“You hot-blooded geniuses,” Huang Yuan mocked. “Killing you gives me the greatest satisfaction. It’s like extinguishing your entire race’s future.”
Without a word, Qin Ming discarded the mother blade of his paired weapons and wielded the White Jade Alloy Blade. However, he refrained from infusing it with his Celestial Light Force for now, keeping its glow subdued.
Electricity crackled around the weasel as it summoned a fierce gale. Lifting itself off the ground, it moved as if flying with its blade. Wind and thunder roared around it as it charged at incredible speed.
Suddenly, Qin Ming shifted direction, dashing toward the dense forest at his side. The White Jade Alloy Blade blazed to life, emitting a radiant Celestial Light. Its pristine blade hummed sharply.
Among the thick trees, two human figures lay in ambush—a man and a woman. They had strategically positioned themselves to form a triangle with the weasel, aiming to attack from behind and finish him off.
Instead, Qin Ming lunged directly at the man. The Dominating Force radiated from his body, creating a whirlwind that snapped branches and pulverized shrubs in his path. The blade in his hand flashed like a bolt of lightning, slicing straight for the thirty-something man.
“Wait, brother! It’s a misunderstanding—we’re on the same side!” the man shouted. Despite his words, his black spear thrust forward mercilessly, aiming to exploit any hesitation for a killing blow.
Qin Ming’s blade met the spear with a sharp clang, cleaving it in two. Without pausing, his White Jade Alloy Blade surged with dazzling light like a miniature sun.
“You—!” The man’s eyes widened in panic. It was the White Jade Alloy Blade! He tried to retreat, but Qin Ming’s speed outmatched his.
Desperately, he raised his broken spear to block, but the blade sheared through it like rotten wood. In a blur of movements, Qin Ming’s next strike severed the man’s arm, splattering blood across the forest.
The man’s scream was cut short as Qin Ming brought the blade down again, slicing him cleanly in two. The Celestial Light Force proved unstoppable, annihilating him on the spot.
Qin Ming whirled around as Huang Yuan charged, its speed near blinding. The weasel’s body crackled with lightning and gusted wind, gliding just above the ground like it was riding its blade.
Clang!
Despite its small stature—barely reaching a grown man’s waist—Huang Yuan’s strength was monstrous. Their blades clashed, sending a piercing metallic shriek through the air. Yet, its pitch-black blade, though formidable, bore a deep notch after meeting the White Jade Alloy Blade.
This blade wasn’t ordinary; it was a trophy the weasel had taken from one of its slain victims.
The weasel, visibly startled, muttered to itself, “How is this possible?” Its years of evolution and transformation in this mystical land had elevated it far beyond ordinary beings. Even many of humanity’s Outer Saints weren’t its match; it had even enslaved two of them. Yet, here was a mere teenager, no older than his mid-teens, standing toe-to-toe with it in raw power.
The two exchanged dozens of lightning-fast blows in the blink of an eye, the clash of their blades sending sparks flying into the darkness. In the end, the weasel’s black blade shattered, its tip clattering to the ground.
Alarmed, it leapt back, trying to create distance. But Qin Ming was relentless, pursuing the creature without pause, pressing the attack.
Though engaged in combat, Qin Ming couldn’t help but admire the weasel’s mastery of swordsmanship. Its blade work was refined, as if honed over decades. Truly, this was a being of great talent, a prodigy among its kind. Yet, as exceptional as its skill was, the weasel itself was shocked—it was losing ground.
The creature, known as Huang Yuan, had undergone bloodline mutations in this land, evolving rare and potent abilities. This had granted it the equivalent of decades’ worth of cultivation. And yet, it was now being overpowered by a human teenager.
The enslaved female Outer Saint, hovering at the edges of the battle, hesitated to intervene. She made several attempts to approach, but each time retreated, unable to match the pace of their duel.
As the fight dragged on, Qin Ming’s profound mastery of the blade became evident. His strikes were precise, cutting through Huang Yuan’s azure-gold armor and leaving deep gashes on its body.
Furious, Huang Yuan gritted its teeth. This was unacceptable. It prided itself as a master swordsman, renowned across the Shenzhang Plains. Yet, it found itself outmatched, struggling against this boy.
With a sharp metallic clang, the black blade finally snapped in two. Qin Ming’s strike tore through its chest armor, shattering the plates and leaving another bloody wound.
In a desperate bid, the weasel launched itself skyward, its small hidden wings unfurling and carrying it into the night sky. These wings, previously only faintly trembling to aid its ground movements, now spread fully, shimmering under the moonlight.
“To think that I, Master Huang, famed across the Shenzhang Plains for my Wind and Thunder Blade, would lose to a fledgling boy!” it spat, its voice filled with bitter frustration.
Qin Ming remained expressionless, his calm demeanor betraying none of the effort he had exerted. Yet inwardly, he felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. Fighting a mere weasel for so long? Ridiculous. He didn’t realize the true extent of the weasel’s infamous reputation. Without sparing it another glance, he turned his blade toward the female Outer Saint.
“I was forced to help it,” she said hurriedly, her voice trembling. “I’ve been enslaved by that monster for years. Thank you for saving me.”
Qin Ming’s expression hardened. “You seem perfectly lucid, capable of reasoning. But you chose to assist it. Over the years, how much blood of your kin has stained your hands?” he demanded.
“No, don’t! Please, I was wrong!” she begged, her face pale with fear. If even Master Huang had fallen before this boy, how could she possibly stand against him?
Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Qin Ming struck without hesitation. The ensuing clash was brief but intense, ending with a spray of blood as her head was severed cleanly from her shoulders. Her lifeless body collapsed to the forest floor.
Overhead, Huang Yuan’s cunning shone through. It hadn’t intervened—it had been gathering its strength. Now, the weasel’s brow began to radiate with dazzling light. Its previously restrained Celestial Light Force condensed into its brow, releasing an awe-inspiring mental glow.
“Many have forgotten the reason for my rise to power,” it declared, its voice ominous. As a member of its species, Huang Yuan possessed a natural gift for mental attacks. Its spiritual prowess was its trump card.
The glow from its forehead intensified, warping the surrounding space. The treetops near it trembled violently before shattering into splinters. The air itself seemed to distort as it dove toward Qin Ming, shouting, “Relying solely on the physical body is the mark of lesser creatures!”
Qin Ming’s eyes narrowed. This weasel dared to spout racial superiority? Did it fancy itself godlike?
When Huang Yuan’s mental force, shaped like a shimmering blade of pure light, descended upon him, Qin Ming reacted without hesitation. Clenching his fist, he punched skyward with all his might. The energy from his blow, infused with unified Celestial Light Force, burst forth like a radiant sun, its light and heat scorching the air.
The mental blade shattered upon contact, scattering like flames into the night. Not stopping there, Qin Ming unleashed a rapid series of five consecutive strikes, each one obliterating the weasel’s follow-up attacks. It was as if a three-legged Golden Crow had descended, sweeping the darkness clean of all evil.
“Agh!” Huang Yuan shrieked, blood gushing from its mouth and nose. Beaten and battered, it flapped its wings frantically, fleeing higher into the night sky.
But Qin Ming wasn’t about to let it escape. Calmly, he drew a bow and nocked a pitch-black arrow made of White Jade Alloy.
Qin Ming’s archery was legendary, no less skilled than his blade work.
Huang Yuan, already gravely wounded, had no chance to evade. The arrow, imbued with Celestial Light Force, pierced its body, leaving a gaping, bloody wound. The energy ripped through one of its wings, shredding it entirely. The creature plummeted to the ground with a pained, shrill cry.
Like a swift leopard, Qin Ming sprinted through the forest, quickly closing the distance. He reached the fallen weasel in moments and planted his foot firmly on its body.
But something felt off. Qin Ming’s expression hardened when he saw the weasel inhale deeply.
Without hesitation, he swung his blade, using its flat side to shatter one of Huang Yuan’s legs. “No releasing your stench,” he warned coldly. “If you try, I’ll cut off all your limbs.”
He pressed the White Jade Alloy Blade against the creature’s throat.
“What do you want?” Huang Yuan asked, its voice trembling.
“I’m interested in your Thunder-Light Force and that blade technique of yours. Recite them for me,” Qin Ming demanded.
“You’ll have to let me go first,” the weasel attempted to bargain.
With a sharp crack, Qin Ming brought the flat of his blade down again, breaking both of its arms.
“I give up…” Huang Yuan muttered, lowering its head before beginning to recite the technique.
Another crack echoed as Qin Ming broke two more of its bones. His tone turned icy. “Every time you change the words or leave something out, I’ll break two more bones.”
Rattled, the weasel relented completely. Its fury and resentment boiled beneath the surface, but the memories of the technique flowed clearly into its mind.
Qin Ming ensured he obtained the full transmission of the technique—Wind and Thunder Blade, a unique style requiring Wind and Thunder Force to execute. It was a treasured art that Huang Yuan had stolen years ago after killing a promising young prodigy.
Decades ago, the Shenzhang Plains had not yet descended into chaos. Back then, Huang Yuan had ambushed the boy and stolen this technique. Over the years, it had taken the lives of more than thirty human prodigies, as it had claimed earlier.
Satisfied with his acquisition of the complete blade technique, Qin Ming showed no mercy. With a swift strike, he severed the weasel’s body in two.
“You—!” Huang Yuan shrieked, its voice full of pain and fear. Though gravely wounded, it wasn’t dead yet.
From the weasel’s heart, a brilliant purple radiance surged, flowing toward its wounds. A faint, fragrant aroma wafted into the air.
“This is…” Qin Ming’s eyes narrowed in astonishment. Without hesitation, he decapitated the creature, ending its life to ensure it wouldn’t recover.
Examining the body afterward, he discovered a purple heart filled with a rare blood—?? (Strange Blood). The blood’s properties were astonishing: it could extend life and enhance innate abilities.
“This is the legendary Strange Blood mentioned in the Fate-Altering Sutra?” Qin Ming marveled. “It grants longevity and strengthens one’s foundations. This weasel was far more extraordinary than I imagined.”
Though excited by the discovery, Qin Ming noted with a mix of joy and regret that the quantity of Strange Blood was limited. Huang Yuan had still been in its growth phase. If it had lived for several more decades, perhaps even centuries, its entire body might have transformed into Strange Blood, making it invaluable.
Based on the Fate-Altering Sutra, the blood he had now could extend his lifespan by ten years and fortify his natural potential. This was even more precious than spiritual substances that merely unlocked potential—it fundamentally increased it.
Using the methods recorded in the Fate-Altering Sutra, Qin Ming unleashed his Celestial Light Force to refine the blood. The process produced strands of purple mist, which he carefully absorbed into his body. The area became saturated with a dense, fragrant purple haze.
After purifying the Strange Blood multiple times with his Celestial Light, Qin Ming inhaled the mist into his body. A wave of vitality coursed through him, leaving his body feeling lighter and more vigorous. His flesh and blood seemed to radiate with newfound vitality.
“This effect… incredible!” he exclaimed, sensing how the Strange Blood had strengthened him. Not only had it extended his lifespan, but it also enhanced his physical foundation and potential.
Astounded by this miraculous transformation, Qin Ming began practicing the blade technique he had acquired. The Wind and Thunder Force proved to be immensely powerful, significantly boosting his speed and attack strength.
The value of the blade manual far exceeded his initial expectations. As Qin Ming continued to wield his blade, faint traces of lightning began to manifest, accompanied by the sound of thunder. His long-sought Thunder-Light Force was beginning to take shape.
For now, Qin Ming decided against leaving the Shenzhang Plains. This land was teeming with opportunities, and if another “Master Huang” crossed his path, the rewards could be equally astonishing. With his current gains, he felt immensely satisfied—and ready for more.