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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 32: [Five-Colored Mist and Haze Illuminates All Directions]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Tonight, the mountain night was particularly dark, as if shrouded by a massive black curtain.
Suddenly, five-colored mist and haze erupted from the depths of the Great Mountain, tearing through the darkness in an instant and illuminating all directions.
Towering peaks were bathed in radiant hues, and snow-laden branches shimmered with ethereal light.
The spectacle stunned everyone.
Across the mountain range, luminous mist billowed, and iridescent light overflowed.
In this sunless era, such splendor was a sight to behold, inspiring awe and longing.
Chaos erupted in the mountains.
Any expert within striking distance of the Four-Radiance Mist-Haze Land wished they could sprout wings of lightning and soar there immediately to claim the most mysterious treasure in the entire mountain range.
"So early? It's already matured!"
"Ah..."
All factions descended into madness, rushing toward the source.
Even halfway there, screams pierced the night as hidden assailants struck from the shadows.
Amidst the vast mountain wilderness, ferocious beasts roared, exotic birds took flight, and hordes of aberrants went berserk, all converging on the same destination.
Deep within the Great Mountain, the five-colored mist and haze lingered, piercing the dark night sky with its blinding radiance that illuminated all directions.
Everyone understood that these extraordinary phenomena were merely outward signs.
The true cause lay in the ripening of a unique resource within a special Node, its swirling white mist and billowing haze creating this mystical spectacle.
Wei Mo, a ten-meter-tall warrior, stood on a precipice, gazing at the five-colored mist-shrouded land ahead.
His dark red armor, resembling the scales of a dragon, clanked with each movement, emitting crimson light.
With a thunderous stomp, he shattered the cliff beneath his feet, sending boulders tumbling and the ground trembling in a display of overwhelming force.
Gripping his black spear, he leaped down and charged into the depths of the Great Mountain.
"Brother Wei, you should stay back," a white-robed figure appeared, blocking his path — Ling Xu, the City Lord of Chi Xia City.
"Ling Xu, you dare obstruct me?" Wei Mo demanded, his black spear poised.
With a single bound, he vanished from his position, only to reappear suddenly, his spear tearing through the forest like a black lightning bolt, striking directly at Ling Xu.
On another mountainous terrain, a three-foot-long Li Hua Cat, carrying a crimson longsword on its back, moved swiftly and silently.
With agile movements, it evaded numerous aberrants and charged toward the center where five-colored mist and haze billowed.
"Stop!" an aberrant suddenly roared, rushing toward the cat with lightning speed, clearly intent on seizing the priceless, mysterious resource.
A Mantis Beast materialized, arriving with a gale-force wind that snapped branches in its wake.
It forcefully blocked the Li Hua Cat's path.
The creature was entirely white, resembling a mantis but towering over human height. Its body was covered in snow-white fur, and its mantis arms were like two serrated, snow-white greatswords, shimmering with a hazy, flowing light.
Without exchanging words, the Li Hua Cat drew its crimson longsword. The sword blade instantly glowed like a sunset, bathing the mountain forest in crimson light, its sword Qi soaring into the night sky.
Simultaneously, sword light tore through the darkness, weaving through the deep forest like lightning.
Under the impact of the invisible sword Qi, entire swathes of towering trees collapsed, while others shattered into fragments.
...
The Old Weasel, usually so leisurely riding his donkey with unwavering composure, had abandoned his mount today.
He moved with lightning speed, skimming across the treetops like a streak of snow-white lightning.
"Hmm?" He suddenly stopped, standing atop a towering larch tree dozens of meters tall.
His left hand was clasped behind his back, while his right hand, wrapped with a string of prayer beads, lifted to gaze at the sky.
"The rare treasures within that Node are not for you!" A frigid voice echoed from the night mist that blanketed the sky.
"It seems there are other outsiders lurking in the shadows besides the people of Chi Xia City," the Old Weasel remarked, unusually talkative for him.
"Stay here!" A voice boomed from the black cloud mist in the night sky, clearly intending to block the unfathomably powerful Old Weasel and buy time for others.
The Old Weasel countered, "Have you considered that if you detain me, your allies will also be intercepted? The hidden observers aren't just your group. Wouldn't it be better to let me go and stir things up?"
"I won't let you pass. I've been wanting to test your strength for a long time, and now you've even joined forces with Chi Xia City to injure my friend! Hmph!" Wings emerged from the Cloud Mist, followed by a massive, scaled claw that lunged toward the Old Weasel on the mountain slope, resembling a cloud dragon extending its talons.
The Old Weasel, his right hand wrapped around prayer beads, abruptly struck upward.
With a thunderous boom like a bolt of lightning, a terrifying beam of light twisted through the night sky, deafeningly loud.
The Cloud Mist shattered, revealing a colossal creature flapping silver wings.
Forced backward by the impact, it generated a terrifying gale.
The Larch tree beneath the Old Weasel's feet snapped, while nearby trees toppled and exploded in a terrifying spectacle.
The Old Weasel landed lightly on a nearby boulder.
In the distance, Moon Insects emerged from the forest like a rising moon over the sea, confronting the Feather-Clad Woman who stood atop a massive azure bird, her feathered robe shimmering with an ethereal glow.
The battle was about to begin.
...
"If only I were in my prime, standing at the peak of my strength, I would venture deep into the Great Mountain to compete for the rare treasures nurtured by the Spirit Mountain. Alas, I can only watch helplessly, not even daring to approach. It's agonizing!"
At the edge of the mountain forest, a man shouted, his voice filled with grief and indignation.
"You're one of the weaker Awakeners in our group right now. Wake up! It's uncertain if you'll even be alive in your prime."
Countless eyes in the dense forest burned with envy, but as their initial impulse faded, they gradually halted.
Their strength was insufficient to venture deep into the mountains and compete with the old monsters for opportunities.
That would be a death wish.
The various teams regained their composure.
They had no choice; if they let their heads get heated, the high-level aberrants and ancient monsters in the mountains would swiftly and decisively cool them down — until their entire bodies were ice-cold.
Cao Long stopped walking and, longbow in hand, began searching for the foul-mouthed Talking Sparrow that had dared to call him "a lump."
"Special Node discovered here! Someone's trying to hog it all!" the Talking Sparrow squawked again, sounding almost sentient as it stirred up trouble, trying to lure other teams to attack.
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Iron arrows rained down in a dense barrage, aimed at the source of the Talking Sparrow's cries.
"They're trying to silence me! Help! There's a special Node here, birthing mystical resources!" The mutated Talking Sparrow fled.
"Today isn't a good day for deep exploration. Let's retreat," Mu Qing suggested.
The Great Mountain was in chaos, with the Four-Radiance Mist-Haze Land having emerged.
That place held the greatest opportunities, but the old monsters would go berserk, and who knew what might happen?
Innocent people could get caught in the crossfire.
Cao Long and Wei Zhirou nodded in agreement.
Their three teams were cautious, preferring to achieve nothing rather than risk their lives.
"Alright, let's familiarize ourselves with the outer areas for now. No deep exploration today. We'll wait until the High-Ranking Figure's battle has completely subsided."
Deep within the Great Mountain, terrifying beams of light pierced the night sky.
Renowned avian beasts tore through the darkness with their wings, while human experts unleashed terrifying howls.
The battle raged fiercely in the heart of the mountains.
With Dog Knight Old Liu, Black Sheep Knight Yang Yongqing, and others serving as guides, Qin Ming was now free to move independently.
Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the rest had retreated to the periphery, intending to assess the outcome of the main battle before making further plans.
Qin Ming relished the newfound freedom.
He had no intention of venturing deep into the mountains; while rare treasures were tempting, survival came first.
He wandered through the forest, searching for the Talking Sparrow he had promised to catch for Xiao Wenrui.
He had never managed to find one before, but this mutated specimen seemed particularly intelligent.
Unfortunately, the mutated Talking Sparrow remained elusive.
After thoroughly antagonizing Cao Long and his group, it had vanished completely.
Qin Ming paused briefly, then headed toward the fissure that had once made him gravely ill.
He wanted to see how this unique Node had fared after the recent upheaval in the mountains.
"He's separated from Mu Qing and Cao Long. Now's our chance to strike," someone informed You Liangyun, who was lurking in the forest.
"Is that so? Good. Let's move out!" You Liangyun, clad in his finest armor and wielding a chillingly sharp longsword, led his men swiftly through the dense forest.
...
Deep within the Great Mountain, the clash of masters was truly terrifying and brutal.
Massive monsters were critically wounded, their necks gushing blood like erupting fountains, spraying outward as their colossal bodies crashed to the ground, shaking the earth and flattening swathes of forest.
Violet light surged through the air like celestial clouds, while long halberds slashed across the sky, their cold gleam dazzling.
Mythical birds emitted blinding divine radiance, crisscrossing the heavens and earth.
At the heart of the battlefield, dense webs of lightning crackled, the origins of the combatants shrouded in mystery.
Each warrior fought with frenzied abandon, and already, high-level beings had fallen.
However, the battle in some areas were somewhat "unusual".
In the forest, Ling Xu, clad in white robes, sat on the ground, breaking the clay seal of a wine jar.
He poured himself a cup before tossing the jar to Wei Mo, who caught it effortlessly.
For Wei Mo, the entire jar held no more than a single cup's worth of wine.
The two drank in silence, their long swords and ten-meter-long spears still gripped in their hands, radiating blinding Heavenly Light that surged into the night sky.
On another mountain slope, the Li Hua Cat sat cross-legged on the ground, sword in hand, its sword blade shimmering with crimson light.
Nearby, the Mantis Beast slashed at the night sky with its saw-toothed forearms, resembling serrated blades.
...
Qin Ming frowned.
Dressed in animal hide clothing, he clearly looked like a local young hunter.
Why was he being targeted again?
He stopped walking, realizing two groups of people were closing in on him from both directions, effectively blocking his path.
One group was rapidly approaching from behind.
"Qin Ming?" You Liangyun arrived, his expression complex as he studied the tall, handsome youth before him.
The young man's extraordinary aura was undeniable.
This very youth might be the obstacle preventing You Liangyun from advancing further.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Qin Ming asked, gripping his long-handled Black Gold Hammer.
You Liangyun stared at him impassively for a moment before finally replying, "You Liangyun of Chi Xia City. Someone asked me to test your strength. Draw your weapon."
Qin Ming frowned.
What was going on?
He warily eyed the other four figures.
Their weapons were heavy but not excessively so, suggesting they were all Second-Stage Awakeners.
"Come on!"
You Liangyun gripped his clearly priceless sword and lunged forward, drawing a blinding arc of light through the dim forest.
"Clang!"
In the next instant, a sharp pain shot through his palm, followed by numbness.
The crystal-clear sword, as radiant as autumn waters, nearly flew from his grasp.
Qin Ming remained silent. As a First Awakener, You Liangyun possessed considerable strength, estimated to be capable of lifting over 600 catties.
It was clear he wasn't unleashing his full power, holding back as he primarily focused on observing the other Second Awakeners.
You Liangyun attacked again, but after three consecutive blocks of his longsword, his right hand trembled slightly.
He sighed in resignation and retreated.
"My strength and speed are no match for yours. I stand no chance," he said dejectedly, sheathing his sword. "Someone will likely seek you out soon. I'll take my leave."
"My victory... has it affected you?" Qin Ming asked.
"My defeat disqualifies me from serving the Noble. You'll replace me," You Liangyun replied.
"Then what will you do?" Qin Ming frowned.
"What else can I do? Since I can no longer strive for advancement, I'll simply return home to inherit my family's Noble title," You Liangyun said, leading his men away.
Qin Ming had intended to say more, but You Liangyun's final words caught in his throat, leaving him speechless.
"Brother You's character is indeed commendable. It's a pity you must return to Chi Xia City after your defeat," Qi Huaien said, emerging from the forest.
You Liangyun, who had been about to leave, stopped and turned around.
"The Noble lord wants me to take a look at him too," Qi Huaien said, drawing his long saber. With a faint smile, he strode toward Qin Ming. "So, I'll assess him."
A grating metallic screech filled the air as Qi Huaien unleashed three swift strikes before sheathing his blade.
He shook his head. "It's a pity. He's still lacking a little, not meeting the Noble Lord's requirements."
"Even this isn't enough?" You Liangyun asked, surprised.
"Mm. The Noble Lord is looking for a potential candidate. He's still a little short. Let's go." Qi Huaien turned to leave, You Liangyun following.
Qin Ming felt utterly bewildered. If he hadn't sensed hidden observers, he would have unleashed his full strength long ago.
Was this Qi Huaien truly so formidable?
What right did he have to judge him like this?
As Qi Huaien accompanied You Liangyun away, he thought inwardly. Though he had held back, he could still sense the extraordinary potential of the young man who had undergone only one awakening. At the very least, he could lift a cauldron weighing eight hundred catties — truly remarkable.
"Hmm? There are sounds of fighting," You Liangyun said, glancing back.
"You should return first," Qi Huaien replied. "I'll investigate. The mountains are chaotic now. If he dies at someone else's hands, the Noble Lord might suspect you. That wouldn't be good."
"I'll bring my men and go with you," You Liangyun insisted.
Qi Huaien shook his head. "My strength far surpasses that of ordinary Second Awakeners. You can't help me. If there's danger, you'll likely just throw your lives away. Go see the Noble Lord. If your character proves acceptable, she might change her mind."
"Alright," You Liangyun said, leading his men away.
Qi Huaien, with his well-proportioned physique and a head taller than most, moved swiftly through the forest like a tiger or leopard, quickly reaching the scene.
He was astonished to see the group still there.
"You haven't dealt with him yet?" he asked.
Qin Ming, wielding his long-handled Black Gold Hammer, faced the new group emerging from the forest, now certain there were no other hidden enemies.
He glared at Qi Huaien. "You Liangyun didn't want to kill me. So you're the one who wants me dead?"
Six men surrounded Qin Ming, their faces twisted with murderous intent.
They had already clashed briefly.
"So what if I do?" Qi Huaien replied calmly, his expression impassive.
Qin Ming hurled his hammer, instantly crushing the skull of the man in front of him.
He snatched the man's spear and charged forward with terrifying speed, impaling another man with a sickening thud.
Blood splattered as he hoisted the impaled man high on the spear with a single arm.
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END OF CHAPTER
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