Chapter 220 The Journey to the Secret Realm Ends 【Two Chapters Combined】

Chapter 221 The Journey to the Secret Realm Ends 【Two Chapters Combined】

A cup of tea appeared on Qin Ming’s desk; it was the reward he received for defeating Sun Jingxiao.

However, he doesn’t need to drink it right now.

“Cui Chonghe?” Qin Ming frowned. Upon hearing this name, his mood immediately soured.

The pressure he is currently feeling, and the grudges he has accumulated, are mostly related to the Cui family.

Just like in the early days, Li Qingxu targeted him and wanted to kill him because he was the eldest son of the Cui family.

Throughout the entire ordeal, he was a complete victim, taking the blame for others, yet afterwards he was still harassed by the Cui family.

Cui Chonghe, the person in charge, held a very high position, regarding him as a servant raised by the Cui family, and believing that it was only right for him to die in place of others and suffer calamities.

Now that the Cui and Li families have stopped fighting, he is still being implicated.

From the Cui family’s attempt to kill him in the remote Black and White Mountain, to inviting Yu Zhuohan of the Secret Sect to fight him, and then to the suspected interference in the selection of disciples by the Six Imperial Ancestral Court, every single event infuriated Qin Ming.

When he was aboard the Vermilion Bird spaceship, he was attacked by an old woman guarding the “land” in the sky. After being “shattered and safe,” he had come to hate the Cui family to the extreme.

“Is it a real battle? I’d really like to test my skills against him,” Qin Ming said.

His resentment towards the Cui family had accumulated to a certain point. Even when the Cui family tried to appease him, they would readily suggest that he become Cui Chonghe’s bodyguard.

Even those like Cui He and Cui Shuning, who lost to him in the “Yi Mu Jing”, felt that he was too late to become a Jade Armor Guardian or a Divine Armor Guardian. They believed that as a newcomer, his cultivation speed was far behind, and he could not keep up with Cui Chonghe, who was close to the immortal. Even if he ran as fast as he could from behind, he could not catch up with Cui Chonghe’s back.

“Hmm, that’s a bit much. How can I manage if my mind is unsettled? I need to calm down.” Qin Ming realized that his temper would flare up especially whenever the Cui family was mentioned.

The Heavenly Demon Mirror informed Cui Chonghe in a cold and wooden voice that his challenge was related to his innate talent.

“I’ve just mastered the Golden Cicada Scripture, and my body is undergoing a regeneration process. It would be a shame not to put it into actual combat,” Qin Ming said, sounding quite disappointed.

He naturally knew that Cui Chonghe was exceptionally gifted. He was sent to the Pure Land of the Immortals at the age of three and entered the Dao. His level of attainment surpassed that of his peers.

“Let him wait until I’m fully recovered,” Qin Ming said.

Half a day later, his body was no longer burning hot, and the transformation was completely over.

Subsequently, he began to integrate the Golden Cicada Force, using the “Dragon and Tiger Combined Medicine” method, refining and perfecting it repeatedly.

His flesh and blood were crystal clear, and a large pill appeared in his chest and abdomen, which then took on a human form… before exploding and rushing to all parts of his body, causing lightning and thunder throughout the entire palace.

He felt very satisfied. After integrating the seventh extraordinary skill, this was a new life for the Heavenly Light Force!

He was experiencing the changes within himself and felt very strong. He wished he could beat Cao Qianqiu up again in the first realm.

“Indeed, the records from all sides are true. The higher the initial foundation and the deeper the accumulation on the path of rebirth, the greater the rewards will be in the ninth rebirth!”

Qin Ming now understood why there was a “relay of new life”.

He speculated that some of the founders might have experienced this as well.

Nine out of ten young people who enter the secret realm are digging for spiritual herbs, while the opportunities for those who are destined to embark on the journey do not lie in the real world.

“Hey, another immortal path is approaching the demon path.” Someone noticed this scene with surprise.

This immediately caused a sensation.

People know that the young demon “Demon One” is about to become famous throughout the Night Fog World!

In a single day, he collided with the seeds of near-immortality. Regardless of the outcome, this was a magnificent feat.

“That’s Cui Chonghe!” someone exclaimed.

In mid-air, a fairy path, shrouded in clouds and mist, merges with a demon path. On it stands a palace, and at its entrance stands a figure.

Cui Chonghe’s feathered robes fluttered, and wisps of white mist surrounded him, with shimmering light rain flowing around him. He seemed to have cut off all worldly affairs and transcended the mortal world.

Although he couldn’t see clearly, some disciples of the Pure Land still recognized him.

“As expected of Senior Brother Cui, he stepped up at the crucial moment. He’s really responsible!” someone praised.

Cui Chonghe is extremely famous. He had an epiphany in the Pure Land when he was three years old. Many people say that he will definitely become close to an immortal in the future and eventually seek the truth.

The disciples of the Immortal Path instantly became lively, as if they were standing on clouds, feeling a sense of honor.

“What is extraordinary talent? Senior Brother Cui is a prime example. It is said that he may have a foundation that surpasses even the founder, and he is destined to become a world-shaking figure in the future!”

“I’ve also heard that Senior Brother Cui is exceptionally talented, possessing a talent that surpasses even that of Patriarch Tuolu!”

Not long ago, the seeds on the Immortal Path suffered two consecutive defeats, which really hurt their morale and made these disciples quite silent. But now they are all excited and thrilled.

The demons’ expressions changed slightly, showing a hint of worry.

Recently, the situation on the plateau has been very tense. As the opposing side, these young demons have naturally studied the celebrities in the other camp.

Some of the demons also knew of Cui Chonghe.

“This is bad. If he really has talent that surpasses even Patriarch Tuolu, then we’re in deep trouble!”

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the young man on the path of demons never showed himself or left his palace.

Since it wasn’t close combat, Qin Ming didn’t bother to see Cui Chonghe.

“Very well, the prodigies of my demon race should have this kind of prestige. How about the leading figures of this generation on the Immortal Path? They can simply refuse to see me!”

Many demons believe that once a demon has a personality, it should be like that.

The disciples of the Immortal Path were immediately dissatisfied, feeling that the Demon Seed was too arrogant, not even stepping out of the gate of the Great Palace, which was rather presumptuous.

“Is Cui Chonghe really as strong as the rumors suggest?” The members of the secret sect were also discussing it.

“It’s hard to say, but judging from all the signs, it should be very powerful.”

…

Qin Ming sat quietly in the Demon Palace, asking the Heavenly Demon Mirror, “How does the opponent intend to compete?”

The Heavenly Demon Mirror tells you: “Ahead on the road, there are riddles left by those who have traveled the road before. He also left one, which he has brought here now. You are to solve the riddle. If you can succeed, then you have won.”

Qin Ming sensed something and asked, “If I fail, can I give him a problem in return and let him solve it?”

“That’s right.”

This broken mirror has different names on different paths; on the Immortal Path, it is naturally called the Immortal Mirror.

At this moment, Cui Chonghe stood on the path to immortality, his hands behind his back gazing into the distance. The other party did not show himself, but he was not angry; he simply smiled faintly.

“If he can master this one, then I’ll admit defeat.” He pointed with his hand, and fine characters and patterns appeared, reflected in the void.

After being manifested by the Heavenly Demon Mirror, the jade table in front of Qin Ming finally shone brightly, engraved with pictures and text.

“This is outrageous!” Qin Ming’s face darkened.

His earlier guess has now been proven true.

This is the rebirth method of the first realm, which originally belonged to him. However, the old silk scroll was withheld by the Cui family, who have refused to return it to him to this day.

It is conceivable that the exceptionally talented members of the Cui family had all studied his family’s silk manuscript, and even Cui Chonghe, who had embarked on the path of immortality, knew the meaning of the text.

Immediately, Qin Ming suspected that this person might also be practicing the Heavenly Light Force, having taken more than one path, and probably possessing strong talent in various fields.

No one knew the situation of the silk scroll better than him; Cui Chonghe had indeed presented him with a difficult problem.

“Could it be that he suspects me and is doing this on purpose? That shouldn’t be the case.”

Qin Ming frowned deeply. If he were to practice silk calligraphy here, the consequences would be very serious, and then it wouldn’t just be Cao Qianqiu who was after him.

Moreover, his identity will likely be exposed; the Demon Path cannot be concealed any longer.

Qin Ming’s expression wasn’t very pleasant; it was truly difficult to feel happy facing the Cui family.

He also took out a secret martial art from the sect to make things difficult for Cui Chonghe? How could that be? Wouldn’t that be aiding the enemy?

Cui Chonghe demonstrated this because he was certain that no one could master silk calligraphy on their own.

“I’ll write one too, let him study it. If he can master it, I’ll admit defeat.” Qin Ming quickly wrote characters in the air using the Heavenly Light Force.

When Cui Chonghe saw the pictures and text, his smile froze. He frowned and said, “This is allowed? Isn’t it against the rules?”

The other party copied out the essence of the first realm of silk calligraphy exactly as it was and sent it back.

The Immortal Mirror’s voice remained unchanged as he said, “He believes there’s a problem with this technique, that it’s impractical. You’re misleading him with incorrect interpretations of the scriptures. Please practice it first.”

“I am walking the path of immortality,” Cui Chonghe said.

Qin Ming responded: “Since you don’t understand the path of the demon race and the method of rebirth, don’t try to teach a fish to swim. I said there’s a problem with this mental cultivation method, do you disagree?”

This match was all talk and no action; although it ended in a draw, it felt rather pointless.

“Useless sparring and exchanges will not be rewarded, and if it happens again, there will be direct punishment.” This is the evaluation of the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

In the end, Cui Chonghe left with a flick of his sleeve, very dissatisfied.

Qin Ming didn’t smile either, which didn’t meet his expectations.

The Cui family didn’t take his family’s heirloom silk scroll seriously, casually taking it out to compete with others, and then they wouldn’t return it to him, which added to his frustration.

He sat there quietly and said in a deep voice, “This matter cannot be resolved peacefully; we must go to their door and fight!”

“Someone has challenged you…” the Heavenly Demon Mirror transmitted.

“Is it someone from the Immortal Path again? Is this never going to end?” Qin Ming was already in a bad mood, and now he naturally felt the urge to start a fight.

“Yes, she is from the Immortal Path—Li Qingyue,” the Heavenly Demon Mirror informed.

“Ah, no problem, let’s spar,” Qin Ming said immediately.

The Heavenly Demon Mirror said, “She wants to discuss the Dao.”

“No problem.” Qin Ming nodded with a smile.

The Heavenly Demon Mirror said, “You are a descendant who dares to blaze new trails. You are also so friendly to your competitors, never showing any murderous intent. You deserve praise.”

Qin Ming smiled and said, “Yes, I also yearn for the path of immortality and crave to sit and discuss the Dao. Moreover, I have already caused quite a stir. If I continue to engage in actual combat, it won’t just be that the heavens are jealous of my talent; Cao Qianqiu and Sun Taichu might personally come to enlighten me.”

“What’s going on?” Outside, some people were surprised. The Immortal Path and the Demon Path had separated, and neither had been damaged, having safely weathered this storm.

Soon people began to speculate that the game might end in a draw.

“Hiss, Senior Brother Cui should have the potential of a pioneering master, yet he can only maintain an undefeated record with no hope of victory?”

“Yao Yi will become famous far and wide. He has defeated Li Qingxu and Sun Jingxiao in succession and forced Cui Chonghe to a draw. He is truly a demon god!”

Clearly, many people are unaware that Li Qingxu’s teacher, Cao Qianqiu, once used a substitute player.

Those who truly know the inside story have all kept quiet and dare not comment further on the matter.

Then, people saw another immortal path approaching the demon path, where they joined together.

This time, everyone in the secret realm was in an uproar.

The demon race, in particular, was on the verge of a climax, as if their own lives had reached their peak at this moment.

Is this demon boy fighting against all the immortals alone?

So far, he has not suffered a single defeat.

“Li Qingyue, it’s actually her. She has no background and has only been in the Pure Land of the Outsiders for a little over two years. She has risen to the top entirely on her own strength, obtained a near-immortal item, and was recognized by the old guys, becoming an immortal seed.”

Someone spotted a figure amidst the drifting clouds and mist, dressed in white with flowing black hair, standing before a colossal palace.

“Li Xianzi is indeed a responsible person. Even when Cui Chonghe was losing and the game ended in a draw, she still dared to step onto the field. She has a strong belief that she can do whatever she wants!”

“As expected of a celestial being who fought his way up from among many disciples, his will is firm and he is fearless!”

When Li Qingyue appeared, she was immediately praised by many disciples of the Immortal Path.

Immediately, two colossal palaces in the sky rapidly approached, emitting dazzling light that engulfed the area, and the flow of Daoist energy made everything invisible.

Several months later, Qin Ming saw Li Qingyue again and rose to greet her in the Demon Palace.

She was dressed in white, without any makeup, and her face was exquisitely beautiful. Standing there, she was like the bright moon breaking through the clouds, and the white ribbon tied around her slender waist fluttered gently.

“Fairy Li, please sit down!” Qin Ming said, following the proper etiquette even though they were very familiar with each other, for fear of causing any trouble in front of the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

Li Qingyue nodded, her white clothes shining like snow, her whole body seemed to glow from head to toe, illuminating the demon palace. Her beautiful body was clear and elegant.

Even Qin Ming had a strange feeling that he was getting distant from her, and that she was about to sever ties with the mortal world and ascend to heaven.

Li Qingyue smiled and said, “We can’t afford to lose on the Immortal Path anymore; we can only win. If we lose or it’s a draw, I will personally give you an item.”

Then, the two began to discuss the Dharma in a proper manner, debating the merits of scriptures, arguing about the relative strength of the demonic path and the immortal path, and whether the Heavenly Light Force or the Spiritual Light of Consciousness was more advantageous, engaging in a serious debate.

Without a doubt, Li Qingyue recognized him!

As their conversation deepened, the two stopped pretending and began discussing truly profound scriptures. Qin Ming explained the “Scripture of Changing Fate” to her, sharing his own insights.

Li Qingyue had taught him a mysterious scripture in the Mountain and River Spirit Nest, which could cultivate the light of consciousness. Now she focused on discussing this scripture and then talked about the subsequent chapters.

In the end, both of them felt they had gained a lot, and when they talked about the confrontation between the Heavenly Light Force and the Consciousness Aura, they both showed thoughtful expressions, seriously considering various practical combat situations.

As time passed, everyone outside grew impatient, but the two paths still hadn’t diverged, and the two individuals hadn’t appeared yet.

“Will Fairy Li be alright?” some people worried, after all, that young demon was very fierce.

“What kind of fight are they having? Why aren’t they showing themselves?”

After a long while, Li Qingyue stood up in the giant palace and said, “We have benefited greatly. How about we end this in a draw?”

“Of course I would love to have it,” Qin Ming replied.

He sighed softly. He and this old friend had truly been separated for far too long. Outsiders felt that a long time had passed, but in reality, it hadn’t been that long.

Moreover, it wasn’t appropriate for the two of them to say anything more here.

“I told you, if I lose, I will give you an item.” Li Qingyue handed over a crystal of extremely high purity, within which a large pill was sealed.

“This is…” Qin Ming was taken aback.

It can be as big as a longan, and it is divided into two colors, black on the left and white on the right. In the distance, one can vaguely see the phantoms of dragons and tigers intertwined. It actually carries a strange sight.

He immediately knew what it was: the Dragon-Tiger Elixir!

Long ago, at the ruins of Luofu Immortal Mountain, Li Qingyue used her spiritual eyes to discover that Cui Chonghe had been possessed and had violated the rules by participating in the battle. She dragged him out, threatened him, and demanded the Dragon Tiger Medicine, forcing him to comply.

This is a powerful medicine that Sun Taichu personally collected and refined from various rare and precious materials.

Li Qingyue said, “The methods are incomplete, the paths are not yet finished, and all the paths are still imperfect. In this great era, all paths are expanding forward. I hope that your path will be brilliant in the future, opening up new avenues. When the path is blocked, this pill can temporarily pave the way and increase the speed of cultivation.”

She subtly explained to Qin Ming the purpose of the large pill.

It’s not that he should take it now. The first stage of the New Life Path progresses rapidly, even faster than other paths, but once he reaches the second stage, his progress will plummet.

She was worried about his future path, so she gave him the Dragon Tiger Elixir, hoping that he could go further and not slow down too much.

However, this powerful medicine was only effective at a certain point in time, so in the end she could only sigh.

Qin Ming watched her depart, her silhouette gradually blurring as she disappeared into the depths of the palaces on the immortal path.

Undoubtedly, Li Qingyue was very good to him, but Qin Ming was somewhat lost in thought because she was becoming more and more otherworldly, single-mindedly pursuing the Dao and approaching immortality.

He recalled Wang Caiwei’s words: one day, Li Qingyue would no longer set foot in the mortal world, and they would never meet again.

“In the future, she will either lead the land beyond the mundane world to its ultimate glory, turning all blessed lands into celestial realms and leaping into the void, or she will lead all the people of the land beyond the mundane world to their deaths in the depths of the night fog world during the Great Creation Era, where the path will be blocked and the road cut off.”

Although Qin Ming was unwilling to believe those words, seeing Li Qingyue now, he couldn’t help but make the connection, because he always felt that she was drifting away.

To him, everything about Li Qingyue was perfect, but he also thought of what the Heavenly Demon Mirror had mentioned: that being too perfect could also be destructive, and he couldn’t help but frown.

“In the end, I’m just not skilled enough and I’m prone to overthinking. If I could crush Cao Qianqiu in the real world, what would I have to worry about? What’s so scary about the depths of the Night Fog World? I can just carve my way through.”

…

Outside, a group of people were lost in thought. After the two paths separated this time, each had expanded slightly. Although not much, they could clearly see the radiance rising and the Daoist aura gradually intensifying.

Is this also a draw?

Previously, Cui Chonghe’s draw was uneventful, so why is there such a situation now?

“Though the discussion ended in a draw, both sides gained something, and should be rewarded.” This was the evaluation from the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

It offered two cups of tea, one for each person, believing it to be a meaningful exchange and discussion.

Qin Ming calmed his mind and, on this path, burned incense, drank tea, and sat cross-legged on a futon, comprehending the several extraordinary skills he had mastered, and once again developing new killer moves, such as the Fire Shuttle and the Earth Seal.

At the same time, he also took the opportunity to practice the “Undying Butterfly Scripture” here, and as expected, he obtained the original version of the demon race, which was supplemented by the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

However, he did not refine the demon seed again, fearing he would be kicked out of this path.

Then, he went to Xinsheng Road, searching for opportunities along the way.

And so he kept switching between the two roads, running wildly forward.

During this time, no one challenged him anymore, because everyone already knew that he was not someone to be trifled with, and going up against him would likely only lead to humiliation.

“I, a single demon, can fight against all the other demons!” a demon boasted.

“Looking across the entire Night Fog world, he might be the most powerful teenage demon!”

“Forget it. Although Yao Yi is very strong, I don’t think he can make it into the top three because some of the people in there are too special. They are suspected of being the Demon Ancestor who has retraced his steps. Who can defeat them?”

Despite the outside world’s turmoil, Qin Ming was oblivious to everything. He focused solely on his journey and entered the puzzle area. Seeing the entire wall covered in writing, he tried to solve it.

Finally, he discovered that some of the traces were definitely left by important figures. This was not only the path taken by the boy, but also the route that giants had passed through. Some of the unsolved mysteries were too profound to understand at all.

Moreover, different paths and different problems mean crossing boundaries, which is quite difficult for newcomers.

Later, Qin Ming vaguely saw that the road had ended, and the fog ahead was thick, making it difficult to go any further.

After his ninth rebirth, his eyes changed; when he concentrated, a surge of heat flowed, piercing through the misty region.

Just ahead, there was a huge cicada palace, even larger than a giant mountain.

Qin Ming was shocked and stared at it carefully. It was less like a giant palace and more like a primitive cicada shell that had been decorated to become a palace.

“Could this be the shell left behind by the legendary cicada?” He had this guess.

The Kunling Classified Gods Record states: When the ancient cicada splits open, a new cicada emerges, flaps its wings and flees far away. Another class of gods either perish or are reborn.

Qin Ming looked into the distance and saw that behind the giant palace, it had been cut off by a sharp weapon. Only half of the cicada shell remained, along with the decorated giant palace and the road, which were now severed.

“Senior?” Qin Ming called out to the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

The broken mirror responded: “Oh, I almost forgot, I’ve actually reached the end. The road ahead is unpredictable, it’s already broken, and there’s no longer any destiny in place for me.”

It informed us that we could leave.

Moreover, it mentions that it will ensure that the geniuses on each path can disperse and exit safely.

“My situation is special, so I would appreciate your help, senior,” Qin Ming said, making his request.

He beat Cao Qianqiu up, or rather, he smashed him to pieces, because he was worried that someone was waiting for him outside.

“Okay!” the Heavenly Demon Mirror agreed.

Finally, people saw Yao Yi soar through the air, carried by a golden raptor, flying out of the secret realm as if traversing time and space, rapidly heading towards the depths of the plateau, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

That was not his true form, but merely a trick of the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

At this moment, Qin Ming’s true form landed in the secret realm. He quickly restored his original appearance, changed back into his previous clothes, and transformed back into Shen Wubing.

At the same time, he forced out three demonic seeds, refined them with rags, and washed away all the demonic energy, leaving not a trace, before wrapping them up.

Outside, a fierce battle had already broken out. Pu Heng was fighting a giant demon, and the battle shook the entire region.

This land is stained with blood—the blood of demons, and even more so with the blood of Pu Heng; both are wounded.

On that day, in the secluded paradise, Cao Qianqiu emerged from seclusion, tearing the night sky with a bloody light!

Pu Heng’s pure Yang consciousness light personally rushed back to the Pure Land to report to him.

“The secret realm no longer needs to exist, and that plateau should be washed away with blood!” On that day, Cao Qianqiu set off.

He traversed the foggy world and personally made his way to Kunling.

Everyone was shocked, for he exuded murderous intent, and a blood-red sun illuminated the mountains and rivers along the way, as if the era of daylight had arrived, only stained with blood!