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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 36: [Leaving Without a Trace]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Qin Ming stopped peeling away the stone's outer layer.
The dense forest environment didn't allow for recklessness; if a beam of light were to erupt from the stone, his life would be in grave danger.
After reducing the stone's size by about half, it could barely fit into the sleeve of his fur robe, but he chose not to conceal it.
Instead, Qin Ming walked toward the edge of the forest, leaving the stone hidden deep within the dense foliage.
He noticed that the exit from the mountain was being closely watched. Various organizations were keeping a tight grip on the area, eager to secure the unique resources from the Node.
Soon, he spotted the tall, fur-cloaked woman standing in the wind and snow. Her black hair whipped in the gale, but her face remained hidden.
"He's unharmed after all," the Raven croaked, having already spotted Qin Ming.
Its purple eyes flickered with symbols as it scrutinized him.
Qin Ming maintained a calm expression, though his heart stirred slightly. He knew countless eyes were scanning those leaving the mountain; carrying the stone would undoubtedly expose him.
The Purple-Eyed Raven circled overhead, itching to dive back into the Great Mountain.
"This is beyond comprehension! How could a Ten-Colored Node appear here? And merge with the Five-Colored Misty Haze Land?! I'm practically drooling! We should have brought your master himself and summoned Lord Raven from the Black Mist World! Let's see who dares stop us then!"
The woman in the black cloak warned, "Don't act rashly. All the High-Tier Lifeforms are bloodthirsty now. We must wait for the right moment."
Qin Ming found Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others outside the Great Mountain.
He noticed that these Noble heirs were being remarkably cautious, refraining from any rash moves.
"Where did you run off to, kid? It's too dangerous in the mountains right now," Black Sheep Knight Yang Yongqing asked him.
"I was chasing that Talking Sparrow but lost track of it," Qin Ming replied with a grin.
Hearing this, Cao Long immediately demanded to know where he'd lost it.
The Talking Sparrow had deeply offended him, and he was still seething.
That day, the commotion deep within the Great Mountain was so intense that even ordinary villagers nearby gazed up in awe.
They had never witnessed such a dazzling spectacle, brighter than daylight.
Shallow Night was nearly over, yet the conflict in the mountains showed no sign of resolution.
Ever the dutiful employee, Qin Ming confirmed with his employers that they wouldn't be entering the mountains.
Then he called out, "Uncle Xu, Grandpa Liu, it's time to head back."
"Ah, why so early?" Old Liu grumbled, not ready to leave yet.
"To eat, of course! We've been starving all day!" Qin Ming replied.
Wei Zhirou, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and the others couldn't help but glance at Qin Ming, thinking to themselves that this young man was truly pure-hearted and refreshingly simple.
Even with such a monumental event unfolding in the mountains, drawing attention from all directions, it couldn't distract him from his desire to go home and eat.
"You're right," Old Liu said. "Even if we stared for three days and nights, it wouldn't change anything for us. Let's go back and eat."
The Black Sheep Knights Yang Yongqing and Xu Yueping also turned to leave. Though the mountains were now a riot of color, this wasn't their world.
That night, Qin Ming sat beneath the Black and White Twin Trees at the village entrance, gazing toward the Great Mountain.
It glowed as brightly as day, the vibrant colors undiminished, so fresh and alluring that he couldn't help but yearn to approach it.
"This is Black and White Mountain, isn't it? It's been five hundred years since the collapse, and the black-and-white landscape is gone forever. What a pity."
Qin Ming was startled to hear these words from two women he spotted in the snow.
As a local, he'd never heard the mountain referred to by its ancient name, usually just calling different areas "East Ridge" or "West Gully." Yet these outsiders seemed to know more about its history than he did.
Amidst the swirling snow, the two women stood gracefully, their robes fluttering in the wind.
Their attire was remarkably thin, considering it was far from the Fire Spring's scorching summer peak.
As they approached the village entrance, they gazed at the Black and White Twin Trees rising from the Fire Spring.
"It's surprising this village has the Black and White Twin Trees," the woman who had spoken earlier remarked. "They must have sprouted from seeds left behind by Black and White Mountain long ago."
Her white robes stood out vividly against the fiery twilight. A faint mist clung to her, yet her slightly chubby, youthful face remained clearly visible. She appeared no older than fifteen or sixteen, with delicate, arched eyebrows and large, luminous eyes — strikingly beautiful.
If Qin Ming were here, he would never have chosen white robes for hunting in the mountains. Such conspicuous attire would be utterly unsuitable for survival in the wilderness.
He soon noticed that the white-robed girl deferred to the other woman, always trailing slightly behind.
Qin Ming sensed something amiss. How could he have overlooked the woman in front when the white-robed girl was clearly two steps behind? It felt strange.
The woman in front wore plain, unadorned green robes. She stood motionless in the wind and snow, intently observing the two ancient trees rising from the Fire Spring.
A thick cloud mist swirled around her, blurring her features and lending her an ethereal quality, like a celestial being about to ride the wind home.
Qin Ming rose, feeling it inappropriate to remain by the Fire Spring, and greeted the two women.
They nodded in response.
The woman in green spoke for the first time, her voice soft and melodious: "What is the name of this village?"
"Shuang Shu (Twin Tree) Village," Qin Ming replied, seizing the opportunity to ask, "Are there any legends about the former Black and White Mountain?"
The woman in green answered in her gentle voice: "Half the mountain was dark, while the other half shone as bright as day. A dense fog separated the two halves, making it a Forbidden Land. It eventually collapsed."
"Young man, it's rare for our young mistress to speak so much to anyone," the girl in white remarked, her lively personality evident.
Their relationship didn't seem like a typical master-servant dynamic, given her playful tone.
The woman in green remained silent, casting a final, lingering gaze at the Black and White Twin Trees before turning and walking toward the Great Mountain.
Her steps were light and graceful, yet her resolve seemed unwavering.
"May I ask your names, ladies?" Qin Ming called after them.
The white-robed girl chuckled softly. "Young man, don't let your imagination run wild. We'll be gone soon. The distance between us is as vast as mountains and seas."
"I was just asking for your names," Qin Ming replied. "How far is 'vast'? Do you not live among humans normally?"
The white-robed girl smiled. "Oh, you're so earnest and endearing. Judging by the path you've taken, when you stand atop the mountain peak, there might be a fleeting chance — under certain circumstances — to glimpse us from afar."
"Loose-tongued! You speak without restraint," the green-robed woman scolded.
Qin Ming watched their retreating figures, speechless. "What kind of people are these?"
For a moment, he genuinely wanted to make the white-robed girl cry and demand what nonsense she was spouting.
"Go back and summon the Jin Peng. I'm entering the mountains," the green-robed woman instructed.
"Okay!" The white-robed girl turned and headed in another direction.
Qin Ming's pupils constricted.
The white-robed girl's departure was astonishingly swift, almost absurd.
A misty white fog swirled around her, repelling all wind and snow, gradually enveloping her entire body.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished into the horizon.
The next day, Qin Ming responsibly led the team as their guide.
Mu Qing, Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and the others had finally grown restless and began exploring the Nodes in the outer regions of the Great Mountain.
Previously, four organizations had already harvested mysterious resources, albeit at the cost of some members suffering severe Light Mist corruption.
All the Awakeners were now in a frenzy, meticulously searching every corner of the mountain for Nodes leading to dangerous underground spaces.
Meanwhile, the deepest reaches of the Great Mountain remained as bright as day.
The High-Ranking Figures of major organizations and the High-Tier Aberrants had been toiling for over a day and night, their eyes bloodshot.
Originally, they had come to capture the mysterious resources, initially approaching the task with the patience of anglers.
Now, however, they found themselves outmaneuvered by the very prey they sought.
The two merged spectacles continued to shift erratically, sometimes plunging underground for extended periods before resurfacing with blinding light and dense mist.
To this day, no one had managed to approach close enough to discern their true nature.
Finally, the desperate parties threw caution to the wind.
Enduring the terrifying corruption, they plunged deep into the underground Nodes, determined to intercept the spectacle's path along the spiritual leyline forged by the Heavenly Light.
Even Ling Xu and Old Weasel, the masterminds behind this elaborate scheme, had lost all interest in fishing.
Instead, they had become the bait themselves, plunging headfirst into the Nodes to enter the underground world.
They sensed that the fusion of the two mysterious resources had reached its final stage of Transformation and was about to emerge.
They had to act decisively.
The competition grew increasingly fierce, with High-Tier Lifeforms dying underground, never to resurface.
As they vanished from the surface, those outside the Great Mountain breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"Elder Wang, don't push your luck! I've already claimed this Spiritual sapling. Are you trying to steal it outright?!" A blood-soaked old man stumbled out of a Node, clutching a foot-tall sapling wreathed in swirling purple mist.
"Stop him! That old Cao Family bastard found the Longevity Tree! It can extend life by ten years!" Elder Wang roared, giving chase.
"Seventh Uncle, come this way! Let's see who dares to stop us!" Cao Long bellowed, perched atop a crimson giant bull taller than a grown man, a gleaming great spear in his hand.
"Good Nephew, quickly bring your men and help me hold them off!"
An elderly man in shattered black armor rushed forward, panting heavily.
As he ran, he devoured the small tree whole, not even sparing the roots clinging to bits of soil.
He chewed everything thoroughly and swallowed it down.
"Old Wang bastard, I've already eaten it! What can you do now?" The Cao Clan elder roared with laughter.
"Everyone, cut open his stomach! The medicine's still inside!" Elder Wang shouted.
Six or seven elders nearby closed in, their eyes burning with terrifying intensity.
For them, longevity was more precious than any mystical treasure.
"Old Wang bastard, you're rotten to the core! No wonder your son Wang Nianzhu turned into a wanted criminal — you're no better yourself!" Cao Long's Seventh Uncle raged, glaring at the approaching elders. "If you force my hand, don't blame me for disgusting you to death!"
He glanced at Old Liu's Big Yellow Dog, then at Yang Yongqing's Black Goat. "If you push me, I'll slit this goat's belly right now and drink its urine! Then you can all feast on this longevity medicine!"
Old Liu and the others were stunned.
This man was truly ruthless.
But why was he staring at the Big Yellow Dog?
Beside them, Yang Yongqing's Black Goat suddenly began to urinate profusely, clearly sensing the impending danger.
The Big Yellow Dog Old Liu was sitting on also reacted, immediately defecating.
"I... why are you all reacting so violently?" Old Seventh Cao sputtered, furious.
"Fine, Old Seventh Cao, if you're such a ruthless man, we'll turn and leave right now. We'll stand here and watch — do you dare to do it?!"
"Enough!" Cao Long moved, urging his giant bull forward.
With a mighty thrust of his great spear, he struck down at Elder Wang.
"Young man, I know you're strong, but... ah!" Elder Wang's long saber was sent flying, his hands drenched in blood as he was hurled backward.
"Good nephew, you've become so powerful! Your training in that great city wasn't wasted!" Old Seventh Cao exclaimed, both shocked and delighted.
Instantly, the other elders retreated.
Cao Long's defeat of an elder figure instilled fear in all sides, deterring them from approaching.
This made their position remarkably secure.
During this time, Qin Ming consulted with members of the Mu Family, Cao Family, and Wei Clan, inquiring about the types of mystical resources available and their properties.
For the residents of Chi Xia City, this information was common knowledge, devoid of secrets.
A few casual remarks were enough to enlighten Qin Ming, Xu Yueping, and the others.
"Spiritual resources like plants and earth liquids are easy to harvest and collect," they explained. "The real challenge lies in the special resources encased in stone shells. These are often overlooked, and you'll miss them if you're not careful."
Qin Ming gained valuable insights, resolving some of his lingering doubts.
Unless a special resource possessed an inherent brilliance that illuminated the heavens and earth, its Heavenly Light would dissipate shortly after being exposed, leaving it to return to its ordinary state.
'I should cut open that stone I found and take a look,' Qin Ming mused. 'There shouldn't be any major issues.'
As Shallow Night drew to a close, he hid in a snowdrift and peeled away the stone shell.
As expected, wisps of Heavenly Light escaped and seeped into his body.
Beneath the shell lay a pristine white jade-like substance, crystal clear and translucent.
"Could this be the Jade Iron they mentioned?" Qin Ming recalled hearing only a few brief mentions of it, knowing it was a rare material used to forge weapons imbued with mystical properties.
Of course, while Jade Iron was rare, it wasn't priceless.
Each time the Heavenly Light descended, similar-quality materials could be harvested.
Even in the same location, multiple pieces of Jade Iron could be found.
He reburied the partially opened stone, confirming it wasn't a directly consumable spiritual substance.
There was no need to rush; he could retrieve it later.
As dusk fell, Qin Ming had already finished his guide duties and was preparing to leave the Great Mountain.
"Boom!"
The earth shook violently, and the mountains trembled.
An immeasurable radiant glow erupted from the distance, far brighter than before, piercing the eyes and causing tears to stream down the faces of those who dared to look.
"What's happening?" Everyone was stunned.
Deep within the Great Mountain, five-colored mist and haze swirled as a mysterious treasure was born.
It had been seized by someone and thrust out through a subterranean fissure.
A woman raced through the forest, but she couldn't conceal her presence.
Though the special treasure she carried was encased in stone, its intense spiritual energy radiated in all directions, glowing brightly and showing no signs of fading anytime soon.
During this time, she summoned a massive golden bird, immediately leaping onto its back.
The bird soared skyward, carrying her toward the distant horizon.
However, six High-Tier Lifeforms blocked her path: Moon Insects, humanoid creatures with feathered wings, and the Feather-Clad Woman standing atop a Bluebird.
"It's her?" Qin Ming exclaimed in surprise.
It was the same blue-robed woman he had seen at the village entrance the previous night — remarkably young yet incredibly powerful, daring to snatch prey from the jaws of High-Tier Lifeforms.
Pressured by the six experts, the blue-robed woman was forced back toward the mountains.
Qin Ming turned and fled, pushing his Harmonizing With the World technique to its limits, as she was now dangerously close.
"Crack!" Mid-air, the blue-robed woman forcefully snapped the foot-long stone in half, extracting the mysterious object within.
The light radiating from her hand intensified, a dazzling five-colored radiance tearing through the night sky.
The object was shrouded in luminous mist, obscuring whatever brilliant entity lay within.
She pressed it against the crystalline red mole between her eyebrows.
The radiant orb vanished into her forehead.
Still perched on the golden bird's back, she defied the pressure forcing her down and streaked toward the horizon, skimming the mountains.
"Chase her!" The powerhouses from major organizations and High-Tier Aberrants alike gave chase.
How long passed, Qin Ming couldn't say.
Eventually, he exhaled in relief, emerging from the dense forest.
Moving through the dark night, he found the two broken halves of the stone.
"Hmm?!" He froze.
Having endured the Heavenly Light's erosion and baptism in the subterranean fissure, he had developed a unique sensitivity.
The stone fragment in his left hand seemed to emit a faint, rhythmic pulse.
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END OF CHAPTER
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