The Stars Beyond

Chapter 178: Dance Of The Immortals

Chapter 178: Dance Of The Immortals

As they approached the deeper regions of the Hidden Land, the small black fox carefully guided their path, cautioning against certain areas where flight was perilous due to the presence of irascible transcendent demons. A single misstep in these territories could lead to a swift and unforgiving end.

Grandmaster Ma, upon understanding the significance of their journey into the depths of the Hidden Land, exhibited an eagerness to please that bordered on the absurd. His antics around the small black fox were a far cry from his usual majestic demeanor. In an almost comical display, he began imitating the fox's catwalk, wagging his tail and circling around the creature in a display of submission.

Zhao Qinghan, observing this spectacle, couldn't resist teasing Wu Yin about her supposed modeling aspirations. "Wu Yin, the little fox's catwalk must be something you taught it, right? I heard you wanted to be a supermodel at one point?" she joked.

Wu Yin vehemently denied this, her face flushing with embarrassment. The little black fox, however, continued its act, twisting its body and batting its eyelashes in imitation of Wu Yin's alleged mannerisms. Frustrated and embarrassed, Wu Yin finally snapped, grabbing the fox by the ears and scolding it for spreading such nonsense.

"I didn't teach it anything like that!" Wu Yin protested, even as the little fox insisted it was simply emulating her. Wang Xuan watched the interaction with a mix of amusement and curiosity, while Zhao Qinghan couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Eventually, Wu Yin's protests seemed to take effect, and the little fox ceased its exaggerated strut. Grandmaster Ma, seeing this, also stopped mimicking the fox. Instead, he sought to impress by presenting the demonic cultivation chart he had acquired from the Black Horn Beast. The little fox, however, was unimpressed with the chart, dismissing it as basic and underdeveloped, the work of a solitary demonic cultivator.

Grandmaster Ma seemed even more dejected at this dismissal, his admiration for the little fox growing to the point where he almost seemed ready to become its mount. In the midst of these light-hearted moments, Wang Xuan remained vigilant, aware of the unpredictability and potential dangers that lay ahead in their journey into the enigmatic depths of the Hidden Land.

......

"You're accusing me wrongly," Zhao Qinghan replied.

"What nonsense are you talking about! I heard about you being kicked into a lake in the Old World."

"Zhao Qinghan, you rebellious girl, you must have heard that from Little Zhong. That damn Little Zhong!"

"Who's rebellious? I was only eleven or twelve years old then. That was called being spirited, Big Wu. You've been quite irritable lately, very emotional. Look, even the little fox is imitating you now, proudly puffing its chest."

...

Their conversation, though whispered, was full of pointed remarks.

Wang Xuan found their exchange somewhat ear-burning but admittedly intriguing.

"Up ahead is the Earth Immortal Spring. Do you want to call your grandfather to collect some?" Wang Xuan teased the little fox.

The Earth Immortal Spring continued its gentle cascade down the mountain wall.

"The springs in the deeper part of the Hidden Land gush more vigorously than this one," the little fox dismissed.

"There are crystals here," Wang Xuan informed.

"Which Earth Immortal Spring doesn't have them?" The little fox then became suspicious. "Did you damage this part of the mountain wall?"

"No!" Wang Xuan denied immediately, losing interest in offering Wu Yin the spring water after learning about the springs deeper in the Hidden Land.

Grandmaster Ma, brimming with pride, raised its head as if to boast of their joint effort, only to receive a beating from Wang Xuan.

As evening approached, they discovered a pine forest, where each tree required several people to encircle. Thick layers of pine needles carpeted the ground.

"Golden mushrooms!" Wang Xuan exclaimed, amazed to find a cluster of about thirty golden mushrooms, each as large as a human head, shimmering with a radiant golden light.

These mushrooms were rare even among spiritual herbs, known for their ability to enhance physical constitution, create more vital blood, rejuvenate the body, and prolong life.

Once on New Moon, Wang Xuan had promised Qin Cheng to treat him to chicken stewed with mushrooms. Now, it seemed this promise could be fulfilled.

"I'll catch some mountain chickens!" Before treating Qin Cheng, he decided to taste the dish himself.

Soon after, several flustered chickens were caught and brought back, while Zhao Qinghan and Wu Yin washed and sliced the golden mushrooms, preparing for their meal.

Wang Xuan, having crafted a makeshift pot from a large slab of stone with his short sword, had everything set up for a feast. Soon, a rich and tantalizing aroma wafted through the forest. But then, an unexpected mishap occurred.

The golden mushrooms indeed nourished the body, offering a delectably rich flavor. Upon consumption, a warm current surged through their bodies, invigorating their blood and qi. However, amidst the golden mushrooms, there lurked a doppelganger – the deceptive and dangerous bewitching mushrooms, which they had inadvertently sliced and stewed along with the others.

Wang Xuan felt his vision swarming with tiny stars. Shaking his head vigorously, he saw celestial constellations seemingly tumbling down from the sky. The potent hallucinogenic effects of the bewitching mushrooms momentarily ensnared him in their delusive grasp.

He then envisioned the Red-Dressed Demoness turning back with a smile that could captivate any soul, gracefully dancing an enchanting demon dance, exuding a passion both seductive and mesmerizing.

These bewitching mushrooms, growing alongside the spiritual golden mushrooms, were indeed extraordinary. Even powerful creatures would fall victim to their effects.

Grandmaster Ma, now acting like a monkey, believed itself to be a divine simian, capable of agile maneuvers among the towering ancient trees. It clambered up only to crash down to the ground, repeating this cycle, creating craters throughout the forest floor.

The little fox, with its wings unfurled, wobbled through the air, exclaiming, “I am Wu Yin, beautiful as a flower, ravishing and stunning, with a slender waist and long legs – who could match my beauty?”

On the ground, Wu Yin herself began to sashay in a feline manner, giggling, “I am the fox spirit, graced with the allure of the mortal world, bewitchingly charming in this dust-laden realm.”

Wang Xuan, who had trained in the most potent scriptures from the stone tablet and possessed formidable mental strength, quickly shook off the hallucinations, banishing the image of the Red-Dressed Demoness dancing before his eyes.

However, what he saw next was Wu Yin, proclaiming herself a fox spirit and moving with a catwalk that was indeed a sight to behold. Her lithe waist and long legs, coupled with her graceful poise, left him utterly astounded.

At this moment, Wang Xuan was reminded of an old, bewitching song from a bygone era: "Red umbrella, white handle, together we...". They had all indeed fallen prey to intoxication, mistaking deceptive mushrooms for the nourishing golden ones. Fortunately, it was merely hallucinogenic, causing no physical harm beyond their surreal experiences.

Observing Zhao Qinghan's struggle against the toxin's effects only to eventually lose her composure was a revelation for Wang Xuan. Normally poised and aloof, the transformation in her demeanor was astounding. Zhao Qinghan, typically the epitome of cool elegance, now unleashed a passionate dance, embodying a wild beauty and a seductive charm that was utterly spellbinding.

This was a complete inversion of her usual persona, revealing a side of the 'Ice Goddess' that was rebellious and uninhibited. Wang Xuan speculated that Zhao Qinghan, as a girl of eleven or twelve, might have been quite the rebel. Witnessing her now, he felt sure of it.

Wu Yin approached, determined to involve Wang Xuan in their merriment, urging him to join in the catwalk. "Little Wang, Wang Xiao, come learn with me. Let's leave that odious Wang Xuan to Zhao Zhao, the rebellious girl!"

"I really can't learn this!" Wang Xuan, having regained his senses, was not inclined to join the madness. Participating would be a blemish he'd never live down.

He quickly made his escape.

The scene unfolding before him was eerily reminiscent of old reports about the effects of consuming poisonous mushrooms: dancing, flying, crashing into trees – it was all happening.

Wu Yin soon called down the little black fox and coaxed it into joining their dance. Before long, the trio – two women and a fox – were engulfed in a feverish dance.

"I am the fox spirit, come to the mortal world to cultivate..." Infectious enthusiasm spread among them, and even the usually reserved Zhao Qinghan declared herself a fox spirit.

Wang Xuan watched the trio, utterly dumbstruck. He considered intervening, perhaps knocking them out with a well-placed punch to spare them further embarrassment. But then he thought better of it. Suppressing their natural instincts wasn't right; it was better to let them express themselves freely, at least for now.

Wang Xuan stood aside, thoroughly enjoying the visual feast before him. Having himself experienced hallucinations of a demon fairy's dance, he now witnessed descendants of celestial immortals performing their spirited dances. Could this, he wondered, be considered a dance of celestial beings?

Grandmaster Ma, after repeatedly scaling and crashing down from towering trees, had eventually knocked himself unconscious, now lying in a state of "peaceful" repose.

Zhao Qinghan, Wu Yin, and the little black fox danced vigorously well into the night, eventually transitioning into a collective catwalk. Exhausted and finally sobering up in the deep hours, they ceased their antics. Wu Yin clutched the little fox like a cushion, burying her head as if emulating an ostrich. Zhao Qinghan, her usual poise abandoned, flushed with embarrassment, feigned sleep to hide her face.

Come morning, both Zhao and Wu, with their strong inner resolve, acted as if nothing unusual had transpired, resuming their journey as usual. Only the little black fox remained blissfully unconcerned, cheerfully suggesting on the road, “Wu Yin, your catwalk was excellent, and Sister Zhao's dance was so enchanting! You must teach me sometime.”

Instantly, the facade of normalcy shattered for both women, each fighting the urge to reprimand the little fox.

Guided by the small fox of the black fox clan, they encountered no fierce creatures and smoothly reached the deeper parts of the Hidden Land, arriving at the Earth Immortal City. The city, once bustling with residents and rich history, now lay in ruins, a shadow of its former glory. Its once magnificent buildings, palaces, inns, and taverns had crumbled, leaving only stone structures standing.

Within the city, they found a mix of people: former transcendent beings who had retreated from combat to recover from their injuries, and ordinary humans from Eura, Heluo, and Yu Hua worlds accompanying their transcendent elders for experience.

To their surprise, they discovered Old Song, and learned that the siblings, Zhong Qing and Zhong Cheng, were also there, residing in a stone temple ahead.

......

"Zhong Qing, is it true that you've been feasting on rat meat?" Zhao Qinghan chimed in with excitement.

Upon their entry, they overheard Zhong Cheng lamenting about being sick of eating dried rat meat every day.

Zhong Qing, caught off guard by the unexpected guests, covered her face in embarrassment. Usually eloquent and composed, she nearly broke into tears, fearing this dark chapter of her life, if spread back to the New World, would be unimaginable.

"Little Zhong, does rat meat taste good?" Wu Yin teased.

"Little Zhong, I have some Earth Immortal Spring water here..."

...

Wang Xuan spent a day in the city, finally encountering Old Chen and catching a distant glimpse of Old Zhong. Participants of the transcendent battle could rest in the Earth Immortal City at night, a rare safe haven where they were forbidden from engaging in combat.

"Little Wang, how did you end up in the depths of the Hidden Land?" Old Chen asked in surprise, noting the bloodstains on his clothes. Despite having recently ambushed and defeated several adversaries alongside Old Zhong, their situation was increasingly precarious.

"Seeing you like this, how could I rest easy? As your protector, I've come to guard your way," Wang Xuan stated calmly.

He planned to transfer a substantial amount of the mysterious factors in his body to Old Chen and then replenish his own reserves from the Inner Landscape treasures. His goal was to break through to the transcendent realm and return to protect Old Chen.

"Don't joke around. The beings here are terrifyingly powerful. Even Old Zhong, after over a century of arduous cultivation, was left vomiting blood and nearly killed by the palm strike of a foreign entity," Old Chen warned gravely.

"It's alright. When I come back here next time, I'll avenge both of you," Wang Xuan assured him serenely. He hesitated on whether to inform Old Chen about the secret path through the Land of the Departed. Although having a large amount of mysterious factors in the body should ensure greater safety, he remained cautious of unforeseen dangers.