The Stars Beyond

Chapter 398: The Sword Immortal In Trouble, Again

The miniature Sword Immortal appeared on the surface, her eyes interwoven with special textures, as if she wanted to see through Wang Xuan, who always seemed mysterious to her.

"Where is your main body within the veil? Don't you want to come out?" Wang Xuan quickly diverted her attention, bringing up old matters, intending to lead her out of the veil.

"It should be in the Guanghan Palace." The Sword Immortal seemed listless. It had been a long time, and she still hadn't grown up. When the main body returned, she was sure to still be underage.

"In the Guanghan Palace? That's near Mount Buzhou and the Yaochi, belonging to the spiritual realm?"

"Yes, in the ruins of Guanghan, practicing swordsmanship, searching for the Celestial Essence. Won't return unless reaching the transcendent level!" Speaking of this, she suddenly became spirited again, like a child, changing faces in the blink of an eye.

Wang Xuan couldn't help but laugh at her demeanor.

"What are you laughing at?!"

Now, this little thing was indeed quirky and lovable, with big, bright black eyes, a cute chubby face with apple cheeks. Even when she tried to look fierce, she couldn't pull it off.

Wang Xuan couldn't resist. He pinched her chubby little face, feeling how soft and smooth it was. Then he saw the fire in her eyes.

Last time, he had reached out with his "devil hand", bold and reckless. Today, the miniature Sword Immortal encountered his "evil hand" once again.

"Ah!" She emitted a sword aura all over her body, like a little hedgehog, quite sharp. She managed to prick Wang Xuan on the side, glaring at him angrily.

When they first met in the inner realm, she had managed to put Wang Xuan and Lao Chen in their place, showing respect to her every time they met, addressing her as "Fairy".

How much time had passed? This Wang Xuan was about to float into outer space, treating her like a chubby child?

She quickly summoned her fairy sword, intending to teach him a lesson.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Wang Xuan took a passive defensive stance. Despite her small size, she was really strong, after all, her main body had reached the quasi-transcendent level.

"I won't fight you. We don't fight among ourselves!" He decisively retreated. How could he compete with a child, especially such a powerful one? He couldn't afford to provoke her.

"What kind of freak are you? Why do you make such great progress every time we meet?" The Sword Immortal's eyes shimmered with colorful light. Although her little face was tight with anger, she was truly amazed inside.

"Isn't it just opening a special inner realm during your mortal days? Is there no justice in cultivation?" She grumbled, feeling very aggrieved.

In recent ancient times, she was the only quasi-transcendent, the rising star closest to the strongest. Her progress in cultivation had been terrifying enough to make all the demon saints and celestial beings feel pressured.

As a result, this young man, who had been educated by her all the way, progressed at an astonishing rate, even faster than she did in her younger years!

"It's unavoidable. In this era, I could throw out a shoe randomly and it would hit a deity. The old world and the new stars are teeming with monsters. In order to survive, I can only strive to keep up with all of you and defeat all kinds of demons and monsters," Wang Xuan said.

Then, he actually threw out a shoe. The result? A passing oriental magpie-robin let out a shriek and fluttered away—it turned out to be a female demon immortal!

"See that?" Wang Xuan was even speechless himself.

"That's one of mine, recently tamed and kept as a lookout!" the miniature Sword Immortal waved towards the distance, signaling the magpie-robin to leave temporarily.

Wang Xuan became serious. "I'm not joking with you. Quickly inform your main body. I will guide her out. Don't delay, lest something unexpected happens."

"Didn't I tell you? I'm afraid your inner realm might be severely damaged when it's penetrated by your vital energy. She's looking for the Heavenly Essence to help restore your body," the Sword Immortal whispered.

"No need. I have another way. My body won't be harmed!" Wang Xuan said.

Then, he thought for a moment and took out a few pieces of Natural Crystal, handing them over. "See if these are useful for you, if they can accelerate your growth."

"What... is this?" The miniature female Sword Immortal held the pieces of blue-glowing Natural Crystal, squinting her big eyes, her face filled with happiness and almost intoxicated.

"It feels so comfortable, and it's very useful for me!" She was extremely happy, feeling as if her flesh and blood were becoming transparent, and her tendons and bones were about to undergo transformation and growth.

"And more." Wang Xuan took out a dozen dazzling golden Natural Crystals. Having absorbed the blue and gold-colored quasi-real super-substance, he broke through to the tenth realm.

In his process of accumulation, seeking new super-substances was more meaningful for his breakthroughs and advancements. There were other colored Natural Crystals on him.

"Is that too many?" The Sword Immortal held a pile of Natural Crystals, her eyes gleaming with excitement. If Wang Xuan weren't present, she might have even rolled around joyfully on the ground, her enthusiasm palpable.

"Remember your demeanor; maintain the poise of an immortal," Wang Xuan gently reminded her with a smile.

Quickly composing herself, the Sword Immortal returned to her graceful demeanor, her expression solemn. "Indeed, I'll inform my main body and urge her to prepare for a return. However, I'm unsure if she'll heed my advice."

With that settled, Wang Xuan and the Sword Immortal devised a plan. Should her main body return, they would rendezvous at the Divine Sky Cliff behind the veil.

Having done his research, Wang Xuan was familiar with the veil's topography and had learned of Zheng Yuantian and Heng Jun's relocation to the fairy world corresponding to the old world. Recent appearances of the Human Sword and the Freedom Boat in the rear had raised suspicion among some prominent figures, prompting heightened vigilance.

"Do you know how to evade the formidable divine skill 'Tracing Old Scenes' employed by these top-tier experts?" Wang Xuan inquired, concerned about potential repercussions if his actions in the fairy world were traced back to him.

He had witnessed firsthand the terrifying abilities of figures like Lao Zhang and Zheng Yuantian, and feared being exposed should he cause a stir in the fairy world.

"It's quite complicated. However, by combining real and ethereal substances to craft armor that blurs the line between reality and illusion, one might conceal their actions effectively. Of course, possessing rare treasures would expedite the process," the Sword Immortal explained.

She suggested that materials like the Natural Crystals Wang Xuan had provided could be instrumental in creating such armor, along with remnants of true medicines and treasures. Though rare, these components could be used to fashion elusive armaments, shielding their wearer from prying eyes.

Deep in thought, Wang Xuan considered the possibility of acquiring these scarce materials.

"I once encountered a flower that may be the highest-grade celestial medicine, or even a true medicine. Its hallucinogenic properties blur reality, making it challenging to discern truth from illusion. This substance..." the Sword Immortal trailed off.

"Could indeed be of use. As you've described, it straddles the boundary between reality and illusion, tapping into the essence of both. Long ago, a legendary civilization spoke of such phenomena," Wang Xuan affirmed.

With their conversation concluded, Wang Xuan bid farewell, setting off to pursue his next objective.

The miniature Sword Immortal couldn't contain her excitement as she happily hugged a pile of crystals and disappeared underground. Once there, she began rolling around with pure delight, giggling sweetly.

But then, to her dismay, she noticed a despicable face peering out from the surface, grinning wickedly as it watched her.

"Aren't you supposed to be gone?!" she shrieked, her face flushing red, feeling like she might turn into a tiny hedgehog at any moment.

"You carry on, I'll be off!" chuckled Wang Xuan, genuinely departing this time, vanishing into the wilderness beyond the rugged hills.

Over the next few days, Wang Xuan remained diligently occupied, continuously researching various materials. He even sought out Lao Zhang, borrowing his bronze mirror to examine it discreetly and scrape off some copper rust.

"What are you up to?!" Lao Zhang, ever vigilant, snatched back the bronze mirror. To his surprise, he found intricate runes hidden beneath the copper rust, densely packed and dazzling to the eyes.

Wang Xuan also consulted Fang Yuzhu on numerous questions. Then, he prepared to venture back into the void, determined to risk digging up the roots of the Devil Flower.

His previous encounters with it had nearly ended in disaster—once with its already decaying roots, and once with its living tendrils.

Fang Yuzhu didn't vanish, but rather headed to Pingcheng. Having exhausted the vast collection of books at Ancheng University with her unparalleled divine consciousness, she decided to visit the place in Old Soil with the most extensive collection of ancient texts.

Wang Xuan found himself lost in thought, feeling somewhat unsettled by the absence of anyone next door. Soon enough, he pondered another question: Would Fang Yuzhu's parents, now that she was in Pingcheng, perhaps run off to secretly meet their "almost-daughter-in-law" and engage in their usual murmurs and whispers? Given their past interactions, it seemed eerie yet entirely plausible!

In reality, Fang Yuzhu's exposure to Wang's mother's toxic chicken soup had left her somewhat affected. Her visit to Pingcheng was partly to clandestinely observe the maker of the infamous soup, someone she had heard plenty about but never met, in hopes of dispelling some of her lingering doubts.

Meanwhile, Chen Yongjie returned to the estate, feeling both moved and melancholic as he enjoyed the Peng eggs left for him by Qingmu. He lamented his lack of a daughter, musing that if he had one, marrying her off to Qingmu would have been perfect.

"You're not getting any younger, why not settle down and start a family?" Lao Chen advised him.

"No rush, Master. Didn't you just settle down yourself? I want to become an extraordinary being first. Then, when I reach that level, I'll reverse my aging process, going from forty to twenty. Only then will I consider such matters," Wang Xuan replied.

He then took out some Creation Crystals and gave them to Qingmu and Chen Yongjie. He had acquired plenty during his time in the Extraordinary Light Sea, nearly three hundred pieces, more than enough for his needs.

The master and disciple stared blankly at the crystals.

"Lao Chen, please watch over me. I'm going into seclusion," Wang Xuan requested.

"You're not planning another breakthrough, are you?" Chen Yongjie exclaimed in surprise. It had only been a few days, and another breakthrough so soon seemed unreasonable.

"I doubt I can break through," Wang Xuan shook his head. The Tenth Stage was too unique. He had felt something when he drank the First Immortal Tea, but then he was silently suppressed, unable to break through to the Eleventh Stage.

That's why he wanted to go to the Immortal Realm to dig up Heng Jun's tree. The tea fruits were truly effective for him, not because they provided special super-materials, but because they stimulated his divine consciousness, allowing him to comprehend and elevate himself from within.

He was certain that with enough tea fruits, he could break through!

His primary goal in visiting the void this time was to dig up special materials to forge armor that could conceal his aura.

However, despite his efforts in the ethereal realm, burning and refining numerous times, and attracting red-colored substances that nearly drove him half to death, he couldn't break through the Tenth Stage!

"It seems that simply enduring hardship and pushing myself to the limit won't work. I need to find another way," Wang Xuan muttered to himself.

Then, he headed to the meteorite crater, this time fully prepared. Before coming, he had diligently practiced the scripture left behind by the severely mentally ill patient.

He believed that this scripture page was the most suitable weapon against the terrifying hallucinogenic Devil Flower that approached ultimate illusion.

"In this world, I stand alone. What Devil Flower? It's just my doodle. Do they think they can deceive me, lure me into illusion? Impossible!" Wang Xuan empowered himself with the scripture resembling a mental illness.

In addition, he brought along the lid of the Life-nurturing Furnace, considering it a rehearsal to see if he could travel with it.

The result was delightful. Even at the Tenth Stage, he could withstand the pressure of the lid, and carrying it along posed no problem.

However, Wang Xuan was still "beaten" in the meteorite field. Despite his thorough preparation, he still became lost, unable to distinguish reality from illusion, almost dying, even considering suicide!

If it weren't for the critical moment when the God-slaying Banner autonomously made a faint sound, striking the lid of the furnace with a clear tone that pierced through his deafened ears, waking him up, he would have almost smashed himself to death with the lid!

"Too terrifying, this Devil Flower!" Wang Xuan shuddered with lingering fear. He managed to obtain a segment of its root and promptly fled. Every encounter with it resulted in heavy losses and brought him to the brink of death!

"Finally, I've brought back the precious material!" He revealed a look of excitement, bringing back a segment of the root. It hovered between reality and illusion, flickering unpredictably, truly unique.