The Stars Beyond

Chapter 87: Myth

The rain poured down without respite, occasional flashes of lightning momentarily brightening the vast manor.

On many of the taller buildings, windows creaked open. Their occupants, robbed of sleep, gazed out into the tempestuous night, their minds on the brink of anticipation, waiting for a battle that could erupt at any moment.

What they did not know was that, hidden behind the manor, an even more intense duel was unfolding between Chen Yongjie and the foremost figure from the New Arts.

Every now and then, streaks of sword light would pierce the night. To the casual observer, these seemed like regular flashes of lightning, their deadly intent cloaked by the storm. The clash of swords combined with fiery explosions created a mesmerizing display of lights, almost making the rain around them evaporate. A thick white mist enveloped the scene, transforming it into a mythical battleground above the clouds.

Suddenly, the blonde elder, armored in what looked like bronze but was in fact a superior material, paused, hovering in mid-air. "Should we call it quits?" he suggested.

Old Chen, with his unyielding gaze, stayed rooted to the spot, his dark sword unwavering and aimed at his opponent. The elder tried to reason, his voice heavy with urgency, "Once we showcase our true powers, we'll become targets. We risk constant surveillance, even attracting high-powered weapons aimed at us. If we become more potent, we might need to disclose our every move, losing our autonomy. Let's just walk away now, as if this never happened."

"You started this. You wanted me dead," Old Chen responded sharply.

In an attempt to placate his opponent, the elder said, "Misunderstandings can be put behind us. Both the New Arts and Old Arts can coexist. We both have potential. There are boundless opportunities ahead. It's unwise to become the focus of elites, agencies, and big organizations. We should explore the vastness of space, its enigmas, and uncharted worlds together. Gods and immortals aren't far-fetched dreams for us. We can make them a reality."

Old Chen shot back, "Your words are seductive. But, with my spiritual insight, I sense your hidden malice. What are you really getting at?"

The blond elder released a weary sigh. The situation would have been simpler if he had succeeded in eliminating Chen Yongjie, thus keeping himself as the sole paragon. Deep down, he genuinely believed in his words about not revealing their full might prematurely, to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

To many, he was seen as the pinnacle among Grandmasters. Two years prior, in a bid to transcend his limitations, he had depleted a vast amount of his life force. Yet, he faltered, dimming his hopes of ever reaching the extraordinary realm in this lifetime.

Now, with Chen Yongjie not only surviving but potentially exceeding his own power, secrecy became more crucial. Eliminating him appeared to be the most prudent choice. However, the challenge was immense.

Recently, relics unearthed from an enigmatic land held almost mythical properties. By harnessing them, he felt he stood peerless among all cultivators. With enough time, perhaps centuries, he believed he would even draw close to divinity. Chen Yongjie's survival and subsequent ascension presented an unforeseen complication in his calculations.

During the skirmish at Pamir Plateau, while he remained behind the scenes, Chen Yongjie had dispatched three Grandmasters. The confrontation had been fierce and, to his expectation, had left Old Chen seemingly dead. But Old Chen had defied those odds, not only emerging alive but also breaching into the extraordinary realm. This sparked unease.

The blond elder mused, "Every man has his limits. I've contemplated every scenario. By all logic, you should no longer be alive. Yet here you stand, suggesting you've stumbled upon something legendary, perhaps linked to the tales of immortals and gods, unlocking a mysterious force akin to my own discovery."

Chen replied with a chilling edge, "With all you've revealed, it's clear that only one of us can leave with the secret intact."

Without warning, silver wings unfurled from Old Chen's back — a marvel of Wu family's latest tech — propelling him with astonishing speed towards his airborne foe. As he advanced, a brilliant aura burst from his core, enveloping him, increasing his velocity even further.

The rain-soaked night was momentarily illuminated as Chen Yongjie lunged forward, his sword carving a radiant streak across the darkness. Shock flashed in the blond elder's eyes. Caught off guard, he quickly drew his broadsword to parry Old Chen's attack. With a precise tap from Old Chen's left hand, the metal of the broadsword shattered, the deafening sound echoing in the stillness.

As Old Chen readied another strike with his sleek black longsword, a dazzling silver blade unexpectedly emerged from the fragments of the elder's broadsword. The swift, divine sword was aimed straight for Old Chen's forehead.

Old Chen was momentarily taken aback, not only by the hidden blade within the broadsword but also by the elder's chillingly adept swordsmanship. The brilliance of the blade was as threatening as any fireball Old Chen had encountered.

Clearly, this had been a trap set by the elder.

Indeed, as the silver blade's glow intensified, the elder's faux shock melted away, replaced by a cold, calculating determination. Skillfully evading Old Chen's black longsword, the elder's divine blade skimmed past, leaving a shallow gash on Old Chen's forehead. Blood trickled down, a mark left by the sword's fierce aura. If not for the surge of electric energy from Old Chen's chest, deflecting the blade's energy, he might've faced a lethal blow.

Narrowly evading a deeper cut, Old Chen felt a strand of his hair get sliced off, and a slight nick on his scalp. Anger bubbled within Old Chen. Creating some distance, he leveled a steely gaze at the blond elder, his black sword brimming with raw energy. Yet, he soon reigned in his emotions. He couldn't afford to let anger cloud his judgment. With steely resolve, he readied himself, preparing for the next round of the duel.

......

In the midst of the battle, Chen Randeng found himself reflecting on recent arrogance. "I've been too presumptuous lately, even using the name 'Chen Randeng' to address myself," he thought, recalling his past alias, which means "burning lamp" in English. "It led to my current predicament. I should be called 'Chen Mingtu' instead, setting a more distant, more challenging goal for myself." And with that, he charged forward once more, knowing full well that only one would leave the battlefield standing.

Their swords clashed with a resonant clang. The 1.5m black sword in Old Chen's hand collided with the elder's slightly shorter, radiant silver blade. Sparks flew and brilliant lights flared, weaving together like intertwining lightning bolts. Old Chen felt confident that his adversary's weapon was of a caliber equal to his own legendary blade.

"Chen Yongjie," the blond elder declared with gravity, using Old Chen's full name, "It's not just you who possesses a mythical weapon. I too am favored by the heavens, blessed with the strongest of secret arts. It's a tragedy that one of us has to fall today, but fate is often ruthless. Let's give it our all!" Lifting his shimmering sword, he launched himself at Old Chen.

...

Elsewhere, under the curtain of rain, Wang Xuan moved silently through the estate, steadily approaching a target. His adversary noticed him, advancing under the weight of the downpour. Wang Xuan's clothes clung to him, soaked through, as raindrops slid off his face. A soft, golden glow flickered in his eyes. Now that he had fully unveiled his strength, some traits of his 'Golden Body Technique' started to manifest.

These traits were subtle in the dark, but Wang Xuan no longer cared about keeping them hidden. With life and death hanging in the balance, he could afford no distractions.

After a moment to recalibrate, the heat from his body subsided. He stood still, focusing intently on the approaching figure. Another quasi-Master, wearing that otherworldly armor, approached. The armor emitted a faint red glow, guarding its wearer securely.

The top figure from the New Arts faction had arrived in the Old World. To avoid drawing too much attention, he had not brought true Master-level warriors with him. Instead, he was accompanied by several quasi-Masters.

Wang Xuan's gaze was deep and resolute. The past battles played in his mind, reminding him of his recent triumph over a similar foe. He braced himself, preparing to unleash Zhang Daoling's powerful martial technique once more. In desperate times, he had to go all out, or risk being overwhelmed by an enemy encased in that fearsome ultra-material armor.

Zhang Daoling's ancient technique had unparalleled strength, and while it took a toll on Wang Xuan at his current stage, it was his trump card against any Master-level opponent.

His adversary's ultra-material armor made them as formidable as a true Master. Given Wang Xuan's current limitations, he knew he had to combine the techniques inscribed on the first page of the Golden Book to penetrate such resilient armor. Wang Xuan felt a faint glow emanating from within him as the enemy swiftly closed in. As he steeled himself for another battle against a Master-class foe, a sudden chill ran down his spine, sensing another looming threat.

From behind, another figure emerged from the heavy rain, also donning the ultra-material armor, its dark green metallic sheen glistening in the dim light. He found himself trapped, sandwiched between two formidable warriors, a deadly pincer attack. Wang Xuan's heart sank. This was the worst possible scenario. A duel against two opponents of Master caliber was a life-threatening situation. It seemed that Old Chen's warning had been prophetic; tonight, Wang Xuan was truly in a battle for his life.

In quiet contemplation, Wang Xuan assessed his condition. Using the three techniques from the Golden Book consecutively to breach the armor would leave him severely drained. Following that with a triple strike would likely injure him, possibly beyond his body's endurance.

"After executing the triple strike, I'd need at least a half-minute break before I can use the techniques again," he thought, "otherwise, my body might break down entirely."

This was Wang Xuan's assessment, implying that after shattering the first ultra-material armor, he might not have the time to finish off its wearer. He would need to prioritize self-preservation, requiring a pause of over thirty seconds before targeting the second armored foe. In a split-second decision, Wang Xuan sprinted forward, directing his attack at the adversary donning the dark red armor, seeking to widen the distance from the pursuer behind him.

All around, many onlookers from the surrounding courtyards were observing the battle discreetly. They were all taken aback, feeling the sheer intensity and determination radiating from Wang Xuan.

With a sharp sound, the veteran warrior in the dark red armor made his move. Instead of evading Wang Xuan's onslaught, he activated his palm, from which a chain burst forth, glowing with a crimson hue, aiming to bind Wang Xuan. The warrior's strategy was clear: he aimed to restrain Wang Xuan, buying time for his ally to arrive and jointly eliminate this formidable young man.

But Wang Xuan maneuvered strategically, allowing the chain to wrap around his torso while keeping his arms free. He was already intent on closing the gap. His fists glowed, pounding relentlessly towards his opponent. The two engaged in fierce close-quarters combat. Soon enough, Wang Xuan unleashed the techniques inscribed in the three diagrams, and with a resounding boom, he shattered the opponent's armor to pieces.

"It's horrifying! He shattered the ultra-material armor barehanded. What level of martial art is he demonstrating?" Many were in awe.

"It bears a resemblance to the esoteric techniques of the Taoist ancestral lineage. Yet, there are differences—it's familiar but distinct," whispered the elder next to Zhong Qing, known for mastering the Serpent-Crane Eight Style Technique, with astonishment evident in his voice.

To him, no one of this age could possibly master the esoteric techniques passed down from the Taoist ancestral lineage. Even Chen Yongjie had injured his internal organs when he forcefully practiced it in his youth.

After the ultra-material armor shattered, the crimson chain that had bound Wang Xuan disintegrated and vanished from his body. As he exchanged one last blow with his opponent, Wang Xuan used the force to leap into the air, attempting to disappear into the darkness and momentarily evade the other formidable foe wearing ultra-material armor.

Suddenly, sharp pricks of pain erupted at multiple points on his body. He immediately realized he was being targeted by a firearm; someone was attempting to assassinate him!

But he was mid-air, with no solid ground for leverage. There was no way to dodge!

Gritting his teeth, his eyes shone with a golden light. He had no choice but to brace for the impact.

From a nearby window, the dark muzzle of a gun protruded. This wasn't a new enemy; it was a guest who had been present from the beginning, now preparing to pull the trigger on him.

What provided Wang Xuan with a sliver of reassurance was that, although he felt pain in various parts of his body, it wasn't the piercing agony he had expected. He believed he could withstand it.

For a long time, he had been diligently cultivating his "Golden Body Technique", elevating it to the sixth level. Now was the time to put it to the test!

At the same time, his gaze was fierce, and a surge of murderous intent bubbled within him. In this critical moment, one of the original guests was attempting to shoot him. This betrayal angered him even more than the two foes behind him. He was determined to eliminate this traitor!