Chapter 40 Famous Throughout the Land

“A skill is never a burden. It’s good to learn more. It can save your life in a critical moment. And you really do learn things very quickly.” Old Liu agreed, but then sighed. In such a remote area, there were very few influential families.

Most importantly, even in their decline, they still followed their ancestral teachings and would not easily let outsiders see their family’s collection of books.

“I’ll ask someone later and see,” Old Liu agreed.

Qin Ming was overjoyed. If he were to encounter another old secret manual that contained the fruits of his predecessors’ labor, he would undoubtedly reap enormous rewards.

He felt there was a way out; although a declining family might have its own principles, it was impossible for everyone to stick to the old ways.

“Grandpa, how are you feeling?” Qin Ming asked with concern.

Old Liu had worked hard for half his life to obtain the red grass containing rich spiritual energy from the Fire Bat Cave, only to be targeted by the people of Golden Rooster Ridge, who silently delivered a blow to him with a yellow mud palm.

He sighed, “It won’t kill me. My injuries can be healed, but I can’t control whether I can have a second chance at life. I’ll just have to leave it to fate.”

…

Qin Ming returned home, removed the flesh from the fire snake, placed it on an iron plate, picked up a long-handled black gold hammer, and smashed it into a pulp.

“There shouldn’t be any smell of blood, right? I washed the black gold hammer twice.”

Half an hour later, Qin Ming returned to Old Man Liu’s house with a jar of meat porridge and said, “This is a small spiritual creature that I hunted in the mountains. Although it cannot help people regenerate, it is a tonic. It is cold in nature, which can counteract the heat of the fiery red grass.”

Old Liu was suspicious, but he still took it and said, “You’re very thoughtful, lad.”

The next day, just as night fell, Old Liu knocked on the courtyard gate. Upon seeing Qin Ming, he grabbed his hand and asked, “Little Qin, what did you give me to eat?”

Fire snakes are like two different creatures compared to ordinary snakes. Their flesh tastes completely different. Even Old Man Liu didn’t know what he ate, but he recovered completely and was no longer sickly.

“I think with my current health, I can still have another child in my later years!”

…

That day, everyone felt that Old Liu was full of energy, and his voice was much louder.

“Black and White Mountain has become famous throughout the land. Many magnificent cities are talking about it. The ten-colored beam of light tore through the night, shocking the world.”

While searching for special nodes in the mountains, Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, and others were talking about how well-informed they were, communicating with the outside world through a kind of raptor.

Qin Ming immediately perked up and listened attentively. He was very interested in the mysterious products related to scraps and also wanted to learn about the outside world.

“Many large organizations regretted not paying enough attention to this place. After assessing the most mysterious product, they believed it to be a divine gift, priceless. Even some ancient sects that were originally in a state of seclusion were alarmed and took it very seriously, sending people out to find out the details.”

Suddenly, the Black and White Mountain, which had been dormant for many years, became the focus of heated discussion in various places.

“Two hundred years ago, the sunlight pierced through Black and White Mountain. Among the group of experts who rushed from the capital, there were still some alive. It is said that an old fellow was so angry that he didn’t sleep for two days and two nights. In the end, with red eyes, he ran to the deep mountains and marshes to hunt down the legendary six-tusked white elephant.”

“A six-tusked white elephant, isn’t that the mount of a deity worshipped in some esoteric religion? Even if it exists in reality, it’s probably in the deepest part of the night fog.”

Qin Ming listened with great interest. He longed for the vast world outside, and even just hearing a little bit made him feel that it was colorful and exciting, and he wanted to leave this remote place to see it for himself.

“Not to mention the capital, there are reports that even in the distant and incredibly powerful imperial city of Yu, high-ranking officials have been alarmed, and the Grand Preceptor has personally inquired about the matter. After all, the simultaneous appearance and fusion of ten-colored light pillars and five-colored smoke clouds is not recorded in any literature.”

Although some people coveted that mysterious product, they were ultimately unable to investigate it because they encountered strong resistance and were interfered with by a person of extremely high status from outside the secular world.

“Those blessed lands, and the sacred mountains that accumulate the light of heaven, are now considered to be…”

Qin Ming wanted to urge them to talk more, but although their relationship was good, it wasn’t close enough. He was well aware of his own position and didn’t say much.

After failing to find any special nodes today, Xu Yueping and Old Man Liu discussed taking three teams to the nest of the Flying Sickle Bird.

Xu Yueping frankly admitted that it was uncertain whether there were any spiritual substances there, but it was indeed a good place to hone newcomers.

He was very dedicated and responsible to the village and wanted to ask Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing to rid the village of this menace.

The food shortage this winter is largely due to the sickle birds. Before the autumn harvest, they fly out of the mountains, skim over the scorched fields, and with their sickle-like beaks, they can pluck out several clumps of grain in one gulp.

Wei Zhirou nodded and said, “The original purpose of the mountain sweeping operation was to eliminate all kinds of harmful beasts. Since there is such a vicious bird, let’s go and take a look.”

Xu Yueping was immediately grateful. Everyone knew that sweeping the mountain was just a pretext; the real purpose was to find special products in the mountain.

Cao Long said, “This group of newly enrolled teenagers haven’t had any proper training except for the bloodshed they got in the Fire Bat Cave. The Flying Sickle Bird is a good fit for them.”

Soon after, they came to a low cliff. There was a lot of bird droppings on the snow and many crevices in the cliff face, where the Sicklebirds lived.

Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others were very professional and well-prepared. They even brought nets woven from fine metal wires. More than a dozen large nets were thrown out, covering the densest area of ​​the bird nests.

Even so, a large number of sicklebirds still took flight, densely packed together, with at least a thousand escaping the net, truly becoming a plague.

They are about a foot long, with particularly large and sharp mouths. They are very fierce, and when their nests are attacked and covered, they all swoop down fearlessly.

Fortunately, everyone was wearing armor, so even if some of the swarms of flying sickle birds managed to get close enough to defend themselves, they could still be stopped.

Qin Ming, Xu Yueping, and the others were no exception. In the past few days, they had been guiding three teams in the mountains and were all given a set of armor.

In the end, a large number of flying sickle birds were killed, especially in the nests covered by the large net. After the birds on the cliff were dealt with, a layer of bird carcasses accumulated on the ground.

Many of the birds of prey still flew away, but the problem was largely solved, and their nests were disturbed. They didn’t dare to come back for a short time, and once their numbers decreased, the villagers dared to hunt them.

Yang Yongqing, the Black Sheep Knight, was tasked with notifying the villagers to bring sacks and collect the bird carcasses, as it would be a waste to discard so much meat.

Over the past few days, Qin Ming had been observing the various groups of people in the mountains, but he still hadn’t found the person he was looking for.

“The two men were in their early thirties. The woman had a mole between her right eyebrows, and the man had very long arms. Unfortunately, there was no one who matched them.”

Back then, those two rescued him from the boy in feathered robes and led him away from the city to a remote place. After leaving him in Silver Vine Town, they had explored Black and White Mountain, but this time they did not find him.

During this period, Qin Ming kept his promise and contacted the old nobleman’s people many times, telling him what he had seen in the mountains and which organizations had obtained special products.

The old nobleman Xie Jingrui sighed, for what he needed never appeared.

Today, he personally went into the mountains, and even went directly into the deepest part of the mountains, which greatly shocked many old men from Chixia City.

Since Lingxu and the tabby cat left, no one dares to venture deep into the mountains. Let alone the mysterious mountain lord, even the old weasel, barely a foot long, going berserk is terrifying. It was running wildly across the mountains carrying a donkey, and its mindset was clearly unbalanced after being intercepted by the woman in green. Who would dare to provoke it?

Half a day later, the old nobleman Xie Jingrui walked out silently, holding two very short plant roots in his hand, one black and one white.

He sighed softly, “Indeed, the roots of the black and white tree remain deep in the mountains. Nourished by the sunlight, they have transformed into extraordinary and mysterious products!”

Qin Ming was searching for a special node on his own when he saw him approaching. He asked, “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“We made a discovery, but someone else beat us to it.” Xie Jingrui stood in the forest, somewhat helpless, and sighed, “Unfortunately, I am injured and cannot fight for long in the chaos, otherwise I would have already entered the mountains.”

“No clues left behind?” Qin Ming realized that the roots of the black and white tree nourished by the sunlight were very important to the old nobleman. He had come two years ago to obtain it.

Xie Jingrui said, “I know who took it. I have to go to Chixia City.”

“Could it have been taken by the Lord of Lingxu City?” Qin Ming asked.

The old nobleman nodded. He had asked Wei Mo, who was following the path of the Giant Spirit God, in the deep mountains, and was told by the latter that Ling Xu had lingered there for a long time.

Xie Jingrui said, “No wonder Ling Xu ran straight back to Chixia City after missing out on the strongest mysterious treasure. Everyone said he was so angry he almost broke his thigh, regretting not buying a flying mount. In reality, he was afraid others would know he had another great gain. He used this opportunity to run away. What a sly fellow! And he calls himself a refined scholar in white? I think he should wear black instead.”

Qin Ming was speechless for a moment, and also very surprised that the old nobleman could talk to him so much before leaving.

He soon found out the answer. Xie Jingrui said, “That purple-eyed crow thinks highly of you. Keep up the good work. This place is too remote and isolated. Get out of here as soon as possible.”

He was about to leave Silvervine Town and would set off immediately upon returning.

“Will Miss Xie leave with you too?”

“Well, see you again if fate allows!” The old nobleman Xie Jingrui flashed and disappeared directly from the woods, his speed was unbelievable.

In the distance, a great commotion arose. When Qin Ming rushed over, he found a group of nobles in fine clothes and riding spirited horses confronting Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing.

The various families in Chixia City were not all on good terms. While the Cao, Wei, and Mu families were working together, other major families were also forming alliances to enter the mountains.

Just now, someone had fought with Cao Long, but was defeated quickly and was sent flying, which surprised everyone.

At this moment, a young man clad in golden armor rode on the back of a mutated golden leopard, pressing forward with a powerful aura.

Cao Long said coldly, “Feng Xing, don’t cause trouble. That old man from the Wang family tried to steal my seventh uncle’s longevity tree, but I repelled him. Is there a problem? Are you going to stand up for the Wang family?”

The young man on the golden leopard, Feng Xing, spoke calmly: “It’s been two years. I heard your strength has increased dramatically. We’ve fought our way here, so let’s have a friendly spar.”

“You just want a fight? Do you think you’re afraid of me?!”

The people around them were all from Crimson Cloud City and knew each other. Although they were mainly divided into two groups, there were also neutral nobles who offered words of advice.

“Brother Feng Xing, Brother Cao Long, you are both outstanding figures who have entered the giant city from our Chixia City. Don’t hurt our harmony. Now that you are so strong, if you make a mistake, the consequences will be unpredictable.”

In this situation, those who dare to step forward and dissuade others must have some influence or connections.

The speaker was a young man, riding on the back of a white rhinoceros, approaching from afar into the dense forest. He was very handsome, and his silver armor accentuated his imposing and extraordinary bearing.

Beside her was a young girl riding on a black tiger. She had a graceful figure, wore purple and gold armor, had curved eyebrows, and bright, large eyes. She was very beautiful and charming. Many young men couldn’t help but take a second look at her after they noticed her.

After the young couple appeared, many people greeted them warmly, and even those older than them were very polite to them.

Behind the exceptionally outstanding young couple, a large group of people followed, surrounding them like stars around the moon.

From the hushed conversations of the crowd, Qin Ming learned why the two of them were attracting so much attention.

When these two became newcomers this year, they caused a sensation in Crimson Cloud City. They were the most dazzling in twenty years, stunning the entire region. Those who had built a golden foundation over the years were far inferior to them.

Sure enough, after the young man spoke, Feng Xing gave him face, put away his weapon, and smiled as he spoke a few words to him.

“Who is Qin Ming?” Nie Rui, a silver-armored youth riding on the back of a white rhinoceros, asked, his handsome and radiant appearance as he searched through the crowd.

Qin Ming frowned. How did he know him?

Nie Rui smiled and said, “I went to visit Master Xu Kong, and I wanted to spar with his disciple, but Zhou Wubing said he was unwell and it was inconvenient for him to fight. However, he highly praised you and said that you were better than him. I was really curious if there were any young people in the area who were more powerful than the disciples personally taught by Master Xu Kong. So I came to take a look.”

Qin Ming was stunned. This second sick kid is really sick!