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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 29: [A Change in the Mountains]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Under the cover of night, Ling Xu and the Li Hua Cat vanished into the vast snowy expanse in a mere flash.
Their disappearance was understandable, but Wei Mo, standing ten meters tall and clad in ancient, battle-worn armor, also vanished in an instant.
His speed was so astonishing that few could even react.
Only the Old Weasel, with its pure white fur, waved slowly, beckoning a Hairy Donkey. It then leisurely mounted the donkey and rode away, returning to the deep mountains.
The aberrant creatures within the dense forest also retreated, leaving the sky above the towering mountain range filled with flying beings.
Countless figures climbed and leaped across the mountain's slopes.
Outside the forest, on the snow-covered ground, the nobles from Chi Xia City, the Mountain Patrol Group members, and the local Awakeners all dispersed.
Even after walking far away, people continued to discuss the day's events, feeling their journey had been worthwhile just to witness the power of the higher beings firsthand.
"Who was that Feather-Clad Woman? I've never heard of her in Chi Xia City. She was incredibly powerful."
"She's probably the expert the City Lord invited from afar."
The younger generation was especially excited and exhilarated.
Witnessing the High-Ranking Figure display of power ignited their imaginations, opening their eyes to a whole new world.
"Is that the limit we can aspire to reach someday?"
"Wake up," someone scoffed. "There's a limit called the City Lord, but there's only one in all of Chi Xia City. Your limit is to work hard for twenty years and try to become a gatekeeper at the City Lord's Mansion."
...
On the road, even direct descendants of Noble families like Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing couldn't resist chatting.
"Cousin, what level have you reached? You're also following the Giant Spirit God path. You're already over three meters tall, while that Wei Mo is ten meters. I don't think the height difference between you two is that great. Does that mean your strength is also..."
"Shut up!" Cao Long's expression immediately darkened.
They hadn't even left Great Mountain yet, and he snapped at his naive young cousin.
"Senior Wei was already twenty to thirty meters tall twenty years ago. Now he's undergoing a reverse transformation. We can't even begin to guess what level he's reached."
Just then, a silver-haired elder of high standing from the Mountain Patrol Group approached and asked, "Is anyone here from the Wang Clan of Chi Xia City?"
Everyone immediately realized this must be about Wang Nianzhu, who had slaughtered a nest of spiritual creatures — Blood Snakes — and was suspected of murdering several Mountain Patrolmen in the process.
"Nianzhu has gone missing. We're also looking for him," a middle-aged man replied.
"Could he have fled to escape punishment?" the silver-haired elder said, though his face was etched with wrinkles, his eyes still flashed with cold lightning.
If this were just an ordinary Mountain Patrolman, the Wang Clan wouldn't have cared.
But now, with someone from above taking an interest, they were wary.
After all, the Mountain Patrol Group's ultimate authority was the Deputy City Lord of Chi Xia City.
"We're also searching for him. I believe Nianzhu wouldn't do such a thing," the middle-aged man said.
Then, he accompanied the elder to a snow-covered patch nearby, explaining something in hushed tones.
...
In Twin Tree Village, Qin Ming, Old Liu, and Xu Yueping watched the snowflakes dance outside their window.
Inside their warm room, they savored steaming copper pot donkey meat and drank fine wine unearthed from the Mountain Patrol Group's outpost.
Qin Ming, who had previously been indifferent to alcohol, now felt a pleasant warmth spreading through him.
He hadn't expected Wang Nianzhu, whose name he had only learned after his death, to continue to exert such a profound influence even after his passing.
Coupled with his successful Second Awakening, Qin Ming sipped his wine leisurely, feeling utterly relaxed.
Gazing out the window, his thoughts drifted.
His heart wasn't as calm as it seemed.
Where exactly was Luoyue (Fallen Moon) City?
He knew he would have to go there eventually.
Two years ago, on that dark night, a raging inferno had consumed the entire village.
The Feather-Robed Youth had stepped through the ruins, his ethereal aura untouched by the chaos, and struck with ruthless precision...
Those images were forever etched in his memory.
Qin Ming sighed inwardly.
If he hadn't known these past events, he could still have lived peacefully.
But now, he knew he had to accelerate his journey forward.
"Xiao Qin, am I imagining things? You seem more energetic and your height has grown slightly," Old Liu remarked, his aged frame belying his sharp eyes.
Qin Ming hadn't used "Harmonizing With the World" in front of Xu Yueping and the old man, so his aura naturally differed from before.
Xu Yueping nodded. "Yes, there's been a change. Your eyes are clearer, and you seem even more handsome."
After his Second Awakening, Qin Ming's height had increased by less than half an inch — a change most people wouldn't even notice.
He had already confirmed that the Awakening Techniques recorded on the Silk Scroll wouldn't cause continuous height growth.
He smiled and replied, "I'm only sixteen. My body isn't fully formed yet. I might change a little every few days."
After this Awakening, Qin Ming's strength had increased dramatically. His arms now possessed two thousand pounds of force, but his flexibility and speed had improved even more significantly, resulting in a rapid surge in his overall power.
Late at night, all was silent.
The world resembled a vast abyss, swallowing all light.
Suddenly, deep within the Great Mountain, silver lightning flashed across the dark night sky, crimson clouds painted the mountain ridges, and a giant wielding a black spear stomped across a mountaintop, roaring as if to shatter the mountains and rivers.
This unleashed a terrifying avalanche.
"They've already made their move!"
On a high slope outside the Great Mountain, a woman draped in a black fur cloak gazed at the terrifyingly abnormal night scene, her eyes swirling with radiant crimson light.
A Raven with purple eyes perched on a low tree, speaking in a human voice: "Those foreign high-level beings won't hold back. We must retreat tonight. If we're quick, we can enter the mountain within two days to search for the Four-Radiance Mist-Haze Land."
Behind the woman and the Raven stood several shadowy figures.
One spoke: "The High-Ranking Figure of Chi Xia City has joined forces with the aberrant creatures native to the Great Mountain. Those migrating high-level beings won't stand a chance. Powerful spiritual creatures may even be left behind as rare Spiritual materials."
The tall woman in the cloak stared into the depths of the Great Mountain without turning around.
"You Liangyun, when the sweeping of the mountain begins, I want you to test someone for me. If you win, don't kill him. If you lose, don't return to Liuguang City with me. Go back to Chi Xia City and be a Noble young master."
A dozen people stood behind her.
Upon hearing this, a young man among them froze, his hands in his sleeves clenching into fists.
He was a Noble from Chi Xia City, a direct descendant of the You Clan.
When the woman in the cloak had come to the city to select disciples, he had been filled with hope, only to be denied even a place on the reserve list.
In the end, it was only through the intervention of his family elders, at considerable cost, that he secured an opportunity to accompany the woman in the cloak to Liuguang City.
His motive was simple: he wanted to learn secret techniques from her enigmatic teacher.
Even a year or two of tutelage would be worth the effort.
But now, he sensed danger.
What exactly was he supposed to assess?
Would he lose even this chance to accompany her?
The woman's graceful figure remained fixed on the depths of the Great Mountain.
"His name is Qin Ming. He's one of only two Awakeners this year with a Golden Foundation in this region. The You Clan has sent someone as well. With your connections, you should be able to find out quickly. Remember, I want you to assess him, not resort to underhanded tactics."
"Understood. I'll send someone to investigate immediately," You Liangyun replied, turning to leave with a cold glint in his eyes.
The Raven watched his retreating figure and said, "When You Liangyun first underwent awakening, he could lift a six-hundred-and-fifty-jin cauldron. In this year's Chi Xia City, he was weaker than the other male and female participants. When he established his Golden Foundation, there were no unusual signs."
The woman nodded. "Qi Huaien, follow him. I actually want to assess You Liangyun's character. He wasn't originally qualified to accompany me to see our teacher. If he doesn't perform well this time, there's no need for him to continue on this journey. While you're at it, also observe Qin Ming. See if he could be considered as an alternate candidate."
Deep into the night, many perceptive Awakeners outside the Great Mountain sensed the commotion. They climbed to high vantage points and gazed toward the mountain.
The disturbances within the mountain were simply too intense.
Even from a great distance, they could hear the terrifying roars of aberrant creatures.
Deep within the Great Mountain, chaos reigned.
Countless aberrant insects and birds took flight into the night sky, fleeing in panic.
The forest echoed with the cries of apes and the roars of tigers.
Even in Yinteng (Silvervine) Town, the mysterious Old Noble received immediate reports.
His silver hair, each strand crystal-clear, framed a ruddy, radiant face. He donned a tiger-skin cloak, his body moving with the lightness of a wisp of smoke as he instantly appeared atop the highest structure of his mansion.
Despite the thick Night Mist, he continued to gaze toward Great Mountain, whispering, "I hope the special Node has birthed the treasure I need."
"Are they fighting?" Qin Ming leaped onto the roof and looked toward Great Mountain.
Twin Tree Village wasn't far, forcing him to remain vigilant and prepared.
Fortunately, though the mountain was chaotic that night, the conflict didn't spill over into the surrounding areas.
One side held absolute control, dictating the pace of the battle.
The next day, the village buzzed with talk: "The mountain has changed!"
Undoubtedly, people from Chi Xia City and the local Awakeners would soon be allowed to enter Great Mountain to search for Nodes and harvest any rare treasures that might have emerged.
As Shallow Night approached, Qin Ming ate breakfast and began practicing the Awakening Techniques recorded in the Silk Scroll.
His body immediately felt like it contained a furnace, providing him with a constant stream of power.
Next, he practiced the combat techniques from the Sword Manual.
Now, when he swung the Black Gold Hammer, it felt as light as a straw, floating effortlessly through the air.
Xu Yueping pushed open the door and was startled to see Qin Ming nearly shaking the heavy Black Gold Hammer into a blur.
He quickly recovered and said, "Xiao Qin, stop practicing your hammer technique. Your future father-in-law has sent someone to invite you to meet him."
"Huh?" Qin Ming was taken aback, his face etched with confusion.
"The Old Noble of Yinteng (Silvervine) Town specifically requested to see you," Xu Yueping explained.
Qin Ming immediately understood. "Not just me, right?" he asked calmly.
"Well... they'll definitely pick and choose, but you and Zhou Wubing are the only two cultivators with a Golden Foundation. You'll definitely stand out. But at this critical juncture..." Xu Yueping frowned.
He had pondered the matter deeply after the previous incident and realized his earlier decision had been somewhat rash.
"Not going would be a bit rude, wouldn't it?" Qin Ming asked.
Xu Yueping nodded. "Indeed. It would seem disrespectful. They say even the nobles from Chi Xia City have visited him in Yinteng (Silvervine) Town. He seems to have quite a background, possibly from a very influential place."
Qin Ming chuckled. "Then I'll go pay him a visit. I'll freeload some food and drinks. At this point, there's a good chance I can get something out of it."
"You!" Xu Yueping chuckled, pointing at him.
Xu Yueping had given the matter serious thought and concluded that going wouldn't hurt.
So many great masters from Chi Xia City had come; what could an Old Noble possibly ask of a mere awakening youth?
If it turned out to be a genuine matter, Qin Ming could simply feign compliance and pocket any benefits offered.
"Alright, I'll go later," Qin Ming said. "I'll also take a look at his daughter, the Noble Lady, and see why she's so worried about finding a husband."
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END OF CHAPTER
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