Chapter 33: Fighting for a Future

Under the cover of night, the black silhouettes of the distant mountains were faintly visible.

"The information was wrong!" someone shouted in the forest.

In the dense woods, the people surrounding Qin Ming were stunned and quickly retreated. Two of their companions had died in an instant. The young man was far too ferocious. In a flash, he had transformed from simple and quiet to murderous. Even his clear eyes had changed, as if two bolts of lightning were shooting from them.

In particular, Qin Ming was currently holding a spear in one hand, having pierced through a companion's chest. He held the man aloft in mid-air, letting the blood flow and drip, staining the snow red.

This scene made the hair of those who had first surrounded him stand on end. If they had been the ones standing there just now, they likely wouldn't have been able to dodge either.

The youth's presence was entirely different now. His black hair fluttered in the cold wind, his delicate face was filled with coldness, and his entire being exuded an intense pressure.

The group involuntarily backed away. How could someone who had only undergone their First Rebirth possess such terrifying strength? One of the two dead men had stepped into the realm of a Second Reborn over ten years ago.

"This is truly beyond my expectations. You're hiding quite a significant secret," Qi Huaien said as he walked forward. He had a well-proportioned build that possessed both power and agility, like a tiger or a leopard. His fairly handsome face was frozen in a cold frown.

He hated the feeling of losing control. This boy, who was supposed to be under observation, had exceeded his grasp and become a dangerous variable. But the deed was already done; he had no other choice.

His family was currently searching for a very rare Spiritual Resource, preparing to concoct a mysterious medicine that could reshape his Skeletal Foundation. It would improve his aptitude and potential, allowing him to become one of the Candidates.

If that happened, he could spend several more years listening to secret techniques by the side of that old man in Flowing Light City, which would be enough to change the trajectory of his entire life.

If Qin Ming's aptitude had been similar to You Liangyun's, he would have been happy to show goodwill in advance and befriend him. However, he realized that this youth was destined to block his path, and he could no longer restrain himself.

Qin Ming's right hand suddenly jerked the spear. The impaled corpse flew off the tip like a scarecrow, hurtling toward Qi Huaien at extreme speed.

With a shing, Qi Huaien drew his long saber. It was as if a bolt of electricity flashed through the dim forest. He slapped the flat of his blade against the high-speed corpse. His movement was light and graceful, yet the corpse reacted as if it had been struck by a massive force. The area hit by the blade was completely deformed as the body was easily swatted aside, crashing into a nearby tree.

Crack!

Many dry branches snapped as the corpse slammed into a high branch, its body mangled before it plummeted to the ground.

During this process, Qin Ming calmly shifted a few steps to retrieve the Long-handled Darkgold Hammer from the ground. Now, he held a spear in one hand and a heavy hammer in the other.

Neither of these weapons was suitable for an ordinary person to wield one-handed, but with the strength of two thousand jin in his arms, holding one in each hand felt as light as a feather.

He was somewhat surprised; this Qi Huaien indeed had some skill. With just a light flick of his saber, the corpse had been hit as if by an Armored Carriage, its bones and tendons snapping as it flew six or seven meters away.

Qi Huaien looked at the other four men and said, "What are you all standing around for? Are you waiting for me to do it myself while you watch from the side?"

These were people he had brought from his household; some were loyal to him, while others feared his background and didn't dare disobey. This time, the group was on high alert, slowly circling Qin Ming, ready to attack at any moment.

This time, everyone's concentration was at its peak. One Second Reborn led the charge, swinging a bright Long Lance in a sudden downward cleave. His spirit was boiling as he mobilized every ounce of strength in his body.

Simultaneously, the others also struck. Including Qi Huaien, they unleashed a terrifying blade light hidden among the flurry of weapons.

Qin Ming's left hand swung the Long-handled Darkgold Hammer directly upward. With a loud clang, the heavy Long Lance was sent flying into the air.

The Second Reborn was in utter disbelief. He had been gripping the lance with both hands, yet he couldn't hold onto it at all. The soft flesh between his fingers was torn apart by the vibration as the weapon was wrenched from his grasp. What kind of horrifying strength was this? Was he even a Second Reborn?

At the same time, the others had also clashed with Qin Ming's spear and hammer. All of them were badly shaken. However, unlike the man with the lance, they hadn't committed fully and had some room to buffer. Though their arms were numb, they managed to keep their weapons.

Qin Ming wasn't just terrifyingly strong; his speed also far exceeded theirs. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to intercept every sharp weapon attacking him in an instant.

Qi Huaien's attack was merely a "probing strike." He retreated immediately after slight contact. He had realized that this youth had completely spiraled "out of control" and could not be "handled" at all.

Even though he had already overestimated his opponent, it seemed he had still been too conservative.

Without any hesitation, he took out a three-inch-tall crystal vial, popped the stopper, and poured the bright red liquid into his mouth, swallowing it without a second thought.

Today, he had no other choice. Even escaping wasn't an option. If he didn't silence the boy, he wouldn't have a good ending. Once that crow learned the truth of what happened here, it would certainly kill him.

Even though he knew this liquid would harm him afterward, Qi Huaien didn't care. Right now, he had to drastically increase his strength.

On the field, Qin Ming didn't pause for a moment. Through that split-second clash against everyone, he had naturally captured the weakest point.

The Second Reborn whose Long Lance had been knocked away became his primary target.

His body moved like a phantom, dodging the incoming sabers, Iron Maces, and swords as if he were teleporting. With a boom, his hammer smashed toward the retreating Second Reborn, whose ten fingers were still dripping blood.

The man did everything he could to dodge while his companions tried to help from the side, but he still couldn't completely avoid it. The area below his right shoulder took a heavy blow from the Long-handled Darkgold Hammer. The spot instantly collapsed and burst open, and the ribs on the right side of his chest snapped and pierced his internal organs. He screamed as he was sent flying.

Although he wasn't dead yet, he had lost all combat capability. He lay on the ground gasping for breath, unable to get back up. His right shoulder was gone, and his entire arm had vanished, flying off into the distance.

This overbearing, ferocious power and terrifying combat style turned the faces of the others pale. What kind of monster had they encountered?

Even though they were loyal to the Qi family and their families lived in that city, they were now terrified. They sensed that this was an invincible opponent and desperately wanted to retreat.

Just what kind of Golden Foundation had he built during his First Rebirth? Now that he had achieved his Second Rebirth, his strength and speed were beyond their reach. It was as if they were people from two different levels of existence.

"Don't be afraid, I can deal with him! Just focus on coordinating with me and help me hold this beast down!" Qi Huaien shouted, stepping forward with his saber.

Not only was his face flushed and glowing, but his entire body looked as if it were overcooked. Every exposed part of his skin was a translucent red, with a crimson mist flowing over it.

Qin Ming stared at him, completely unfazed. Even if the other was a Second Reborn and had drunk some mysterious medicine, could he really cause his body to give birth to "Sky Light" and step into the realm of a Third Rebirth? That was simply unrealistic. Even if the body was going to undergo a metamorphosis, it would take a day or two to complete.

"This powerful and extraordinary strength... it's truly beautiful. It makes one drunk with power," Qi Huaien sighed.

He stared at Qin Ming and said, "I admit, greed made me lose my way. My eyes are no longer clear, and my heart is clouded. But even if I had to do it all over again, I would likely still make the same choice."

At this critical juncture, he actually felt the need to vent his emotions.

Red light flowed over Qi Huaien's well-proportioned frame. His not-yet-mature face carried a hint of resentment and a longing for power. He continued, "Did you know? I come from a city much smaller than Crimson Cloud City. But when I underwent Rebirth, I could lift seven hundred and twenty jin by the tripod. I was considered brilliant in that region, far surpassing the second-best of my year. Yet, when the Noble passed through, I lacked even the qualifications to be a Candidate. I was devastated!"

Qin Ming didn't attack, listening quietly.

Qi Huaien looked at the night sky. "Now, I finally have a chance. My family gave up a mineral vein to obtain an extraordinary Spiritual Resource that can help me reshape my Skeletal Foundation and improve my aptitude. I have the chance to study by a Noble teacher's side for five to ten years. Do you know what that means? It means I can change my destiny. One step forward, and the world opens up; life becomes magnificent. But your appearance has cut off my path upward. You would become the Candidate, and I would lose my qualification. And if I take a step back, I'll be like rootless duckweed, going there only as an attendant. I'd only be allowed to listen in for one to four years, which isn't enough to completely change my life. I have no other choice!"

Qin Ming looked at him calmly and said, "You are striving for advancement, fighting for yourself, wanting to step into a broader world and see the infinitely brilliant scenery of life. But I am only here to save my life, to survive."

Qi Huaien raised his saber. "Yes. Our positions are different; our meeting here is a mistake. But I have no path of retreat. Either I kill you and leap up like a fish from a babbling brook into the boundless, magnificent golden sea to stir up my own golden waves, or I die here today and end it all. Kill!"

He let out a great roar of "Kill!" and lunged forward. His saber unleashed an exceptionally blinding light, shattering the surrounding tree branches.

The others followed suit, launching a fierce combined assault.

In that lightning-fast moment, Qin Ming faced four experts alone. He was perfectly composed, without the slightest hint of pressure as he countered their attacks one after another.

"How is this possible?" Qi Huaien couldn't believe it. He found the reality hard to accept. Even after drinking the red medicine with its side effects and significantly boosting his strength, he still couldn't sweep his opponent aside?

When he first underwent Rebirth, he could lift seven hundred and twenty jin by the tripod. After his Second Rebirth, his arm strength doubled, and now it was approaching one thousand nine hundred jin.

Even at this level, he still couldn't suppress his opponent. Instead, his right hand was numbed by the impact. What kind of monster was he? It was far beyond his imagination.

"Is... is he even human?" The others turned pale. They knew Qi Huaien's background well; they were all from the same place. They understood even better how terrifying he was after drinking the red medicine. Yet, he was still failing to suppress that youth!

Qin Ming spoke: "Unless you can immediately give birth to Sky Light and step into the realm of a Third Rebirth after drinking that stimulant medicine, everything you do is in vain."

At the same time, he showed no mercy. The spear in his right hand pierced through one person's heart and threw him away, pinning him to a large tree.

Boom!

In the next instant, one hammer strike sent another opponent's saber flying and crushed his chest. Although he didn't die immediately, there was no way he would survive.

Qi Huaien went mad, clashing with him repeatedly. As a result, his sword-hand began to tremble slightly. He couldn't budge the youth's Long-handled Darkgold Hammer; he could no longer hold his ground.

Then, Qin Ming threw the spear in his hand, impaling Qi Huaien's last helper. The man fell into the snow, gasping for air. He found it hard to believe that their group, led by Qi Huaien, had failed to kill a single person. They were all going to die here.

Qin Ming calmly executed the techniques from the Saber Manual. He didn't just follow fixed forms but applied them with his own understanding, moving flexibly and without any rigidness. His strikes were often unexpected strokes of genius.

After several more clashes, Qi Huaien realized in despair that even when using his best techniques and various trump cards, he couldn't compete. He was being completely crushed.

With a loud thump, Qi Huaien was sent flying. His right shoulder was struck by Qin Ming's hammer and exploded into a mist of blood.

"Just what level have you reached? How much strength do you have?" Qi Huaien asked unwillingly.

Qin Ming didn't respond, preparing to step forward and deliver the finishing blow.

Qi Huaien gave a tragic laugh. "Even if you don't say it, I know. To be able to suppress me in this state, your arms must have had a thousand jin of force during your First Rebirth. Naturally, after your Second Rebirth, you can lift two thousand jin by the tripod. Am I right?"

The others who hadn't died yet, even while coughing up blood and struggling to stay alive, all tried their best to look up at the handsome youth. Their hearts were too shocked. To think that before they died, they would hear such news—that someone could actually reach that level!

"Let me send you on your way," Qin Ming said calmly. He walked over and delivered a final strike to each of them, completely ending their lives.

He carefully cleaned the battlefield and tidied up the aftermath, ensuring all traces were erased. Only then did he turn and leave, heading toward that old Fissure.

"Hmm?" Qin Ming felt a strange sensation. When he had first encountered this special Node, it had caused him a major illness. Now, as he approached, his body felt relaxed and light. The slight fatigue that had appeared after the battle quickly faded away.

After carefully scanning the surrounding forest, he didn't hesitate to enter the Fissure. Once again, he saw the threads of silver light interweaving underground.