The Stars Beyond

Chapter 293: Finally, Entry Into Old Zhong’s Study

The black chain on Wang Xuan's body was just one, but even after breaking, it did not fall off. Instead, it moved like a living entity, continuing its attempt to burrow into Wang Xuan's body. His blood flowed more freely, staining his torn clothes and dripping onto the ground, creating a chilling sight.

No one could see what it was; it seemed like an invisible entity had ensnared him, intent on taking him away. "A Spectral Spirit?" Wang Xuan's first thought was of this peculiar creature. Only visible to the Spiritual Eye, the black chain might be their doing.

Suddenly, the seven blood-colored swords descended again, seeking to pierce through his body. "This is a curse, formless and intangible. It must be removed quickly," Cao Qingyu spoke up, warning that Wang Xuan's life was in danger if not dealt with swiftly.

Zhou Shiqi commented, "If the transcendent world hadn't collapsed, this phenomenon could be explained. There are several immortal methods capable of causing this, but now, those near-rule techniques are unusable." Many exquisite techniques of the immortals had become mere decorations, ineffective in the current world.

In the modern world, only straightforward techniques like Lion's Roar, Thunder, and Celestial Fire – which directly manipulate transcendent matter – remained functional.

Wang Xuan watched Cao Qingyu closely, ready for combat should he dare to approach in his vulnerable state.

A dazzling crimson light surged from Wang Xuan, swirling around him like a whirlwind. It burned several chains red-hot, shattering and breaking them off. Simultaneously, the seven bright red swords, which had just pierced his skin, were expelled by the force.

Professor Lin hurried over, whispering, "The marks on your body, along with the invisible and intangible nature of your bonds, resemble an immortal technique mentioned in ancient texts – the Binding Immortal Rope."

"Aren't those supposed to be artifacts?" Wang Xuan expressed his surprise.

Chen Yongjie paused, as if recalling something. "Artifacts, too, are derived and cultivated from rules. The original Binding Immortal Rope was a formidable divine technique, involving partial control of the laws of nature, invisible and intangible."

The two elderly men, well-versed in ancient texts due to their connections with wealthy families, speculated based on their readings.

"But how is it possible to utilize the power of transcendent rules in this modern world?" pondered Wang Xuan, as he once again channeled the ancient stone tablet's scripture, melting the black chains and successfully snapping one of the blood-red swords.

"Could it be that someone in this era still has the capability to manipulate rules?" mused Zhou Shiqi from a distance, her astonishment evident. She had also suspected that it was an immortal technique at play.

"If that truly is a divine ability containing a trace of the rules, and he's withstanding it?!" Huang Daxian was in disbelief, deeply shaken by the spectacle.

Meanwhile, Cao Qingyu whispered to his companions, "Perhaps some factions are growing desperate to cross worlds and have resorted to forbidden methods, attempting to forcibly abduct Wang Xuan. To think they could even bring forth the rules, it's both terrifying and astounding. But how?"

Everyone kept their distance, sensing Wang Xuan's readiness to fight to the death if provoked. They were all aware that he likely possessed powerful weapons, making it unwise to anger or cross him at this stage.

Soon, Wang Xuan invoked the Sakyamuni scripture, employing a different technique to continue incinerating the chains and the crimson swords. The sight left the onlookers astounded; the parts of his body that had been tightly bound by the chains began to recover, signifying he was breaking free from the rule-infused bindings.

Not long after, Wang Xuan alternated to the ancient scriptures from the Pre-Qin golden bamboo slips. This strategy of constantly changing techniques proved effective. Astonishingly, dense, glowing characters emerged around him, both within and outside his body, lashing out at the chains and the red swords.

Finally, even the bystanders faintly heard the sound of a sword breaking. Did this mean the invisible and intangible rules were disintegrating?

......

Outside the city of Kun, a figure sighed, "Who would have thought, to deal with a mere mortal, one would have to expend a divine life. This is the tragedy of those who ascended to immortality. In this era, we've lost our former glory."

Two blood-colored figures erected two altars using black mysterious stones on the outskirts of the city. Both altars, one emanating dark light and the other steaming with blood light, were inscribed with complex patterns, exuding an eerie aura.

"The collapse of the mythological world prevents us from employing immortal techniques. We are left with no choice but to consume divine life, extracting the remnants of transcendent rules. It's a desperate measure, drinking poison to quench thirst," one of the figures remarked.

"The bones aren't ours to begin with," the other responded. "To save ourselves, we'll use the power of others."

The so-called divine life referred to the most potent life force remaining in the true bones left by the immortals, a vital substance fundamental to their flesh reconstruction and regeneration.

In the current times, where transcendent rules are almost extinct, only a few remnants persist in the bones of immortals. Now, these two figures were resorting to such means to directly capture Wang Xuan.

"Falling into his hands, the God-Slaying Banner, one of the last remnants of the immortal rules, is our only option. In our current spirit state, we can't approach him otherwise."

Resigned, the once glorious immortals of that special era now found themselves in a dire situation, unable to handle a mortal of the real world.

"God-Slaying Banner, a lost relic from ancient times, should be one of the most powerful artifacts, right? If it and the Self-Slaying Banner appeared together, they would be almost as powerful as those supreme treasures."

"It's said there's a story behind the God-Slaying Banner and the Self-Slaying Banner, now lost to time."

The two figures hastened their efforts at the altars, needing to capture Wang Xuan before the divine life was entirely depleted—a tremendous waste of two pieces of immortal true bones.

"He couldn't possibly withstand it, could he? Why hasn't he been captured yet? Even though it's just a fraction of the rules' power, it shouldn't be something he can resist."

"Unless... he has mastered one of those supreme scriptures rumored to exist!"

......

Trembling, Wang Xuan felt the sting of injury. The 'Binding Immortal Cord' imbued with fragments of rules had burrowed into his flesh, causing his skin to split and flesh to tear. His body bore several bloody holes; except for his head, which he had forcefully protected, the other parts were pierced an inch deep by the blood-red swords.

The crunching sound of breaking chains was constant as he shattered the black iron chains, leaving only a segment he chose to keep, while the blood-red swords lay in fragments.

In an instant, Wang Xuan pulled out a dark golden boat, swiftly boarding it with Chen Yongjie, heading towards a certain direction. The remaining segment of the black chain still exerted a pulling force, attempting to drag him away. This time, Wang Xuan stopped resisting and, propelling the boat at high speed, he moved towards the source.

"There it is, the handiwork of the immortals!" Outside the city of Kun, Wang Xuan spotted the two blood-colored figures and the two altars. It was clear to him what was happening.

"Attack!"

Swords surged, and the flying sword from the golden boat zoomed out, enlarging rapidly and slashing downwards. Simultaneously, Chen Yongjie's bowl radiated billions of luminescent rays, attempting to capture the two figures within it.

"How could this be? He's even withstanding the residual rules from the immortal bones?!" The figures on the ground were dumbstruck; they hadn't anticipated this failure.

"He possesses the supreme scriptures, and he's mastered them!" They were shocked. Merely possessing such scriptures wasn't enough; one had to comprehend and cultivate them.

How could a mere mortal achieve such a feat? Yet, they had no time to ponder as they turned to flee, unwilling to clash with the two in the air.

"Think you can escape?" Chen Yongjie spoke, tossing his robe which transformed into a vast red cloud, blanketing the sky and blocking the path of the two figures. As the giant sword slashed, the bowl emitted light, and numerous wondrous treasures and auspicious radiances bombarded the blood-colored figures.

Wang Xuan, not wanting to waste time or attract attention to their battle, brandished the God-Slaying Banner. With a swift motion, he stripped the true bones from the figures.

Boom!

As the banner unfurled, it shattered a major part of the two figures' spirits.

Chen Yongjie stood in a daze before quickly activating his robe to cover the remaining spirit fragments, capturing them and tossing them into his bowl.

"Speak, which faction do you belong to?"

Inside the bowl, the two fragmented spirits emanated a desolate air. It was indeed a tragic fate for the descendants of the immortals – once so glorious and powerful, now suppressed by a mortal. They gazed at the God-Slaying Banner Wang Xuan had just retracted, momentarily lost in thought. They could only shake their heads, lamenting the depletion of transcendence. This reemergence of such a relic was inexplicable.

"The demise of the immortals is inevitable; no one can escape it. This is a sad and hopeless era!" they said bitterly, laughing in despair before disintegrating of their own accord.

"They're gone, and we couldn't get anything out of them," Chen Yongjie lamented.

"Let's go and open up the Inner Landscape. Our strength is still lacking. Today, I almost died at their hands," Wang Xuan stated, sensing the approaching threats.

The world was growing increasingly chaotic. Old Zhong planned to flee, the immortals were eager to cross worlds, and truly dangerous figures were emerging. The New World was becoming ever more perilous.

Chen Yongjie nodded in agreement. "The situation is indeed getting grim. I need to find the lotus pod and get the seeds of the Earth Immortal Spring. Then we should also make a quick escape. The New World is no longer safe."

Soon, Zhou Shiqi, Cao Qingyu, Kong Yun, and others arrived at the scene to find the battle already over. They were momentarily stunned, marveling at the efficiency and ruthlessness with which the two had dispatched their foes.

"Disperse, there's nothing left to see here," Chen Yongjie waved his hand dismissively.

Wang Xuan, maneuvering the flying boat, returned instantly to the Zhong family's residence in Kun City.

"Is everything resolved?" Lin Professor and Qin Cheng approached, both visibly concerned.

"It's all taken care of," Wang Xuan nodded in affirmation.

The Zhong siblings were immensely shocked. The immortal's methods, a curse from the shadows, had been swiftly cleared by Wang Xuan.

Zhong Qing whispered to Wang Xuan, "My great-grandfather wants to see you."

"Old Zhong... he really has been alive all this time, just hiding and not willing to show himself. Probably planning to escape and leave us to deal with the aftermath, right?" Chen Yongjie spoke up, his expression darkening slightly. It wasn't his first time being implicated by Zhong Yong's actions.

Back in the Earth Immortal City, he and Wang Xuan had fought desperately outside the city, engaging in life-and-death battles and fleeing for their lives, while Old Zhong was comfortably enjoying monkey wine and fraternizing with demons and spirits within the city.

Leading the way, Zhong Qing guided them to a vital area of the Zhong family residence – Old Zhong's study.

Wang Xuan was filled with a sense of nostalgia, having longed for this place for an indeterminate amount of time. Ever since the Old World, he had been constantly thinking about it, and only today had he finally arrived.

"A wish come true, I've worked hard for this moment," Wang Xuan remarked with a sigh.

Zhong Qing glanced at him, realizing that he had indeed been fixated on this place all along.