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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 81: [The Outer Sage]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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"You two are both so unlucky!"
Zhou Lin, drenched like a drowned chicken, transformed back into Sister Fenfang.
She swore she wouldn't venture into the mountains with Qin Ming and Xu Sheng again in the near future.
After returning to the city, Qin Ming calmed his mind and focused his senses.
He initially detected no suspicious individuals, but gradually, his instincts began to tingle, alerting him to an anomaly.
No one was watching him near the inn, but the Four-Colored Sparrow perched on the eaves behaved strangely, and the small black bird on the roof ridge seemed off as well.
Qin Ming's heart raced.
If these birds were all acting suspiciously, his location was practically being infiltrated like a sieve.
In fact, he had always been wary of special species like Speaking Sparrows and crows, having witnessed their cunning firsthand.
But he never imagined that even ordinary birds he had overlooked could harbor a "cunning glint" in their eyes, behaving unnaturally.
After secretly observing them, Qin Ming compared their behavior to that of ordinary birds and identified six of them were indeed acting abnormally.
After his fourth awakening, his instinctive awareness had sharpened. And he chose to trust this feeling. It turned out that he had been tracked all along by a group of suspicious birds.
"It's not that Xu Sheng has picked up something from his nightly travels. The problem lies with me," Qin Ming muttered, closing the window and pondering who might be targeting him.
He found this method too "weak."
A truly ruthless person would have no reservations and would crush him with overwhelming force.
At this stage, the Cui Family certainly wouldn't want him to die suddenly. If anything happened to him, everyone would see them as cruel, heartless, and lacking in morality.
Moreover, the Cui Family wouldn't want any other faction to move against him at this time.
Considering these factors, this was likely Qin Ming's safest period.
"Power must be used when you have it."
He now possessed a high-ranking token and planned to leverage the resources of Chi Xia City to investigate.
"Young Master Qin, the City Lord requests your presence," a black-clad man said politely as he approached Qin Ming at the inn.
Qin Ming rose and accompanied the man directly to the City Lord's Manor.
It was still the same ancient-style reception hall, adorned with bronze artifacts like chime bells and three-legged cauldrons.
Calming incense burned slowly in a censer, its wisps of smoke rising like silken threads.
Meng Xinghai greeted him with a smile.
"Come, try this year's first harvest of tea leaves from that ancient tea tree outside Thunder Fire Alchemy Hall. It's been struck by lightning countless times, yet it still thrives. We harvested and roasted these leaves just today."
Qin Ming bowed respectfully, sat down, and sipped the tea while chatting casually with Meng Xinghai.
He noticed that Old Meng seemed even warmer than before.
Meng Xinghai repeatedly opened his mouth to speak, only to swallow his words back.
After all, the task he wanted Qin Ming to undertake was no simple matter, and it would inevitably involve encountering acquaintances from the Noble Clans.
Though he possessed methods to conceal the young man's true identity for a few days, Qin Ming's cultivation realm was still somewhat low.
Taking one of Li Qingyue's Golden Armor Guard slots and participating in the Spiritual Cave's confrontation would be extremely dangerous.
After a moment's thought, Meng Xinghai decided there was still time.
He refrained from mentioning the upcoming competition among the most outstanding Disciples of the outside Sects for a legendary artifact.
"How are you settling into Chi Xia City? Have you encountered any problems?" he asked casually.
"Uncle Meng, I won't be formal with you. Actually, there is something. My movements are being monitored, and I nearly had an accident in the mountains."
"This kid is really too informal," Meng Xinghai thought to himself. "Every time I casually ask, he just naturally spills everything."
However, Meng Xinghai didn't find it troublesome at all. In fact, he was quite pleased.
If he had brought up the matter of the Outworld Sect's Disciples right away, it would have seemed like he was trying to demand repayment for a favor.
"Such a thing happened? To dare pull something like this in Chi Xia City... Investigate thoroughly!" Meng Xinghai ordered his trusted aide to get to the bottom of it.
"Thank you, Uncle Meng," Qin Ming said, rising to pour him tea, his gratitude genuine.
"Don't be so formal with me," Meng Xinghai said, taking a sip of tea.
Then, as if an afterthought, he asked, "You withstood six or seven waves of Heavenly Light last time, and you weren't even injured?"
"I was hurt, but I recovered after resting for two days,"
Qin Ming replied, thinking of adding more days before suddenly remembering that he had met Meng Xinghai just two days later.
"You're still holding back, aren't you, kid? Those two days must have been your awakening. Truly remarkable! To withstand the Heavenly Light's erosion... We might actually need your help in the future."
"Uncle Meng, just give the order."
Meng Xinghai waved his hand. "No rush. Let's see how things develop. We'll discuss it later."
He looked at Qin Ming and sighed, "With your extraordinary talent, if you had the support of a Noble Clan's resources and weren't limited by the Golden Age, you could have embarked on the Path of Awakening much earlier. By now, you should already be capable of releasing Heavenly Light."
"An Outer Sage?" Qin Ming asked.
"That term isn't used anymore," Meng Xinghai said, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"Whether it's the Secret Sects or the Outsiders, they all mock our realm as 'Outer Nephew.'"
He continued, "Back in the Pioneering Era, when the Path of Awakening was forged, the Outer Sage Realm was glorious, immensely powerful! But who could have foreseen that our path would become increasingly difficult, increasingly narrow?"
Qin Ming nodded. "That's the path of ordinary people. If we want to advance, what choice do we have but to rely on physical awakenings? Fortunately, thanks to the research of our predecessors, the Awakening Realm is now somewhat controllable."
Meng Xinghai sighed. "This path is arduous. Beyond the Awakening Realm, progress is slow and steady, step by step. The body can no longer be awakened further."
He turned to Qin Ming. "You should strive for Ninefold Awakenings!"
Now that Qin Ming had recovered his memories, he understood these matters naturally.
Even within the Noble Clans, achieving Ninefold Awakening was exceedingly rare; Eightfold Awakening was considered the pinnacle.
From a simple perspective, undergoing eight awakenings is already incredibly difficult, requiring one to seek alternative methods for further advancement.
At that stage, certain medicinal breakthroughs can trigger Heavenly Light Emission, allowing one to enter the realm of the Outer Sage.
From there, one can capture spiritual substance from the void, using it as fuel for the Path of Awakening.
In reality, achieving seven awakenings is the ultimate dream for many.
By consuming powerful elixirs, they can trigger Heavenly Light Emission and enter that realm.
Qin Ming said, "Uncle Meng, you're flattering me too much. Ninefold Awakening hasn't been seen in many years, has it?"
Meng Xinghai's eyes gleamed. "It's just us talking here, so no need for modesty. The fact that you can already withstand six or seven waves of Heavenly Light proves your extraordinary talent. I firmly believe you can achieve Ninefold Awakening."
Now that his old head injury had healed, Qin Ming naturally understood these matters.
Achieving Ninefold Awakening was as difficult as ascending to heaven for ordinary people.
During the First Awakening, one's arms must possess nearly a thousand catties of strength. Those who achieve this level are already considered young prodigies.
Xu Sheng had once read in a book that reaching this level earns one the title of "young prodigy," a feat so rare it's practically legendary!
Meng Xinghai's eyes deepened. "How can you be so sure that no Hidden Dragon from a thousand-year-old Noble Clan has achieved Ninefold Awakening?"
He sighed. "It's only because those creatures nearing divinity are so terrifying, and those approaching immortality are unimaginably powerful, that those who walk our path seem increasingly insignificant."
"Has anyone ever achieved Tenfold Awakening?" Qin Ming asked.
Meng Xinghai chuckled dryly. "The number nine represents the final transformation."
He added, "Of course, even among those who achieve Ninefold Awakening, there are differences. Vague records mention individuals who possessed the strength of a thousand catties at their First Awakening. Their Ninefold Awakening would be even more formidable."
Qin Ming already knew this.
Whether one was a young prodigy with near-thousand-catties strength at their first awakening or surpassed even that legendary feat, the ultimate goal remained Ninefold Awakening.
However, the rewards gained from the final awakening varied.
The more one surpassed the legend, the greater the benefits they'll gain from their ninth awakening.
The two men conversed so enthusiastically that Qin Ming was invited to stay for dinner.
Just as they finished eating and set down their chopsticks, Meng Xinghai's trusted aide returned, reporting that the investigation had been concluded.
Qin Ming was astonished by their remarkable efficiency.
"We used exotic birds to capture the suspicious sparrows outside the inn," the subordinate explained. "Following the trail, we traced them back to Xin Yi Hall, uncovered the mastermind, and arrested two Vice Hall Masters involved."
"Where's the mastermind?" Meng Xinghai asked.
"We brought him here."
Soon after, a pale-faced youth appeared, accompanied by an elderly man and a young man.
"Brother Cui—no, Brother Qin—I'm truly sorry. I... I didn't want to do this," the youth stammered, bowing and clasping his hands in apology as soon as he entered.
Just as Qin Ming had suspected, the culprit wasn't some seasoned veteran or ruthless figure.
He recognized the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth as Zhao Jingshuo.
During their travels years ago, Zhao Jingshuo had always trailed at the very back of the group, sometimes even lacking a seat at the table.
Qin Ming stared at him without a word.
Zhao Jingshuo saw the face before him.
Though he knew Qin Ming had lost his former noble status and was now just an ordinary man, he still felt a pang of fear as he drew closer.
"Brother Qin, you must understand—how could I dare wade into such murky waters? Among my old acquaintances, I could only stand at the very back. I had no choice! With just a single glance, a subtle hint from them, and I couldn't refuse!"
Whether Zhao Jingshuo was genuinely terrified or merely acting, his voice trembled with a sob.
"Who ordered you to do this?" Meng Xinghai demanded.
"City Lord Meng, I..." Zhao Jingshuo truly began to tremble this time, knowing that Meng Xinghai was one of the young elites released by the ancient Noble Clans—frequent transfers were part of their training.
"Speak!" Meng Xinghai glared at him.
"They're all acquaintances of Brother Qin. One is an old friend from the Zheng Family, and the other is Li Qingxu's cousin," Zhao Jingshuo confessed, his face twisted in misery.
"One after another, so young yet so restless, rotten to the core," Meng Xinghai said, his gaze fixed on Zhao Jingshuo. "When you return, tell the Cui Family directly."
"I..." Zhao Jingshuo was on the verge of tears, his situation truly unbearable.
In the end, he could only nod in reluctant agreement.
"Brother Qin, I only have two hundred Day Gold left. I've spent it all, but I'll compensate you next time," Zhao Jingshuo said, pulling out a money pouch and offering it with both hands.
Qin Ming accepted it without ceremony.
Two hundred Day Gold, if spent frugally, could sustain a family of three on Black White Mountain for two centuries.
In Chi Xia City, where prices were higher, it would last about two-thirds as long.
Seeing Qin Ming take the pouch, Zhao Jingshuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Even after more than two years, the sight of that face still filled him with a sense of awe.
"Leave that bow behind too," Qin Ming said, pointing to the large bow slung across the young man's back.
Clearly it was a fine bow, the young man resisted, reluctant to part with it.
Zhao Jingshuo grew anxious.
"Give it to Brother Qin now! I'll compensate you later."
"You can leave," Qin Ming said with a wave.
If he brutally eliminated these three, it would likely cause complications. It was better to let them return and report the incident to the Cui Family.
The next day, a secret visitor came to Qin Ming's inn.
"Brother Qin, I am Dai Shifeng, Vice Hall Master of Xin Yi Hall," the elderly man announced.
With two Vice Hall Masters already captured, he was now effectively the second-in-command of the hall.
He quickly blurted out, "Our Hall Master, Ge Qianxun, wants to eliminate you. He ordered us to find an opportunity to kill you in the mountains."
Qin Ming stared at him. "You people never take the conventional path. Why are you betraying him?"
"Because I discovered Hall Master Ge Qianxun has been secretly selling off his properties and embezzling Xin Yi Hall's assets. He's clearly planning to flee."
Dai Shifeng, ever cautious, had initially opposed taking on this dangerous assignment.
But when he realized Ge Qianxun was determined to proceed, he investigated further and uncovered his leader's plan to abscond.
"He must have been pressured into this. With no other choice, he eagerly accepted a large sum of Day Gold from his backers, intending to complete the deal and vanish, leaving us to clean up the mess."
"He's the Hall Master, the leader of an entire sect. How could he abandon his entire foundation like that?" Qin Ming asked.
Dai Shifeng explained, "What kind of major sect could exist in Chi Xia City? We're just a small branch, so he doesn't care about abandoning it. Besides, I suspect he's one of the Golden Bandits. He likely sensed the changing political winds and wants to avoid the New City Lord."
"Hmm, what's his strength?" Qin Ming inquired.
Dai Shifeng explained, "He consumed spiritual substances over twenty times, pushing himself to the Sixth Awakening Realm."
"But during the final stage, after taking a powerful medicinal pill, he failed to advance to the Outer Sage Realm of Heavenly Light Emission (where one could release Heavenly Light from inside their body and channel outside)."
"Finally, he resorted to forbidden medicine, sacrificing his potential to reach the Seventh Awakening Realm (Nascent Soul Realm), where he remains stuck for life."
"Where is Ge Qianxun now?" Qin Ming asked.
Dai Shifeng replied, "He's very cautious. He's currently outside the city, keeping a raptor as an escape route. I suspect that after we eliminate you together, he'll immediately flee on that bird."
Qin Ming nodded. "Then let's discuss our strategy..."
Two days later, after informing the relevant peoples, Qin Ming ventured alone into the mountains.
Shortly after entering the forest, Dai Shifeng and his men emerged, surrounding him.
Simultaneously, two raptors appeared in the sky. Perched atop the massive black bird was an elderly man, likely Ge Qianxun, the leader of Xin Yi Hall.
On the silver avian creature stood a young man, coldly surveying the scene below.
"The client himself has appeared in person," Qin Ming remarked, gazing upward. "Another familiar face, and a powerful one at that!"
He sighed.
As an ordinary person, he only wanted to fulfill his grandfather's wish: to grow up safely and live a good life.
But some people seemed determined to deny him that path.
Qin Ming's expression gradually turned icy.
"Since you've forced me to this point," he said, "I have no choice but to reveal my true strength. This will make City Lord Meng unwavering in his support for me!"
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END OF CHAPTER
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