Chapter 85: Almost Ascending on the Spot
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The Purple Lightning Beast trembled ever so slightly, not from fear but from rage. The humiliation was unbearable—meeting the same human twice and getting ridden both times!
“Don’t be nervous. Don’t be scared. I’ve dealt with a Purple Lightning Beast before, and it was much braver than you. Bold and untamed, it snarled at me, wagged its head and tail,” Qin Ming said soothingly.
Yet his attempts to calm the beast seemed to make it tremble even more. Was its courage really this lacking?
The Purple Lightning Beast’s fur stood on end, its fury bubbling over. It felt as though it might explode right then and there. It was fortunate this human hadn’t recognized it from before, but now he was mocking its previous self to its face! Wagging its tail? Snarling? What nonsense was this? As a being of such noble stature, how could it ever behave in such a ridiculous manner? It wanted to shout, You’re driving me crazy!
“Move! We’re chasing that man!” Qin Ming urged, adding casually, “Running will help you shake off the tension.”
The Purple Lightning Beast was on the verge of losing it. If not for knowing Qin Ming’s adhesive force was as inescapable as sticky glue, it would have already tossed him off its back and stomped him into a pulp. Instead, it grudgingly started with small, slow steps, moving into a light jog.
The beast knew this human was dangerously abnormal, having single-handedly taken down Golden Rooster Ridge. It bided its time, knowing it had been reborn four times since their last encounter. It wasn’t the same creature anymore. Calculating their respective strengths, it resolved that if Qin Ming left its back, it might just have a chance to crush him.
“Stop. Something’s wrong.” Qin Ming patted its back, his voice suddenly serious.
The Purple Lightning Beast shivered. Could this man be any more unpredictable? One moment it was “chase,” and the next it was “stop.” Still, it obeyed, grumbling internally about how troublesome he was.
Qin Ming’s expression turned grave as his Instinctive Perception spread out. In the sparse, wooded Lake Region, he quickly noticed something unusual. A Talking Sparrow, perfectly camouflaged against a tree branch, was watching him silently.
Anger surged in Qin Ming. Another spy? Which powerful faction sent this one? Even after I changed my appearance, did they still find me?
Remaining calm, he continued scanning and soon spotted a Crow nearby. It too was observing him intently, its nervous demeanor giving it away.
Seriously? I just came into the mountains, and already someone’s sent these clever birds to tail me?
Qin Ming abandoned the idea of pursuing the gray-robed man. The current threat felt more pressing. Though he hadn’t brought the heavy bow he’d taken from Zhao Jing Shuo, he had a simpler one slung on his back.
The two birds, clearly intelligent, were highly vigilant. The moment they saw Qin Ming draw his bow, they flapped their wings in a panicked attempt to escape. Unfortunately for them, they were dealing with someone who had perfected the Fourfold Mastery of Blade, Spear, Hammer, and Bow. Within this range, Qin Ming’s arrows never missed.
“Spare me! Don’t kill me!” squawked the Talking Sparrow, its wing pierced as it plummeted to the ground. It wasted no time pleading for mercy.
The Crow, however, was far more stoic. Despite being hit in both wings, it crashed silently by the lakeside, not uttering a single cry.
The Purple Lightning Beast groaned inwardly. Great. Even the spies are down. How am I going to explain this?
Since its previous mishap, it hadn’t dared go anywhere without guards—even during baths. Yet these two “loyal” underlings had failed miserably, ending up caught together.
The birds themselves were equally baffled. How could they have known Qin Ming was so fast? Even the highly perceptive Purple Lightning Beast hadn’t reacted in time. And to make matters worse, their “princess” hadn’t put up any resistance. Confused, they decided to wait and see if reporting back was even necessary.
“You! Remove the arrow from your wing and come here,” Qin Ming commanded the Talking Sparrow.
The sparrow trembled, its tiny body wracked with pain. What kind of monster is this man? it thought as it struggled free of the arrow.
“Now, help that crow.” Qin Ming gestured toward the other bird.
The Crow, insulted, wanted to roll its eyes. Who are you calling a crow?!
The Talking Sparrow, busy helping, chirped nervously, “Sir, that’s a Mynah, not a crow. Its beak is yellow, not black like a crow’s. In fact, this one’s is gold.”
Qin Ming’s face darkened. “Who asked for your explanation, chatterbox?”
The sparrow instantly shut up, realizing its attempt to flatter had backfired.
“You two, over here. Now.” Qin Ming raised his bow, making his point clear.
Reluctantly, the two birds fluttered over, landing awkwardly on his shoulders. They felt as though they’d been glued in place, unable to break free of the peculiar Celestial Light Force radiating from him.
Meanwhile, the Purple Lightning Beast and the two birds shared a dreadful realization. Could this man be the same “sticky plaster” their mistress had once raged about? Was this really happening again?
All three silently cursed their bad luck, sinking into despair.
Qin Ming wasn’t exactly pleased either. His journey so far had been riddled with setbacks, and the hidden dangers weighed heavily on him. With a sigh, he muttered, “My enemies just won’t let me live in peace.”
Then, glaring at the birds, he snapped, “Who sent you? How long have you been tailing me?”
The two birds froze, their tiny eyes wide and bewildered.
“Don’t play dumb with me!” Qin Ming growled. “Tell me, or I’ll squash you into bird paste!” To make his point, he slapped the Purple Lightning Beast’s back with a loud smack.
The beast shivered with rage, purple mist seeping from its fur. It wanted to retaliate, but the overwhelming strength Qin Ming now displayed was impossible to ignore. Reluctantly, it swallowed its fury and endured.
“You, Mynah! Start talking. If you lie, I’ll pluck a hundred feathers off you!” Qin Ming barked.
The Mynah gulped nervously. “Sir, I swear I won’t lie, but… I can’t promise every word will be accurate. I’m just a bird, after all, and language isn’t exactly my forte. Also… I’m a Mynah, not a crow,” it added, voice trailing off under Qin Ming’s glare.
“Do you really expect me to call you ‘brother’? Right now, you’re just a crow. Don’t waste my time with excuses,” Qin Ming said firmly.
“Fine, I’m a crow,” the mynah replied with unusual precision, “but that doesn’t mean I lied.”
The mynah grew defensive, swearing up and down that it wasn’t spying on Qin Ming. It claimed it had never seen him before and had no connection to him whatsoever.
“Sir, why would we ever provoke you without reason? We belong to the mountain…” added the talking sparrow. It swore just as earnestly, declaring that if it were lying, its entire kind would perish.
Qin Ming shot the bird a skeptical glance. Even a thief like this makes such vicious oaths?
He thought back carefully. He hadn’t noticed anyone tailing him on the way here.
“Then what are you doing here?” Qin Ming demanded sharply.
The sparrow hesitated before answering. “Sir, have you ever heard of the Black Market in the Night Fog? It appears once a month deep in the mountains. We hoped that by following the esteemed Purple Lightning Beast, we might sneak in unnoticed.”
Qin Ming’s heart stirred. He’d heard Xu Sheng mention this mysterious market—a unique trading ground where humans and aberrations bartered goods. Entrance required an invitation from someone familiar with the market, and it was held monthly.
According to rumors, the Black Market in the Night Fog had varying levels, with higher-tier markets located deeper in the mountains, where the risks increased significantly. Although no single mountain lord ruled these territories, they were teeming with dangerous aberrations.
“What tier is this market?” Qin Ming asked, his interest piqued. If it was primarily for creatures in the mutation stage, he figured he could handle it.
Aberrations, like humans, rarely reached nine mutations. Those who did were anomalies, almost mythical. Qin Ming, having tested his newly unified Celestial Light Force against Ge Qian Xun—who had undergone seven awakenings—felt confident enough to explore this market.
“Could I tag along with you?” he asked, addressing the Purple Lightning Beast he was sitting on.
The beast stomped its hoof into the ground, shattering the rock beneath. If it had to carry this clingy pest into the market, its dignity would be ruined forever. It would never live it down.
The sparrow quickly chimed in. “Sir, entering like this would be unwise. Riding on such a noble beast as the Purple Lightning would draw too much attention. Both humans and aberrations would inevitably target you. You’d stand out like a crane among chickens.”
Qin Ming nodded thoughtfully and dismounted. The sparrow’s reasoning made sense. Still, his hand lingered on the Purple Lightning Beast, ready to unleash his adhesive energy at a moment’s notice.
“Are you a brother or a sister, Purple Lightning?” Qin Ming teased. “You won’t hold a grudge against me for riding on you, will you? I wouldn’t think so. You seem much calmer than the last Purple Lightning Beast I met. A hundred times better, in fact. I just want to see the market. Could I travel with you?”
He asked this confidently, his strength giving him a sense of security. The market seemed worth the risk, especially since he’d altered his appearance. Even if trouble arose, he felt prepared.
“By the way, this isn’t your home turf, is it? Just to be clear—if something happens to me, you three will be the first to blow up.” As he spoke, Qin Ming let the dazzling power of the fully fused Celestial Light Force flow through his right hand. With a gentle swipe, he reduced a massive boulder to silent dust.
This quiet display of power was more terrifying than an explosive demonstration.
The Purple Lightning Beast tensed. This scoundrel had grown far more dangerous since their last encounter. But why did he look so… bloated without his mask and armor? It muttered internally, Fatty.
“Purple Brother—or Sister,” Qin Ming continued lightly, “the sparrows keep calling you noble. Where exactly do you live in these mountains?”
The beast thought bitterly, If I mentioned my sacred dwelling, it would terrify you… but then I’d have to kill you to protect the secret.
“What makes Purple Lightning so noble?” Qin Ming turned to the sparrows, curious.
“Born with divine markings,” the talking sparrow answered cautiously, reluctant to reveal too much.
“Hmm, let me take a closer look.” Qin Ming examined the beast. “There’s something strange on your neck… Are those fake feathers? No way! Are you bald under there?” he exclaimed, half in mockery.
“Bald? That’s my robe!” the beast fumed silently, nearly speaking in its frustration.
“That’s for discretion,” the sparrow interjected. “Its divine markings are too conspicuous otherwise.”
As they approached the market, heavy mist enveloped a valley guarded by a six-time-mutated Mountain Monster.
Qin Ming turned to his companions with a warning. “All of you—keep your expressions normal. Any hint of trouble, and I’ll make sure you shatter on the spot. Remember to keep smiling.”
He suspected they might encounter beasts familiar with the Purple Lightning, but he wasn’t worried. On the contrary, he hoped he might find the spiritual materials needed for his fifth awakening.
The valley bustled with activity. Masked humans mingled with aberrations: a lumbering One-Horned Giant Bear, a gleaming Silver Aberrant Bird, and countless unnamed creatures.
As Qin Ming wandered, he noticed the attention they drew—particularly because of the Purple Lightning Beast. High-profile aberrations kept sneaking glances their way.
“Trouble,” he muttered. He realized he’d underestimated the beast’s status.
Still, he wasn’t too concerned. Most of the creatures here were manageable, and he intended to quickly scan for rare items before leaving.
Soon, something extraordinary caught his attention. His Celestial Light Force resonated with a palm-sized yellowish stone on a vendor’s table, as though it wanted to devour it.
“What’s going on?” Qin Ming murmured. He’d never experienced such a reaction before.
Approaching the stone, he felt the power of his Yellow Mud Palm stir, eager to activate. “How much for this stone?” he asked.
“It’s worthless, just a weight for the table. You can have it if you want,” said the humanoid Mountain Monster behind the stall. Its blue-furred face twisted into a toothy grin, which only made it more intimidating.
The creature’s gaze lingered on the Purple Lightning Beast. Qin Ming guessed it didn’t realize the stone’s true value and was more interested in currying favor with the beast.
“I’ll give you one piece of Daylight Gold,” Qin Ming replied, quickly pocketing the stone. Then, feeling uneasy, he considered leaving. Something about the Purple Lightning Beast seemed off.
Before he could depart, another item stopped him in his tracks. A yellowed ancient book on a neighboring stall seemed to hum with spiritual resonance.
“How much for this book?” Qin Ming asked.
“Ten pieces of Daylight Gold. It’s not exactly a high-tier manual,” the stall owner, another Mountain Monster, responded warmly.
The Purple Lightning Beast was livid. It cursed internally, You fools! Do you think I’m friends with him? Giving away treasures at a loss! I’m being held hostage!
Watching Qin Ming capitalize on its presence to score bargains left the beast simmering with fury. But it dared not act out. Qin Ming’s terrifying hand remained uncomfortably close, and there were no high-level aberrations nearby to back it up.