The Stars Beyond

Chapter 170: Everything Will Decay Eventually

Chapter 170: Everything Will Decay Eventually

Under the silent watch of the moon, another sacred text made its descent, positioning itself above the humble bamboo raft. Wang Xuan, his hand resting on the hilt of his short sword, looked on with a furrowed brow, a mix of skepticism and wariness in his eyes. The persistence of this celestial angler, casting from the moon itself, was unnerving.

The very existence of the Departed Land had brought forth the extraordinary, predating even the ancient lineage of the immortals. "What kind of entity is up there, angling from the lunar sphere?" Wang Xuan pondered, his face a canvas of shifting thoughts and emotions.

Suspended in the air, the manuscript radiated a soft, rosy luminescence, encapsulating the very essence of Taoist mystique. Though its pages remained sealed, a plethora of enigmatic symbols shimmered into view, each one a testament to the text's profound significance.

"The Divine Illumination of Inner Landscape," Wang Xuan whispered, fixated on the cover. His heart quickened at the thought—this book might illuminate the much-revered Inner Landscape, an aspect of his practice about which he knew startlingly little, having always experienced it as a passive participant. Could this volume hold the key to understanding those depths?

He turned to the Ferryman and asked, "What do you make of this scripture?"

"It is a treasure among Taoist scriptures," the Ferryman responded with earnest veneration. "Its wisdom is typically entrusted from master to disciple, seldom committed to the written word."

"And where does it stand in the annals of texts on the Inner Landscape?" Wang Xuan asked, his curiosity piqued.

"With its unique perspectives on the Inner Landscape, it's undoubtedly prestigious. I would place it within the top seventeen," the Ferryman answered, his voice tinged with respect.

"Not in the top ten?" Wang Xuan scoffed, disappointment tinging his voice. "A scripture more impressive in appearance than in wisdom—it does not tempt me." He stepped back, ensuring not to make contact with the tome.

The Ferryman, having predicted this line of thought, ventured, "Are there better within Old Zhong's collection?"

A nod from Wang Xuan was all the confirmation needed. As the text took flight once more, retreating into the night, Wang Xuan shouted after it, "Such a subpar scripture! It pales in comparison to the treasures amassed by the mortal realm's most scholarly elder. Who would waste their time on such readings?"

The Ferryman could no longer contain his skepticism. "Tell me about this Old Zhong," he demanded, "Who is he to possess such treasures that could overshadow the profound 'Divine Illumination Inner Visions Scroll'?"

Old Zhong, Wang Xuan explained with a touch of reverence, was a jack-of-all-trades: a health enthusiast, collector, and archaeologist rolled into one. To care for his children and grandchildren, he delved into the art of longevity, ironically aging himself in the process. His collection was vast and varied, encompassing everything from earth-immortal calligraphy and ascensdent scriptures to the writings of esteemed immortals and ancient relics—all housed within his study. A man of considerable literary taste, Old Zhong spent his days appreciating antiques and cultivating his sentiment.

The Ferryman pressed on, his expression stern with incredulity. "How does a mere mortal come to possess such an extensive trove of arcane texts?"

Wang Xuan responded, "As I mentioned, he's an archaeologist. Are you aware of the Old Earth? He and his group of seasoned explorers have nearly excavated it completely."

"That's preposterous," the Ferryman countered with disbelief. "Not even to mention the sanctified grounds of the Ascended, a mortal like him couldn't possibly enter the sanctums of earth-immortals, which can conceal themselves in the void. How could he locate them?"

Wang Xuan elucidated, "Times have changed, elder. The Old Earth is no longer a place where one can cultivate. Devoid of any transcendent substances, all these texts are mere historical artifacts now, to be admired and studied. Those so-called 'crypts' and 'ruins' are quite ordinary. Despite some anomalies and dangers, they could be blasted open with warships." He laid bare some hard truths.

The Ferryman stood dumbfounded, then melancholic, as he sighed deeply, "This signifies the nadir of transcendent energy. When a transcendent planet falls into decay, all laws crumble, and every divine feat becomes but an illusion. Even the abodes of immortals degrade to mere labyrinths devoid of celestial might. All that was extraordinary fades away... and the great Dao decays."

Otherwise, according to his claims, if even the abodes of earth-immortals could remain hidden in the void all year round, how could ordinary people possibly come into contact with them?

And as for the residences of the transcended immortals, there was no need to even consider it. Merely laying eyes on them was a distant dream, let alone approaching. To do so would invite a thunderous retribution from the heavens, powerful enough to shatter warships.

"The thing is, Old Zhong has even dug through the ruins of the immortals," Wang Xuan stated with an unsettling calm.

The Ferryman was lost in thought, almost in a trance. "I have a foothold in the Old Earth myself," he muttered, a hint of concern in his tone. "Surely, he hasn't dug that up too, has he?"

"I would say it's quite likely," Wang Xuan nodded. Even the small Taoist temple in the Great Dark Mountain near his home had been excavated, let alone other places. Take for instance the famed Mount Qingcheng; not just the main peak, but even the most peripheral areas and beyond were hollowed out.

"That's outrageous! They're digging up the roots of the immortals. If someone were to return from beyond the boundaries, this Old Zhong... huh!" Clearly, even the Ferryman was struggling to maintain his composure as he started to grumble.

He added, "This Old Zhong, once those behind the great curtain come to know of his deeds, he is bound to become... a 'celebrity'."

Deep within his secluded dwelling, Old Zhong suddenly sneezed nine times, overcome with a sense of foreboding. After a moment of confusion, he became alert. He, who read every book, immediately cast a divination for himself and became visibly unsettled. How could it be an unsolvable divine hexagram?

Back on the bamboo raft, Wang Xuan quickly attempted to mend the situation. "Elder, you mustn't speak carelessly. The human world has changed, and you can't be too harsh on the descendants. Old Zhong is not an anomaly; he represents a group. The Qin family, the Song family, they've all dug their share!"

"Alright, it's all noted," the Ferryman declared, his vague face emerging from beneath his straw raincoat, making a silent note.

"If Old Zhong invites me to his study in the future, I'll take charge of his affairs. After all, the matters of the human world should ultimately be decided by humans," Wang Xuan remarked humbly, not daring to claim dominion over the human realm.

It was a while before the next event; the moon was silent until the two had conversed at length. Then there was a stir above, and a fishing line descended once more, bringing with it a swiftly falling scripture.

The tome emitted a quintet of lustrous glows, encircled by a miasma of celestial mists, at its core a five-colored elixir orbited, embodying the lofty heavens—an awe-inspiring aura.

It was but a single scripture, and yet it summoned the profound and all-encompassing ambience of the Golden Pill Path.

"The Technique of the Five-Colored Golden Pill? Touted as the unsurpassed scripture within the golden pill realm, upon fruition, it boasts a quintessence of hues, predestined to evolve into an exalted pill beyond compare," Wang Xuan appraised the scripture with discernment.

This art belonged to Chen Tuan, with whom Wang Xuan was well-acquainted. The volume Zhong Cheng had bestowed upon him, apart from the likeness of Xiao Zhong, was interspersed with Chen Tuan's scriptural excerpts.

Furthermore, his recent acquaintance with Chen Tuan's latest undertakings had been through the golden nugget—the great way of the Nine-Colored Golden Pill achieved under the Western Lands' Pentatubular Tree.

Hence, he regarded this scripture with a measure of disdain, asserting, "The era of the Five-Colored Golden Pill Technique has passed; now, the Nine-Colored Golden Pill Technique reigns supreme."

The Ferryman perceived Wang Xuan's discerning taste as excessively fastidious, his expectations lofty. "What treasures, pray tell, does Old Zhong's library hold, that your standards soar so high?" he questioned.

"It houses golden bamboo slips from the pre-Qin dynasty," Wang Xuan disclosed.

The Ferryman was viscerally shaken by the revelation, grappling with disbelief, "You... who are but mortals, have laid hands upon such relics?"

"Is there an issue?" Wang Xuan inquired, unphased.

The Ferryman was thoroughly unsettled, "Golden bamboo slips are rarities from time immemorial, only a handful exist, and I have yet to scrutinize or even handle them. Does Old Zhong truly possess such a collection in his study, nonchalantly displayed upon a shelf?"

Through the Ferryman's agitated state, it was evident to Wang Xuan that to a being of his echelon, the golden bamboo slips were not just artifacts of significance but of monumental veneration.

Having resolved to do so, upon his return to the new star, he was determined to find a way into Old Zhong's study. The night was long, and dreams abounded, even for a grand entity such as the Covenant Keeper who harbored thoughts of it.

In three years, a significant shift was foreseen; some of the celestial immortals might return, and who's to say that the golden bamboo slips wouldn't mysteriously vanish by then?

"Why not journey to the human realm with me, elder? There, every scripture can be found. I even possess a piece of golden bamboo slip, engraved with the image of a being with a human head and a serpent's body, but it bears no textual explanation, and it's beyond my understanding."

Wang Xuan's words once again stirred the Ferryman. He was taken aback— even this youth possessed a golden bamboo slip? The times had truly changed, leaving him speechless and somewhat terrified!

To the Ferryman, the current human world seemed like a land strewn with treasures!

Wang Xuan did indeed possess a segment of golden bamboo slip, bestowed upon him by Qingmu when he opted to join the secret exploration group. Regrettably, it was a single fragment, vastly incomplete compared to a full set which could be dozens, if not hundreds, of pieces.

"What scriptures are not to be found in the human realm? With diligence, I will eventually gaze upon them all." Wang Xuan observed the fishing line and scripture that lingered unusually long, proclaiming, "Thus, these so-called profound and secret teachings need not be displayed before me, they fall short. Unless it is the strongest scripture, one that even the immortals would envy, the most supreme secret tome, do not bother sending them down; they fail to pique my interest!"

The Ferryman, though his heart was far from calm, found himself without words. Was this youth looking down upon the anglers from the moon from the pinnacle of disdain?

The scroll of scripture departed, lingering no more.

Wang Xuan added, "By the way, Old Zhong's study also houses a Five-Colored Jade Book, which is said to be equally complex."

In an instant, the scroll accelerated away, vanishing into the night sky.

"I forgot to mention, this is but the study of an elderly man whose candle of life flickers in the wind. There must be at least a dozen more studies like his among the other families," Wang Xuan shouted into the night sky.

Having resolved to do so, upon his return to the new star, he was determined to find a way into Old Zhong's study. The night was long, and dreams abounded, even for a grand entity such as the Covenant Keeper who harbored thoughts of it.

In three years, a significant shift was foreseen; some of the celestial immortals might return, and who's to say that the golden bamboo slips wouldn't mysteriously vanish by then?

"Why not journey to the human realm with me, elder? There, every scripture can be found. I even possess a piece of golden bamboo slip, engraved with the image of a being with a human head and a serpent's body, but it bears no textual explanation, and it's beyond my understanding."

Wang Xuan's words once again stirred the Ferryman. He was taken aback— even this youth possessed a golden bamboo slip? The times had truly changed, leaving him speechless and somewhat terrified!

To the Ferryman, the current human world seemed like a land strewn with treasures!

Wang Xuan did indeed possess a segment of golden bamboo slip, bestowed upon him by Qingmu when he opted to join the secret exploration group. Regrettably, it was a single fragment, vastly incomplete compared to a full set which could be dozens, if not hundreds, of pieces.

"What scriptures are not to be found in the human realm? With diligence, I will eventually gaze upon them all." Wang Xuan observed the fishing line and scripture that lingered unusually long, proclaiming, "Thus, these so-called profound and secret teachings need not be displayed before me, they fall short. Unless it is the strongest scripture, one that even the immortals would envy, the most supreme secret tome, do not bother sending them down; they fail to pique my interest!"

The Ferryman, though his heart was far from calm, found himself without words. Was this youth looking down upon the anglers from the moon from the pinnacle of disdain?

The scroll of scripture departed, lingering no more.

Wang Xuan added, "By the way, Old Zhong's study also houses a Five-Colored Jade Book, which is said to be equally complex."

In an instant, the scroll accelerated away, vanishing into the night sky.

"I forgot to mention, this is but the study of an elderly man whose candle of life flickers in the wind. There must be at least a dozen more studies like his among the other families," Wang Xuan shouted into the night sky.

At this moment, he was practicing the physical techniques described in the five pages of the golden scripture, seamlessly executing the first four movements and even advancing to the fifth. To his delight, he successfully mastered it as well.

"Have I really perfected the fifth movement?!" Wang Xuan exclaimed in joy, slightly surprised yet it seemed within reason.

His Golden Body Technique had advanced a level, furnishing the necessary vigor to sustain the more strenuous subsequent movement. The golden scripture’s secret methods demanded a formidable physique as the foundation.

Wang Xuan noted that even after executing all five movements, his body no longer felt excessively hot, negating the need for a prolonged "cool-down" period.

This indicated that his offensive capabilities would surge substantially!

"See this? I’m practicing the physical techniques of Zhang Daoling, the founder of Taoism, as recorded in these five pages of golden scripture. I have come across all manners of techniques, so truly, spare me any mundane tomes!" he declared, his tone hardly endearing.

At the very least, even the Ferryman seemed wearied by his manner—was this young man angling for scriptures?

In a low voice, Wang Xuan said, "Elder, the secrets of the waning moon surpass even those of the immortals. What sort of creature lies above? If you tell me, I might just reward you with a piece of golden bamboo slip."

"One piece? I don't want it!" the Ferryman asserted firmly.

Wang Xuan grimaced. Even he had not yet laid eyes on a complete section, so he wouldn’t offer it.

He pondered that once his second metamorphosis was complete, he would make his departure immediately, unwilling to linger any longer.

At that moment, there was a stir upon the moon. A fishing line descended, and a scripture fell from the heavens.

But this time, there was no spectacular phenomenon, only a faint mist shrouding a stone slab, silently hovering above the bamboo boat.

"I desire only the supreme scriptures; otherwise, they are no match for Old Zhong's collection!" Wang Xuan proclaimed.

Wang Xuan perceived the stone slab to be rather ordinary at first glance. It was riddled with cracks, adorned with human figures and script, but only a corner was exposed. The rest was shrouded in an enigmatic mist that obscured any further insight.

Upon laying eyes on the slab, the Ferryman was visibly shaken. His body trembled within his straw raincoat, and even from his obscured visage, one could discern the quivering of his lips—a clear sign of profound astonishment.

Witnessing the Ferryman’s reaction, Wang Xuan instantly recognized the extraordinary origins of the stone slab, potent enough to unnerve a being as stoic as the Ferryman.

"Is this slab truly exceptional?" he whispered.

"Of course!" The Ferryman reached out, his hand nearly trembling with the desire to touch it, yet he restrained himself, affirming, "This must be what you seek, the scripture you yearn for."

"Would it be normal for a being from the moon to fail while fishing?" Wang Xuan inquired, considering that if the lunar entities could directly interfere with the mortal realm, they would hardly need to resort to such laborious methods as fishing.

The Ferryman nodded in agreement.

Without another word, Wang Xuan acted with decisive swiftness, swinging his short sword with a resolute arc. With a clang that sent sparks flying, he managed to sever the fishing line—a challenging yet effective strike.