The Stars Beyond

Chapter 112: The Attention Of An Immortal

The wind howled ominously, bringing with it an icy chill that permeated the entire area. Bone fragments, stained with traces of blood, were caught in the gust, scattering them all around. Droplets of blood misted the surrounding onlookers. Panic ensued as a chorus of shocked cries rang out. The abrupt gusts left everyone bewildered, with no one having glimpsed the radiant figure that had been in the midst of the storm.

Wang Xuan observed as the luminosity of the beheaded entity rapidly faded. The figure became increasingly transparent until it disintegrated completely amidst the cold winds. Is the Immortal actually dead?

Of course, Wang Xuan found it hard to believe that this entity was a true immortal. He recalled previous encounters with formidable beings. The haughty female swordsman who'd once overwhelmed his friend, Old Chen, and the mighty white tiger that had whisked Old Chen away in its transformed kitten form. Such celestial beings defied comprehension.

Nobody seemed to realize Wang Xuan's role in neutralizing the mysterious entity. Still, the chilling wind and sudden blood spatters left everyone deeply unnerved. Only the elderly Daoist and the monk remained unaffected.

To avoid drawing attention, Wang Xuan discreetly smeared some blood on himself amidst the chaos, hoping to blend in and stave off any unnecessary complications.

His mind raced. The short blade he wielded was indeed exceptional, just as Old Chen had mentioned. It had proven its worth in life-threatening situations.

When the fierce wind finally subsided, an eerie silence enveloped the area. Although such bizarre occurrences were not unprecedented, today's blood-soaked event was especially unsettling for those who witnessed it firsthand.

Murmurs spread, each person lamenting the treacherous nature of the Lunar Pit. Yet, in spite of its notorious reputation, adventurers were still irresistibly drawn to it, month after month. The Daoist continued to wave his sword, and the monk swung his staff, both operating on a mere hunch. Neither seemed to fully grasp the magnitude of what had just transpired.

"Ugh! I came to observe, not to be splattered with blood!" Qin Cheng groaned, his voice tinged with distress. Amplifying his dismay, a shard of bone dropped from his collar. A rush of nausea overwhelmed him, making him hastily distance himself by several meters, trying to stave off the urge to vomit. The ghastly combination of blood and bone had rattled him thoroughly.

Suddenly, four individuals who had been lying motionless began to stand in an unnaturally synchronized manner. One of them, displaying a remarkably enhanced stride, started advancing rapidly towards the inner depths of the base. With a single effortless leap, he traversed an astounding ten meters. Wang Xuan's eyes sharpened, recognizing the formidable strength displayed. Yet, as the man prepared for another leap, he abruptly exploded in mid-air, showering the vicinity with a rain of blood.

Qin Cheng, already in shock, looked up only to discover his hands stained in a deep shade of red, with a piece of mangled flesh adhering to his fingers. And, adding to the grotesque scene, a blood-soaked severed hand rested beside his foot. In horror, Qin Cheng recoiled, frantically trying to rid his hand of the clinging flesh. His voice trembled with urgency, "We need to leave, Wang! I vow never to witness such 'entertainment' again! This surpasses the terror of any midnight horror flick!"

Wang Xuan, rooted in place, tried to decipher the unfolding events. What caused that man to disintegrate? Wang noticed the synchronized illumination from the Bai Ma Temple and the Daoist Sanctuary. They seemed to have ensnared the man, leading to the violent eruption of the shadowy figure within him.

This event underscored the wisdom behind relocating the prominent temple of Buddhism and the Daoist Sanctuary to this location over a century ago. Wang Xuan couldn't help but wonder: was this move motivated by ancient superstitions, or was there a sage behind the scenes, aiming to restrain the moon's mysterious forces?

"They're headed back to the Lunar Pit!" Someone exclaimed in disbelief. Of the three surviving individuals, two suddenly burst from the protective layer, running headlong towards the pit filled with craters. Despite lacking the protection of their space suits, their movements were swift, and they leapt nearly ten meters with each stride, eventually disappearing into the dark abyss of the Lunar Pit.

"What are they thinking?" Another voice chimed in.

"They're clearly under some influence," someone remarked. "It's broad daylight now. Without the protective layer, the moon's surface reaches over a hundred degrees. They must be getting roasted alive!"

The sole remaining young survivor's face was flushed, his body trembling. He staggered a few steps and then began to speak with great difficulty, "Within the Lunar Pit... there's a celestial glow... a group of immortals..."

Everyone instinctively distanced themselves from him, fearing another explosion. However, drawn by his revelations, many approached again, eager to catch every word he said.

"Don't you dare explode!" Qin Cheng shouted, his voice tinged with genuine fear from the previous experiences.

"I... I think I'm already dead," the young man murmured, and then suddenly, he disintegrated. Everyone in the vicinity was splattered with blood.

Many glared at Qin Cheng, thinking that perhaps, if he hadn't shouted out his warning, the young man might not have realized his fate so soon, and they would've been spared the gruesome scene.

Wang Xuan's senses were on high alert, his spiritual realm pulsating. A veil of white mist appeared before his forehead, and he intently stared at the ground. He had caught a fleeting glimpse of something disappearing underground and waited expectantly for it to emerge. But after a prolonged period of inactivity, everything seemed to return to normal. Given the scale of casualties, the incident was undeniably significant. The area was quickly cordoned off, shielding the general populace from the horrific events that had just transpired.

The dim lighting of the room was interrupted only by the faint sounds of movement, a tense stillness reigning after the harrowing face-off. With his senses sharp, Wang Xuan strained to pinpoint the creature's direction. The sudden assault and the grotesque nature of the invader had unnerved him, but he also realized this wasn't an isolated incident. Swiftly donning his clothes and clutching his trusted short sword, Wang Xuan was ready to alert the security and delve deeper into the night's mystery.

The corridor outside was bathed in a muted glow, the light creating long, ominous shadows. Concerned for his friend, Wang Xuan quickly made his way to Qin Cheng’s room. After knocking without a response, he cautiously entered only to find it vacant. A sinking feeling hit him as he noted Qin Cheng's absence. Returning to his chamber, Wang Xuan's keen eyes caught a faint mark on the floor, reminiscent of a scorching trail. Following it led him to a barely visible ancient emblem etched into the wooden floor.

The emblem seemed to pulsate with a familiar energy. Piecing things together, Wang Xuan discerned that the creature was bound to some deeper, age-old power, which this emblem represented. Gently brushing his fingers over the design, the emblem responded with a gentle radiance, revealing a maze of symbols within.

Suddenly, an ethereal voice whispered in Wang Xuan's mind, "The barriers between worlds are weakening. They are drawn here, and they are relentless."

A shiver went down his spine. It became clear that the challenges of the night were just the tip of the iceberg. Strengthening the defenses, alerting others, and locating Qin Cheng were immediate priorities.

The ethereal glow radiated from Wang Xuan's feet as the sounds of thunder echoed, brightening the entire room. A haunting shriek emerged from the creature as it vanished through the wall. As Wang Xuan realized he could see beyond the walls, he understood that his heightened spiritual realm was at play, making him perceive things that the ordinary eye couldn't.

Chasing the entity into the courtyard, Wang Xuan hurled his short sword. The creature wailed, disintegrating into a thin mist. Suddenly, a distant bell chimed, and the ancient Daoist temple nearby shone brilliantly, dissipating the last traces of the eerie fog. Nothing remained.

Stepping outside, even though it was nighttime according to the clock, the surroundings were illuminated as if it were day – a typical, yet always unsettling, aspect of life on the moon.

"This isn't like the ghostly legends," Wang Xuan murmured to himself. "They're unafraid of the sunlight. What are these beings? Those explorers claimed they were 'immortals' from the lunar crater. By that account, I've already slain two of them."

He was particularly bothered by being disrupted from his sleep. He yearned to venture into the lunar crater and eradicate this menace. Such audacity was a hallmark of Wang Xuan, who never backed down from a challenge. However, he pondered on the dangers of the crater, realizing its reputation wasn't for nothing. After all, it was closely guarded by temples from both the Buddhist and Taoist traditions.

"Why do these 'immortals' keep targeting me?" he wondered.

Despite the ordeal, Wang Xuan's courage remained intact. He went back to his room and soon drifted into sleep.

The following morning, Qin Cheng came rushing to Wang Xuan with news. "Wang, we've got a problem!" he exclaimed. "One of the explorers from yesterday's expedition belongs to a powerful financial dynasty."

Wang Xuan shrugged, "So? Being wealthy doesn't make you immune to dangers."

"It's the Qin family," Qin Cheng clarified. "They are amongst the elites on the new star. And now, they've put out a massive reward for anyone who can retrieve the body of Qin Yunfeng from the lunar crater."

"From your family lineage?" Wang Xuan teased with a smile.

"I've got nothing to do with him!" Qin Cheng sighed. Despite sharing the same surname, Qin, their destinies were as polarized as the difference between an ordinary woman named Qin Xianglian and the great Emperor Qin Shihuang.

Of the two young men who had fled back into the lunar crater the previous day, one was Qin Yunfeng. It didn't take much to deduce that he would've succumbed to the crater's extreme temperatures by now.

"Some things people strive for their whole lives come easily to him," Qin Cheng remarked. "Perhaps when life lacks challenges, you seek thrill in the extremes. He went on an expedition for that adrenaline rush and ended up paying with his life."

Qin Cheng was contemplative, recognizing the vast disparities in people's starting points in life. For some, what others saw as a distant dream was their everyday reality.

The incident stirred up a storm in the socio-political landscape. In recent years, while the power and influence of financial dynasties had been growing, they usually operated behind the scenes, preferring discretion. It was rare for a heir like Qin Yunfeng to recklessly endanger himself in such a manner.

"Want to go check it out?" Wang Xuan inquired.

"Yes, let's see who dares to venture into the lunar crater," responded Qin Cheng, unable to resist the allure of the unfolding drama.

Many people were gathered near the protective layer, engaged in whispered conversations and debates. A state-of-the-art robot, designed to withstand magnetic fields, pulses, and energy interferences, had been deployed into the lunar crater. However, it had lost contact soon after.

"Still no luck," someone commented. "Despite the new model being designed to resist all sorts of interferences, it seems the mysterious forces within the lunar crater are still too powerful."

"Look, it's Old Ling!" Qin Cheng whispered, using the familiar name for the approaching figure.

Wang Xuan followed his gaze and sure enough, saw Ling Qiming making his way towards them, accompanied by a small entourage. They positioned themselves close to the protective layer, their eyes fixed on the enigmatic lunar crater.

"Why would Old Ling be interested in this?" Wang Xuan mused aloud.

"Word has it that the Ling and Qin families are closely connected," Qin Cheng responded. "Given Old Ling's presence on the moon, the Qin family likely requested his oversight."

Nodding in understanding, Wang Xuan's curiosity piqued, "So, what exactly is the Qin family offering as a reward?"

Having already gathered the details, Qin Cheng explained, "It's rather tempting. The Qin family has lined up several rare treasures. You can choose two items. Options include the Golden Mushroom, Earth Marrow – both exceptionally rare. Then there's an ancient tome about spiritual cultivation, notes from the renowned Olesha, and a sword manuscript unearthed from the historic Shu Mountain. Although no one has mastered the techniques from the sword manuscript, it's believed to relate to the legendary flying sword technique. All in all, they're precious items. And if these don't appeal, there's always the option to exchange them for a hefty sum of new star coins."

"It's certainly enticing," Wang Xuan commented, "but I doubt they could match my value!" Yet, as he finished speaking, he felt an unsettling shift. Silently, a few luminescent figures floated up from the lunar crater. Their aura was both serene and divine, and unsettlingly, their attention was firmly on him!