The Stars Beyond

Chapter 290: Unparallel

The blood-colored figure was visibly excited, believing that Wang Xuan had successfully rooted the strongest demonic embryo within the host, potentially looking down upon all Celestials in the future. Convinced of Zheng Wu's exceptional talent, hailed as a rare genius in the celestial realm behind the veil, the figure felt reassured. After all, Zheng Wu was endowed with a few drops of the supreme being's golden blood, making his conquest of the "fleshly soil" of the mortal world seem like a routine operation.

Nevertheless, the figure remained cautious, repeatedly probing Wang Xuan with various cryptic phrases as agreed upon. Wang Xuan confidently passed all tests, mimicking Zheng Wu's mannerisms and speech without giving himself away.

In a hushed tone, the blood-colored figure asked, "Son, shall we target the Zhong family soon? Or should we choose the Qin family? I lean towards the Zhong family. Our investigations show that their secret vault is immensely rich."

His voice, emanating from the vibrating blood mist and bones, made Wang Xuan glance with a hint of reluctance, seeing another potential "Inner Landscape canned good." However, Wang Xuan restrained himself, recognizing the figure's value as a former celestial with significant capabilities. It wasn't time to harvest yet.

Pondering, Wang Xuan replied, "I'll think about it. Don't act rashly."

"Understood, son. But we shouldn't delay too long, as many are eyeing the target. The Zhong family possesses not only top-tier treasures but also the highest scriptures of the Taoists—the Golden Bamboo Scrolls. Moreover, they likely have the legendary Five-Colored Jade Texts."

The figure's eyes glowed with desire, his true bone resonating eagerly even at his advanced stage. The prospect of acquiring such scriptures was tantalizing even to someone as long-established as him.

Wang Xuan smiled, "Now I am Wang Xuan. I have a good relationship with two descendants of the Zhong family. We can take a shortcut. The supreme scriptures won't slip away."

"Yes, being close to the source provides an advantage. I hadn't thought this fleshly soil would be so useful," the figure rejoiced, laughing along.

Suddenly, a flicker of regret passed through the depths of his eyes, unnoticed by most but keenly caught by Wang Xuan's spiritual eye.

A problem had arisen, and Wang Xuan sighed in frustration, sensing the figure had detected something amiss. Suddenly, the blood-colored figure erupted in a blinding crimson light, its spirit transforming into a torrential red cascade, attempting to pierce through Wang Xuan's forehead and annihilate his spirit, seizing his body.

"Are you insane? Trying to slay your master while I'm weakened?" Wang Xuan dodged the attack, eager to understand the flaw in his disguise.

"You killed our young master, obstructed his supreme path, and dare to impersonate him!" The blood-colored figure was deeply aggrieved, unable to accept that the prodigious young master he had watched grow had been defeated by a mere mortal destined to be mere fleshly nourishment.

He wouldn't divulge where Wang Xuan had slipped up, his eyes cold and ruthless. His spirit, like a misty aurora, attempted to invade Wang Xuan's body.

"How is it that you sought to root in my flesh, to strip away all that is mine, yet bear a grudge against me?" Wang Xuan spoke calmly.

Deciding not to waste more time, Wang Xuan's vitality surged, and his transcendental energy expanded. In this moment, his physical and spiritual forms were unified, exuding an aura of the immortal path.

Taking the initiative, Wang Xuan, surrounded by a white celestial mist, struck with his physical body directly against the assailant's spirit, dispersing the crimson haze in an instant.

"You..." The blood-colored figure was shocked. What kind of method allowed Wang Xuan's physical form to destroy an intangible spirit?

His condition wasn't much better than the previous assailant, having been fragmented upon crossing the veil, and now he was at his weakest.

Wang Xuan, intent on efficiency, wielded the Godslayer Banner, swiftly stripping away the true bone from the figure, leaving him rootless and screaming in shock. Then, the banner unfurled slowly, trapping him. His spirit showed fine cracks, ready to burst upon a forceful shake of the banner.

Using his spiritual eye, Wang Xuan read the spirit's imprints, seeking to understand his own shortcomings that had cost him a valuable ally.

"So it was," Wang Xuan realized the problem lay in the absence of a faint aura of celestial blood and the unerased traces of the embryonic sac. "Next time, I'll do even better, flawlessly."

"To think, a mere mortal transcendent in this world could counterstrike us..." The blood-colored figure lamented their faction's heavy losses. What worried him most was Wang Xuan's intent to impersonate their young master, a move with grave consequences.

The Zheng family's celestial being trembled inwardly, increasingly fearful. The more he thought, the more he dreaded the potential repercussions if they couldn't expose Wang Xuan soon. Who knew what terrifying events might unfold?

Wang Xuan spoke softly, "I made a mistake and must bear the consequences. I'll have to turn you into a celestial bone can now." The celestial being from the Zheng family was stunned, then trembled with rage. 'You make a mistake and I pay the price?' he fumed.

With a thud, Wang Xuan slammed down the banner, shattering the celestial being without an ounce of sympathy. The Zheng family sought to strip him of everything; he was resolved to see who would have the last laugh.

Sitting cross-legged, Wang Xuan circulated his supreme scripture, erasing the nine dark red marks on his body. He then placed a drop of Zheng Wu's celestial blood in his Life Soil, letting out faint traces of its essence. He reflected, "I've lost two powerful subordinates who could have been useful. I can't afford such mishaps again."

When the third celestial being from the Zheng family arrived, everything went smoothly, with no mistakes. "Master, are you feeling unwell?" the person asked with concern.

Wang Xuan frowned, "After planting the celestial herb's main root, it lacks vitality and shows no signs of revival. Contact the others from behind the veil; I need more celestial nectar and the Five-Colored Soil from Mount Bu Zhou."

His words were a fabrication. The person nodded and left to make arrangements.

Wang Xuan's expression was calm. Not knowing when he might be exposed, he decided to take advantage of the situation while he could. If Chen Yongjie really found the celestial herb seeds of Sakyamuni, then preparing some celestial nectar and Five-Colored Soil from Mount Bu Zhou in advance would be prudent.

The fourth Zheng family celestial being arrived. After a conversation, Wang Xuan informed him, "Though the celestial blood and destiny rooted in the flesh are effective, I feel my spirit and blood are unstable, especially with transcendence fading. In this environment, I need stabilizing divine items and celestial resources. I aim to solidify my foundation and nurture the strongest demonic embryo."

"Master is unparalleled, with lofty aspirations. You're destined to become a supreme being!" The Zheng family's celestial being said with fervent admiration before disappearing into the night.

When the fifth blood-colored figure appeared, it suggested Wang Xuan swiftly take over the Zhong family. "Our old master greatly valued the Five-Colored Jade Book and the Golden Bamboo Scrolls."

Wang Xuan nodded, "Indeed, I'm well aware. Those scriptures are not to be touched by others. Keep a close watch. Whoever dares to meddle will be the first to face the consequences."

Following that, he added, "Also, investigate thoroughly which major factions are planning to target Wang Xuan. Keep an eye on them; intervene where necessary and eliminate threats if needed. Oh, and the people close to Wang Xuan shouldn't encounter any mishaps recently, or else, do you think I should avenge them?"

Under the high-hanging moon, amidst the serene night, Wang Xuan stood alone in the forest, feeling clear-headed and refreshed. With a powerful faction backing him, actions felt incredibly satisfying.

After issuing his commands, a group of experts served him, saving him time, effort, and worry.

He then communicated with Old Chen using coded language, informing him that all was going well and that they would visit the Zhong family the next day to open the 'can'.

Chen Yongjie immediately understood and responded, "I'm bringing my family!"

Wang Xuan advised him to also bring Qin Cheng and Professor Lin along, revealing that they had celestial bones, which could certainly initiate the opening of the Inner Landscape. He wanted those close to him to receive a blessing before the upcoming era of desolation.

That night, the beings who crossed over from behind the veil struggled. These young people, despite being heavily injured during the crossing, were originally masters of the eighth or even ninth stage in the human world.

But now, their overall strength had diminished, filling them with intense unease. They felt as if the eternal night of immortality had become perpetually silent, with no dawn or morning light in sight.

"What happened tonight? Why was there another sudden collapse?"

......

Wang Xuan spent the night in quiet meditation, his spiritual essence seeping into every inch of his flesh. The unification of his spirit, energy, and body brought him an unprecedented sense of well-being. His spirit, rooted deep within his flesh, was nourished by his vigorous blood, making it even more robust. His physical body, in turn, purified and strengthened by his spiritual power, gleamed with vitality. A drop of his blood, glowing in the night, hinted at his extraordinary state.

In the early morning, Wang Xuan opened his eyes and began his journey home. By mid-morning, he arrived in Kun City, the stronghold of the Zhong family. He was there to return the Pool of Rebirth, realizing that if he hadn't buried the ashen pool in his Life Soil beforehand, his situation would have been precarious.

The Zhong family's estate was vast, with towering ancient trees and lush green grass. Nearby, a small lake shimmered, dotted with lotus flowers and lively koi, emanating a sense of tranquil vitality.

"Wang Xuan, you're finally here. Since you took the Pool of Rebirth, at first everything was fine, but since yesterday, our place has been like a haunted house with all sorts of disturbances," Zhong Cheng greeted him, speaking in hushed tones about the strange occurrences.

Fortunately, the Zhong family still possessed numerous other treasures and formidable weapons. An ancient nine-tiered stone pagoda in the courtyard glowed in the night, having refined some unknown creature that had emitted a piercing scream.

"That might be the Demon Refining Pagoda!" Wang Xuan commented, having recognized its extraordinary nature earlier. The powerful beings from behind the veil had their eyes on this place for a reason – it was filled with precious artifacts.

"There's also a large copper furnace that glowed last night, seemingly capturing something," Zhong Cheng added, shaking his head. The chaotic night had him convinced that they couldn't stay in this New World any longer.

"Those inscriptions... that's an incense burner originally from the Daoist ancestral temple. Such luxury!" Wang Xuan had been captivated by it during his last visit.

"That guy's back again, bothering my sister," Zhong Cheng said, looking towards a group approaching the Zhong residence, his expression less than pleased.

Cao Qingyu had arrived with several young men and women, all descendants of the immortals, surrounded by wisps of white mist, exuding an air of otherworldliness.

A handsome young man among them spoke up, "That Wang Xuan is here again. Is he going to spoil Brother Cao's plans again? Last time, Brother Cao just smiled and left. We can't let him get away with it this time."

A beautiful woman, her form wreathed in mist, not a stunning beauty but certainly possessing an immortal's grace, added, "Wang Xuan is crucial. Various factions believe he has prematurely opened his Inner Landscape. We need him. Brother Cao's patience is about drawing him out to guide our ancestor into this world."

A tall, muscular man joined in, "Last night, the remnants of transcendence collapsed again, dimming the veil even more. The powerful beings behind it are restless, likely to cross over soon. We need to act quickly to prepare for their arrival."

Cao Qingyu nodded and said, "I've received some secret information. There have been some unexpected developments, and plans need to be adjusted. However, taking over the Zhong family is still a priority."

At the same time, more visitors arrived at the Zhong family's door. Among them were Kong Yun, who had spent two days on the New Moon, and Huang Ming, known as the 'Immortal Huang', along with others. The Zhong family possessed items too rare and coveted, already attracting the attention of beings from beyond the veil.

A third group of visitors then arrived, led by a woman. Her facial features were elegantly beautiful, reminiscent of classical paintings, exuding an ethereal charm that seemed detached from the mundane world.

She had an excellent figure, but her attire was quite... modern, not what one would expect from a being who had stepped out of the veil. She wore shorts, revealing her fair long legs, and a simple T-shirt paired with flowing long hair, presenting an elegant and graceful figure.

Zhong Cheng gestured to Wang Xuan, indicating the woman, and said, "See that? That’s Zhou Shiqi, my sister's close friend. She puts quite a bit of pressure on my sister with her aura of immortality."

"Your family sure is lively," Wang Xuan remarked, aware that these were all descendants of the immortals, each with their own motives, eyeing various treasures.

"As soon as we leave, they can do whatever they want, but for now, they can't cause chaos," Zhong Cheng said with a sense of detachment. He then turned to Wang Xuan and asked, "Old Wang, how are you holding up? Can you give that Cao Qingyu a good beating? I really don't like the look of him."

Wang Xuan looked in that direction and replied, "Chances are, he doesn't like the look of us either, probably finds us in the way."

"Beat him up!" Zhong Cheng whispered, irritated that Cao Qingyu was eyeing his sister and, by extension, plotting for the Zhong family's assets. "He really deserves a blast from the battleship."