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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 51: [The End of Joy]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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"To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools," Qin Ming murmured.
The task he was about to undertake could potentially ignite a storm in this region, even drawing the attention of Chi Xia City.
He needed to prepare thoroughly.
Besides lacking a good blade, Qin Ming also needed to master one or two more Heavenly Light Techniques.
He already possessed a sword manual, and with Old Liu's initial persuasion of a once-renowned but now-declining sect, Qin Ming might acquire another Heavenly Light Technique.
Combined with the Three-Colored Flower, this would significantly enhance his strength.
He was determined to do things properly.
"Who's Qin Ming?"
At the village entrance, men from Golden Rooster Ridge were shouting, directly calling out Qin Ming's name.
"They're really taking me seriously," Qin Ming thought, surprised.
Clearly, the two Great Bandits had specifically instructed their subordinates.
Old Liu hurried over, fearing that Qin Ming, emboldened by his Third Awakening, might refuse to submit. Such defiance against Golden Rooster Ridge would quickly lead to bloody disaster.
Although Old Liu still seethed from having been grabbed by the collar by the Great Bandit, he knew the situation was beyond hai control.
"Just play along for now," he whispered.
"Don't worry, I'm not that impulsive," Qin Ming said calmly as he approached the Fire Spring.
Under the black and white tree, he nodded in agreement to join Golden Rooster Ridge and allowed them to register him.
"That's a remarkably sturdy goat you've got there—exceptionally well-raised," a young man from Golden Rooster Ridge remarked, his eyes immediately drawn to the Black Mountain Goat at Yang Yongqing's gate.
Without hesitation, he casually led the nearly man-sized, robust old goat away.
"Young man, I've grown attached to this goat," Yang Yongqing protested, hurrying to stop him.
The Black Mountain Goat was growing stronger daily, on the verge of mutation, and he genuinely couldn't bear to part with it.
"To protect mountain villages like yours, Golden Rooster Ridge has suffered heavy losses," the young man replied. "We've barely any roosters left. This Black Mountain Goat is decent enough to serve as a mount."
He glanced at Yang Yongqing.
"Hmm, you're an Awakener too. Why not register to join Golden Rooster Ridge? As the goat's owner, you'd be the perfect rider. If someone else tried to ride it, it might resist and end up killed for meat."
Yang Yongqing's expression darkened.
He found the situation absurd—not only were they stealing goat, but now they were stealing people too?
Qin Ming spoke up, "Our village is small. Isn't it enough for just me to go?"
"We're short on manpower right now. Another Black Goat Knight would be a good thing. Come on, let me register you," the young man insisted, unmoved, and forcibly recorded Yang Yongqing's name.
During this exchange, Old Liu, who lived near the village entrance, hurried home and kicked his big yellow dog into its kennel, warning it not to show its face.
The young man from Golden Rooster Ridge rode off on his golden rooster, revealing himself to be a Second Awakener.
Before leaving, he instructed Qin Ming and Yang Yongqing to report to Golden Rooster Ridge in five days.
"Time is short. I need to hurry!" Qin Ming thought to himself.
Xu Yueping patted Yang Yongqing on the shoulder.
"Try to look on the bright side. The people of Golden Rooster Ridge may be scoundrels, but the treatment there shouldn't be too bad."
This was precisely why not everyone resented their recruitment efforts.
Some Awakeners from other villages even volunteered, unconcerned about the group's poor reputation.
"Didn't they almost get wiped out in the Great Rift Valley?" Yang Yongqing murmured.
Old Liu said, "Everyone knows that entering the Great Rift Valley often leads to bloody battles over rare resources. So anyone who stays behind to guard Golden Rooster Ridge must have connections. This group is likely even worse—they wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone they cross paths with."
Qin Ming glanced at him.
The old man's face was flushed crimson, a sign of his ongoing Third Awakening.
Fortunately, the two Great Bandits from Golden Rooster Ridge weren't present; otherwise, they would have immediately noticed his abnormal condition.
Later, Qin Ming went to Old Liu's house to ask if the negotiations for borrowing the Secret Manual had gone well.
"They reluctantly agreed, but their price might be exorbitant. Let's go together tomorrow," Old Liu replied.
He needed to wait for his Third Awakening to complete.
Qin Ming nodded. Human Awakening was a gradual process; by his calculations, it would likely continue until the following day.
"You can't keep looking like this," Qin Ming warned. "Your face is glowing red. If any skilled expert sees you, they'll immediately notice something's wrong."
He taught Old Liu the technique "Harmonizing With the World," a practical and easy-to-learn technique for concealing one's aura.
If Old Liu's condition were exposed, Qin Ming's own situation would inevitably be revealed as well.
"Good idea," Old Liu said. "I've been worried about running into those two bastards from Golden Rooster Ridge again."
He then asked in a low voice, "Have you mastered the Heavenly Light Technique? They say the more you practice, the better. The truly world-renowned techniques are all fused techniques. I have one here called the Silk-Winding Technique, taught to me by an Old Mountain Patrolman years ago. Take it and give it a try."
"Alright!" Qin Ming naturally wouldn't refuse.
The Silk Book emphasized that "fusion" was key!
"Would you like me to teach you a Heavenly Light Technique?" Qin Ming offered, wanting to return the favor.
"No need," the old man replied. "I sense that what you're practicing is not ordinary. You're not from around here, so you must have some background. I'd rather not get involved. In the Threefold Awakening Realm, the Silk-Winding Technique is enough for me. Tomorrow, I might get a chance to peek at the secret manual of that local family."
"Alright!" Qin Ming nodded.
Outsiders definitely couldn't master the techniques from the Silk Book, and the sword manual he possessed was currently best kept hidden.
Returning to his small courtyard, Qin Ming first focused on refining his Heavenly Light Technique.
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T/N: I forgot to mention... In the previous few chapters Heavenly Light Technique was translated as Heavenly Light Force because I thought since Third Awakening is birth of Heavenly Light then using Heavenly Light Force—A cultivation method that produces Heavenly Light—seemed more perfect. The Heavenly Light Technique refers to how one use this power (Heavenly Light). So both translations are correct... That's all... Thank you!]
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Once he had mastered it, he planned to study other techniques.
With a whoosh, his fingers barely touched the hammer's handle before it flew into his hand.
Even when Qin Ming touched the back of his hand to the Heavenly Light's aura, the long-handled hammer would instantly be drawn into his grip—a "stickiness" characteristics.
In combat, this meant that the slightest contact with an opponent would allow him to instantly adhere to and tear away their flesh.
Qin Ming exerted his force, unleashing the Heavenly Light. The edge of the stone millstone crumbled and adhered to his hand.
Moreover, the Heavenly Light possessed remarkable penetrating power.
As his fingertips glowed, stone fragments scattered as his fingers pierced into the millstone.
After further study, Qin Ming realized his Heavenly Light touched upon various aspects, but its greatest strength lay in its practicality.
Soon after, he began practicing Old Liu's Silk-Winding Technique. Though simple in concept and relatively easy to grasp, it contained subtle nuances.
When executed, the Heavenly Light moved like a swaying silk thread, emphasizing the "winding" aspect—using finesse to overcome brute strength, and weakness to defeat strength.
"This must be a technique developed by generations of Old Mountain Patrolmen through their battles with Giant Beasts in the mountains," Qin Ming mused, a realization dawning upon him.
While not a complex form of Heavenly Light Technique, it proved remarkably effective in real combat.
After meticulous study, Qin Ming mastered the technique in less than half a day.
Although not yet refined, he could now wield it effectively.
"It seems my innate talent isn't too bad after all."
If Qin Ming were to encounter Huang Jingde or that thrice-awakened elder from Golden Rooster Ridge again, he was confident that, without resorting to his immense physical strength, he could use only the Silk-Winding Technique to knock both of them flat on their faces.
"Huh?!" What surprised him most was how seamlessly the Silk-Winding Technique integrated with his own Heavenly Light Technique, merging directly into his own Technique.
This was the first time he had successfully fused another technique, and the achievement filled him with elation.
Qin Ming tested the combined Heavenly Light Technique and found it even more stronger than before!
"The Heavenly Light Technique I had just cultivated with the Silk-Winding Technique was quickly consumed during the fusion. I can't let that happen again. I need to practice them separately first. After consuming the Three-Colored Flower, I'll perfect the Silk-Winding Technique and then merge it with my original Heavenly Light Technique."
Qin Ming sat down to rest on the stone millstone in the courtyard, planning to study the techniques in the sword manual later.
At that moment, he felt a sense of accomplishment and joy.
Gazing at the night sky, his mind's eye seemed to glimpse distant, magnificent cities rising from the boundless darkness of the earth.
He yearned to travel far, hoping to acquire more Heavenly Light Techniques and witness firsthand the wonders of prosperous lands—their abundant resources, exceptional talents, and spiritual vitality.
Suddenly, Qin Ming's pupils contracted, but he quickly relaxed, maintaining an outward calm as if nothing had occurred.
Yet his inner turmoil surged like a storm.
He had spotted a dark mist, resembling a serpentine spirit, approaching from the distance and circling above the village.
Finally, it descended, presumably reaching the ground.
Qin Ming's initial joy had been shattered by this unexpected turn of events.
"What was that thing?" His mind churned with turmoil, yet he forced himself to remain calm, acting as if nothing had happened.
The others couldn't see the black mist drifting across the sky.
Even Old Liu, after his Second Awakening during the Great Rift Valley incident, had sensed nothing.
Qin Ming forced himself to calm down.
He couldn't afford to act strangely now. His Jade Iron hadn't been forged into a weapon yet, leaving him defenseless against such otherworldly entities.
Maintaining a neutral expression, he returned to his room and began flipping through the tattered pages of the sword manual.
At first, he struggled to focus, but gradually, he became absorbed in its contents.
This ancient book carried the crystallized essence of its predecessors' efforts. Qin Ming could resonate with the lingering emotions, glimpsing secrets beyond the mere text.
That's why he held such high expectations for the sword manual's techniques.
"Hmm?"
Today was truly full of surprises.
As Qin Ming studied the techniques section, he sensed two distinct, powerful emotions.
One undoubtedly originated from the elderly author of the sword manual, while the other stemmed from a later reader's annotations.
"If only I could master the Tathagata Technique!" The emotion surged from those very words.
Qin Ming's heart leaped.
Could this person have actually encountered it?!
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END OF CHAPTER
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