Night Without Borders Chapter 197
Chapter 197: Revealing an Ancestor-Level Foundation
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
A gentle breeze stirred the tranquil surface of the azure lake, creating ripples that danced like silk ribbons. The surrounding bamboo swayed softly, and Tang Jin’s hair lifted gracefully, framing her flawless face, now tinged with faint surprise.
What was this youth from Black and White Mountain saying?
Her eyes, clear as mountain springs, began to deepen into a cold stillness, resembling the depths of a frigid pool.
“Who gave you the courage?” she asked calmly.
This youth, a mere Nine-Time Awakened Aberrant, dared challenge her?
Qin Ming, however, remained unruffled. “On this path, rife with trials and uncertainties, if I don’t even have confidence in myself, I might as well give up. It’s only a sparring match at the First Realm. What’s there to fear?”
Tang Jin’s strength was undeniable, her prowess cemented by past victories. Once, a female Celestial Scholar from Exotic Immortal Lands had faced off against a senior expert and seized a great treasure from Black and White Mountain. Tang Jin had boldly pursued her alone, determined to claim half the spoils.
Meanwhile, Ling Yu, who had been readying himself for a duel, found his composure shaken. The youth had bypassed him entirely and was now targeting his senior sister.
“You’re overstepping!” Ling Yu growled. “Tang Senior Sister is a proud daughter of heaven. Do you even know her feats? She has ventured alone into Pure Lands, Immortal Lands, and Yang Lands, challenging formidable opponents at every turn!”
“Overstepping?” Qin Ming chuckled. “She’s not that much older than me.”
Though he spoke casually, he was inwardly surprised. Had the black-dressed woman really achieved so much?
Tang Jin finally spoke, her voice distant. “Defeat Ling Yu, and I’ll give you the Black Water Sutra, a top-tier Flesh and Soul Nourishment Technique, and five thousand Daylight Gold pieces. These should satisfy you.”
Tang Jin’s pride would not allow her to personally spar with Qin Ming. Her icy demeanor returned, her beauty as unapproachable as frost-covered blossoms.
Before Qin Ming could respond, the Purple-Eyed Crow, perched nearby, chirped, “Tang Jin, that’s a bit much. Do you think my brother’s cut of Daylight Gold grows on trees?”
Both Tang Jin and Ling Yu shot the bird a glare.
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Tang Jin said coldly. “Five thousand is all I have.”
The crow muttered under its breath, “After the Young Ancestor’s battle with Xin You Dao, weren’t you all supposed to get a cut?”
“It’s already spent!” Tang Jin snapped.
Qin Ming smiled faintly. “I’m not interested in Daylight Gold. A simple gesture of goodwill will suffice. However, I cannot compromise on the Dragon-Snake Sutra, nor the top-tier Flesh and Soul Nourishment Technique for my companions. Whether it’s five thousand or ten thousand Daylight Gold, that’s irrelevant.”
The crow, Wu Yao Zu, eagerly nodded. “Exactly! We don’t care about wealth; we just value cultivation techniques.”
Ling Yu’s expression soured as he observed the pair. Their sudden detachment from worldly gains felt strangely insincere. Earlier, their demands had been far less modest.
Tang Jin frowned. While her lineage had the Immortal Butterfly Sutra, they did not possess the Dragon-Snake Sutra.
“Choose another technique,” she suggested.
Qin Ming shook his head. “I’m following the path of the Sky-Supporting Sect’s Ancestor. The Dragon-Snake Sutra is foundational for cultivating the strength to hold up the heavens. If I’m to wager something, it has to be this.”
Ling Yu interjected. “Senior Sister, aren’t we about to engage in an exchange with the Mountain and River Academy? They possess an unpublished version of the Dragon-Snake Sutra. Perhaps we can negotiate for it.”
His eagerness for the upcoming duel was unmistakable.
Tang Jin hesitated but finally nodded, her brows knitting together.
“There’s one more condition,” Qin Ming added.
“Another? Are you trying to push your luck?” Tang Jin’s irritation flared.
“Not at all,” Qin Ming replied. “You’re aware of my identity. I have unresolved matters with the Cui Family. My goal here was to study quietly, but your challenges disrupt this peace. Without some assurance, I see no reason to engage in a meaningless duel.”
Tang Jin’s gaze hardened. “Do you expect us to offer you protection after sparring with us?”
“Why not? It’s hardly unreasonable,” the Purple-Eyed Crow chirped in agreement, much to everyone’s surprise.
Even Ling Yu was at a loss. “Whose side are you on, Master Wu?”
The crow explained, “Think about it. He was living peacefully until we stirred the pot. If he gets exposed because of us, wouldn’t his life be in jeopardy? Offering protection is just fair.”
Tang Jin glared at the bird but then sighed, considering his words. “Your teacher is building a dual-path system and needs rare talents for experimentation,” the crow added in a low voice. “If Qin Ming defeats Ling Yu, his exceptional physique might make him an ideal candidate for testing.”
After a moment’s thought, Tang Jin reluctantly agreed.
“What unique techniques do you possess?” Ling Yu asked Qin Ming, his curiosity piqued.
“The Wood Sutra,” Qin Ming replied nonchalantly, referring to a technique he had once claimed from the Cui Family.
“We don’t have that one,” Ling Yu admitted. Their lineage possessed the Green Wood Sutra, but not the Wood Sutra.
“Brother,” the crow interjected, “why even entertain the thought? Winning a technique from my brother? That’s wishful thinking!”
“How about we duel right now?” Ling Yu suggested, unable to suppress his frustration any longer.
Tang Jin admonished him. “Maintain your composure. Even if a mountain collapses before you, your resolve must remain unshaken.”
“Let’s all regroup,” the crow suggested. “Tomorrow, at Arena One of the Mountain and River Academy, we’ll settle this properly.”
Both sides agreed.
Before departing, Qin Ming turned to Tang Jin. “I expect the Dragon-Snake Sutra in hand before the duel.”
Tang Jin paused mid-step, took a deep breath, and walked away, her silhouette disappearing swiftly into the distance.
Not far away, Qian Chuan dared not even breathe too loudly. Once again, it was his turn to be on duty, and he had inadvertently witnessed a scene that left his heart pounding as though it might stop.
He couldn’t hear the conversation, but he understood the gist of it: Ling Yu intended to challenge the seemingly unremarkable youth who had been keeping a low profile here.
“Keep quiet,” Tang Jin warned him with a glance.
Tang Jun, who was also nearby, shared the knowledge. He was stunned—was the Young Ancestor Ling Yu truly going to challenge that youth? The notion sent shockwaves through his heart.
Qin Ming shook his head, amused. It wasn’t his intention to escalate demands, but the circumstances seemed to dictate otherwise. At least it appeared that Master Wu had taken a liking to him.
That evening, Ling Yu shone with a radiant glow. Silvery feathers seemed to emerge around him, accompanied by a rain of luminous energy, giving him the aura of one ascending to immortality. Lightning arcs crackled along his body, and a surge of Pure Yang Consciousness Aura resonated with the boiling Celestial Light Force inside him, conjuring incredible phenomena.
His lineage’s Dual Path Progression was remarkable, allowing mastery in certain realms unattainable for others. Even among the Nine-Time Awakened, the radiance of the Celestial Light rarely produced such divine manifestations.
Suddenly, with a loud rumble, his body quaked violently, and an even stronger aura burst forth. Ling Yu froze in disbelief before rising quickly. “Senior Sister, Master Wu, I… I’ve broken through to the Second Realm!”
Master Wu chuckled. “Expected. You’ve consumed the Ethereal Bamboo Shoot, ventured into the Phoenix Nest, and received guidance from your teacher. Your foundation was already astonishingly robust. This breakthrough was only a matter of time.”
Meanwhile, Qin Ming methodically reviewed his skills, practicing various extraordinary techniques with a natural flow of Celestial Light Force. Back in the Six Rulers Sect, he had mastered four unique techniques, enough to counter Lu Zi Zai’s Dual Force. However, when Lu employed the Triple Force, Qin Ming was outmatched.
Lu had once remarked that in the First Realm, mastering the Triple Force was the peak of possibility. But Qin Ming, setting the highest standards for himself, aimed to combine at least six techniques during his Awakening Phase, ensuring he would rival any Celestial Light Force wielder.
Now, his Five-Element Techniques had been perfected, and his initial training in the Golden Cicada Force was complete. If he could obtain the Dragon-Snake Sutra, he would control seven techniques by the end of his Awakening Phase—a feat sufficient to place him among the strongest.
The next day at the Arena One of the Mountain and River Academy, the venue was closed to the public.
Qian Chuan stood wordlessly, assigned to gate duty despite knowing the importance of the event. Tang Jun, a renowned and powerful senior disciple, had been ordered to clear the arena, reduced to a mere janitor for the day.
Even more striking, respected elders were attending in person, indicating the gravity of the event. The audience was sparse but included prominent figures like Xin You Dao and Cheng Rui, who had recently fought a famous duel with Ling Yu, resulting in an unlikely friendship.
Master Wu arrived alongside Tang Jin, taking positions on the edge of the arena. The Purple-Eyed Crow was startled to see Zhao Ming Hui, the middle-aged librarian, accompanying two frail old men with thinning hair. Even Tang Jin approached these elders with respect.
The two elders, thin and stooped, clearly bore the marks of age. Their presence immediately suggested they were veterans of the New Awakening Path, and indeed, they were senior figures from the academy’s leadership.
At the center of the arena, the two main participants, Qin Ming and Ling Yu, were already in position. Qin Ming glanced at Tang Jin and Master Wu, his expression curious. Had they truly drawn in outsiders for this?
One of the elders nodded and spoke. “Show us what you can do. Here, in the realm of Kun Lun, no hand from the Cui Family or any other demon or specter can reach you.” His words served as a reassurance for Qin Ming.
Ling Yu spoke first. “I’ve broken through to the Second Realm, stepping into the Outer Saint Domain and entering the Huang Ting Field. I’ll suppress my realm and face you on equal footing.”
Qin Ming shook his head. “No need. Use your full strength and your most powerful techniques.”
His response left the audience in shock. Xin You Dao and Cheng Rui exchanged astonished glances. This once “nameless figure” was now brimming with confidence.
Qian Chuan and Tang Jun, the “gatekeeper” and “janitor,” were practically frozen in disbelief. Was Qin Ming truly planning to fight someone who had crossed into the Second Realm?
Even Zhao Ming Hui, observing from the sidelines, found herself surprised. No matter how brilliant one’s talents, defeating a Young Ancestor far beyond their level seemed inconceivable.
The two elders’ expressions shifted. Although they had witnessed countless geniuses in their lifetimes, they had never seen someone attempt to reverse the odds so boldly.
“Could this truly be a rare surprise?” one elder murmured with a hint of expectation.
Tang Jin, too, could no longer remain indifferent. Her sharp gaze fixed on the arena, brimming with intrigue.
“Perhaps he’s stronger than the other one,” Master Wu whispered to Tang Jin. “Maybe strong enough to take on two opponents at once.”
“Impossible,” Tang Jin retorted, shaking her head.
“Let’s wait and see,” Master Wu replied, refraining from making any wagers this time.
“You’re absurdly arrogant!” Ling Yu, provoked, erupted with radiant Celestial Light Force. He restrained himself, using only his First Realm power as promised.
In a flash, Ling Yu closed the twenty-meter gap between them, moving as though space itself bent around him. With a resounding roar, his fist, enveloped in vibrant light, struck toward Qin Ming.
Brilliant hues of light filled the air as if a divine Auspicious Bird soared through the heavens, its shimmering feathers scattering radiance that shook the arena.
Yet Qin Ming remained still, his left hand behind his back. Calmly, he extended his right hand, pushing forward lightly.
A deafening explosion echoed like a thunderclap. The entire arena trembled, the ground quaking under the force. Ling Yu’s black robes shredded in parts, his hair whipping backward. His body was flung ten meters away, his feet carving deep cracks into the Lapis Lazuli flooring as he landed.
The audience fell silent, stunned into speechlessness. Ling Yu’s unparalleled talent, hailed as beyond comparison, had just been met with a single, devastating blow.
Breaking the silence, the Purple-Eyed Crow’s voice rang out. “One strike! A thousand Daylight Gold!”
“Use your Second Realm power,” Qin Ming said calmly, standing motionless. “Since we’re among those who know the truth, and with senior figures present, it’s time to show some real strength.”
Qin Ming understood this was his chance to demonstrate his extraordinary value. By earning their recognition, he could secure both respect and protection in this land.