Night without Borders

Chapter 600 Bodhisattva's Sacred Ground
Above the dark clouds, a fierce storm surged, more terrifying than sword strikes, capable of tearing apart the bodies of many cultivators and scattering their consciousness.

Qin Ming stood high in the clouds, about to leave Yezhou.

He turned around, his gaze piercing through the clouds, looking at the vast land behind him, where ninety percent of the area was devoid of fire springs, like an abyss.

In the endless darkness, those cities, towns, and villages resembled fireflies, swaying in the night mist.

Qin Ming is now a Grandmaster, but in the boundless world of night fog, he still feels very small, and there is still a long road ahead.

"Senior Lu, is someone following me?" Qin Ming asked.

As he prepared to embark on his journey, he entered a moment of spiritual clarity, his mind and will leaping across the golden bridge, carefully surveying all directions to sense any potential danger.

Old Furnace said, "Nothing was found."

Qin Ming gazed ahead at the road ahead. The night was even deeper, stretching endlessly into the distance, vast and mysterious, boundless and limitless. Compared to it, the magnificent Yezhou was but a drop in the ocean.

Silently, he swooped down, entered a misty gate, and vanished.

Back then, in the ancient temple in the Crimson Forest, Qin Ming spoke with Xiao Wu and Xiang Yiwu across the void through the shimmering light screen of the lotus pond, and had already inquired about their travel routes.

"The southwest, the territory that has broken away from the control of Yujing." Qin Ming couldn't help but sigh, these two really know how to run.

The main reason was that the people of the old mountain in the sky had caused chaos and tried to capture all kinds of talents, which led to the two of them escaping so far.

Xiang Yiwu and Xiao Wu didn't want to be taken to the sky, so after choosing a direction, they went through the fog gates and kept running into the distance until they were almost lost.

After Qin Ming stepped out of the Misty Gate, what he saw before him was a raging wind and a sky full of yellow sand. It was not dark here; on the contrary, a fire spring spread across the desert.

The environment here is absolutely terrible. The sand hits your face with a loud slapping sound. If it weren't for the sunlight protecting you, it would feel like being slapped hard across the face.

In the sand, a palm-sized blue scorpion, as clear as a jade carving, with its tail hook raised high, exudes a dangerous aura.

From afar came the sound of flapping wings. A strange bird, resembling a pheasant, emerged from the sand dunes, swift as a pale yellow lightning bolt, and killed five poisonous scorpions in succession. Finally, it let out a burp and burrowed back underground.

This was still within the territory of the Jade Capital camp, yet Qin Ming had never heard of this place before. Normally, one would have to pass through at least a dozen mist gates to leave the territory under the control of Jade Capital.

If one were to travel on foot, the distance between adjacent fog gates could range from 560,000 to 1,000 to 2,000,000 miles, which was truly daunting.

Qin Ming searched for a long time and finally found the Misty Gate leading to the distance in this area outside the desert, and set off again.

In this way, he crossed six "tunnels" formed from ancient void rifts and arrived at a place where goose feather snow was falling heavily.

This is still within the territory ruled by Yujing. While Yezhou is already in the rainy season, this place is in the dead of winter, with hundreds of thousands of miles of ice frozen over.

"This is it. There's an ancient mist gate here, capable of teleporting over extremely long distances, allowing us to leave the Jade Capital region directly." Qin Ming began his search.

At this moment, he was actually still in the heart of Yujing Prefecture, having only traveled halfway. However, if he entered that special void passage, he could travel far away completely.

Despite the frigid conditions, the icy plains also boast vibrant landscapes, with lush forests and verdant flowers teeming with life, all thanks to the active hot springs that nourish plants adapted to the freezing weather.

Even in what is called summer here, light snow often falls, and occasional rain is considered a rare sight.

Old Furnace said, "There are ice silkworms here. They seem like ordinary species, but there is no limit to the potential of these creatures. In ancient times, there were ice silkworms at the eighth level of the Celestial Immortal realm. The silk they spun was a top-quality material for refining protective armor."

Amidst the snow and ice, plump little insects can occasionally be seen on the lush vegetation.

Qin Ming touched it, and it shot out instantly, leaving a trail of silver light in the night mist. Its speed was considered extremely fast among creatures of the second realm.

Old Furnace said, "These are a group of degenerated ice silkworms. The strongest in the entire forest is only at the third realm. There were signs of them being artificially raised a long time ago."

For example, the Tushita Palace raised a large number of fire silkworms and golden silkworms. When this supreme Taoist temple was at its most glorious, it even raised celestial-level female silkworms.

Soon, Qin Ming discovered the ruins of an ancient temple.

"It seems that back then, some monks from the Great Thunder Temple entered the territory of Yujing and lived here for a long time, raising a group of ice silkworms."

The buildings had long since collapsed, and the rubble was buried under ice and snow. Only a few broken walls still stood stubbornly, thanks to the remnants of array patterns; otherwise, they would have long since disappeared.

After all, these are remnants left over from thousands of years ago.

Qin Ming asked, "This Ice Silkworm can be considered a rare insect, after all, it can grow to the eighth realm. Is it edible?"

"Never heard of that, they all raise silkworms to extract silk!" Old Furnace said.

Qin Ming unearthed the ruins of a dilapidated temple, carefully examined them, but found nothing. It turns out that even the intense emotions left behind by those people in history can dissipate.

It wasn't until he touched a fragment of a bronze bell that he glimpsed some ancient stories and heard the resounding notes of the great bell.

An old monk in a yellow robe, with eyes as bright as golden lamps and raised white eyebrows, held a large bell in his hand, fighting against a powerful enemy in the sky. However, he and the bell quickly disintegrated and shattered.

In the final moments, Qin Ming saw silver ripples spread, the entire temple exploded, and then... nothing remained.

Qin Ming realized that it was a tangible silver spiritual field, truly manifested, distorting and collapsing the void here, shattering everything.

Without a top-tier array, this place would collapse into an abyss.

Qin Ming sighed, "Ancient times were truly terrifying. Experts at the Earth Immortal level would often make their moves, and even encountering a Celestial Immortal was not impossible."

After careful consideration, he felt that things were better now. As a grandmaster, he was already able to travel far, while now all the strong were seriously ill and unable to be free.

This harsh environment actually suits him very well.

Otherwise, in ancient times, a grandmaster traveling alone might be snatched up and eaten as a snack by a giant bird of the sixth realm that was flying across the night sky.

The next day, Qin Ming found the special ancient mist gate on the ice plains. Once he crossed it, he would be leaving the territory ruled by Jade Capital for good.

The next moment, Qin Ming entered a vast territory.

The primeval forest stretched endlessly, and the wild mountain ranges continued indefinitely. A huge bird of prey, like a dark cloud, flew into the distance, creating a powerful airflow on the ground.

"What kind of place is this?" Qin Ming noticed that a mushroom next to him was taller than him, and if it were any thicker, it could be hollowed out and used as a mushroom house.

He was certain that they had left the Jade Capital region because the Daoist aura had changed drastically. If an older grandmaster came here, he would most likely start coughing up blood.

The changing environment for cultivation is highly destructive to extraordinary species.

Qin Ming took a deep breath and practiced breathing for a while. He found that he could adapt and would soon be able to integrate into this world.

Old Furnace reminded him: "It is said that in the deeper parts of the Night Fog World, there are already peerless figures who have begun to study how to fully adapt to the turbulent Daoist environment."

Some have even researched how to harness the power of heaven and earth, which could potentially lead to the creation of terrifying martial arts techniques.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming said, "Use the rise and fall of Daoist energy to stabilize yourself, then draw upon the tides of Heaven's will to strike your opponent from the peak of the wave when they are at their lowest point."

Old Furnace nodded and said, "That's right, the principle is not difficult, but how to avoid being harmed by the fluctuations of Daoist energy is a big problem."

When the Daoist principles surged across the heavens, and the rules of lightning raged across the sky, and the thunder of order struck down, all the colossal beings and supreme creatures of the world became the most obvious targets.

Qin Ming paused briefly, continuously breathing in the Daoist energy, until he finally became completely at peace with this place, no longer feeling any discomfort.

A streak of fire flashed across the night sky; it was a bird of prey, moving so fast that it created a cone-shaped sonic boom cloud, appearing as a cluster of flames.

"The pitch-black strange bird, radiating the Southern Ming Fire, is at least a Grandmaster."

Qin Ming was surprised to see a monster of this level on his first visit to the outer realms; this place was indeed quite dangerous.

Old Furnace said, "The Southern Ming Calamity Bird brings unrest wherever it goes. However, judging from its appearance, the misfortune lies with itself. It is too decayed and old, and it won't live for many more years."

In this era, not all powerful individuals can find the primordial energy to maintain their state.

This is a rather wild and primitive "wild land" without any supreme Daoist temples or top-level powerful forces. The creatures here cannot come into contact with Xuanhuang Qi or similar things.

As the Nanming E'er bird set out, the mountains fell silent, and all sorts of monsters dared not even breathe. A jet-black feather drifted down from its body and landed not far in front of Qin Ming.

The ground was instantly scorched black, as if tainted by misfortune, and the nearby vegetation drooped and became sickly.

"Come out, Second Terracotta Warrior."

Qin Ming resonated with the two terracotta figures, and they suddenly opened their eyes.

Since there are Grandmasters in this area, he still needs to be careful when traveling at night.

The two terracotta warriors need to be at the forefront, becoming explorers of the new world.

The old furnace remains silent; what else can it say?
Although it couldn't recall who this person was, the face looked familiar, and this person could stand alongside the resurrected president and a certain generation of insect emperor with overwhelming evil aura, so his status must be terrifyingly high.

But now the "two terracotta warriors" need to do rough work and become guides.

Old Furnace said in a low voice, "Is it a good idea to let him scout ahead?"

Qin Ming said, "It's even worse to make Xiaochong do this kind of thing."

Then he sighed and said, "Xiaochong's aura is something else. She's easy to annoy people when she walks on the street. Even if she changes her appearance, it won't work. She keeps exuding evil energy. As for the president, she has already been resurrected, so I can't order her around for everything."

Old Lu thought to himself: Is that what I meant?

Qin Ming said, "In this age where looks matter, sometimes no matter how hard you try, you can't necessarily beat someone who can rely on their looks. Let's go."

And so, the two terracotta figures walked ahead, silently searching for the ancient temple.

Qin Ming followed at a distance, maintaining a sufficient distance.

This was also his first experience of exploring the boundless world of night fog alone after leaving Yujing, and being cautious wouldn't hurt.

As night deepened, the two terracotta warriors hurried on their way, while Qin Ming followed at a leisurely pace.

Soon, Qin Ming realized that something was wrong. The atmosphere was strange, and at the edge of the sky, flocks of strange birds appeared, as if they were fleeing.

Then, deep within the mountains, chaos erupted.

Soon, golden rays soared into the sky, and surging light and mist appeared. A golden lion, shaking its head and wagging its tail, burst out from the depths of the wilderness and then rushed in the direction where the Southern Ming E Bird had left.

"A monster at the mid-stage of the Grandmaster realm." In this era, among creatures that can be born normally and act freely, a Grandmaster at the fifth realm is already considered a very high-end combat force.

Qin Ming looked surprised and asked, "What happened? Why did they all go in that direction?"

It can be said that the Nanming E Bird and the Golden Suanni are both top-tier demons in this region, capable of ruling over a single area.

While Qin Ming was pondering, the process of resonating with the two figurines became somewhat rough. He was absent-minded and almost bumped into a large tree along the way.

"What's going on? The mountain in front is shaking, it's collapsing... No, that's not right."

The two terracotta warriors suddenly opened their third eyes, saw the situation clearly, and immediately ran back, holding their breath as if they had seen a ghost, and fled.

He thought it was a mountain, but it was actually a giant butt. How incredibly tall was that monster? Just squatting there, it was almost the size of a mountain.

Most importantly, the monster was defecating, which was disgusting.

With a loud bang, a clump of flying debris fell from mid-air.

The forest was completely destroyed. Many birds and wild animals in that area were driven away by the stench or frightened by the damage. It was a scene of utter chaos.

Qin Ming and the others watched from a distance as the two terracotta warriors teleported back.

He was speechless; having just arrived in the New World, he had witnessed the diversity of species.

Old Furnace said, "This is the child of the earth that failed to be conceived."

According to it, the humanoid monster standing over a thousand meters tall ahead is a creature born from the earth's secret cavity. If it has abundant innate spiritual energy, it can eventually become a god.

The one in front of me is clearly underdeveloped and prematurely born. It is covered in white fur, and its physical body may be terrifying, but its spiritual aura is rather weak.

In terms of strength, it can tear a flying dragon apart with its bare hands; however, if one focuses on its mental field, an ordinary grandmaster would be sufficient.

Qin Ming became increasingly cautious. He had to let the two terracotta warriors scout ahead. This strange new world was really dangerous. If he wasn't careful, he might be "blessed by an angel."

"It stinks! Our doorstep is blocked, damn it..." A group of groundhog spirits squeaked, each as tall as a person, and rushed out from another exit as if fleeing for their lives, all running away upright.

Based on the information he had gathered from Xiao Wu and Xiang Yiwu, Qin Ming estimated that it would take several days to find the ancient temple.

Because that place is quite far away and rather secluded.

However, as Qin Ming traveled and captured some mountain monsters, resonating with their thoughts, he learned of a piece of news that shortened his search time.

“In the distance, a sacred site of great virtue was shining, which startled the ancestors, who then accepted the call from the unseen and went on a pilgrimage.”

In this "wilderness" shrouded in darkness, the so-called "ancestors" refer to grandmasters, who are capable of becoming powerful demon kings and ruling over many monster cities.

As for pure-blooded humans? There don't seem to be any in this area.

“The Great Virtue Holy Land was once inhabited by Bodhisattvas in ancient times. However, for some unknown reason, it was gradually abandoned and became increasingly desolate, eventually falling into complete ruin.”

Qin Ming realized that it was most likely his destination: the ancient temple where the Black Lotus of Reincarnation was rooted.

"There was once a Bodhisattva, so why would these master-level monsters in the vicinity go on a pilgrimage?" Qin Ming asked an old ape.

"Haven't you heard? There are many demons at the foot of Mount Ling. The once magnificent temples and Bodhisattva sanctuaries must have kept some great demons as mounts, as well as guardian deities."

According to the old ape, the Bodhisattva has gone far away, the Arhat has disappeared, and many of the great demons that were raised have returned to the deep forest. Among the masters who are now on their way, there are descendants of the Bodhisattva's mount and descendants of the Dharma Protector Vajra.

Qin Ming nodded and said, "If there are no surprises, the ancient temple I'm looking for is just ahead, no doubt about it."

At the same time, he was somewhat worried about whether Xiao Wu and Xiang Yiwu would be affected or implicated by the Seven Treasures Pond in that ancient temple.

The two terracotta warriors accelerated their exploration, moving forward in an instant.

Qin Ming followed closely behind. Finally, they used the Hunyuan Golden Bridge, stretching it across the horizon to a place shrouded in golden light.

To be precise, it was the Buddha's light shining down, covering a dilapidated ancient temple.

The walls of this place have collapsed, many halls and houses have fallen, and the garden is overgrown with weeds, yet it was once very sacred, and now it has been completely submerged by the Buddha's light.

Qin Ming, being quite far away, used the Hunyuan Golden Bridge to quietly approach.

Then, his pupils contracted. Outside the ruins, several grandmaster-level demons were bowing and prostrating themselves with each step, as if on a pilgrimage, as they approached the ancient temple.

Qin Ming was surprised and pondered to himself: "Thousands of years have passed, and they are no longer the Bodhisattva's mounts or guardian Vajras of yesteryear, but merely descendants. Why do they still have such devout faith?"

Among them are a six-tusked white elephant, a golden lion, and even a grandmaster-level Nanming E bird.

The Nanming E bird transformed into human form, with jet-black wings on its back, retaining its bird head. Its old eyes were cloudy, and it was kneeling before the fallen temple gate.

An old monk bathed in a hazy Buddhist light came out and personally helped him up, saying, "Although the Dharma protectors who once stood by the Bodhisattva have passed away, you, as their descendants, can naturally become Dharma protectors of our sect in this life."

Nanming E Bird said, "Unfortunately, my life is nearing its end, and I am unable to adapt to this drastic change in the world. My vital energy has been severely damaged by the impact of the Daoist energy."

The old monk said, "It's alright. Since you have taken refuge in my teachings, under the universal light of Buddha, the Great Thunderclap Temple can avert your calamity."

Nanming E'niao immediately smiled. His cultivation was even higher than that of the old monk, but he adopted a humble posture and now he put his hands together in prayer, once again paying homage to the ancient temple.

Qin Ming finally understood why these powerful demons, who were descendants of the demons, would still come to pay homage after thousands of years. They had something to ask for; otherwise, who would willingly bow down to others?

In the ancient temple, the chanting of Buddhist prayers filled the air, making the atmosphere even more peaceful and sacred.

Many buildings have long since collapsed, and you can see the end of the road at a glance.

Qin Ming saw several beams of Buddhist light, each containing a living being, sitting cross-legged by the Seven Treasures Pond, gazing at a black lotus.

In addition, there were several powerful demons who had been in the temple for a long time and were all sitting in meditation, silent and without saying a word. They were all grandmasters with great strength.

"The ones with the highest cultivation seem to be the Nanming E Bird and an old monk sitting cross-legged beside the Reincarnation Black Lotus. Hmm, no problem."

Qin Ming prepared to walk over and pay his respects at the mountain in a friendly manner.

At this moment, the Nanming Evil Bird, the Six-Tusked White Elephant, and the Golden Suanni each lit an incense stick in the broken ancient incense burner in front of the temple before entering.

Qin Ming put the two figurines into the tattered cloth, mainly to prevent them from being recognized.

The Great Thunderclap Temple has a very deep history and has existed for a very long time. If someone were to possess a rare treasure and recognize the true origins of the two figurines, it would be disastrous.

Speaking of which, Qin Ming actually has some connection with the Great Thunderclap Temple. Back then, when he practiced the Golden Cicada Scripture, he opened the secret treasure and saw a new world. He entered the virtual realm projected by the Great Thunderclap Temple and obtained the Divine Cicada Scripture.

Qin Ming approached the temple calmly and peacefully, like a banished immortal, intending to forge a good connection there.

“Benefactor, our temple has been closed for thousands of years and does not receive outsiders,” the old monk who had greeted us earlier said. He was a genuine grandmaster, and at the mid-stage.

Qin Ming said, "Master, you are mistaken. If your temple closes its gates, how can you save all living beings and guide all sentient beings?"

The old monk said, "Buddha guides those with affinity."

Qin Ming pointed to the several powerful demons walking into the depths of the ancient temple and said, "Buddha said that all beings are equal. If they can enter, why can't I come to see Buddha? Master, why do you treat them differently? Are living beings divided into different classes? Or do you want to stand between Buddha and all beings?"

The old monk looked him over and over again, then smiled slightly and invited him inside, saying, "Since you have come to see the Buddha, you should naturally pay your respects."

He gestured for Qin Ming to light incense.

Qin Ming said, "Master, may I borrow a stick of incense?"

The old monk said, "Benefactor, this incense is worth 108,000 karmic connections."

Qin Ming asked, "Burning incense and paying respects to Buddha upon entering is merely a matter of piety; why is the price so high?"

The old monk put his hands together and said, "If the heart is sincere, a single thought can lead to a hundred thousand karmic connections, which shows the Buddha."

Qin Ming said, “My connection with your temple began with the Golden Cicada Sutra. Today, I will not be bound by formalities. Master, please do not be attached to appearances. I have come here today to seek further good karma.”

A powerful demon spoke up: "Where did this savage come from, daring to act so presumptuously in the Bodhisattva's sacred site? We told you to burn incense and kowtow, just obey and show sincere respect, what are you babbling about?"

He came in with disheveled hair and an aggressive air, saying, "I think you're trying to cause trouble, aren't you? As a newly promoted Dharma Protector, I should perform a ritual to help you pass on."

He reached out his large hand, accompanied by the terrifying light and shadow of raptor claws, to cover Qin Ming's entire body. His aura as a grandmaster was unmistakable, distorting the night sky.

Normally, the force of this claw strike would shatter a mountain.

Seeing that the old monk did not move, Qin Ming smiled and said, "Demons have entered the Zen temple and are causing havoc in the world. I have a karmic connection with Buddha and have come today to repay my debt and purify this place of filth."

He also reached out, and the chaotic light of the heavens surged, transforming into a giant hand that completely covered the giant claw and the disheveled demon.

With a soft "poof," Qin Ming crushed a Grandmaster in his hand.

The great demon screamed in agony as its pure Yang consciousness revived, attempting to struggle free.

However, within Qin Ming's palm, it was as if there were a black hole; the Grandmaster-level Pure Yang consciousness flickered violently, but extinguished in the shortest possible time.

"You..." The old monk tried to save the great demon, but it was clearly too late.

In the ancient temple, the chanting grew even louder, as if many Arhats were about to appear in the world, or as if the phantom of a Bodhisattva was about to personally descend upon this land.

When Qin Ming saw the old monk's golden hand reaching out, he remained unmoved, his protective light barrier booming and expanding outwards, directly suppressing the grandmaster-level old monk, causing him to tremble uncontrollably.

The old monk, glaring like a fierce Vajra, displayed his immense power and imposing presence, attempting to suppress the young figure before him once again.

Qin Ming pointed out with just one index finger, touching the old monk's golden palm. The old master's golden Dharma image immediately shrank, and he lost control, collapsing to the ground with a thud.

The golden lion roared; this demon was extremely powerful and appeared out of nowhere in an instant.

Qin Ming pointed out with his finger as before, and the Suanni roared in pain, kneeling on the ground and bowing its head to Qin Ming as if in worship.

Deep within the temple, several Buddhist disciples suddenly opened their eyes and looked in this direction.

Qin Ming stood motionless, his presence causing the old monk and the golden lion beneath his feet to tremble uncontrollably.

(End of this chapter)