The Stars Beyond

Chapter 328: Old Zhang vs Demon King

Wang Xuan scrutinized the business card repeatedly before finally deciding to invite "Old Zhang" over. Collaborating with just one faction seemed precarious; a balancing figure was needed. For this, he required Gu Lin's assistance, as individuals in the old world couldn't directly contact the New World.

Separated by countless star systems, perhaps not even in the same universe, connected by wormholes, ordinary people from both sides couldn't communicate. Gu Lin opened a secret line for him, enabling contact with the New Moon side.

In the territory behind the New World, the secluded abode of the Demon Ancestor was as usual, with the entire mountain range trembling with his breaths, and the blood clouds covering the sky gathering or dispersing with his breaths.

The Demon Ancestor's second son, Qi Lian Dao, tasked with guarding the supreme Demon Pool containing ancestral blood, had once dispatched numerous demons into New World, possessing the upper echelons of financial tycoons. Qian An's death was due to their line of demons. For this reason, Wang Xuan had embarked on a killing spree, hunting the demons of New World alongside Chen Yongjie.

"The old pact has loosened significantly again recently; I will send my second demonic form over!" He decided, preparing for significant actions. Long ago, he practiced a supreme demonic technique, faced danger, and personality split, forcing him to sever a bundle of crazed consciousness.

Yet, unwilling to destroy it, he nurtured it with various demonic blood over the years, retaining it and developing a fleshly body. He even used blood from the Demon Pool to feed the crazed consciousness.

"He's too powerful; crossing over now would still tear him apart. It's not yet time for him to emerge," an elder demon advised.

"The real world is our future foundation; some sacrifices are necessary," Qi Lian Dao stated, adding, "I won't let that bundle of consciousness cross over entirely, just a part of it."

"This could damage his foundation," another great demon remarked.

"To gain something, one must always pay a price," Qi Lian Dao addressed the demons present, saying, "It's time to let some powerful ancient demons cross over. If the true form cannot pass, a manifested form can always be sent, right?" He set an example by splitting off a part of his second demonic form.

That day, amidst thunder and blood-red lightning in a mountain range of New World, the part of Qi Lian Dao's second demonic form that he had split off descended into New World. Born from the crazed consciousness Qi Lian Dao nurtured with various top-tier demonic blood, this being possessed an extremely powerful body.

"I am the true Qi Lian Dao, sadly only a part of me has crossed over, but sooner or later, I will dominate!" he stated calmly, then chuckled, stepping out from the blood-red lightning. Clearly, he was a mad entity, filled with the most primal chaos and blood of the demon race, inheriting the very essence of the original demons.

This was precisely why he was severed from the main consciousness, Qi Lian Dao himself was afraid and did not want his existence. "I am the Lord of Blood and Chaos, Qi Lian Dao, and the future Demon Emperor. Whether it's the main body Qi Lian Dao or the Demon Ancestor Qi Yi, they will eventually be devoured by me."

His calm tone contrasted with his harsh words, revealing the depth of his madness.

Soon after, he located a demon stronghold and without a word, devoured four demon immortals, consuming their blood mist, crushing their true bones, and devouring the immortal essence within their bones. All because he was too powerful, his vitality damaged during the crossing, he now showed no sentimentality and took the immortal essence from fellow demons in his own faction.

Quickly, he subdued all eleven flesh-and-blood demons in that stronghold, none escaped, all were devoured by him completely.

"In pain, indeed, they were my subordinates, but for the sake of a swift recovery and to avoid any mishaps, I had to sacrifice them," he sighed, seemingly with reluctance. Then, he swiftly located the strongest stronghold of demons on New World, meeting with the person in charge to understand the latest situation.

"How could you be so careless? Not only did the possession of the financial tycoon's high-level fail, but you were also bombarded by warships, resulting in deaths and injuries. You are truly... useless!" Qi Lian Dao looked at them, blood veins surfacing in his eyes, instilling fear in the demons as they sensed traces of the Demon Ancestor's presence, prompting them all to kneel.

Sitting there, overlooking the demons, he said, "Rise. Most of the tycoons have fled, and the fleet has entered deep space. New World is no longer of much value. Do as you see fit." He stood up and declared, "I'm heading to Old Earth. There are things of legend waiting for me to claim, and isn't that Wang Xuan also there? I'll take him down. I have a feeling that the Slaying God Banner is fated to be mine, my tool for ascension, capable of helping me through great calamities. It won't be inferior to the ultimate treasures!"

The demons couldn't wait for him to leave immediately, not wanting to face the son of the Demon Ancestor, who exuded a primal aura of blood and chaos. "Book me a ticket to Old Earth," he waved, dismissing the demons.

However, Qi Lian Dao secretly summoned back two demon immortals shrouded in blood mist along with three powerful demons with flesh and started to feed again.

On New Moon, "Old Zhang" hung up the phone, deciding to take a trip to Old Earth. He had two options: one was to depart from New Moon, head to the wormhole at the eighth star in deep space, and from there, transfer to a large spaceship to Old Earth. This was the route Wang Xuan had taken when he came from Old Earth.

"Forget it, I'll just leave from New World," he decided.

......

Behind the scenes, Qi Lian Dao's original form was discussing strategies with ancient demons, including some ancient demon immortals, all of whom were powerful. "Zheng Yuan Tian, a peerless strongman, has gone to the realm corresponding to Old Earth. Such a person's movement is bound to shake the heavens and the earth. Once the altar is activated, whether you send avatars across the boundary or dispatch disciples, extra caution is needed."

"A direct descendant of Heng Jun has also entered Old Earth!" a top-tier demon spoke up.

Qi Lian Dao nodded and said, "Old Earth truly is enchanting. To my knowledge, at least five peerless strongmen are eyeing that place, ready to make their move!"

"Back in the day, the Old Covenant was negotiated and signed on Old Earth. The attention of all the strongest beings to that place, is it related to this?" an ancient demon immortal brought up this piece of history.

"I'll consult my father about this," Qi Lian Dao said, reminding them not to focus all their attention on New World and Old Earth.

"There are also top-tier divine treasures on other mythological planets, and some factions have already started to act, harvesting the heavenly medicines left in the current world from ancient times."

......

On that day, in New World, Qi Lian Dao boarded a large spaceship calmly and sat down with his eyes closed, waiting for the departure. When he opened his eyes again, the spaceship had already entered deep space, and a refined man was sitting beside him, smiling at him.

He nodded in greeting. Although he was inherently mad, he was also situationally low-key and didn't bother to act unless it was worth his while.

"Is there one or two heavenly medicines soaking in the Demon Pool? Is Demon Ancestor Qi Yi trying to induce mutations in them, breaking through the limitations of heavenly medicines to become 'Dao Medicines'?"

Qi Lian Dao turned sharply towards the man when he heard this, as the latter continued to smile warmly, awaiting an answer.

This was interesting; someone dared to inquire about the secrets of the Demon Ancestor.

"Who the hell are you?" Qi Lian Dao asked, no longer keeping his composure. In the current reality, he truly cared for no one.

The refined man simply smiled and said, "Your father, Qi Yi, though older than me, wouldn't dare speak to me like that!"

Qi Lian Dao immediately made a move, preferring action over words, not minding consuming this person's soul right here to replenish himself.

However, the next moment, he was horrified to find his neck grasped by a hand, and once again heard that gentle voice saying, "Calm down."

After a moment, Qi Lian Dao managed a strained smile and said, "Uncle Zhang!"

He became much more polite, all traces of madness and chaos completely vanished.

Afterward, the two of them engaged in a pleasant conversation.

Qi Lian Dao spoke up, "Indeed, there are heavenly medicines in the Demon Pool, but I doubt they can evolve into 'Dao Medicines.' Such a grade of herbs has always been a legend and may not truly exist."

"Old Zhang" chuckled and said, "They do exist, but they are unattainable. Perhaps, your father also knows that cultivating Dao Medicines is unrealistic. Could it be that he's trying to cultivate 'True Medicines' instead, hoping to attract mysterious substances and forces beyond the extraordinary, for the future?"

Qi Lian Dao pondered for a moment before shaking his head, "I don't know."

"How about we collaborate and dig one out to see?"

"Uncle Zhang, please don't force me into a difficult position!"

......

On their journey, the two had a lot of conversations. "Old Zhang" found the company quite enjoyable, while Qi Lian Dao secretly cursed his luck. After disembarking the spacecraft, "Old Zhang" cheerfully cautioned, "Don't go around eating people in Old Earth, or I'll come after you."

Qi Lian Dao watched him leave with a face that fluctuated between shades of displeasure, harboring endless murderous intent deep in his eyes, frustrated at being warned upon his arrival in Old Earth.

Suddenly, he heard Old Zhang's voice from afar, "Oh, and don't wander off. Once we've made a decision, come over to cast your father's vote."

Qi Lian Dao silently exhaled a breath of frustration.

In a certain city, a round-faced girl muttered to herself, "I represent the Demon Sovereign."

Wang Xuan's spacecraft landed in the Greater Khingan Range. After waiting a long time, estimating that Old Zhang was about to arrive at Old Earth, he finally set off into the depths of the forest.

Half a year had passed since his last visit here, and he was about to enter this underground laboratory once again. He felt confident that even if there were unexpected events, he could hold on until Old Zhang arrived.

However, he didn't expect the female alchemist would become hostile. There was no need for that. They could have a private conversation first and then wait for Old Zhang to show up.

Sure enough, the area had become the female alchemist's territory. After Wang Xuan introduced himself, he was quickly allowed entry and invited inside.

He took an elevator down, through modern floors beneath the Greater Khingan Range, filled with technology, until reaching an ancient cavern area and entering the female alchemist's former cave dwelling.

The place had once experienced a Feathery Transcendence Explosion, leaving almost nothing behind except for a boat carved from Feathery Transcendence Bamboo, carrying the female alchemist's body.

Returning now, Wang Xuan found the atmosphere completely changed; the area brimmed with vitality, suffused with immortal mists and exotic flowers and herbs.

The divine bamboo, still intact and split into a small boat, radiated golden light, showering the beautiful woman in white with golden luminescence.

Unlike before, she had awakened, her deep eyes watching him enter, then standing up with a smile to greet him. Her presence alone brightened the ancient cave, turning it into a celestial realm.