Night Without End
Chapter 193 - 122 Curtain Fall

Chapter 193: Chapter 122 Curtain Fall

Li Qingyue wasn’t worried about Qin Ming’s safety because she had already severely injured her fellow sect member and former close friend, who was now in competition with her.

Wang Caiwei was gravely injured, her Black Gold Armor shattered and barely holding together, her complexion pale as paper. She, who usually loved to smile, was in an extremely dire state, her expression tinged with sorrow.

The Protective Gold Clothes from the Outer World, designed specifically to protect disciples, were worn beneath her outer layer. They had become completely lackluster, once pierced and long since stained red with blood.

In the past, she moved with a graceful poise, but today she hurried over wearing her damaged Black Gold Armor. Although her feet gleamed, her speed was high, something was clearly amiss, especially as she neared and began to stagger.

Qin Ming remained very calm, holding the immortal fog-enshrouded Furnace of Eight Trigrams as a weapon in one hand, and covered his other hand with Heavenly Light Force, capable of burning consciousness and spiritual light.

Although he was not very familiar with Wang Caiwei, he had no ill feelings toward her. If he thought carefully about it, they had a pleasant time together when they traveled; she was thoughtful and loved to laugh.

However, that one private trip was over two years ago; the past and its details had already faded away.

Deep down, Qin Ming hoped to keep to himself, which would be for the best. But if she came to snatch the Close Immortal Item, he would have no choice but to act.

Wang Caiwei faltered in her steps, stopping abruptly not far away. She didn’t attack; after losing too much blood, her beautiful yet pale face had lost its usual smile, exuding a tragic beauty. She gazed at Qin Ming and then sent a secret message, saying, "Is that you? Coming from Chixia City."

Qin Ming’s face was calm, but his heart was shocked. She had investigated him, knew some of his current situation, and even now recognized him—how could that be?!

He was now clad in armor and wearing a gold mask, and his features had been altered by Meng Xinghai using Esoteric Buddhism’s methods.

"What are you talking about?" Qin Ming’s right hand lifted slightly, resonating with the Three Great Strange Skills and eighteen varieties of Heavenly Light Force. When merged into Unity, it was terrifyingly powerful and to many Outer Disciples, it was like a fierce sun burning.

"I know you’re back. Please help me this time. As long as I can quickly improve my strength, the Wang family won’t be willing to marry me off. I need the Close Immortal Item; I don’t want to end up as a sacrificial piece in a political marriage." Wang Caiwei’s face was snow-white, appearing somewhat desolate and helpless.

Looking at the tall figure covered entirely in golden armor in front of her, she said, "I know it’s you. I never forget what I’ve seen. Some of your habitual movements and details, I was familiar with before we even met; the Wang family had shown me your information."

Qin Ming shook his head and said, "I don’t know what you’re talking about. The Close Immortal Item already has an owner."

He was prepared for a fierce battle, clutching the Furnace of Eight Trigrams flowing with auspicious glow in his left hand while the Heavenly Light Force gathered in his right hand formed a dazzling miniature sun.

"Being old friends, you’re wholeheartedly helping Li Qingyue while guarding heavily against me. I truly harbor no ill intentions toward you... But how well do you really know Li Qingyue?" Wang Caiwei sighed secretly, communicating telepathically.

Qin Ming, with furrowed brows, said, "If you want the Close Immortal Item, trade it for Heaven Supporting Strength, Tathagata Power, Yuqing Power, or bring three stacks of Miracle Technique."

"Li Qingyue desires to become Close to Immortal, and once she obtains the Furnace of Eight Trigrams, she will no longer set foot in the mundane world. After today, you’ll hardly be able to see her again. In the future, she will either lead the Outer World to unprecedented glory, lifting all Blessed Lands to become Grotto Heavens, traversing the Void. Or she will lead the people of the Outer World to die deep within the Yewu World, during the Great Opening Era, with their paths blocked. Her goals differ from ours; you don’t understand her, but once she gets the Close Immortal Item, she’s destined to cut all ties and become an exceptionally pure Practitioner on the Immortal Road."

Qin Ming furrowed his brows, distancing himself while remaining guarded.

"You and I are actually more alike; we’re both struggling to change our fates. Help me this time; if I can display a remarkably amazing performance, I can convince my family to reconsider their plans, and afterward, I can surrender the Close Immortal Item to Li Qingyue. I swear on the Fangwai Forbidden Technique!" Wang Caiwei’s eyes reddened, her appearance one of helplessness and sorrow.

Qin Ming, having experienced no shortage of such talk, merely listened; the most crucial thing was to observe the other person’s true actions.

Sometimes, if he couldn’t judge, he’d only recognize one principle: judge by deeds, not thoughts.

He did not draw closer for a spiritual resonance, always maintaining distance. The Core Disciples had higher Daoist accomplishment than he did; there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

"You’ve said so much, but I don’t understand any of it." Qin Ming swiftly pondered whether being recognized by her when leaving the Luo Fu Immortal Mountain Ruins could bring serious consequences and trigger terrible dangers.

Wang Caiwei sighed lightly, "You think I love to smile, deem me insincere? Alas, those who often smile are usually covering up their less than brilliant moods. I actually really want to cry; I can’t control my own destiny."

She took two steps forward, intending to come closer.

In Qin Ming’s hands, the Furnace of Eight Trigrams vibrated with the rumbling of his Heavenly Light Force, ready to strike at any moment.

Wang Caiwei gave a soft sigh and swiftly retreated, choosing to leave the Luo Fu Immortal Mountain Ruins without making a move against him.

Qin Ming watched her retreating figure and said, "Whether you’re acting or feel some helplessness about your fate, I wish you well."

He was no longer Cui Chong. Those from his past with whom he had little interaction had all gradually become symbols of the past.

Qin Ming noticed that the final battle to clear the area was nearing its end.

Jiang Shengyu, Su Jingshu, Hu Tingwen, and others knew that this was Li Qingyue’s battle to establish her power. Facing so many elite disciples, they figured she wouldn’t kill them, so they exerted their strongest techniques.

However, no matter how desperately they struck, none could harm Li Qingyue in the slightest. All were severely injured, sent flying covered in blood, and laid on the ground unable to rise.

Undoubtedly, this purging battle shook the hearts of all observing Outer Disciples deeply; the gap between them and the Core Disciples was significant.

Li Qingyue’s golden armor clinked, shedding pieces as they fell away. She was removing her armor, taking off her helmet, revealing her true face completely.

At this moment, she wore her earliest damaged armor, stained with her own blood, proving she had survived a previous, extremely brutal, and perilous battle, surrounded but not slain.

Li Qingyue’s hair fluttered in the wind; she had a tall and slender figure with smooth skin, a delicate and unblemished face, all shrouded in a hazy light, enveloped by a faint mist.

The blood-stained and tattered armor added a heroic touch to her ethereal and immortal-like presence as she advanced towards Tang Xumi and Li Qingxu, with only them retaining the strength for another fight.

"I yield, I admit defeat!" Tang Xumi shouted straightforwardly, not wishing to attempt his strongest strike again.

Then, he lay on his back on the ground with a thud, breathing heavily, covered in blood, laughing a few times with a mix of bitterness and relief.

Li Qingxu hesitated—should he admit defeat, or pay a heavier price for another clash?

Li Qingyue was already approaching, not giving him a chance to choose, nor allowing him to say much, and directly took action against him.

In an instant, the ground cracked open; the disturbance was immensely loud, divine light rained splendidly, and huge rocks kept breaking off from the edge of the deep pit.

Li Qingxu burst out regardless of the cost, but still lost; he was bloodied all over and fell among the rubble, having exhausted all his strength.

Moreover, his teacher had helped him refine a treasure, the Purple Bamboo Stick that had once borne Heavenly Light without destruction, and it was now in Li Qingyue’s hands.

Li Qingyue held the Purple Bamboo Stick, looking at Li Qingxu, and said, "Before entering the Immortal Mountain Ruins, I mentioned that the person you attacked back then was an old friend of mine. Over two years have passed; I want to do something for him."

With a bang, Li Qingyue swung the bamboo stick, striking one of Li Qingxu’s arms—snap—a crisp sound of bone fracturing echoed.

Everyone’s heart jolted; Li Qingyue truly was daring. Even after the duel had ended, she continued, striking down hard on the closed-door disciple of that old senior!

The purple bamboo shadows swept through the void, striking down again, and Li Qingxu’s left leg was smashed, the snap resoundingly clear.

At this moment, even the other Core Disciples were startled. Then they realized that no matter how vicious the infighting amongst juniors, that old senior wouldn’t easily intervene.

Moreover, in Fangwai Heaven Pure Land, there were some major figures who could keep the domineering, protective old senior in check, and who would not allow him to act recklessly.

Today, Li Qingyue’s sweeping victory over all Core Disciples, clean and elegant, was destined to catch the attention of those powerful figures. The person in charge of the Furnace of Eight Trigrams would be specially nurtured and protected.

Additionally, the high-ranking figures of various factions also disliked Li Qingxu’s teacher; Li Qingyue daring to strike his disciple was probably in line with the sentiments of various Taoist orthodoxies.

"What does it mean to establish might? There is no better choice than to beat Li Qingxu, the prestige established is enough!" Tang Xumi privately sighed.

Immediately afterward, he hastily retreated to avoid being struck.

"Whether it’s rational or personal, I have always wanted to do this; I’ve long wanted to hit you!" Li Qingyue said, striking Li Qingxu six times with the stick.

Three of the strikes broke both his arms and one leg, the other three weren’t as heavy; Li Qingyue merely tapped lightly, causing slight fractures to his skull.

"My old friend once lost his memory for more than two years; your injuries now are much lighter than his were," Li Qingyue said as she stopped, tossing aside the bamboo stick, which stood erect in front of Li Qingxu like a long spear, glowing with a misty purple.

Li Qingxu was filled with immense hatred and shame; under the watchful eyes of many, he was beaten violently with his own Divine Bamboo, losing all face.

Earlier, he wanted to use a mysterious Escape Technique to flee far away, but it failed, interrupted forcefully by his opponent, leading him into his darkest moment!

"If there are no further challenges, then let the competition for the Close Immortal Item conclude here," Li Qingyue declared.

Her hair like a waterfall, figure supple like an immortal willow, she swept her gaze around with cold elegance. Smiling at her fellow disciples with a gentle nod as if clouds and glow breaking through the mist, her entire being seemed transcendent, as if she would ascend amidst the glow.

Qin Ming sighed, perhaps after this separation, it would be a long time before they saw her again.

He was about to return to the relatively remote Chixia City. A thousand-year-old family, Blessed Land, and the splendid Fangwai Heaven Pure Land were all far from him; he needed to take each step one footprint at a time.