Ling Xu and the mackerel cat vanished into the snow before the forest in the blink of an eye. That was expected of the two — but Wei Mo, ten meters tall in time-worn armor, also disappeared in an instant. Only the pure-white old weasel was unhurried, riding his donkey slow and easy back into the deep mountains.
The aberrants withdrew; at once, great hosts of flying creatures rose above the endless peaks. Out on the snowfield, the nobles of Redcloud City, the mountain patrolmen, and the local New Lifers all went their separate ways.
Even after walking far, people still discussed it — witnessing high-grade beings was more than enough reward.
"Who was that feathered-robed woman? No one in Redcloud City has ever heard of her, and she's so formidable." "She must be the eminent personage the City Lord invited from afar."
The younger ones were most stirred, feeling they'd seen a new world. "Is that the ceiling we can reach someday?" "Wake up. Some ceilings are called the City Lord — and there's only one in all of Redcloud City. Yours is earning a place in his gatekeeper's lodge after twenty years of hard work."
...
Along the way, even the noble heirs — Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, Mu Qing, and the rest — could not help discussing matters.
"Cousin, what level are you at now? You're on the Giant Spirit path, over three meters tall. That Wei Mo is ten. Your heights aren't that far apart... doesn't that mean your strength—"
"Shut your mouth!" Cao Long's face darkened. They hadn't even left the mountains. "Senior Wei was already twenty or thirty meters tall twenty years ago. He's contracting in reverse now. No one can fathom what level he's reached."
A silver-haired elder of the patrol approached: "Is anyone from the Wang family of Redcloud City here?" People realized at once it must be about Wang Nianzhu. He had killed a nest of Blood Snakes — spiritual creatures — and was suspected of causing the deaths of several patrolmen.
"Zhu is missing. We're looking for him too," a middle-aged man replied.
"Deserting because he knows he's guilty?" The elder's eyes shot cold light. Ordinary patrolmen would not concern the Wang family — but now the matter was being asked about from above, and they were afraid. For the supreme overseer of the mountain patrol was none other than Redcloud City's deputy city lord.
"We believe Nianzhu wouldn't do this," the man said, then walked aside into the snow to explain.
...
In Twin Tree Village, Qin Ming, Old Liu, and Xu Yueping sat watching the snow, eating steaming donkey meat and drinking wine unearthed from the patrol outpost. Qin Ming, who rarely cared for liquor, felt it now. He hadn't expected Wang Nianzhu — a man whose name he only learned after his death — could still have such an effect. He sipped his wine, relaxed.
Yet he was not truly at peace. Where was Falling Moon City City? He would have to go see it.
He could not forget that night — the fire devouring the village, the feathered youth walking the rubble, cruel and ethereal.
"Xiao Qin, is it my imagination, or is your vitality stronger? You seem a little taller," Old Liu said, his old eyes sharp. Qin Ming had not used "Blending With Dust" before them, so his air was naturally different.
Xu Yueping nodded: "Yes, there is a change. Your eyes are clearer, and you seem more handsome."
After his Second New Life, Qin Ming had grown less than half a cun — no one who didn't know him well would notice. He had already determined the silk tome's method did not make one keep growing. He smiled: "I'm only sixteen. My body hasn't settled yet."
This New Life granted his arms two thousand jin of strength, and his flexibility and speed had surged.
Deep in the night, all sound died. In the mountains, silver lightning streaked the sky, crimson haze dyed the ridges, and a giant with a black spear stomped across a peak, roaring as if to shatter the mountains — triggering a terrifying avalanche.
"It has begun!" On a high slope, the woman in the black wolf-fur cloak watched the fearful, abnormal nightscape, dawn colors flowing in her eyes. A purple-eyed crow spoke: "That bunch of migrant beings can't hold out. They'll retreat tonight. If all goes fast, we can enter the mountains in two days to seek the ground of five-colored haze."
Behind them, shadowed figures murmured: "Redcloud City's high-ranking have joined the mountains' aberrants. The migrants can't hold — some powerful creature may become rare spiritual material."
The tall woman kept her eyes fixed on the mountains without turning. "You Liangyun, after the sweep begins, go test someone for me. If you win, don't kill him. If you lose, don't come back with me to Flowing Light City City — go home to Redcloud City and live as a noble son."
One young man behind her was taken aback, his hands clenching inside his sleeves. He was of the You family's direct line. He had failed as a backup; his elders paid dearly for this chance to learn secret arts from her master. Now he felt a crisis — would he lose even this right?
She still stared into the mountains. "His name is Qin Ming, one of only two New Lifers here this year with a Golden Foundation. Your family has sent people too — you'll find out quickly. Remember, I tell you to test him, not to use dirty tricks."
"Good. I'll go look into it." You Liangyun left, a cold glint in his eyes.
The crow watched him go. "You Liangyun lifted six hundred and fifty jin at his first New Life — weaker this year than that other young man and woman. No special signs when he founded his Golden Foundation."
The woman nodded: "Qi Huai'en, follow him. What I want is to see his character; he had no right to meet the master anyway. If he doesn't perform well, he truly need not come. And take a look at that Qin Ming — see if he can be an alternate."
That night, sharp-eyed New Lifers climbed high toward the peaks, for the clamor within was too great — insects and birds fled into the night, apes howling and tigers roaring without cease.
The old noble in Silver Elm Town was informed at once. His silver hair gleamed, his complexion rosy. He threw on a fox-fur coat and, light as smoke, appeared atop the manor's tallest building. Through the thick fog he gazed at the mountains and murmured: "I hope the special nodes have birthed the rare substance I need."
"They're fighting?" Qin Ming leaped onto the roof and looked out. The village was not far — he had to stay alert.
Fortunately, though the mountain was in chaos that night, it did not spread beyond. One side held absolute control.
The next day, everyone spoke of it: the mountains had changed! Surely those from Redcloud City and the local New Lifers would soon be allowed into the mountains to seek the nodes and harvest rare products.
At the Shallow Night, after breakfast, Qin Ming practiced the New Life methods of the silk tome; his body felt as if it housed a furnace, feeding him power. Then he practiced the combat arts of the blade manual — now the heavy black-gold hammer felt light as a stalk of hemp in his hands.
Xu Yueping pushed open the door, startled to see him spinning the heavy hammer so fast it blurred. "Xiao Qin, stop your hammer practice. Your future father-in-law has sent someone to invite you."
"Ah?" Qin Ming was puzzled. "The old noble of Silver Elm Town has named you specifically," Xu Yueping told him.
"He's not inviting only me, is he?" Qin Ming asked calmly.
"Well... there will be a selection. But you and Zhou Wubing are the only ones with a Golden Foundation — you stand out like cranes among chickens. Still, at this juncture..." Xu Yueping frowned; since the previous incident he'd regretted his rash decision.
"If I don't go, I'll offend him," Qin Ming said. Xu Yueping nodded: "Yes, it would seem a slight. Even the nobles of Redcloud City visited him when they came. He seems to come from some very large place."
Qin Ming smiled: "Then I'll go, eat and drink my fill. At a time like this there's likely some benefit to be had." Xu Yueping laughed and pointed at him. He'd thought it over — going would not hurt. With so many great experts around, what could an old noble possibly want from a boy who'd undergone New Life only once? If something real arose, Qin Ming could play along and take whatever benefits came.
"Mm, I'll go soon. And while I'm at it, I'll take a look at his daughter — that noble lady so hard to marry off."