The Stars Beyond

Chapter 76: Flame In His Heart

The moment Wang Xuan decided to go all out, his demeanor changed drastically. His eyes sharpened with a fierce intensity. How could one practice the Old Arts without a fiery passion in their heart? In this era of technological marvel, he had always kept a low profile, primarily for self-preservation. Yet, time and again, he had become a target and nearly lost his life. Despite these threats, he had always shown restraint. Initially, when faced with those out for his life, he could not bring himself to deal the killing blow, leaving them for Qing Mu to handle.

But today, once again, he sensed a strong animosity. With his spiritual domain close to formation, his senses were incredibly sharp, detecting those who wanted him dead. At this moment, he no longer wanted to hold back. Given that Old Chen had promised to have his back, Wang Xuan decided it was time to unleash his full might.

"Friend, you've gone too far," a voice called out as someone approached Wang Xuan. "What you did back there was reckless. His chest is even slightly sunken. How could you be so ruthless?"

The man did not come alone. At that instant, five other individuals joined the first. They surrounded Wang Xuan with palpable agitation, and even pushed him aggressively. Wang Xuan's expression turned icy. "Don't touch me," he warned, his voice cold. "Stay away."

"Are you saying that just because you attacked someone in broad daylight, no one is allowed to speak up? The practice of the Old Arts requires righteousness, not reckless bravado," a man in his thirties retorted, shoving Wang Xuan once more.

"Why did I retaliate? Because of his actions, just like yours right now," Wang Xuan's eyes blazed, his voice dripping with cold disdain. "Using the Dark Abyss Palm on me while approaching me, pretending to be a friend. Is this what you call righteousness?"

With barely a pause, Wang Xuan's right leg lashed out, delivering a forceful kick to the man who tried to push him again, attempting to secretly use the Dark Abyss Palm. The impact was undeniable. The man's chest bore the unmistakable imprint of Wang Xuan's foot. The chilling sound of bones fracturing echoed around them. The worst part? His internal organs bore the brunt of that kick, with a mysterious force continuing its devastation internally.

The man was lucky as Wang Xuan did not use his full strength. At his current power level, he could shatter a boulder with a single kick, but he was not aiming to kill. In fact, having bits of flesh and blood everywhere was just what he was aiming to avoid.

The man was still done for. There was no chance of him ever practicing the Old Arts again. In Wang Xuan's perspective, he had always stayed within the bounds of the law and was simply defending himself. If anyone could peek into Wang Xuan's mindset — his hesitance to take a life, his worries about Qing Mu's potential tax evasion on his behalf, and his convictions of self-defense — they would be taken aback by his intricate thought process.

People would probably be saying: "Now that's a law-abiding young man!"

The remaining assailants, seeing Wang Xuan's decisiveness and unwavering intent to deal a blow that shattered their companion's sternum, did not hesitate. They were a ruthless bunch.

Whooosh!

The air crackled with tension. All of them were practitioners of the 'Black Abyss Palm'. They began launching a barrage of rapid strikes targeting Wang Xuan's temples, heart, and the back of his head with malevolent intent. Yet Wang Xuan remained composed. Raising his arms to deflect their moves, he wasn't the least bit concerned about their famed technique. With his Golden Body Technique, bullets could hardly harm him, let alone these attackers who were not even top-tier fighters.

Having restrained himself for so long, Wang Xuan's fervor was ignited. His eyes glinted, sharp as swords, showing no mercy. After several parries, their arms were swiftly broken. With resounding thuds, Wang Xuan sent all four assailants flying a distance of six to seven meters. Each of them had their chest bones crushed and spat out mouthfuls of blood as they lay motionless on the ground.

The fight ended in mere moments. The attacks, though fierce, had no effect on someone who had mastered the sixth layer of the Golden Body Technique like Wang Xuan. An eerie silence enveloped the scene. Everyone looked on in awe, their gazes inevitably drawn to Wang Xuan's feet. It's no wonder he's rumored to have defeated a grandmaster in the Pamir Mountains with just a kick.

From then until now, in the eyes and perceptions of many, Wang Xuan's most formidable weapon... was still his leg!

The men sprawled on the ground gazed up, their faces a blend of humiliation and excruciating pain. They felt as though their insides were being shredded, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Wang Xuan, his piercing eyes now softened, said, "Had you not slyly targeted Qing Mu, exploiting his unfamiliarity with the 'Black Abyss Palm' and blindsided him, I wouldn't have had any issue with you. We were simply defending ourselves."

Those writhing on the ground tried to rise, fury blazing in their eyes. They started realizing they might never tap into their special arts after the beating they took.

Wang Xuan warned, "Stay down. Trust me, it's for your own good. You’ve sustained grave injuries. Do not let anger cloud your judgment now. Stay calm. With injuries like these, keeping a cool head is crucial. Anger could further aggravate your condition." He stressed that he had been lenient with them.

Many spectators were rendered speechless by the scene. It was indeed a spectacle – to make one's opponents stay calm in such a precarious situation. But Wang Xuan had not been bluffing. Their conditions were indeed grave, and getting riled up could prove fatal to them.

Da Wu chimed in, nodding approvingly, "Given Xiao Wang’'s prowess, finishing them off would've been a cakewalk. Yet, he showed restraint. This speaks to his inherent decency."

Old Wu couldn't help but roll his eyes. "What a strange way to define 'decency'," he thought, "Nearly mauling them and then expecting them to keep their cool? But, oddly enough, he didn't entirely disagree. When it came to adversaries, he was similarly no-nonsense: submit or suffer. While Old Wu preferred staying out of brawls, he wasn't one to go easy on foes either.

"If these guys truly acted as despicably as you say, then they got what was coming to them," another voice interjected. A composed man in his forties stepped forward, exuding an aura of undisturbed confidence.

Wang Xuan looked at the middle-aged man with a hint of surprise, remarking, "If these men had faced Qing Mu head-on, none would've stood a chance. Resorting to underhanded tactics is simply disgraceful."

The middle-aged man replied, "While that may be true, young man, your retaliation was excessive. They might not die, but they are gravely injured, possibly facing a lifetime reliant on artificial organs. Even if you intended to mete out punishment, this seems excessive."

"Indeed," a few voices in the crowd murmured in agreement.

Wang Xuan cast a chilly glance across the group, quickly sizing them up. "You and several others here seem unfamiliar. Who exactly are you? Most familiar faces practicing the ancient arts here have journeyed through the Congling Mountains, fighting alongside Master Chen against practitioners of the new arts. I never saw you at the battle of the Pamir Plateau, yet now you show up offering critiques. Your group attacked Qing Mu first, and now you accuse me of excessive force. Why not address the root of the conflict? After Master Chen paved a brilliant path for our ancient art, you plot against his disciple during his time of vulnerability. How deep must one's grudge be to commit such an atrocity? Your intentions are nefarious!"

Although he didn't have solid evidence, Wang Xuan noticed subtle exchanges of glances among them. He was certain they were in cahoots. As a result, he didn't hesitate to throw accusations their way.

Caught off-guard, the middle-aged man's expression faltered. He hadn't expected this young man to be so astute. Wang Xuan didn't mince words, instantly calling them out, making it clear he believed they harbored malicious intent.

Many in the crowd shifted uncomfortably. They had never seen this group before. Why were they suddenly in the midst of practitioners of the ancient arts? It was evident they were trying to stir up trouble.

The middle-aged man shook his head, lamenting, "There are many practitioners of the ancient arts, encompassing all sorts. After hearing about Master Chen's glorious achievements at Congling, many of us were inspired. We called our friends and associates, many emerging from seclusion, wanting to contribute to the cause of the ancient arts. That's why we're here. However, it's a misconception to lump us with those practicing the 'Black Abyss Palm' technique and assume we all have malicious intentions."

"And how do you intend to contribute?" Wang Xuan inquired.

"By exchanging knowledge, making friends, and uniting practitioners of the ancient arts. We aim to create a powerful alliance to further elevate our arts!" the middle-aged man explained calmly.

Wang Xuan responded icily, "Are you here because you perceive Master Chen's vulnerable state and see an opportunity? Are you planning not only to harm his disciples but also to assimilate everyone practicing the ancient arts into your organization, integrating them into whatever shadowy power you represent? You seem to be getting ahead of yourselves."

The man's expression shifted subtly. Wang Xuan's astute observation had caught him off guard. They indeed had plans, but they hadn't expected to be exposed so blatantly. He retorted, "You're overthinking it. We came here to exchange insights and make friends!"

Wang Xuan, his eyes sharp as drawn blades, confidently addressed the unfamiliar faces, "Then let's not waste time on pleasantries. You, and all of you, step forward. I'll take you all on!"

He strode forward, alone yet unyielding against the group.

Wang Xuan knew this was just the beginning. Whoever was behind this had considerable influence, rallying such a group to execute dark deeds here. Whatever came next, he was ready.

Simultaneously, he sighed inwardly, realizing he'd been played by Old Chen again. That cunning old man was probably waiting for a storm to brew, and he had been pushed into the eye of it.

"Young man, your arrogance knows no bounds," the middle-aged man retorted, refusing to admit any hidden agendas. "Do you think yourself invincible just because you defeated a dying grandmaster? You seek to challenge us, us who have done our best to contribute to the Old Arts? You're pushing it!"

Wang Xuan looked at them disdainfully, "At the very least, I've been to the Pamir Plateau, bravely facing the New Art practitioners in a decisive battle. My heart burns with passion and courage to fight and bleed for the ancient arts! Where were you hiding back then? Now you emerge to stir the pot for your own gains. Do you not find it shameful?"

He continued coldly, "Enough with the pretenses. You know exactly what you're worth - just rusty blades in someone else's arsenal, not even sharp enough to count as weapons! Today, I stand here. Come at me, one by one or all together, and I'll take you all on!"

"You're crossing a line!" The group was enraged, feeling as though he'd struck a nerve.

Ignoring their outbursts, Wang Xuan shifted his gaze further, challenging, "Those practicing the New Arts, the instigators behind all this, and anyone else who dares, step up. I'll take all of you on!"

Qing Mu's heart raced. Wang Xuan was different today. On this day, it seemed that he was ready to show his full might. He was no longer holding back.