The Stars Beyond

Chapter 296: Who Is Burning Papers On The Other Side?

The Nourishing Furnace, simple yet profound, shrouded in a hazy mist, emerged from the highly spiritual Inner Landscape and entered the real world. "You're finally out," Wang Xuan whispered, recalling how the artifact once barricaded his Inner Landscape.

His heart raced, knowing the furnace's deceptive weight; a few months back, just its lid had obliterated several cultivators. Fearful that it might shatter his Life Soil, the core of all his practices, he watched anxiously. To his relief, the furnace settled quietly without causing any destruction, as if the Life Soil existed beyond the physical realm.

Rushing into his Life Soil, Wang Xuan found the furnace emitting a faint mist, nurturing the main root of a celestial herb nearby. The furnace, known to harvest and enhance the quality of herbs, seemed to invigorate his Life Soil, promising stronger and more transformative growth for the planted root.

Wang Xuan sighed in relief. The Nourishing Furnace's presence in his Life Soil was a significant boon. However, he wondered what prompted it to leave the Inner Landscape. Was it the accelerating decay of the mythic world, or some new calamity?

Sensing trouble with the 'Celestial Bone Can,' corresponding to another decaying Inner Landscape, Wang Xuan hurried to assist. With Chen Yongjie and Zhong Yong struggling to evacuate others, the situation was dire. Wang Xuan swiftly guided Zhong Qing, Professor Lin, and others to the safety of his Inner Landscape.

"That was terrifying," Qin Cheng exclaimed, shaken by the collapse of an entire Inner Landscape. "It's like witnessing the end of the world, a life-sustaining planet disintegrating, leaving no escape." The sudden demise of that realm had instilled a profound sense of despair.

"Where are we? It feels like I've ascended to immortality. Is it snowing here, with mystical particles falling directly on me without any guidance needed?" Zhong Cheng stood bewildered, catching the mysterious substances with an incredulous expression.

"The decline of transcendence, the decay of Inner Landscapes mirroring the demise of myths, and even the Celestials facing the fate of becoming mortals... yet this place thrives with vitality," mused Old Zhong, awestruck by the serene land where the only sound was the gentle descent of mystical particles, blanketing the ground like a heavy snowfall.

He turned to Wang Xuan, puzzled by the extraordinary scene. As someone who had regained consciousness long ago and kept abreast of external affairs, Old Zhong was aware of the covetous eyes from various factions beyond the veil, all eager to capture Wang Xuan for their own means. Yet, the uniqueness of this Inner Landscape was beyond his expectations.

Battling his thoughts, Old Zhong contemplated staying to bask in the glory of this Inner Landscape, but he ultimately decided against it, considering the dangers that lay ahead, especially with the imminent return of formidable beings from the Celestials.

"You need to be careful," Old Zhong warned Wang Xuan, foreseeing the inevitable storm that would engulf him due to the secrets he harbored.

"Is this like transcending into another world? Does this count as a form of ascension?" pondered Zhong Qing, marveling at the spiritual journey from a realm of decay to one brimming with new life.

Without wasting time, everyone resumed their cultivation. In an era of scarcity, the richness of this place was invaluable.

Wang Xuan, now firmly in the Harvesting Realm, contemplated his future path. In this Inner Landscape, where time seemed captive, everyone had ample opportunity to meditate, cultivate, and comprehend their essence.

Meanwhile, their physical bodies in the external world were also being nourished, as the mystical substances infused them, enhancing their physiques rapidly.

If one observed closely, they would notice the expulsion of toxins from everyone's bodies, each person exuding a strong odor, including the usually meticulous Zhong Qing. Their metabolic processes were terrifyingly fast, with hearts beating like war drums, signifying a peculiar evolutionary phase in the competition of all things.

The infusion of mystical particles improved their flesh and blood, elongating their telomeres and effectively prolonging their lifespan. Even the tiniest impurities were being expelled in large quantities.

Wang Xuan sat in meditation, his mind conjuring various scriptures, seeking his path in this era of waning transcendence. He revisited the enigmatic Five-Colored Jade Book, but found it too abstruse and possibly erroneous for his current understanding.

Eventually, he focused on the golden bamboo scripts from Old Zhong’s collection. Having mastered one set before, he was determined to unravel this one, hoping to find a way — a lifeline — in these supreme scriptures.

One year, two years, three years passed... In his perception, seven long years seemed to have elapsed within the Inner Landscape. This was, of course, a sensory illusion.

Throughout this time, Wang Xuan remained deeply engrossed in studying the golden bamboo scripts from Old Zhong's collection, completely immersed and seemingly cut off from the outside world.

He couldn’t understand the script's text at first and relied on spiritual resonance to grasp its true meanings. This suggested that the scripture was highly subjective, presenting a vast world of spiritual imprints beyond conventional description or explanation.

After wandering and pondering through the world of this scripture for what felt like seven years, Wang Xuan gradually pierced the veil of mystery to comprehend its essence.

"No wonder it felt so out of place; it's entirely different from the other set of bamboo scripts," he realized. The set obtained from the Sun family emphasized combat, focusing on the interaction between spirit and body, using the physical form to elevate the spirit.

In contrast, the scripts from the Zhong family outlined an entirely different system, seemingly from a distinct era, focusing on the art and techniques. It began with the fundamentals, explaining the use of various transcendent materials, deciphering their essence, and arranging these elements spiritually to construct the most effective "formulas" to maximize supernatural powers.

The bamboo scripts from Old Zhong's collection, comprised of twenty-seven pieces, were truly extraordinary. They delved into the heart of art and technique, forming various transcendent formulas. These models, once perfected and continuously extrapolated, would naturally evolve into extremely terrifying constructs. This indicated that the formation of techniques and the derivation of divine powers were all about perfecting these models into formidable structures, showcasing a powerful and fearsome path.

This particular set of scripts used the spirit to build various transcendent formulas, strengthening the spirit first and then leading to the enhancement of the body. "This is the process of the evolution and formation of Daoist methods," Wang Xuan mused, recognizing the profoundness of the scripts. They seemed to belong to a different system entirely, possibly not even from the same era as the other set.

He wondered if, with the decline of transcendence, there would still be a place for such scriptures. "Can other types of energy replace the transcendent materials mentioned here?" Wang Xuan pondered, though he suspected it would be challenging.

Ultimately, with the demise of the mythical age, he feared all these scriptures might become obsolete. Relying solely on the vitality of his Inner Landscape seemed imprudent, especially considering the darkest times had yet to come. Even the supreme beings from behind the great curtains, still mighty now, were predicted to fall and become mere mortals in the future.

Refusing to be disheartened, Wang Xuan resolved to continue on his path, building upon the foundation of the ancients' supreme scriptures to seek a way forward. This particular scripture was indeed mysterious and profound, and he seriously doubted whether the four golden bamboo scripts were from the same era.

As a matter of fact, the great practitioner and ferryman Xu Fu had also mentioned the uniqueness of these scriptures, with unknown origins. "Arranging the transcendent material particles as described in the scripts is challenging, but I might be able to do it more efficiently," Wang Xuan realized.

His Spiritual Eye allowed him to see through various particles clearly, simplifying the process. The scripts mentioned that those with rare transcendental eyes were well-suited for this path; otherwise, it would be exceedingly difficult. Fortunately, Wang Xuan possessed all the necessary rare elements.

In the Inner Landscape, he studied the bamboo scripts, arranging mystical particles and attempting to construct simple models of techniques. Afterward, his spirit briefly returned to his physical body, and with a flick of his finger, he sent a ball of fire into the courtyard's fishpond. The pond instantly evaporated into a pool of magma, showcasing the immense power he had just harnessed.

In his realm of mastery, Wang Xuan had already honed the ability to command the forces of lightning and real fire, a testament to his prowess in harnessing the supernatural. Yet, after he reconfigured these forces, their potency surged remarkably, while requiring fewer mystical particles — a feat that left him profoundly astounded. This breakthrough implied not only a more efficient utilization of transcendent matter but also a significant enhancement in his prowess within his current level.

Immersed in various ancient scriptures, Wang Xuan had encountered numerous techniques and divine powers. These were, in essence, the manifestations of complex structures, ingeniously woven from transcendent matter. "The techniques and divine powers crafted by predecessors, built from transcendent elements, now serve as invaluable blueprints for me," he mused, seeing them as a foundation for validation and emulation.

This path he trod was resplendent with potential. If he could thoroughly comprehend and decipher these esoteric teachings, who would he fear at his level? Even as once-supreme beings faced their descent, he felt undaunted in the face of comparable realms.

Once again, Wang Xuan's spirit ventured into the Inner Landscape, a domain where he had already spent seven years in meditative contemplation. Now, as he delved deeper into this tranquil and enigmatic realm, he relaxed slightly and commenced a meticulous exploration.

The Inner Landscape, as enshrined in the annals of ancient lore, remained shrouded in mystery. Descriptions varied, often veiled in cryptic language, and many phenomena eluded even their chroniclers' understanding. Some theories even suggested that the Inner Landscape might encompass more than one layer.

Arriving at the uttermost depths and navigating through the mists, Wang Xuan encountered a boundary wall. Gazing through the coarse stone with his Spiritual Eye, he discerned a blurred figure accompanied by a faint, sorrowful weeping.

Instantly unsettled by this scene, he pondered the peculiar circumstances. Amidst a small fire, the figure's silhouette was blurred, surrounded by what seemed like numerous burning papers, accompanied by the sound of crying.

Astonished and with a rising sense of dread, Wang Xuan questioned who could be mourning and burning ritual paper money in this remote locale. He recalled the enigmatic realm he had accessed through the mist of his Life Soil, where silent showers of paper money descended from the darkened sky above. "Who are you, and for how many years have you wept? Why have you come here, bringing your sorrow to startle me?" he wondered, feeling a shiver run down his spine at the haunting tableau.