The Stars Beyond

Chapter 158: His Strength Revealed

Chapter 158: His Strength Revealed

As dawn broke, a multitude of vibrant energy particles danced in the air, intertwining with the fresh scent of grass and trees. Bathed in sunlight, they shimmered brilliantly, revealing their true splendor. But this tranquil beginning to a new day was soon disrupted by unexpected visitors.

Wang Xuan stood in a standoff against four masterful warriors. He remained stoic, the morning sunlight casting a soft golden hue upon his upright figure.

"Are you from Eura?" One of the figures inquired coldly, his language awkward and challenging, distinct from that of Eura.

Deciphering the meaning through a spiritual connection, Wang Xuan recognized them as people from Heluo, another group of young Grandmasters who had ventured into this mysterious land, known for their formidable prowess.

"Eura!" Wang Xuan responded aloud, emphasizing the name of his home planet, hoping they'd understand.

"Send the woman behind you to us, leave your steed, and you may leave," the man holding a brownish bow commanded, a chilling smile playing on his lips.

Dressed in blue armor, crafted from a unique alloy that partly covered his face, he exuded a sense of icy detachment. All four of them wore similar metallic protective suits, exuding an aura of menace, with the bowman clearly the most dominant and powerful amongst them.

Wang Xuan's gaze met theirs, feigning misunderstanding. However, inside, a storm of rage brewed; this man dared to harbor intentions against Zhao Qinghan? Since their arrival in this secretive region, the competing and warring parties had started showing their true colors, some acting more on primal instincts than rationality.

Amongst the four, a woman seemed visibly displeased by the bowman's demands, expressing her discontent with a cold snort, yet she did nothing to intervene.

Feigning confusion, Wang Xuan uttered, "Ji li... Eura?"

His intent was to make the bowman lower his guard, preferably gesturing and explaining, taking his fingers off the bowstring. If that happened, Wang Xuan would seize the opportunity to strike with full force.

At this distance, both Zhao Qinghan and the white horse colt were gravely endangered by the expert archer.

The archer, adorned in blue alloy armor, was a formidable figure. His instincts were sharp, and the sole reason he hadn’t struck instantly was the unease the man before him evoked—a feeling so intense it made his heart flutter. By demanding Zhao Qinghan and the white colt, he was indirectly threatening them, implying he could swiftly and efficiently eliminate both.

Meanwhile, he was also gauging Wang Xuan's reactions, testing if the Euran would show any signs of hesitation.

From another direction, a young man gestured at the archer, pointing at Zhao Qinghan. With a sly grin, he beckoned her over. Zhao Qinghan's face darkened. Typically calm and composed, she felt cornered in this unfamiliar territory, especially against foreign Grandmasters whose tactics she couldn't anticipate.

"We'll break through. Hold on tight," Wang Xuan whispered. He quickly placed a protective gear from his own head onto hers. He had observed the archer's caution: a hand always on the bowstring, always on guard against him. Clearly, this was a formidable adversary.

Deciding not to wait any longer, Wang Xuan prepared to strike.

Despite the looming danger, Zhao Qinghan complied swiftly, without hesitation. She clung to his back, arms wrapped around his neck.

"Resisting to the very end?" a voice drawled from another direction.

The archer's demeanor shifted to an even more serious mode. "Something's off about this Euran," he warned.

The other three paused. They deeply respected their leader, especially for his sharp instincts and powerful senses.

The trio immediately tightened their formation, advancing in a coordinated hunt.

"Stay alert!" Wang Xuan warned the horse, then began striding towards the archer.

The man from Heluo, clad in shining blue armor, readied his bow. The iron arrow glowed a matching blue.

"Attack!"

The remaining three moved in perfect harmony with the archer—one unleashed thunder, another brandished a spear—all aiming for Wang Xuan's vital points.

In this critical moment, the majestic horse sprung into action, intercepting one attacker with a powerful move known as the "Tan Leg".

Boom!

Wang Xuan's stance erupted with such force that the ground beneath him cracked and shattered. His immense strength caused the terrain to crumble as he propelled himself, seemingly teleporting to a spot more than twenty meters away.

Zhao Qinghan, clinging to his back, felt the gusts slicing like knives. The speed was so tremendous that she closed her eyes, resigning herself to whatever fate awaited them.

A glowing iron arrow whizzed past, narrowly missing Wang Xuan's temple. The shaft of the arrow seemed red-hot, radiating an astonishing heat, accompanied by a peculiar energy that tugged and tore at everything in its path. Even a near-miss from such a missile could rip through flesh, its lethality was terrifying.

Back on Heluo Star, this ace archer once single-handedly took on five adversaries of equal standing. Keeping his distance, he managed to eliminate all five Grandmasters within a quarter of an hour, a testament to his formidable skill.

As the iron arrow passed by, its strange energy failed to harm Wang Xuan. A soft golden glow shimmered around his cheek and temple, rendering him seemingly invincible. The arrow continued its trajectory, piercing through seven towering trees before causing the eighth to explode into splinters. The mighty crown of the tree crashed down, the ground shaking as if from an earthquake.

Wang Xuan surmised that, given the level of his defensive techniques, these dreaded arrows couldn't easily penetrate his skin. However, he had no intention of standing still as a target. He feared that the immense impact from an arrow might cause pain or even slightly throw him off balance.

His primary concern was to keep Zhao Qinghan safe. Even a graze from such an arrow could result in dire consequences.

"Come on, Euran!"

What Wang Xuan dreaded most was the archer turning his attention to the majestic horse. Pointing at his own head and heart, he taunted the adversary.

The man in the blue alloy armor, gripping his large bow, glared with icy determination. He released one arrow after another. Each iron missile, luminous and swift, streaked like shooting stars through the dense woods.

The ace archer was also on the move. Not only did he strive to maintain a consistent distance from Wang Xuan, but he also adjusted his position. He aimed to align Wang Xuan and the grandmaster horse in a straight line, so that a single shot could threaten both.

Naturally, Wang Xuan wouldn't allow this tactic to succeed. He constantly shifted his direction, ensuring that the archer wouldn't have an opportunity to take them both out with one arrow.

The arrows were terrifying. Each one produced an explosive sound as it flew, reminiscent of thunderbolts erupting through the forest, the noise almost deafening. Large swathes of trees fell in their wake, shattered by the power of the arrows.

Streaks of radiant light crisscrossed the dense forest, with every arrow shining brilliantly like intertwined bolts of lightning.

The archer's face darkened. His earlier apprehension was coming to fruition. Wang Xuan's keen senses had him in awe, as every shot was expertly evaded. What did this mean? Wang Xuan's mental prowess was astonishingly superior, even more so than his own.

"You cowardly Euran! All you do is run with that woman on your back? Come on, fight us! I can crush you with one hand!" An irritated voice from behind attempted to taunt and bait Wang Xuan into confrontation.

"Stop shouting, he doesn't understand!" another pursuer exclaimed, continuing the chase.

Unperturbed, Wang Xuan zigzagged, constantly changing his course. He had managed to close the gap with the archer to about eighty meters. For a grandmaster, this was treacherously close. Given their speed, a few steps could bring the enemy right before one's eyes.

The continuous hum of the bowstring filled the air. In a split second, the archer notched five arrows simultaneously. As he drew the bow, he vibrated the string, releasing all five arrows at once, aiming to corner Wang Xuan from every direction.

This signature technique had previously enabled the archer to single-handedly defeat several Grandmasters from a great distance without a scratch on him.

Wang Xuan's expression shifted. This archer was truly formidable. Any other opponent of the same caliber would have undoubtedly been vanquished by now. In a snap decision, Wang Xuan chose a direction to break free. An illuminated arrow, pulsating with its peculiar energy, approached swiftly. With lightning-fast reflexes, Wang Xuan reached out and grasped the arrow shaft firmly.

However, this was no ordinary arrow from the ace archer. Mysterious runes lit up on its shaft, sending a jolt through Wang Xuan's fingers, causing them to slightly loosen their grip. The arrow's shaft was as slick as a fish, effortlessly slipping from his grasp and continuing its trajectory.

The arrow struck Wang Xuan squarely in the chest. Holding onto the arrow shaft with a look of sheer surprise, he inwardly marveled at the advanced techniques of the extraterrestrial worlds. They were indeed unpredictable and hard to guard against.

This was truly a killing arrow!

Ordinarily, most Grandmasters would find it nearly impossible to dodge such a volley of five enchanted arrows.

Laughter erupted from behind. "Haha, you've been hit! Since you've declined our offer, now you'll face the consequences. Your woman and your pegasus are doomed," someone jeered.

Zhao Qinghan's eyes snapped open, witnessing Wang Xuan gripping the tail of the arrow, its head embedded in his chest.

"Wang Xuan!" Her slender, fair hand trembled as she reached out, intending to touch the wound.

However, the archer's reaction was unexpected; he was retreating rapidly. His keen senses and astounding perception allowed him to gauge the true impact of his arrow. Even if a top-tier grandmaster was hit, their chest would explode, leaving a gaping, bowl-sized hole. But there was no splash of blood on Wang Xuan. Though he staggered as if faltering, the archer realized the truth. The arrow hadn't pierced through Wang Xuan. It was a trap, meant to lure the archer closer.

In the next moment, Wang Xuan regained his composure and gave chase. The adversary, seasoned and experienced, wasn't fooled.

The forest erupted as the two mighty beings raced, their footfalls creating massive craters. The sheer force crushed the stones beneath them.

The archer's face turned pale. He realized he was up against his worst nightmare. Wang Xuan must have mastered some invincible defensive technique, like the 'Diamond Body', perfected to an unparalleled level among mortals, capable of blocking his enchanted arrows. In the realm of Grandmaster, someone of Wang Xuan's caliber would have few rivals. If one got close to him, the outcome would be grim.

With a thunderous crash, amidst exploding vegetation, Wang Xuan caught up with the archer and struck without mercy.

The young grandmaster from Heluo Star was indeed formidable. Even in close combat, he was remarkably skilled. However, in the successive clashes with Wang Xuan, he found himself outmatched.

His arm, under the gleaming golden palm of Wang Xuan, fractured, prompting a cry of resentment. With one swift move, Wang Xuan's palm struck his adversary's head, causing the skull to cave in, killing him instantly.

Wang Xuan refrained from shattering the skull entirely, admiring the exquisite alloy armor the man wore. It seemed to possess formidable defensive properties.

The two men who had been in pursuit arrived just in time to witness the abrupt end of the combat. Their expressions shifted instantly, suspecting a trap. Without uttering a word, they turned and fled.

Wang Xuan, with a surge of energy resonating within him, and employing the martial techniques taught by Elder Zhang, gave chase to one of them. He was determined not to let any delays allow the other escapee a chance to get away.

The martial techniques recorded in the Five Golden Pages represented Wang Xuan's utmost combat strength. And as expected, the pursued man met a tragic end with a single palm strike from Wang Xuan, his skull fractured and he collapsed. Of course, Wang Xuan ensured that he didn’t get his hands too messy with blood and brain matter.

In no time, he caught up with the second escapee, and after a brief skirmish, that man too was vanquished.

Zhao Qinghan, who had been watching, found the scene surreal. Has Wang Xuan just defeated three Grandmasters consecutively? Her usual composure was nowhere to be found.

Wang Xuan hastened back, intent on confronting the fourth opponent.

In the nearby forest, the grandmaster Ma showcased his prowess. Seemingly, the core of the demon fruit had transformed him, making him glow through the night and amplifying his strength. With a combination of biting and kicking, he was evenly matched with his opponent, neither giving an inch.

Slowing his pace, Wang Xuan glanced back at Zhao Qinghan on his back and said, “Now that you've seen my true strength, what do you think I should do next?”