The Stars Beyond

Chapter 281: A World Of Demons

The ground lay littered with three cracked bones, devoid of the rich vitality of immortal essence, nearing decay. If discovered in the future, who would imagine that these remains once belonged to immortals? In the end, they returned to the earth, just like mortals.

"Throughout history, in this world of mortals, eras have come and gone, heroes have risen, and great epochs have been witnessed. You, with your extraordinary talents, chose cultivation, secluded in deep mountains, missing countless splendid moments. What regrets did you harbor? Yet, in the end, it was all for naught."

Wang Xuan shook his head, feeling a mixture of pity and sorrow for their fate. He buried the bones under soil and rocks in the mountainside.

"Still, many continue to tread this almost illusory path, and I am one of them, joining even as the era of transcendence collapses. How incurable."

Wang Xuan smiled wryly at himself. Perhaps the pursuit of immortality starts as a childhood dream: to escape the bonds of life and death, to soar to the heavens, to wander the lands of myth. From the Guanghan Palace on the moon to the summit of Mount Wu, every place has its own story.

Despite the fading of many realms and the destruction of immortal lands, those on this path remain persistent, clinging to the hope of continuing their journey.

Even as the transcendent rapidly crumbles, they strive forward, cherishing a glimmer of hope that the mythic might be reborn. Some even aspire to create a new world, to become Buddhas or ancestors, transcending all.

"Hongmeng species, Nine Heavens, Buddhist realms... Will life reemerge, or will the celestial ponds dry up, the heavens shatter, leaving only desolation? In a year, all will be revealed."

Returning to the city, Wang Xuan finds that Qian An has arranged for him a small private spacecraft to quietly depart from New Star. However, the ship explodes in a blinding burst of energy in outer space.

Qian An and Wang Xuan exchange looks of disbelief; they had been hiding, secretly monitoring the situation. No one was aboard the ship, only two simulation robots.

"They're targeting me, trying to keep me locked on New Star," Wang Xuan's eyes flashed coldly, sensing the immortals' watchful gaze.

"I'll investigate who leaked the information," Qian An fumed.

"Let me handle this," Wang Xuan offered, and it turned out someone's mind had been temporarily accessed and manipulated.

Returning to Suyu City, Wang Xuan was fueled by a simmering rage against the beings who had returned from beyond the veil. Their audacity to target him ignited his fury.

"Don't let me find where you're hiding. If I do, I'll be opening 'immortal bone cans' one by one, collecting their fortunes and stripping them of their immortal essence."

His heart harbored a killing intent, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to "open" these beings, warning them not to cross his path. With his cultivation enhanced and possession of two pieces of medicinal soil, he planned to further solidify his strength before harnessing these divine substances for another boost.

If Old Chen could find the seeds of the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Lotus, difficultly harvested from the highest spiritual world by Shakya, their strength would undoubtedly surge.

Calculating his prospects, Wang Xuan anticipated continuous growth in his cultivation, preparing to face the increasingly restless beings from beyond the veil.

Zhong Cheng called him, inviting him over. "Wang Xuan, come to my place when you have time. It's been days since we last met. Let's have a drink and enjoy some photo collections." His words were cryptic, hinting at giving Wang Xuan access to the Five-Colored Jade Scriptures and another pre-Qin golden bamboo slip from Old Zhong's library, using a code to evade potential eavesdropping.

The Zhong family was preparing to leave, almost ready with the Tai Chu Plan to retreat into deep space. This invitation was a farewell gesture.

However, Wang Xuan, preoccupied with his anger, misunderstood Zhong Cheng's intentions, thinking he was literally invited to view photo albums. "I'll come over in a few days. I'm planning to open some 'blind boxes.' I'll bring some special 'cans' to help you build a foundation. Whether you become transcendent beings is up to you."

Zhong Cheng, thrilled, responded, "Really? Old Wang, I'd call you brother-in-law at this moment. Come join us; don't wander off!"

He nearly slipped up about the Zhong family's plans to leave, earnestly hoping Wang Xuan would join them. As for anyone attempting to block their departure, the Zhong family's warships were ready for a saturated barrage.

"Old Wang, hurry over. We're about to create a new world, reshape the cosmos!" Zhong Cheng said, referring to the beautiful planet they had discovered years ago.

Wang Xuan thought to himself about his own concerns with rekindling the mythic world, and here was Zhong Cheng, not even a transcendent being, harboring grand ambitions.

In the following two days, Wang Xuan, carrying the God-slaying Banner and seething with killing intent, scoured the area for 'immortal bone cans' to target. He refrained from disturbing the true bones in temples and Taoist monasteries, feeling a direct assault on them would be too cruel, despite the often ruthless nature of cultivation.

"Can't get past my own conscience," he sighed, shaking his head.

He also didn't want to make enemies of the entire world. Attacking every immortal bone he came across would turn all beings from beyond the veil against him.

Wang Xuan focused on studying the fetal membrane marks on his body, determined not to let anyone use his physical form to rebuild an immortal foundation. He tried to sense the peculiar energy associated with the marks, aiming to find the culprit and extract a sizable immortal bone.

Whoever practiced such a technique must be incredibly powerful, and their method of stealing life substances from other immortals' bones was frightening.

New Star was changing daily, with countless beings from beyond the veil causing continuous anomalies. Some cities, unable to cope with constant downpours, started firing cannons to disperse the rain clouds. Without the clouds, lightning still crackled, signaling the crossing of transcendent beings.

For ordinary people, aside from the bad weather, life went on as usual. But for major organizations, the situation was complex, with frequent interactions with immortals.

The Qin family, for instance, once fought an all-seeing entity on New Moon but now had to reluctantly welcome these otherworldly visitors without showing hostility.

Qin Hong, the head of the family, was particularly unsettled by this. Known for his aggressive stance, he now found himself in close "discussions" with beings from beyond the veil. He wore several jade pendants to shield his thoughts and always stayed near the family's secret arsenal, using its power to suppress any attempts at spiritual exploration or hypnosis.

In fact, the Qin family was also preparing to leave, overwhelmed by the attention their secret arsenal had attracted from various entities. Additionally, their advanced genetic technology and the development of the Bodhisattva Superbody had piqued the interest of the beings beyond the veil.

The immortals from beyond the veil sought to leverage the Qin family's advanced technology to stimulate bone growth and accelerate the regeneration of flesh and blood, eager to reconstruct their true forms.

Those who communicated with Qin Hong had actual physical bodies, not just ethereal souls, adding a layer of terror to the encounters. The life forms arriving from beyond the veil varied greatly, including souls with true blood, partial skeletons, and those with most of their bodies intact.

Only those with fragmented souls needed to find their true bones in this world to reconstruct their true selves. Others, not yet transcended to immortality, were descendants of the immortals, like the sixty-fourth generation of demons and seventy-second generation of immortals. These descendants, many below the Xiaoyao realm and some at that level, found it relatively easier to cross realms.

With support from their clans and protection from powerful immortals, they could preserve most of their physical forms. Using secret methods and medicines brought from their realms, they could repair their bodies.

The Old Covenant of Locking the Immortals targeted ancient powerhouses, exerting less restraint on their descendants and weaker native beings from beyond the veil.

In recent days, many beings with intact physical forms have been making contact with various organizations – actual flesh and blood entities! For instance, Qin Hong met several stunningly attractive men and women today, as well as some with odd appearances. He learned that one of them might be a legendary Yellow Emperor!

Qin Hong felt somewhat cursed by these encounters. In the past two days, he had seen descendants of immortals with otherworldly beauty and grace, resembling celestial beings from paintings. He also encountered various demons like weasel, tiger, and fox spirits. Some were repulsive, while others were seductively enchanting, nearly breaking Qin Hong's usually steadfast composure. The true ultimate powerhouses hadn't crossed over, wanting to preserve their complete Dao fruits to face the greatest catastrophe when transcendence entirely ceases.

Now, these mighty beings awaited their opportunity. The leaders of the financial conglomerates and major organizations were shaken, struggling to adapt to these real, living beings from beyond the veil, engaging in cordial conversations and negotiations. The surrealness of the situation stirred complex emotions.

"To fight or not to fight? If we don't confront them, we might as well escape in our spacecraft, leaving all this behind!" Even Qin Hong felt overwhelmed and apprehensive.

He couldn't comprehend how the world had changed so suddenly, with various creatures continuously appearing, seeking negotiations.

Sometimes, Qin Hong fantasized about using a super energy cannon to wipe out all these beings, but he feared not being able to annihilate them all and instead provoking retaliation against the Qin family. Even Qin Hongyuan, the real decision-maker who had once ordered the bombardment of a supreme immortal on the moon, was now taken aback and overwhelmed.

Old Qin sighed, considering escape as the last resort. Staying on New Star seemed increasingly untenable.

The pressure on the major families was immense. The beings returning from beyond the veil adapted quickly, soon mastering the modern lifestyle of New Star. Their transformation was rapid; they initially donned ancient attire but soon switched to contemporary fashions, making it hard to distinguish them from modern residents.

These beings were mostly tens of generations of demons or seventy-two generations of immortals. The old demons and supreme immortals hadn't even appeared yet.

"Brother, that's not how you do it..." Even a seasoned veteran like Zhou Yun, accustomed to high-stakes situations, struggled during negotiations, especially when faced with seductive demonesses.

The major organizations were on high alert, uncertain and considering retreat. Many planned to leave New Star and return after three years.

Recently, all renowned life research institutes and genetic technology companies had been overrun by beings from beyond the veil seeking collaboration.

Moreover, the secret vaults of the great financial conglomerates were under tight surveillance. It seemed that once the conglomerates retreated, these places would be swiftly claimed by the otherworldly beings, transforming them into holy lands.

"Brother Sun, that cauldron is a relic from my ancestors."

"Brother Qin, to be honest, that golden tree in your vault was crafted by the founder of our sect. It was left in the human world to protect our teachings."

......

Currently, some people were already requesting to possess those extraordinary treasures. The beings from beyond the veil were amiable, communicating with the major families in a modern New Star style, showing no hostility.

However, the elders of various sects were wary, fearing that once these beings fully integrated and regained their strength, they might turn hostile.

What the future held was uncertain. The current period was one of balance, with a harmonious atmosphere prevailing.

In the past two days, Zhong Cheng was somewhat overwhelmed by the number of visitors to his home, including a fairy-like woman named Zhou Shiqi who even put pressure on his sister, Zhong Qing. Zhong Qing, usually confident in her beauty, found Zhou Shiqi stunningly gorgeous, with an ethereal aura and a flawless face.

Zhong Qing felt she could match Zhou in beauty, but not in the celestial aura, which she earnestly desired as an aspiring transcendent being.

Zhong Cheng informed Wang Xuan that the situation had dramatically changed in just a couple of days. The world of immortals and mortals was joyfully intertwined, with various mythical beings visiting the Zhong family daily.

"This is a fairy, and she's quite eloquent," Zhong Cheng said. "My sister finds her challenging. And she keeps asking about you, seems very interested. She's from a line of powerful immortals!"

Wang Xuan remained speechless, realizing that even Zhong Cheng knew about the beings of such high caliber from beyond the veil.

Now, New Star was indeed a place where descendants of immortals were present, legends became reality, and transcendence was no longer a mystery. Fox spirits, fairies, and Taoist practitioners were openly appearing, making the world extraordinarily enchanting.

"Old Wang, will you meet her? Come and see," urged Zhong Cheng.

"For now, no. I'm afraid I might become a 'fairy slayer'," Wang Xuan replied.

"You're such a playboy, Old Wang! How can I trust you with my sister?" teased Zhong Cheng.

"I mean 'slay' as in actual killing. Of course, if she's a good person, I won't do that," explained Wang Xuan.

"Have you exposed yourself, Old Wang?" Zhong Cheng joked.

Wang Xuan advised him to gather more information about the beings from beyond the veil. With so many descendants of immortals arriving, the situation, though complex, offered an opportunity to uncover the secrets of their realm.

Wang Xuan continued his search for the 'immortal bone cans', guided by the red marks on his body. He scoured various areas on New Star, determined to uncover them.

"Old Chen contacted me about the heavenly medicine seeds harvested from the highest spiritual realm," Wang Xuan shared his plan. "Since they were collected by Shakya, it's best to use his relic to activate them. He's set his sights on borrowing the Qin family's white conch shell for the task."

"The situation is getting too complicated," Chen Yongjie murmured. "All sorts of demons and spirits are emerging like bamboo shoots after rain. I need to secure this top-tier artifact soon."

Wang Xuan supported Old Chen's decision. With the world becoming increasingly chaotic, it was crucial for Chen to possess an artifact capable of dominating a domain.

In fact, Wang Xuan himself was ready to act, seeking to acquire supreme artifacts rather than watch the major families' vaults become holy lands, divided among others.

"Go ahead, Old Chen. I'm not far from the Qin family and can provide support anytime. You look for the heavenly medicine seeds, and I'll continue my search for the immortal bones. When we combine our gains, our strength will rapidly increase, enabling us to face the beings returning from beyond the veil without fear!" Wang Xuan declared, ready to confront the challenges and opportunities of this tumultuous era.