The Stars Beyond

Chapter 220: Unveiling

Chapter 220: Unveiling

With the streetlights extinguished, this area of the city was plunged into darkness, broken only by a dark red beam that sliced through the oppressive gloom, rapidly entering the Health Preservation Hall.

In the dim room, devoid of light, Wang Xuan's eyes were clear. He swung his short sword, creating a dazzling flash like a striking whip, slashing forward.

The dark red arrow penetrated the wall, leaving a tiny hole. It was short, no longer than a pen, but intricately crafted. The arrow, covered in dense symbols and emitting a red halo, trailed a tail several meters long, creating a mesmerizing yet intimidating sight.

Like a red meteor from outer space, it suddenly crashed into the room, aiming to destroy everything within.

The short sword gleamed brilliantly as Wang Xuan, with precise and powerful strokes, bisected the palm-sized dark red arrow. The blade's sharpness was unmatched, silently severing the arrow.

However, Wang Xuan felt no triumph, only tension tightening his skin. He moved like a ghost, leaving a trail of afterimages in the room, his every hair standing on end.

The bisected arrow, in a moment, rejoined into one complete dark red arrow. The special symbols on its shaft glowed faintly, filling the dark room with a sinister red hue.

Whoosh!

The arrow, swift as lightning, chased after Wang Xuan, aiming to pierce his spirit.

His short sword, though not ordinary, had never been used to unleash any bizarre runes; it had only relied on its sharp blade for defense.

Suddenly, Wang Xuan sheathed the sword, choosing not to block with it anymore.

As the scorching, painful edge drew near, Wang Xuan jerked his head aside, dodging the red beam aimed at his forehead, his eyes emitting tangible beams of light.

He attempted to alter the arrow's trajectory with his spirit, but his entire spiritual domain throbbed with pain.

This arrow was too abnormal, posing a grave threat to him.

In the instant the arrow flew past, it turned back around, intertwining dark red beams and a dense array of symbols surging towards him, seeking to embed itself within his body.

Wang Xuan repeatedly swung his hand, bombarding the arrow with mysterious forces, but to little effect.

He now understood Old Chen's helplessness. Facing such an extraordinary relic, evasion seemed impossible, and it couldn't be effectively destroyed.

Was his only option to withstand it with his spiritual domain?

This was likely no ordinary relic, but rather a formidable artifact unearthed by the financial powerhouses from the ancient mythological era, now activated by them, its power unpredictable.

Wang Xuan faced such an extraordinary relic for the first time, lacking experience. He invoked the scriptures recorded on the stone tablet, resonating his body and spirit together, causing his power to surge dramatically.

He continuously flicked his fingers, unleashing thunderous blasts one after another, deafening in the dark night, all targeting the dark red arrow. Although it broke repeatedly, it always reformed.

Wang Xuan realized that all physical attacks were less effective than direct intervention with his spiritual domain.

But Old Chen served as a cautionary tale, currently in a state akin to a living dead.

Relics were not just mere talk. Wang Xuan gained a sober and profound understanding of the relics left from the ancient transcendental era on this night.

A true relic could shift the tide of battle. This was not like the weapons he had seen in the Hidden Lands. It was a genuine marvel unearthed from the ruins of ancient great teachings, possessing astonishing power.

Wang Xuan did not panic, still confident in himself. All miraculous scenes resonated, emerging vividly.

Misty celestial mountains, a falling sun over a volcanic lava field, a blue lake expanding into an ocean... all fused with his spiritual domain, enhancing his strength significantly.

Hiss!

The dark red arrow flew towards his body. This time, there was no escape, and Wang Xuan no longer wished to remain passive. His spiritual power surged wildly, resonating with the miraculous visions, in harmony with the physical world.

The red arrow pierced into Wang Xuan's spiritual domain, plunging into the scene of the falling red sun and the molten lava landscape, where it was swallowed by the spectacle and restrained.

What were these miraculous scenes? After stepping into the transcendental realm, Wang Xuan connected to the enigmatic spiritual world, capturing a corner of it and manifesting it into his reality.

Normally, even in the age when myths were not decayed, no one could glimpse into those mysterious layers of the spiritual world.

Of course, Wang Xuan had only touched upon a vague corner of the first layer of this spiritual world, drawing strands of bizarre energy to form these wondrous spectacles.

The dark red arrow became utterly silent within these visions.

Darkness returned to the room, devoid of light, save for Wang Xuan's eyes shining brightly. He felt reassured.

The relic from the ancient transcendental era was indeed powerful, but his ability to reach this stage and form these visions was also extraordinary.

Even in ancient times, at his current realm, accessing the first layer of the spiritual world was believed to be capable of countering legendary relics.

All of this transpired in the blink of an eye.

From the moment the man in black appeared with the lantern, to the dimming of the arrow, it was all but a fleeting instant.

Wang Xuan noticed swarms of tiny detectors flying in the street and mid-air, approaching and attempting to enter the room.

A terrifying arc of electricity shot out, tearing through the darkness and illuminating the street where the lights had gone out. The costly detectors fell in droves, destroyed.

In an instant, the street was plunged back into darkness.

The man in black continued his approach to the health pavilion, unchanging in rhythm, still carrying the ancient lantern. His face remained cold and rigid, like wearing an expressionless mask. Under the dim red light of the lantern, his visage appeared chilling and sinister.

......

At that moment, the street was deserted, with only the forceful steps of the man in black echoing.

"Unexpected, there was a burst of transcendental thunder, is Chen Yongjie revived, or is Wang Xuan truly a transcendent as well?" Two figures observed the scene from afar, using high-tech means to monitor the street's activity.

"Whoever it is, they should have been hit by an arrow just now and won't last long."

Simultaneously, they looked up to see a warship approaching silently like a looming cloud, appearing in the sky above Suzhou City. On this starless night, its presence was intimidating, evoking a sense of oppression and fear.

Undoubtedly, this was a display of formidable deterrence.

In this era, the ironclad body of such a warship, if it were to open fire, could crush everything in its path.

...

That evening, various parties awaited news, anticipating the outcome of this battle.

"What? There's a warship hovering over Suzhou City? What are they planning to do? That's a city with a population of millions; they're going too far!"

"Thunderous strikes to demonstrate power, but they can't break the rules. Even just flying over is unacceptable. What if an accident happens?"

Immediate pressure was exerted by concerned parties, insisting that no one should cross the line.

The warship silently drifted away, disappearing into the horizon.

At this time, the relevant circles were abuzz with discussion, unable to find peace, as the outcome seemed imminent. The major forces that had initiated the action had already spread the word externally, determined to end everything.

The prevailing belief was that the transcendent had been defeated, and it seemed unlikely that the outcome would change.

On the dark street, the man in black had now approached the Health Hall, launching a second arrow from his ancient lamp. The lamp's hazy glow intertwined with the red flames, and the arrow, like a streak of rainbow light, penetrated into the room.

This time, Wang Xuan didn’t evade. His spiritual domain and the miraculous sceneries merged, forming a protective net around him. The dark red arrow, resembling a falling meteor, entered the blue sea scenery and instantly quieted down.

The man in the retro outfit, emotionless, stepped into the building. His transcendent power was evident, revealing his formidable strength.

In an instant, he entered the room.

Wang Xuan unleashed a punch, radiant with thunderous light, aimed at the man.

The man in black remained calm, his ancient lamp casting a protective halo around him, intertwining lights creating a defensive screen while another arrow shot forth.

When Wang Xuan neutralized the third dark red arrow, his eyes still sparkling, the man’s expression finally changed. His attacks hadn’t had the intended effect? The lamp was a true treasure, surviving from the era of decaying myths, its extraordinary nature and immense value were undeniable.

In the darkness, thunderbolts struck one after another, all targeting the man. The light from the lamp flickered, successfully blocking the strikes, but the protective screen was also weakening and dimming.

Realizing the situation was turning dire, the man knew the transcendent energy of the ancient lamp was being depleted and needed replenishment of super-materials urgently.

He too launched an attack, with dense flames boiling in his hand, threatening to incinerate everything. But Wang Xuan’s punch descended, extinguishing all the flames.

The man in black's heart sank as he realized that his opponent was far stronger. With the super-materials in the ancient lamp depleted, it couldn't unleash its full potential, and he stood no chance against Wang Xuan. He was astounded by Wang Xuan's youth and formidable power, recognizing him as a transcendent, a hidden and far more terrifying threat than Chen Yongjie.

His pupils contracted in shock. Despite previous speculations about Wang Xuan, confronting him firsthand was a stark revelation of his true power.

Attempting to flee, his path was severed by a dazzling sword light – a flying sword slashing towards him. The protective screen of the lamp quivered violently before beginning to collapse.

Wang Xuan approached, his punch descending heavily, causing the already dimming light screen to cave in and lose its luster. The screen shattered like porcelain under his strike, and his fist, along with the sword light, tore through the man's black clothing, which was actually an ancient protective garment. However, it stood no chance against the incisive blade.

At this point, the man's fate was sealed. His primary reliance, the ancient lamp, had run out of super-material. Wang Xuan's hand pressed onto his skull, instantly caving it in and utterly destroying his brain.

Simultaneously, the sword light swept across, segmenting the man's body into pieces, with blood splattering everywhere. Given the tenacity of a transcendent's life force, Wang Xuan left no chance for survival, ensuring no intact corpse remained.

......

As the ancient lamp extinguished and fell, Wang Xuan caught it effortlessly. This treasured object had found a new owner. His gaze, profound and piercing, looked into the distance. Was this the end? No, it was merely the beginning. He believed that the forces seeking to annihilate him and Chen Yongjie were not ready to conclude this saga – a saga that would cost more blood and lives.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yun lamented his inability to intervene at this critical juncture. Accustomed to a life of luxury and carefree days, he now found himself helplessly awaiting unwelcome news. "What about Wang Xuan and Chen Yongjie..." he pondered with regret.

In their specific circle, everyone waited for news, discussing and deliberating. Although it was believed that the transcendent had been defeated, they still awaited the final closure of this event.

Wang Xuan, looking down at the severed body of the transcendent, noticed an implanted chip. He sensed two individuals spying from a distance. "The blood has just started to flow, and the curtain has only just been drawn back," he stated calmly, prepared for what was to come.