The Stars Beyond

Chapter 222: Surprise!

Chapter 222: Surprise!

The entire street lay in an eerie silence, the streetlights remaining off since their earlier extinguishment. Wang Xuan sat quietly, sensing his surroundings for a long time, ensuring there were no issues within several miles. His gaze then drifted to the ancient lamp on the table before settling on the still, silent figure of Old Chen on the sickbed.

...

Throughout the night, many had been waiting for hours. Although they had speculated that there wouldn’t be any more surprising twists and that everything would soon come to an end, a portion of them remained vigilant, eager to hear Su City's final outcome directly.

"It's quite interesting, isn't it? So many familiar faces are up tonight, all waiting for news from Su City," Qin Hong chuckled, seated in the Qin family residence in Pingyuan City. He swirled his glass, the wine catching the light in a soft golden glow, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"After all, they're just a couple of fortunate warriors who've risen above their station, not worth my special attention. Let me know when there's new information," Qin Hong said, stepping out onto the rooftop. He gazed at the stars and moon, immersing himself in the hazy night.

His disdain for cultivators had only deepened, especially after the death of his offspring on the moon, fueling his animosity.

In an ancient underground palace, the headquarters of the Ashen Blood organization, a raspy voice questioned, "Should we issue another blood hunt order? Last time, someone impersonated us to stir the pot."

"Lao Chen, may your journey be peaceful. I tried my best, but still couldn't save you," lamented Ling Qiming, standing in a reconstructed ancient temple at his home. He reminisced about the old days in the Old World with Chen Yongjie, shaking his head in resignation. He had personally reached out to the Sun family, but to no avail; Sun Rongting was adamant about exterminating all threats.

In the Zhong family home, Old Zhong's second son, Zhong Changming, instructed his descendants to avoid trouble and maintain calm and stability. The Zhong family would not get involved in these external affairs.

In the heart of the Sun family's estate, a calm discussion unfolded. "This evening has been busy, with numerous inquiries from various parties. Particularly, those life research institutes are keen on acquiring Chen Yongjie's flesh. A transcendent being from the old martial arts domain is indeed a precious sample for experiments," a voice noted.

"Keep the heart, the rest of the flesh can be sold. Ensure the head is preserved in culture fluid to retain vitality. It's vital to delve into the mysteries of a transcendent's mental energy," said another member of the Sun family, exuding a sense of control and readiness for the tasks ahead. They were preparing to dispatch experts to meticulously dissect Chen Yongjie's remains.

Across the influential echelons of the New World's major organizations and financial dynasties, the transcendent event had captured the attention of both the powerful and the young.

"Brother Sun, I hear your family managed to quash a rising transcendent. Zhou Yun has been touting his exploits in the secret lands with a transcendent, regaling tales of the mystical and treacherous Immortal City. Now, with his admired Chen Yongjie fallen, I wonder how he'll keep up his boasts. I can't help but feel secondhand embarrassment for him. Speaking of which, my uncle specifically requested a portion of Chen Yongjie's remains for his laboratory. They're in dire need of such rare materials," Sun Yichen said with a light laugh on the phone. This night, he had fielded several similar requests. "Come on, Song Kun, why the pretense? You want Chen Yongjie's remains, right? I'll reserve a portion for you. In an age where star destroyers are imminent, even more formidable mythical beings will meet their end without hesitation!"

Throughout the night, Zhou Yun and Zhong Cheng transitioned from worry to outrage as they discovered that some acquaintances were deriding them in hushed tones. Not long ago, these very people had shared Zhou Yun's enthusiasm for the secret lands and expressed curiosity about transcendent beings, eager to connect with Old Chen and Wang Xuan.

Now, with the news of the transcendent's defeat, mocking whispers spread, painting Zhou Yun and Zhong Cheng's revered figures as mere paper tigers swiftly vanquished.

Mostly, however, people chose to observe in silence, opting not to indulge in scornful remarks, merely waiting to witness the final outcome.

"Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous" Zhong Cheng muttered, pacing restlessly, irked to the core, especially after even a girl he fancied hinted at his flawed judgment.

Zhou Yun, in a surge of anger, abruptly embarked on a spaceship journey, heading directly to the New Moon, seeking solace and distance from the unfolding drama on the New World.

......

In the quiet of the night, Zhou Yun felt an unbearable tightness in his chest, a mix of indignation and frustration that he couldn't shake off. Feeling suffocated and unable to rescue Wang Xuan and Chen Yongjie, and now the butt of ridicule, he couldn't bear to stay on Newstar any longer.

Zhong Qing, however, maintained her composure. Glancing at her brother, she said, “Why be upset? Those who are speaking out, aren't they just a few in number? They're either too naive or have ulterior motives. Just ignore them. When you step out from the shadow of the Zhong family, people will still flock around you.”

“I want to prove myself,” Zhong Cheng lamented, “One day, I’ll become a sword immortal on my own merit, not just because of our family. I hope Wang and Chen... I wish they could have stayed alive longer. I was counting on them to lead the way.”

...

Suddenly, in the dead of night, a figurative thunderclap resounded through the circles of the financial dynasties and major organizations. For a moment, those who were still discussing, waiting, or dealing in the transcendent flesh fell silent, engulfed in a brief hush.

It was as if someone had pressed the pause button on this unique community, silencing the entire world.

Then, like a meteor crashing into the ocean, a huge uproar broke the silence. “Change in Su City? The people sent to eliminate Chen Yongjie and Wang Xuan encountered trouble?”

“The Sun family's operation failed, and a key figure is rumored to have died there?”

“Is this information reliable? Weren’t the transcendent beings defeated? How could such news surface when everything was about to conclude?”

Many sought confirmation, scrambling to report to their superiors. Using every available channel, they quickly gathered concrete information, even photographic evidence.

When the Sun family received the news, they were in utter shock. Sun Chengquan, a significant figure in their ranks, was dead!

The news of the spacecraft's tragic crash in the mountains just outside Su City echoed with disbelief. No one survived the catastrophe; the craft was reduced to nothing but molten debris by its own energy system. This startling development left the Sun family in a state of shock and fury. Such a demise of a core member of a super dynasty was an anomaly unheard of for decades.

Sun Rongting sat motionless, his expression cold and impassive. As he processed the abrupt deviation from the planned trajectory, he realized that immediate action was necessary to correct the course.

In Pingyuan City, Qin Hong set down his wine glass, initially disbelieving the rumors. It took him a considerable amount of time to digest the reality: Sun Chengquan was dead. "Who could have done this? This is spiraling into a major crisis," he thought aloud.

The Qian family, deeply rooted in Su City, were among the first to catch wind of the news. Qian An, stationed in his estate on the city outskirts, frantically attempted to contact Wang Xuan, but his calls went unanswered.

Ling Qiming stood in disbelief upon hearing the rumor. He had prematurely mourned Chen Yongjie, even performing ceremonial rites. But now, the situation had taken an unexpected turn. With Chen incapacitated, who could have possibly intervened? Could it have been the young Wang Xuan?

Zhao Zejun was equally taken aback by the sudden reversal. The fall of a member of the Sun family was far beyond his expectations. As he pondered over the implications, he realized that this was not the end but the precursor to a new storm. The Sun family, now incensed, would not let this go unchallenged. Despite the chaos, he couldn't help but be impressed by the display of resilience in Su City. The transcendent beings were far from defeated; they were remarkably dominant.

In the secretive lair of the Ashen Blood organization, a voice cut through the silence, "Is the Blood Edict issued? If not, let's pull it back immediately. We need to reassess the situation."

"My uncle, Sun Chengquan, is dead? The campaign to eliminate the transcendent, reversed? Who's responsible? Chen Yongjie was incapacitated, wasn't he?" Sun Yichen struggled to come to terms with the news. His peers inundated him with calls seeking confirmation, the swift turn of events leaving everyone scrambling to keep pace.

Zhong Cheng, upon hearing the news, was initially dumbstruck. Then, with a burst of energy, he leapt to his feet, exclaiming in disbelief, "Holy smokes! Wang Xuan and Old Chen have turned the tables!"

"Calm down!" scolded Zhong Qing, though her own heart was far from serene. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as her theories began to take shape.

"Where are you, Zhou? Did you see the news?!" Zhong Cheng reached out to Zhou Yun.

"On the Moon. What's up, did Wang Xuan and Old Chen go too? Sigh, I'm feeling pretty down, can't really handle it. Could you burn some more paper money for me? I'll head back in a few days," Zhou Yun responded, his spirits evidently low.

"What are you talking about? It's the Sun family's people who got taken down!"

"Wow!" Zhou Yun's eyes widened in disbelief.

Both tried to contact Wang Xuan, but his phone went unanswered. After initially responding to Qin Cheng and Professor Lin, assuring them he was safe for the night, Wang Xuan ignored the rest of the calls due to the overwhelming number of incoming inquiries.

Finally, he sent out a mass message: "All is well, no worries." This brief yet loaded message triggered a new wave of speculation. To many, it was not just an assurance of safety but also a display of confidence.

Wang Xuan put his phone on silent and set it aside, turning his attention to the ancient lamp. He needed to revive Old Chen, as he knew the battle was just beginning. Wang Xuan disliked being on the defensive, waiting for others to strike first.

He was convinced that had Old Chen not been unexpectedly incapacitated by the exotic artifact, sending him into the Sun family's city would have been immensely destructive. Many in Su City harbored ulterior motives, and the major powers were not to be underestimated. If Old Chen recovered, the two of them could launch a formidable attack from different directions, intensifying their threat.

The night in Su City passed in unusual calm. No one dared to provoke any further trouble near the Wellness Pavilion. After all, even the Sun family's thunderous assault had failed.

Everyone was left pondering: Had Old Chen awakened, or was the young man the real threat, striking back with formidable power?