Chapter 87: A Natural Talent
Red Glow City stood majestic and towering, its brilliance illuminating the night as if it were day.
Qin Ming strolled through the gates, the early spring breeze brushing past him like a warm greeting. He had returned safely, just in time to catch sight of a squad of elite warriors leaving the city. Their polished armor shimmered under the sunlight, a steel tide surging into the wilderness.
This region had no mountain lords, and the City Lord’s Mansion held absolute authority. Occasionally, sightings of high-level aberrations would stir the entire city into action. Despite the lurking presence of apex creatures like the spiritual jade rhinoceros and the black flood dragon deep in the mountains, none dared provoke Red Glow City’s dominance. There existed an unspoken truce between the city and the wilderness—each side avoided overstepping boundaries, ensuring an uneasy peace.
Soon, the small group of young adventurers who had been intercepted by an aberration on the road returned unharmed.
As Qin Ming reached the inn, he spotted Wu Zheng, who greeted him with a wave. “Brother Qin, you just got back from the mountains alone? I’m heading out. Want me to bring dinner back for you?”
Noticing the bandages on Wu Zheng’s neck and hands, with faint traces of blood seeping through, Qin Ming frowned. “What happened to you?”
Wu Zheng sighed, his expression downcast. “I’ve been exploring the mountains too. Four people in my group didn’t make it. My skills with a bow and spear got me out alive, but it was close. Trying to obtain spiritual substances out there is like gambling with your life.”
Qin Ming nodded solemnly. This was the harsh reality for newcomers. To advance, they often had no choice but to risk everything.
Returning to his room, Qin Ming discarded the White Jade Powder, a product specifically for men to mask strong odors. Though he carried no such scents, this was a precaution for his recent excursion under a different identity. Afterward, he took a hot bath and changed into fresh, clean clothes.
Later, Wu Zheng knocked on his door, bringing dinner. “Brother Qin, I brought some beef patties and a few simple dishes. Hope they’re to your taste.”
The seventeen-year-old boy had left Black and White Mountain full of ambition, brimming with dreams of a bright future. But now, with injuries and repeated failures weighing on him, his spirits were visibly crushed. His reddened eyes betrayed the tears he had shed.
“Have more to eat?” Qin Ming asked.
“No, I’ve already eaten outside.” Wu Zheng shook his head.
“Take this to your room and use it,” Qin Ming said, handing over a small jar of spiritual substance, obtained at a bargain from the snake clan member, Wu Yi Yi.
Confused, Wu Zheng opened the jar and froze. The shimmering liquid within radiated a soft, luminous glow. He instantly realized its value.
“Brother Qin, this is too precious. I can’t accept it,” he stammered, hurriedly sealing the jar to prevent any of the essence from escaping.
“Take it. Use it to strengthen your body. Once you’ve done that, everything else will become easier to handle,” Qin Ming insisted, pressing the jar into Wu Zheng’s hands.
Though Wu Zheng was a year older, he treated Qin Ming with sincere warmth, always addressing him as “Brother Qin.” Qin Ming had even learned the Wu family’s dual mastery of spear and bow. Helping Wu Zheng now was a simple gesture of repayment.
“Brother Qin!” Tears welled up in Wu Zheng’s eyes as he clutched the jar. Nodding firmly, he left the room with the spiritual substance.
After dinner, Qin Ming began to sort through his spoils. Three ancient, blood-stained books lay before him. He could vividly imagine the life-and-death struggles behind their acquisition.
Venturing into the mountains made everyone both hunter and prey. Even those with incredible stories often met abrupt ends in the wild, their legacies reduced to mere artifacts for others to claim.
Today’s encounters had been especially bizarre. Qin Ming hadn’t expected the Purple Lightning Beast to have such a grand background. Other aberrations, eager to curry favor with it, had bestowed him extravagant gifts.
He laughed to himself, recalling how he’d run into the beast twice. He could only imagine its rage. “Next time, just stay out of my way,” he muttered. Another meeting might lead to a storm he’d rather avoid.
Qin Ming felt no guilt. When the Purple Lightning Beast had first appeared, it had leapt straight for his head. Any other newcomer would likely have died on the spot. Noble bloodline or not, it was still a predator in the mountains. Here, survival meant mutual hunting, and life or death was often decided in an instant.
Picking up the first book, Flying on Grass, Qin Ming’s interest piqued at the title. He studied the legible script and quickly grasped the essence of the technique, resonating with the lingering emotions of its author.
This method focused on agility and escape. By activating a special Wind Force, the practitioner could move like the wind, becoming extraordinarily nimble. While the book included offensive techniques, they were secondary to its main purpose—preserving one’s life.
“This is just what I need,” Qin Ming thought, impressed by the practicality of the skill.
The second book, Body Tempering Technique, detailed a method to strengthen the physical body through a unique energy called Tempering Force. With rigorous practice, one could harden their body to the resilience of refined steel.
As Qin Ming delved into the text, his sharp intuition and extraordinary talent allowed him to swiftly comprehend the profound principles of the technique.
The third book, bound in golden beast-skin, bore the title Golden Light Shield. This protective art created a radiant barrier of celestial light over the practitioner’s body. At its peak, the shield could expand outward, enveloping and obliterating enemies in a golden radiance.
Qin Ming’s heart raced as he envisioned the technique’s potential. The original creator had achieved a level where the light was as thick as city walls. “Incredible!” he exclaimed, finally understanding why White Xi, from the spiritual jade rhinoceros clan, had tried to hide this treasure.
Not only did Golden Light Shield offer unparalleled defense, but its concentrated radiance could also unleash devastating celestial rays, annihilating surrounding threats.
“This technique is priceless,” Qin Ming thought. Its core energy, Golden Light Force, was a formidable composite power.
“I wonder if Golden Light Shield could merge with Vajra Armor. If they combined, the results would be extraordinary.” His anticipation grew as he considered the possibilities.
In addition to these treasures, Qin Ming had also brought back several beast-skin scrolls that didn’t resonate with his spirit. Confident in his ability to master them through effort, he planned to explore their secrets in the days to come.
Qin Ming sat cross-legged in his modest room, carefully flipping through the pages of a martial arts manual he’d purchased. His brow furrowed almost immediately. It didn’t take him long to discover the traps hidden within the manual’s techniques. The first ten pages seemed harmless enough, but as he progressed further, he felt his blood and energy churn violently within him, leaving him in great discomfort.
Quickly, Qin Ming switched to the Silk Script Method, a technique recorded in one of his older manuals, to calm his energy. He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, then tossed the troublesome books aside.
“These bought manuals really can’t be practiced recklessly,” he muttered.
Fortunately, he had far better techniques to focus on. His recent trip into the mountains had yielded Flying on Grass, Body Tempering Technique, and Golden Light Shield—three practical skills that would already take significant time to master. On top of that, he had Ge Qian Xun’s Vajra Armor and Ning Si Qi’s priceless gift: the Separation Flame Sutra, a technique of immeasurable value. For now, these were more than enough for his studies. If he could fully digest all these techniques, his strength would undoubtedly soar.
Setting the books aside, Qin Ming picked up the palm-sized yellowish stone he had found. The stone was mysterious, its surface etched with intricate patterns. As soon as he touched it, he felt his Celestial Light Force stir restlessly within him. When he activated the Yellow Mud Palm, the Celestial Light shifted into a completely new attribute. It was no longer Soft Force, nor Extremely Refined Hard Force, but instead a weighty, imposing earth-yellow Celestial Light Force.
“This is the power of the Silk Script Method,” Qin Ming realized with excitement. “It can fuse various types of Celestial Light Force, transform them into specific single-force types, or even align them with unique techniques to create the most compatible force.”
The realization didn’t stop there. Qin Ming suddenly remembered a passing mention during an emotional resonance session with a senior practitioner: “This is a stone formed from the essence of underground earth veins.” The Yellow Mud Palm manual made no mention of such a stone, but now its significance was clear.
This discovery thrilled Qin Ming. The Yellow Mud Palm, renowned for its devastating potential, was notoriously difficult to master. At its peak, the technique could crush mountain-sized beasts with ease, converting Soft Force into Hard Force, and even drawing energy directly from the earth to wreak havoc. While this stone wouldn’t immediately bring him to such a level, it was sure to accelerate his progress significantly.
Over the next few days, Qin Ming trained relentlessly. Although the Separation Flame Sutra remained too complex to tackle for now, his other techniques improved rapidly. Soon, his practice of Yellow Mud Palm absorbed all the essence from the mysterious stone. When he executed the technique, faint yellow mist now lingered between his fingers.
Testing his newfound strength, Qin Ming struck a massive stone placed in the courtyard. It crumbled into dust instantly. A decorative rockery nearby collapsed as well. The commotion drew the attention of the innkeeper, who came running, demanding compensation.
Qin Ming sighed and quickly handed over some Daylight Gold. “It wasn’t me; it was the black-cloaked man from the City Lord’s Mansion who visits frequently. Let’s not spread this around, alright?”
The innkeeper paused, then shrugged. “If that’s the case, I won’t ask for compensation.”
“No, no, take it anyway. It’s only right,” Qin Ming insisted, handing over the gold.
Two days later, a messenger arrived from the City Lord’s Mansion, summoning Qin Ming. In the main hall, Meng Xing Hai sat solemnly amidst the calming scent of Calming Incense wafting from a bronze censer. Without a word, he handed Qin Ming four sheets of paper, his expression grave.
“Study these here,” Meng Xing Hai instructed.
Puzzled, Qin Ming took the papers and began to read. After a short time, he stood up and walked into the courtyard to try out the techniques he’d absorbed.
“How does it feel?” Meng Xing Hai asked when Qin Ming returned.
“I think I’m close to producing my first strand of Celestial Light Force with it,” Qin Ming replied honestly.
“Already?!” Meng Xing Hai was astonished. This young man seemed to excel at an extraordinary pace, surpassing expectations at every turn.
“I’ve always learned quickly,” Qin Ming said with a smile. “Back at the Cui family, a lot of people noticed.”
Meng Xing Hai suppressed his amazement, regaining the composure befitting a senior and the City Lord. “This is merely an introduction to a rare technique. If you can master this, you’ll qualify to study the main volume. I’ll speak to two trusted friends to see if we can secure the full version for you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Meng. You’re too kind,” Qin Ming said with genuine gratitude. Then he added with a sly grin, “But you’re only in your early thirties—this is your prime. How can you call yourself old? I’m the one who’s still young and inexperienced, relying on your care.”
Meng Xing Hai laughed. “You rascal. Flattery won’t get you anywhere. Should I just make you my godson?”
“Uncle, you’re not that much older than me!” Qin Ming teased.
Soon, Qin Ming learned why Meng Xing Hai was so busy. Through careful investigation and information provided by Ge Qian Xun, Meng Xing Hai discovered that the Golden Thief gang had established numerous secret operations in Red Glow City. Realizing the gang was attempting to quietly withdraw and take all their wealth with them, Meng Xing Hai knew he had to act decisively.
“This will bring retaliation,” he confided in Qin Ming. “The Golden Thief gang won’t dare attack me directly, but they might target surrounding areas.”
Qin Ming’s expression turned serious. “Uncle Meng, I need to return to Black and White Mountain for now.”
He understood the gang’s retaliation would likely involve Black and White Mountain, a place he had strong ties to. Having destroyed Golden Rooster Ridge himself, he suspected the gang harbored a grudge against him specifically. Now was the time to test his progress through battle—to protect the remote land he once called home and face the Golden Thief’s wrath head-on.