Chapter 157: A Reunion
In the early dawn, Wang Xuan set out, the morning light painting a rosy glow on his path as he sought his old friends from the new star. His thoughts wandered to Wu Yin, who had been taken by the beast and had vanished without a trace. "I'm not far from the realm of transcendence. I'll visit that grand canyon," he mused, determined to explore the area once he attained his newfound power.
Elsewhere that morning, another group ventured deeper into the Hidden Land, moving away from its outskirts. An elderly figure from the Song family glanced over at Zhong Yong and remarked, "Old Zhong, I never took you for one to care so much for the younger generation."
At that moment, Zhong Qing and Zhong Cheng, Zhong Yong's offspring, were grilling rat meat. Despite the rats being creatures of transcendence, the siblings wore grim expressions. This was, after all, their first time eating such fare out of necessity.
Zhong Yong sighed, "My own children have disappointed me. I must now pin my hopes on the fourth and fifth generations."
The elderly Song sneered, "You've always been so fearful of death, aiming for that Five-Colored Elixir. I reckon you might just wear out these young ones if they don't reach the transcendent realm."
Zhong Yong replied, "Song, I entrust them to you. Take them to the ruined city of the earth immortals and stay hidden for a while." It was unforeseen that beings from the transcendent planets would come to compete in this mysterious land.
A majestic white peacock had informed them that the journey to transcendence was treacherous. If they wished to avoid the battles of the transcendent, they could take refuge in the ruined city of the earth immortals, safe from harm. Although explorers from the new star had ventured into this Hidden Land for many years, none were aware of the ancient remains of the city where earth immortals once resided.
Song tried to reason with Zhong, "Old Zhong, you've lived over a century. What more do you seek? Why risk yourself in these battles of the transcendent? Sometimes, I just can't fathom your decisions." Song had always known Zhong as a cautious man, always choosing the path of longevity. Yet, his decision to join the transcendent battles had taken Song by surprise.
Gazing at the horizon, Zhong Yong declared, "If I don't indulge myself one last time, I'll truly become old."
Song looked at Zhong's face, which still resembled that of a man in his late forties. He thought to himself, it hasn't been that long since you escaped in that life-pod, rejuvenating your life. And now, you're already lamenting about aging?
"If you refuse to age any longer, Zhong, everyone in your family might just lose their minds!" the elderly Song exclaimed.
Zhong Yong shook his head and responded, "When I speak of growing old, I mean in terms of my spiritual cultivation. If I find no more breakthroughs, if there's no significant progress ahead, then my journey in this lifetime is drawing to its end."
Song argued, "There's no need for you to join these transcendent battles. They're perilous. Just one look at those from the three transcendent planets and you can tell they're not to be trifled with."
"But neither am I," retorted Zhong with a smirk, his tone confident. "My training and techniques surpass theirs. I've a foundation built over a century, which is deeper than theirs. I'm not aiming for the top ten positions; I merely seek the reward for the twentieth rank."
His regret lay in the fact that the New World lacked transcendent materials, and he felt he had missed out on much. Song, however, had no response. Although the New World wasn't a transcendent planet, Zhong Yong had managed to amass a collection of the most astonishing scriptures. From the secret texts of the Daoist ancestral halls to the legendary Five-Colored Jade Book and the path of the Golden Elixir laid out by Chen Tuan, Zhong's collection had it all.
Suddenly, Zhong squinted into the distance, "I believe I recognize someone. Song, lead the children into the ruined city of the earth immortals ahead. I need to investigate." And without waiting, he dashed forward.
Old Chen disappeared in a flash, not having anticipated encountering Zhong Yong in the depths of this Hidden Land. By now, he was convinced of the legends. Zhong, with his century of rigorous cultivation, was the pinnacle figure of the old arts.
"Little Chen!" Zhong Yong called out as he closed the distance, "I knew you weren't dead. Never expected to reunite in such a place. Don't run! Let's team up, combine our strengths, and seize the transcendent opportunities here!" With long strides, he sprinted in pursuit.
Old Chen grimaced. In this era, only this old fiend from the New World had the audacity to address him as 'Little Chen'.
......
Deep within the Hidden Land lies the Ruined City of the Earth Immortals, a sanctuary for those who withdraw from the transcendent battles. Within the city's walls, conflict is forbidden, ensuring the safety of its inhabitants. However, outside the city, such protective measures are absent.
Those who haven't reached the transcendent realm receive no protection, a notion acknowledged both in the Hidden Land and on the three transcendent planets. If you're not transcendent, you're still considered a mortal, unworthy of the attention of a transcendent civilization.
Wang Xuan sprinted through the wilds, brushing past the inhabitants of the three transcendent planets several times. He paid them no mind, cutting a path through the woods. "That man from the Eura Star is formidable!" one onlooker remarked from a distance, apprehensive about confronting Wang Xuan.
Dressed in a refined, intricate helmet and a metallic, glossy battle armor, Wang Xuan was mistaken for a young powerhouse from one of Eura Star's top four organizations.
Despite his long search, Wang Xuan couldn't locate anyone from the new star. The only signs he found were traces of blood along the way, causing a sinking feeling in his heart. People from Eura, Yuhua, and Heluo, the three transcendent planets, began to emerge in groups. Eventually, twelve organizations, comprising 120 young warriors, would wander the outer regions of the Hidden Land, making it the most perilous phase. However, Wang Xuan had already eliminated one organization from Eura Star.
The regions of the Hidden Land were differentiated based on energy concentration. Although the outer regions were less concentrated, terrifying creatures still lurked there. As a day and night passed, the dangers multiplied.
"The Grandmaster Ma is elusive," Wang Xuan mused. "It moves so silently, leaving hardly a trace behind." Unlike the horse, Wang Xuan's powerful strides, covering twenty meters at a time, crushed the ground beneath him, leaving distinct footprints.
By the afternoon, he finally stumbled upon the hoofprints of the Grandmaster Ma, surrounded by a web of cracks on the shattered ground. Wang Xuan's expression changed; this indicated that the Grandmaster Ma had faced danger and sprinted away. Not good news.
Wang Xuan followed the intermittent hoofprints, noticing that occasionally they disappeared completely, a sign of the Grandmaster Ma's mystical abilities to conceal its tracks.
As the sun began to set, Wang Xuan spotted the Grandmaster Ma deep within the dense forest. His heart sank at the sight of wounds on the majestic white steed, especially a bleeding wound on its hindquarters that resembled an arrow injury. The absence of Zhao Qinghan by the horse's side signaled potential trouble.
Grandmaster Ma, meanwhile, angrily grazed on the fresh grass, a glowing white mist exhaling from its nostrils, as if nursing a grievance.
Deep within the Hidden Land, Wang Xuan approached Grandmaster Ma, the mystical beast renowned for its keen perception. Even at a distance, the creature sensed his approach, raising its proud head to survey him.
Wang Xuan's spiritual senses extended beyond the dense foliage, and he was relieved to detect the presence of Zhao Qinghan nearby. Drawing closer, Grandmaster Ma snorted, glancing sideways at Wang Xuan before pointedly directing his gaze to Zhao. It seemed as if the majestic creature was seeking appreciation or perhaps a reward.
Brushing off the creature's imposing head, Wang Xuan proceeded forward, his footsteps echoing softly. Zhao Qinghan, who was preparing some crushed medicinal herbs for Grandmaster Ma, heard his approach. Ready to defend herself, she quickly hid behind a large tree, her alloy dagger in hand.
Upon recognizing Wang Xuan, her guarded expression transformed into one of radiant joy. For someone who had always remained composed in the New World, her radiant smile was a rare sight, revealing genuine emotion. The perils of the Hidden Land, with its monstrous creatures and hunters from foreign lands, had made her raw and vulnerable.
"Are you hurt?" Wang Xuan inquired.
"I'm fine," she responded, her voice tinged with melancholy. "But we lost one explorer, and Grandmaster Ma was injured by an arrow." She recounted the tale of a deadly archer from another realm who had, from an incredible distance, managed to strike down one of their team members and injure Grandmaster Ma. If not for the sheer distance separating them, both she and Grandmaster Ma might have met a similar fate.
Zhao Qinghan's resilience was evident; after a brief moment of mourning, she quickly regained her composure. "Why are you dressed like one of them? You're not hurt, are you?" She approached Wang Xuan, examining him for injuries.
"I had a close encounter with a group from another world. They didn't fare well against a transcendent creature, but I managed to escape unscathed," Wang Xuan explained.
Just then, Grandmaster Ma intruded, leaning in with an indignant expression. When Wang Xuan brushed the creature's head away, it only seemed to infuriate the proud beast further. With determination, Grandmaster Ma wedged his head between Wang Xuan and Zhao Qinghan, eyes fixed on Wang Xuan.
Zhao Qinghan chuckled. "He's thinking about the insects you promised him," she remarked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Zhao Qinghan's protective gear was tattered from thorns and brambles, leaves caught in her disheveled hair. Even in her disarray from the hasty escape, her beauty remained unparalleled. The torn protective suit revealed her statuesque figure, long slender legs, and a face of delicate beauty, offering a unique allure.
Grandmaster Ma, the majestic beast, nodded impatiently, clearly communicating that it was time for Wang Xuan to fulfill his promise.
"The insects... I used them up..." Before Wang Xuan could finish, Grandmaster Ma lunged, as if intending to tackle him.
Quickly, Wang Xuan pushed him away, saying, "Hold on, I have something even better for you." He pulled out four golden-yellow kernels and shoved them towards the creature's mouth. "Recognize these? These are the seeds of the Demon Fruit. I saved them especially for you."
Grandmaster Ma's eyes widened in disbelief, then fury. The flesh of the fruit? Eaten by you? And you left only the seeds for me? This was beyond an insult! With anger flashing in his eyes, the beast snapped at Wang Xuan's fingers. Clearly, he felt deeply slighted.
Dodging quickly, Wang Xuan avoided the bite. The beast was proving to be more sentient by the moment. Signaling Zhao Qinghan to mount him, it seemed he intended to whisk her away, presumably to distance her from Wang Xuan.
Zhao Qinghan burst into laughter, hurrying to calm the creature and tend to its wounds. Despite the recent perils, her laughter was youthful, radiant, and sweet. Her eyes sparkled with mirth, and her beautiful face radiated a sunny disposition.
"You crafty beast! Trying to steal her away from me?" Wang Xuan exclaimed, playfully slapping Grandmaster Ma. "Do you think I dared eat the Demon Fruit's flesh? I risked my life to retrieve these seeds for you. They contain some extraordinary energies. If you don't want them, I'll give them to another beast."
Crack!
Grandmaster Ma immediately bit into one of the seeds, chewing it quickly. His eyes widened in realization of its flavor and potency, seeming to fall under some irresistible allure. In an instant, he crushed and devoured the remaining seeds, scampering to a quiet spot to savor them.
It was evident that the Demon Fruit had a profound effect on creatures with extraordinary bloodlines. Throughout the night, Grandmaster Ma was restless, glowing from within as his power surged.
Meanwhile, Wang Xuan and Zhao Qinghan cooked some game meat by the campfire, accompanying it with a handful of berries they had gathered. As they ate, they shared stories and plans.
Wang Xuan decided that come morning, he would lead Zhao Qinghan away from this area, leaving the battlefield to the people of the three extraordinary planets. He chose to abstain from their confrontations for now. However, he vowed to return later and exact his revenge. After all, these individuals had pursued and tried to kill Zhao Qinghan, wounded Grandmaster Ma, and killed some of their expedition members.
The treasures left behind by the celestial beings in the external regions, capable of changing destinies, were not something Wang Xuan was willing to hand over to the people from the three planets.
After their meal, the two lay side by side on the grass, less than a foot apart, gazing up at the star-studded night sky. To their side, Grandmaster Ma glowed like a light bulb, undergoing a slow transformation.
"The outsiders are formidable," Zhao Qinghan mused, "If they can threaten the White Horse Colt, it means they are all grandmasters..."
Her clarity was evident. The existence of so many young grandmasters concerned her, making her fear they might never return to their home planet, Nova.
"Don't worry," Wang Xuan reassured, "It won't be long before we safely leave this hidden realm and return to Nova."
Zhao Qinghan turned to look at him, finding his eyes bright and radiant as they reflected the starry sky above, brimming with confidence. This gave her a sense of comfort and security.
As dawn broke and the first rays of the sun painted the forest with a vibrant array of colors, the atmosphere shimmered beautifully with floating energy.
Wang Xuan abruptly rose to his feet, sensing the approach of outsiders. He surmised that they had likely spotted the radiant Grandmaster Ma from afar and were now closing in on their position.
The usually calm Grandmaster Ma seemed agitated, his nostrils emanating a white glow. As Zhao Qinghan awoke, she quickly adjusted her attire, her gaze soon settling on the approaching figures from the foreign lands.
From four distinct directions, a person approached, including the formidable archer with his signature large bow, already nocked with an iron arrow.
Although tension initially gripped her, Zhao Qinghan gradually found her calm, standing by Wang Xuan's side. "It seems we couldn't escape them after all," she remarked.
Without uttering a word, Wang Xuan gently pulled her behind him, positioning himself between her and the bowman. That particular individual, with his weapon poised to strike, was the primary threat.
"You stand before me, shielding me once more in the face of grave danger," Zhao Qinghan whispered, her usually astute and composed demeanor giving way to a rare moment of emotion. She sighed softly, wrapping her arms around Wang Xuan for a fleeting moment. "Thank you," she whispered.
Intent on standing beside him, ready to face whatever outcome awaited them, she attempted to step forward. But Wang Xuan held her back, his focus unwaveringly fixed on the man with the bow.
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