Night without Borders

Chapter 546 The Crimson Sword Sacrifice Unveiled

In the primeval forest, several white shockwaves exploded, shattering the dense thorns and branches blocking the way.

Several veteran masters on the new path advanced side by side, sparks flying from their shoes. Each step they took seemed like teleportation, instantly appearing dozens or even hundreds of feet away and crushing the forest floor.

They sped towards the Silver River Gorge at breakneck speed, creating a white mist that swirled leaves everywhere, shattering them into dust – this was, in fact, the most primordial state of the fairy mist.

"The Blood Forest is too ruthless!"

"This matter is not over."

The veteran masters were anxious, for someone on the other side was making no attempt to hide their intention to eliminate Qin Ming, the most promising seed on the path of new life.

In just a few years, this young man has already shown remarkable talent and his performance is impeccable. He has given many elderly people with limited lifespans hope for a new life. A new star is rising.

Such an anomaly only appears once every few years, yet his adversaries in the Crimson Forest want to eliminate him.

"Those people are insane! They even came up with such a lame excuse as 'having a problem with their mental cultivation technique and being temporarily disoriented.' They deserve to die!"

Some people had already sat down cross-legged on the spot, and then the light of the sky merged with their consciousness, directly separating from their physical bodies, like the morning glow soaring into the sky, heading towards their destination.

They worried that even if they pushed their physical speed to the limit, it would be too late.

Therefore, the old masters were deeply worried and abandoned the physical strength that the path to rebirth relied on most, venturing into areas they were not good at, and using their spirits to go to the rescue.

Further afield, the Fourth Princess of the Great Yu Dynasty, Yao Ruoxian, leaped onto the back of the Thunderous Royal Bird, and invited a royal grandmaster to accompany her. With the sound of wind and thunder, they pierced the night.

Pei Shuyan and Zhuo Qingming were protecting a Grandmaster of the Immortal Path. The old man's pure Yang consciousness had already left his body and was heading towards the Silver River Gorge.

……

"We didn't expect this to happen; it was a complete accident."

At the edge of the Crimson Forest, people from the Celestial Race, the Abyss Civilization, and the Totem Faction appeared and offered explanations.

Initially, they looked serious, sensing that the situation was very serious.

However, once a small group of "perpetrators," the main figures who intervened in the matter, appeared and secretly communicated with them, the people present became somewhat perfunctory.

A black flame phoenix of the Celestial Clan transformed into a young man in black and calmly said, "I don't think there's a big problem. The grandmaster who made a mistake in his training is in a dazed state and generally won't attack people on his own initiative."

He seemed nonchalant and indifferent, which was infuriating.

The Abyss Civilization, with its humanoid monster covered in silver scales and whose face even shimmered with silver light, was completely unconcerned, saying, "A Grandmaster who is mentally sluggish and in an abnormal state has severely reduced combat power. Your people can easily avoid him."

From the totem camp, someone gracefully walked over. She was a silver-haired female grandmaster, and it was clear that she held a transcendent position and possessed profound Taoist skills.

She was surrounded by a totem halo, and her waist-length hair cascaded down like a silver waterfall. She was exceptionally beautiful and looked surprised. She said, "No one on your side would be foolish enough to provoke a master with mental problems, would they?"

This is not an attitude of appeasement at all; it is clearly a veiled mockery.

She brushed her gleaming silver hair aside, seemingly unconcerned, and gave a sweet smile, saying, "That's an obvious state of being lost. If someone still goes up to you like that, I really don't know what to say."

This was purely provocation. She was very vengeful, mainly because Qin Ming had once killed a group of totem seeds while playing the zither, and she held a grudge against him.

On the Jade Capital side, a Grandmaster said in a deep voice: "Can you even speak human language? We've only been at peace for two days, and yet a Grandmaster has already invaded, and with such impunity. I think you want to reignite the war!"

The phoenix-turned-youth in black glanced at him, not caring much, and casually said, "Fellow Daoist, don't worry, I think it's just a small misunderstanding and won't cause any trouble. Your people should be able to easily avoid him."

On the Jade Capital side, a middle-aged grandmaster's face darkened, and he said, "You've crossed the line, why should we avoid you?"

The black-clad man from the Celestial Clan glanced indifferently at everyone present and said, "Your grandmasters are free to make their move and take him down. However, it would be unwise for young people who are not strong enough to rush forward."

His attitude nearly sparked a conflict on the spot.

Now, the people in Yujing have received feedback that the grandmaster went after Qin Ming with a clear purpose, yet they still made such sarcastic remarks.

If Qin Ming were to be killed, he would be considered reckless and unwise for voluntarily going to his death.

This is like a bear riding in your face; they kill your people and then mock and humiliate you to your very face.

The Abyss Civilization's master-level monster, covered in silver scales, said casually, "Not at all. Those who can come to this area are all elites. Those who dare to stop us naturally have the confidence and strength."

The silver-haired woman smiled charmingly, feeling relaxed and at ease. She said, "Don't worry, it's probably just a false alarm. We just signed a friendly agreement, so let's not ruin our relationship. Why don't we sit down, have some tea, and wait for good news?"

At the edge of the Crimson Forest, the atmosphere was tense and on the verge of conflict.

The man in black, the silver-scaled monster, and the silver-haired woman all retreated with smiles on their faces, mainly because they felt they had gained an advantage and had a psychological edge, since they should have already eliminated one of the extraordinary gifted individuals on the other side.

Therefore, they were very calm.

The Yujing camp was extremely frustrated and quickly sought instructions from their superiors, asking if they could take immediate action.

They vaguely felt that Qin Ming was probably already in grave danger, and to be subjected to such attacks in front of them was simply intolerable.

"Any feedback? What's the situation?"

Even the people from the old mountain stronghold in the sky, the grandmasters who had failed to win over Qin Ming, did not want to hear of his death at this moment.

"The message from the Flowing Light Bird indicates that the situation is not optimistic. By the time our Grandmaster discovered it, it was too late. If we rush over, the enemy will probably have already succeeded and retreated."

"Can't even intercept and kill the opponent?" A burly grandmaster's eyes flashed with cold light, barely able to contain his anger.

“This area is covered with vast primeval forests. If he intends to hide, it will be very difficult to find him immediately.”

An old master, his hair and beard bristling, said in a deep voice, "This is outrageous! Immediately seal off the border and find him, then grind his bones to dust!"

In contrast, the Black Flame Phoenix, the Silver Scale Monster Master, the Silver-haired Woman, and others on the other side were all relaxed and leisurely drinking tea.

While mobilizing their best fighters to prepare for the bloody battle, they waited patiently for good news.

"It's almost done. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, we should have succeeded by now."

"If all goes well, he's already on his way back."

This time, they were indeed deliberately stirring up trouble. They had been tracing the source of the Yin energy for two days without any results, and they believed it must be on the other side.

At this moment, Pei Shuyan carried the physical body of the Immortal Path Master on his back, with Zhuo Qingming following beside him, as they raced towards the Silver River Gorge.

"Shouldn't we be able to stop it?" In truth, both of their hearts sank.

According to the message just sent by Yao Ruoxian, Cheng Sheng and others, people saw a terrifying sword light rising from that place from a great distance.

But now, Yinhan Gorge is quiet, and it seems that everything is already set in stone.

……

"Get out here!" roared an old master from Xinsheng Road. He arrived in a trance, the sunlight burning the night sky. He was furious and felt he was too late.

Because the scene ahead was devastated; a large number of towering ancient trees had fallen, and a low stone mountain had been leveled.

The entire battlefield was now quiet; the hunt was clearly over.

"Xiao Qin!"

"I have failed Lao Yu's trust and I have let down Xinsheng Road. I failed to protect this promising talent. I arrived a step too late!"

The masters on the path of rebirth were all in a state of mingled consciousness with the light of heaven, their flames raging so fiercely that they seemed poised to melt mountains and burn the heavens; they were all in a state of extreme rage.

The masters of the Immortal Path and the masters of the Esoteric School also traveled there in spirit, hanging silently in the night sky.

"Surround and intercept him, find that grandmaster, and I won't be satisfied until I kill him!"

At this moment, Yao Ruoxian stood silently on the back of the Thunder Emperor Bird, facing the night wind and gazing at the wild forest.

"Wait a minute, that's..."

Suddenly, an old master was startled and sensed something. He saw a figure emerge from the depths of the Silver River Gorge, holding a string of roasted meat skewered with red willow branches in his hand.

"Qin...Ming?" An old master from Xinsheng Road was so confused that he could hardly speak. When he saw that familiar young figure, he actually had the mood to eat wild game.

Clearly, Qin Ming heard their shouts and walked over from a distance.

"Everyone, this is..."

Soon, Qin Ming learned that they were all worried about him. Upon hearing that a Grandmaster had attacked, a group of people rushed to his aid, hoping to save his life.

Instantly, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He immediately bowed, regardless of whether he needed to be rescued or not, but he remembered this sentiment, for true friendship is revealed in times of trouble.

"Where is that grandmaster?" someone asked anxiously, wanting to know how he escaped a deadly situation.

Some of the old masters even suspected that what the people from the Crimson Forest said might be true, that the invading masters had mental problems and that their combat strength was less than one-tenth of what it used to be.

"Oh, here it is," Qin Ming gestured, holding up the kebab in his hand.

He took a bite and commented, "The meat is excellent."

He then warmly invited a group of people to a master-level barbecue to thank his old friends and masters for their selfless support.

Everyone froze in shock.

Whether it was the elderly grandmasters or the young people like Yao Ruoxian, Cheng Sheng, and Zhao Qingcheng, they were all lost in thought. The terrifying grandmasters they feared had become prey.

This scene made them feel somewhat unreal.

Qin Ming roasted a Grandmaster-level anomaly—what a fantastical turn of events! It's unbelievable.

The woodland was quiet, which the group found incredible.

"Tell me more details!" someone urged.

Suddenly, an old master on Xinsheng Road changed his expression slightly and said, "I must hurry back immediately. My physical body is left behind halfway. If I stay too long, it may be snatched away by a ferocious beast!"

"See you later!"

With a whoosh, all the old masters on Xinsheng Road ran away.

Soon after, a large group of people arrived deep in the Yinhan Gorge. Pei Shuyan and Zhuo Qingming were dumbfounded. Although they had received the message on the way, they still couldn't quite believe it.

Qin Ming is going to treat them to... a grandmaster-level feast!
At this moment, they had no choice but to believe it: a huge "earth bull," with fur as red as fire, lay across the ground—a powerful creature that preferred to live underground.

When it is active, it causes the earth's veins to collapse, which is why it is often associated with various earthquake legends in folklore.

Its shape does resemble a cow, but its limbs are much shorter and more robust, and its horns are thick and powerful, as if they could split the sky.

It was as large as a small mountain, lying dead in the woods. The terrifying sword light still lingered around its head, and its skull had been blown off.

In the distance, a figure waved to the crowd with his back to them, wearing golden armor and carrying a heavy greatsword, disappearing into the night.

"Everyone, I still have to travel to various places, so I'll take my leave first." These were his last words, and in a flash, he vanished into the dense forest. "He was... someone who pierced through thirty-six heavens with a single sword strike?"

A group of people who had just arrived were all shocked to see the legendary top scorer, who came and went in a hurry.

Later, they learned the truth.

"One Sword" patrolled to this place, unleashed the Nine-Colored Sword Aura, severely injuring the Grandmaster-level Earth Bull. Then Qin Ming took over and killed it.

"As expected of the legendary swordsman, just what level is he at?"

"On that day, during the bloody battle at the summit, even that white-haired peerless sword immortal, at the last moment of his life, saw the nine-colored sword light unleashed by a single sword strike and was relieved, saying 'good' with a smile. I think he was gratified at that moment, seeing his past pursuit, as if seeing his younger self."

Even the old masters present were excited, watching Yijian's figure gradually disappear.

Yao Ruoxian, Pei Shuyan, Cheng Sheng, and the others were deeply moved as they gazed into the depths of the primeval forest.

This top-ranked individual was once recognized, praised, and admired by a peerless sword immortal; he was mysterious, unpredictable, and incredibly powerful.

"You flatter me, everyone." A voice called out from afar.

Then his voice came again, saying, "Little Qin, you are very good. You can discuss the Dao with me in the future. If you have any grievances, you can tell me."

This is very high praise, and it implies a sense of protection.

If Tang Yushang and Bai Meng were here, they would be dumbfounded, because they knew that Qin Ming could kill a Grandmaster, and they had suspected that he might be a swordsman.

After all, when Da Tang and Qin Ming fought, they forced him to use many powerful methods.

As for now, Qin Ming didn't care. There was nothing to be ashamed of. What was wrong with praising himself a couple of times? He was speaking up for himself and protecting himself.

"Little Qin is truly amazing. He killed a Grandmaster before even reaching the fourth realm!"

The group of people realized what was happening and all looked surprised.

After severely injuring the Earth Bull with a single sword strike, Qin Ming finally killed the beast with his own hands.

"This is an incredible record, slaughtering a Grandmaster at the ninth level of the third realm," someone praised.

Qin Ming quickly stopped, saying, "Seniors, please don't flatter me to death. Brother Yijian shattered the consciousness of the Earth Bull. I was just assisting."

Huang Luogai San wanted to jump out and express his contempt: You have two identities, praising each other and putting on a show, aren't you ashamed?
Afterwards, the atmosphere in Yinhan Gorge was harmonious, filled with admiration and laughter.

"Fifth Realm Earth Bull... Grilled skewers, this is the first time I've ever eaten them, they're incredibly nutritious!"

Around the campfire, the fragrant roasted beef, golden in color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, drips its fat into the fire, making a sizzling sound.

Besides the aroma of meat, there is also the rich fragrance of fine wine wafting through the air.

"Although I am a grandmaster, I rarely get to eat game of this caliber. Tonight, with such delicious food, fine wine, and this small gathering, I am truly satisfied, haha."

Even a princess of the Great Yu royal family, a grandmaster on the Immortal Path, wouldn't normally indulge in such luxury. Even among super-powerful forces, who would casually kill a grandmaster for a feast? Therefore, the group ate with exceptional relish.

The atmosphere was tense at the edge of the Crimson Forest. Soon after, a lightning bird flew in, carrying a letter, which landed in the hands of the Immortal Path Grandmaster.

"What? Okay!"

"Hahaha……"

The people in Yujing read the letter, and the gloom in their hearts was swept away. All their depression and anger were dispelled, and they felt extremely relieved.

"They actually ate it? I'm getting hungry, I wish I could go over and mooch a meal from them."

Most importantly, news came from above that they could decide for themselves whether to start a war, and that strong reinforcements would be available if there were any major changes.

Clearly, the higher-ups are delegating power.

"Great!" The group was very excited.

In the Crimson Forest, the man who was actually a black flame phoenix, the silver-scaled monster, and the silver-haired female master all put down their teacups, sensing that something was amiss.

Laughter suddenly came from the other side, dispelling the gloom. And judging by the time, the captured earth bull should have already stealthily returned; why had it vanished without a trace? Like a clay ox disappearing into the sea.

Not only that, half an hour later, the group of people in Yujing laughed even more heartily.

"Good lad, you know how to handle people. I was just thinking of asking for some snacks to go with my drinks, and he had them brought over." A burly grandmaster laughed.

In the blood-red forest, a group of people's pupils contracted, and some had eyes that looked like they were about to burst.

What did they see? A huge cow's head, cooked until tender and steaming hot, had become cow's head meat.

A huge cow leg and a large piece of beef rib were roasted on the fire until they were golden brown and fragrant, and the tempting aroma could be smelled from a distance.

The people from the Celestial Clan, the Abyss, and the Totem were furious; this was a blatant slap in the face.

Not long ago, they were casually explaining and subtly mocking, but the master who sneaked over really "got lost" and was eaten.

"Shall we start a bloodbath?"

"This is a provocation!"

The man in black and the silver-haired female master, their eyes filled with boundless killing intent, were both finding it hard to bear. The words they had used to ridicule each other earlier were now on their side.

The Silver Scale Grandmaster of the Abyss Civilization clenched his fists. The Earth Bull came from the Abyss and was one of their people, yet it had become food for them.

Clearly, the three of them, being masters alone, initially dared not allow anyone to cross the boundary. This was because they had received approval from above and were testing the waters in this area.

"Let's launch an attack immediately! We're going to have to fight sooner or later anyway, and this is such a humiliation!"

"Wait a moment. A message has come from above, telling us to remain calm. Something seems to have happened in the distance, and it appears that Master Peng will not be able to come to this area."

The Peng Daoist they mentioned was from the Celestial Clan. He was very young and had fought for the Totem Camp, severely injuring Wu Qingyuan, the core saint of Yujing, and tearing him to pieces.

The young Peng Daoist possessed extraordinary skills and was suspected of mastering the "Primordial Myriad Thunder Seal".

At this moment, the young Taoist priest, dressed in a black and white robe, was stationed deep in the blood-red forest. The area he was in charge of was quite vast, and he frowned.

“Deep within the Night Fog World, other supreme factions have also received the news and come to explore the source of the Yin power, already knowing that a divine moon once rose into the sky here.”

He received a secret report that supreme systems such as the God-like Society and the Strange Insect Alliance had appeared one after another, and it seemed that a Grandmaster who was currently in power was about to enter the fray.

"The Myriad Apertures Clarity Technique... I really want to obtain it. It can supplement my cultivation method. If I can get my hands on it, I will have no fear of my competitors."

He had heard that gods possessed the "Myriad Apertures Illumination Technique," which meant that even someone as powerful as him had formidable competitors among the Celestials.

"Dream Worm...this creature is mysterious and terrifying!" The young Peng Daoist was very wary of the fifth-ranked worm in the world.

Someone reported: "The cultivation civilization is probably going to get involved as well. We received a secret message that a force is quietly approaching and will be here soon!"

Upon hearing this, Peng Daoren stood up and said, "A storm is brewing. It seems that some of the supreme civilizations have guessed what that divine moon is and want to obtain it."

His aura surged, and a massive roc shadow appeared behind him, only black and white, forming a natural yin-yang symbol on its body.

He said indifferently, "Then let me see just how strong the core saints of the various supreme systems really are."

Just then, Peng Daoren sensed something, suddenly looked up, and saw lightning and thunder in the distant sky, followed by the sound of thunder rolling like a tsunami.

He soared into the air and looked across at the opposite side. He immediately saw a young man looking in his direction. The young man was bathed in lightning and pierced by the gale, and was held up by divine fire, hanging high in the sky.

"Is it that... Qian Cheng?" Peng Daoren frowned. He had met him before, and that person was definitely no weaker than the core saint of Yujing.

The two looked at each other from a distance, but ultimately did not make a move, and the night sky returned to calm.

“Peng Daoren can no longer come to this area in person. He has to deal with various emergencies, and other conventional forces available to other supreme civilizations have appeared one after another.”

The so-called conventional forces are those who do not use weapons of mass destruction and are contemporary masters who can fight on their own without consuming rare resources such as Primordial Qi and Profound Yellow Qi.

The silver-haired female grandmaster frowned and said, "Then should we still start the blood battle? After all, the above calculations have shown that Wangshu City and Yinhan Gorge, places named by the ancients based on certain truths and legends, are highly likely to be related to the Divine Moon and can be traced back to the source of the Taiyin power."

"It's alright, Daoist Butterfly will be here to oversee things," said the young man who was the Black Flame Phoenix in disguise. He was also a great expert of their Celestial Clan.

The silver-scaled monster said, "There will be powerful beings from my abyss who will arrive. Just the name of Silver River Gorge is enough to make it worth exploring. At the same time, the Earth Bull cannot die in vain. That Qin Ming... must be doomed soon."

The silver-haired female grandmaster came from the Totem Sacred Mountain, and naturally hoped that the two major factions would work together to defeat the Jade Capital faction.

On that day, the man in black transformed into a jet-black phoenix, occasionally crossing the boundary to spy on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing camp.

“Constantly crossing the line, provoking us again and again, let’s fight!” On the Jade Capital side, an old master couldn’t hold back any longer.

At this moment, Qin Ming appeared, but in a different identity. He was wearing standard golden armor, carrying a greatsword, and riding the wind as he slowly descended from the night sky.

He learned that his own people in the border region were preparing to take action, and upon hearing this, he became even more reckless and wanted to get involved himself.

Today, he was actually hunted down. The other party went so far as to send a grandmaster deep into the rear to kill him. Qin Ming, who never holds grudges, naturally had to do something about it.

His revenge will be taken tonight; there's no need to record it.

"This phoenix has an extraordinary bloodline level, and it's even a Grandmaster. It's highly likely to possess super rare blood." Qin Ming strolled through the night sky, walking calmly, like an immortal, or perhaps a god or demon.

This supreme bloodbath is a rare event, one that has been encountered only once in countless eras. Now that he has caught up with it, he naturally wants to seize the opportunity to hunt down powerful individuals and obtain the materials of creation.

Everything he did was to improve himself; he was preparing to break through the barrier again.

Qin Ming already knew what had happened on the border, so he acted decisively, swiftly like a comet streaking across the sky, or like a thunderclap piercing the heavens and earth, domineering and extremely fierce.

The Black Flame Phoenix once again crossed the line, possessing an unimaginable speed that even some grandmasters couldn't stop.

Suddenly, he felt a pang of heart palpitation, his feathers stood on end involuntarily, and his body tensed up instantly.

Then, he saw a sword that had reached the pinnacle of sublimation, divided into nine colors, with the nine ultimate realms merging together, so dazzling that it was impossible to open one's eyes.

Reaching the Nine Perfections is the path to becoming an unparalleled sword immortal!

The Black Flame Phoenix knew who had come. During the bloody battle at the summit, he had seen the nine-colored sword light soar into the sky. Even the white-haired peerless sword immortal had looked back and smiled at the end of his life.

"I...!" His scalp tingled. How could he have run into this person?

Qin Ming went all out, holding nothing back, using every ounce of his strength to fight for victory and life or death in this single sword strike.

The Black Flame Phoenix let out a clear, long cry, unleashing all its power to meet this terrifying opponent who sent chills down its spine and made its whole body tremble.

"Start with you, the sword-wielding ceremony!" A cold voice echoed through the night sky.

Qin Ming's sword swept across the sky, truly possessing the power to pierce through the thirty-sixth heaven.

With a soft "poof," the powerful Phoenix Master, despite his best efforts to resist, had his head pierced and exploded.

At that moment, the dazzling sword light slashed across the entire sky, even shattering the thick clouds.

(End of this chapter)