The Stars Beyond

Chapter 285: Celestial Blood, Celestial Destiny

Wang Xuan's most formidable mystical treasures in hand were almost exclusively designed to counter the spiritual aspects, prepared specifically for the state of beings crossing over from behind the veil.

His spirit left his body, but he always held onto the Slaying God Banner with caution as he approached the golden tree and the ashen pool from a distance.

He tested repeatedly, assuring himself that as long as he held the banner, there weren't any significant risks.

"Sigh, if only I had a substitution talisman, a wooden figure would have been perfect," Wang Xuan lamented. Despite extensive searches and visits to various secret treasuries, such an item remained elusive, a rarity that couldn't be sought at will.

In the evening, he re-entered the world behind the veil via the fog emanating from the life-sustaining soil, intent on gathering intelligence and staying abreast of the situation.

In the dim world, the altar was nearly complete, densely engraved with runes. It seemed likely that the enemy would soon make their move against him.

After spending over ten hours there, collecting fragmented information, Wang Xuan finally learned from these people's conversations who his adversary was.

Zheng Wu, a rising star in recent years, was renowned for his exceptional talent. No matter how complex the scripture, he could understand and master it at a glance.

He was a genius of his time, widely acknowledged. Had the veil not been on the brink of extinguishing, many believed he would have become the second peerless master of the Zheng family.

His physical body was extraordinarily robust, born with spiritual bones. His blood would glow in the dark, adding to his legendary aura.

"My only regret is not having opened my inner landscape before stepping into the realm of the superhuman," Zheng Wu had said, aspiring to rival legends.

Others comforted him, suggesting that it might be a blessing in disguise. Those who opened their inner landscapes during their mortal days never met good ends, even if they once swept across several veils, ultimately meeting tragic fates.

After waiting for more than a day, Wang Xuan finally saw the person in question.

A refined young man with an air of immortality stood on the altar, murmuring, "The missing piece of my inner landscape will soon be completed. To the one in the mortal realm, I regret to say, you were born in the wrong era. Ultimately, you'll perish as a mortal on the path of the superhuman. I'll continue the journey for you. My celestial fate will be born from your sacrifice, and I'll ensure your remains are properly laid to rest."

Soon, a messenger arrived with exciting news: "The ancient ancestor has succeeded! He's returned from the highest spiritual realm with the main root of the resurrected celestial medicine. He's currently nourishing it with ambrosia in the celestial realm and expects to send it here in two days!"

"The ancient ancestor indeed possesses unparalleled celestial might. Since ancient times, aside from a few like Shakyamuni, no one has been able to harvest celestial medicine from the highest spiritual realm."

A smile broke across Zheng Wu's face, anticipating his rebirth in the mortal realm in just two days.

......

"It's a pity to give up this body, inherently powerful and almost peerless among my peers," Zheng Wu mused, regret tinged in his voice. "But this is the peculiar and invincible aspect of the technique I've practiced. I can carry away all the heavenly blood and essence of destiny. After rebirth through another's body, merging with the host's strengths, I will become stronger and then cultivate the strongest celestial fetus. In the past, some have called it a demonic fetus, but indeed, it's invincible!"

Zheng Wu's face bore a radiant smile, a diabolical charm in Wang Xuan's eyes. Such cruelty was masked by a genuinely joyous expression.

"The young master will surely achieve the strongest demonic, no, celestial fetus, and survive the impending mythological catastrophe. One day, he will become the foremost among the immortals," praised the surrounding people, their faces alight with happiness. They were truly honored that the young master shared such secrets with them, viewing them as confidantes to accompany him to the mortal realm.

Zheng Wu nodded with a smile, yet his eyes were cold. Those involved in constructing the altar were destined to die; he couldn't risk them revealing his secrets in the future.

"I need to occupy his body for half a year to seize his inner landscape and strip away his foundation of the immortal path. A celestial medicine will root and sprout in his life-sustaining soil, nurturing my demonic fetus. My rebirth will possess everything, surpassing the unparalleled foundation of my current physical form."

In the darkness, Wang Xuan watched silently. Had he not been able to enter the world behind the veil in advance and learn of these matters, Zheng Wu would have forcefully stripped everything away from him.

Even so, he felt a heavy weight in his heart. After all, this was a powerful faction backed by a peerless master.

"Could this be the same faction as Huang Kun?" Wang Xuan wondered. Otherwise, how would they know the secrets of his inner landscape?

If so, this combined new grudges with old. "I need to spread the word, let Zheng Hong take action. Stir the waters in these two days, keep the other factions from the other side of the veil busy, and prevent them from disrupting my plan for the celestial fetus's rebirth," Zheng Wu spoke in a chilling tone.

Wang Xuan withdrew, wrapping himself with the Slaying God Banner to mask all traces of his presence, blending into the dark world.

......

Returning to the real world, Wang Xuan began making various preparations. The next day, he contacted Chi Meng, having exchanged phone numbers previously. It was impressive how quickly these beings from beyond the veil adapted to modern society, quickly mastering various new technologies and tools.

"Wang Xuan, what do you need?" Chi Meng asked, surprised by the call.

Wang Xuan informed him that he had initial leads on who was framing him. He suggested looking into a person named Zheng Hong from beyond the veil, which could potentially uncover everything.

"I know him, a true immortal from the Zheng family beyond the veil," Chi Meng frowned.

Wang Xuan wasn't worried about Chi Meng investigating; if Chi Meng approached, Zheng Hong and his people would likely panic, possibly leading to conflict.

"Go ahead and check. Afterwards, I'll share an even more important secret with you!"

That very day, Chi Meng used his immortal methods to find Zheng Hong. To his shock and anger, Zheng Hong attacked him first upon their meeting.

"Wang Xuan, I've taken care of Zheng Hong. No one knows yet, no information has leaked. What's the important secret you have for me?" Chi Meng asked during a face-to-face meeting, concerned about being monitored.

"It's a huge opportunity for you, if you dare to take it," Wang Xuan said in a low voice. "You practice the Hades Blood Divine Art, interested in all kinds of destiny blood, right?"

"What are you suggesting?" Chi Meng's eyes turned cold.

"Someone is preparing to cross the veil with a grand altar, carrying blood essence and destiny. If you dare, wait outside the veil. That kind of blood and destiny could change your fate," Wang Xuan revealed.

"Zheng family? Celestial fetus!" Chi Meng's pupils constricted, immediately guessing it involved the Zheng family, known for practicing such unique and terrifying techniques.

"How do you know this secret? It shouldn't have leaked!" Chi Meng quickly asked.

Wang Xuan replied, "Someone happened to see it beyond the veil and passed the information along. It's very reliable, no need for doubt."

"Last time, you disrupted their plans on Mount Jinding, killing their people. Someone probably thinks you have a grudge against the Zheng family, so they told you, hoping you'd disrupt their plans again," Chi Meng speculated.

Wang Xuan remained calm, but inwardly, he was seething with murderous intent. The group trying to cross the veil at Mount Jinding was indeed from the Zheng family, combining new and old grievances!

At that time, the invincible figure clad in black armor with even his face covered was Zheng Yuantian, a formidable member of the Zheng family. Chi Meng remained calm outwardly, but inside, he was experiencing a tumult of emotions, realizing that the host the Zheng family's celestial fetus sought could very well be Wang Xuan.

The Zheng family's actions had already aroused some suspicion. Now, Chi Meng immediately realized that Wang Xuan might indeed have opened an inner scenery domain, assuming it was done in the realm of the transcendent, not as a mortal. Even so, this would be a tremendous aid in crossing the veil.

The earlier an inner scenery domain is opened, the more special, profound, and ancient it is. If found and forcibly pierced through to the immortal realm, it could serve as a gateway for smuggling, washing away the constraints of the old covenant.

Chi Meng sighed, "The Zheng family has an invincible expert, a top-tier existence beyond the veil. The kind of oppressive might that can engulf thousands of miles is something no one can understand without experiencing it. It makes true immortals tremble and instinctively want to kneel and bow in submission!"

Wang Xuan tempted him, "Fortune favors the bold. Whether you take this chance is up to you. This is an opportunity to change your fate. You know how extraordinary the Zheng family member is, possessing genuine celestial blood and destiny. And with the waning of the transcendents, even an invincible expert crossing over might not break through the current limits. What are you afraid of?"

Chi Meng replied with fear, "No, invincible experts are different. If they come over now, they are likely to break through the limits, possibly reaching the level of a terrestrial immortal!"

"Can you or I break through these limits?" Wang Xuan asked.

"It's difficult. I have little hope unless I gather several instances of destiny. As for you, you need to establish the strongest foundation, like planting celestial herbs in your life's soil or entering a higher spiritual realm for a baptism of spirit..."

Chi Meng shook his head, "You have no hope. Who can gather celestial herbs for you? Even the invincible experts in the immortal realm find it challenging. With the veil fading, the higher spiritual realms are becoming distant, the future unseen."

Wang Xuan's expression remained impassive, but inside, he felt a surge of emotions. He realized the importance of the path Chen Yongjie had chosen; they must find the lotus pod harvested by Buddha. He also thought of Zheng Wu, who apparently planned to bring a main root of a celestial herb with him, indicating another path they couldn't afford to ignore.

"I'll consider it. Tell me, where exactly is the Zheng family's celestial fetus planning to cross the veil?" Chi Meng inquired, a mix of greed and deep fear flickering in his eyes.

"Outside Pingyuan City, near the wetland, on that range of hills. If you're thinking of acting, start preparing early!" Wang Xuan provided the precise location.

After the two parted ways, Wang Xuan immediately communicated with Chen Yongjie using a secret language. "Oula, if Chi Meng makes a move, he'll be in the fray. If he doesn't, he'll be a target too when the time comes!"

Ending the call, Wang Xuan pondered that Chi Meng must have guessed about his inner scenery domain. Indeed, such a secret couldn't be kept hidden for long, especially after the Zheng family's actions on Jinding Mountain had aroused suspicions.

Wang Xuan then busied himself ensuring the secrecy of his large-scale dealings conducted in the shadows.

Time flew, and two days passed in the blink of an eye. From the dawn of the third day, Wang Xuan entered a suitable forest area, readying himself for what was to come.

By evening, at the outskirts of Pingyuan City, near the wetlands, a hazy light emerged over the hills, accompanied by thunder and torrential rain. The anticipated moment had finally arrived.

With a swift movement, a streak of blood shot out, attempting to escape rapidly towards the horizon.

"Celestial blood and destiny?!" Chi Meng arrived, his eyes fixated on the vigorously alive cluster of blood essence, glowing with intense divine light.