The Stars Beyond

Chapter 399: World of Immortals

In the near outer space of the moon, various steel battleships and small spacecraft were a common sight. There were three clusters of activity, spiritual realms, and remnants of the super mythological civilization's fires. Recently, the laboratories of the Old World were collaborating with the Immortal Sect to explore new territories.

"Wang Xuan is here," someone announced.

In a small spacecraft, Wang Xuan's figure appeared and stepped out. Suddenly, a hazy light enveloped them, and Wang Xuan disappeared, along with the small spacecraft. Nearby supernaturals and spacecraft were also affected. Several spacecraft disintegrated, leaving behind debris severed by an unknown force, along with remnants of supernaturals' limbs and blood.

"What's going on?!"

The news reached the ground, causing a stir. In An City, Qing Mu's expression was serious. He immediately informed Zhang Daoling, the Patriarch of the Hades Blood Sect, and Wang Xuan's true identity.

"The people in the curtain can't wait any longer. It's clear they won't let me go." Wang Xuan's voice was grim. The one who was swallowed was a robot modeled after him. As soon as it appeared, the other side took action.

Without thinking, it should be Zheng Yuantian's camp. They were so obsessed with his body that they were close to madness. These days, Wang Xuan had been studying armor, attempting to fuse various materials together. Not only did it include the Devil Flower's root hovering between reality and illusion, but also rust from an iron spike and the Creation Crystal. Of course, there was also rust from Old Zhang's copper mirror, which was spread over the armor, proving quite effective, giving it an antiquated appearance.

"I've almost finished refining it. It's time for me to hit the road. Damn Zheng Yuantian, I didn't actively try to kill you, yet you keep targeting me!"

This time, even innocent bystanders were harmed, with seven or eight supernaturals dying in outer space. That night, in the sky, a curtain of light appeared. Zheng Yuantian, clad entirely in black armor, paid the price and landed in the courtyard with a burst of light. Wang Xuan's residence crumbled before Zhang Daoling's eyes, the house torn asunder, its fragments sinking into the ground, leaving behind a deep, black hole. Even the once-lush reed lake now lay dry, drained of its vitality. Unfortunately, Wang Xuan was nowhere to be found. He had departed from Ancheng several days prior, his absence leaving an eerie emptiness in the air.

"Old Zheng, care for a drink? Would you like to join me?" Zhang Daoling's words cut through the silence outside Ancheng as he strode beneath the moonlight, a bronze mirror clutched tightly in his hand, his gaze sharp and unwavering.

His invitation was open, yet it carried an implicit warning: tread carefully, lest innocent lives be harmed! With a cold glance, Zheng Yuantian vanished from sight, the light curtain fading into nothingness.

"Old Chen, guard my physical body well!" Wang Xuan's voice echoed through the air the following day. He was ready to venture forth, to enter the immortal realm in earnest. It was time to take the initiative, to stir up trouble against their enemies.

On the earth, Wang Xuan clad himself in armor, his outward attire adorned with the latest fashion from behind the curtain. He carried the Godslaying Banner and the furnace lid, taking a deep breath before embarking on his journey. A faint mist enveloped him as he followed its meandering path, the fabric of space and time blurring around him. The journey was eerily silent, each step shrouded in anticipation. Finally, he stepped through the silent, shadowy realm, drawn into the world behind the curtain by the swirling mist.

It was still an inn, weathered and worn, a solitary red lantern swaying gently at the door. Wang Xuan pressed forward, unfazed by the familiar sight. Hastening through the darkened expanse, he emerged into the vibrant, bustling immortal realm, a realm more expansive than he had ever witnessed before. Two days later, Wang Xuan found himself amidst a majestic mountain range, the landscape teeming with life. Verdant hillsides stretched as far as the eye could see, the clear blue sky punctuated by the occasional shadow of a soaring raptor.

"So, this is the immortal realm," Wang Xuan murmured, taking in the breathtaking scenery before him. His reverie was interrupted by a sudden roar, followed by a grisly rain of blood.

He touched his face and clothes, stained with crimson, before looking up to the sky. There, a flaming behemoth soared, its fiery wings casting an ominous shadow. Yet, in an instant, it was felled by a colossal, scaled elephant, torn asunder mid-flight. At that moment, Wang Xuan's blood ran cold. He realized then that his current cultivation was woefully inadequate for the challenges that lay ahead in the immortal realm.

If it weren't for the tiny orbs of light within Wang Xuan's body, he would have turned back immediately. The Immortal Realm was too perilous. These orbs were intricately patterned by Zhang Daoling, Fang Yuzhu, and others. Once activated and unleashed, any one of them could absorb the supernatural substances of entire mountain ranges in an instant, creating devastating storms.

"I better stick to the outskirts of the mountains. If I encounter a beast king and am forced to activate Zhang Daoling's mark, it wouldn't be worth it!" Wang Xuan frowned. He dared not venture into the deep mountains anymore. He had originally planned to take a shortcut through the primitive mountainous terrain. Now, he realized his lack of proficiency. In the vast land of the Immortal Realm, he belonged to the weaker factions. It would be more suitable to travel in areas with signs of civilization.

Half a day later, Wang Xuan ran frantically, encountering ant colonies along the desolate areas outside. Each ant was as large as a watermelon, red all over, as hard as iron, spewing acid and flames. They were all extraordinary creatures, relentlessly chasing after him. If he were to die in the jaws of ants, it would be a big joke. He could only flee helplessly.

A day later, Wang Xuan encountered a group of large birds, almost forced to activate the Undying Divine Light Escape given to him by the Plutonian Blood Cult's founder. He almost activated it, considering simply fleeing. Traveling in the Immortal Realm was indeed too dangerous. The giant birds that targeted him were six to seven meters long, with feathers as sharp as steel, capable of easily shearing off mountaintops. They were all at the level of Immortal Rulers, treating Wang Xuan like an insect, ready to devour him.

He was forced to use Earth Escape, fleeing all the way. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "This journey is far from easy as I imagined."

Finally, on the fourth day of entering the Immortal Realm, he escaped the predicament, leaving the uninhabited areas behind and entering a populous area. Before coming, he had done his homework. The Immortal Realm was suitable for the existence of spiritual entities as well as flesh-and-blood beings, existing in a semi-material and semi-energy plane.

This part of the Immortal Realm was attached to the the Old World, much like its shadow, yet it existed as a tangible reality. Back then, those who ascended to immortality in the Grand Curtain remolded their bodies with great magical power, allowing flesh and blood to regenerate and reproduce normally.

At the same time, there were many natives in the Immortal Realm, including numerous fierce birds and beasts. There were various rumors about their origins, but the most plausible one was that they emerged with the birth of this semi-material plane, much like fertile soil that couldn't remain barren forever.

During this period, Wang Xuan contacted Fang Yuzhu, Zhang Daoling, and others, and learned a lot. He asked many questions and discovered many secrets.

If it weren't for the small orbs of light within Wang Xuan's body, he would have turned back already. The Immortal Realm was too dangerous. These were intricate patterns inscribed by Zhang Daoling, Fang Yuzhu, and others. Once activated and unleashed, any of these orbs could absorb the super-material of entire mountain ranges in an instant, creating a devastating storm.

"I better stick to the outskirts. If I encounter a beast king and am forced to activate the imprints left by Zhang Daoling and the others, it wouldn't be worth it!" Wang Xuan frowned. He dared not traverse deep into the mountains anymore. Originally, he had planned to take a shortcut through this primitive mountainous region. Now, he realized his limited abilities and accepted reality. In the vast expanse of the Immortal Realm, he belonged to the weaker group and was better off walking in areas with some human presence.

Half a day later, Wang Xuan ran all the way, encountering ant colonies in the desolate areas outside. Each ant was as large as a watermelon, crimson all over, as hard as iron, spewing acid and flames. They were all extraordinary beings, relentlessly chasing after him. If he were to die in the jaws of these ants, it would be a big joke. He had no choice but to flee far away.

A day later, Wang Xuan encountered a group of large birds, almost forcing him to activate the Undying Divine Light bestowed upon him by the Hades Blood Sect's Patriarch. He almost activated it, thinking it best to flee. Traveling in the Immortal Realm was truly too dangerous. These birds, each six or seven meters long, with steel-like feathers capable of easily slicing off mountaintops, were all extraordinary-level birds of prey, numbering close to a hundred. They swooped down from the sky, their leader almost at the Earth Immortal level, treating Wang Xuan like a bug to be eaten.

Forced to use Earth Shifting Escape, Wang Xuan fled for his life, inwardly sighing, "This journey is far from as easy as I imagined."

Finally, on the fourth day of entering the Immortal Realm, he managed to escape the predicament and leave the uninhabited area, entering a more populous area.

Before coming here, he had done his homework. The Immortal Realm was suitable for the existence of spiritual entities and flesh-and-blood beings alike, being a semi-material and semi-energy plane.

This part of the Immortal Realm was attached to the the Old World, resembling its shadow, yet existing as a tangible reality. In the past, those who ascended to immortality reshaped their bodies with great magical powers, regenerating flesh and blood, able to reproduce offspring normally.

At the same time, there were many natives in the Immortal Realm, including a large number of fierce birds and beasts. There were many rumors about their origins, but the most plausible one was that they emerged with the birth of this semi-material plane, much like fertile soil cannot always remain barren.

During this time, Wang Xuan had contacted Fang Yuzhu, Zhang Daoling, and others, asking many questions and learning many secrets.

For example, some indigenous people passed down through oral tradition that they coexisted eternally with the Great Veil. Today, Wang Xuan witnessed this and confirmed some of the rumors.

This was a village of considerable size, where everyone was digging pits and selecting graves, preparing for collective burial or rather dormancy.

"The Great Veil is extinguished, the world is dying, and we will fall into the Cold Winter Era, waiting for resurrection in the darkness like our ancestors."

Among the natives, some elders presided over the ceremony and made various arrangements. They knew that the Immortal Realm was about to perish, and according to the ancestors' teachings, they would wait for revival in death.

Thinking about Fang Yuzhu, Zhang Daoling, and others' explanations, combined with what he saw and heard, Wang Xuan pondered these matters.

Some veils had been extinguished more than once. After a long and dark winter, some truly revived, but there were no new indigenous peoples. It could only be said that the current natives, these villagers, were indeed bidding farewell to themselves and preparing for their own burial.

There were many Immortals, and even more natives, but not everyone could enter the real world. Moreover, crossing realms consumed a tremendous amount of energy. The imprints of the mind would easily shatter, and even the disciples of Immortals paid a price when traversing the Veil.

Wang Xuan sighed, looking up at the sky. It didn't seem as azure as before, and he sensed a bit of twilight in the atmosphere, making it incredibly heavy and oppressive.

Especially when he used his Spiritual Eye to gaze into the profound Immortal Realm, he felt its essence. It was indeed a decaying world, a semi-material and semi-energy plane destined to collapse, with all the creatures in the world facing death!

"Living is truly not easy," he sighed heavily, feeling the weight of everything he had seen. All that he had seen and experienced in this Immortal Realm would fade away in less than a year.

Even though this part of the Immortal Realm was fortunate enough to have a chance of a second or third revival, no one knew when it would happen. The true passage of time, the changing epochs, seemed destined to vanish, just like the celestial bodies in the universe.

As he passed by another larger town, Wang Xuan stopped in his tracks. Here

, he felt a special fluctuation, with the entire town praying and sacrificing, their emotions resonating deeply.

Then, he witnessed an incredible scene: yellow paper falling from the sky, burning, resonating perfectly with the emotions of the townsfolk. There was a pervasive sense of sadness spreading.

"Look, our prayers have been effective! Today, we shall enter dormancy, and after endless years, we shall all be reborn in the form of seeds. Perhaps we will forget everything, but our life imprints will be passed down. When the time comes, someone will awaken and remember what they saw today."

Among the natives, the old priest was extremely excited, leading the people of the village to kneel down, praying fervently, tears streaming down their faces.

Wang Xuan was astonished as he watched from a distance.

Then, light rain began to fall from the sky, descending upon the town.

"Not all villages get to see the burning of yellow paper, and even rarer is receiving the Spirit Rain. We are fortunate. We will be able to revive in the future as seeds of the new Immortal Realm!" an elderly person cried out.

Next, Wang Xuan witnessed many people rushing into the distance, heading towards the graveyard to bury themselves. Some remained within the village, in their yards or on the streets, embracing the light rain, laughing heartily.

Wang Xuan felt a sense of horror. He sensed a great threat to his own primordial spirit. He immediately took out the lid of the furnace and activated it, placing it above his head. He also used the Godslaying Banner to protect himself, wrapping it around his body, distancing himself from this area and avoiding the light rain.

"These mysterious events are something even Zhang Daoling and the others haven't fully researched, and they've rarely witnessed them firsthand. Only when the indigenous people begin to disappear at the end of the mythical era do such occurrences occasionally appear," Wang Xuan said, his expression grave.

He saw many villagers collapse directly, motionless. Some began to decay, as if they had experienced hundreds or even thousands of years.

It could be seen that some people had light spots resembling seeds appearing in their bodies, flying out and swiftly entering the ground along with the light rain, as if they were truly going into hibernation, enduring the dark winter and the long night of eternity.

"Some of the legends are believable? When the new Immortal Realm appears again, will those spiritual substances proliferate and will the 'seeds' of semi-material and semi-energy automatically emerge?" Wang Xuan wondered.

Then, he heard crying, sending shivers down his spine. It felt somewhat familiar. He suddenly looked up and saw at the end of the light rain, at the highest point of the sky, where it was blurry, as if separated by a barrier. There, faint flickers of firelight appeared, as if someone was burning paper, and that fire was about to extinguish.

Wang Xuan was greatly shocked. He wanted to rush up. This wasn't the first time he had encountered such a thing. In the deepest part of his own special inner landscape, he had vaguely seen and heard it before.