The Stars Beyond

Chapter 282: World Of The Immortals

In this era, with the emergence of various transcendent species like immortals and demons, their descendants crossed through the veil in physical form, heralding the full descent of mythology into reality. However, for Wang Xuan, this seemed more like a chaotic dance of demons. Creatures of all kinds, including descendants of historical figures and legendary beasts, were stepping into reality.

Wang Xuan wondered if this marked the final throes of a collapsing mythological era or the beginning of a new chapter pregnant with opportunities for a transcendent rebirth. Future retrospection would surely remember this year as pivotal.

Near Pingyuan City, amidst sprawling lakes and wetlands, Wang Xuan wandered, disturbing flocks of cranes as he searched for the traces of the 'immortal bone cans'. The nine red marks on his body grew increasingly hot and active, hinting at an impending event.

For days, he had followed these sensations without finding the elusive being. He sat by a large lake, reciting the stone tablet scriptures, grinding away the red marks, not allowing them to flourish.

The fetal membrane marks dimmed, invisible to anyone, even transcendents, without a spiritual eye. "Using my flesh as a mythical soil to cultivate an immortal fetus, is your ambition too vast, or are you just a dragon crossing the river?" Wang Xuan pondered.

He considered the possibility that his special inner landscape was the reason he was targeted, which meant the adversary might be more formidable than he had anticipated.

"The thought of using my body to cultivate their immortal fetus and seizing everything from me, including my special inner landscape?" Wang Xuan's expression darkened. He realized he might have underestimated the adversary; this wasn't just a simple 'immortal bone can' but perhaps a primordial evil dragon.

He contemplated using the pre-Qin golden bamboo slips and the stone tablet scriptures to eradicate the red marks but realized that wouldn't deter the adversary, who would likely strike more fiercely next time.

But without any clues, he was left to follow his instincts to this wetland.

After calming his mind, he moved forward to a hilly region dotted with large mounds, resembling overgrown ancient tombs. "Seems like this is the place," he muttered, yet saw no sign of the 'immortal bone cans'.

His spirit left his body to explore the hills. Soon, he gasped, sensing faint remnants of the veil's essence. Could this place be a cross-realm junction point for a certain faction?

"Creatures from beyond the veil are causing quite a stir," Wang Xuan muttered. He contemplated the fog rising from his realm of life soil, suspecting it might lead to the world beyond the veil. Days had passed since his last visit, and he wondered if the turmoil had settled enough for another exploration.

If it indeed led to the world beyond the veil, it presented a wealth of opportunities. He could learn secrets not accessible in the mortal realm and investigate which doctrines specialized in planting fetal membranes and cultivating supreme immortal fetuses in others.

"Zhong Cheng, help me gather some information," Wang Xuan planned, asking Zhong Cheng to interact with the descendants of the immortals.

Soon after, Wang Xuan sat in a cave, his spiritual body entering the life soil realm. He attempted to bring the God-slaying Banner with him and succeeded. Having refined the banner further, it proved even more effective, boosting his confidence significantly.

The life soil realm, the foundation of all laws and the foothold of the transcendent, was eerily silent, a perfect place for nurturing life. "Planting heavenly medicine here would indeed be ideal," Wang Xuan mused. However, finding the seeds of the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Lotus would be a stroke of incredible luck, and he hoped Old Chen would succeed.

Following the wisps of fog, he traversed a mysterious path through the mist, leading to a dimly lit world. He recognized the environment with the red lantern-lit station as the only sign of life.

His surroundings had changed from his last visit; the village and towns were nowhere to be seen, replaced by an entirely different location. "Does this correspond to the real world?" he wondered, pleased by the implication.

This meant that each time he entered this world from a different location in reality, his entry point in this realm would also change, allowing him to explore new territories and undertake various endeavors.

Furthermore, if a particular entry point proved dangerous, Wang Xuan could simply choose a different location next time. Proceeding with caution, he wrapped the God-slaying Banner around himself, concealing his presence. Having partially refined this ancient divine object, he could now manipulate its size.

He flew close to the ground and soon heard noises ahead. In the dark sky and dim, cold land, shadowy figures were bustling about, working on something not too far away.

There was a colossal altar, resembling a majestic mountain. Many people were busy inscribing various runes with skillful and swift movements, though they seemed far from achieving immortality.

Despite their high-level skills, their cultivation realms appeared to surpass Wang Xuan's. No one spoke; the only sounds were the clashing of stones and the scraping of carving tools.

"Time is of the essence. This altar must be completed within days; we'll soon need it," someone finally spoke. The others paused their work, engaging in brief conversations filled with anticipation.

"We might benefit from this and enter the real world. Otherwise, staying here means certain death as the veil fades away," one of them remarked.

Hearing this, Wang Xuan realized he was indeed in a realm corresponding to New Star's immortal world. This half-material, half-energetic realm supported both physical and spiritual existence.

Inwardly, Wang Xuan marveled at his inadvertent entry into the immortal realm, his third such incursion. Yet, in this era, beings from various sections of the immortal world beyond the veil sought escape to the mortal realm.

These people had chosen this secluded, dark location to escape notice from others in their radiant homeland. The leader of their faction seemed to be attempting a perilous journey to the highest spiritual world.

Wang Xuan was astonished. This was no ordinary feat; the head of this faction must be incredibly powerful to consider such a dangerous endeavor, especially now, as the veil dimmed and collapsed.

The workers ceased their conversation and resumed their work on the altar, their actions shrouded in mystery and urgency.

Wang Xuan felt helpless as he listened in on fragmented conversations, offering only bits and pieces of information. After a long wait, he finally overheard something valuable.

"If the old master successfully harvests that legendary but possibly reviving celestial medicine, it would be a defiance of the heavens. We can expect two ultimate powerhouses in our sect!"

This revelation startled Wang Xuan; the leader of this faction, an ultimate powerhouse, dared to venture into the highest spiritual world.

"Yes, to ensure the grand success of the young master's celestial fetus, and to seize that person's special flesh and inner landscape from the mortal world, the old master has indeed gone to great lengths."

Hearing this, Wang Xuan felt a surge of anger. It was clear they were plotting against him, coveting his flesh and inner landscape for their schemes.

Furious, Wang Xuan realized they wanted more than his life; they aimed to drain him completely and seize the foundation of his path to transcendence.

"The young master is naturally gifted. With that person's special flesh and inner landscape, he can survive the great calamity of the immortals and become an unparalleled master, elevating our sect to new heights."

The workers whispered among themselves, hopeful for a brighter future as their prospects rose with their young master's success.

Wang Xuan clenched his teeth in frustration, realizing the gravity of the situation. Without his incursion into this realm, he would have been oblivious to this sinister plot, backed by a formidable figure.

His predicament was dire and increasingly perilous.

"The young master has gone to purchase the medicinal soil of Mount Bu Zhou, fearing that the life soil from the mortal world might not support the revival and germination of the celestial medicine. He aims to cultivate the strongest celestial fetus."

"It is said that the old master has also prepared a portion of medicinal soil for him."

These snippets of conversation painted a clear picture: a high-stakes gambit involving celestial medicine, life soil, and a young master's ambition to ascend to unprecedented heights of power.

......

Infuriated by the audacity of his adversaries, Wang Xuan's eyes blazed with determination. He had become a mere pawn in their grand plan, with every aspect of his being targeted as a resource for the cultivation of a supreme immortal fetus. This realization struck him hard; he was not just underestimated but profoundly manipulated.

The subtle clues that had led him to the wetland and the hillocks now made sense. They were intricately connected to the altar in the realm beyond the veil, a deliberate ploy tied to the red marks on his body. These adversaries intended to use him as the unwitting cradle for an immortal rebirth, a notion that sparked a burning fury within him.

Yet, in that otherworldly domain, he was outmatched. The least of the craftsmen there neared the lofty heights of the Xiaoyao realm, dwarfing his current abilities. Reluctantly, Wang Xuan withdrew from the realm, his mind heavy with the gravity of his situation.

Back in the mortal world, the cave became a sanctuary for his troubled thoughts. The stakes were higher than ever; his very life hung in the balance. He pinned his hopes on Old Chen successfully securing the white conch shell, a critical asset in their impending struggle against the celestial beings.

Determined to fortify himself, Wang Xuan considered seeking powerful artifacts from various families. Facing a foe of such monumental power, no preparation was excessive. He refused to be stripped of his essence, his life soil, the celestial medicine, his inner landscape, or to be the unwitting bearer of an immortal fetus.

With a steely resolve, he vowed to stand firm against this existential threat. "If they can't kill me, I will obliterate them," he silently swore, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in this high-stakes battle for survival and sovereignty.