The Stars Beyond

Chapter 291: A Real Sect Master

"Aren't we still letting Wang Xuan off easy?" a handsome young man spoke up, observing Wang Xuan from a distance. Despite his youthful appearance, he had already reached the realm of 'Xiaoyao You' in the higher spirit world, capable of traversing thousands of miles with a single thought. However, having suffered grievous injuries during the cross-realm journey, he now barely surpassed the 'Caiyao' level, just managing to hold his ground in the fifth segment of the mortal realm.

A beautiful woman next to Cao Qingyu, radiating an ethereal aura, suggested, "Should we test him? If we can subdue him, we should capture him immediately! According to the latest information, the situation beyond the veil is quite intense. Our ancestral master might cross over soon, having abandoned the struggle for the 'Xiaoyao Zhou'."

The sudden appearance of such a treasure before the veil's extinguishing had led even the most exceptional beings to forsake all else in pursuit of it.

The 'Xiaoyao Zhou,' renowned for traversing all higher spirit worlds, could reach realms even the immortals couldn't. Once, someone navigated it into the highest spirit world and harvested two celestial herbs, establishing an unparalleled foundation.

Cao Qingyu's expression turned serious as he added, "Not just that, the 'Ren Shi Jian' has also been sighted, its brilliant sword light briefly slicing open the realm of the immortals in a soon-to-be-extinguished veil."

The group was visibly shaken, their expressions changing dramatically.

"The 'Ren Shi Jian' has appeared too? It's been missing for countless years and was rumored to be in the mortal world, not beyond the veil," someone remarked. Rumored to be indestructible, capable of cutting through the veil itself, obtaining this treasure could free the immortals from their confinement.

The 'Ren Shi Jian,' 'Xiaoyao Zhou,' 'Yangsheng Lu,' 'Yuhua Fan,' and several other treasures each possessed unique and extraordinary powers, surpassing all other artifacts.

The simultaneous emergence of two such treasures was unprecedented and astonishing.

"Could this be misinformation, or deliberately misleading? The 'Ren Shi Jian' shouldn't be appearing beyond the veil," someone speculated.

Cao Qingyu shook his head, "It seems genuine. An immortal being was severely wounded by its sword qi, something ordinary weapons couldn't achieve."

"The world is in turmoil. The appearance of these two treasures marks an unprecedented event. Whoever obtains one might just survive the extinction of the mythological era and preserve their transcendent powers."

Meanwhile, Kong Yun, Huang Ming, and other descendants of mythical beings also discussed the matter, wondering how two such treasures could emerge at the end of an era, offering a glimmer of hope in desperate times.

"Our demon clan's exceptional being, as reported, was planning to cross the veil, but stopped to pursue the 'Ren Shi Jian.' If she obtains it, she can undoubtedly carve her way out of the immortal realm on her own strength," Kong Yun murmured in awe, recalling how the peerless demon immortal once vied for the 'Yangsheng Lu,' frightening various clans into retreat and personally slaying exceptional beings.

Now, as she prepares to act again, the situation beyond the veil stirs dramatically.

"That's Wang Xuan," a woman beside Zhou Shiqi pointed out, indicating the young man in the distance whom Shiqi had been eager to meet.

Despite the recent appearances of the 'Ren Shi Jian' and 'Xiaoyao Zhou,' not everyone who obtains such treasures might be willing to lead others from different factions out of the veil.

Any exceptional being who masters such a treasure instantly becomes invincible, free to roam all realms unopposed, posing a grave threat to others.

Therefore, some ancestral masters have abandoned the struggle for these treasures, opting to enter the mortal world directly.

"How can we persuade him to help us and invite our ancestral master across the veil?" Zhou Shiqi pondered, her delicate nose wrinkling in thought.

"Of course, by marrying him," a woman playfully suggested. "An immortal beauty of renown from the immortal realm marrying a mortal would surely entice him."

Another girl nodded in agreement, "Exactly, a near-celestial beauty from the immortal realm becoming the companion of a mortal, what could he possibly be dissatisfied with?"

"Don't speak nonsense," Shiqi chided, her pert nose crinkling. While some in her faction advocated a conciliatory approach, others considered alternate strategies.

"Such a pity, though, he's just a newcomer to the transcendent realm, unworthy of Shiqi," someone remarked.

Moreover, she analyzed that after assisting in summoning their ancestral master, Wang Xuan's inner landscape might be ruined, likely reducing him to a mere mortal.

“Well, he does have a good track record. But if he can’t use the treasures, he’s useless due to his low cultivation level.”

It was apparent that Wang Xuan’s secrets had been revealed to the descendents of the Immortals. They wanted to recruit him. They were able to guess that he had a unique Inner Landscape. But not many of them guessed that he unlocked it when he was still a mortal, as such an implication would be scary.

......

"I'll provoke him, and if he doesn't use any mystical treasures, I'll quickly defeat him and take him away!" declared a handsome young man from Cao Qingyu's camp, preparing to challenge Wang Xuan. In their camp, there was growing impatience amidst the changing dynamics following the curtain's fall.

"Are you Wang Xuan?" the young man approached, his demeanor light and his smile gentle. "To cultivate to such a level in an era of declining transcendence is quite remarkable. I have the utmost respect for talents like you and am eager for an opportunity to spar with you. May I have the honor?" Dressed in flowing white robes, he moved with an ethereal grace, coming close to where Wang Xuan and Zhong Cheng stood.

Everyone's gaze turned towards them, aware that this was no ordinary figure. He had once reached the grand realm of 'Xiaoyao You' in the higher world behind the curtain.

"Oh, and who might you be?" Wang Xuan inquired, looking at him.

"I am Jiang Yuan," the young man in white responded with a smile.

"Someone from Cao Qingyu's faction, a direct descendant of the immortals. Be careful, Wang," Zhong Cheng cautioned. His confidence in Wang Xuan was strong, but facing the reality of the opponent's origin, his assurance waned.

"Wang Xuan, don't engage," urged Zhong Qing, who had spent most of her time hiding in Old Zhong's study due to the many who sought her. Particularly Cao Qingyu's unsettling glances and his invasive spiritual energy made her wary and reluctant to engage with him.

Unlike Zhong Cheng, she didn't feel the need to confront Cao Qingyu. While she believed in Wang Xuan's capabilities, she feared he might not stand a chance against the descendants of the immortals.

"Little Qing," greeted Zhou Shiqi with a sweet smile, walking over with a light, elegant gait.

Zhong Qing returned the smile. Zhou Shiqi exuded a refined, otherworldly charm, which both awed and disheartened Zhong Qing.

Standing together, both women were strikingly beautiful and elegant, captivating those around them.

"Brother Wang, I sincerely wish to exchange insights," said Jiang Yuan earnestly. "Please forgive my obsession with martial arts. I'm curious about a transcendent being born in an age where cultivation is fading. May we spar?"

"Certainly," Wang Xuan agreed with a smile, to the surprise of many. Despite his undeniable skills, his cultivation level was relatively lower, and onlookers wondered if he could deliver an unexpected performance.

"Actually, we're not so different. I've broken over a dozen bones and they're still healing, and my spirit is also injured. At most, I'm at the 'Caiyao' realm," Jiang Yuan said with a smile.

Wang Xuan just smiled in response, saying nothing.

Zhong Qing glared at her brother, suspecting he had egged Wang Xuan on.

"Don't worry, we're here. Nothing unexpected will happen," Zhou Shiqi whispered reassuringly, her past near-divine status lending her confidence.

Only a few, like Cao Qingyu and Kong Yun, could rival her in the gathering. As one of the outstanding descendants of the immortals, Zhou Shiqi was undoubtedly a prominent figure from behind the curtain.

Suddenly, the two began their confrontation.

Jiang Yuan, clad in his fluttering white robe, moved like lightning. He seemed to teleport, leaving an afterimage in his original spot. His right hand shot out, fingers splayed, emitting a blinding sword light aimed at Wang Xuan. Simultaneously, his left palm released a beam of light, laced with faint runes, wrapping around Wang Xuan like chains.

He struck like thunder, hoping to end the fight swiftly. Capturing Wang Xuan instantly would be ideal, to use him as a conduit for crossing realms.

However, he was overly optimistic.

Wang Xuan activated the stone tablet scripture, his body radiating a dazzling secret power. He formed hand seals like blooming lotuses, unleashing terrifying transcendent energy.

"Seal, break!" he thundered, uttering these two true words. Jiang Yuan's attacks were instantly nullified, his sword light dimming as if frozen, and his light chains halted, hanging silently in mid-air.

As Wang Xuan's hand gestures changed, the 'Seal' transformed into 'Break', shattering the sword light and breaking the light chains. With a loud thump, his hand seal hit Jiang Yuan, sending him flying back, blood spilling from his mouth in disbelief.

"How is this possible?" Jiang Yuan, a descendant of the immortals and a practitioner of immortal techniques, felt a primal fear facing Wang Xuan's true words, as if a herbivore facing a predator.

"What technique is he practicing?" Jiang Yuan wondered, his heart pounding with curiosity and doubt.

Wang Xuan didn't reveal that he was using the highest scriptures, for which even the immortals behind the curtain had once fought to the death, with supreme masters perishing because of it.

The crowd was astounded. Jiang Yuan, a descendant of the immortals and a master from behind the curtain, had been defeated so cleanly?

Many were speechless, their eyes filled with newfound respect for Wang Xuan, who had exceeded their expectations.

"After last night's collapse of the transcendent aftereffects, he wasn't affected?" Huang Ming whispered from a distance, knowing Wang Xuan's background well.

Was Wang Xuan not weakened by the changing environment but instead had grown stronger? Huang Ming was dumbfounded at this revelation.

"In this world, to achieve this level, he truly is an anomaly," someone near Zhou Shiqi murmured, finding Wang Xuan's performance exceedingly unusual.

Zhong Qing was stunned, not expecting Wang Xuan to defeat a descendant of the immortals so swiftly.

Zhou Shiqi, once almost divine herself, was equally surprised. How did Wang Xuan cultivate to such a level in this world?

"Old Wang, awesome!" Zhong Cheng exclaimed, feeling exhilarated. Even descendants of immortals were no match here.

A young man in a T-shirt and jeans from Cao Qingyu's group stepped forward, challenging, "Let me spar with you."

From outside the lawn, another voice called out, "Enough already, one after another, when will it end? If you insist on fighting, then spar with me. In this world, there's not only Wang Xuan but also a 'Chen Patriarch.'"

A young man radiating Buddha's light, majestic and divine, approached, wielding a black sword about one and a half meters long.

The man in the T-shirt and jeans didn't stop but instead asked, "Monk, you want to spar with me?"

Without a word, Chen Yongjie drew his long sword and struck, bathed in a brilliant Buddha's light like an angry deity.

Sword clashing and Buddha's light surging, Chen Yongjie overwhelmed the man. After several clashes, he placed his sword at the man's neck, drawing a line of blood. One more push, and the head would fall.

"Take note, I'm a patriarch of this world, not a Buddha. Watch your words!" Chen Yongjie sternly warned his family nearby!

His confidence was genuine, unfazed whether his opponent was a descendant of immortals or not, because, in ancient times, he indeed would have been a patriarch.

The scene fell silent, awe-struck. Two seemingly ordinary transcendents had just dominated their group?