Chapter 210: Interacting With The Immortals
Wang Xuan could not help but feel tempted. For a long time, he had coveted the ancient books collected by the New World megacorporations, but never had the chance to get close to them.
"Now, as we travel on our spaceship, we can capture some peculiar energy substances in outer space," said Old Chen, his voice resonating in the spiritual realm, communicating secretly. "This will help us gain the conglomerate leader's trust by improving their health. This is our opportunity..."
Wang Xuan had to admit, Old Chen was quite bold. In front of others, he was openly discussing this "plan" with him.
"I think it's feasible. A good strategy," Wang Xuan agreed. The conglomerate's desire for longevity was something he and Old Chen could fulfill.
Some strange materials were suitable for health, like the mysterious factors found in the Inner Scenery Land. However, others were not so benign. For instance, Substance X severely damaged the physical bodies of those who practiced new techniques, causing various diseases.
Then there was Substance N, collected from an alien planet. It could counteract Substance X and had been used on New Moon to fight against the Immortals.
So far, New Star's technology was incapable of separating various energy factors. They could only extract air en masse from a planet, compress it, and take it away as a whole. These energy factors seemed to have no physical properties, yet practitioners could sense them.
"I've come to understand the cruel methods of the new technique for extending life," Old Chen said gravely. "It ruthlessly strips life force from other humans and transfers it to another. It's incredibly sinister."
Upon hearing this, a coldness settled in the depths of Wang Xuan's eyes. Their methods were brutally cruel and fundamentally different from his own. He felt a pressing need to eradicate such practices.
"Wang Xuan couldn't help but express his concern through their shared mental communication. "To demand such a sacrifice from the innocent... If these people are not stopped, chaos will surely ensue!"
Old Chen nodded in agreement. "Yes, fortunately, this strange technique is only known to the upper echelons of the New World practitioners. It's a core secret, not widely disseminated."
This technique was vital for those people, a crucial element for their survival. They had managed to extend the lives of the conglomerate leaders for years, thereby earning significant importance and favor. This patronage had allowed New World techniques to flourish rapidly in recent years.
"Where in the stars did the New World discover this technique? What exactly is the situation there?" Wang Xuan inquired, still limited in his knowledge of the New World's secrets.
Old Chen, however, had collaborated with the departments related to the Old World and had uncovered many astonishing secrets. "It's in a distant region, connected by wormholes. Perhaps a parallel universe, or an unexplored corner of our vast cosmos."
Old Chen explained that the planet was shrouded in mist and all New World techniques were unearthed from there. "According to the decrypted archives of the relevant departments, it seems like a failed experimental site, abundant with New World techniques."
Old Chen suspected that a higher Transcendent civilization, foreseeing a cataclysmic shift in the cosmos, had experimented with these New World techniques in a desperate bid for survival.
Wang Xuan gasped in astonishment at the revelation. "This is... incredibly mysterious and terrifying. A forgotten corner of the universe where someone was experimenting, preparing, but ultimately failed."
He speculated, "Could it be the Immortals? Communicating through the veil, imparting knowledge to a higher Transcendent civilization for experimentation?"
Old Chen responded, "It's not necessarily the Immortals. It could be deities from the Western system or some other mysterious races in the universe."
However, Old Chen also felt that those people had some understanding of the Old World techniques. A significant portion of their traces could be seen in the New World techniques.
"The archives of the relevant departments emphasized," Old Chen continued, "that most of the remains found there belonged to super-species."
"The practitioners of the New World call that planet 'Supra Star' or 'Divine Star,' which corresponds to their naming of New World techniques as 'Supra Techniques' or 'Divine Techniques'," Old Chen explained.
"A Supra Star universe? I'd like to see that for myself one day," Wang Xuan mused.
Old Chen's tone turned serious. "It's better not to set foot there lightly. I believe there are secrets that the New World practitioners have not revealed, and currently, that place is under their control along with several conglomerates."
Wang Xuan was startled. "Do you think Oleisha is really the foremost expert in New World techniques? Could there be even stronger practitioners on that Supra Star, given that they've been operating there for twenty to thirty years? There might be powerful individuals who have stayed hidden there all this time."
"That's very possible!" Old Chen was visibly moved. He, too, had his suspicions. If that place was conducive to practicing New World techniques, it was possible that someone had been lying in wait there for years, deceiving the collaborating conglomerates and remaining hidden on the Supra Star.
Oleisha might not be the only Transcendent being in the New World!
"This means we need to be more cautious, to avoid being ambushed and eliminated suddenly," Old Chen thought, his internal alarm sounding. He and Wang Xuan had been planning to strike at the high echelons of the New World, to eradicate the cruel alternative techniques. But now, they needed to be more careful.
While communicating secretly through their mental link, Old Chen was also engaging in lively conversation, discussing broad topics with important individuals from the conglomerates.
"In the Old World domain, we've unearthed some secrets of longevity," Old Chen remarked, immediately capturing the attention of the three elder gentlemen, their eyes lighting up with interest.
Their greatest interest was in living long lives. In this era, the ultimate goal for the conglomerates was immortality.
Old Chen smiled. "I'm more suited for combat. These ancient methods of longevity were uncovered by Wang. He has a deeper understanding of the human body and longevity than I do."
"Little Wang, feel free to let us know what you need," an affable elder gentleman spoke up.
......
"I've read a lot of ancient texts and only just begun to understand some principles. It still needs perfection," Wang Xuan modestly stated.
Old Chen added, "Wang has discovered some ancient methods. With a certain cost, there's a high chance of extending someone's life."
When one is humble, someone else needs to speak up, otherwise these individuals might underestimate the value of the Old World's longevity methods.
The people present were visibly moved, even Ling Qiming's eyes sparkled with interest as he looked at Wang Xuan. He, too, desired to live for many more decades, perhaps even regain his youth.
At this level, everyone took longevity seriously. Otherwise, Ling Qiming wouldn't have been at the Guanghan Palace on New Moon, consuming those exorbitantly priced mountain snails.
"Little Wang, I'll send you some longevity scriptures for your reference," one of the elders said.
"Uh, maybe we should open a Hall of Longevity..."
...
The three elders were the most enthusiastic, probing to personally experience the life-extending methods of the Old World.
Wang Xuan remained low-key. The elders wanted to use this opportunity to extend their lives without cost, but he and Old Chen were not so easily persuaded. With confidence, they could remain calm and command respect.
Later, Wang Xuan and Old Chen continued their conversation in the mental realm.
"New World not only has battleships hovering above us, capable of destroying Earth Immortals and killing Transcendents, but they might also be hiding major players from the New World domain. We need to be vigilant," Old Chen reflected.
Wang Xuan's expression turned solemn. "Do you think the Immortals of the New World might have returned prematurely?"
He couldn't help but ponder the possibility. The White Peacock from the Hidden Land had paid a terrible price to return early. If it was possible once, it could happen again, maybe even a second or third time!
Old Chen felt a chill run down his spine, his body tensed as he thought deeper. The more he considered it, the more furrowed his brow became, thinking of the terrifying implications, he felt goosebumps rise on his skin.
"We must be on our guard," he sighed.
Then, turning to Wang Xuan, who had yet to reveal his true power and was only known as a "Grandmaster," Old Chen considered the possibility of Immortals already present in the current world, likely targeting Transcendents first.
"So, Old Chen, you need to keep a low profile. Don't get carried away," Wang Xuan advised after some thought, feeling that even as a Transcendent, one couldn't let their guard down in New World.
The idea of Immortals blending into modern society, controlling high-tech means, and possibly living among the conglomerates was terrifying. Not only female sorceresses would take this step; other true immortals were likely integrating into this era, striving to learn and assimilate everything.
"I feel like the New World is turning into a real... house of horrors," Old Chen said, visibly unnerved. "All of this might be happening right now!"
"We may have to gradually adapt to an era of living alongside true immortals. In the next three years, among us could be Zhang Daoling, Lu Dongbin, Chang'e, Chen Tuan, Jiutian Xuannü... But in the early stages, we might not recognize them."
Even Wang Xuan was taken aback by his own words, realizing that this scenario had a significant chance of becoming reality. The topmost Immortals might have survived in small numbers and been sneaking back as they spoke. The Red-Clothed Demoness was already doing so, ready to appear at any moment.
"What a terrifying era this is..." Old Chen felt overwhelmed. The more one pondered, the more chilling the present world became, with legendary figures possibly returning and living among them.
What kind of beings were these? They were the most formidable characters from various eras, not just powerful but also incredibly cunning; otherwise, they wouldn't have survived until now.
Any true immortal arriving in the modern world would be an extremely difficult character to deal with.
"Are we entering an era where we must learn to coexist with the Immortals?" Old Chen murmured, hoping that after three years, the world would correct itself and bring the immortals down to the level of mortals.
"I'm starting to think about returning to the Old World," he said to himself, but then he remembered that the Old World probably had more 'true immortal monsters' than New World, given its myriad of myths and legends.
Wang Xuan responded, "We shouldn't scare ourselves too much. I suspect they would prefer places like Hidden Lands and Blessed Lands, rich in Transcendent materials. If they return to New World and Old World, where Transcendent materials are scarce, they might not withstand it, especially after returning at such a great cost and barely surviving without timely replenishment of mystical factors."
Together, he and Old Chen analyzed the situation, concluding that the strength of the Immortals returning to New World and Old World would significantly decline, and they might not be able to overpower Transcendents like them.
After their secretive conversation and exploring various scenarios and responses, Old Chen said, "We shouldn't worry too much. If they could control everything, they wouldn't need to sneak around."
"Do you remember the elegant and ethereal man I released from the Inner Landscape?" Wang Xuan asked.
"I do!" Old Chen nodded solemnly. When Wang Xuan encountered the female sword immortal and released the White Tiger, and also brought forth the Red-Clothed Demoness. There was also a man who, upon the opening of the Inner Landscape, raised his cup in a toast to Wang Xuan and Old Chen, smiled faintly, and then flew away. That smile, now that Wang Xuan thought about it, was not only carefree but also profoundly deep.
"As long as we don't get ahead of ourselves and don't think we're invincible in single combat, except against battleships, the problem shouldn't be too severe," Wang Xuan reasoned.
Old Chen agreed, "Yes, let's be cautious. We might meet someone any day now who could be the true incarnation of Shakyamuni."
"Yes, and maybe the 'Old Zhang' I often talk about will move in next door one day. Who knows, we might run into Jiutian Xuannü in this city someday."
Wang Xuan pondered these possible scenarios, feeling both anticipation and fear. The historical figures, those famous Immortals, were unpredictable in their true nature and intentions in the modern world, whether for good or evil.
"The next chapter tonight won't be too late," he thought to himself, determined not to fall into a dark cycle again. "I'll start writing immediately after dinner."
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