Chapter 29: The Mountains Are Changing

In front of the mountain forest under the night sky, Ling Xu and the tabby cat disappeared into the vast snow in a flash.

It was one thing for the two of them, but Wei Mo was ten meters tall and wore armor with mottled ancient patterns. He also disappeared in an instant. His movements were truly too fast; few people could react.

Only the old weasel with pure white fur unhurriedly beckoned, called over the donkey, and leisurely rode away, returning to the deep mountains.

The anomalies in the dense forest also retreated. Instantly, a large number of flying creatures appeared above the vast mountain ranges, and many figures were climbing and leaping on the mountains.

On the snow outside the mountains, whether it was the nobles from Crimson Cloud City, the members of the Mountain Patrolling Group, or the local New Lifers, they all dispersed.

Even after walking far away, people were still discussing. To be able to see high-level beings with their own eyes today made this trip worthwhile.

“What is the origin of that feather-clad woman? I’ve never heard of her in Crimson Cloud City. She’s truly too formidable.”

“She is probably the expert that the City Lord invited from afar.”

Some youths were the most excited and invigorated. After seeing the few techniques displayed by the high-level figures, they discussed it heatedly, feeling as if they had seen a brand new world.

“Is that the upper limit we can reach in the future?”

“Wake up. There’s an upper limit called the City Lord, but there’s only one in the entire Crimson Cloud City. And your upper limit is to strive to enter the gatehouse of the City Lord’s mansion after twenty years of hard work.”

---

On the road, even the direct descendants of the noble families like Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing could not escape the custom. They were also talking.

“Cousin, what level have you reached now? You’re also walking the giant spirit god path. You’re already over three meters tall, and that person named Wei Mo is ten meters. I feel that the height difference between you and him is not very far. Does that mean your strength is also…”

“Shut up!” Cao Long’s face immediately changed. They hadn’t even left the great mountains yet. He stopped his naive young cousin. “Senior Wei was already twenty to thirty meters tall twenty years ago. Now he’s changing in the opposite direction. We can’t even fathom what level he has reached.”

Just then, a silver-haired old man with a relatively high status in the Mountain Patrolling Group came over and asked, “Is anyone from the Wang family of Crimson Cloud City here?”

People immediately realized that it must be because of Wang Nianzhu. He had killed a nest of spiritual creatures—the Blood Snakes—and in the process, was suspected of murdering several Mountain Patrollers.

“Nianzhu is missing. We are also looking for him,” a middle-aged man replied.

“Could it be that he fled to escape punishment?” the silver-haired old man said. Although his face was full of wrinkles, he was still hale and hearty, his eyes shooting out cold electricity.

If it were an ordinary Mountain Patroller, the Wang family would naturally not pay them any mind. But now the nature of the matter had changed. Someone from above was asking about it, and they were also very wary.

This was because the person in charge of the Mountain Patrollers at the very top was the Deputy City Lord of Crimson Cloud City.

“We are also looking for him. I believe Nianzhu would not do such a thing,” the middle-aged man said. Then, he accompanied the old man to the side of the snow to explain something.

---

In Twin Tree Village, Qin Ming, Old Man Liu, and Xu Yueping were watching the snow fall outside the window. They were eating steaming hot donkey meat from a copper pot in a warm room and drinking the fine wine dug out from the Mountain Patrolling Group’s stronghold.

Qin Ming, who was originally indifferent to wine, was now a little tipsy. He had not expected that Wang Nianzhu, whose name he only knew after his death, could still play such a big role even when he was no longer around.

Coupled with his smooth second New Life, Qin Ming sipped leisurely, very relaxed.

He looked out the window, his thoughts flying. His heart was not so calm. Where exactly was Fallen Moon City? He would have to go and see it eventually.

In that dark night two years ago, a great fire had burned fiercely, devouring the entire village. The youth in the feathered robe had stepped over the ruins, bright and otherworldly, and had acted ruthlessly…

He could never forget those scenes again.

Qin Ming sighed softly in his heart. If he didn’t know these past events, he could still live his days peacefully. But now, he had to quicken his pace.

“Little Qin, is it my illusion? I feel that your essence, qi, and spirit are more vigorous than before, and your height seems to have grown a little,” Old Man Liu spoke. Although he was old and decrepit, his eyes were very sharp.

Qin Ming did not use “Harmonizing with the Light, Becoming One with the Dust” in front of him and Xu Yueping. His temperament was naturally a little different from before.

Xu Yueping nodded. “Yes, there are some changes. Your eyes are clearer, and you seem to be more handsome.”

After Qin Ming’s second New Life this time, his body had grown less than half an inch. People who were not particularly familiar with him would not notice this change at all.

He had already confirmed that the New Life method recorded on the silk book would not make people continue to grow taller.

He smiled and replied, “I’m only sixteen. My body hasn’t settled yet. It’s very possible that I’ll change every few days.”

After Qin Ming’s New Life this time, besides his two arms having two thousand jin of strength, his flexibility and speed had also been greatly improved, which was the most prominent. His strength could be said to have grown rapidly.

In the deep of night, all was silent. Heaven and earth were like a huge abyss, about to swallow all light.

Suddenly, in the depths of the great mountains, a silver lightning bolt streaked across the ink-black night. A crimson cloud dyed the mountain range red. A giant carrying a black long spear stepped over a mountain peak and roared, as if wanting to shatter the mountains and rivers, causing a terrifying great avalanche there.

“They’ve started!”

On a high slope outside the great mountains, a woman in a black fur cloak was looking into the distance, watching the obviously abnormal and terrifying night scene. A brilliant rosy cloud flowed in her eyes.

A purple-eyed crow stood on a low tree and spoke in human language, “That batch of foreign high-level beings can’t hold on. They’ll have to retreat tonight. If we’re fast, we can enter the mountains to look for the place where the five-colored rosy clouds shine in all directions within two days.”

Behind the person and the crow, there were some black shadows. Someone spoke, “The high-level figures of Crimson Cloud City and the original anomalies of the great mountains have joined forces. Those migrated high-level beings can’t hold on at all. It’s very likely that some tyrannical creatures will be left behind as rare spiritual materials.”

The tall woman in the cloak stared into the depths of the great mountains without turning back. “You Liangyun, after the mountain sweep begins, go and test someone for me. Hmm, if you win, don’t kill him. If you lose, then don’t come back to Flowing Light City with me. Go back to your Crimson Cloud City and be a young noble master.”

There were more than a dozen people behind her. One of the youths was stunned upon hearing this, his hands in his sleeves instantly clenching.

He was a noble of Crimson Cloud City, a direct descendant of the You family. Originally, when the woman was selecting people in the city, he had been full of hope. But in the end, he was not even qualified to be a backup candidate.

In the end, it was the elders of his family who pulled some strings and paid a considerable price to get him a chance to go to Flowing Light City with the woman.

For no other reason, he wanted to go to the woman’s mysterious and unfathomable teacher to listen to the secret methods. As long as he could learn for a year or half a year, it would be worth it.

But now, he felt a sense of crisis. What kind of person was he being asked to test? He wouldn’t lose even this qualification to accompany her, would he?

The woman’s back was graceful. She was still staring into the depths of the great mountains. “His name is Qin Ming, one of the only two New Lifers with a golden foundation in this area this year. The You family has also sent people. I think you can find out quickly with your connections. Remember, I’m asking you to test him, not to use dishonorable means.”

“Alright, I’ll have someone look into it right away.” You Liangyun turned and left, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The crow looked at his receding back. “When You Liangyun first underwent New Life, he could lift a six-hundred-and-fifty-jin ding. In this year’s Crimson Cloud City, he is weaker than the other boy and girl. No unusual signs appeared when he laid his golden foundation.”

The woman nodded. “Qi Huaien, you follow him. I actually want to see You Liangyun’s character. He was originally not qualified to go with me to see the teacher. If his performance is not good enough this time, then there’s really no need for him to come along. Qi Huaien, you can also take a look at that Qin Ming and see if he can become one of the backup candidates.”

In this deep night, many sharp New Lifers outside the great mountains had sensed it. They all climbed high and looked towards the great mountains.

This was because the commotion in the mountains was truly a bit too big. Even from a great distance, one could hear the terrifying roars of the anomalies.

The depths of the great mountains were in complete chaos. A large number of anomalous insects, birds, and so on flew into the night sky, fleeing in panic. The cries of apes and roars of tigers in the dense forest were endless.

Even far away in Silver Vine Town, that mysterious old noble was informed at the first opportunity.

His silver hair was crystalline, and his face was rosy and bright. At this time, he put on a tiger-skin coat. His body was as light as a wisp of smoke. In an instant, he appeared on the highest building of the mansion.

Although there was a thick night fog at this time, he was still looking in the direction of the great mountains. He whispered, “I hope the special nodes have given birth to the precious things I need.”

“They’re fighting?” Qin Ming leaped onto the roof and looked towards the great mountains. Twin Tree Village was not very far away, which made him have to be vigilant and on guard.

Fortunately, although the mountains were chaotic this night, it did not spread to the outer areas. One side held the absolute initiative and had a high degree of control over the rhythm.

The next day, many people were discussing it heatedly. The mountains were changing!

Without a doubt, the people from Crimson Cloud City and the local New Lifers would soon be allowed to enter the mountains to look for special nodes and pick the rare products that might exist.

After the Shallow Night arrived, Qin Ming began to practice the New Life methods recorded on the silk book after breakfast. His body immediately felt as if it were hiding a furnace, continuously providing him with strength.

Then, he practiced the combat methods from the blade manual. Now, when he swung the long-handled dark gold hammer, it felt like he was casually waving a hemp stalk, light and airy.

Xu Yueping pushed the door open and came in. He was startled to see him almost shaking the heavy dark gold hammer into a flower. But he quickly said, “Little Qin, stop practicing your hammer techniques. Your future father-in-law has sent someone to invite you over for a meeting.”

“Ah?” Qin Ming was stunned, his face full of confusion.

“The old noble of Silver Vine Town has specifically asked to see you,” Xu Yueping informed him.

Hearing this, Qin Ming immediately understood. He asked calmly, “He’s not just seeing me alone, is he?”

“This… he will definitely have to choose. But you and Zhou Wubing are the only two who have laid a golden foundation. You are definitely a crane standing among chickens. But at this juncture…” Xu Yueping frowned. After the last incident, he had also thought deeply and felt that his previous decision was indeed not well-considered.

“It would be a bit offensive not to go, right?” Qin Ming asked.

Xu Yueping nodded. “It would indeed seem like not giving the other party face. It is said that even the nobles from Crimson Cloud City have visited him in Silver Vine Town. He seems to have a really great origin, possibly from a very big place.”

Qin Ming smiled. “Then I’ll go for a trip, to get some free food and drink. At this juncture, there’s a high probability that there are benefits to be had.”

“You!” Xu Yueping pointed at him with a smile.

Xu Yueping had thought about it seriously and felt that there would be no harm in going. With so many great experts from Crimson Cloud City here, what could the old noble ask of a youth who had just undergone one New Life? If there was any “real business,” he could just feign compliance. He should take whatever benefits he could get.

“Hmm, I’ll go in a while. I’ll also take a look at his daughter, why that noble lady is so anxious to get married,” Qin Ming said.

(End of Chapter)