Chapter 47 The End of the Music

Under the cover of night, the forest was dark and quiet. Apart from herbivores, it was difficult to encounter any wild beasts.

Qin Ming ran wildly, then suddenly stopped when he passed through a dense forest. He took off his armor, put down his long-handled black gold hammer, and dug out a set of gleaming fine gold armor from the snow.

These were the belongings of Wang Nianzhu, who was already dead but still wanted. Qin Ming quickly changed his clothes here, worried that there might be bear cubs or calves in the place he was going. If they were highly intelligent and remembered his appearance, that would be terrible.

Everyone knows that Wang Nianzhu killed the Blood Serpent and wiped out Fu Entao, Feng Yi’an and others from the patrol team. Now, taking advantage of the chaos to enter the alien’s lair, this behavior is quite normal.

After hanging Wang Nianzhu’s long sword, which was as clear as a spring, at his waist, Qin Ming covered his face with a cloth. He had no choice; he wasn’t strong enough yet, so he had to be cautious.

Then, he ran eight miles in one breath and came to a stone forest surrounded by forest. There were rocks everywhere, and in some areas they were almost piled up into stone mountains.

“It stinks!” Qin Ming couldn’t stand it. The white giant bear living in this place was really not particular about its environment. He had only been near it for a short time when he smelled the bear dung.

Deep within the stone forest lies a fiery spring, shrouded in crimson mist and shimmering with light. Its size is similar to the fiery spring in Yinteng Town, both reaching the second level.

Although the white giant bear has mutated many times and is extremely powerful, it is still not qualified to enter the depths of the mountains and cannot occupy the more brilliant fire spring.

But for the mountain people, this is already a treasure.

This wonderful place was ravaged by that giant bear. Animal fur, bones, and other debris were scattered everywhere, and huge clumps of bear dung were left near the fire spring.

It is obvious that its hibernation is not sufficient, and it still frequently hunts in the mountains.

“It must be a male bear. It’s too solitary. It lives alone in such a large territory, wasting this precious land.” Qin Ming looked around, but the place smelled bad and there was almost nothing there.

He was furious. He had come all this way, taking a huge risk, only to find nothing but the stench of bear dung.

Qin Ming really wanted to set this place on fire and burn it all down!

Even if there are offspring of the male bear here, he can still vent his anger, and if all else fails, he can chop off two bear paws and take them back.

He couldn’t even say that the place was so poor yet so clean, because the truth was that it was so filthy that he almost vomited from the stench.

This was the first time Qin Ming had felt helpless after being humiliated. He felt particularly suffocated and wanted revenge, but in the end, he reluctantly gave up, not wanting to stay there for even a second longer.

Just before he turned to leave, he suddenly saw a flash of light in the fire spring, and he immediately felt invigorated.

“This old bear actually knows how to raise fish?”

Qin Ming rushed to the edge of the fire spring and saw the shadows of fish in the pool, which was about six or seven zhang square.

However, he soon found himself helpless, as all he saw were fish fry.

“That stinky old bear is utterly despicable. The fish here probably won’t even grow big before it catches and eats them!”

In the end, he targeted the fish fry, discarding those shorter than a finger and taking all those close to the length of a palm. The two largest were only seven inches long, and there were a total of about twenty fish of various sizes.

This is a kind of spirit fish, blue and translucent in some parts, which can grow to more than a meter long. When mature, it contains a rich spirituality and vitality.

Unfortunately, with that impatient male bear around, it would have been impossible for it to grow that big.

“Although it is still small, it has a certain spirituality and can be considered a great tonic.”

Whenever Qin Ming goes into the mountains, he always carries a leather bag. The harsh living conditions instilled this simple habit in him, and now it’s coming in handy.

This is also one of the reasons why Huang Jingjun’s lips curled up slightly, secretly mocking him.

Without looking back, Qin Ming rushed towards Wild Buffalo Ridge, which was seven miles away. He was playing the time difference, so he had to act quickly.

Under the cover of night, the mountain ranges stretch out, covered with vast forests.

Qin Ming was immediately stunned when he entered the territory of the golden giant bull.

Deep in the forest, there is a level-two fire spring. The fiery red, glowing liquid does not accumulate in the pool, but is instead irrigated into some messy fire fields.

The fire spring is not hot, far below the temperature of a person’s body, but it can still block the severe cold brought by wind and snow. Surprisingly, the fire field is lush and green, with a riot of colors.

“Old ox is the most hardworking!” Qin Ming exclaimed.

The mountains are covered in snow, and snowflakes are still falling from the sky, yet this area still boasts such a vibrant scene, which is truly captivating.

A green vine was laden with fire pears, twenty or thirty of which were already glistening and emitting an enticing aroma.

“This fruit can replenish qi and blood.” Qin Ming quickly picked it.

Then he discovered a patch of low-lying plants, only about a foot tall, but each plant was covered with purple berries that tasted sweet and sour.

“So many Purple Sun Fruits! Eating a few when you’re tired can quickly restore your energy. This old ox has planted some really good stuff!” Qin Ming’s impression of the golden giant ox improved significantly.

This messy fire field, though not particularly well-maintained, thrives thanks to the high spiritual energy of the level-two fire spring, with all the plants growing very well.

Unfortunately, the old ox was a large and powerful family. It led a herd of wild cattle to live in this mountain range, and there was nothing of spiritual substance left for people to regenerate. It is likely that it was all eaten by its offspring.

Disappointed, Qin Ming ventured into the lair of the mutated creature, hoping to gain something and achieve a third rebirth.

“We can’t count on Old Bear and Yellow Ox here. It seems Old Liu is the most reliable one. Let’s go into the mountains with him later!”

The volcanic field was filled with many fruits, each possessing a certain spiritual quality, making them highly nutritious for ordinary people. Some of them were already ripe. Seeing such delicious fruits in this icy and snowy landscape, Qin Ming temporarily shook off his disappointment, and his eyes gradually brightened.

Whether it was bright red fruit or golden melon, he picked all the ripe ones, filling two animal skin bags to the brim.

“Are there any calves left behind?” Qin Ming looked into the depths of Bison Ridge.

“Huh?” Suddenly, his pupils contracted. He didn’t see the calf, but he did see a donkey calf.

It looks a lot like the old weasel’s mount, but it probably isn’t, because this is just a little donkey that’s also stealing melons!

In the distant fire field, with a thud, the melon in the donkey’s mouth fell to the ground. It was startled, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the armored two-legged beast.

“You little bastard, don’t you dare bark!” Qin Ming turned and ran away.

This little donkey isn’t much of a threat, but it has powerful backing. If it brays here, who knows what kind of monster it might attract?

Qin Ming believed that he must be a descendant of the old weasel’s mount; otherwise, how could a donkey calf dare to come here to steal melons?

Qin Ming sped away and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

In the chaotic fire field, the donkey calf was also bewildered. It had just been about to kick up its tail and run away, but the two-legged creature had escaped before it.

Feeling guilty, it didn’t dare to bark. It wandered around like a street urchin, eating and drinking its fill. Then it let out a burp, wagged its tail, and ran away in a flash.

Much later, a large white ox emerged from the depths of Wild Buffalo Ridge; this was a creature that had mutated three times. The old ox had a large and prosperous household, so naturally, he needed to keep the ox to guard the house.

The big white ox spotted the donkey calf as soon as it appeared. Instead of chasing it away, it hid itself, knowing who the little donkey was and not wanting to disturb it.

“There’s no need for that little guy to notice anything. Just let Senior Donkey know that we’ve been taking good care of its offspring with good food and drink.” The big white ox said in its language. Even in these mountains, being born as an ox means you still have to be mindful of human relationships.

“I… Moo, is a herd of donkeys coming?!” The big white ox was completely stunned as it approached the fire field!

Qin Ming covered six miles in one breath and, finding no movement behind him, breathed a sigh of relief. He then continued on his way to retrieve his armor and long-handled hammer.

He also took the piece of mutton fat jade iron that he had hidden in the mountains with him. Now all the dangerous experts had gone to the Great Rift Valley, and the outside was deserted.

“Xiao Qin, you’re finally back safe and sound. If something had happened to you, we would have felt guilty for the rest of our lives!” Xu Yueping, Yang Yongqing, and others had been waiting at the village entrance.

“I’m fine, it was a close call, and I even brought back some mountain produce along the way,” Qin Ming briefly recounted the events at the Great Rift Valley.

Xu Yueping was shocked. The large-scale, organized reverse hunting by the aliens left him speechless.

Yang Yongqing was also shocked and terrified. Not to mention people like them, even the noble elites of Chixia City were destined to be skinned alive there.

When they learned that all the villagers had come out safely, they were speechless for a moment, feeling both amused and exasperated. They could only sigh that life is unpredictable, and that those who were most likely to have gotten into trouble had all come out alive.

“Uncle, it’s so good that you’re back safe and sound! We were all so worried!” Wenrui rubbed his little hands together, his mouth and nose filled with white mist. He stood in the snow in front of his house and jumped up with joy when he saw Qin Ming return.

He had run out more than a dozen times in the past half day. Every time he saw that Qin Ming’s courtyard gate was still locked, he felt very disappointed, afraid that something had happened to his uncle.

Because he had already learned from Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing that his uncle had been taken away by people from Jinji Ridge to do something very dangerous.

Although Lu Ze had suffered serious injuries, he was in excellent physical condition and was now able to go out. He walked out with Liang Wanqing’s help.

Fifteen minutes later, Qin Ming arrived at their courtyard carrying a large bag of bright red and golden fruits.

When we go into the mountains on weekdays, we can occasionally find some wild fruits left over from the fall under the snow, but they are certainly not as fresh as these.

“Wow, this time it’s not a persimmon, it’s my favorite red berry! Uncle, you’re amazing!” Wenrui exclaimed happily as he ate, his face flushed.

Two-year-old Wenhui hugged Qin Ming’s neck and gave him a quick kiss, expressing his joy indistinctly.

Inside the iron cage, the mutated squirrel with fiery red fur jumped up and down, almost crying with envy, staring longingly and squeaking incessantly.

“Bow to me, and I’ll give you a little red fruit to eat,” Qin Ming said with a smile.

As a result, the squirrel actually stood in the cage and bowed to him repeatedly. Each time it bowed, it would squeak, as if it were counting.

“You’ve really become a spirit?” Qin Ming’s heart skipped a beat.

…

The fact that the people who went into the mountains did not return for a long time naturally aroused concern from all sides. Various families left a small number of people in places such as Yinteng Town, realizing that something had happened.

After Qin Ming returned, he sent Xu Yueping to Yinteng Town to deliver the message. In fact, the old hunters from other villages also went to report the news after they had recovered from their shock.

Soon, some birds of prey were released into the night sky, and the forces left behind by each family began to request reinforcements from Crimson Cloud City, informing them of the enormous risks that had arisen there.

That very night, skilled individuals from Chixia City set off to save lives as if putting out a fire. This matter could not be delayed; even a moment’s delay could result in many deaths.

The strange creatures in the mountains did not intend to exterminate them all, fearing a bloody retaliation from Crimson Cloud City. They began to retreat in the dead of night, and before the experts from Crimson Cloud City could arrive, the crisis was resolved on its own.

Each company has suffered losses, and there are problems to varying degrees.

Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou, and others were stationed in the inner part of the Great Rift Valley, and even so, they still suffered losses.

Some families suffered losses of 20-30%, while others lost 40-50%, such as the Huang family. Of course, the worst off were Jinji Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect, which were almost completely wiped out at the entrance.

In the end, only a few old men from both families escaped, covered in blood and supporting each other.

When the two leaders of the bandits at Jinji Ridge heard the details, they were so angry that they almost came over to kill them, cursing the group as useless and saying they were not even as good as a bunch of mountain folk.

Several key figures of the Three-Eyed Cult in this region were stunned upon hearing the news, and almost vomited blood.

The next day, Qin Ming, Old Man Liu and others went to see them off, because Cao Long, Mu Qing, Wei Zhirou and others were leaving. A special juncture had occurred, and the dispute over the mysterious resources was about to come to an end. The mountain sweeping operation was about to conclude.

“Qin Ming, you should get out of this area as soon as possible. It’s too remote. You should go to the giant city and learn more there. It’s a place rich in resources and talented people…”

“Yes, the world in the distance is magnificent and colorful, with dazzling cities that are incredibly prosperous. You can see all kinds of creatures, and even gods appearing in human form, far beyond your imagination.”

“Five hundred years ago, Black and White Mountain was famous throughout the world, but it is no longer so…”

Before parting, they all advised Qin Ming to leave this place as soon as possible.

During this time, Qin Ming also saw Nie Rui, Shen Jiayun and others, who came over to greet him warmly.

Finally, these people went far away.

…

That night, Qin Ming brought a bag of melons and fruits to see Old Man Liu.

“Fire pear, purple sun fruit, silver melon, which powerful mutated creature’s lair did you run off to? Monsters that haven’t mutated more than four times won’t bother with fire fields, you’re really something!” Old Liu’s eyelids twitched in surprise.

“Let me think… that old bear is definitely out of the question, lazy, brutal, and filthy. That mountain tiger, though exceptionally powerful, rarely eats vegetables. That old ox is the most hardworking; you haven’t been there, have you?!” Old Liu was quite surprised.

Qin Ming couldn’t help but admire the old man; he knew the various areas in the mountains like the back of his hand, he was truly very familiar with them.

That’s why he came here.

Qin Ming spoke up: “Grandpa, I was terribly bullied by that bear and that yellow ox. They almost killed me in the Great Rift Valley. When are we going to the place you mentioned to find spiritual substances?”

Old Liu glanced at him and said, “You’ve been persecuted by mutated creatures multiple times and you’re still alright? You must have taken advantage of a loophole, raided their hideout, and are now acting innocent after getting the benefits.”

Then he realized that Qin Ming’s strength must have increased significantly, otherwise why would he be in such a hurry to find spiritual matter? He longed to be reborn.

“You’ve been reborn?” he asked in a low voice.

“Yes, I’ve been having a fever lately. It should be almost finished. How about you?” Qin Ming asked.

“Give me two more days, it should be soon.” Old Liu said, closing the door. Then he added, “Be careful, don’t tell anyone about our second rebirth.”

“Okay!” Qin Ming nodded.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

…

Two days later, Qin Ming and Old Man Liu got together and discussed it for a long time before preparing to go into the mountains!