The Stars Beyond

Chapter 193: Drenching The Hidden Land In Blood

As the sun set, the marshland became enveloped in darkness and eeriness, devoid of prowling beasts or monsters. The odd trees stretched their limbs, sparse in leaves but bristling with dense buds.

Wang Xuan and Chen, having consumed plenty of Earthly Immortal Spring, had nearly healed from the various internal injuries caused by their earlier mountain dives. They were resolved to breakthrough and then return to the vicinity of Earth Immortal City for retribution.

"Once we eliminate them, the number of jade tokens I collect won’t be fewer than Old Zhong's. Just thinking about that old man enjoying his days makes me jealous," Chen lamented. Old Zhong was probably relaxing in Earth Immortal City, watching the outside world's turmoil while leisurely sipping wine.

"We need to find a way back to New Star after getting the fortune of Earth Immortal City. We can't stay here long," Wang Xuan suggested. Chen agreed, noting the dangers of the Hidden Land. The united forces of the three transcendent star realms, the lawless enforcers, and the unpredictable threats deep in the Hidden Land could easily devour their lives.

Night fell, and the stars twinkled in the dark sky above the gloomy marsh. Suddenly, they noticed a faint halo of light in the depths of the marsh.

Approaching the light source, they were astonished to find a towering tree, about thirty meters tall, bathed in a soft glow amidst the night, emitting a fresh and fragrant scent. It was a surprising find, especially after their earlier conversation about Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

"Chen, your opportunity for enlightenment has come. Just shave your head, and you can perfectly replicate the path of the ancient sages," Wang Xuan joked.

The tree’s rough bark was laced with a crystalline light. Its buds bloomed into fragrant flowers, filling the air with their scent. A gentle breeze carried luminous orbs like candle flames, scattering them in all directions and towards them.

“Dandelions?” Wang Xuan expressed his astonishment.

As the large tree blossomed, the sky was filled with what appeared to be snow-white 'little umbrellas,' each radiating a peaceful aura, drifting closer to them. Wang Xuan caught one in his hand, only to experience a shocking transformation.

The three-inch-tall white umbrella, upon touching his skin, abruptly began to sprout roots, burrowing aggressively into his flesh. Its roots, tougher than iron wire and sharp as blades, threatened to pierce through his skin. “Chen, there’s something wrong with these!” Wang Xuan urgently warned, his expression grave.

On his palm, the umbrella nearly penetrated his skin. Activating his body's secret power, he radiated a blinding light, embodying a celestial Buddha's dignified aura. He then conjured a flame in his palm, incinerating the umbrella into a puff of strange energy that dissipated into the air.

Chen was already afflicted, with one of the umbrellas rooted in his arm, drawing blood. Fortunately, his practice of the Sixteen-Foot Golden Body, a secret Buddhist technique, helped him. Golden light flowed, shattering the roots of the umbrella, followed by a burst of fire that refined it.

They were certain: without protective divine techniques, anyone would be defenseless against these umbrellas' lethal attack. For many transcendents, this place was a forbidden zone.

“We were nearly killed by a bird!” They quickly retreated, distancing themselves from the bizarre tree.

Soon, they realized something was amiss. The surrounding trees began to glow, their trunks and branches sparkling, and their tiny buds swelling rapidly, mimicking the earlier tree. Their faces fell, realizing that even the trees had a second form, capable of transforming and ensnaring any life that ventured near.

“Run!” They exerted every bit of their power, pushing their secret forces to the limit, fleeing towards the outskirts of the marshland. They never anticipated that a bird could nearly be their undoing.

Along their escape route, clusters of glowing white umbrellas floated in the air, actively seeking out living beings and relentlessly flying towards them. Moments later, the entire marshland lit up brilliantly as more trees blossomed, covering them in a thick layer of these menacing umbrellas, completely engulfing their figures.

Surrounded by flames and thunderous echoes, they exerted their secret powers to rid their bodies of the tiny umbrellas. Despite sealing all their pores, they still felt as though countless blades were piercing into them. After half an hour, they finally escaped the swamp, expending great effort to completely eliminate the umbrellas attached to them.

Shaken by the experience, Wang Xuan and Chen realized just how bizarre and dangerous the creatures of this hidden land were, with life-threatening dangers lurking everywhere.

They hastened away, leaving no trace behind. Given the treacherous nature of the golden bird, they couldn't risk it betraying them. Powerful transcendent beings could communicate across species, after all.

As they climbed a large mountain and looked back, their hearts raced at the sight of a gold-colored bird accompanied by a black-winged raven at the edge of the swamp.

“Enforcers!” Chen recognized the raven, having encountered it more than once. Several figures jumped off the raven's back – all cultivators at the Herb Gathering and Life Soil realms, familiar figures who had previously pursued them.

Then, a massive owl arrived, with figures including Jiang Xuan, Yuan Kun, and Mu Xue jumping down from it. “Another enforcer!” Chen’s expression darkened. People from the three transcendent planets had colluded with the enforcers, locating the swamp through them.

Clearly, these pursuers had utilized the enforcers' connections to find the golden bird, guiding them to the swamp.

“Playing both judge and executioner. Once we break through, we must settle the score with these enforcers, even if it means slaughtering a few of them,” Wang Xuan declared, gazing into the distance. This wasn’t the first time; from the Black Horned Beasts to the Mastiff Dogs, and now the appearance of giant ravens, the situation around Earth Immortal City was immensely complicated.

Chen, his face grim, suggested, “We should split up and escape. Their use of these fierce birds isn’t the worst scenario yet. If they start enlisting creatures like the Mastiff Dogs to track us by scent, we won’t stand a chance. We need to break through as soon as possible.”

"Can you manage without me, your guardian, by your side?" Wang Xuan glanced at Chen.

Chen replied, "Focus on yourself. With my understanding of the Burning Lamp realm deepening, I feel my secret powers have reached a limit, greatly enhancing my combat strength. I can now confront cultivators at the Life Soil realm, and once I break through, I'll have no fear of those at the Herb Gathering level."

"I believe if I exert my full strength, combining my spiritual wonders with my physical body, I can also confront most cultivators at the Life Soil level," Wang Xuan estimated his own combat abilities. The talents he had defeated at the Burning Lamp level had not posed much of a challenge.

Chen's expression darkened, not wanting to engage further in conversation, wondering if the title of the foremost person of the ancient land was about to change hands.

Eventually, Chen shared, "I've repeatedly used my spiritual secret powers and glimpsed a corner of a vague spiritual world. I believe that in this grand realm of the human world, I will eventually capture some of these 'wonders.'"

The two prepared to part ways, distributing their resources to avoid being caught together. Wang Xuan handed over a substantial amount of Celestial Spring water to Chen, who filled his gourds with it. Wang Xuan also gave him a Celestial Spring crystal, stressing its life-saving value and immense worth.

"I'll also split the jade tokens with you," Wang Xuan decided, not wanting to benefit their enemies in case he was captured.

With his long spear in hand, Chen quickly departed. Wang Xuan chose a different direction, disappearing into the dense forest without leaving a trace, like a ghost.

They each sought their own way to survive, looking for safe places to cultivate in seclusion.

In the early morning, Wang Xuan, amidst a dense forest and facing the rising sun, slowly executed the second true form diagram, immersing his mind entirely in the transcendent scripture, aiming to master it completely. As he stretched his body, the second diagram approached perfection, especially since he had already mastered the parts involving the internal organs in the land of the dead. The remaining sections were less perilous.

Soon, feeling something amiss, he cautiously ceased his cultivation and swiftly left the area. He crossed rivers and lakes multiple times, erasing his tracks and scent, continually changing locations for safety.

At noon, Wang Xuan coughed up blood, quickly consuming the Celestial Spring to adjust his condition. Fortunately, it was nothing serious. He then changed his location once more.

In the evening, amidst the setting sun, his body glowed radiantly. His entire body resonated, organs humming in unison. Mysterious sceneries from various parts of his body emerged, interweaving on his skin before retracting back into these wonders.

The next day, by a large lake under the morning glow, Wang Xuan's body trembled lightly as he bathed in the dawn light. Strange and wonderful scenes materialized around him, revolving and fluctuating with his physical form. His strength had significantly increased, advancing from a special juncture between the mid and late phases of the Misty realm directly to the peak of this level.

He was close to mastering the second true form diagram, which would propel him into the realm of the Burning Lamp.

Approaching noon, he sat quietly under a waterfall, silently contemplating the final chapter of the second true form diagram. In these two days, he had changed his location countless times, always vigilant of the keen-nosed spirit beasts, fearing the monster enforcers would track him down.

In the afternoon, as dark clouds gathered and the sky turned gloomy, Wang Xuan stood up and looked at the sky, murmuring, "Let it rain and erase all the traces I've left on the road."

From a distance, disturbances arose, causing Wang Xuan's pupils to contract. He realized something was amiss; he had been found despite the widespread search by his enemies. Determined to kill him, they had mobilized a significant force and were relentless in their pursuit.

An old wolf stood majestically on a hill ahead, coldly observing him. Accompanying it were several transcendent beings, including two at the Life Soil realm and three at the Burning Lamp level.

Upon seeing him, these people launched an immediate and silent attack. Wang Xuan's gaze turned icy as he focused on the old wolf, likely a Life Soil level enforcer.

Wang Xuan, facing the old wolf, dismissed its threatening words with disdain. Granted a jade token by the White Peacock, he was rightfully in the secret land. The wolf's accusations stemmed from a corrupt alliance with entities from three transcendent planets.

Launching into action, Wang Xuan bypassed the surrounding transcendent beings, focusing his attack on the old wolf. Using itself as bait, the wolf beckoned the others to join the assault. It was overconfident, rooted in decades of cultivation at the Life Soil realm, and underestimated Wang Xuan's capabilities.

Wang Xuan's attack was not just a defense; it was a desperate bid to eliminate a tracker and a threat. Unleashing his full might, he brought forth all the mystical scenes he mastered in the transcendent realm - floating islands, celestial mountains, and fiery landscapes - all converging into a formidable force.

The old wolf, caught off-guard, let out a harrowing howl as its spirit partially shattered. Wang Xuan, despite facing an onslaught from behind, created a deceptive afterimage as he lunged towards the wolf. With his short sword emitting a blinding light, he decisively decapitated the old wolf, seizing the moment of vulnerability.

In a display of ferocity and precision, Wang Xuan not only killed the enforcer but also took down a Life Soil transcendent and beheaded another at the Burning Lamp level. He then retreated swiftly, leaving the remaining adversaries stunned and terrified.

Wang Xuan's retreat wasn't a gesture of mercy; it was driven by a keen sense of danger. Sensing a life-threatening presence swiftly approaching, he chose to withdraw promptly.

In the distance, the formidable transcendent at the Herb Gathering level, whose flying sword had been severed by Wang Xuan, approached swiftly and silently, his gaze icy and intent on vengeance. Wang Xuan, with his heightened spiritual perception, knew the chase was on. The gap between them was rapidly closing, the transcendent's speed mirroring flight just above the ground.

"You can't escape!" The transcendent's chilling voice echoed as he closed in on Wang Xuan, his eyes filled with ruthless determination.

From a mountaintop, Yuan Kun watched with a cold smirk, relishing the imminent demise of the alien. Similarly, on another peak, Ou Yun and Ou Yuxuan breathed sighs of relief, believing their nightmare was about to end with Wang Xuan's death.

"He's about to die. Use his short sword to replace the one he broke," Jiang Xuan said to Mu Xue, both of them nearby, having sensed Wang Xuan's presence and joined the encirclement.

The transcendent at the Herb Gathering level attacked fiercely, wielding the remnant of his sword, now just two inches long but emitting blinding light, as he struck towards Wang Xuan. "Even a broken sword will suffice to take your head!" he declared coldly.

Wang Xuan, forced into defense, dodged and countered with his short sword. However, the spectral-like blade spun with deadly precision. A moment later, Wang Xuan was struck by the radiant sword light. The sword emitted a beam that breached his defenses, grazing his head and slicing through his flesh.

Blood spattered as Wang Xuan sustained a grave injury. In a critical moment, all the mystical scenes within him emerged, merging with his flesh to halt the blade's advance. Without this fusion of the mystical and the physical, he would have been cleaved in two.

Despite his efforts, Wang Xuan's arm was nearly severed by the spectral blade of the broken sword. As it vibrated, it sliced a terrifying wound along his shoulder, penetrating almost fifteen centimeters deep before being repelled by the mystical visions emanating from his body.

Wang Xuan glanced back at the transcendent of the Herb Gathering level with a profound look, his arm hanging unnaturally, barely attached. He then fled forward.

The transcendent was shocked. "The secret power and mystical visions in his blood actually damaged the runes on my flying sword?!" He pursued Wang Xuan more fervently, determined to eliminate this young man who posed such a threat to him.

Ahead, Wang Xuan was blocked by an enormous beehive, as large as a mountain. This was the Silver Peak Hive, where Elder Zhong had once trapped and killed a group of transcendent beings.

Wang Xuan sighed, feeling cornered with the terrifying beehive in front and the powerful enemy behind. He wondered if this was where his journey would end, unlike Elder Zhong's ruthless triumph in the same location.

Drawing the great bow he had acquired from Xiong Kun, Wang Xuan, enduring the pain of his nearly severed arm, loaded several explosive arrows and aimed them at the beehive. He released them, each arrow hitting the hive and causing massive explosions. The rune-infused arrows released immense energy on impact, causing parts of the hive to burst and catch fire.

The transcendent at the Herb Gathering level, feeling the threat, turned to flee, unwilling to risk his life just to eliminate his target.

Instead of running away, Wang Xuan used the momentary chaos before the silver bees emerged to run forward. He quickly circled to the side of the hive, noticing an old, abandoned section at the bottom and decisively entered it.

Thunder roared, and heavy rain began to pour, driving some of the silver bees out of the hive and towards the transcendent's retreating figure.

"Rain at last... The heavens have given me a chance to live. I'll settle scores with all of you," Wang Xuan murmured, hiding in the deserted part of the beehive. He pulled out a crystal of the Earth Immortal Spring and swallowed it whole, preparing for what lay ahead.

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