Chapter 151: Opening New Frontiers
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Zhou Tao, who had been sitting cross-legged on the back of his raptor, suddenly sprang to his feet. His pupils shone with golden light, a sharp contrast to the frustration boiling within him. As the leader of this expedition, he’d failed to prevent the other elders’ rare medicines from being plundered—a blunder far too “reckless” for his liking.
In the pitch-black night sky, the White Peacock radiated divine brilliance. Her voice was calm yet commanding: “Elder Zhou, I advise you to stay calm. Follow the rules, and all will be well. Just don’t cross the line.”
Meanwhile, Qin Ming chose not to delve deeper into the Shenzhang Plains, wary of encountering formidable adversaries. Yet, his yearning for “progress” pushed him forward; he longed to hunt demons. He knew that missing this opportunity meant it would be nearly impossible to encounter another miraculous creature capable of producing rare blood.
Determined, Qin Ming sought to continue exploring. While venturing deeper was not an option, he decided to move laterally, offering assistance to acquaintances in need. That night, he cataloged his spoils—donkey hooves, roc claws, four-colored feathers, ivory, and mountain ape finger bones—and delivered them to Stone Fortress Village as proof of his demon-slaying accomplishments.
“You… you took down all those old demons alone?” The village elder was stunned. The feat was nothing short of extraordinary!
The villagers, too, were left in awe. For years, waves of young demon slayers had come, yet not even one had managed to defeat the old donkey demon. Now, the entire horde was wiped out!
Some of the slain demons weren’t even recorded in the official archives. Qin Ming had eliminated them as an afterthought, expanding uncharted territory in the process.
Before dawn, Qin Ming resumed his journey. Even while traveling, he immersed himself in studying the Archery Manual. With every arrow he shot, he chased it down, seamlessly blending archery practice with travel.
In the vast, endless forest, he felt no fatigue. The rich essence of Wood Qi continuously nourished his body and spirit, making the journey invigorating.
In Hu Family Village, a relatively large settlement with over six hundred residents and many blue-tiled houses, a Level Two Fire Spring burned brightly. Upon arrival, Qin Ming began gathering information from the locals, asking if there were any particularly dangerous demons in the vicinity.
The village elder, standing beneath an old locust tree with a cheerful expression, replied, “Young man, you’re a bit late. Recently, a young woman, as beautiful as a fairy from a painting, has been helping us deal with demons. She’s resolved most of our troubles.”
“Look, here she comes,” the elder said, pointing.
Zhuo Ya approached gracefully, her black attire accentuating her fair, exquisite features with an air of icy elegance. She was an Aberrant of greater strength than even Cao Wu Ji.
“What brings you here, Qin Ming? Did you come to let me punch you and settle the score with my cousin?” Zhuo Ya teased, revealing herself as Yu Zhuo Han’s cousin.
Though she had appeared aloof when they first met, a smile transformed her, blooming like a snow lotus, bright and radiant.
Qin Ming chuckled. “Yu Zhuo Han and I have settled things. He’s not that petty. I’m here purely to help. Are there any old, troublesome demons around?”
Suddenly, he drew his intricately engraved silver bow, aiming at an iron-beaked parrot perched on a nearby willow tree.
“Mercy! I mean no harm! Heaven help me, why did it have to be you?” the parrot shrieked in terror.
“Don’t kill it!” Zhuo Ya intervened hastily.
“What’s going on?” Qin Ming asked, perplexed. For days, bird demons had been spying on him, and he’d shot down many of them, finally enjoying some peace.
“It’s a subordinate of the White Peacock,” Zhuo Ya explained. “They patrol the area as a safeguard. If anything goes awry beyond the rules, the White Peacock intervenes.”
The iron-beaked parrot, sobbing, lamented, “Lately, the entire bird kingdom has been abuzz with warnings: avoid the Black Roc and Fire Lion territories. Nine of my bird brothers patrolling there were shot down!”
Qin Ming was taken aback. Among the bird demons he’d killed, some were scouts for the Six Rulers?
“Why didn’t you warn me beforehand?” he asked.
“There wasn’t time! Your instincts are terrifying, and your archery is even more so. We resorted to observing from afar, but even then, no bird dared get close to you,” the parrot wailed, incredulous at its narrow escape.
The village elder, listening in, was astounded. This young man had swept through the territory, eradicating every old demon in his path!
Excitedly, he turned to Qin Ming. “Young man, there is indeed one demon left here—a white drake in the Jiao Palace. It hasn’t crossed the boundary, but its offspring often cause bloody incidents.”
“A white drake in a palace?” Qin Ming’s interest piqued. This sounded like a significant adversary.
Zhuo Ya, her expression serious, cautioned, “That drake is highly intelligent and profoundly cultivated. We couldn’t handle it.”
She had scouted the area but ultimately backed off, deeming it too dangerous.
Qin Ming, however, grew more intrigued. Could it have produced miraculous blood? Such a creature was of immense value—its existence, a secret beyond common knowledge.
Seeing his determination, Zhuo Ya decided to guide him, albeit reluctantly.
In the depths of the forest, they reached a grand structure illuminated by a Level Three Fire Spring. The light was so brilliant it turned night into day, revealing the lush greenery of the trees in stark detail.
“This white drake dominates sixty percent of this territory,” Zhuo Ya informed him, her lithe form taut like a leopard ready to leap away.
Years ago, the drake had wrought havoc, demanding villages offer countless livestock as tributes. It had acted like a deity, only retreating when the boundary-expanding efforts intensified.
Before long, Qin Ming caught sight of the legendary White Drake. It swam out from the massive palace, entering the Level Three Fire Spring, causing waves of dazzling red ripples to rise.
The creature was as thick as a water barrel, its entire body gleaming white like ivory. It stretched an impressive fifteen to sixteen meters in length. Its scales clinked audibly as they opened and closed, their durability akin to forged steel.
A single golden-tinged horn jutted from its head, and its eyes glowed crimson like blood diamonds.
Qin Ming’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He had encountered miraculous creatures with rare blood before, and his instincts told him this White Drake was another such treasure.
“This land is truly extraordinary,” he mused. Could the so-called Shenzhang Lands be a place where a fallen god nourished the creation of miraculous blood creatures?
“This drake’s bloodline is remarkably unique,” Zhuo Ya remarked.
Startled, Qin Ming turned to her.
“So, you’re here for its miraculous blood too!” Zhuo Ya said knowingly, her expression turning to one of intrigue. She admired his audacity—seeking such blood was a deadly pursuit. The White Drake was far beyond what they could handle, unless they mastered the Six Rulers Force.
Qin Ming shrugged. “I stumbled across its trail. Such discoveries are invaluable. I intend to forge ahead, expanding my territory in search of more creatures like this.”
Zhuo Ya, despite her notable lineage and knowledge of miraculous blood, was unaware that the rare medicines in this area had long been targeted by the elders of the Six Rulers Sect.
“I hunted one before,” she admitted. “I nearly died. I had to use methods from the Secret Sect to succeed. Without the Six Rulers Force, these demons are virtually invincible.”
Surprised, Qin Ming asked, “Are you and Yu Zhuo Han both from families tied to the Secret Sect?”
Zhuo Ya nodded. “I inherited their legacy but lacked the early protective techniques. That’s why I want to learn the Six Rulers Force.”
Qin Ming immediately understood that she was akin to Lu Yu Zhi, who had joined the Yuqing Sect.
“Can you balance both paths? Will the Six Rulers Sect approve?” he inquired.
“It’s manageable. My family elders have already negotiated with the sect’s leaders. I’ll follow the Secret Sect’s divine ascension path while remaining loyal to the Six Rulers Sect. I must never reveal the Six Rulers Heart Sutra, or my entire family will face consequences. The elders actually hope to retain dual-path Aberrants like me,” she explained.
Qin Ming realized the Six Rulers Sect was studying ways to merge methods from the Secret Sect and other regions, striving for survival and evolution, much like other major sects such as Yuqing and Sky-Supporting.
“He’s actually going for it!” Zhuo Ya exclaimed, retreating to a safe distance. She watched in shock as the young man who had once defeated her cousin prepared to strike.
Standing on a high vantage point, Qin Ming drew his silver bow and nocked a black jade iron arrow. The battle against the drake began.
In an instant, the arrow, glowing with an intense light like a miniature sun, streaked through the air and struck the drake’s head. A resounding crash echoed as its scales shattered, leaving a bloody wound. Had the creature’s instincts been slower, the arrow might have pierced its left eye entirely.
Now, the White Drake reared up, rising six meters tall. Its massive body twisted and crushed the forest floor as it charged at Qin Ming, emanating an overwhelming aura.
Undeterred, Qin Ming emptied his quiver of twelve black jade iron arrows, each striking the drake’s head with unerring precision. Its skull was nearly perforated. The thirteenth arrow, a blue jade iron one, struck its eye, bursting it in a spray of blood.
Zhuo Ya was dumbfounded. How could his Celestial Light Force be so powerful? Had he secretly learned the Six Rulers Heart Sutra?
Switching to melee combat, Qin Ming wielded his white jade iron blade, clashing directly with the drake. Each strike drew blood, sending its scales flying.
The seasoned drake, though gravely wounded, remained composed. Its body coiled to ensnare Qin Ming while its horn unleashed deadly electric bolts.
An ordinary Outer Saint might have been skewered by the golden lightning, but Qin Ming had mastered the Wind and Thunder Force. He deftly deflected the lightning and kept the drake at bay with his spinning blade, using the Blade Control Technique.
As the battle escalated, Qin Ming unleashed his unified Celestial Light Force. With each strike, his blade carved deep gashes into the drake’s flesh and bone. Finally, he leapt six to seven meters into the air, his fists glowing like miniature suns, and delivered a series of devastating blows.
The drake, overwhelmed, grew terrified. Its heavily injured head could no longer withstand the Celestial Light Force. With a resounding crack, its golden horn shattered under Qin Ming’s fists, and its skull caved in.
In one swift motion, Qin Ming swung his blade, severing the massive drake’s head. Though stronger than the Black Roc, it had fallen.
“You must have already mastered the Six Rulers Force, haven’t you?” Zhuo Ya demanded as she approached.
“Yes, but keep it a secret,” Qin Ming replied with a grin. He swiftly extracted the miraculous blood, which shimmered in a golden hue matching the drake’s horn.
“I’ll leave the horn and gallbladder to you,” he said to Zhuo Ya, then turned to the iron-beaked parrot. “Don’t go spreading the news.”
The bird trembled, terrified that another arrow might find it.
“Where are you headed now?” Zhuo Ya asked, noticing Qin Ming refining the blood with Celestial Light Force as he walked purposefully.
“To assist Cao Wu Ji. We’re all in this trial together. Mutual support is key,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zhou Tao, hearing of Zhuo Ya’s area being stripped of rare medicines, could no longer sit still.
“What? Zhuo Ya’s region has been completely harvested? Notify everyone—the trial is over! Call them back immediately!” Zhou Tao roared, thoroughly alarmed by the rapid expansion and resource gathering happening under his watch.