Chapter – 86
Adversity
“Kill her,” Bai Fengcheng said coldly.
At this moment, Ye Ling had already been shot through the heart and was barely clinging to life. A pitiful, maiden-like expression appeared on her face. Even after witnessing the terrifying and bloody scene moments before—knowing full well how dreadful this woman was—everyone present couldn’t help but feel a trace of sympathy.
Everyone except Fifth Master and Bai Fengcheng. Qin Mo was no exception.
The reason Qin Mo had resisted Ye Ling’s bewitchment earlier was because his soul had ascended above the firmament, gazing upon the entire continent. Though he had not seen everything, he had seen sights he had never witnessed before in his life.
Vision shapes the heart. If the eyes know no boundaries, the heart knows none. That was the Dao he had comprehended.
Because of this, when Ye Ling used her charm technique on him, he shot that arrow without hesitation. But now, he wavered.
He did not know who Bai Fengcheng was, but he knew the man was terrifying. Still, he did not fear him, nor did he feel obligated to obey him.
“The woman before you is not a helpless weakling,” Bai Fengcheng said, dissatisfied with Qin Mo’s hesitation. “She is an alien race. If you do not kill her, you give her the chance to kill you. Against alien races, one must never show mercy. At all times, you must maintain a cold heart.”
Qin Mo clenched his fists. He had thought that since Ye Ling was already dying, why deliver the final blow? Why not simply let her die on her own?
But when he thought of the human experts who had died outside the inn, his resolve wavered.
“It seems you must die,” Qin Mo said, walking up to Ye Ling. He grabbed the feathered arrow lodged in her body and yanked it out fiercely.
“Humans… are all heartless… hahaha…” Ye Ling laughed painfully. The arrow had pierced her heart; she was beyond saving.
No one understood why she uttered such inexplicable words, nor why she laughed at the end—not even Bai Fengcheng.
But in her eyes, Qin Mo saw something different.
Hurt. Pain.
That strange emotion left him silent for a long time. It wasn’t until Fifth Master skillfully extracted a demon core from her body and handed it to Qin Mo that he returned to his senses.
Soon after, Bai Fengcheng removed a crystal core from Ya Wu’s corpse. A demon core and a crystal core—each represented the essence of these two alien powerhouses.
“Your military merit can be exchanged again,” Bai Fengcheng said, placing the two items in a box and handing it to Qin Mo. “Rest for a while. Then come find me at the stronghold manor.”
With that, his figure flashed and vanished.
Qin Mo stared at the place where he had disappeared for a long time. The people present now looked at Qin Mo with reverence.
No one required his gratitude. Even though so many human experts had died today, they did not seek thanks. What they had done was only in the hope that tomorrow Qin Mo would contribute even more to humanity—to become their shield and their sword.
Nevertheless, Qin Mo cupped his fists in salute to them before following Fifth Master to a side courtyard. Shan Xiong had already been carried away for treatment, and a ritual priest was being summoned from a major tribe.
“At the minor completion of the Aperture Opening Realm, possessing such strength—I no longer doubt what Ye Ling said,” Fifth Master said with a beaming smile.
Though still injured, his face was filled with joy. “A future Human King! Hahaha! To think I would witness one in my lifetime!”
Although Qin Mo did not know everything that had happened outside the inn, he could guess. While his soul had observed the firmament, the human experts of Qingyun Stronghold must have blocked Ye Ling at all costs.
For that, beyond gratitude, warmth filled his heart. But regarding Fifth Master’s claim, he did not agree.
“It’s too early to say such things, Fifth Master. You flatter me.”
“It’s not flattery,” Fifth Master retorted. “Tell me honestly—how much strength do you possess now?”
Qin Mo hesitated. It wasn’t that he couldn’t say—he was afraid he would frighten him.
After opening eighty-one acupoints, his strength had surged to twenty thousand jin. If that were spoken aloud, wouldn’t it shock him senseless?
“My mistake. That was presumptuous.” Fifth Master slapped himself lightly. He was not disappointed; such secrets were not to be casually revealed.
“By the way, you mentioned earlier that you wished to enlist in the army. With your current strength, even entering a Mystic Pass guarded by a three-star tribe, you should be able to protect yourself. I have a place in mind—would you be interested?”
“Where?”
“Hengshui Mystic Pass,” Fifth Master replied. “Within a hundred thousand li, it is the most frequented pass by lone cultivators. The clan chief of Hengshui Tribe is an old acquaintance of my elder brother. If you go there, you will receive some care. Moreover, the pass is under pressure now—if you join, you will surely shine.”
Qin Mo did not answer immediately. “Allow me a few days to consider.”
“Of course.”
After leaving Fifth Master’s residence, Qin Mo went to the stronghold manor. After reporting his arrival, a Qingyun Guard led him to the main hall.
Soon, Bai Fengcheng entered, wearing the same indifferent expression.
After tea was served, he spoke.
“Are you truly from a major tribe?”
Qin Mo was taken aback. He did not answer immediately, choosing silence instead.
“You are cautious. But if we had hostile intentions, we would have acted already,” Bai Fengcheng said.
Before, he would have spoken this with full confidence. But recalling Qin Mo’s arrow, even he felt slightly lacking in assurance—though he did not show it.
“Second Master’s great kindness—I will never forget it,” Qin Mo stood and saluted.
“We don’t stand on ceremony here,” Bai Fengcheng frowned slightly. “And ‘Second Master’ sounds distant—and old. If you truly consider me a friend, call me Second Brother.”
“Second Brother?” Qin Mo was speechless. Even someone like Fifth Master called this middle-aged man ‘Second Brother.’ The generational hierarchy was chaotic indeed.
On the Xuanhuang Continent, strength was respected—but humanity still honored age. Even a Human King would bow before an elder commoner.
This made Qin Mo suspect that this Second Master might be some rejuvenated old monster.
“Am I not qualified to be your Second Brother?” Bai Fengcheng asked coolly.
“That’s not it…” Qin Mo said awkwardly.
“Then say it.”
“….”
After a long struggle, Qin Mo still could not say the words. Seeing this, Bai Fengcheng gave up and allowed him to address him as he pleased.
“Did Old Fifth speak to you about Hengshui Mystic Pass?”
“Yes.”
“Have you decided?”
“Still considering.”
“A real man shouldn’t dither. In a few days, go with Qingyun’s lone cultivators,” Bai Fengcheng said firmly. “It will benefit you. Though I don’t know what bloodline you possess, judging by your strength, it is not low. You refused the Empowerment—are you seeking the perfect one hundred and eight acupoints?”
Qin Mo nodded.
If he accepted the Empowerment now, his strength would soar further. But he refused.
The Aperture Opening Realm was humanity’s foundation. The more acupoints opened, the stronger one would be in the future. The limit of growth would far exceed those who had not reached perfection.
“In the era of the Three Sovereigns of Antiquity, humans all achieved one hundred and eight acupoints before Empowerment. Great powers walked everywhere; Human Kings were as common as grass. That was humanity’s golden age. Afterward, opening acupoints became increasingly difficult. Now, in the Ninth Epoch, finding even one person in a vast domain who achieves perfection is rare. This path will be extremely arduous.”
“I know. But this is my choice.”
“No—you don’t,” Bai Fengcheng shook his head. “If you refuse the will of Xuanhuang at the minor completion of eighty-one acupoints, then you must reach one hundred and eight before entering the Empowerment Realm. Otherwise, you will remain in the Aperture Opening Realm for life.”
Qin Mo’s expression changed drastically. No one had ever told him this.
“That is the price of refusing the will of Xuanhuang,” Bai Fengcheng said. “But it is also tempering. Since you’ve chosen this path, you must walk it to the end. Besides, you have no other choice.”
Qin Mo’s gloom vanished. As he had said—this was his chosen path. No matter how bitter or difficult, he would walk it.
“I can do it,” he said firmly.
“Good. Our efforts were not in vain,” Bai Fengcheng nodded with satisfaction. “To achieve one hundred and eight acupoints, you must strengthen your bloodline. The higher the bloodline, the greater the chance to break limits.”
“So?”
“Unless you have a better destination, you must go to Hengshui Mystic Pass. Only the bloodlines of alien races are purest. To strengthen your own bloodline, you must seize it from them—just as our ancestors seized this land in ancient times.”
“Is there no other way?”
“No.”
“Then I will go.”
“Hengshui Mystic Pass is guarded by the three-star Hengshui Tribe. The strongest aliens there are only in the Bone Tempering Realm. As long as you’re careful, survival won’t be an issue. And since the Hengshui clan chief is an old acquaintance of my elder brother, he will look after you.”
“Wait,” Qin Mo suddenly said. “I will go—but not with the lone cultivators. And I do not want others to know my identity.”
Bai Fengcheng was puzzled. With Qin Mo’s talent, he would receive care from all humans. Most would gladly accept such an opportunity.
But Qin Mo wanted to go alone.
“A flower grown in a greenhouse blooms beautifully—but only for a moment,” Qin Mo said. “I seek growth through adversity. Only then can I break my limits.”
It was the truth. Back when he possessed worthless white blood, he constantly pushed himself beyond limits. Now, even without that shackle, he could not relax. Above him loomed a five-star tribe.
“Though I do not know what a greenhouse is, that is well said,” Bai Fengcheng smiled. “Now I am certain—you are not from a major tribe. Perhaps a small one. Or perhaps just a lone cultivator.”
