The Stars Beyond

Chapter 373: Killing An Unparalleled Expert

After Zheng Yuantian expelled a mouthful of his spiritual essence blood, his gaze shifted coldly towards Wang Xuan, who seemed to defy him. In Zheng's eyes, Wang Xuan was like the crop he cultivated or the livestock he reared, unexpectedly rebelling against its master.

Zheng had long marked Wang Xuan, not just for the sake of it but for very specific reasons. The celestial medicines, the five-colored soil from Mount Bu Zhou, the immortal nectar—all were provided to Wang Xuan as part of a grander scheme.

Zheng's ambition was to undergo a transformation from an immortal to a demonic being, leveraging someone with a special inner realm for a more potent rebirth.

Zheng Yuantian's expertise wasn't just in demonic embryo techniques, surpassing even Zheng Wu. As a figure of great stature, he delved deeply into various ancient texts, particularly focusing on individuals throughout history who possessed unique inner realms.

To Zheng, Wang Xuan wasn't merely an impressive talent who had unlocked a rare inner realm upon entering the transcendent domain. He theorized that Wang Xuan might have initiated this inner realm even in his mortal days, which was precisely why he had set his sights on this remarkable young human.

Zheng harbored a blazing ambition, a conviction that individuals like Wang Xuan could still make significant contributions beyond the era of myths drying up.

"See, his gaze is too fierce, fixed on us. It unsettles me deeply," Chen Yongjie voiced out, laden with concern. To them, Zheng Yuantian was no ordinary foe.

"It's alright, we'll seize the right moment. I'll land another strike, hit him a few more times, aiming to take him down! I even believe I can stand up to him directly," Wang Xuan declared confidently.

In the realm of spirit, the might of the God Slaying Banner he wielded grew immensely. Wang Xuan had carefully evaluated their situation and felt a newfound boldness against his adversary.

Yet, the pressure within him was immense. In this domain, bolstered by the presence of Old Zhang, Fang Yuzhu, and his most reliable shield, the God Slaying Banner, he could fend off foes.

However, once outside, if Zhang Daoling and Fang Yuzhu were to depart, under the current five rules of the new covenant, Zheng Yuantian would have free reign to pursue him.

At that juncture, who would stand by him?

In the world of the transcendent, as long as their actions do not affect ordinary people in modern cities, they are free to hunt and strike at will, unbound by restrictions. This reality is terrifying.

"I'll stake everything. Either I eliminate him, or I must become stronger. Otherwise, we might not survive once we leave this place," Wang Xuan murmured quietly.

Zheng Yuantian was undoubtedly dangerous and patient, having cultivated Wang Xuan for a long time, waiting for the moment of transformation to reel him in.

It's undeniable that Fang Yuzhu was immensely powerful. With her calm intervention, she nearly annihilated Zheng Yuantian, seemingly determined to prevent any future interference by taking decisive action.

Zheng Yuantian was shocked. He was well aware of the female Daoist's formidable record. Despite her dignified and elegant appearance, a leading figure among the immortals, once she harbored the intent to kill, she specialized in eliminating unparalleled masters.

For over two thousand years, she alone quelled the Pre-Qin Daoist upheaval and had even single-handedly obliterated an ancient demon emperor who survived from antiquity, undefeated to this day!

Was she about to make a fierce move against him? Zheng Yuantian immediately discarded his silver mask, his body covered in black armor, even concealing his face, arming himself thoroughly.

In his hands appeared a black soul chain, stronger than the silver divine chain given to Zheng Wu, clanking loudly, resembling a black starry river encircling him for defense.

He was genuinely nervous. Although it was just an avatar being targeted, its destruction would still significantly impact him, causing some damage to his true form.

In this era, as the mythological era approached its end, everyone sought a way out, striving to preserve their strength as much as possible.

Ahead, amidst the light rain, Fang Yuzhu was incredibly sacred, bathed in the glow of the divine moon, traversing a golden river, akin to a war goddess from the Pre-Qin era, utterly transformed. Silver armor emerged around her, clanking with movement. She was armored!

At this moment, she shone brilliantly, her hair lifting in the wind, weaving through the silver-white armor. There was a sublime beauty in her appearance, yet it was filled with boundless transcendent power, making her supremely majestic.

With a simple swipe of her palm, the sky roared and trembled, her sorcery unparalleled. Drawing on one of the four golden bamboo slips as her foundation, she manifested her own Daoist domain, her attack power unmatched.

With a clattering sound, the black soul chains in front of Zheng Yuantian trembled violently, transforming into a roaring black starry river that continuously blocked and resisted the pristine white palm slicing through the heavens. Yet, the extraordinary treasure vibrated intensely, almost on the verge of breaking.

Crack!

As Fang Yuzhu advanced, her palm strike severed a section of the black soul chains, sending shivers down Zheng Yuantian's spine, a wave of nervousness washing over him. The posture of this female Daoist instilled fear in him; could it be that she truly intended to battle decisively, to kill him?

"I intercepted you with no other intention but for the blue crystal. It wasn't to cooperate with them. I'm withdrawing!" He spoke, retreating.

However, Fang Yuzhu did not cease her advance, glancing at the Red Garment Demoness who, despite being outnumbered three to one, was not in mortal danger, still fiercely battling and resisting.

Fang Yuzhu stepped forward through the air, embodying a legend that once she donned her armor, the silver-white armor would not be sheathed until stained with the blood of her enemies.

Seeing this, Zheng Yuantian unleashed his full power, unwilling to await his slaughter. He deployed various techniques in hopes of fending off this woman, seeking a chance to escape unscathed.

Techniques myriad, around Zheng Yuantian, feathers of all colors floated, each marked with traces of blood, then rapidly spinning. In an instant, mythical beings like the Golden-Winged Roc, Vermilion Bird, Golden Crow, and White Peacock... all emerged!

This was a forbidden technique, the Myriad Birds Slaying Immortal Technique, long lost and now deduced and restored by Zheng Yuantian through his compilation and interpretation of various scriptures. The beings that appeared, all top-tier creatures, struck simultaneously, a myriad of immortal lights bursting forth, aiming to overwhelm the woman ahead.

Each divine bird possessed remarkable origins; any one of them, once matured to its peak, was a ferocious species even the immortals would dread.

In that moment, the spiritual world vibrated with the calls of myriad birds, their countless wings spreading wide, advancing and filling the void with their formidable presence.

"I...!" Chen Yongjie was astounded, realizing that had he faced such an onslaught in the past, he would have been instantly annihilated, utterly powerless against such overwhelming force.

From afar, figures like Qi Chengdao, Qi Lian Dao, Zhou Qinghuang, and Gu Mingxi emerged, each displaying a mix of shock and awe.

This was a stark illustration of the chasm separating them from a being of unparalleled power. Despite being merely three or four minor realms apart within the human domain, the sense of despair and the insurmountable nature of the challenge were palpable.

Chen Yongjie murmured softly, "It sends shivers down my spine."

Wang Xuan reassured, "Don't worry. We're not yet at the final showdown. Do you honestly believe he can wield control over myriad birds, summoning legions of divine predatory birds? That's wishful thinking; most are merely illusions without substance."

He could see clearly, through the insight of his spiritual eye, that the seemingly undefeatable onslaught had its vulnerabilities and could be countered. Armed with the God Slaying Banner, he wouldn't feel too pressured to confront it head-on.

From Fang Yuzhu's brow shone a golden bamboo forest, its radiance akin to the foundational essence of heaven and earth, penetrating everything in its path. It immobilized the avian onslaught, with the bamboo leaves transforming into a luminescent shower, enacting a one-sided slaughter.

"Feather Transforming Divine Bamboo, Fang Yuzhu!" Mo Si, who had also arrived, inhaled sharply at the sight. The Feather Transforming Divine Bamboo was renowned for its profound spiritual essence, capable of connecting directly to the Dao and inscribing scriptures, embodying the utmost sanctity.

Ancient demonic scriptures recorded that Fang Yuzhu achieved enlightenment seated within a grove of Feather Transforming Divine Bamboo.

The ensuing confrontation saw the complete annihilation of the avian forces. The female Daoist, clad in her resonant silver armor, marched forward through the light shower. Her techniques were spectacular, effectively trapping Zheng Yuantian within a constrained section of the void.

The encounter between these titans of power wasn't drawn out; often, the victor is determined in the fleeting moment when both parties unleash their full might.

With a resounding boom, Zheng Yuantian's black armor was obliterated, dismantled by a piercing beam of light emanating from the female Daoist's brow. She advanced relentlessly, her right hand sweeping through the void, now wielding the formidable Slash of the Dao Sword.

In an instant, countless showers of light transformed into celestial swords, flying forward from around her in a dense, dazzling array, each bursting with divine radiance.

Zheng Yuantian bellowed, unleashing all his techniques at once, his domain expanding, dark light surging in hope of blocking this unparalleled assault.

Around him, stars twinkled, black holes emerged, devouring the celestial swords. Between his hands, a galaxy's brilliance appeared, launching forward.

The onlookers were astounded by these techniques, which, if performed within the grand curtain, would undoubtedly be devastating, possessing the power to move stars, the ultimate secret arts.

Yet here, while they had form, they didn't quite encompass the heavens and earth; it was more about the display of might than the spread of supreme rules, a consequence of the decay of myth.

Boom!

As Zheng Yuantian advanced, lights interwove, celestial swords piercing through the cosmos, shattering black holes. Amidst the sound of piercing, and his shocked and fearful expression, the Slash of Dao Sword penetrated him, with countless sword lights emerging from his body.

The sound of piercing was incessant; his blood of spiritual essence surged, his form disintegrated, cut down instantly, his soul severed.

Zheng Yuantian was penetrated by innumerable celestial swords, slain? Everyone was in shock!

"That's Zheng Yuantian, the foremost master from behind a certain grand curtain, strongly defeated by the Fairy Fang Yuzhu whom I admire and revere!" Zhou Qinghuang clasped her hands over her heart, exclaiming in amazement.

"Too powerful, Fairy Fang truly is an unparalleled force to be reckoned with!" Even Mo Si, who usually holds himself in high regard, whispered in awe, his expression somber. He wondered if he could ever achieve such heights should he have the opportunity to grow.

Fang Yuzhu collected the heap of glowing blue Primordial Crystals floating in the void, then looking forward, she said, "Walking through this era is not easy, take care of yourself."

Her silver armor dissipated, stepping onto a divine rainbow accompanied by a shower of energy light, she crossed the sky, arriving at the battleground of the Red Garment Demoness.

The Demon Ancestor, Qi Teng, and Mo Si immediately became alert. However, seeing her silver armor retracted, they all breathed a sigh of relief. They truly did not wish for a bloody battle to the end, seeing no necessity in it.

"Sister, it's been a long time since I've seen you in armor, still as martially imposing. Come, let's together finish off these three!" The Red Garment Demoness spoke with the gentlest and most pleasant voice, uttering words filled with murderous intent.

Her figure was stunningly curvaceous, barely concealed by her red dress, exuding a naturally enchanting beauty. Yet, she too was radiating killing intent, proposing a joint effort with the female Daoist to eliminate the three adversaries.

"Before others, you call me sister, but when you're displeased, you refer to me as 'that woman' behind my back..." The female Daoist replied with a smile, not rushing to engage. She harbored no real intent to kill.

"Sister, let's kill them, eliminate all three!" The Red Garment Demoness covertly aligned with her.

"It's not their true forms; what's the point in killing them? Collecting some blue crystals should be enough."

......

Zhang Daoling, with a solemn expression, traversed the void, demonstrating the correct use of the rusted copper mirror by swinging it single-handedly with force, effectively obliterating the old Ghost King. In the combined luminescence of Old Zhang and the copper mirror, the normally invisible specter was revealed, showing the Ghost King's disastrous defeat.

It's undeniable that Old Zhang was formidable, seemingly plunging into a chaotic timeline, smashing his way through to the Ghost King's bloody demise.

Yet, the Ghost King ultimately escaped, vanishing into an unknown realm. Such beings are peculiarly elusive, difficult to touch, capture, and even harder to kill.

"A lesson for you. Dare to show your face in front of me again, and you'll be shown no mercy. These crystals are your ransom," he said, satisfied with a handful of Primordial Crystals in his grasp.

"Truly powerful!" Chen Yongjie marveled, having witnessed several intense battles, feeling far behind at his current stage.

"Huh?!" Wang Xuan was startled. In the distance, amidst rising light rain, blue glowing crystals appeared first, followed by the blurred figure of Zheng Yuantian reemerging.

"He's not dead?!" Many were astonished, having witnessed his annihilation, with countless celestial swords piercing through him, leading to his disintegration, yet here he appeared again.

However, many quickly realized the significance of the female Daoist's final words, implying she had spared him.

"Fairy Fang, did you refrain from killing him because it wasn't his true form, showing disdain for this lesser incarnation of Old Zheng?" Zhang Daoling jested, his tone light, momentarily shedding the solemnity of a sect founder.

"I'll take him down," Wang Xuan murmured.

He was anxious; Fang Yuzhu might not care about Zheng Yuantian's avatar, but he was genuinely frightened. Once back in the human realm, if Old Zheng turned vicious, he could easily kill Wang Xuan and take his body.

"Put on the helmet, safety first!" Chen Yongjie advised, placing the Soul Locking Bell over Wang Xuan's head before hastily making his escape, seeking refuge near Zhang Daoling.

In that moment, Wang Xuan, draped in an enlarged silver beast skin cloak, wearing a helmet with silver light swirling around the Soul Locking Bell, wielding the God Slaying Banner, pushed beyond limits. Like tearing through the void, he charged at Zheng Yuantian with his weapon raised.

The spectators were shocked; Mo Si, Gu Mingxi, Qi Lian Dao, Zhou Qinghuang—all their pupils constricted. Was he about to single-handedly challenge a peerless master?

"White hair, silver cloak, that's the spirit—fearless against the whole world. Patriarch Wang, take down Zheng Yuantian!" Chen Yong