The Stars Beyond

Chapter 451: Friend Or Lover?

"You've gained weight," Wang Xuan remarked. Such a comment, coming from someone else, could potentially end friendships, let alone progress any further feelings.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" Zhao Qinghan retorted with confidence. Even without stepping into the transcendental realm, her figure was impeccable, and all the more so now.

"Did I see wrong? Let me take another look," Wang Xuan said as he leaned in closer, his breath brushing against her face.

Zhao Qinghan playfully hit him, a smile breaking through her facade as she observed his exaggerated seriousness. "Who taught you that? You weren't like this before."

"Chen Yongjie. He said we should show care and ask after each other upon meeting," Wang Xuan replied earnestly.

"Chen Daoshi won't take the blame for this," Zhao Qinghan laughed, her amusement clear.

Instantly, any sense of distance between them dissolved, and a few brief exchanges bridged the gap caused by their long separation.

Wang Xuan brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and then hugged her gently. Zhao Qinghan stiffened at first but soon relaxed and returned the embrace.

After their brief contact, they separated, seemingly returning to their old rapport without any awkwardness.

"Let's go to the front courtyard. The elder from the fox clan wants me to take on a disciple," Wang Xuan suggested.

"Who?" Zhao Qinghan inquired as they walked together.

"Mo Huang, a newcomer. Apparently, he's extremely talented," Wang Xuan shared.

Zhao Qinghan expressed surprise, "It's him? At sixteen, he already possesses the strength of a transcendental sixth stage, and that's after forcibly suppressing his realm and being repeatedly demoted."

She knew well that the old fox held the boy in high regard. It was rumored that Mo Huang, hailing from Yuhua Star, could resonate with scripture recitations even while in his mother's womb, which was quite extraordinary.

"Indeed. The old fox mentioned that in ancient times, such individuals would be snatched away by supreme masters to be raised as their own sons. He's not much younger than me; it doesn't seem right for me to take him as a disciple."

"Still looking to take advantage? What about calling you 'Master's Wife'?"

"Bang!"

Their whispers and playful banter continued as they reached the front courtyard, where the visiting guests had yet to leave. At that moment, a youth and a boy arrived, causing quite a stir.

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Everyone was aware of these two individuals, whose talents were so formidable that their names had been circulating recently. The old fox had placed them in his cave dwelling to study all the scriptures he had written.

The youth was quiet and reserved, with grey hair and dark pupils, standing tall with a chiseled face that was both handsome and stern.

He spoke not a word, his origins terrifyingly significant. The old fox had shared with Wang Xuan that he was a corpse that had drifted from the cosmos.

Previously, the old fox, navigating a flying boat in outer space, had found him and brought him back to the sanctuary, where he gradually revived, his spirit flickering back to life.

"Sense if there's anything unusual about him," the old fox telepathically suggested to Wang Xuan, suspecting this individual might be a being of unmatched caliber from ancient times, who had ventured out from the celestial realm, leaving behind a body with hardly any soul remaining.

His physical form was discovered to be alarmingly robust.

"You dared to bring such a person back?" Wang Xuan eyed him, noting the youth's formidable physique, which exerted an oppressive air without the slightest exertion of magical power or supernatural substance.

Like a dormant tiger not yet fully awakened, his murderous aura was subtly pervasive, ready to tear through the heavens.

Indeed, the youth's spirit was weak, the flame of his soul merely fragments, yet still comparable to a transcendent being at the initial stage of the Xiaoyao realm.

"This is a monster!" Wang Xuan was convinced. In this era, for the remaining fragments of spirit to be so powerful, the original being must have been incredibly formidable.

Especially since he had floated in the cosmos, a corpse for who knows how many years, and yet managed to revive, was a terror beyond measure, shaking Wang Xuan to his core.

No wonder the old fox speculated that this could be the return of a supreme being, having met with some disaster.

"Before the old covenant loosened, almost no one could pierce through the great curtain. That he could come back to life, floating in the cold universe without his flesh perishing, makes me feel inferior," the old fox admitted.

He named the monstrous youth Wu Ming, as he knew not his original name and origins.

The old fox speculated that Wu Ming might have been a transcendent being in the past, but comparing his profile with the legends of the grand figures said to have perished, no match was found, making him a mystery.

"This could be a ticking time bomb. If his soul were to fully manifest one day, it's hard to predict what might happen," Wang Xuan confided in private.

Learning of this enigmatic creature's origins had instilled a rare sense of wariness in him.

The old fox responded, "I regard him as a fellow daoist, keeping him by my side. With mythology on the brink of extinction, no matter how earth-shattering one's identity might have been, it all comes to naught, destined for the mundane. I'm not worried."

"Were his body already lifelike when you found him?" Wang Xuan inquired.

Shaking his head solemnly, the old fox clarified, "No, it was desiccated, akin to a mummy. It was only after we returned to the sanctuary that he gradually began to swell and show signs of life."

Wang Xuan was at a loss for words. Wu Ming's resilience was astounding. He figured even if Old Zhang's body were cast into the cosmic void to drift for years, the chances of revival would be slim.

In private, he asked, "What was he wearing when he floated in space? Did he belong to our mythological era? And after reviving, could you understand his language?"

The old fox revealed, "He bore no clothing or armor, his flesh withered. Since reviving, he's remained silent, only nodding or shaking his head, still in a state of confusion."

Changing the subject, the old fox beckoned to the other youth, "Mo Huang, would you consider a new master? His potential far exceeds mine. Moreover, as the era of myths closes, you could follow him to the technological world to see if the path to transcendence continues."

Upon hearing this, the beings from the three transcendent planets were astonished. Was the prodigy Mo Huang to become the disciple of the alien Wang Xuan?

Mo Huang declined, "I... would prefer to stay with you and Wu Ming, exploring the possibilities in the transcendent world."

Wang Xuan smiled and shook his head, "I've only been cultivating for a few years; I'm still searching for my own path. How could I qualify as a master?"

The old fox interjected, "You're being modest. Not only have you broken limits, but you also stand at the forefront of mythology in the eleventh segment. Back when I was in the human realm, I never even entered the tenth segment."

Not every transcendent being at the curtain's peak had broken through every major realm or reached the tenth segment. For most, achieving one or two breakthroughs was commendable.

"Eleventh Layer?!" Mo Huang was shocked. Though hailed as a prodigious talent, perfect for cultivation, he had only aspired to breach the tenth segment.

The revelation left everyone bewildered. Nine segments were the known limit, but now they were hearing secrets of breaking beyond to the tenth, and even the theoretical end of the eleventh segment. Such news was preposterous!

All eyes turned to Wang Xuan, their gazes transformed. No wonder he was so domineering, capable of annihilating an ancestor who had returned from the brink of a celestial tier with a single punch.

Zhao Qinghan tilted her head towards Wang Xuan, her surprise evident. She deeply realized that Wang Xuan was truly destined for the transcendent path, potentially surpassing even the famed deities of ancient times if the environment allowed.

Grandmaster Ma's eyes widened in disbelief, murmuring, "I thought being at the third segment was enough to roam the sanctuary freely. Yet, there exists a Wang at the eleventh segment in the human realm!"

"An eleventh segment in the transcendent domain?!" Little Fox appeared, donning a fairy-like dress, seemingly adopting it as her second nature. She was practicing what she called the self-cultivation of a goddess, a behavior learned from Wu Yin and Zhao Qinghan.

Wu Yin, dressed in a cheongsam that beautifully accentuated her curves, also expressed her astonishment at first hearing of the eleventh segment. Her focus, however, shifted as she informed Wang Xuan that Little Fox wished to accompany them to the new star for an experience.

Then she glanced at Wang Xuan and Zhao Qinghan, choosing to say no more, appearing somewhat more reserved than before.

After the gathering, the individuals from the three transcendent planets completely abandoned any thought of challenging Wang Xuan, especially given the old fox's high regard for such a realm.

The old fox bestowed rare and precious pills, making the visit worthwhile for the guests. That same day, Zhao Qinghan and Wu Yin ingested powerful medicines and several precious pills, eradicating the last of their inherent diseases; the threat of the five declines of heaven and man was thoroughly eliminated.

Wang Xuan spent an additional two days in the sanctuary, conversing with the old fox without sensing any malice—only the old fox's sighs and melancholy.

During this time, they also examined Wu Ming's body together. Its physique was astonishingly robust, resembling immortal iron and brimming with vitality, surpassing even the old fox's fleshly body.

Wang Xuan speculated, "Let's wait and see if his transcendent flesh degrades after mythology completely vanishes. I'm doubtful of his origins and the truth behind his revival; it's probably not so simple."

Eventually, he decided to depart, smoothly beginning his journey home without any hindrance from the old fox, who also allowed his granddaughter and Grandmaster Ma to accompany them.

Zhao Qinghan and Wu Yin expressed their deep gratitude towards the old fox, sincerely bowing in respect, ready to leave the sanctuary and return to modern society.

Soon after, they boarded a mid-sized warship piloted by Qing Mu, soaring into the sky.

Old Earth was becoming unbearable for Chen Yongjie, who had already communicated everything to Guan Lin. He had no choice but to leave for a while.

"Don't worry about me. I'll find a way to return before our child is born. Rest assured, I'll be in no danger traveling with the renowned great sorcerer, Xu Fu. At the end of this mythic era, I might even undergo a transformative metamorphosis," Chen Yongjie tried to comfort Guan Lin.

Yet, his heart was heavy with reluctance, and he was somewhat baffled. With the era of the transcendent drawing to a close, why was the deep cosmos still calling to him? Could he really save the myths? What was the point of it all?

During this period, Chen Yongjie messaged Fang Yuzhu and Zhang Daoling to inform them of his situation.

"Little Chen is also heading to that place; maybe we'll run into him," said a mentor of the Ming Blood Sect aboard an ancient spaceship in the depths of the universe.

"It's unlikely; the region we're heading to is of a much higher level. Little Chen can't get there," Elder Zhang shook his head.

That day, Chen Yongjie also met with the Sword Immortal to discuss his situation and gather some information.

The following day, his body emitted a shower of light. Driven by instinct, he headed toward a mountain range in Old Earth, the very place where his master had vanished.

A soft, hazy light screen appeared, much smaller and more indistinct than the mysterious energy barrier from an encounter thirty years earlier.

Chen Yongjie stepped into it, and as the light rain evaporated, he disappeared from the spot, leaving behind no ancient swords or daggers this time.

Guan Lin was there, watching him leave from a distance, silently waving, struggling to hold back her tears.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the starry sea, on a life-bearing planet that had only emerged over half a year ago, a ferryman sat in a golden bamboo boat on a sea under a bright moon. He couldn't help but look up at the sky as his body emitted a shower of light, involuntarily beginning to float.

"Am I really about to go to war just to cover for that kid?!" he muttered incredulously, his voice tinged with resignation. What kind of situation was this? On the brink of old age, as myths were fading into oblivion, he was being roped into an interdimensional battle. His feelings were a mix of confusion and complexity.

Then, he bellowed, "Can't you bring that young one along too? Let him come with me!"

In the sky above, the moon trembled. Then, it began to bleed, its quivering intensifying as it revealed its true nature—a colossal eyeball that made the heavens themselves shake.

"Is the essence of this place, the remains of a vanishing transcendent civilization, a horrific fleshly body?" Xu Fu stared at the moon, the giant eyeball somewhat terrifying.

At that moment, he ascended through the light rain, intending to use the eyeball as a gateway to enter the battlefield of an extraterrestrial civilization.

He looked down at the dark, misty sea below, where countless terrifying blood-red eyes had opened, all staring up at him.

The ferryman felt overwhelmed. In the past, he had been unable to see these ghostly creatures, which seemed like spirits of dread. Today, however, he saw them all.

"Quick, let me go to war. I'm not coming back to this place of death!" he couldn't help but shout, overwhelmed by the truth. For over two thousand years, all these horrific spirits had been wandering around him, silently observing. He could not bear to stay a moment longer.