The Stars Beyond

Chapter 239: Invitation From The Immortals

Chapter 239: Invitation From The Immortals

Wang Xuan felt a heavy burden on his heart, as one event after another seemed to herald an approaching storm, almost suffocating him. He had thought the standoff with the financial conglomerates would lead to a period of calm, but contrary to his wishes, he suspected he heard the footsteps of the descending immortals.

Various issues, one after another, constantly threatened him!

Crackling noises filled the pitch-black night sky, as if electromagnetic waves were slicing through the air, creating an intense unease. Something was indeed approaching.

A streak of red light flashed across the sky, too fast for the ordinary eye, but Wang Xuan saw it clearly – a figure.

For commoners, encountering an immortal is a surprise, a happy accident filled with anticipation. But for Wang Xuan, it was horrifying; everything became unpredictable.

He moved lightly but firmly to the rooftop. There was no use in shrinking back or being afraid at this critical moment. Better to face it calmly and coolly, even if overpowered, he was ready to battle the immortals!

He wasn't entirely without a chance. The entity returning from the world behind the veil had likely paid a heavy price, with its cultivation greatly diminished.

A breeze swept through the night sky, the clouds thick and obscuring the moon and stars. The surroundings were eerily silent.

The twinkling lights of the city's nightscape dimmed, fog enveloping the area. The neon lights, towering skyscrapers, and small flying ships traversing high above were all hidden, the whole world losing its sound.

Crackling noises, reminiscent of an old television losing its signal, were intermittent and originated from the mist.

Wang Xuan stood still, waiting in the city's night sky for the suspected immortal being to appear. This had nothing to do with sanctity or immortal qi, only crisis and terror.

He saw it – the red light approached, not a physical entity but manifested as spiritual energy. This being was far more powerful than Sun Rongting, more formidable than anyone he had encountered in the realm of new techniques, posing a real threat to Wang Xuan, who braced himself for what was to come.

Are the immortals really returning?

A woman, clad in dark red metallic armor with a helmet covering her face, appeared before Wang Xuan, her form a spiritual entity draped in armor. Her figure was slender, her face unseen, as she scrutinized Wang Xuan with immeasurable strength, surrounded by supernatural matter.

Wang Xuan observed her calmly, responding stoically to the unexpected visitor.

"Capable of spiritual wandering?" asked the woman in the dark red armor, communicating through the spiritual realm.

Wang Xuan replied, "Far from it, just astral projection within a limited range."

Suddenly, a page appeared before him, floating in mid-air, not a real sheet of paper but composed of spiritual energy and supernatural matter. It was an invitation, calling Wang Xuan to attend the Zhi Lan Ceremony at Yuan Chi Mountain in ten days, a simple invite that could be stored in the spiritual realm.

Why was he invited? Where was Yuan Chi Mountain? What was the Zhi Lan Ceremony? Wang Xuan was perplexed.

Was this a gathering only for transcendents? Who was hosting it – the descending immortals? He was filled with questions, his expression grave.

He directly inquired about these.

The night brought surprises; why suddenly had such a being approached him?

"The location is Yuan Chi Mountain in the current world of Xinxing," the woman explained. "Long ago, there were gatherings at Yao Chi, which later dispersed, becoming Yao Chi San Hui. When Yao Chi became inaccessible and declined, it transformed into Zhi Lan Sheng Hui, and now, only the Zhi Lan Ceremony remains."

With a whoosh, the red light tore through the sky, and the figure vanished without lingering, like a fleeting immortal.

Simultaneously, the fog dispersed, and the sounds of the surrounding city returned. The bright lights, towering buildings, and various flying vehicles reconnected him with the worldly atmosphere of Xinxing's metropolis.

Had he just been isolated from the world, unable to perceive anything around him, akin to the desolation on the path of ascension?

Wang Xuan frowned, pondering. The anticipated battle had not erupted. Who exactly was this figure in the dark red armor? A transcendent being, a returned immortal, or a creature beyond the mundane world?

Until now, only he, Old Zhong, and Chen Yongjie were cultivators on Xinxing, while other transcendents emerged from the realm of new techniques.

Now, unexpectedly, a woman in dark red metallic armor, capable of astral projection and armored, had arrived to deliver an invitation, an unusual occurrence indeed.

Could it be that Xinxing has always harbored cultivators since ancient times, never truly losing touch with this path? Wang Xuan found it hard to believe. If such people existed, why would the original inhabitants face such struggles?

The situation on Xinxing was complex, and Wang Xuan surmised that his recent conflict with the Sun Family had exposed him, catching the attention of certain individuals. His initial plan was to lay low, cultivate quietly without drawing attention, and grow stronger until he could face any challenge.

But the aggressive stance of the super conglomerates, determined to eradicate him and Chen Yongjie, made it impossible for him and Chen to hide away and cultivate in peace.

"A hundred years ago, there were sages on Xinyue (the New Moon) setting up arrangements, moving the ancestral homes of Taoism and Buddhism to suppress the moon. Around the same time, families heeded the advice of a mysterious individual and began to excavate the Old Earth, relocating many Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries to Xinxing."

"People have been preparing for something for a long time!" Wang Xuan now believed that these actions were not coincidental but part of a larger plan.

Was the person who sent him the invitation one of the sages from a hundred years ago, or was it an organization? "Were they ancient cultivators, or were they the returning immortals who had come back more than a hundred years ago?" Wang Xuan couldn't help but speculate.

The current situation was delicate, and his premature exposure had inevitably drawn the attention and scrutiny of the mysterious. He realized that Xinxing was far from simple, with unusual undercurrents dating back over a hundred years.

"All the cunning old foxes are hiding behind the scenes, lying in wait, not showing themselves!" he lamented, feeling his youth and inexperience had led to his unexpected exposure.

His resentment towards the Sun Family grew, blaming them for forcing his hand. He suddenly became alert - could the Sun Family have been misled or manipulated to act aggressively with their warships, to flush out newly emerged transcendents, thus serving the purposes of those hidden mysterious beings?

"Whether they are the sages from over a hundred years ago or ancient cultivators who have survived, I need to be on high alert and treat them as if they were returning immortals."

Wang Xuan activated the small, yellow gourd to store the invitation made of supernatural matter and a bit of spiritual energy.

Standing there, he pondered deeply for a long time. "The conglomerates' treasures remain, the supreme scriptures still exist..."

Wang Xuan frowned, contemplating whether the hidden mysterious organization wasn't as powerful as he thought or if they could activate their treasures at any moment, and thus were not in a hurry right now.

After a while, Wang Xuan chuckled to himself. Here he was, cultivating amidst a city brimming with technology, contemplating battles with ancient beings. The whole scenario seemed bizarrely out of place.

Suddenly, his spiritual domain expanded, sensing unusual fluctuations. This night was proving to be anything but peaceful, with one strange occurrence after another. Several miles away, atop a retro-style scenic iron tower, a large, hazy bird perched, peering in his direction.

This didn't sit well with him. Where did this bird with a hint of hostility come from? Two extraordinary beings appearing in one night in the city of Suzhou, both seemingly drawn to him!

He once again realized the disadvantages of being exposed too early. All sorts of bizarre creatures had emerged, previously invisible not because they didn't exist, but because they hid in the shadows.

His thoughts inevitably drifted to Old Zhong. The old man had fallen into a coma, encapsulated in a chrysalis, just before returning. Was that deliberate? Zhong Yong might not have known about Wang Xuan's rise but certainly knew of Chen Yongjie. Perhaps, even then, the old man had foreseen much, choosing to let Chen stand in the forefront while he remained hidden in slumber.

The bird, exuding hostility and of unknown origin, stayed briefly before flapping its wings and flying out of Suzhou, disappearing into the dense forest about ten miles outside the city.

Wang Xuan watched its descent, then returned to his room and accessed the secret tunnel he had dug, leading underground towards the Suzhou River. He swiftly moved along the river, evading surveillance, heading towards the hilly area where the bird had landed.

Moving stealthily and rapidly, Wang Xuan hoped to find the bird before it left, aiming to capture a living prisoner. He needed to determine the source of this extraordinary avian's hostility – was it from a demon race or some unique organization?

He felt a heaviness in his heart; beyond the technologically advanced fa?ade of the New Star world, there seemed to be an underlying dark world. "Maybe I'm overthinking it. These mysterious beings and transcendents could have appeared only recently, accidentally discovering me, the protruding nail."

With no moon or stars, the dense forest was pitch black. Wang Xuan arrived in an instant, like a hunter in the dark. He found several traces – remnants of elks and paw prints – leftovers from the bird's meal.

And then he saw it, a bird resembling a golden eagle with brownish-yellow feathers, over two meters long. In the darkness of the night, its wings emitted a faint glow.

Since the bird exhibited hostility, Wang Xuan didn't hesitate to strike first, aiming to prevent its escape. Highly alert, the bird detected his presence. Its eyes flared with divine light, and a violent wind erupted, turning the vegetation to dust and shattering the rocks as it soared into the sky.

Whoosh! A red light beam, emitted from the ancient lamp, pursued it. Despite its rapid, lightning-like ascent hundreds of meters into the air, the bird was hit. The beam penetrated one of its wings, causing an explosion that tore the wing apart.

With a piercing shriek, the bird plummeted down. Its body, astonishingly, grew larger during the fall, becoming more formidable than before, stretching to a real length of about five meters. Earlier, it had constricted its flesh and used some secret technique to appear smaller.

"If you don't want to die, reveal your origin!" Wang Xuan was stern, threatening the bird with his hovering, brightly shining sword, exuding a chilling gleam.

"I am a transcendent from the glorious planet Kuman, following the footsteps of my master, heeding the divine call. I came to this barren planet with no ill intentions. I was merely tracing the sacred path and stumbled upon you..." the bird spoke.

Wang Xuan was taken aback. An extraterrestrial bird? Had New Star been discovered by an external civilization? Or were there local forces colluding with these alien transcendent beings, bringing them to New Star?

"Transcendent, please let me leave. There is no conflict between us. I will travel far with my master and will no longer trouble you," the bird pleaded.

However, Wang Xuan sensed the bird's turbulent spiritual thoughts, brimming with hostility. It was lying.

Without a second word, he grabbed the bird by the neck, threatening, "Stop with the bird talk, speak in human terms, and tell the truth!"

"Heck, I am a bird," the pale golden bird glared at him resentfully.

Wang Xuan acted decisively, snapping the other wing of the large bird with a crisp crack. He then attempted to probe its spiritual realm, aiming to uncover its origins and secrets. The bird let out a piercing cry, resisting fiercely. Surprisingly, a divine fire burst out from its spiritual realm, radiating an astounding pressure. This was a mark left by another being, protecting the bird.

With a steely gaze, Wang Xuan activated the ancient lamp, sending out a flame that struck the bird's spiritual realm. The mysterious spiritual fire was shattered, extinguishing instantly. The world fell silent as the imprint left in the bird's head by another creature was destroyed, and the bird died miserably.

Wang Xuan's spirit ventured out, searching the area but found nothing else. He quickly skinned and deboned the bird, storing its flesh in his fragment of paradise. He then used the lamp's flame to incinerate the remains, leaving no trace.

The next day, Old Song called, humbly apologizing for past misunderstandings and earnestly requested Wang Xuan to extend his life. Despite his disdain for Song Yun's family, Wang Xuan agreed, considering Song Yun's sincerity and feeling the need to strengthen himself quickly.

"I'm currently refining pills and researching dietary supplements. You can visit me soon," Wang Xuan offered. He also informed Old Song that he didn't need scriptures, only a selection of ancient artifacts, among which he would choose just one, particularly eyeing the dark golden boat.

Song Yun was visibly excited, regretting his previous hesitancy. He inquired if Wang Xuan could extend his life by ten years, as was done for Qin Hongyuan. Wang Xuan replied that it depended on whether the artifacts Song Yun brought could compensate for the significant toll it took on him.

Wang Xuan planned to share the benefits of the transcendent bird's flesh with the elders, using it to extend their lifespans. In return, he expected their collective support in future troubles.