The Stars Beyond

Chapter 347: It’s Time For Another Quake

Wang Xuan remained silent, his gaze fixed on the bottom of the pool, ready to dive in. From a distance, Zhou Qinghuang approached, concealing herself near the Leize with Gu Mingxi's spirit in tow. "See? Your body is fine," she said.

Gu Mingxi was in no mood to engage. Fine? Bound by silver chains, her body scorched by lightning, marred by a terrible gash, and once even pierced through the heart by the chain!

With a splash, Wang Xuan tossed Gu Mingxi's body into the pool, glancing back at Qi Cheng Dao reassuringly, "Don't worry, the blood pool will benefit her."

Qi Cheng Dao's expression remained icy, offering no response.

Far off, Gu Mingxi's spirit grew restless, tempted to rush over. Truly, it was a bitter moment for her. Damaged in body and spirit, captured, and now ignominiously dumped into the blood pool, it was a low point indeed.

Reaching the bottom, Wang Xuan was astonished. The blood pool seemed like it had been created by a meteorite from beyond the skies, with clear signs at the base and remnants of extraordinary substances, hinting at powers close to reality.

This discovery sent a shock through him. Could it be that a meteorite once carried such substances?

"Let me think, who possesses formidable powers of thunder and lightning?" In an instant, his mind raced to the father of the red-dressed demoness fairy, a supremely powerful Taoist immortal renowned for wielding thunderstorms at will. Could it have been him who found fragments of the meteorite years ago? Wang Xuan harbored some suspicions.

However, such speculations bore little relevance now. His focus was on refining these substances for his own use while inadvertently undergoing a lightning tempering process within the blood pool. The release of supernatural forces grew denser, a result of Wang Xuan eschewing the ordinary super-materials connected to the earth's veins, expelling them from his body.

"What's causing such a disturbance underwater?" questioned a human cultivator, puzzled.

"Is he really cultivating? Stirring up such a commotion," commented a demon cultivator.

Qi Cheng Dao's expression instantly turned icy, silencing them with a stern command. He was well aware that no mishap had occurred; it was merely Wang Xuan frenetically refining super-materials underwater, expelling them all outward in a seemingly haphazard frenzy.

From afar, Gu Mingxi's expression drastically changed, struggling to stay put, nearly beyond Zhou Qinghuang's control.

"Mingxi, it's fine, he won't mess around!"

"Zhou Qinghuang, I've been thoroughly deceived by you, spouting such words now. Why don't we throw your body in to test the waters too!" Gu Mingxi retorted.

Many extraordinary beings had gathered around Leize. The most terrifying presence was the arrival of a blood light streaking across the sky, heralding the entrance of the formidable Blood God Ape. With its vast, flesh wings unfurling like a dark cloud over the sun, its vitality far surpassed that of other demon cultivators.

With three heads and six arms, covered in red fur, each head haloed with divine rings, the Blood God Ape exuded an aura both fierce and formidable, akin to a demon god descending upon this realm.

"I've said before, this is my territory. Without my permission, no one, aside from demon cultivators, may step foot here," he stated calmly.

As the son of a demon saint, his lineage was incredibly powerful, and having been rigorously trained from a young age, his prowess was captivating, his gaze fixed on the blood pool as he approached step by step.

"However, this works out for me. I've been seeking him out for a while now, longing for the God-Slaying Banner!" Blood God Ape revealed a sly grin, "Wang Xuan? Just kill him!"

Deep within the blood pool, Wang Xuan was busy refining meteoric substances and drawing in the purple essence. Even from the depths, his keen sense of perception picked up on a looming threat. "Qi Protector, hold him off for now. It's not a good time for me to emerge."

Qi Cheng Dao, initially unresponsive, bristled upon realizing Wang Xuan's reliance on him. Despite his desire to let the Blood God Ape proceed with its deadly intent towards Wang Xuan, who was in seclusion, the sudden elevation to protector status irked him. "Really now, giving you face, am I?" His expression soured.

"Do you wish to use me to kill Gu Mingxi?" Wang Xuan countered.

Qi Cheng Dao felt a surge of indignation, tempted to dive into the pool and end Wang Xuan himself. Frustrated at the thought of serving as his protector, he faced a dilemma; amidst witnesses, openly antagonizing Wang Xuan would force his hand in a violent act against Gu Mingxi.

"Brother Ape, please, hold back. It's not yet time to act," Qi Cheng Dao reluctantly intervened, concealing his boiling rage.

Blood God Ape chuckled dismissively at Qi Cheng Dao's pretense of lineage and entitlement, "Qi Cheng Dao, don't flatter yourself. Your presumed lineage holds no sway over me. Your status is meaningless."

His smirk unveiled sharp, white fangs, clearly unconcerned as he continued his approach.

"Brother Ape, you misunderstand. I have no quarrel with you. It's just that a friend of mine has been taken by him, compelling me to bide my time," Qi Cheng Dao explained, unwilling to provoke unnecessary conflict.

Blood God Ape, pausing a few steps ahead, looked down into the pool, "Ah, it's about a woman... Gu Mingxi, was it? What use is keeping her alive? To kill as proof of one's path, now is the time. Why hesitate? I'll assist you!"

With that, Blood God Ape slammed a mighty palm towards the pool, aiming to annihilate both individuals below with a single, domineering strike.

Qi Cheng Dao's face darkened instantly, vexed by the Blood God Ape's brazen provocation, forcing his hand in defense.

Boom!

Like a bolt of lightning, he struck out, colliding with the Blood God Ape's palm, unleashing a tempestuous energy so fierce it seemed to upend the blood pool, tearing apart the surrounding landscape and hurling massive boulders skyward.

Blood God Ape sneered, the divine rings behind each of his three heads dazzling as they flew out, clanging in an attempt to ensnare Qi Cheng Dao.

......

"Quick, make your move!" Qi Cheng Dao's brow bone shone brilliantly, revealing his innate Pure Yang True Bone, casting a divine and stunning light that repelled the three divine rings. Their clash startled everyone present, showcasing their formidable strength which even invoked the thunderstorms of Lei Ze, driving many superbeings to retreat from the vicinity.

"Ward off further from the blood pool," Wang Xuan advised Qi Cheng Dao through a transmission from within the pool, "or I might just gift you a 'beautiful' severed head."

Qi Cheng Dao and Blood God Ape locked gazes, the former secretly communicating, "Brother Ape, I seek your aid. Just wait a moment; there will come an opportunity to strike him down."

"Alright, I'll give you face," responded Blood God Ape, ceasing their conflict and retreating to a distance.

Meanwhile, Gu Mingxi, deeply troubled by her own predicament of being held captive at the bottom of the pool under everyone's watch, struggled with her patience.

"Stay calm, think positively. Your body is undergoing a transformation at the pool's bottom, emerging stronger," Zhou Qinghuang adjusted her glasses, attempting to console her.

"Zhou Qinghuang, enough with your nonsense, or we're through!" Gu Mingxi fumed, "How about swapping your body with mine?"

"Sure, why not," Zhou Qinghuang replied, smiling.

Gu Mingxi became instantly wary, "You're plotting something, aren't you? It's not your body on the line!"

"I was thinking, since I'm acquainted with him, we could negotiate," Zhou Qinghuang explained.

Elsewhere, Blood God Ape inquired among his followers, "Who among you is adept at burrowing?"

Chen Yongjie, reveling in the company of other demons and leveraging the numerous scriptures pilfered from Old Zhong's library, volunteered, "I am, skilled in the art of moving through earth!"

Having notified Wang Xuan of this place's potential for breakthroughs, Chen Yongjie now worried about being demoted should Wang Xuan advance.

"Dare you enter the blood pool and eliminate Wang Xuan?" Blood God Ape challenged.

"I am willing to relieve the Holy Son of his concerns," Chen Yongjie declared boldly.

As nearby demons murmured critiques of his flattery, Blood God Ape handed him a crimson talisman, "Once inside the pool, throw this at him. It's equivalent to my full-force strike."

"Return alive, and I'll take you as my confidant. I'm in dire need of reliable people," Blood God Ape added.

With a pledge of loyalty, Chen Yongjie vanished, merging with the earth below.

"Chill, it's not over yet. Your physical form's undergoing a profound transformation at the bottom of the pool, emerging stronger!" Zhou Qinghuang adjusted her glasses, attempting to soothe Gu Mingxi with a reassurance that seemed more like a thin veil over the grim reality.

"Zhou Qinghuang, enough with your words, or we'll have a fallout!" Gu Mingxi, both anxious and furious, retorted, "How about swapping bodies with me? That sounds fair."

"Sure, why not?" Zhou Qinghuang replied with a smirk, too readily agreeing to a proposition she clearly had no intention of honoring.

Gu Mingxi, now on high alert, snapped back, "You're plotting something again, aren't you? It's not your body on the line!"

"I was merely suggesting, given our familiarity, a negotiation could be possible," Zhou Qinghuang deflected, hinting at a deeper strategy at play.

Elsewhere, the Blood God Ape covertly messaged his followers, "Who's adept at earth traversal?"

Chen Yongjie, blending in with the demon crowd and empowered by secret texts from an old sage, volunteered, "Me. I've mastered the art of burrowing."

His new identity, concealed beneath layers of demonic aura, was a ruse to stay close to Wang Xuan, hoping to avoid any backlash from his breakthroughs.

"Got the guts to end Wang Xuan within the blood pool?" the Blood God Ape challenged.

"Absolutely, I'll share the burden of our holy son!" Chen Yongjie boomed with feigned loyalty, though inwardly he plotted to use the enchanted talisman against the Blood God Ape himself, should the opportunity arise.

The Blood God Ape, with a flick of disdain, handed him a crimson talisman, "Toss it at him in the pool; it's as potent as my full strike."

"And if you return alive," the ape added, hinting at a rare position of trust within his ranks, though Chen Yongjie was well aware of the underlying expendability in such a task.

As the plot to undermine Wang Xuan thickened, the dynamics within the eerie landscape of the blood pool and its surroundings hinted at both hidden alliances and lurking dangers, with every participant weaving their own web of strategies and counter-strategies.

When Qi Chengdao was born, his forehead glowed, indicating the pure Yang bone he was born with, his senses sharp enough to immediately notice something was off with the Blood God Ape nearby, detecting the aura of a mighty ancient demon on him. "Hmm, he obtained a demon pill? No, I must also find a way to advance. Well, it looks like I'll have to use that drop of Heavenly Marrow ahead of time."

Qi Chengdao was alert, fully aware that he couldn't let the Blood God Ape dominate here. If that happened, no one would be able to compete with that great monkey, which would be a huge problem. He decided to use a rare treasure to break through to the next level!

In a secret realm, Qi Lian Dao was enveloped in radiant light, his demonic energy skyrocketing, power surging violently as he muttered to himself, "No matter what, I am the son of the Demon Ancestor. Today, I'll use a petal of heavenly medicine to forcefully advance, aiming to kill all of you. It's a pity, though. I intended to save it for when I approach the realm of Earth Immortal in this world, to use it when I had no other options."

The round-faced young girl cheered excitedly, "Wow, I've actually found the ancient lair of the White Tiger clan. I'm so happy! Let me see if I can break through the heavenly barrier here."

Near the blood pool, Zhou Qinghuang, with her glasses on, exuding an intellectual beauty, turned to Gu Mingxi's spirit, offering, "Mingxi, do you want to swap bodies with me? I'm willing."

"No way!" Gu Celestial firmly refused, fearing she'd recklessly misuse her body.

Zhou Qinghuang didn't press further, "It's okay not to swap for now. Look, both Qi Chengdao and that red-haired monkey are acting odd, striving to break through. We need to quickly enhance our strength too."

"How can I enhance my strength without a physical body?" Gu Mingxi retorted unhappily.

"I have one. Come on in, we can temporarily share this body. I have a technique for joint cultivation of the spirit. We can practice together and perhaps break through because of it."

"Pfft, I knew you were up to no good!" Gu Mingxi eyed her warily.

"What are you talking about? I'm a woman too!" Zhou Qinghuang invited her to try, promising a potent spiritual medicine that could aid in breaking through.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"It's time for a shake-up!" Chen Yongjie was unsettled, more excited about taking the new path Wang Xuan mentioned than Wang Xuan himself, eagerly anticipating the outcome.

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