The Stars Beyond

Chapter 231: A Restless Night

Chapter 231: A Restless Night

The battle in Mu City sent shockwaves in all directions, its impact immense. Chen Yongjie's display of unstoppable strength served as a lesson to the Sun family, demonstrating the fury of a Transcendent by publicly beheading a high-ranking member of their family.

"What are we waiting for? We must restrict Transcendents. They dare to act so lawlessly now; what will happen in the future? Can the financial dynasties still control the New World, or will they be replaced by them?"

The Sun family immediately contacted major powers and top organizations, urging a serious and stringent approach towards Transcendents, stressing the urgency of curbing their influence.

They knew other families were pleased to see someone challenging the Sun family, depleting the super-wealthy's resources. But by exaggerating the threat posed by Transcendents, they hoped to incite fear and ultimately gain support.

The Sun family was mobilizing their mechanical army and raising alerts, still intent on annihilating Transcendents while lobbying other powers to join forces, at the very least forming alliances with several major forces.

The secret network was ablaze with discussions, from the financial dynasties and large organizations to the core high-level members and the younger generation, all shocked by the evening's Transcendent battle.

"When myth becomes reality in such an astonishing way, it's ultimately two rare treasures that determine the outcome of the battle."

"Open the secret vaults. Some of our old artifacts showed signs of activity in the past, even without being fully activated. If used correctly, what kind of performance can we expect?"

"Could this be the Binding Immortal Rope, and that one... perhaps the Mutton Fat Jade Bottle?"

......

The financial dynasties were set into motion, taking inventory of their secret vaults and seeking extraordinary artifacts. They even brought in senior consultants specialized in ancient mythology to study these items. Undoubtedly, this development had a significant impact on Wang Xuan and Old Chen, making it more challenging for them to easily acquire ancient artifacts in the future.

The Sun family's lobbying efforts were met with various responses. Some families received them seriously, sharing the Sun family's fear of Transcendents overturning their current status. Others remained neutral, preferring to observe from the sidelines without getting involved. And some large organizations, inscrutable in their intentions, did not immediately take a stance.

In the evening, within the exclusive circle of financial dynasties and major organizations, discussions ebbed and flowed. There were heated debates, searches for rare treasures in secret vaults, and secret talks of forming alliances. However, they hadn't forgotten that another battle was looming that night.

Their attention turned to Jingyue City, home to millions and the stronghold of the Song family, where another major Transcendent battle was expected. "That freak Wang Xuan is nearby. Let’s not get dragged into this. We should leave the city quickly!" Some members of the Song family worried.

This battle garnered even more attention, especially after Chen Yongjie's earlier engagement had set the financial and organizational communities abuzz. Now, even those who hadn't initially paid attention to this battle were connecting to the secret network, having waited for some time.

In the financial dynasties, some elders who had been quiet and not interested in the Mu City battle, and some women who weren't typically interested in martial conflicts, were now stirred by the news of Chen Yongjie's myth-like battle. They all wanted to witness the live broadcast firsthand.

"Zhong Qing, the beautiful Miss Zhong, I heard you and Wang Xuan, the star of tonight's final battle, once explored deep space together and visited the city of earth immortals. What's he like?"

It was undeniable that even the most elegant and graceful women, when chatting privately with close friends, indulged in gossip just like any other girl.

"Zhong Qing, can Transcendents really fly and split mountains with a wave of their hand? Is it dangerous being around them? We should get together for tea sometime."

In fact, the phones of Zhong Cheng and Zhou Yun were also busy. The battle in Mu City, where Chen Yongjie faced the mechanical army alone and triumphed, turning the tide against the Sun family's formidable power, had caused a sensation.

Many from the younger generation began contacting Zhong Cheng and Zhou Yun, individuals known for their close associations with Wang Xuan and Old Chen. At this moment, Zhou Yun was aboard his private spaceship, returning to the New World, feeling rejuvenated, as if he had consumed a panacea, his whole being invigorated.

Previously, Zhou Yun had retreated to Xinyue to clear his mind after being edged out by rivals. Now, with some witnessing the prowess of Transcendents, their attitudes had visibly changed. Even those who harbored hostility towards Transcendents were eager to understand and connect with such power, enthusiastically engaging Zhou Yun in conversation and inviting him to dine.

"These guys are no saints; many of them are smiling tigers!" Zhou Yun was well aware of this, engaging deeply only with close friends and giving perfunctory responses to others.

"At least we must suppress them for three years to prevent an upheaval. The Zheng family... never mind them. After three years, everything will return to normal." Some from the middle-aged group discussed in their chambers, calm and confident, evidently aware of certain secrets. They did not see a future dominated by myths but believed technology would eventually reign supreme.

"This phase is not a cause for concern. The star-destroying ships are coming, and research into the realm of the spirit is progressing. Technology will ultimately dictate everything!"

That night, even the general public became aware of some of the events. While the secret network was not open to the public, some residents of Mu City saw the fires outside the city, the battling mechanical army, and the warships opening fire, all of which left them utterly shocked.

This was explosive news, impossible to conceal. Some residents near the outskirts, living in high-rise buildings, daringly recorded some of the distant, blurry footage of the battle.

This footage quickly ignited a frenzy across various platforms, confirming that a massive Transcendent battle had indeed taken place. Not long after, these blurry combat videos surged to the top of the trending lists.

Eventually, some people recognized the Transcendent in the blurry battle footage, noting he resembled the crew-cut man who tore apart advanced mechanical beings in the "Three-Person Photo" circulating a few days earlier. This revelation stirred up excitement and noisy discussions among the public.

"I've heard that another big battle is going to take place tonight outside Jingyue City. Friends there should be alert, prepare your devices. You might capture footage worth treasuring for five hundred years!"

Word spread beyond the financial dynasties, reaching the general public who heard these rumors. "Zhong Qing, shall we go to the scene to watch? A live battle is far more thrilling than watching it on a screen. How about flying to Jingyue City on a spaceship?" Some adventurous young women from wealthy families and major organizations planned eagerly, looking forward to witnessing the mythic battle.

Zhou Yun and Zhong Cheng were even busier, inundated with requests from acquaintances to share links to the secret network and grant them access. Friends, business acquaintances, and even some female celebrities approached Zhou Yun, leaving him in a dilemma, especially with his girlfriends around.

They realized the magnitude of the night's events, stirring up various sectors, including entertainment and finance, as well-connected individuals reached out.

The secret network's traffic surged, clearly indicating that some insiders had granted access to acquaintances. A popular sweet-looking actress posted a contemptuous image of Wang, sparking widespread discussion and making people realize who was about to enter the fray.

It was the same mysterious young man from the "Three-Person Photo," standing aloft, smiling faintly, his figure blurred.

Wang Xuan stepped out of the hotel, wearing a metal mask he had fashioned from a piece of metal, creating a silver mask. He did not want to be recognized and scrutinized in the streets after tonight's battle, as it would hinder his future actions.

Walking along the softly lit streets at night, Wang casually snapped the necks of two mechanical beings, testing the strength of their alloy materials. He then continued, his spiritual domain spreading out, causing the heavy-duty and high-intelligence mechanical beings on the streets and rooftops to malfunction, their internal circuits sparking with energy.

While still within the city, Wang Xuan launched his attack. From Old Chen's battle in Mu City, he understood that the Sun family wouldn't play by the rules. These mechanical beings might eventually be used against him. Even within the city, if the Sun family became desperate, they would likely destroy buildings and hotels to kill him, daring to take extreme actions.

Thus, he began clearing the field first, walking the streets like the Grim Reaper himself.

"Retreat, leave Jingyue City!" The Sun family members looked grim as many of their mechanical beings inexplicably lost contact with their control systems, clearly indicating trouble.

Wang Xuan left the city, destroying various humanoid robots along the way. These lifelike machines, previously tools for mass killing, now stood frozen in the city behind him.

"Old Wang has left the city," Zhong Cheng whispered.

At this moment, the traffic on the secret network spiked as everyone closely watched the unfolding battle. Microscopic detectors, like insects, floated in the night sky, cautiously approaching Wang Xuan, attempting to capture close-up audio-visuals of him.

Crack!

A streak of electricity flashed, causing nearby expensive and precise instruments to fall from the sky.

Remote spying was one thing, but some remotely controlled detectors even attempted to get close to his body, with the bolder ones trying to attach themselves to his hair and clothing.

The night was deep, stars twinkled above, and a crescent moon hung high. The land outside the city was quiet and empty, cleared by the Sun family to ensure no disturbances.

"You're late!" On the distant land, a figure had been standing for a long time, clad in ancient armor, flowing with runes, mysterious and powerful, emanating an astonishing aura of Transcendent matter.

"It's your Sun family's overconfidence," Wang Xuan spoke. "Did you really think I would just obey and leave the city because you commanded it?"

Earlier, the Sun family, in their high-handed manner, had demanded he come out, offering him a 'chance' to avoid being hunted down. He had ignored them then.

"We speak to you from a position of strength and status," the distant figure stated coldly.

"You lack both the qualification and the power to claim such a position," Wang Xuan replied calmly.

He remained vigilant, aware that the Sun family would not play fair. This was not going to be a straightforward duel, but he was prepared for whatever they had planned.

The ground cracked open, and numerous dark shadows emerged in all directions, looking sinister in the night, resembling ghosts rising one after the other. From the grass, behind rocks, and even beneath the soil, mechanical beings surfaced, encircling him within a radius of a mile. This was a more severe situation than what Old Chen had faced, with the mechanical army well-prepared.

Boom!

Without a word, countless energy beams crisscrossed and opened fire simultaneously. Each beam was powerful enough to penetrate buildings, unstoppable even by a Transcendent.

"Damn it! The Sun family is ruthless, even more so than in their fight with Old Chen. They lure him into a death trap and launch an all-out assault!"

Observers were horrified, feeling a chill run down their spines. Any ordinary person caught in this situation would be obliterated on the spot.

Wang Xuan momentarily vanished, shattering the ground and avoiding the beams of destruction. However, he reappeared in an instant, with a miraculous vision emerging around him. An ancient lamp hovered above his head, suddenly bursting into blinding light.

Boom!

The Transcendent material boiled, emitting a deep red light that exploded and then transformed into a ripple, expanding in all directions. The glowing waves visibly pulsed, rapidly expanding outward.

Crack!

All around, the mechanical beings fell silent, sparking with energy, all destroyed. Some of the heavy-duty machines, heavily impacted and disrupted, exploded violently.

A chain reaction erupted in all directions. Countless valuable mechanical beings detonated, disintegrating, bursting into brilliant displays like fireworks.

The scene left everyone in awe.

Wang Xuan stood still, the ancient lamp emitting a faint light beside him. From afar, under the night moon, his figure appeared serene and quiet, harmoniously paired with the ancient lamp, like a character stepping out of a painting.