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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 52: [It Has Truly Arrived]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Qin Ming was stunned.
Could this sword manual truly exceed all of his expectations, and continue to surprise him?
The old man's swordsmanship had already been astonishing, revealing a profound realm of the Sword Dao.
However, Qin Ming's Heavenly Light Technique was still in its nascent stage, preventing him from fully unleashing the power of that ultimate strike.
Yet now, before he had even practiced the old man's Heavenly Light Technique, the Tathagata Technique was reacting?
Qin Ming quickly shook his head.
He shouldn't get his hopes up too high.
If someone had truly mastered the Tathagata Technique, they likely wouldn't even bother with this sword manual.
Techniques like the Heaven-Shattering Technique and Tathagata Technique far surpassed even the Great Spirit God Techniques, belonging to the realm of legendary techniques.
After all, the latter's ultimate goal was to achieve godhood (Great Spirit God), making it already exceptionally powerful.
After considering these factors, Qin Ming concluded that the legendary Heavenly Light Technique couldn't possibly be contained within this book.
He now focused his entire mind on the manual, immersing himself in its contents and resonating with its emotions.
The more focused his mind became, the clearer the voices and images within the manual grew.
Qin Ming first examined the Tathagata Technique.
A single sentence carried such intense emotional resonance, revealing the profound obsession of the person who had left these notes.
A burly giant with a full, bristling beard appeared before him, a broadsword slung across his back.
He stood in the rain, gazing up at the stormy night sky and sighing.
Finally, he roared, "If this is the Tathagata Technique, I'll practice your damn nail technique!"
"What's going on?" Qin Ming was startled, nearly losing his focus and breaking the resonance.
After a moment, he understood.
The Bearded Giant, following clues and enduring countless trials, had finally discovered a secret treasure left by his predecessors—a few pages of paper.
The opening lines were intimidating, immediately informing any reader that this secret technique was related to the Tathagata Technique!
However, as the giant meticulously read through the pages, his excitement grew until he flipped to the final page.
There, he nearly tore the paper in frustration.
The last line declared that this was a Nail Technique, a technique with exceptional penetrating power.
The original owner of the paper had earnestly warned future generations that the Nail Technique was an essential component of the Tathagata Technique.
Qin Ming fell silent, understanding the Bearded Giant's frustration.
In truth, any supreme technique that could establish a sect was composed of numerous combined techniques, ultimately coalescing into the rare Heavenly Light Technique.
And that was to say nothing of the legendary techniques themselves.
Everyone knew that the "true inheritance on a single sheet of paper" of the Tathagata Technique must be densely covered with various techniques.
Qin Ming sighed.
No wonder the Bearded Giant's message was filled with hatred; he must have been utterly bewildered and bitter after pouring his heart and soul into chasing after this paper.
Qin Ming then began to study the technique.
Despite his curses, the Bearded Giant had clearly researched the Nail Technique, practicing it with intense resentment, feeling utterly deceived.
When Qin Ming resonated with his emotions, he was nearly swept up in the man's fury.
At first, he tried to suppress it, but he soon discovered that the more he embraced the anger, the stronger the spiritual resonance became, and the clearer the insights became.
He then completely let go!
Even as he closed the book, he was still muttering, "I'll practice your damn nail technique!"
Qin Ming closed his eyes and meditated for a full quarter of an hour to completely shake off the lingering emotions.
He stepped into the courtyard and began practicing earnestly. The movements flowed smoothly, without the slightest hesitation, as if he had been studying this technique for half his life.
The Heavenly Light within him surged rapidly, coalescing into a sharp, luminous point at his fingertips.
The Nail Technique was gradually taking shape.
He resonated with the emotions of the predecessors, as if he had personally experienced their trials and tribulations.
He firmly grasped their insights and experiences, transforming them into his own "nourishment."
However, this didn't mean his Nail Technique had accumulated decades of "power."
He had merely witnessed and resonated with their insights and experiences, not gained their actual power.
He still needed to cultivate it himself.
In a sense, this emotional resonance proved most valuable when confronting various "techniques," such as studying sword manual, spear techniques, or sword techniques.
It allowed him to grasp them swiftly and efficiently, achieving sudden enlightenment as if he had practiced for decades.
Yet, advancements in his life's essence—such as Qin Ming's transition from Second Awakening to Third Awakening, or the accumulation of his Heavenly Light Technique—still required his own gradual accumulation.
In these deeper realms, he couldn't achieve instant breakthroughs.
"Even so, this is more than enough!" Qin Ming thought, satisfied. "After all, some techniques are notoriously difficult to master."
Holding the crystallized essence of the predecessors' lifeblood, he had reaped immeasurable gains through spiritual resonance.
After careful study, he concluded that this Nail Technique was remarkably strong.
Despite its unappealing name, it proved exceptionally useful in actual combat.
With Qin Ming's innate talent, mastering the Nail Technique wouldn't have been difficult.
However, he was naturally eager to accelerate his progress using the accumulated experience and insights, as every moment saved was precious.
Without exerting much force, Qin Ming lightly tapped his finger against the stone millstone, piercing it effortlessly.
The Heavenly Light Technique he had cultivated from the Silk Book possessed a variety of characteristics, including adhesion, tearing, and penetration.
There was no doubt that the Nail Technique could be seamlessly integrated into it.
Suddenly, Qin Ming heard weeping. He pushed open the door and stepped outside.
"The old patriarch of the Li Family just passed away," he overheard someone say on the street.
Qin Ming's heart skipped a beat.
He looked up at the night sky and roughly estimated the location.
The dark mist he had seen earlier had likely descended near the Li Family's residence.
A chill ran down his spine.
"What was going on?"
"Could there truly be vengeful spirits or malevolent entities in this world?"
He dismissed such notions; even the so-called Mountain Monsters were merely advanced mutated creatures.
Yet he had undeniably witnessed the dark mist, invisible to ordinary eyes, slithering like a spectral serpent from afar.
"Could this be the unseen force that Cao Long and Mu Qing had warned about—the one that even the great clans feared?" Qin Ming's heart tightened.
He discreetly observed the surroundings, but the dark mist never reappeared.
Twin Tree Village was small, with only forty households.
Any slight disturbance would quickly spread throughout the village.
Xu Yueping arrived, sighing, "Now that grain shipments from the outside world have resumed and the Mutant Creatures have retreated from the Great Mountain, hunting is safer. Just when things were looking up, some of the elders passed away."
Hearing this, Qin Ming immediately sensed something was amiss.
"Have many elders died recently?" he asked.
Xu Yueping nodded. "Yes, elders have been dying every day in the surrounding villages."
Then, as if remembering something, he added, "A few young hunters injured in the mountains haven't survived either."
Lowering his voice, he continued, "Some say the young men's deaths might be related to scavenging weapons in the mountains. No one dares go there now. But there's also a group who brought back weapons without incident."
Qin Ming frowned, suspecting all this was connected to the black mist.
After all, he had first encountered the black mist in the Great Rift Valley, scattered with weapons.
His heart was heavy with conflicting emotions.
He couldn't share these concerns with anyone.
The joy of mastering the Silk-Winding Technique and Nail Technique had been completely shattered.
Would that unfathomable yet terrifying black mist return?
Qin Ming felt uncertain, gripped by a strong sense of urgency.
He didn't want to leave his fate to chance.
He strode toward Old Liu's house, intending to ask where he could find a blacksmith's shop.
"You want to forge a knife yourself?" Old Liu asked, his expression surprised.
Qin Ming nodded. "Yes, I need a reliable blacksmith's shop. I urgently need a good knife."
Old Liu shook his head. "With all the recent events and the hunting season starting, the blacksmiths are swamped. They're too busy right now to let you use their forge. Why not go early tomorrow, before they start work?"
Qin Ming considered this and nodded.
He figured they'd likely refuse him anyway, and offering an exorbitant price would only draw unwanted attention during these sensitive times.
He reasoned that since the black mist had just visited Twin Tree Village, it would likely move on to another location for now.
Two deaths in such a small village in quick succession would raise too many suspicions.
"Let's set out at midnight," Qin Ming said. "It's my first time forging a knife, and I have no idea how long it will take."
"Why bother? Just have someone else forge it for you," Old Liu said.
He was well-acquainted with the blacksmiths, but currently undergoing his Third Awakening, he couldn't leave the house to make arrangements.
He kicked Big Yellow Dog. "Dog, get up and deliver this letter for me."
...
After returning home, Qin Ming carefully studied the sword manual to calm his mind.
He saw the old man again, practicing his sword techniques.
The old man had mastered Intercepting Technique, a profound Heavenly Light Technique that combined various ordinary techniques.
Qin Ming couldn't determine exactly how many techniques the old man had fused, as the memory fragment was faint and the emotional intensity was weak.
Having obtained the final Intercepting Technique, Qin Ming immediately recognized its immense power and complexity upon practicing it.
If he had to research and comprehend it on his own, it would have taken him a very long time.
This was no longer a simple, single-attribute technique; it was profoundly intricate.
Qin Ming saw the old man's memories and realized that his pursuit of Intercepting Technique was driven by his ambition to attain the legendary Heaven-Shattering Technique!
Unfortunately, despite the old man's exceptional talent and deep mastery of the Sword Dao, his life essence couldn't keep pace with his progress.
Lacking access to renowned techniques, developing Intercepting Technique had been the limit of his capabilities.
"This single Intercepting Technique alone makes consuming the Three-Colored Flower worthwhile!" Qin Ming now fully understood the value of this technique.
"A single line to intercept the heavens, hoping to tear through the boundless night..." He clearly recognized that even the sword manual was derived from this Heavenly Light Technique.
The ultimate strike, the most powerful technique, embodied the very essence of "Heaven-Intercepting."
Qin Ming sat quietly, silently digesting the information for a long time.
The Intercepting Technique was truly remarkable.
Soon, his expression turned to surprise.
His Heavenly Light Technique, as he had suspected, touched upon all aspects of the Intercepting Technique, making fusion possible!
Now he finally understood why that annotation had been included in the Silk Book.
It was indeed a deliberate reminder to future generations: "Fusion—one word!"
"Seek within yourself, but also borrow from external sources."
Clearly, relying solely on internal cultivation was insufficient. Without spiritual substances, how could he rapidly elevate his life essence through gradual refinement alone?
And without other techniques, how could he achieve fusion?
Qin Ming consumed the last of the spiritual substance.
That night, his body flared with heat once more, completing his Third Awakening even faster than his Second Awakening.
He sensed the profound changes within himself.
His strength had undoubtedly surpassed 3,000 jin, while his speed, physical resilience, and overall physical attributes had also significantly improved.
In the dead of night, Qin Ming opened his eyes, stepped out of his home, and met Old Liu.
The blacksmith's workshop was located in Yinteng (Silver Vine) Town, which was utterly silent at this hour.
Even at its busiest, no one would be working in the middle of the night.
Old Liu, brimming with vitality, personally helped Qin Ming stoke the bellows, raising the furnace temperature.
To Qin Ming's dismay, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't melt the Jade Iron.
It only turned red-hot.
"What kind of rare treasure is this? You're really something! It must be some mysterious material from the Great Mountain, right?" Old Liu guessed immediately.
"Keep stoking the bellows!"
Realizing melting was impossible, Qin Ming seized the opportunity while the Jade Iron was red-hot.
He swung the heavy hammer with all his might, striking relentlessly.
Fortunately, they were underground; otherwise, the commotion in the dead of night would have been deafening.
Even with Qin Ming's immense strength, he grew exhausted from the relentless hammering, never pausing, each strike delivered with every ounce of his power.
"I, who have experienced three Awakenings, am now reduced to being a blacksmith's apprentice?" Old Liu muttered, unable to bear watching Qin Ming's struggle any longer.
He stepped in himself, his skill surpassing Qin Ming's—after all, he was well-acquainted with the blacksmiths and had forged blades here before.
Qin Ming learned quickly.
Taking the hammer again, he exerted every last bit of strength until the blade finally took shape.
After quenching, however, neither of them could sharpen it. The blade simply wouldn't take an edge, no matter how hard they tried.
Old Liu couldn't tear his gaze away, sighing, "I think when you get to a bigger city, you should have this blade reforged. We're truly out of our depth here—the material is just too exceptional."
"Hmm, I'm still not sure what weapon I'll ultimately use. Let's just make do with this for now," Qin Ming replied, eyeing the sword's jade-white body.
The material was simply too conspicuous.
He brushed on a mineral-based coating he had prepared in advance, then dried it with fire.
If he ever wanted to remove the coating, his Heavenly Light Technique's adhesive characteristic would allow him to strip it all off with a single swipe of his hand.
Due to the limited materials, even including the hilt, the sword was shorter than his arm, but it would suffice.
Qin Ming found it surprisingly comfortable to wield.
As for the small, azure-glowing piece of Jade Iron, Qin Ming left it untouched. Such delicate work was beyond the capabilities of their forge.
Qin Ming asked, "Is it too early to go borrow the secret manual from that family?"
"It's dark out there—even the breakfast stalls in town haven't opened yet. Going this early would be inappropriate."
The two wandered through the town, but even finding a place to grab breakfast proved impossible.
Qin Ming's pupils constricted.
As if summoned by his thoughts, the black mist reappeared.
It was lurking in town, emerging from a house and swiftly approaching them, as if it had spotted them.
"Old Liu, let's head home first," Qin Ming said, turning him around and giving Old Liu a meaningful look in the thick darkness.
After Old Liu's Third Awakening, he could discern Qin Ming's expression even in the dark night.
He nodded immediately. "Okay!"
The two ducked into a narrow alley, changing their route.
The black mist altered its course as well, following them.
Qin Ming realized they were being thoroughly targeted.
With the streets deserted late at night, their presence must have stood out too much.
Another possibility was that their encounter with the black mist at the Great Rift Valley wasn't their first.
Perhaps the mist had remembered them.
"Could it be that when I sensed it yesterday, the black mist noticed me too?"
Regardless of the reason, today's encounter was unlikely to end peacefully.
"Let's go back to the village," Qin Ming said, naturally tightening his grip on his sword hilt. "We can hunt something on the way back too!"
With that, he and Old Liu left Yinteng (Silver Vine) Town.
The black mist seemed quite pleased to have them enter the deserted area, following silently in their wake.
As the trees lining the road grew denser, the black mist couldn't restrain itself any longer and suddenly lunged at the pair.
Qin Ming, who had been secretly on guard for some time, reacted instantly.
As the mist drew near, he swung his sword in a swift counterattack!
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END OF CHAPTER
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