The Stars Beyond

Chapter 298: Demons Unleashed

In the vastness of outer space, a massive fleet, with its cold metallic sheen, soared like a steel cloud, descending rapidly towards the New World. Wang Xuan sat in the command room, introspecting, his gaze fixed on the Nurturing Furnace. Had it sensed something, causing its disturbance?

“If the top figures among the Immortals return, you must not act rashly in their presence, or it could spell disaster,” he spoke sternly. If beings like Zheng Yuantian or the Red Garbed Demoness discovered this treasure in his possession, they would surely hunt him relentlessly.

The departure of the Zhong family, abandoning the New World to venture into deep space, was akin to an earthquake and a tsunami, sending shockwaves across the world. There was no bigger news than this. The super-wealthy Zhong family, without a backward glance, had embarked on a journey to the cosmic depths.

The Zhong family’s enterprises spanned various industries. Despite professional managers at the helm and a few family members staying behind, their departure still created a tempestuous storm. Both psychologically and in reality, there hadn’t been a more significant impact in recent times.

Deep space detectors captured the fleet’s departure – the cold warships, the immense fleet, silently venturing far. The footage was brief, the ships soon reduced to mere specks against the vast backdrop of space, before disappearing into the cosmic void.

“Old Zhong... has fled!” someone murmured, not particularly surprised, as it was quite characteristic of Zhong Yong.

In fact, many families had contingency plans. The return of the Immortals, myth permeating reality, and those unseen spiritual entities had instilled deep apprehension in them.

“Even Zhong Yong fears the calamity of the Immortals, decisively forsaking everything on New World to preserve his life,” was the common sentiment.

The Zhong family's retreat to the stars deeply affected other major organizations. A wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him, and those contemplating withdrawal were now restless.

The ordinary people were stunned, then gripped by a sense of dread. Even the super-wealthy were fleeing – what did it mean for them?

“We’ve idealized the Immortals too much. Tales of the Moon Goddess, the Magpie Bridge on Qixi, and the Legend of the White Snake – all those beautiful, enchanting myths are just exceptions. The true return of the Immortals is bound to be terrifying!”

In every city in the New World, people hotly debated this development. Its psychological impact was as profound as a Category 20 hurricane, whipping up oceans and ravaging the land.

"People, myths are not all about immortals; there are also demons and monsters. Aren't there countless tales of ancient creatures devouring humans? If they return, entire cities could be slaughtered."

"Exactly. Haven't we read about those monstrous beings and terrifying scenes in the ancient texts? They often depict desolation and extinction. In certain eras, they devoured entire city populations!"

On this day, the air was thick with apprehension. The thought of an impending apocalypse loomed over many, and no longer did anyone speak of joining the immortal ranks or becoming a sword immortal. After all, even the super-wealthy were fleeing. The general public, along with professionals from all fields, were in a state of panic, indicating the severity of the situation.

"I need to leave New World. Maybe to New Moon, no, perhaps to Old World. Can't we escape if we can't face it?"

"Don't be foolish. Old World is constantly shrouded in dark clouds, with relentless blood-red lightning. Tornadoes and all manner of demons, ghosts, and immortals are queuing up to cross over."

"Yes, Old World is even more dangerous. Remember, it's one of the mythological sources, teeming with demon tombs. Those horror stories you hear? Most occurred in the ancient Old World!"

The people were overwhelmed. Was there truly no escape? Were demons and monsters to reign everywhere?

The beings from behind the great curtain were growing restless. At this stage, they didn't want New World thrown into chaos, hoping for a smooth transition. Some factions were making rapid, decisive moves in the shadows, seizing control and preparing for the future. Yet, some were worried. What if, in the near future, the erosion of time wiped out all mythic attributes, reducing them to mere mortals? Would the people of New World then erupt in a violent backlash against them?

"Could this be a ploy by some conglomerates to manipulate public sentiment and stir up chaos?" wondered the beings from beyond the curtain.

During this period, descendants of the Immortals like Kong Yun, Zhou Shiqian, Cao Qingyu, Chen Yan, and Huang Ming stepped forward to quell the rumors.

"Where are these man-eating monsters now? The real bloodthirsty beasts were eradicated in ancient times. Now, anyone daring to massacre a city would face the united wrath of the Immortals."

They held press conferences and clarified on various platforms, even sharing secrets and truths about the world beyond the curtain. This certainly captivated many, arousing curiosity about the true nature of the immortal realm and the reality behind the myths.

......

"People, myths are not all about immortals; there are also demons and monsters. Aren't there countless tales of ancient creatures devouring humans? If they return, entire cities could be slaughtered."

"Exactly. Haven't we read about those monstrous beings and terrifying scenes in the ancient texts? They often depict desolation and extinction. In certain eras, they devoured entire city populations!"

On this day, the air was thick with apprehension. The thought of an impending apocalypse loomed over many, and no longer did anyone speak of joining the immortal ranks or becoming a sword immortal. After all, even the super-wealthy were fleeing. The general public, along with professionals from all fields, were in a state of panic, indicating the severity of the situation.

"I need to leave New World. Maybe to New Moon, no, perhaps to Old World. Can't we escape if we can't face it?"

"Don't be foolish. Old World is constantly shrouded in dark clouds, with relentless blood-red lightning. Tornadoes and all manner of demons, ghosts, and immortals are queuing up to cross over."

"Yes, Old World is even more dangerous. Remember, it's one of the mythological sources, teeming with demon tombs. Those horror stories you hear? Most occurred in the ancient Old World!"

The people were overwhelmed. Was there truly no escape? Were demons and monsters to reign everywhere?

The beings from behind the great curtain were growing restless. At this stage, they didn't want New World thrown into chaos, hoping for a smooth transition. Some factions were making rapid, decisive moves in the shadows, seizing control and preparing for the future.

Yet, some were worried. What if, in the near future, the erosion of time wiped out all mythic attributes, reducing them to mere mortals? Would the people of New World then erupt in a violent backlash against them?

"Could this be a ploy by some conglomerates to manipulate public sentiment and stir up chaos?" wondered the beings from beyond the curtain.

During this period, descendants of the Immortals like Kong Yun, Zhou Shiqian, Cao Qingyu, Chen Yan, and Huang Ming stepped forward to quell the rumors.

"Where are these man-eating monsters now? The real bloodthirsty beasts were eradicated in ancient times. Now, anyone daring to massacre a city would face the united wrath of the Immortals."

They held press conferences and clarified on various platforms, even sharing secrets and truths about the world beyond the curtain.

This certainly captivated many, arousing curiosity about the true nature of the immortal realm and the reality behind the myths.

The large battleship descended at one of the Zhong family's bases, a place that now felt eerily empty. However, it still retained some resources, enough to supply the battleship for a short period. Wang Xuan knew he couldn't personally afford the astronomical costs of maintaining such a colossal ship, as every moment of its operation burned through a fortune.

Gazing towards the distant Kun City, he observed the Zhong family estate, their former stronghold, now enveloped in a mix of demonic miasma, Buddhist radiance, and immortal mist. Undoubtedly, the Zhong family's secret treasury had become a coveted prize for many, especially after the Pool of Rebirth vanished and the higher-ups of the Zhong family had departed, leaving the place to be occupied by supernatural beings.

Wang Xuan felt no regret. Before escorting the Zhong family away, he, along with Chen Yongjie and Zhong Yong, had raided the treasury, taking their pick of valuable items. For instance, he found a piece of "living gold" that perfectly restored Zheng Wu's top-grade mystic treasure – the Soul Chain, which had broken into three pieces during a transdimensional journey.

Additionally, he acquired a Soul Armor, swirling with black and white qi, ancient and Dao-filled, far surpassing any armor he had obtained before.

As for old Zhong and Chen Yongjie, they too secured potent items like the Five-Colored Soul Garment, the Mountain and River Seal, and the Enlightenment Mirror. Being the landowner, old Zhong naturally walked away with a trove of treasures.

Chen Yongjie had already set off in search of the lotus pod, feeling confident about his prospects this time.

"Hoping the few True Immortals of the Zheng family come through quickly, sending us the Five-Colored Soil and Immortal Nectar from Mount Bu Zhou. Both old Chen and I are waiting to plant medicinal herbs," Wang Xuan pondered.

After his return, Wang Xuan planned to rendezvous with Chen Yongjie and undertake a final "sweep" of New World. There were still many treasures left on the planet, and he didn't intend to leave them all for the Immortals.

"Even though it won't be long before these items might just become mere relics, mere collectibles, they're extremely useful right now."

......

Beneath a vast expanse of cloud seas in the realm beyond the Great Curtain, lay a broad mountain range, ancient woods, millennium-old trees, and thick vines. Deep within these mountains, an area steeped in rising blood mist painted the clouds crimson. It was as if a being was breathing there – each inhalation draining the blood clouds from the sky, and each exhalation causing mountains to tremble, with blood rising into the clouds, forming a sea of mist.

This place was the dwelling of a fearsome demon, a renowned supreme being in the Immortal Realm – Qi Yi. His true form was unknown, but his power was unquestionably terrifying. Not long ago, he pursued another treasure, the Xiaoyao Boat, slaying a peer in the process and sending shockwaves throughout the Immortal Realm. However, he failed to capture the elusive treasure, which vanished as quickly as it appeared, eluding even beings of his caliber.

After completing his breath control exercises, his voice echoed from the mountains, “We must hasten the matters in the mortal realm. I'm not concerned about the process, only the results. I need the scriptures I seek, and a territory of my own. Let’s avoid causing major upheavals.”

In ancient times, he was a notorious monster, infamous for decimating cities and turning a living planet into a bloodbathed wasteland. Indeed, such malevolent beings existed in the past!

This time, instead of returning to that planet, he intended to descend upon New World. Compared to ancient times, his ferocity had waned, and he was unwilling to provoke chaos, yet some aspects of his nature remained unchanged.

Not just him, but other supreme beings were also instructing their subordinates in the Immortal Realm to prepare for the crossing into the mortal realm, or to get ready for what was to come.

As for themselves, they were still reluctant to give up the pursuit of treasures like the Renjian Sword and the Xiaoyao Boat, continuing their search and contention.

“Aha, the Five-Colored Jade Scripture! Finding it is my utmost priority,” he muttered.

Elsewhere in the realm beyond the Curtain, atop a celestial expanse dotted with splendid palaces and heavenly abodes, a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a red mark between her eyebrows sat cross-legged in a grand central palace. Enveloped in immortal mist, her presence was ethereal, surrounded by an aura of the Great Dao and interwoven rules. She was another formidable being, known as the Ling Luan Fairy, a name that belied her significant origin.

The top factions of the Immortal Realm were all mobilizing, preparing for their entry into the mortal world. The incursion of these beings from beyond the Curtain into reality was bound to stir various problems.

......

Leaving Kun City, Wang Xuan pondered over the far-reaching implications of the Zhong family's departure. Would other financial conglomerates follow suit? Would the immortals make a move in response?

"Will the Zhao family leave too? How is Old Zhao doing recently?" he wondered, considering it wise to visit Zhao Zejun, the father of Zhao Qinghan, given the complexity of the current situation.

His thoughts inevitably drifted to Zhao Qinghan and Wu Yin in the secret realm. Why hadn't they returned yet? That detestable Black Fox, always failing to keep its word. "Old Fox, are you waiting for me to come and fetch them myself?" he mused, gazing towards the distant sky.

On his way, his phone rang, displaying Qian An's name – a respectable elder. However, to his surprise, the call disconnected after just one ring. Wang Xuan redialed, and after a while, a weary Qian An answered, "Wang, I just had a thought. Old Zhong actually fled, and I wanted to talk to you about it, get some details. But then, I thought better of it. That's just how Zhong is."

After the brief call, Wang Xuan frowned and pocketed his phone. Looking up, he noticed two giant birds circling in the distant sky. One was entirely golden, about ten meters long, and the other, a similar-sized azure bird, both radiating a demonic aura.

Startled, Wang Xuan realized that the world was already teeming with such demonic beings. These creatures were undoubtedly monsters, beings from beyond the veil. On New Star, the presence of monsters and descendants of the immortals was becoming increasingly common. He suspected that the situation in the Old Earth was probably even more severe.

Continuing his journey, he planned to visit Old Zhao, and on the way, he intended to stop by Su City to check on Qian An, whom he had just spoken to over the phone.

Approaching Su City, Wang Xuan turned his gaze toward a serene estate on the outskirts, where Qian An resided, nestled next to a Taoist temple – a peaceful haven ideal for retirement. "Old Qian has always been kind-hearted," Wang Xuan mused, "After this parting, who knows when we will meet again."

He remembered the Hall of Nourishment – a gift from Qian An, and their first major acquisition of ancient texts had occurred in Qian's Taoist temple, where Qian An had generously allowed them to peruse a vast collection of scriptures.

When Chen Yongjie was critically wounded by an arrow from an ancient red lamp during the Sun family's attack, it was Qian An who had kept Wang Xuan informed, enabling him to rush to the rescue.

Now, Wang Xuan arrived to pay a visit, just a couple of hours after their phone conversation. "My grandfather is unwell; he's just lain down," Qian An's granddaughter greeted him, apologizing for her grandfather's condition.

"I'll take a look, see if I can treat him," Wang Xuan offered, walking towards the house. He had repeatedly extended Qian An's life, who should have been in robust health.

The next moment, Wang Xuan's expression changed dramatically. From outside the house, using his spiritual eye, he could see Qian An's true condition. Only the spiritual eye could reveal the true essence of a person's spirit so vividly.

Qian An's spiritual essence had been largely devoured. He was almost replaced by another entity, his soul quivering and wailing in torment.

Wang Xuan's heart skipped a beat at this cruel and bloody revelation. The entity attempting to replace Qian An was still there, not having departed yet.