Night Without Borders Chapter 209
Chapter 209: Journey
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Someone interjected, displeased, and retorted, “What kind of remark is that? Senior Brother Li is a rare prodigy, practically a near-Immortal Seed. Due to various accidents, he was delayed in becoming an Immortal Seed. Now that he’s on the path, isn’t it only natural?”
Immediately, the heated discussion quieted down significantly.
After all, offending the faction of Cao Gan Qiu was no trivial matter. Still, some continued whispering in private.
“Sigh, Senior Brother Tang Xu Mi is no weaker than him, but lacking an exceptionally strong master means he’s forced to gamble with his life to tread this path. He might even die.”
“I’ve heard Cao’s esteemed elder once ventured into the terrifying whirlpool phenomenon known as Dragon’s Water Spout and retrieved rare, invaluable natural Dragon Blood. After consuming it, Li Qing Xu underwent nirvana, further enhancing his potential.”
Among the core disciples, dissatisfaction simmered.
Some disciples expressed their discontent on behalf of Tang Xu Mi. His accomplishments on the Immortal Path were remarkable, and his achievements on the Awakening Path even more so, yet now he was risking his life.
From a distance, someone watched Tang Xu Mi’s emaciated figure, two streaks of fiery light surging out of his body, as if his essence, energy, and spirit were being incinerated.
“Senior Brother Tang, must it come to this?” someone tried to dissuade him, worried about his condition.
It was clear to the core disciples that the forces he accumulated on both the Immortal Path and Awakening Path were burning away. He sought to break through some boundary. In the dusk light, shadows flickered, and the narrow path intertwined with the real world, winding ahead. Some could see it but were unable to step onto it.
Tang Xu Mi said, “Sometimes, at the crossroads of life, there is no choice. I refuse to fall behind others. My only option is to fight with everything I have. Either I break through and transcend to become an Immortal Seed, or I perish on the way.”
Hu Ting Wen tried to persuade him, “Though your life’s fire appears intense now, you are in fact burning away your future, draining your life force. What’s the point?”
“If I overcome this hurdle, I’ll use the blood of an Auspicious Beast to replenish my lifespan!” Tang Xu Mi replied.
Flames roared on his shoulders, representing not just two paths but also the life’s fire he was exhausting, blazing fiercely.
Meanwhile, in the mountainous region, a demon was fleeing in terror. Its disheveled white hair was matted with blood. Its true form, a massive rhinoceros, dared not reveal itself.
It was panic-stricken, desperately escaping through the dense forest.
This was because it was being hunted by a single insect!
Fortunately, it knew how to conceal itself, temporarily evading the formidable opponent, who bore the mark of “Dual-Demonic Seed.” The brutal competition over fragmented demonic seeds was always bloody, with life and death decided in an instant.
Qin Ming emerged from seclusion, sensing the subtle, fresh vitality within his body, brimming with anticipation. He wielded a pitch-black **Measuring Heaven Ruler**, making no effort to conceal his presence.
He searched for other fragmented demonic seeds but, having crushed and absorbed two within himself, found no resonance with the “Dual-Demonic Seed.”
To this end, he brazenly roamed the wilderness, using himself as bait.
Someone spotted him and exclaimed, “Isn’t that Shen Wu Bing? At such a dangerous time, how can he be wandering the wilds alone? Does he have a death wish?”
“Brother Shen!” From afar, Ling Yu appeared, waving toward him.
As Qin Ming approached, he asked, “Why are you so tense?”
Ling Yu explained, “Wang Li Jie’s team encountered a bug demon. When it charged through, they lost half their group. They say I’m definitely no match for it.”
“Where?” Qin Ming’s eyes lit up immediately.
“Over there, but you—” Ling Yu began pointing the way but hadn’t finished before Qin Ming dashed off, vanishing into the forest.
Zhao Mu Yao, clad in snow-white garments, and Wang Li Jie, along with their companions, stood aghast. He was going after that terrifying bug alone?!
“Brother Ling, is your friend… alright in the head?”
Someone whispered cautiously. While others avoided the creature, this person dared to pursue it alone.
That bug’s reputation had spread even within the Kun Lun Territory’s academies. It was a renowned demon of the plateau, a potential new generation “Demonic Seed.”
Qin Ming continued his pursuit. However, the more he sought, the more elusive the bug’s trail became.
Instead, he found special markers left by Little Wu, guiding his way…
Soon, he reunited with Xin You Dao, Jiang Ruo Li, and others in a bustling small town filled with shadowy figures and the sounds of merchants hawking their wares.
This was a secret realm. Such a lively ancient town should not exist here.
“Little Wu, are you alright?” Qin Ming called out.
“Brother, I’m fine. Come on in!” Little Wu waved and came over to greet him.
The town was immaculate, its streets paved with green stone. The bustling crowd made it seem all the more surreal.
Soon, Qin Ming noticed that as he brushed past these people, it felt like touching bubbles—there was no real contact. Everything was an illusion.
Focusing his mind, he sent a surge of heat to his eyes, instantly revealing wisps of mist where the townsfolk had stood.
“Brother, there’s a path here. I feel like I can step onto it, but I didn’t want to leave without you. I’ve been waiting,” Little Wu said.
“If you’re going to walk the path, you’ll need a weapon. Try this.” Qin Ming handed over the Measuring Heaven Ruler, a blend of black jade iron and refined metal, of great value.
“You… took down their entire team?” Gan Jin Cheng exclaimed, astonished, as the ruler had been the weapon of the demon team’s leader.
The others stared blankly at the black weapon. That team was far more formidable than the demons in the town.
“My brother’s feats are entirely normal!” Little Wu said as he took the ruler, swinging it with a bang. “How did you find this path?” Qin Ming asked.
At one end of the town, a faint path became clearer as a divine bridge of rainbow light emerged from Little Wu’s body and touched it.
Little Wu explained, “It seems to require resonance with the spiritual domain. Only then does the path appear.”
This meant newly awakened ones would need to step into the Outer Saint Realm and produce conscious aura before even attempting.
Qin Ming was skeptical. After nine awakenings, his Celestial Light Force, infused with consciousness and divine wisdom, was formidable. Why shouldn’t it work?
Determined, he fused all his Celestial Light Forces into one, igniting them into a boiling state.
In an instant, golden radiance burst from his flesh, blindingly bright as it expanded outward, enveloping the area. It was as if a dazzling sun had risen there.
“Ah!” Liu Han Ya screamed, stumbling backward. Jiang Ruo Li also quickly retreated, pale with fright. The proximity threatened to ignite their consciousness aura and divine wisdom.
This shocked them. It was more domineering than the legendary Sky-Supporting Force or Tathagata Force.
“How is this possible?” Gan Jin Cheng said, trembling as he staggered backward.
With a loud rumble, a path unfurled beneath Qin Ming’s feet. It was wide, glowing with golden light, signifying that even without a demonic seed, he could tread it.
“It’s wider and more brilliant than mine!” Little Wu muttered in awe as his rainbow light intensified to resonate more strongly. Yet, no additional paths appeared.
“Brother, your path is so dominant?” Little Wu asked, astonished.
The others were similarly stunned, realizing Qin Ming’s path was extraordinary, paved with golden flames, wide and radiant as if leading straight to the other shore.
In a flash, Qin Ming withdrew his Celestial Light Force, and the path vanished.
When Little Wu tried again, his path reappeared and brightened, but it still paled in comparison to Qin Ming’s.
“Brother, your path is unique. Mine already outshines those seen from afar, but yours seems ablaze!”
Even Xin You Dao was taken aback, finding the sight almost surreal.
Qin Ming said, “It seems only one path can emerge near a strange structure. You walk this one; I still need to hunt demons and will find another.”
Little Wu replied, “I’ll wait for you.”
“No, you go ahead. Don’t delay. I’ll catch up shortly!” Qin Ming assured him.
Eventually, Little Wu stepped onto the path, his figure gradually fading and blurring. The path seemed to straddle two worlds, one moment in reality, the next leading to the clouds and through mountains, utterly bizarre.
It was as if two realms were merging, alternating between the present world and another.
Xin You Dao, Gan Jin Cheng, Liu Han Ya, and the others watched in amazement. Though all were geniuses, none qualified to walk the path.
“Our opportunities still lie within the secret realm. Let’s not yearn for the unattainable,” Jiang Ruo Li said calmly, accepting reality.
Soon, the others realized these paths were for Immortal Seeds and Divine Seeds alone.
Aside from Xin You Dao, the rest bore complicated expressions. The two youths among them were truly extraordinary, almost unimaginable.
Initially, they had thought these two were nobodies.
“Two formidable demons are nearby. Be cautious,” Qin Ming warned. Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the distance, the ground trembling as a colossal rhinoceros charged.
It possessed a fragmented demonic seed and, upon being discovered by the insect demon, was forced to reveal its true form and flee for its life.
Spotting the town and the shadowy figures within, it rushed over.
“Am I finally having some luck? Things are starting to go my way,” Qin Ming remarked, swiftly heading outside the town.
“That’s the bug demon chasing it. You…” Xin You Dao began to warn him. After all, even the silver-clad young demon earlier had feared the insect demon with “Dual-Demonic Seed.”
Gan Jin Cheng and Liu Han Ya turned pale.
“Times change,” Qin Ming said.
The towering white rhinoceros, with its silver runes glowing, locked eyes on the young man ahead. With cold determination, it charged recklessly.
Behind it, a black insect emitted cracking noises, its claws tearing through rocks and vegetation as it approached at breakneck speed. The rhinoceros’ massive hooves cracked the ground with each step, creating a terrifying sight.
One hoof aimed for Qin Ming as the rhinoceros attempted to barrel past.
But in the next moment, its body tensed as dread filled it. Its jade-like horn shone with five-colored divine radiance.
Qin Ming leapt, rising to the rhinoceros’s head height, and struck a punch forward. The radiant energy on the rhinoceros’ horn disintegrated under the force, scattering light.
The Celestial Light Force tore through the rhinoceros’ massive face, leaving it drenched in blood.
At the same time, Qin Ming advanced upward, his right fist blazing with golden radiance. He unleashed his full power to test the strength of his ninth awakening.
The white rhinoceros shuddered, sensing catastrophe. It activated its silver runes, shaking its head and tail, trying to dislodge the young man.
But it was too late. Once Qin Ming closed in, escape was nearly impossible. He clung tightly to his opponent.
Like a divine thunderbolt descending from the heavens, Qin Ming’s full-strength punch obliterated the rhinoceros’ skull, creating a bloody hole and shattering its entire head.
With a thunderous crash, the massive rhinoceros collapsed before the town, lifeless.
A fragmented demonic seed flew out, heading toward Qin Ming. He captured it with a cloth woven from exotic metal, beginning its refinement.
Landing gracefully, Qin Ming was satisfied with his ninth awakening. The fusion of six extraordinary techniques had transformed his Celestial Light Force.
Next, a giant insect, resembling a black armored vehicle, arrived. Upon seeing the scene, it hesitated.
It was spider-like but had a scorpion’s tail that curved high, its stinger sharp and dark.
Unlike a flesh-and-blood creature, its glossy black body appeared metallic. Its legs left deep marks in the stone, evidence of their hardness and sharpness.
This Spider-Scorpion demon, a renowned plateau demon, was regarded by many old demons as a potential new generation “Demonic Seed.”
When the two met, they attacked without hesitation, fighting with all their might. Qin Ming drew his white jade alloy blade, standing like a sun amidst the battle.
The Spider-Scorpion unleashed lightning strikes, spewed fire, and wielded lightning-fast webs. Its legs stabbed like spears, and its radiant stinger gleamed with lethal intent, resembling a grim reaper from the underworld.
Boom! Boom!
Outside the town, the battlefield erupted. Wherever the demon’s legs passed, boulders and towering trees shattered. The stinger reduced the rhinoceros’ corpse to rotting blood sludge with a touch.
The Spider-Scorpion was immensely strong. Even as Qin Ming fought with all his might, it took hundreds of strikes to inflict injuries.
Surrounded by blazing golden radiance, Qin Ming fended off the spirit-corroding toxins with his Celestial Light Force.
One of the demon’s legs was severed, black venom splattered, and the stinger was cleaved off next.
Bathing in golden light, Qin Ming continued his assault until the demon’s legs flew, its spirit-infused webs shattered, and its lightning and flames extinguished. Finally, he split the insect’s head apart.
After the fierce battle, Qin Ming slew the Spider-Scorpion.
Two fragmented demonic seeds flew out, and Qin Ming captured them with the same exotic cloth, beginning their refinement. Striding away, he sought other towns, ready to continue his journey.
Behind him, Gan Jin Cheng, Jiang Ruo Li, Liu Han Ya, and the others were left dumbfounded, their hearts trembling. The even stronger demons had been utterly vanquished!
In an ancient town, two paths appeared beneath Qin Ming’s feet, leaving him momentarily stunned. Each foot rested on a different path.