The Stars Beyond

Chapter 174: Wu Yin The Fox Demon

Chapter 174: Wu Yin The Fox Demon

In the Hidden Land, a vista of azure skies stretching to infinity was a rare sight. The land, enriched with various energy substances, shimmered with floating bands of light across the skies and forests, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

Lost in thought, Wang Xuan emerged from the realm of the deceased, his mind still echoing with the conversation he had with the ferryman. The notion that not just the material world, but even the spiritual realm had its layered complexities, spurred a whirlwind of contemplation within him.

Could it be that the Buddha existed not in the physical world but within a spiritual realm like the Alaya consciousness? And those mythological banquets at the Jade Pool, were they akin to this phenomenon?

He pondered over the varied spiritual layers, each with its distinct hues of mystical power, demanding deep exploration to uncover higher realms and thereby unlock unimaginable strength.

A suspicion dawned on him – perhaps even the process of ascension to immortality, the 'Ascension', was a journey into one of these spiritual dimensions. Yet, he dismissed the thought, reminded of the tangible reality of the grander universe beyond; after all, the hairpin bestowed upon him by the White Tiger Immortal was still a physical object in his possession.

Meanwhile, at a distance, Xiong Kun and his two companions noticed Wang Xuan, who seemed lost and disoriented, wandering aimlessly outside the realm of the deceased. Their expressions shifted to curiosity.

"Look, that kid is actually alive. Wandering around like a lost soul, has he just faced some great trauma?" one of them mused.

"Quite possible," another agreed. "The Black Horn Beast is a century-old demon with inscrutable intentions. It must have tormented the boy to the brink of madness. His spirit seems broken."

"It's likely," the third chimed in. "His female companion and the Pegasus are nowhere to be seen. Perhaps the Black Horn Beast devoured them before his eyes, leaving him alive just to torment him."

Xiong Kun was about to draw his bow when his companions swiftly intervened, stopping him in his tracks.

“Without that horse, he won’t be able to escape. Why are you even worrying? Your arrows will be the end of him.”

The trio approached them with smiles on their faces.

Under the veiled sky of the Hidden Land, Wang Xuan, seemingly adrift in his thoughts, sensed the approach of Xiong Kun and his two companions. Concealing his awareness, he continued to feign distraction, his mind ostensibly engrossed in contemplations about the mystical spiritual realms.

Despite his newfound resilience against certain transcendent beings, Wang Xuan chose not to reveal his true strength. He preferred the guise of vulnerability over making himself an easy target in battle.

One of the transcendent beings, spotting an opportunity to taunt, derided Wang Xuan's apparent stupor with a cold sneer, “Poor fool, lost in grief for his companion?”

Unbeknownst to them, Wang Xuan was already within striking distance. Though typically reserved, he decided to respond with a string of foreign curses, “#%$@!!!”

It was a rare departure from his usual demeanor. The transcendent beings, initially puzzled by the unfamiliar language, soon grasped the fierce intent behind his words through their heightened spiritual perception. One, in a burst of rage, threatened to reduce Wang Xuan to a mere stick.

In a final act of defiance, Wang Xuan exclaimed "Eura!" as if to assert his identity, drawing a furious response from the transcendent beings. Recognizing him as an Euran, they roared in challenge.

“Euran, do you want to die?” one of the Transcendents shouted.

Then, in a swift and unexpected twist, Wang Xuan, the young man who seemed lost and broken, suddenly sprang into action, lunging at them with explosive force. The close proximity, insignificant at their level of power, meant that mere meters translated into instant engagement.

Choosing not to engage the other two adversaries immediately, Wang Xuan targeted Xiong Kun, the man bearing a large bow. Anticipating potential ambushes from ranged attacks, Wang decided to neutralize this threat first.

To Wang's surprise, Xiong Kun proved to be formidably skilled. Beyond his mastery of archery, his physical prowess was terrifying, reminiscent of a dragon thrashing its tail as he launched a powerful kick. Simultaneously, Xiong Kun unleashed his spiritual domain, attempting to both intimidate and assault Wang.

In response, Wang Xuan also released his spiritual domain, which manifested as a mountain wreathed in misty clouds, hurtling towards his opponent. This was the very scene he had witnessed within himself after changing his cultivation scripture - a glimpse into the first layer of the spiritual world. Astonishingly, it now materialized externally.

The three opponents were utterly shocked. "How is this possible?!" they exclaimed in disbelief. How could a mere mortal reach such a level? Even as they had ascended to the transcendent realm, achieving this level of spiritual domain had eluded them. Yet, here was Wang Xuan, undoubtedly still mortal, devoid of the dense transcendental aura, his breath not infused with transcendental substances, achieving the impossible.

In the midst of their lightning-fast confrontation, Wang skillfully dodged Xiong Kun's sweeping leg, closing the distance between them. With a swift move, he grabbed one of Xiong Kun's arms.

"It's a facade," Xiong Kun realized aloud. "His spiritual domain may display these elements, but he can't wield the mountain from the first spiritual layer against my domain. He's merely brushing against the edge of that world, unable to fully harness it."

However, as soon as he uttered these words, his expression changed drastically. The strength in Wang Xuan's arms was astonishing; Xiong Kun found himself unable to break free or even to shake off his grip.

As the other two closed in, Xiong Kun exerted his own power, his arm glowing brightly as a thick bolt of lightning crashed down upon Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan's understanding of the chasm between himself and transcendent beings crystallized in that moment. Upon attaining the transcendent realm, they wielded abilities nearing divinity, their thunderous powers surpassing those of Grandmasters by leagues. Unlike the techniques that radiated from the core organs of the body, these powers now emanated directly from their limbs, capable of unleashing the legendary palm thunder.

Wang Xuan, with his formidable physical and spiritual strength, withstood the assault. Despite his resistance, his clothes on the affected arm disintegrated, his skin blackening under the impact. Yet, he remained steadfast, demonstrating the terrifying resilience of his physical form, now even surpassing that of his previously mastered Golden Body Technique.

Amidst the agonizing pain of the thunder strike, Wang Xuan put his newly adopted first True Form to the test. With a forceful action, he tore Xiong Kun's forearm apart, blood spurting violently. Xiong Kun's screams echoed, his face contorting in excruciating pain. Unthinkable to him was the reality that a mere mortal had inflicted such grievous harm.

The other two assailants, their eyes ablaze with divine radiance, launched a ferocious onslaught. One attacker's hand sent fiery sparks flying, melting nearby rocks, while the other enveloped Wang Xuan in a whirlwind, his fist rocketing towards Wang Xuan amidst the tempest.

Wang Xuan, finding himself at a disadvantage against the storm technique, seized an opening as a fist came hurtling towards him. He grasped the fist, using the momentum to break free from the vortex and land firmly on the ground.

Securing a grip on his opponent's arm, Wang Xuan began to drag him towards the entrance of the Hidden Land, not far from their location.

The assailant's body crackled with electricity, striking at Wang Xuan, who countered with his first True Form, effectively resisting the thunderous assault that failed to penetrate his body. Behind him, the other two pursuers, including Xiong Kun, despite the agony of his severed limb, glared with murderous intent, their hostility surging uncontrollably. Accustomed to emulating his grandfather's soaring ambitions, Xiong Kun now faced a grim reality, his dreams shattered by a mere mortal who had crippled him, rendering his bow-wielding aspirations futile.

Wang Xuan's clothes were torn asunder by lightning and singed by fire, turning to ash, but his grip remained unyielding as he dragged his opponent into the foreboding mists of the Hidden Land.

The man's screams echoed with terror and desperation as he struggled in vain against Wang Xuan's superior strength, plunging into the enigmatic fog. Aware of the land's notorious reputation, ordinary beings dared not venture here, and his fears were swiftly realized. Upon entry, his body nearly tore apart, blood oozing from every pore. Then came the grotesque transformation: golden wings sprouted wildly, and a silver heart swelled unnaturally.

Unable to withstand these violent alterations, his body could not hold together, rapidly disintegrating into a grotesque mix of bone and flesh. Such was the terrifying nature of the Hidden Land: ordinary creatures, upon entry, would undergo monstrous mutations, and without control over these changes, a ghastly death was inevitable. Hence, the land lay in perpetual silence, either avoided by all living beings or acting as the final resting place for those who dared enter.

Wang Xuan released his grip upon stepping into this realm, sparing not a second glance at the disintegrating figure, and promptly exited.

“You... How are you even alive?!” Xiong Kun, witnessing the improbable survival, stood utterly astounded.

The other opponent’s expression shifted as well, his knowledge of the Hidden Land deepening his alarm. This mysterious realm, with its forbidden path, was notorious for its lethal nature; those who dared to enter were fated to perish. Ancient tales whispered that only extraordinary individuals, those who emerged unscathed, were destined for greatness.

Realizing they had provoked such an individual, it became clear why this young man, still a mortal, exhibited such extraordinary prowess.

Wang Xuan, without uttering a word, advanced with resolute strides. Seizing the moment of their shock and unease, he launched a fierce assault. He employed the body techniques from Zhang Daoling, countering their thunder and fire with his own body's secret power. His hands and fingers glowed, dispersing their fearsome radiance.

The techniques from the Five Pages Gold Book were indeed remarkable and, despite having learned the enigmatic teachings from the stone tablet, Wang Xuan had no intention of abandoning these powerful moves. Yet, the speed of their thunderous attacks was blistering, impossible to fully block, forcing him to endure the brunt of the onslaught.

In the rapid exchange, akin to lightning flashes, Wang Xuan shifted his tactics, fully executing the first True Form from the stone tablet. With a thunderous impact, he shattered the hand of one of the transcendent beings.

These opponents, despite their transcendent status, were relentless. Even as one's hand was shattered by Wang Xuan’s True Form, he did not retreat. His body radiated with intense light, almost engulfing him, and his spiritual power surged dramatically, engaging Wang Xuan in a desperate struggle.

At this moment, Xiong Kun, driven by rage and not deterred by his severed arm, charged ferociously into the fray.

For Wang Xuan, this was a grueling battle. Despite the injuries sustained by his opponents, their desperation lent them formidable destructive power, engaging him in a fierce and intense combat.

With only a short sword in hand, Wang Xuan found himself bereft of other possessions, either lost or destroyed by the relentless barrage of light and thunder. Even his clothing bore the brunt of their fury.

Standing in the realm of mortals, yet contending against transcendent beings, the struggle was arduous for Wang Xuan. Enduring a blast of fire, he activated the secret powers of his True Form to resist the erosion of transcendental substances. With a swift movement, his sword swept through the air, decisively beheading one of his adversaries.

Left with only Xiong Kun as his opponent, the outcome was inevitable. Wang Xuan's decisive punch pierced through Xiong Kun’s chest, causing it to explode. The man met an untimely demise under Wang Xuan's relentless assault.

After the battle, Wang Xuan meticulously gathered the spoils of war before locating his own belongings. He approached a tranquil pond to cleanse his blood-stained body. Some parts of his skin bore a slight charred hue, the aftermath of the lightning strikes, yet the damage had not penetrated deeper.

Having slain three transcendent beings within the realm of mortals, such a feat, if known, would undoubtedly cause a stir – a sensational piece of news that could shake the foundations of their world.

Dressing himself, Wang Xuan remained grounded, devoid of arrogance or complacency. Instead, he acknowledged the pressing need to ascend to the transcendent realm; the mortal combats were proving too strenuous, his victories reliant solely on his formidable physical resilience against their transcendent techniques.

Meanwhile, a conversation amongst a group from Eura caught his attention.

“It’s so strange to encounter a benevolent transcendent beast that doesn’t attack humans but instead takes disciples,” one mused.

“Yes, it claims to recruit on behalf of the Celestials, which is quite peculiar. But that fox doesn’t seem long ascended to transcendence. Is it really as mystical as it claims?”

“So far, it's only taken one disciple, a woman it claims is a descendant of the Celestials. Plans to take her deeper into the Hidden Land.”

Wang Xuan listened, intrigued by their discussion.

“That woman, with her slender waist, long legs, ample figure, and delicate beauty – what a pity to be led away by that fox. She seemed quite reluctant.”

“There’s something unusual about her, not just her attire and speech. She doesn’t seem to be from any of our three transcendent worlds.”

“Why are you even thinking about that? That woman is a fox spirit in human form, playing a role. The transcendent fox accompanying her is just a cub.”

The words of these young grandmasters from Eura struck a chord of curiosity in Wang Xuan. He stored this information, pondering the implications of such an extraordinary occurrence in the realm of transcendent beings and their interactions with mortals.

......

Upon hearing the conversation, Wang Xuan's heart churned with concern. His first thought was of Wu Yin – could the mentioned fox spirit be her? Without hesitation, he approached the group, pressing them to the ground and repeating key phrases from their discussion in a somewhat crude rendition of the Eura language.

“Fox, fox spirit, taking disciples...” he inquired urgently.

The group, visibly shaken by Wang Xuan's overpowering presence, realized they were dealing with someone of extraordinary strength, possibly even a transcendent being.

“There, in that direction!” one of the women, in a moment of clarity, pointed out the way, perceiving his intent.

“Hurry! They are about to venture deep into the Hidden Land. To become the disciple of a fox spirit, no, a Celestial, is a rare opportunity!” she exclaimed, attempting to persuade him.

Wang Xuan, paying no heed to her further words, leaped into action. With a step that caused a massive air explosion, shattering the surrounding trees, he vanished from the spot, following the direction indicated.

It wasn't long before he spotted a woman in the distance. Her graceful figure, long legs, slender waist, and beautiful face were unmistakable – it was indeed Wu Yin, who was miraculously alive.