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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 85: [Almost Ascended on the Spot]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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The Purple Lightning Beast's body was trembling slightly, angered by the humiliation of encountering the same human and being ridden twice in a row.
"Don't be nervous, don't be scared," Qin Ming reassured it. "I encountered another Purple Lightning Beast before. It was much bolder than you—fiercely defiant, snarling and snapping at me, shaking its head and wagging its tail."
But he noticed the temporarily conscripted mount trembling even more violently.
"This thing is such a coward!"
The Purple Lightning Beast's fur bristled with fury, as if it were about to explode on the spot!
It was a good thing its nemesis hadn't recognized it, but to be humiliated "behind its back" like this, with references to its previous encounter?
"Shaking its head and wagging its tail?"
"Snarling and snapping?"
What kind of vulgar language was this?
How could a creature of its noble status ever stoop to such undignified behavior? The Purple Lightning Beast wanted to roar, "This is infuriating!"
"Hurry, chase after that person!" Qin Ming urged, telling it that running would ease its nerves.
The Purple Lightning Beast wasn't just about to explode—it was so enraged it felt like it might ascend on the spot!
If it weren't for the fact that this man wielded the Adhesive Force, clinging to it like a stubborn plaster, it would have thrown him off long ago and kicked him in the face until his head burst like a ripe fruit.
The Purple Lightning Beast suppressed its impatience, taking slow, deliberate steps as it began to trot forward.
It knew Qin Ming was a freak, having single-handedly annihilated Golden Rooster Ridge.
Silently, it waited for its chance.
After all, it had undergone four mutations and was no longer the creature it once was.
Carefully assessing their relative strengths, it concluded that as soon as Qin Ming left its back, it could kick him into oblivion.
"Stop. Something's wrong," Qin Ming said, patting its spine.
The Purple Lightning Beast felt goosebumps rise, cursing inwardly.
"This guy is such a pain. One moment he's telling me to chase someone, the next he's ordering me to stop."
Qin Ming's expression turned serious as he focused his mind, his instinctive senses spreading outward.
In this sparsely wooded lakeside area, it was easy to spot the subtle anomalies hidden in the shadows.
He noticed a Speaking Sparrow perched motionless on a branch, its plumage blending seamlessly with the night, clearly observing him.
Qin Ming's anger flared.
"Which major power sent this one?"
"Even after changing my appearance to become a fat man, I still can't escape their eyes?"
Remaining calm, Qin Ming continued to observe, spotting a crow not only spying on him but also radiating intense nervousness.
He had merely entered the mountain, yet someone had already sent cunning birds to tail him.
Qin Ming had no time to chase after the gray-robed man; this hidden danger demanded his immediate attention.
This time, he hadn't brought the conspicuous, heavy bow he'd seized from Zhao Jingshuo, but he still carried his old bow and arrows.
Without a doubt, both birds were intelligent and highly vigilant.
The moment Qin Ming drew his bow, they flapped their wings and took flight.
Unfortunately for them, they had encountered Qin Ming, a master of swords, spears, hammers, and arrows—a fusion of four deadly techniques.
At this range, his archery was virtually infallible.
"Ah, spare me! Don't kill me!" The Speaking Sparrow, known for its slipperiness and cowardice, plummeted to the ground with an arrow through its wing and immediately began begging for mercy.
The raven, however, remained stoic. Despite having both wings pierced by arrows, it landed silently by the lake's edge without uttering a sound.
The Purple Lightning Beast inwardly cursed its misfortune.
Even its spies had been shot down.
Ever since its previous mishap, it had insisted on having two attendants on guard, even while bathing. Yet these fools had failed miserably, allowing themselves to be captured in pairs.
The two birds felt deeply wronged.
Who could have anticipated that person's lightning-fast speed?
Even the Purple Lightning Beast, with its incredibly sharp spiritual senses, hadn't reacted in time, so naturally, the birds hadn't noticed either.
Moreover, when the two birds saw the princess offer no resistance, they were momentarily stunned, unsure whether to report the situation immediately.
"You, remove the iron arrow from your wing yourself, then fly over here," Qin Ming called out.
The Speaking Sparrow felt its body go numb.
What kind of ruthless person was this?
To put a bird in such a predicament!
The Speaking Sparrow, about the length of a palm, was pale blue with eyes like black gemstones—a cunning thief bird at first glance.
Enduring the searing pain, it flapped its wings and struggled free from the iron arrow.
"Go help that crow," Qin Ming ordered.
The black bird, pierced by two arrows, nearly rolled its eyes.
"Who's calling me a crow?!"
"Sir, it's a Myna bird, just an unusually large one," the Speaking Sparrow explained smoothly while using its beak to help the Myna pull out the arrows. "Crows have black beaks, which is why people often call them 'black-beaks.' Mynas have yellow beaks—well, this one's beak is golden."
Qin Ming, unable to tell the difference, felt his face flush. "Who asked for your explanation? You chatterbox!"
Speaking Sparrow immediately fell silent, realizing its flattery had completely backfired.
"Both of you, come here," Qin Ming ordered, brandishing his bow and arrow menacingly.
Reluctantly, the two birds fluttered awkwardly onto Qin Ming's shoulders.
They felt as if their entire bodies were glued in place, utterly unable to struggle—a sensation caused by Qin Ming's unique Heavenly Light Force.
In that instant, the Purple Lightning Beast's two sentries guessed: "Could this be the person who had once infuriated the princess so much, the one who was like a 'sticky plaster' that wouldn't go away?"
"Is this... another encounter?" Both birds found the situation utterly absurd and unbelievable.
"How could our master be so unlucky? She's going to be furious!"
The Purple Lightning Beast and the two birds cursed inwardly, their moods terribly foul.
Qin Ming was equally gloomy. His journey had been plagued by setbacks, and the pressure weighed heavily on him.
He sighed softly, "The enemy's desire for my destruction is really relentless."
Then, his gaze turned fierce as he glared at the two birds.
"Speak! Who sent you? How long have you been secretly following me?"
"What's going on?" The two sparrows stared blankly, utterly bewildered.
"Don't give me that innocent act! Spill it now, or I'll flatten you all into meat pies with a single slap!" Qin Ming threatened.
He then slapped the Purple Lightning Beast's back with a crisp crack.
The effect was immediate. The two sparrows trembled violently, shocked that their master had been struck.
The Purple Lightning Beast exhaled a cloud of purple mist, its fur shimmering with purple light. It was reaching its breaking point, having endured too much humiliation.
Never before had it suffered such a loss.
But at the last moment, it sensed the danger that the Heavenly Light Force radiating from Qin Ming was far stronger than before.
Had he... broken through?
Its desire to fight vanished instantly.
For now... it would endure!
"Crow, let's start with you. One wrong word, and I'll pluck a hundred feathers from you!"
Qin Ming threatened, targeting the black one first, convinced these type of birds were too cunning.
"Sir, I swear I won't lie, but I can't guarantee every word will be perfectly accurate. After all, I'm not human and don't have their natural talent for language. Also... I'm a Myna." Its voice trailed off as it saw the human glaring at it.
"Do you expect me to call you 'Brother'? You're just a crow now. Don't give me any nonsense."
"Okay, I'm a crow, but that doesn't count as lying," the Myna insisted, meticulous and earnest.
It then swore it had never spied on Qin Ming, had never seen him before, and had no connection to him whatsoever.
"Sir, why would we provoke you for no reason? We belong to the Great Mountain..." The Speaking Sparrow also swore, claiming it had never laid eyes on Qin Ming before.
If it lied, may its entire clan be wiped out.
Qin Ming glanced at it.
"Do these thieving birds really swear such dire oaths?"
He recalled his journey and couldn't remember being followed.
"Then what are you doing here?" Qin Ming demanded sternly.
"Sir, have you heard of the Black Market in the Night Mist?" the Speaking Sparrow replied. "It appears once a month in the Great Mountain. We were hoping to follow the noble Purple Lightning Beast and see if we could sneak in."
Qin Ming's heart stirred.
He recalled Xu Sheng mentioning a special realm where humans and mutant creatures traded, accessible only by invitation from a familiar contact and held once a month.
Rumor had it that the Black Markets within the Night Mist were tiered. Higher-level markets required venturing deeper into the Great Mountain. Though there was no Mountain Lord, many dangerous mutant creatures still lurked in the innermost depths of the mountain range.
"What level of Night Market is this?" Qin Ming asked, intrigued.
If it was populated primarily by creatures in the mutation stage, he felt confident in his ability to handle them.
Like humans, mutant creatures rarely underwent more than nine mutations.
Such beings were exceptionally rare.
Qin Ming had already tested the full power of his unified Heavenly Light Force on Ge Qianxun, who had undergone seven awakenings.
He felt ready to explore the Black Market within the Night Mist.
He wasn't afraid of attracting the attention of monsters. If any mutated spiritual creatures followed him, they might even provide the spiritual substance he currently needed.
"Can I sneak in with you?" Qin Ming asked the Purple Lightning Beast, who had settled down.
The beast stomped its hoof, crushing the rock beneath it to dust.
"If I let this leech ride me into the market, what will become of my lifelong reputation? I'll never be able to hold my head high again."
"My lord," Speaking Sparrow said, "entering like this is definitely not a good idea. If other creatures see you riding such a noble Purple Lightning Beast, someone or some mutant creatures will surely target you. You'll attract too much attention—like a crane standing out among chickens, or a tree that grows too tall in the forest, inviting the wind to topple it."
Qin Ming, ever receptive to good advice, dismounted immediately, recognizing the wisdom in Speaking Sparrow's words.
Yet his hand remained firmly on the Purple Lightning Beast, ready to activate his Adhesive Force at a moment's notice.
"Brother Zi (Purple) or Sister Zi?" Qin Ming began. "You're not going to hold a grudge about me riding you like this, are you? I doubt it—you seem much more good-tempered than that irritable Purple Lightning Beast from before, a hundred times better, in fact. I just want to see the world. Would you mind if I traveled with you?"
Qin Ming's confidence stemmed from his enhanced strength.
He could now protect himself in such places, and with his altered appearance, he had little to fear even if trouble arose.
"This isn't your lair ahead, is it?" Qin Ming added. "Let me make one thing clear: if anything happens to me, you'll explode before I do."
As he spoke, the fully integrated Heavenly Light Force flowed through his right hand, radiating a brilliant glow.
With a gentle flick, a massive boulder on the path shattered silently into dust.
No sound was more terrifying than a silent explosion.
The Purple Lightning Beast tensed, sensing that this villain was far more terrifying than before.
But how could he be so fat after removing his mask and armor?
It cursed inwardly, "You fat bastard!"
"Brother Zi, Sister Zi," Qin Ming said, trying to ease the tension. "These two birds say you're noble. Where is your home? Which mountain range do you reside in?"
The Purple Lightning Beast thought, "If I mention the Blessed Land, you'd probably die of fright. But then you'd likely kill me to silence me."
"You mentioned earlier that Brother Zi or Sister Zi is noble. In what way?" Qin Ming asked the two Speaking Birds.
"Innate divine patterns," the Speaking Sparrow replied, wanting to elaborate but afraid of revealing too much, settling for the four-word answer.
"Hmm, let me see... There seem to be faint, mysterious patterns on your neck. That's not right—are you wearing a fake mane? No way! You're even faking your fur? You're not bald, are you?"
Qin Ming exclaimed in surprise, noticing an extra layer of skin beneath the Purple Lightning Beast's neck.
"You're the one who's bald! That's my royal robe!" the Purple Lightning Beast cursed inwardly, nearly blurting out human speech in its fury.
"It's for discretion," the Speaking Sparrow explained. "Divine patterns are too conspicuous."
This time, the Night Mist Black Market was located in a mountain valley, shrouded in thick fog. Mutated sixth-tier Mountain Monsters guarded the valley entrance.
As they approached, Qin Ming warned, "You three, keep your expressions normal. If anyone acts even slightly suspicious, I'll make sure you explode on the spot. It's best if all of you wear smiles."
He suspected they might encounter the Purple Lightning Beast's acquaintances among the mountain creatures.
But he didn't mind.
This might even lead to obtaining spiritual substance for his Fifth Awakening.
The valley was bustling with all sorts of creatures: masked humans, lumbering one-horned bears, silver-feathered raptors, and countless other unidentifiable mutant creatures.
After only a short stroll, Qin Ming sensed something was amiss.
The Purple Lightning Beast was drawing far too much attention, with many formidable mutant creatures staring at them.
"Something bad is going to happen!" he realized, having severely underestimated the Purple Lightning Beast's status.
"Hmm, no worries. We can handle the current monsters. Let's quickly check for rare items. If there's nothing worthwhile, we'll run away immediately," Qin Ming assessed.
Soon, he was startled.
His Heavenly Light Force resonated strongly with a yellowish-brown stone on a stall, as if it wanted to... devour it.
"What's going on?" he wondered. "I've never experienced anything like this before."
He soon discovered that the Yellow Mud Palm would activate its power whenever he touched the palm-sized stone.
"How much for this stone?" Qin Ming asked.
"It's worthless, just used to weigh down the stall cloth. If you like it, you can have it," the humanoid Mountain Monster replied, its body covered in green fur.
It grinned, revealing a green face and sharp fangs, a truly frightening sight.
Though it spoke politely to Qin Ming, its eyes burned with fervent interest as it stared at the Purple Lightning Beast.
Qin Ming guessed the creature didn't know the true nature of the stone and was primarily trying to curry favor with the Purple Lightning Beast, hence its generosity.
"Here's a Day Gold," Qin Ming said, immediately pocketing the stone.
He was already planning his escape; the Purple Lightning Beast beside him was acting strangely.
"Hmm, how much for this book?" Before leaving, he spotted an ancient tome at the adjacent stall that resonated with his spirit.
He immediately stopped.
"Ten Day Gold. It's not a high-level cultivation technique," the Mountain Monster replied, equally enthusiastic.
The Purple Lightning Beast was furious, cursing inwardly.
"Do you think this is my traveling companion? Giving things away at a loss! I've been kidnapped by him!"
Realizing Qin Ming was using it to snag bargains, the beast seethed with rage but dared not show it, fearing the man's terrifying hand that rested near its side.
Most importantly, there were no high-level mutant creatures present.
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END OF CHAPTER
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