The Stars Beyond

Chapter 371: Projecting Dream Into Reality

Wang Xuan was deeply aware of the gravity of the situation, bewildered at how these individuals had made their way into his backyard. This was something he simply could not tolerate!

As the Red Clothed Demoness approached, although he was taken aback, he did not lose his vigilance and swiftly dodged her attempt. Was she trying to remove his beast skin clothing?

The rosy glow spread, and mist rose up. The Red Clothed Demoness let out a light huff, clearly suffering from the burns. The substance near this place was too densely real.

Especially those translucent red particles that melted everything in their path, even darkening the divine flags, one could imagine the immense lethality they possessed.

"Where is this, what place, near a real meteorite... Is there a meteorite path?" The Ming Blood Sect's ancestor was in agony, his eyebrows and beard vanished, appearing utterly bewildered by the burns.

With a whoosh, the Red Clothed Demoness approached again, her arms no longer as fair, her whole being radiating the aura of the Immortal Path as she fought against the red substance with all her might.

This was a mysterious battle dance, her waist twisting, descending like a fairy from the heavens, with a charm that acknowledged the severity of the situation.

At the same time, she approached Wang Xuan again, noticing his anomaly. His realm was low, yet he was unharmed, especially intrigued by the familiar beast skin he wore.

"Boy, catch!" Old Zhang yelled, grimacing from the burns, his dignified appearance as the founder of a sect gone, his hair nearly lost, his casual attire turned to ashes in an instant.

"Where did you all come from?" Wang Xuan asked, his tone serious, not approaching immediately since Old Zhang had always been a liability.

This place had always been his private sanctuary, where he could ponder in solitude and comprehend the Dao peacefully, now intruded upon by outsiders.

What security did he have left? His soul, the heavenly herbs he cultivated, and his life's soil could all be threatened by these newcomers.

However, it wasn't certain if they could leave this meteorite path.

"Ugh!" Zheng Yuantian was vomiting, his realm seeming to have dropped after falling in, his silver mask burnt away instantly, his face deathly pale then turning red, his body emitting green smoke.

"How could he be here? There's a big problem!" Zheng Yuantian, while painfully contending with the red haze, looked towards Wang Xuan with a chill in his gaze.

Despite being scorched and corroded by the red substance, these unparalleled warriors did not retreat, showing great interest in this place.

"Getting closer to reality? Good!" A burly demon ancestor muttered under his breath, a brilliant light shining in the depths of his eyes, enduring the severe pain and looking around.

"I can't take it anymore, I'm going to ignite!" The ancestor of the celestial beings, Qi Teng, also appeared, walking from a pile of shattered meteorites, no longer concealing himself.

"Where's the path, the meteorite path back, why can't I see it?!" Zheng Yuantian's face changed, he was burnt to a crisp, his features distorted.

Even these high-level masters seemed unable to withstand the crystalline red particles, intending to retreat back through the passage only to find the path lost!

In an instant, everyone's expression changed.

"Wang Xuan, how come you are here?" Fang Yuzhu, in her flowing white garments, appeared last, standing on a large chunk of fallen meteorite.

Then, her complexion turned red, unable to bear the pain, her white clothes disintegrating into ash.

"I was in seclusion, wandering in the vast emptiness, and then, somehow, I ended up here," Wang Xuan replied. Although he was protected by the beast skin, his soul still felt as if it were about to split apart.

Could this really be happening? The seven masters found it hard to believe, but no one delved deeper into the matter, and soon, they couldn't hold on any longer.

The red substance, like chaotic thunder or supreme firelight, rendered everyone dazed, melting their spiritual armors.

"You wanted me to perform the celestial dance, right? Here I am." The Red Clothed Demoness's eyebrows furrowed slightly, apparently in unbearable pain, but she turned into a streak of light and approached him.

She came close, and despite the agony within the red glow, her posture remained graceful, her slender figure moving elegantly, her steps as delicate as a lotus, graceful and charming.

Wang Xuan was startled, the supreme scriptures operating, wrapping himself with the beast skin, striving for higher ground, still a form of painful cultivation!

Therefore, the others present were shocked again, vomiting, their chests heaving violently, some even bending over.

"Is it related to him?!" Zheng Yuantian's gaze was fierce, a mysterious light surging as if he had uncovered some significant event.

Old Zhang stumbled and also showed a look of surprise, saying, "Damn, kid, the source is with you, the root is on you. You're finished, shaking so much I vomited repeatedly, even dropping realms. How will you compensate me?"

Then, he nearly turned into a charred figure, quickly stabilizing the void with a bronze mirror, trying to repel the red haze as much as possible.

"Ugh..." Fang Yuzhu, untouched by the mortal world and resembling a celestial being, also retched repeatedly, struggling against the violent shaking, looking towards Wang Xuan.

"Old Zhang, I'll help you. Fairy, how can I assist you?" Wang Xuan spoke, looking towards Old Zhang and Fang Yuzhu. Having the deepest connections with these two, he naturally wanted to help them first.

Old Zhang decisively charged towards him, and Fang Yuzhu, transforming into a Lingbo Fairy, also wanted to join him before her white garment was completely consumed by the flames, both recognizing the extraordinary nature of his beast skin.

However, the Red Clothed Demoness was quicker. She was already nearby and said, "The matters between us are trivial, not worth mentioning. We are on the same side, and Fang Yuzhu is my sister."

She approached gracefully, her tall figure suffering from the burns, her skin turning from snow-white to gradually reddening, and then her arms began to darken.

"Help her," Fang Yuzhu called out before getting close, fearing conflict between them.

Subsequently, Wang Xuan felt an almost burning hot, exquisite celestial body approach him, lifting his beast skin to share its protection, basking in its radiance.

"Me too!" Zheng Yuantian, also nearby, seeing how effective the beast skin was, wanted to join as well.

Wang Xuan's expression darkened. Did his arch-enemy also want to share the beast skin? What was he thinking? Besides, the idea of another man, burned half black and smelling strongly, was too much!

He directly activated the God Slaying Banner, raising a corner of it and with a bang, flung the fiercely approaching Zheng Yuantian away, surprising Wang Xuan. Did it have such power?

He found it unbelievable that he could send a peerless master flying.

Then, he looked at the Red Clothed Demoness, who was very close, adjusting her hair, her face finally as white as jade again, exhaling a fragrance, saying, "It has nothing to do with me."

Immediately after, she retched again and glared fiercely at Wang Xuan.

"This... also has nothing to do with me," Wang Xuan quickly said.

"Did I just hear something incredible?" Old Zhang came rushing over, grabbing a corner of the banner and started to burrow inside.

Wang Xuan felt uncomfortable all over. It was one thing for the enchanting figure of the demoness to approach him, but Old Zhang joining made his skin crawl.

With a whoosh, Fang Yuzhu arrived, approaching from behind, entering the beast skin. This was somewhat dreamlike, Wang Xuan was spellbound. Wasn't this his occasional daydream? Who hasn't been young and reckless, only for it to become reality?

With two exquisite celestial bodies, both burning hot, by his side and behind him, he wondered if it was the burns or the atmosphere that was heating them up, making Wang Xuan question his life. Was this real?

Old Zhang clamored, "Leave some space for me."

"Or, you can just wrap yourself in that corner of the banner and stay outside. It's too crowded here," Wang Xuan suggested.

Old Zhang's eyes widened in disbelief, "What kind of nonsense is that? You're clearly favoring the ladies over your friends, letting me burn outside while the three of you stay in there?"

"I'm here too!" The Ming Blood Sect's ancestor also shouted, his body scorched black, wanting to rush over.

Zheng Yuantian, Qi Teng, and the Demon Ancestor approached as well, all seeking shelter under the beast skin, which only increased Wang Xuan's headache.

Beside Wang Xuan, the Red Clothed Demoness whispered in his ear with a fragrant breath, "We can eliminate Zheng Yuantian. This time, I'll help you. Lift the God Slaying Banner and smash him!"

With her exquisite figure pressing close, she wrapped her snowy white arms around Wang Xuan's right arm, intending to join forces with him to strike down Zheng Yuantian.

"I'll help you too," Fang Yuzhu said with a gentle smile, pressing against him from behind.

Wang Xuan's heart raced. Even though he was in his spiritual form, and it was all constructed from mental energy, he could still hear his heart pounding as if it were beating a divine drum.

Was he nervous? He cursed himself for being so weak-willed. They were just two peerless beauties, with skin as smooth as cream and bones as fine as jade. What was the big deal? And what did their close, warm bodies mean to him?

Yet, his heart beat even faster, as if it were about to explode.

Especially since his left hand felt burning hot and painfully so, and the palpitations in his heart grew more intense, turning into a sense of alarm and then horror!

He suddenly realized what was in his left hand—the iron crowbar. It was so hot it was unbearable, snapping him out of it.

He used the crowbar to lightly stab himself, immediately triggering a thunderous roar, and what he saw before him shattered like a bubble.

In that moment, although Wang Xuan still felt the burning pain, a deeper, soul-chilling dread overcame him, sending shivers down his spine.

Fang Yuzhu, the Red Clothed Demoness, Zhang Daoling, Zheng Yuantian, and the others shattered, dissipating as if they had never existed. Before him was a rough stone wall, a tiny root exposed, into which he had inserted the iron crowbar, not into himself.

Lifting his gaze, he saw the immaculate, sacred Immortal Flower, its radiant light sprinkling around. It was less than three miles away, very close indeed.

Wang Xuan felt a shiver run down his spine. Had he encountered a deadly illusion again? Looking down, he saw himself holding the flagpole of the God Slaying Banner, contemplating self-harm? But the banner resisted, not allowing him to proceed.

His real chills came from nearly committing suicide. The resistance of the God Slaying Banner, along with the warning provided by the iron crowbar, had saved him.

"Devil Flower!" Wang Xuan exclaimed, realizing the peril he had narrowly escaped. He was once again almost killed by it.

He struck the tiny root with the iron crowbar a few times, knowing that even if he broke it, it would cause no real damage to the flower due to the distance. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but act out of a need to vent his frustration.

Whoosh! The tip was smashed, destroyed, and the remainder quickly vanished.

Above, on the rough stone wall, the Immortal Flower swayed in the red haze, its white light enchanting and mysterious.

"This time, it seems I'm not destined to pass through. Time to head back!" Wang Xuan felt he could no longer endure the burning sensation.

Most crucially, he had a premonition of an impending disaster. Holding the iron crowbar and the God Slaying Banner, he regained clarity and his instincts returned.

"The red tide is coming!" His complexion changed. The Flower of Eternal Life had trapped him in an illusion, waiting for him to be overwhelmed by the red substance.

He turned and fled, speeding back the way he came.

Vaguely, he heard the sound of mountains collapsing and seas roaring behind him, like a real deluge breaking through, threatening to overrun this ethereal place.

That was the substance pouring in from the real source!

Wang Xuan fled at full speed, with the red haze filling the sky behind him, the light and mist surging tumultuously.

Eventually, he made it out, then was immediately engulfed by vast red mist. He quickly dodged to the side, entering a mine shaft and blocking it off.

This time, he had truly come close to death, not just from nearing the real source but also nearly being killed by the devil flower again.

Wang Xuan found himself in a sorry state, burnt beyond recognition. The pale gold beast skin with holes remained unscathed, the God Slaying Banner gradually returned to normal, and the silver beast skin scroll was also fine. Only he was charred and cracked, his soul nearly shattered.

He sat down beside a cactus, absorbing the purple mist with it, resting and replenishing his spiritual body until many days later when he opened his eyes, emitting two beams of purple light.

"It's time to go back," he said, standing up.

......

In the external transcendent realm, chaos reigned supreme. This disturbance was extraordinarily severe, leaving even the mighty Mo Si in a daze, his cultivation level dropping.

Zhou Qinghuang and Gu Mingxi clung to each other, their bodies intertwined, vomiting, their complexions deathly pale, both experiencing a drop in their cultivation levels.

Zhang Daoling, Zheng Yuantian, Qi Teng, and others struggled against the tremors while vying for the glowing blue crystal blocks, fighting fiercely to escape the void, breaking through ten layers of spiritual relics, and leaving the City of Lightning.

Old Zhang, standing in the spiritual world after vomiting, remained unyielded, his mirror pressed against his face, deeply contemplating as he sought the source, exploring earnestly.

"Don't let me find you, or I'll end you. Is it possible that the Imperial Dao Banner is nearby, deliberately shaking us?!" he speculated with a frown.

He considered it highly likely, as the supreme civilization's beginning had yet to appear, and their rash intrusion might have angered that decrepit banner.

Upon Wang Xuan's return, standing in his life soil, he hammered away at the Nurturing Spirit Furnace, causing further violent tremors in the outside world.

At this moment, the battle for the blue crystals among the peerless masters hadn't concluded yet. Even after escaping the relics, they continued to attack each other, scattered across the land.

Old Zhang, while on guard, hit himself with the mirror twice, spreading the essence of the Immortal Dao to stabilize himself, not wanting to fall too drastically.

However, including him, all peerless masters had dropped a realm, completely overwhelmed. Today, they truly became the highest threshold, shaken to their core.

At this moment, Old Chen was terrified. Guarding Wang Xuan, he felt like vomiting bile, but what truly alarmed him and filled him with intense unease was Zheng Yuantian's presence nearby. Zheng had crossed the sky, fighting others for the crystals.

If they got any closer and were discovered, a single slap from them would ensure a thorough beating, leaving no place for burial.

"Wang Xuan, Patriarch Wang, wake up, Old Zheng is coming. Without the God Slaying Banner, we can't defend ourselves. We'll be killed!" he called out in a low voice.

The oppressive aura of Zheng Yuantian was unmistakably close by, not having dissipated in the slightest.

Suddenly, Wang Xuan's eyes snapped open, his spirit returning, and he quickly reverted to his soul form, holding the God Slaying Banner in hand, alert and on guard.

He had just emerged when he heard Chen Yongjie's call and felt the nearby pressure.

"Boom!"

In the sky of the spiritual world, the Red Clothed Demoness was clashing with someone over Qi Teng's blue crystal, forcefully seizing a piece. Yet, astonishingly, she appeared to retch during the battle, then quickly descended to a mountain to vomit, resorting to her demoness dance to counteract.

Wang Xuan showed a look of surprise. What was happening here? In the meteorite passage, it was all a dream, so why was he witnessing a similar scenario in reality?

"Did I see a glimpse of the future, or has the grand dream indeed merged with reality?"

"Zheng Yuantian is coming!" Old Chen's complexion changed drastically as he saw a dazzling beam of light diving from a distant mountain peak, like a comet striking the earth, overwhelmingly oppressive, making him feel suffocated!

Zheng Yuantian had spotted them, his approach swift as a divine rainbow, instantly near, causing the surrounding mountains to shatter, exploding in an instant.

A graceful figure, like a deity standing in the moonlight, pure and divine, Fang Yuzhu accompanied by a light rain, came speeding from another direction. With a loud bang, she intercepted Zheng Yuantian midway, sending him tumbling through the air, leaving a trail of blood, and repelling him.

The female Daoist remained uninjured, but like the other masters, her spirit had been severely shaken, leading to a drop in her realm, and she occasionally retched.

Wang Xuan showed a look of surprise but didn't pause; he charged forward, wielding the God Slaying Banner fiercely towards Zheng Yuantian.

Initially, Zheng Yuantian didn't take it seriously, casually waving his sleeve, not intending to kill but to capture. Unexpectedly, he was... with a loud bang, sent flying into the mountains.

Wang Xuan was somewhat stunned. The scene from his dream, where he used the God Slaying Banner to send Zheng Yuantian flying, had actually occurred?

He quickly went over to support Fang Yuzhu.

"I'm fine." Fang Yuzhu was surprised; just moments ago, the tremors were severe, making her feel nauseous, but now she felt unharmed quite suddenly. She realized the transcendent earthquake had ended.