The Stars Beyond

Chapter 88: Times Have Changed

Amid the echoing gunfire, Wang Xuan was hit multiple times—in his chest, neck, and both legs. He should have taken a bullet to the forehead too, but in mid-air, he twisted his head as best he could, narrowly evading the bullet aimed at it.

Time seemed to stand still. Everyone saw Wang Xuan's body shivering in mid-air. Those with experience knew he had been shot, and repeatedly at that. They could see that his body was being riddled with bullets.

Wu Yin turned her head away, unable to bear the sight of such brutality. Old Wu sighed softly upon seeing Wang Xuan lose his balance and start plummeting to the ground after being shot repeatedly. From a neighboring courtyard, a middle-aged man standing by a window remarked, "In the end, we live in a technologically advanced era. No matter how proficient one becomes in the Old Arts, they cannot withstand the onslaught of modern weaponry."

At that moment, many gasped in shock, feeling sorrow for Wang Xuan. How could such a powerful young practitioner of Old Arts be taken down by surprise gunfire in this manner?

Others, however, watched silently in the rain-soaked night. To them, the outcome was only to be expected. Times have changed; the Old Arts, no matter how masterfully executed, cannot compete with modern weaponry. To some, it mirrored the earlier scene where Wang Xuan and Qing Mu wielded energy cannons, annihilating several foes with ease. Both the New and Old Arts were overshadowed by modern weaponry.

Someone calmly remarked, "In this age, what does individual power really amount to?"

Representatives from various powerful organizations were present, watching from a distance. While some felt sympathy for Wang Xuan, they believed this to be the inevitable trend of the future. In this era, nothing could challenge the might of technology and the entrenched position of the financial elites.

After Wang Xuan hit the ground, he lay still for a moment. Pain shot throughout his body, but it was not severe. The bullets had only penetrated less than half a centimeter into his flesh. With a slight effort, he expelled the bullets from his neck, chest, and thighs. As the bullets left his body, trickles of blood appeared on his skin.

These were not high-powered weapons designed to cause maximum harm. Such weapons were not allowed in the manor. Instead, these were hastily assembled conventional firearms, which posed little real threat to someone of Wang Xuan's caliber.

"It seems I really need to keep honing my Golden Body Technique," Wang Xuan mused, pretending to be dead, seizing every opportunity to buy time for his overheated body to recover.

Many sighed with regret as they watched him lying lifelessly on the ground.

"Someone among the guests dared to make such a treacherous move. We must find and punish them!" shouted an individual practicing the Old Arts, leading a group towards the tower from where the gunshot had come.

"Had he not leapt into the air at that moment, he might have been able to dodge those bullets in advance given his capabilities" another lamented.

A member of the financial elite, standing amidst the rain, commented coolly after witnessing the entire scene, "This is ultimately the age of technology. Regardless of the art one practices, it remains merely an 'art' and can never rise to the level of a 'path.' Technology is the supreme path, and it's firmly in our grasp."

......

During this time, Qing Mu had reached out to the Adventurer’s Guild and had a small gunship on standby at a distance, ready to strike hard and eliminate the top figure of the New Arts. He laid in ambush, quietly waiting for the perfect opportunity to deliver a fatal blow that would knock out the blonde-haired elder.

With enemies already at their doorstep, Qing Mu could no longer afford to play by the rules. He was resolved to use any means necessary to send the blonde-haired figure of the New Arts faction to his end.

However, as time passed, he noticed that his master and the blonde-haired elder were deeply engrossed in combat. He hesitated to fire off a shot from his energy cannon, fearing he might hurt his own master in the process.

"What? Wang Xuan was shot?" Upon receiving this unexpected news, Qing Mu felt the veins of his head bulging. If Wang Xuan died, even killing the top figure of the New Arts could not make up for the great loss.

"Didn't we thoroughly inspect every guest entering? We prohibited any lethal weapons!" Qing Mu's eyes blazed with fury.

Learning that it wasn't an energy weapon but a hastily assembled firearm gave Qing Mu a momentary relief. He was aware that Wang Xuan had cultivated his Golden Body technique to the sixth layer. In Master Chen's sickroom, Qing Mu had witnessed Wang Xuan's skin peeling multiple times, a sight that filled him with envy back then.

"Demolish that tower!" Qing Mu commanded with murderous intent. This would definitely end the attacker’s life.

But in the very next moment, he collected himself. Recalling that representatives from various factions were residing there, and wanting to avoid a massive commotion or a potential stampede, he quickly changed his orders. "Let's not create a scene. Seal that place off. Shoot them, but not to kill. We'll investigate this thoroughly later!"

......

Only when the two formidable foes closed in did Wang Xuan abruptly rise. He rushed toward a tower, the very source of the bullets. It wasn't new adversaries that posed the threat; an earlier guest had chosen this pivotal moment to betray him. This treachery kindled an intense fury within Wang Xuan, compelling him to prioritize this traitor above all. For the next half-minute, he could not employ the techniques from the golden book. This assailant, however, seemed to be the perfect opponent to engage in the meantime.

“He survived multiple gunshot wounds and is still alive?” Zhong Cheng exclaimed, his disbelief palpable.

Beside his sister, the elder who had mastered the "Snake Crane Hands" technique whispered with awe, “What kind of art has he cultivated? Is it a secret method from Taoist ancestry or has he achieved the revered Buddhist 'Vajra Body'? How can he withstand such firepower?”

Suddenly, Wang Xuan sprang into action, darting toward the tower with a fierce determination that stunned onlookers. This display was extraordinary, especially to the contemporary audience.

“He was shot multiple times and yet he lives?” Faces shrouded in the rain mirrored disbelief and amazement.

Old Wu pondered deeply, considering the depth of Wang Xuan's mastery over Old Arts. “Wang Xuan's resilience is nothing short of miraculous,” Wu Yin mused, her expression oscillating between astonishment and admiration.

In a distant courtyard, an elder remarked with a hint of reservation, “He has seemingly advanced his Old Arts to a point where he's impervious to conventional firearms. If he continues to soar at this rate, he could indeed become a formidable force. Such individuals warrant close monitoring and perhaps even regulation.”

Wang Xuan charged forward, raindrops blurring his silhouette. His eyes, a cool shade of molten gold, simmered with fury and intent. With every step, he deftly dodged the rain of bullets. Reaching the tower, he darted, avoiding any windows. In an agile move, he smashed the wall with a powerful strike of his palm, making a grand entrance.

Inside, two startled faces met his gaze. Their pale expressions spoke of pure terror, realizing they were up against someone seemingly impervious to bullets. Before the first assailant could react, Wang Xuan was on him, disabling him with brutal efficiency. The other man’s arm, which was poised to fire, was shattered in a swift kick by Wang Xuan. A barrage of blows soon rendered him equally defenseless. Having neutralized the threat, Wang Xuan refrained from delivering the killing blow, opting instead to interrogate them later. But his brief respite was interrupted as two formidable adversaries entered through the breach in the wall.

Without hesitation, Wang Xuan vaulted through a window, melting once more into the rainy canvas beyond. His agility was staggering; the anticipated thirty seconds had barely elapsed. Behind him, his relentless pursuers pressed on, their deadly intent clear. There was a silent understanding between them; if they didn’t incapacitate Wang Xuan now, he might soon evolve into a legendary master. From afar, allies rushed to Wang Xuan's aid, ready to support their seemingly undefeatable comrade.

However, Wang Xuan quickly signaled them, "Stay back! Deal with those snipers in the tower."

He recognized the reality. The Old Arts practitioner, despite their skills, would be swiftly outmatched against these technologically advanced adversaries armed with their transmaterial armor and were in the Grandmaster realm.

In recent times, the realm of Old Arts had seen a decline. Those who have reached the stage of Masters were rare, let alone those that were able to achieve the title of Grandmaster. The path was fraught with challenges. Legends spoke of hidden routes and celestial elixirs. But once these avenues vanished, the Old Arts lost their transcendental qualities. This decline became more evident in an era of rapid modernization.

Conversely, the New Arts flourished, notably because they held the promise of extending one's life. This potential attracted the attention of wealthy conglomerates, resulting in collaborative endeavors, such as the development of the advanced armor made of super-material.

The benefits of pouring resources into the New Arts were clear. Hence, practitioners of the New Arts were wary of Chen Yongjie's breakthrough. They plotted to exploit his internal vulnerabilities at Pamir Plateau, hoping to forever bury the Old Arts.

Wang Xuan melded into the shadows, with two formidable foes hot on his trail. Suddenly, a silhouette ahead halted and turned to face the pursuers. As raindrops splattered around him, his breath misted the air, and his chest heaved from exhaustion. The two approached slowly but with purpose. Each step resonated, echoing a distinct rhythm. They moved with caution, knowing full well they had to give it their all to subdue the young prodigy, given Wang Xuan's astonishing prowess.

The figure clad in the transmaterial armor advanced, enveloped in dark green metal. He brandished a glowing green blade, slashing it towards Wang Xuan. This weapon, formed from transmaterial, emitted a formidable aura. As it swung through the rain, droplets evaporated, leaving a trail of mist in its wake.

As Wang Xuan sidestepped, he lunged forward with a surge of power aimed at his opponent's forehead. His body resonated with an internal harmony, and a faint luminescence seeped from his pores. He invoked the martial techniques inscribed in the golden book, determined to shatter the adversary's dark green armor in one fell swoop.

However, his opponent avoided direct confrontation. Even when they had the upper hand, the two elite warriors retreated to avoid the brunt of Wang Xuan's charge and refrained from close combat. Wang Xuan quickly diffused his internal power, cooling down his body and silencing the rumble within. But in an instant, the two adversaries pounced back, unleashing a torrential onslaught.

Boom!

The shimmering green blade seemed to break the sound barrier, causing a massive air explosion around it. The air turned white, and the blade's luminance intensified as it consistently aimed for Wang Xuan.

He remained undeterred, recognizing he faced two battle-hardened foes with a keen sense of strategy. They were fully aware of the potency of his martial techniques. Every time he invoked Zhang Daoling's techniques, they evaded. But the moment he dissipated his energy, they retaliated with relentless fervor!

Wang Xuan dodged with unmatched speed, but even with his prowess, he found himself cornered under the relentless assault of the master-level warriors. A glint of the blade grazed his arm, and blood spurted out, leaving a deep gash.

However, this scene shocked the figure clad in the super-material armor. He recognized the devastating power of a master's blade. If it had been him receiving that strike, his arm would've been rendered useless. Yet, Wang Xuan's forearm vibrated intensely, seemingly stopping the blade's momentum, resulting only in a bloody wound, not a debilitating injury.

"Golden Body Technique!" he realized in an instant. His gaze shifted, acknowledging the depth of Wang Xuan's mastery in ancient martial arts. At such a young age, Wang Xuan had cultivated a defensive technique that usually required decades to achieve!

Could it be that Wang Xuan had discovered a secret path in the realm of ancient martial arts? The thought weighed heavily on him. Those who walked the path of modern techniques coveted the golden bamboo slips precisely because they were eager to uncover legendary secrets like Inner Landscape.