The Stars Beyond

Chapter 171: A Stone Tablet Dyed In Immortal Blood

Chapter 171: A Stone Tablet Dyed In Immortal Blood

The Ferryman's eyes were saucers of shock, his mouth agape as if to catch falling stars from the disbelief that wrapped around him. Before him stood Wang Xuan, who had sliced through celestial threads with an air of nonchalance, as if severing the fates decreed by the heavens were but child's play. The young man's previous finickiness, his unabashed bluntness—it was all a meticulously orchestrated ruse to secure the most exceptional "bait" before daring the grand act of snapping the line that tethered an artifact of the moon.

But the most shocking revelation for the Ferryman was the extraordinary sharpness of the short sword in Wang Xuan's grip. He had long surmised the fishing line was of extraordinary make, etched with innumerable symbols of resilience, far surpassing the sturdiness of his own fishing line, and thought to be indestructible. Yet now, it lay severed.

Wang Xuan perched on the bamboo raft, his silhouette etched against the moonlit sky, short sword in hand as if it were an extension of his own will. The line that had proven more formidable than even sun gold, woven with the essence of the Dao, was clearly a treasure beyond comparison.

The Ferryman's gaze intensified, his thoughts reeling. Had this young man overstepped? After claiming the bait, it seemed he was poised to slice through the fishing line itself. The Ferryman half-expected Wang Xuan to inquire next if he intended to yank down the fishing rod—or perhaps even the moon's fisherman himself.

With the stone tablet no longer anchoring it, the celestial line danced whimsically in the night breeze, its crystalline thread glinting with symbols, emanating a profound aura of the Dao.

Wang Xuan's hands moved through the air, hovering over the line, his resolve battling the temptation to cut it. Despite his belief that the entity from the moon couldn't intervene in the Departed Lands, caution told him not to provoke such an enigmatic being.

A grin of sheer delight spread across Wang Xuan's face, reflecting on his deliberate boldness, his final audacious act of claiming the stone tablet inscribed with sacred lore.

"You're not the only one skilled in the art of fishing," Wang Xuan boasted with a chuckle. "My method—baiting with my presence alone, without need of rod, line, or hook—has proved successful."

He stepped down from the raft's canopy to stand beside the Ferryman, who was still peering at him as if he had conjured miracles from thin air. Suddenly serious, Wang Xuan extended his hand and said with solemn regard, "Elder, please."

"Please what?" The Ferryman returned his gaze, a flicker of confusion crossing his age-old face.

Wang Xuan addressed the Ferryman with a respectful tone, "Please, do take a moment to peruse this most profound scripture. Without your guidance to unlock its enigmas, this stone tablet would likely have remained beyond my grasp."

The Ferryman, momentarily taken aback, struggled to find words that would appropriately commend Wang Xuan without compromising his own integrity. Despite his initial reluctance, the allure of the stone tablet was undeniable. Few could resist the draw of such a relic, steeped in mystery and power.

"Would you truly allow me to examine it?" the Ferryman asked, his fingers quivering with restrained anticipation, betraying his eagerness to explore the artifact resting upon the deck.

Wang Xuan nodded earnestly, "There’s no need for formalities between us, Elder. I foresee us engaging in many more exchanges in the future."

The Ferryman's voice grew somber as he recounted a tale from the past, "Back then, two of the top ten immortals perished because of scriptures inscribed on a stone tablet like this. My own master's father, despite not being as highly ranked, met with a tragic fate after acquiring such a scripture. Once others became aware of it, he was relentlessly hunted down."

Moved by the story, Wang Xuan regarded the seemingly mundane stone tablet with newfound reverence. This tablet, marked by the blood of immortals, bore witness to countless untold tales. It could very well hold the key to the scriptures he would dedicate himself to mastering.

The Ferryman expressed his astonishment at Wang Xuan's willingness to share such a potentially powerful scripture, "You're offering to share a document of such significance? Truly a gesture of grandeur, surpassing even some of the immortals I've known. If they had been more open-minded back in the day, perhaps the heavens wouldn't have been stained with the blood of their kin."

Acknowledging the compliment, Wang Xuan humbly replied, "Elder, your integrity and character command my respect. You stand before a scripture of immense origin with such honesty. Rest assured, my offer to have you examine it is sincere."

He then added, "However, there is a mist enshrouding the stone tablet that I fear I cannot disperse on my own. I must ask for your assistance. Furthermore, should you glean any insights, I would be indebted if you could share them with me."

Recognizing Wang Xuan's magnanimity, the Ferryman couldn't help but reflect, "I underestimated you. To share what may be one of the mightiest scriptures in existence so freely, you possess a spirit more generous than many immortals. Had they possessed such vision, perhaps the tragedies of the past could have been averted."

The Ferryman was solemn as he cautioned Wang Xuan with an earnest gravity that betrayed his usual calm demeanor. "I shall impart to you a stark truth," he began, his voice laced with a seriousness that commanded attention. "This scripture, it might be best left unpracticed. For even among the ancient ranks of the transcendents, two who attained the pinnacle of enlightenment perished due to its practice."

Wang Xuan was visibly shaken. "They perished not from conflict or strife, but from practicing this very scripture?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"One suffered grave injuries and turned to the scripture in hope of recovery, only to pass away shortly after. Another, unscathed, sought the scripture’s power and yet met the same end," the Ferryman explained, his form shrouded within the dark recesses of his cloak, a remnant of a once formidable existence cautioning Wang Xuan of the scripture's hidden perils.

"But if the scripture is flawed, why pursue its practice? Can it truly be deemed supreme?" Wang Xuan's skepticism was palpable.

"The scripture itself is faultless. The mighty transcendents who coveted it affirmed its theoretical soundness; its completion promised unparalleled might. Yet, the arduous reality of its practice has proven insurmountable," the Ferryman replied, lifting the fog-enveloped stone slab with a reverent touch. The slab, over three feet in length and two in width, bore the marks of time and conflict – its cracks laced with the blackened blood of the transcendent, untouched and uncleaned.

"I merely reflect on the past with a sense of longing. I hold a deep reverence for the scripture, yet I dare not gaze upon it or practice it, fearing the consequences," he confessed, dispelling the mist from the slab with a single gesture and hastily severing the ethereal line that tethered it to the moon.

Turning away, he resisted the temptation to delve into the scripture, wary of the self-destructive path it might lead him down.

Wang Xuan, standing beside him, scrutinized the slab with an unwavering focus. Nine intricate diagrams adorned its surface, each accompanied by a dense array of indecipherable symbols. Yet, through the psychic imprint that emanated from the slab, the true essence of the scripture was unveiled to him, revealing the secrets behind the cryptic symbols.

Whether to practice or not was a decision for later. For now, he etched the scripture's wisdom firmly into his memory.

Suddenly, the Ferryman sensed an anomaly. A fleeting luminescence sparked from the stone slab, intertwining with his being like an indelible mark. Within the darkness of his cloak, his obscured visage underwent a tumult of emotions as he silently absorbed the experience. Then, abruptly, he lifted his gaze towards the distant and enigmatic moon above.

As he observed the Ferryman's reaction, Wang Xuan couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. The Ferryman's accusing glare suggested he believed Wang Xuan had deliberately set him up to bear the brunt of the moon fisher's cunning ploy.

"Senior, I truly had no idea the moon fisher was so devious," Wang Xuan lamented, feigning ignorance and innocence. His expression conveyed a sense of shock and trepidation, as though he had narrowly escaped a great peril.

The Ferryman, meanwhile, was scrutinizing the mark on his body with growing unease. Wang Xuan's words only seemed to deepen his suspicion. The Ferryman's demeanor grew colder, and he couldn't help but voice his suspicion: "Why do I feel like it was you who set me up?"

"I swear it wasn't intentional!" Wang Xuan protested, adamant in his denial. "How could I have anticipated the moon fisher's myriad schemes? Such a malevolent old creature, always looking to ensnare the unwary!"

In a quieter tone, Wang Xuan then inquired, "Senior, the scripture is legitimate, right?"

The Ferryman's annoyance was palpable. He was almost convinced that Wang Xuan had been aware of the potential risks all along and had used him as a shield. "Are you still concerned about the authenticity of the scripture?" he asked, his frustration evident.

In response, Wang Xuan raised his short sword, seemingly ready to destroy the stone slab in a gesture of retaliation. "I shall avenge you, Senior!"

"Stop! Don’t destroy the stone slab!" the Ferryman quickly intervened. He harbored hopes of negotiating with the moon fisher, using the slab as leverage.

Wang Xuan's suspicions were confirmed by the Ferryman's reaction: the scripture was genuine. He returned his attention to the slab, thoroughly memorizing every diagram and cryptic symbol, ensuring not a single detail escaped his keen observation.

The atmosphere on the bamboo raft grew tense as the tranquil night was shattered by an unexpected event. The ferryman's hair stood on end as he looked up at the sky, where the previously vanished fishing line had reappeared. This time, however, instead of a descending scroll of scriptures, a set of golden hooks, glittering with the sheen of sun-forged metal, hurtled towards him.

The hooks were enormous, each twisted and curved like a bent spear, capable of inflicting grievous wounds. The ferryman, in a state of shock, evaded swiftly. He wielded his rod, made of the divine bamboo of ascension, attempting to communicate with the incoming hooks.

“I am the ferryman of the Hidden Land, the guardian of our pact,” he pleaded while dodging the relentless pursuit of the hooks. “There has been a misunderstanding; I’ve inadvertently shielded someone from harm. I can return the scripture slab to you!”

Wang Xuan watched the scene unfold with a mixture of awe and trepidation. The ferryman, transformed into a streak of light, maneuvered deftly to avoid the hooks, leaving trails of afterimages in their relentless chase.

“This is a relentless trap, one scheme after another,” Wang Xuan muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. He then shouted to the ferryman, “I thought there would be some camaraderie between you and the moon’s fisherman, but it seems even you are not exempt from their ruthless tactics!”

“Silence! I have no desire to speak with you,” the ferryman retorted, his voice tinged with frustration and anger. Despite being a remnant of transcendent power, he was well aware of his origins from the era of the immortals. As for the fisherman on the moon, their era was a mystery, predating even the age of the immortals.

Finally, with a swift move of the divine bamboo, the ferryman managed to momentarily stall the momentum of the sun-forged hooks. He continued to mutter rapidly, as if explaining or negotiating.

However, the hooks still vibrated intensely, showing no signs of relenting. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Xuan leaped up and, with a swift rotation of his short sword, cleaved through the fishing line. The mighty hooks, now severed from their celestial tether, plummeted downward, their threat neutralized.

The Ferryman, with his gaze fixed on Wang Xuan, was dumbfounded. While he was still negotiating with the celestial entity, Wang Xuan had brazenly acted, severing the link with the moon. The Ferryman’s expression oscillated between shock and exasperation. Wang Xuan's tactics were unexpectedly ruthless and crafty.

"Precedent dictates that when faced with such celestial overreach, a firm response is necessary," Wang Xuan asserted, observing the Ferryman's disbelief. "One must be resolute yet adaptable in dealing with the unknown."

The bamboo raft rocked violently under the weight of the sun-forged anchor hooks, nearly capsizing. Wang Xuan approached the pile of hooks, his eyes shining with anticipation. Each hook, an embodiment of celestial craftsmanship, glowed with a brilliance only sun-forged gold could manifest.

"Don't even think about it. They all must be returned," the Ferryman insisted firmly.

"Why should they?" Wang Xuan protested. "If the celestial angler sought to fish, consider this a counter-fishing endeavor!"

The Ferryman advised caution, "I admit my knowledge of the moon's inhabitants is limited, but provoking them might lead to unforeseen consequences."

Wang Xuan, however, was adamant. "Let's keep one hook. Straightened, it's a spear forged from sun gold, known to vanquish evil spirits and phantoms. Who wouldn't be tempted?"

The Ferryman, rendered speechless by Wang Xuan's audacity, eventually relented. "Fine, keep one hook for your spear, but the scripture slab must be returned."

Reluctantly, Wang Xuan conducted one final scrutiny of the scripture slab before parting with it. With the slab and the remaining hooks positioned near the fishing line, they were swiftly whisked away, vanishing into the night sky, returning to their lunar origin.

A tense calm settled aboard the raft, the Ferryman's gaze still fixed on Wang Xuan, his expression fraught with unease. Abruptly, his demeanor shifted as the mark imprinted within him from the scripture slab began to glow and vibrate subtly, conveying a startling message:

"Imminent interdimensional conflict in the Hidden Land. Seed players, prepare for battle. Whether in ten years or today, remain vigilant for the call to arms."

The Ferryman stood petrified, his mind reeling. In a world rife with deceptions and traps, he never imagined he’d become ensnared in the most intricate of them all.

In the wake of unwittingly shouldering Wang Xuan's burdens, the Ferryman found himself embroiled in a relentless cascade of predicaments. Not only did he inadvertently shield Wang Xuan from calamity, but now he was also being roped into an impending expedition on his behalf. The situation seemed almost farcical to him – how had he, a mere bystander, become so deeply entangled in this web of intrigue?

Upon learning of the situation, Wang Xuan couldn't help but marvel at the cunning of the celestial entity residing on the moon. It was a veritable maze of traps, each leading into another. He had thought himself clever for not being reeled in by the lunar angler, for securing the scripture slab, basking in a false sense of triumph. Yet, he was beginning to realize that the real snare was just beginning to unfold.

"I'm still too inexperienced," Wang Xuan mused, a mix of admiration and wariness in his tone. "Such an intricate series of traps... One misstep could have led to disaster."

The Ferryman, shrouded in the darkness of his cloak, felt on the verge of exploding. Wang Xuan's comments only added fuel to his simmering frustration. "It's me who capsized, not you! I've shouldered everything on your behalf!"

Determined not to let Wang Xuan off the hook so easily, the Ferryman resolved to correct this mishap. He could not, and would not, be the one to march into battle for Wang Xuan's misadventures.

Sensing the tide turning against him, Wang Xuan hastily interjected, "Precedent, I shall immediately commence training with the scripture from the slab. Once I enhance my strength, I vow to avenge you and set things right!"

The Ferryman, alarmed, urgently cautioned him, "Don't practice it; it's lethal! Let me first rectify today's error before you proceed with any training."

Wang Xuan, however, was adamant. "I must train. I feel on the cusp of another transformation. My cells are brimming with vitality, and I intend to capitalize on this rare opportunity to switch to a new technique and lay the foundation for my future."

"You're going to train yourself to death!" The Ferryman, now frantic, had initially planned to somehow transfer the imprint to Wang Xuan.

Undeterred, Wang Xuan asserted, "Then, Precedent, please guide and protect me as I begin." He settled himself into a meditative posture on the bamboo raft.

The Ferryman, at his wit's end, felt an overwhelming urge to end Wang Xuan's antics with a single slap. Yet, he knew he couldn’t; Wang Xuan's survival was now inexplicably crucial. Despite his irritation, he found himself reluctantly assuming the role of protector for the very person who had ensnared him in this celestial quagmire.