Chapter 84: Stronger Than the Strange Ones
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
By the river, Qin Ming and Ning Si Qi were sparring. Their movements were smooth and constant, occasionally interrupted by a few words whenever they got close enough.
Qin Ming had once said he didn’t spare Ning Si Qi’s life in the skies because of their old friendship, but because of someone else’s influence. Anyone who knew him well knew that wasn’t true. If it had been anyone else, Qin Ming wouldn’t have hesitated to knock them right out of the sky—no questions asked.
In reality, Ning Si Qi had been terrified when he saw his flying mount get hit. He almost shouted at Qin Ming to stop. But then he realized Qin Ming was only trying to drop him into a mud pit. So, Ning held back his protests.
“I looked into the Righteous Hall,” Ning said between moves. “That guy, Ge Qian Xun, deserved what he got, so I set him up for it.” He had already sent word to Meng Xing Hai before showing up, meaning Ge was a goner. Still, Ning couldn’t help feeling uneasy, so he came in person to make sure.
“Out of our old buddies, Zheng Mao Rong is the sneakiest,” Ning continued, dodging a swift kick from Qin Ming. “He never gets involved directly, but one glance from him and someone else will do the job for him. Keep an eye on him.” Qin Ming nodded. He knew exactly the kind of person Zheng was.
Then there was Second Master Cui. Once, when he was drunk, he had let slip that Cui Chong might be chosen as a disciple by a highly respected elder from the night world.
Qin Ming knew his current position came with a lot of attention—admiration, envy, and everything in between. If he were to lose it, he wouldn’t be shocked by what might happen next. Plenty of people had ill feelings toward him even back then.
“My cousin, Wang Cai Wei, has a total idiot for a brother,” Ning Si Qi said, shaking his head. He lowered his voice. “Zheng Mao Rong has an agenda—he’s stirring up trouble, trying to use you to force Cui Chong out of hiding. As for my cousin’s dumb brother, he actually thinks getting rid of you will erase whatever happened between you and Wang Cai Wei. He’s either brainwashed or just plain stupid. Doesn’t he get that trying to kill you would just make people talk more? Or maybe he’s just rotten to the core and wants to stir up more drama.”
Qin Ming listened quietly, storing away all the information for later. Trouble was bound to come, and he wanted to be ready.
“Honestly, as long as I move fast enough on the path I’m on now, these people will just be background scenery,” Qin Ming said, his eyes full of confidence. “I might not even get a good look at them before I leave them all behind.” He smirked and then pushed Ning Si Qi backward, straight into the mud.
“You sure there aren’t any talking birds spying on us?” Ning complained, struggling to get up. He had a serious thing about cleanliness and absolutely hated being covered in dirt.
“You gotta sharpen your senses, man,” Qin Ming teased, grinning. Then he asked, “By the way, how’s your progress on the new path?”
“Seven awakenings is where I’m stuck,” Ning sighed. “My family even found me some high-grade spiritual material, but it’s not enough for an eighth awakening.”
The only way for Ning to advance was to take powerful medicine and step into the domain of celestial light. Seven awakenings were more than most people could dream of, but for Ning Si Qi, it still wasn’t enough. If he tried to reach the level of the external sages with that foundation, his future within his clan would be shaky.
Qin Ming frowned at that. “Your family must be worried,” he said, his brow furrowed.
“This past year, my dad took me to visit the six great secret schools,” Ning said. “One of them has a path that’s a perfect fit for me. Once the regional exams are over, I’ll be heading out. Don’t know when we’ll see each other again. The path involves entering some special areas and getting close to some extraordinary ‘phenomena.’ Part of why I’m here is to say goodbye.”
Qin Ming’s face showed a flicker of concern. “Secret schools… that means dealing with beings almost like gods. It’s a powerful path, but really dangerous too.”
Ning shrugged, playing it cool. “That’s only a problem if I actually make it to the top. Until then, those big guys won’t care about me. I’m not worried.”
He smiled, then added, “If I do make it and some god-like being decides to notice me, I’ll count on you to save me. So you’d better start working hard. Let’s meet at the top of the mountain!”
Qin Ming laughed and nodded. “Alright, if you ever get in trouble, just send for me. I’ll be there.” He grinned mischievously before tossing Ning Si Qi straight into the river.
With his face covered in mud and frustration, Ning climbed out of the water, shaking his head. “Even if you’re some teenage prodigy, don’t get cocky. There’re definitely others out there who are just as good.”
“You don’t know everything about me yet,” Qin Ming said, shrugging with a sly smile. “I’m actually a bit stronger than the other prodigies my age.”
Ning Si Qi stared at him, stunned. He knew Qin Ming well enough to understand that when he said “a bit,” he meant something huge—maybe even beyond what anyone else their age could achieve.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Ning warned. “The people in the hidden world start by unlocking their minds, gaining power that way. The path of awakening is pretty straightforward, but they have their own advantages.”
He paused as if remembering something, then added, “By the way, Li Qing Yue’s making waves in the hidden world. And Li Qing Xu’s mentor is super impressed with him too. He says it’s perfect for him to enter the hidden world now, not any earlier—highest praise he could give.”
“The hidden world must be pretty competitive,” Qin Ming mused.
“Of course,” Ning nodded. “Different schools are always competing. And lately, things have been tense among the best disciples. Rumor has it they’re all after some legendary item. Whoever gets it could reach near-immortal status. It’s supposed to change their lives. A bunch of the top disciples are prepping for it, and some of our old friends might be involved too.”
“Sounds like their world is pretty exciting,” Qin Ming said, intrigued.
“Other places are amazing too, you just haven’t had the chance to see them. You should join a powerful school or a special academy. Go out there and experience it yourself. Study the secret texts and learn about the world.”
In the end, Qin Ming dragged the muddy Ning Si Qi all the way to the city lord’s mansion. Ning looked like a hot mess, but Meng Xing Hai would figure out how to “take care” of him. It wasn’t anything difficult—as long as the “act” was convincing enough.
“Take care of yourself, alright!”
“You too. See you at the top!”
With that, Ning Si Qi left, disappearing into the distance.
…
The bronze incense burner filled the room with a calming scent, soothing nerves and clearing the mind. Meng Xing Hai took a sip of tea, then said, “You really surprised me, Qin Ming. Three strikes and two palm hits to take down an experienced fighter—and you even held back.”
This time, Qin Ming didn’t act modest. “Ge Qian Xun may be old, but he’s not really that impressive,” he replied, shrugging. “Oh, by the way, Uncle Meng, he’s a Golden Thief.”
Meng Xing Hai nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I’ve already got someone interrogating him.” He eyed Qin Ming up and down before asking, “How far have you progressed since your awakening?”
“Four awakenings so far,” Qin Ming said casually. “I guess I’m a bit stronger than the irregulars described in the books.”
Meng Xing Hai suddenly stood, clearly shaken by the news. He scrutinized Qin Ming closely, then laughed. “It’s a shame I don’t have a daughter.”
Qin Ming scratched the back of his head, giving a sheepish grin.
Meng Xing Hai sighed. “With talent like yours, you’re already close to those beyond the normal world—almost on the verge of immortality. But sadly, the path we’re on doesn’t lead to that. Our way of cultivating is different from theirs.”
He paused, looking at Qin Ming thoughtfully. “You’ve really exceeded my expectations, Qin Ming. You’re better than I imagined.”
He began pacing the rustic living room, eventually placing his hand on a large bronze cauldron. “You should stop practicing those low-level Celestial Aura techniques. Soon, I’ll get you a rare and valuable secret manual.”
Qin Ming realized that Uncle Meng was valuing him even more now. The old man had started planning for him—and that meant a lot.
Meng Xing Hai continued, “Normal people don’t fully understand the awakening stage, but the old families do. It’s best not to exceed five body mutations in one year. Otherwise, it could affect your future progress.”
Qin Ming hesitated. Was his plan for rapid growth going to be limited?
Meng Xing Hai added, “You must’ve noticed it. Each mutation brings great benefits, almost like being awakened anew, but there are short-term side effects—a feeling of discomfort that takes time to adjust.”
“Uncle Meng, I haven’t felt anything like that,” Qin Ming replied, shaking his head.
Meng Xing Hai tapped a small bell on the table, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “Your situation exceeds that of an average youth with abilities. It’s rare, but it’s been recorded in ancient texts. If that’s the case, you could handle six awakenings in a year without any hidden risks. Still, there’s no need to rush—the awakening stage is the fastest you’ll ever progress. Don’t push it further.”
But Qin Ming felt the urgency of time. He didn’t want to waste a single day.
He was convinced there were no problems with him. Other books warned not to mix Celestial Aura techniques randomly, that they had to be compatible, but the silk scroll he had encouraged it. Most importantly, the silk scroll made no mention of limiting awakenings to five or six a year.
Meng Xing Hai said, “Don’t be impatient. Just focus on meditating for now. I’ll have someone prepare some higher-grade spiritual substances for you.”
Qin Ming nodded, not arguing. He wanted to prove himself, but revealing his core secrets wouldn’t be wise.
Back at the inn, he began sorting through his spoils. In Ge Qian Xun’s bag, there were four hundred and twenty-one day gold coins—a fortune, though not quite fitting for someone of his status as a hall leader. It seemed a bit too little.
“This old guy must have more than one hideout,” Qin Ming muttered. Ge Qian Xun was a Golden Thief, likely keeping treasures in a distant lair. He had no family ties here.
Ge Qian Xun also had five books on him. Three were training manuals for beginners of the Righteous Hall, with some coded messages. Qin Ming didn’t bother with them.
The fourth book detailed a hammer technique from the Sun family. Unfortunately, it was useless to Qin Ming, who had already fully mastered it.
“Vajra Armor?” Qin Ming muttered, flipping through an ancient book that seemed to resonate with his spirit.
Bound in the hide of some unknown beast, the book was clearly an antique, heavily worn but still brimming with emotional weight.
No doubt, it was the crystallization of someone’s painstaking efforts!
“A hard technique—it greatly increases defensive power and can be used offensively too,” Qin Ming murmured, skimming through its pages. The technique was far from simple.
No wonder Ge Qian Xun had held such a grudge. With this technique, stepping into the realm of the external saints wouldn’t have been a problem. But while he was just beginning, someone had shattered his foundation.
“The swelling body shows he’s not fully mastered it yet. Once perfected, the body can look just like an ordinary person’s,” Qin Ming mused. He felt that this technique was incredibly powerful. He became deeply interested and fully immersed himself in it, resonating with the emotions left behind.
In his mind, he saw an old man, facing off against countless strange birds without flinching, casually swatting them out of existence.
The scene shifted. The old man rammed into a massive mutated turtle, shattering it to pieces.
Next, Qin Ming saw the old man fighting a beast the size of a small mountain, his entire body glowing with Celestial Light. Using his body as a weapon, the old man dove into the beast, bursting right through its heart.
“Whoa, that’s seriously tough!” Qin Ming exclaimed.
The old man appeared frail, but his body was as tough as diamond, showcasing pure brute strength—smashing through obstacles, nothing could stand in his way.
During this time, Qin Ming left the inn once to retrieve a secret manual Ning Si Qi had left for him.
“This is advanced stuff. It lets you produce a special kind of fire early on, but it’s quite difficult—best to train in the Thunderfire Alchemy Temple,” Qin Ming noted, storing it away. He realized its immense value.
Over the next few days, he dedicated himself entirely to mastering the hard technique.
The book detailed just one type of Celestial Light technique—Vajra. Without a doubt, it was a complex technique, powerful enough to be called a mystical defensive art.
A few days later, Qin Ming tested it out. His body swelled like he’d been inflated—the Celestial Light coursed through him, expanding his muscles and skin.
“This is only at the initial stage—still not enough to block powerful attacks, but it can change my appearance a bit,” Qin Ming observed, looking in the mirror. He managed to make his face rounder and his body bulkier.
After a couple more days, he studied a map of the mountains and decided to venture in alone.
Although Meng Xing Hai had told him to wait, Qin Ming couldn’t shake the feeling that time was slipping away. He had to grow stronger—it was the only way to survive.
Ning Si Qi had also pulled some strings to get a message to Cui Hao in the land beyond. If Uncle Cui emerged, he could change Qin Ming’s dangerous situation.
But Qin Ming wasn’t going to pin his hopes on anyone else. Getting stronger himself was the only real guarantee.
And what if Cui Hao never got the message or stayed in seclusion? Nothing would change for him.
This time, Qin Ming disguised himself—added a fake beard, wore loose clothes, and didn’t bring his hammer, only carrying a milky white jade knife as he headed into the mountains.
Some areas of the mountains were ablaze with fiery mist—beautiful, as Flame Springs were awakening, bubbling to the surface.
In some places, not only were the plants sprouting, but buds were about to bloom as well.
“Huh, that thief?” Qin Ming wasn’t here to enjoy the scenery. Not long after entering the mountains, he spotted a figure in gray—the one who’d intercepted the snow lotus from him, Xu Sheng, and Sister Fragrance last time.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
With a swoosh, he charged after the figure.
The man in gray was incredibly alert. The moment he sensed something, he dashed into the forest, moving skillfully through the mountains, twisting and turning, slipping away like a fish.
When they reached a lake, Qin Ming noticed a strange beast in the distance—its whole body glowing a bright purple. It had just emerged from a steaming lake and was admiring its own reflection, basking in its solitude.
“Isn’t the Lightning Beast supposed to be a rare breed? How come I’ve seen two lately? Are they becoming common?” Qin Ming wondered.
Swift as lightning, Qin Ming leaped onto the creature’s back. “You’re being drafted! Hurry up, help me chase someone down!”
The Lightning Beast, now mutated four times, had been enjoying a nice soak in the Flame Spring, but suddenly, it felt anything but nice. That voice—it recognized it!