The Stars Beyond

Chapter 388: A Moment Of Regret

The exhilarating sensation enveloped Wang Xuan, leading him to believe he had transitioned from a mere child to a robust and energetic youth, akin to being reborn! A radiant beam of energy surged through his entire being, pulsating with the most vibrant vitality. Immersed in this cascade of life force, he truly felt the fulfilling sensation of becoming stronger.

Across from him, the dragon's eye bled profusely, blinded by a piercing blow. Filled with a sense of humiliation, the dragon, having its true crystal stolen by someone it had disregarded, simmered with an intense animosity akin to the biting chill of a midwinter snowstorm. For Wang Xuan and the dragon, their experiences now were as different as night and day: one exuded an aura of confidence and determination, while the other's bleeding eye and constricted heart weighed heavily.

"This is a transformative moment!" Wang Xuan's smile gleamed brightly as his aura expanded aggressively, crashing against his opponents like a relentless tide. He sensed a metamorphosis within himself; the accumulation of transcendent power had sparked a qualitative change! The spiritual light danced around him, and he felt an inexhaustible surge of strength coursing through him, stronger than ever before!

Others naturally sensed this change as well, their brows furrowing in response. How could this brash young upstart have broken through in the transcendent light sea and grown so significantly in power?

"Eyepatch Dragon, if you're a real man, face me in battle! If you're scared, team up with those women and come at me!" Wang Xuan's challenge rang out.

The remaining eye of the sacred dragon gleamed with even colder disdain. How dare he call it the Eyepatch Dragon? This was simply asking for trouble!

Many present wore grim expressions; most of them men, yet all now lumped into the category of women by Wang Xuan's provocation, eliciting collective mockery.

Wang Xuan had no kind words for those pursuing him. With newfound confidence, he was ready to engage the formidable opponents both in the depths of the ocean and on land.

"Eyepatch Dragon, no need to shed tears, come on then!" Wang Xuan beckoned, brandishing his bloodied iron spike.

The sacred dragon seethed with an intense desire for vengeance. Its wounded eye still weeping blood, it refused to be belittled any further. Those who dared to mock it in the past had met their demise.

A resonant roar, clear and penetrating, reverberated like the clash of heavy metal, shattering glass, and stirring up colossal waves in the sea, distorting the fabric of transcendence itself.

The dragon descended, with no intention of holding back. It sought only to crush this human with its claws and release its pent-up fury. Anyone daring to insult it was simply asking for death!

Who was it? None other than a majestic and noble Sacred Dragon, a hybrid of true dragons and mighty dragons, ranking among the pinnacle of existence.

The seabed boiled, teeming with dragon shadows, shimmering scales gleaming in the icy waters, razor-sharp claws, and a gaping maw capable of swallowing the heavens, all incredibly terrifying, with dazzling spells unfurling.

The Sacred Dragon unleashed its full firepower, its attack power unimaginably formidable, causing individuals from various factions to recoil, fearing being caught in the crossfire.

"You still dare to be angry? You ambushed me, injured me, and stole my True Crystal of Creation, forcing me into the dangerous depths of the sea, nearly killing me. And now you still harbor grievances? Dragonspawn, I shall skin you alive!" raged Wang Xuan.

Having ravaged and severely injured him, the dragon now appeared frenzied, brimming with rage, determined to kill him, utterly unreasonable.

Before Wang Xuan, tens of thousands of divine swords condensed with extraordinary power, and with a single shout from him, the swordlight gathered densely, forming a radiant "sword wall" that surged forward, shattering the opponent's dazzling spells.

"Every year, tens of thousands of extraordinary beings pay tribute to me. The garden of the gods is mine to roam as I please. Within this sea of light, wherever my gaze falls, it is my domain. What you have found belongs to me, and I shall naturally reclaim it. Disrespecting the Supreme God, you shall endure endless flames, purging your sins, only then can you die," declared the dragon arrogantly.

With its words, the dragon exuded an overbearing aura, as if it alone ruled the world, demanding everyone's submission. And to call itself the Supreme God?

"You, dragon, are nothing but a bandit logic, a rogue dragon! I shall have to teach you a lesson!" Wang Xuan encountered such a creature for the first time.

There was no more to be said. Tens of thousands of divine swords thundered, the sword wall crushed, clashing fiercely with the dragon's various draconic spells.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Underneath the sea, it was as though countless iron plates were scraping against each other, divine light splattering everywhere, the scales on the Sacred Dragon's body undulating and glowing, each scale bearing unique symbols as they clashed with countless divine swords.

This dragon was indeed immensely powerful, even without using rules, possessing the strength to overlook beings of the same level. It shook its scales, tearing through a large number of divine swords, engaging in what could only be described as "close combat," before charging directly at Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan remained vigilant, but he didn't flinch. With his iron spear in hand, he charged forward, ready to engage in close combat? Who was afraid of whom?

Many people were moved, while others showed surprise. Dragons were renowned for their physical strength, and this reflected even in their spiritual state. It was suitable for close combat. This young man was indeed wild, daring to directly confront the dragon in such a manner.

Boom!

Without hesitation, Wang Xuan unleashed the Feather Transformation Fist, a martial art recorded in the Supreme Bamboo Scroll, capable of killing the soul, extremely powerful.

At the same time, his other hand was equally ruthless. Like a celestial being descending from the heavens, his iron spear thrust forward with a 'pu' sound, remarkably effective, creating a bloody hole in the dragon's body.

Between the two, dazzling spiritual light erupted. Enormous dragon claws, terrifying dragon horns, and that menacing gaping maw all attacked simultaneously, launching a fierce assault.

The ground trembled as the confrontation intensified. Wang Xuan showed no mercy, engaging in a head-on collision with the dragon, resulting in blood and dragon's blood splattering everywhere.

The onlookers were astonished. Was this young man really so unbelievably powerful? To "brawl" with a Sacred Dragon like this, displaying such formidable resistance.

The Sacred Dragon shrank in size, from a towering giant to just over three meters long, better suited for combat with humans who were less than two meters tall. Otherwise, it would be like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

Dragons, as creatures, were inherently powerful. Their entire bodies were weapons, capable of entangling opponents like divine chains. It aimed to strangle Wang Xuan, intending to sever his body.

It emitted a radiant glow as its body shrunk to three meters, the sound of its movements striking fear in the hearts of the spectators. Even a mountain would likely shatter if entangled by it.

At the same time, its scales were as sharp as the keenest blades. When they moved, they vibrated incessantly, capable of freely lacerating its opponents. As for its horns and claws, they were even more formidable, unstoppable.

In this situation, Wang Xuan continued to exchange blows with it. Now, he was as divine as an ancient Buddha, employing the supreme body technique from the Shakya Sutra. As the opponent shrank in size, he swiftly enlarged himself, intending to burst the entangled dragon body and then trample the "eels" in the sea.

Subsequently, he shrank again, activating the second true form from the Stone Tablet Sutra. His own strength was supreme and unyielding, clashing with the dragon's claws, sparking and splattering, displaying an immortal aura.

Then, he transformed into a wheel of light, with dozens, even hundreds of figures, using the secret techniques from the golden bamboo scroll to battle the dragon.

Until finally, with a resounding crash, they separated. Wang Xuan's divine blood flowed, his face and fingers bore wounds, and a terrifying gash appeared on his neck, threatening to sever it completely.

On the other side, one of the dragon's horns broke off, large patches of dragon skin tore away, and several holes were punctured in its head by the iron spear, with its divine blood flowing down.

Despite the injuries, Wang Xuan smiled. The divine light surrounding his body continued to rotate, and his own strength was still increasing. He was always getting stronger.

This breakthrough was particularly unusual. Was this the realm of "Xiaoyao You"? He wasn't sure, but it felt somewhat strange.

Most crucially, after breaking through the realm barrier, his strength continued to grow, not stopping abruptly.

"This is somewhat bizarre. Can he really fight with the Sacred Dragon Luo'an to this extent?" The crowd was astonished. They came from different places, all with impressive backgrounds and extraordinary perspectives. Describing this young man as talented or exceptionally gifted in combat was no longer adequate.

Luo'an claimed to be the Supreme Dragon, and it wasn't without reason. Extremely powerful, wherever it went, the gods retreated.

Among peers, it was extraordinary for this young man to fiercely battle it without falling behind!

With this separation, Wang Xuan pondered what state he was truly in, silently and meticulously sensing this peculiar advancement.

This time, he wasn't ascending in a void space, disconnected from the Cauldron of Life, so there were no anomalies now. There hadn't been any incidents of other transcendent beings dropping their realms due to shock.

"The realm of Xiaoyao You can achieve the departure of the spirit, almost being able to live apart from the flesh, freely roaming the realm of the divine, free from the constraints of blood and flesh."

However, after silently pondering, he couldn't shake the slight sense of weariness deep within his soul from being separated from his physical body for too long. He longed to return.

"This doesn't feel like what the realm of Xiaoyao You should be like. What's going on with my breakthrough?"

He distinctly felt that he had shattered the ceiling, forcefully passed the barrier, but his path was still advancing.

"In true Xiaoyao You, the spirit can take root in the void, where the void is one's abode. Can I try to resonate with the external universe with my spirit, to unify with the outer heaven and earth? Can I entrust a part of my spirit imprint to the void and step into the true realm of Xiaoyao You?"

Wang Xuan contemplated, then began to try, while remaining vigilant, wary of enemies from all directions.

The heavens and earth murmured softly, the transcendent sea undulated, emitting a special light from him, his spirit imprint seemed to have invisible roots spreading out, seeking to implant into the void!

At this moment, Wang Xuan emitted a special radiance, more dazzling than the so-called sun, and most crucially, there was an inexplicable sacred aura, illuminating all directions!

This sense of sacredness made even the immortals feel as if they were mere mortals, while the glowing young man appeared transcendent, brilliant, and beyond the secular world.

Wang Xuan's mind was in turmoil. He halted his steps, refraining from taking that step forward as instructed by the ancient scriptures to entrust a part of his spirit imprint to the void of the outer universe.

Because, he felt intense unease, the most instinctive intuition of life trembled within him, as if taking that step would lead to a lifetime of regret.

"Why do I have this feeling?" For the first time in his cultivation, Wang Xuan felt fear. If he broke through and stepped into the realm of Xiaoyao You, would he regret it?

He decisively withdrew his spirit imprint, refraining from taking that step. In an instant, his spirit was once again incredibly vigorous, and he felt a sense of spiritual satisfaction.

He followed his heart, his instincts, feeling a sense of clarity both inside and out. Rays of light shimmered, and his path began to grow once again in this special realm.

Wang Xuan looked around, and to his surprise, in the depths of the eyes of those old fellows, he saw a hint of something peculiar. Were they actually hoping, anticipating his breakthrough just now?

His heart trembled. Were they truly awaiting his decisive step? This revelation hinted at a deeper, more troubling issue.

During this pivotal moment, the sacred giant dragon, the silver-haired youth, the elder of the green-skinned demon race, and others held back, refraining from launching an attack.

"Those conniving old fools!" Wang Xuan's senses were now razor-sharp, a sense of foreboding settling over him like a dark cloud. His recent decision seemed to carry weighty implications for his future.

Thankfully, he had refrained, sparing himself from potential regret.

The underwater elites were individuals of significant stature, mostly renowned figures within powerful factions. With their extensive knowledge and experience, Wang Xuan knew he could not succumb to their expectations.

"You will have time to ascend fully to Xiaoyao You. Only then will I entertain the idea of a fair fight," declared the young man, his tone laced with disdain, as if Wang Xuan was beneath his notice.

Furious, Wang Xuan saw through the white-haired youth's facade. His deceitful words were transparent attempts to manipulate him into taking that perilous step. Such treachery warranted condemnation!

"You claim to be too weak, yet you have not even tapped into the full extent of the dragon race's power. As a senior among dragons, I grant you time. Ascend on your own terms to avoid accusations of bullying the weak," proclaimed the sacred giant dragon, Luo An.

Silently, those present judged. Yes, you may be a supreme dragon, but your penchant for tyranny, your disdain for the vulnerable, your disregard for decorum—these traits were well-known. Yet, none dared to speak out, all silently anticipating what was to come.

Maintaining his composure, Wang Xuan walked aside, feigning a desire to attempt a breakthrough, but in reality, he was stabilizing the situation, waiting for his own cultivation to reach its peak, achieving complete perfection.

With a stoic expression, Wang Xuan stalled for time, pretending to be considering a breakthrough. Astonishingly, not a single one of those crafty old timers intervened, all displaying a magnanimous demeanor, seemingly uninterested in making things difficult for others.

Wang Xuan found their behavior sickening. Where were they earlier when they were ganging up on him? Now, they acted high and mighty, granting him time for a breakthrough; it was truly shameless.

They were all in on this charade, intending to mock and deceive him, making him regret for the rest of his life.

Playing his part, Wang Xuan picked up a piece of golden Creation Crystal, pasting it onto his spiritual body, then retreated to the side to cultivate and enlighten himself.

However, it didn't take long for his ruse to be exposed. Who were these people? Many of them were seasoned old monsters who quickly sensed that something was amiss.

After all, Wang Xuan had almost taken that crucial step earlier. Why was he still dawdling now?

With a resounding hum, the young man with silver short hair made the first move, diving down with his leisure jacket shredding. He formed seals, unleashing consecutive attacks at Wang Xuan. The surroundings surged with silver light, showcasing his terrifying strength, surpassing even that of the dragon!

"White Hair, why won't you let me break through? Isn't this a self-inflicted slap in the face?" Wang Xuan erupted with sword light, simultaneously striking him with an iron spear. A thunderous roar echoed as the seabed erupted in chaos.

Then, Wang Xuan ascended towards the surface, immediately contacting Fang Yuzhu, conveying his situation, and seeking answers.

"You've done well. Trust your instincts, follow your heart!" Fang Yuzhu responded promptly, advising him not to take that step. His innate intuition was spot on.

"Such a state is rare, on the forefront of mythical theory. Don't just follow the footsteps of those who came before, especially when it comes to something as unique as this," came the swift transmission from Fang Yuzhu, laden with whispered secrets.

Simultaneously, a pang of guilt struck her. She realized she had overlooked a crucial detail: Wang Xuan was a lone practitioner, a wild cultivator untouched by the traditions passed down through generations. Many of these esoteric truths were not written in scrolls or taught in scripture. They were the closely guarded secrets of the most powerful, unknown to even the most seasoned practitioners, let alone the common supernaturals.

"Others may guide you, but your own intuition awakening to that unique state is far more significant," Fang Yuzhu conveyed, her tone tinged with expectation.

Meanwhile, on the shores, other masters received the same message, their eyes glinting with newfound understanding.

Some of the most formidable figures made their move.

The sacred dragon on the shore roared, sending out waves of runic sound, shaking the very cosmos and crashing upon the sea of transcendence.

And the silver-haired youth, with a single strike, cast a colossal hand that blotted out the sky, intent on ending Wang Xuan's existence.

Though they risked being assimilated, their choice to act spoke volumes.

"Who dares to interfere?" echoed Fang Yuzhu's voice on the shore, her silver gown billowing as she brandished the Banner of Godslaying, its shadow expanding rapidly, sweeping across the heavens and earth.

With a dull thud, blood sprayed as a dragon's tail was severed. Unfazed by the threat of assimilation, Fang Yuzhu knew the danger was worth it, considering their proximity to the Sea of Transcendence.