Chapter 200: Unexpected
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“What is this supposed to mean, Tang Fairy?”
The crowd was puzzled. Tang Jun, still in a daze, couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched a young man rise to prominence by defeating a Young Ancestor. The sheer incredulity left him speechless.
“No way,” murmured Qian Chuan, who seemed to have suddenly grasped the situation.
Over the past few days, he had developed a keen understanding of this youth. Immediately, he guessed the truth—this was a challenge to Tang Jin!
Sure enough, Tang Jin, dressed in black, her graceful figure tall and striking, darkened visibly at these words, her beautiful face losing its usual calm radiance.
“What does ‘invite Tang Fairy’ even mean?” whispered Cheng Rui in confusion.
“Don’t say another word!” Xin You Dao quickly intervened, cutting her off.
Even Zhao Ming Hui, who had been smiling moments ago, froze when she noticed Tang Jin’s darkened expression, finally realizing what was going on.
The two elders, Yu Gen Sheng and Zhao Zi Yuan, couldn’t help grinning, their eyes filled with amusement. This young man was truly bold, they thought, settling in to enjoy the unfolding drama.
The Purple-Eyed Crow, too, looked on with a peculiar expression, barely suppressing its laughter.
Ling Yu, staggering slightly and wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, hurriedly stepped forward. “This was our fight, and it’s over now. My senior sister won’t participate.”
He seemed genuinely worried. The youth from Black and White Mountain had proven to be utterly unstoppable in their realm.
“It’s just a friendly match,” said Qin Ming with a casual shrug.
Ling Yu sighed. Their battle had been over in moments, and he hadn’t even glimpsed the full potential of Ancestor Mountain, which left him feeling conflicted.
He still harbored resentment from being knocked out earlier, believing it to be a sneak attack. But now, upon reflection, it was clear the opponent’s brilliance had allowed him to get so close unnoticed. The signs had been there all along.
“This battle is done,” Ling Yu stated firmly. He understood his senior sister’s pride all too well—after all, she had once traversed the Pure Land, Immortal Land, and Yang Land, challenging adversaries alone. If this youth insisted on calling her out, she would surely step forward.
Qin Ming said nothing, simply smiling at the aloof woman.
Tang Jin glared back, fully understanding his intentions. He wasn’t about to give up.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense and silent.
“It’s just a spar, Tang Jin. If you won’t, I’ll take him on,” chimed in Yao Zu, breaking the uneasy stillness.
“These youngsters are getting bolder by the day,” remarked Yu Gen Sheng with a chuckle. He knew Tang Jin’s temperament well—cold, aloof, and utterly proud.
“Hmm,” he added after a second glance at Yao Zu. Though outwardly unremarkable, the boy’s audacity to challenge Tang Jin revealed him to be yet another extraordinary talent.
Tang Jin shot a sharp glare at Yao Zu before stepping forward to face Qin Ming. “Are you sure you want to challenge me?”
“Absolutely,” Qin Ming replied confidently.
Tang Jin’s tall and elegant figure brought her nearly eye-level with Qin Ming. As she moved closer, her steps graceful and deliberate, her hair swayed like a silken curtain.
“Don’t regret it later!” she warned, her icy tone accentuated by the cold beauty of her features.
The crowd perked up at once. Tang Jin was about to step into the fray—a rare and thrilling sight! Despite her young age, her fame far exceeded her years, having matched even senior figures in battle.
“Let’s begin!” Qin Ming’s eyes sparkled with excitement, eager to give it his all. The five-colored radiance of his blade shimmered in the air.
“Caw, caw!” The Purple-Eyed Crow couldn’t help but laugh as Tang Jin stepped into the arena.
She turned to glare at it, sensing betrayal. Was it truly hoping to see her defeated?
In the arena, colorful mist swirled, and radiant clouds gathered. Qin Ming stood amid a dazzling display of five-colored light, resembling an otherworldly figure as he raised his Five-Colored Blade.
“Please,” he said, preparing for a swift and decisive strike. Within the confines of the First Realm, he exuded absolute confidence.
Tang Jin, however, merely smiled—a sudden, radiant expression that melted her usual cold demeanor.
Qin Ming’s heart sank at once. Something was amiss.
Indeed, in that moment, everything came to a halt.
Qin Ming, his billowing robes, the swirling mist, and even the light of his blade—all froze. The entire space seemed locked in place.
Tang Jin’s profound mastery of the field allowed her to immobilize her opponent effortlessly. Qin Ming could not even summon a bitter smile. Trapped mid-motion, he remained poised, blade in hand, while Tang Jin approached leisurely.
“Miss Tang, this isn’t fair!” protested Yao Zu. “My brother clearly wanted to spar within the same realm!”
“Did he mention anything about equal footing?” Tang Jin asked calmly.
Yao Zu retorted, “He said so last time. Do we need to spell it out every time?”
“Well, I forgot,” Tang Jin replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she reached Qin Ming. A faint smile appeared on her face.
No one could believe what they were seeing. The infamous Tang Jin, known for her aloof pride, was resorting to such tactics against a youth of the First Realm. It was almost laughable.
Circling him once, she reached out and flicked the Five-Colored Blade with a snow-white finger, eliciting a crisp, ringing sound.
“That’s enough for today,” declared Zhao Zi Yuan.
With a wave of Yu Gen Sheng’s sleeve, Qin Ming found himself free once more. He immediately leapt back, narrowly avoiding disaster. His overconfidence had nearly cost him dearly.
“True opponents don’t lower themselves to your level,” Tang Jin remarked indifferently.
There was little Qin Ming could say. Their agreed sparring session had fallen apart, leaving him at her mercy. Her superior abilities allowed her to dictate the terms.
“You might not believe me, but even if we fought on equal ground, you wouldn’t stand a chance,” Tang Jin said calmly.
“I don’t buy it,” Qin Ming replied, shaking his head.
“Then I’ll give you a chance,” she offered, retreating to a sufficient distance. Her body began to glow, her black robes fluttering as she prepared for a second bout.
Finally, Qin Ming’s patience snapped and he clenched his fist.
In the next instant, Tang Jin produced a thin rope, light yellow and seemingly ordinary. Suddenly, it shone with an intense golden brilliance, expanding forward like a bolt of lightning.
With a sharp sound, Yu Gen Sheng and Zhao Zi Yuan sprang into action. Though they appeared aged, their movements resembled a thunderous storm sweeping through the arena. The ground quaked violently as they moved, accompanied by a deafening roar.
Their imposing presence stirred wild gusts of wind, nearly sweeping Qian Chuan, Cheng Rui, and others off their feet. They stumbled away in shock, their faces filled with awe and disbelief.
The two elders moved with astonishing speed, placing themselves between the rope and its intended target. Tang Jin immediately withdrew her hand, realizing that the youth from Black and White Mountain was clearly treasured by the two elders. She hadn’t intended to harm him—only to bind him.
The Purple-Eyed Crow, prepared to enjoy the show, was dumbfounded by the turn of events. “Wait, isn’t that the rope hanging in your teacher’s study? Did you bring it here?” it asked incredulously.
Tang Jin glanced at the crow and replied calmly, “This is a different one.”
Hearing this, everyone immediately understood that this rope was no ordinary item. It was a treasure refined by a grandmaster, a tool so powerful that no opponent of equal level could hope to counter it.
“All right, the spar ends here,” Zhao Ming Hui declared, stepping forward to personally caution Qian Chuan, Tang Jun, and others not to speak of this incident lightly.
Tang Jin put the rope away and turned to Qin Ming. “Even in the First Realm of the New Awakening Path, you’re far from invincible. The Night Fog World is vast and boundless. Never underestimate unknown opponents. Furthermore, the paths are many, and each one is flourishing in its own way.” With those words, she let the rope loosen and disappear into her sleeve.
Qin Ming nodded thoughtfully, digesting her advice.
Yu Gen Sheng and Zhao Zi Yuan, meanwhile, watched the young man with faces full of smiles. Their hearts were stirred with hope, an emotion they hadn’t felt for a long time. They silently pondered whether the New Awakening Path might still hold a chance for renewal.
For many years, this path had seemed bleak, with no one daring to blaze new trails. As several ancestors approached the end of their lives, there was a real fear that this lineage might vanish entirely.
Qin Ming sensed their sincerity. These two high-ranking elders genuinely cared for him. They held his hands, carefully examining and appraising him, all the while murmuring their approval.
One of the elders, his clouded eyes slightly reddened, seemed overcome by emotion. With a tinge of sadness, he said, “To see other paths continuously produce waves of extraordinary talents while our own has struggled for years… The rare few who shone brightly on this path eventually ended up as followers of others. It breaks my heart.”
Zhao Zi Yuan sighed. “Old Yu here devoted his life to teaching six disciples, treating them like his own children. Yet in the end, some perished, some were grievously injured, and others couldn’t bear the slow progress of this path and vanished into obscurity. What a pity.”
Yu Gen Sheng gazed into the distance with a deep sigh before turning back to Qin Ming. “We won’t impose any demands on you. All we hope is that you survive and walk far along this path. Let nature take its course.”
Their words carried the weight of long-held hopes dashed time and again. They had witnessed countless geniuses fall prematurely, their brilliance extinguished before reaching their full potential.
Qin Ming responded respectfully, “Thank you both for your trust. I’m just a newly awakened novice on this path and have no grand speeches to offer. I’ll take one step at a time and tread steadily forward.”
The two elders nodded in approval. They had feared that Qin Ming, having defeated Ling Yu across realms, might become overconfident. His grounded attitude reassured them greatly.
Zhao Zi Yuan smiled. “Child, cultivation thrives on exchange and practice. You can’t shut yourself away entirely. In due time, I’ll introduce you to an exceptional talent from the Immortal Lands to broaden your horizons.”
Yu Gen Sheng shook his head. “Right now, rigorous training is more critical. Women will only distract this boy from mastering his Five-Colored Blade. Your descendant may be a fine gem, but there’s no rush to marry her off.”
“You just don’t understand…” Zhao Zi Yuan retorted.
Qin Ming stood silently, unable to interject into their debate.
Yao Zu sidled up with a jealous grin. “Ming Brother, you look destined to grow old alone, but even you’re getting fought over. When will someone fulfill my grandmother’s wish?”
Tang Jin approached, holding out two books. “These are the Dragon-Snake Sutra and the Flesh and Soul Nourishment Technique,” she said.
Qin Ming handed the latter to Yao Zu, keeping the Dragon-Snake Sutra for himself. His excitement was palpable—this was the legendary skill practiced by the Sky-Supporting Ancestor, whose boundless strength could lift the heavens.
Tang Jin then reluctantly extended five gold tickets. Her slender white fingers clutched them tightly, as if unwilling to let go. “These are all my Daylight Gold, and it’s breaking my heart to part with them,” she muttered.
Lowering his head, Ling Yu mumbled, “Senior sister, I’ll repay you someday.”
Qin Ming took the tickets with a beaming smile. “Tang Fairy, I’m not particularly interested in Daylight Gold.”
“Then give it back!” Tang Jin snapped.
Qin Ming grinned. “I could, but only if you give me another legendary technique.”
“I’ll give you the Immortal Butterfly Sutra,” Tang Jin offered eagerly.
“No need!” both elders shouted simultaneously. “We already have it. No need to buy it again!”
Tang Jin could only watch helplessly as Qin Ming pocketed the five gold tickets. Her heart bled—no matter how divine a fairy might seem, walking the mortal world still required resources like Daylight Gold.
“Tang Jin is truly kind,” Yao Zu quipped with a grin.
Immediately, Tang Jin’s pristine white fist shot up, ready to strike both Yao Zu and Qin Ming.
“You two, come here,” the two elders commanded in unison, their voices suddenly grave.