The Stars Beyond

Chapter 153: An Appointment

When Wang Xuan uttered his bold declaration, a profound silence blanketed the area, both behind the grand canopy and over the azure sea. It was as if the very world paused, holding its breath. Even the gentle patter of the rain ceased momentarily, as if it dared not fall any further.

The assembled demon immortals lowered their gaze to the ground, pretending they heard nothing, wary of incurring wrath by association. For how could a mere mortal be so audacious? In terms of sheer power, the Red Sorceress was nothing short of a legendary figure amongst them. The audacity of Wang Xuan to suggest she perform a dance for him left them in awe. Such temerity from a human was unheard of!

"I now believe you won't collaborate with her," the ferryman remarked, nodding his approval. He had never encountered such a daring mortal in his time. Facing the unparalleled beauty and power of the Red Sorceress and speaking such words only reinforced his belief in the boldness of the young generation.

The White Tiger Demoness, on the other hand, seemed to roar with indignation on her master's behalf, as though she desired to make Wang Xuan regret his words. Yet, the Red Sorceress remained unperturbed, her face adorned with a serene smile. If she truly cared about his comment, she wouldn't have brought it up in the first place.

She gracefully adjusted her damp tresses, her eyes shimmering and her red robe fluttering with a distinct charm. "Soon, I'll venture to the mortal realm in a different guise," she informed Wang Xuan, "I look forward to our encounter."

Wang Xuan felt as if he was on the verge of an explosion. Wasn't she bound for three years? He had thought he still had time to prepare, to grow stronger. If she was to emerge so soon, how was he supposed to survive her ire?

A whirlwind of emotions stormed Wang Xuan's face, ranging from shock to dismay. The impending doom of meeting her sooner than expected spelled nothing but misfortune for him. Lost in his own thoughts, he contemplated the numerous possible outcomes.

"If you're so fond of the demon dance, I'll have a surprise for you when we truly meet," the Red Sorceress said with a captivating smile, turning to leave.

Wang Xuan was left stunned, staring at her receding figure, grappling with the question - What should he do now?

"It's been a long time since I've visited the mortal realm. I'm quite looking forward to it," she mused. Her scarlet gown billowed gracefully, making her a vision of unmatched beauty. As she gradually faded from view, her last lingering glance was filled with tantalizing allure.

However, Wang Xuan was in no mood to appreciate this captivating sight. He felt a genuine threat to his existence.

"Do you think the ancient pact means nothing?" the Ferryman remarked coldly. Her audacious declaration of her impending visit to the mortal realm, made right in front of him, was a brazen challenge to the age-old agreement.

"Elder, shouldn't you chase after her? Exorcise this demoness!" Wang Xuan turned to him, relying heavily on this guardian of the pact.

"I... cannot break the agreement," the Ferryman replied.

Wang Xuan couldn't help but feel that the Ferryman seemed a bit hesitant. Was he too afraid to confront her?

"Don't worry. Though she met you here, shielded by this grand curtain, she has no idea which planet you currently inhabit, given your unpredictable journey," the Ferryman reassured. He implied that the Red Sorceress might not be able to locate Wang Xuan in the mortal realm.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan seemed momentarily taken aback.

Soon, a wave of calm washed over him. He was far from his home soil, not even on the new star, separated by countless light-years from his homeland. He found it hard to believe that despite the vast distances, spanning multiple galaxies, and his location at the very edge of deep space, the red-robed demoness would be able to find him. Impossible!

Hence, he confidently responded, "I'll await you in the mortal realm. Let's not miss our rendezvous." He deliberately avoided mentioning his homeland to prevent giving any hints.

The Red Sorceress had already departed, offering no reply.

Wang Xuan sighed, feeling a bit uneasy. The idea of being pursued by such a formidable demoness across galaxies was indeed unsettling.

"It's about time. I'll guide you out," the Ferryman offered.

Wang Xuan was displeased. "That's it? I haven't undergone any transformation. What kind of mystic path is this?"

"If you had chosen the path of the prime entities, like turning into a Golden-Winged Roc, a Thousand-Armed Deity, or a Human-Demon hybrid, your power would have naturally escalated," the Ferryman explained.

"That would be turning into a demon!" Wang Xuan emphasized.

"Entering the Land of the Departed and experiencing its transcendental radiation offers paths other than demonization; there is also divinization," the Ferryman explained. As per his account, divinization allowed beings to retain their original form, be it human or demon, offering a choice that didn't deviate drastically from their nature.

However, this process wasn't without its changes. Some might develop vertical pupils, pointed ears, or even a third eye on the forehead. In others, certain organs might undergo mutations; hearts could enlarge, grow stronger, and turn silver, while some might find their bones adorned with golden patterns, becoming thicker and more robust, elevating their stature to towering heights.

Divinization didn't stray too far, yet it still brought noticeable changes to one's original form. Wang Xuan pondered, could he accept such transformation?

In an instant, his thoughts turned to the Five Pages of Gold, relics left by Zhang Daoling, the founder of Taoism. The figures depicted on the golden pages were distinctly human, and the patterns related to the resonance of internal organs didn't show any abnormality; they aligned perfectly with those of a regular human.

He realized that at this stage, divinization wasn't necessary; the Five Pages of Gold seemed to provide an answer.

Wang Xuan posed his question: "Are demonization and divinization the only options offered by the transcendental radiation of the Land of the Departed?"

"I knew you'd ask that," the Ferryman replied, gesturing towards the sea. "There's a more radical approach: diving into the waters while envisioning transformation into a certain creature. If you survive, you'd undergo a violent metamorphosis into that being. With some luck, various organs might even divinize."

Wang Xuan was contemplative; this sounded like a fusion of demonization and divinization.

He shook his head, "I just wish to remain human. I don't need to dive in and recreate myself as a person."

"The reason I merely ferry you across is that I saw this resolve in you. You're suited for the most serene path through the Land of the Departed," the Ferryman said.

"What do you mean?"

"With the protection of the Feathered Divine Bamboo Boat, you can gently absorb the transcendental radiation of the Land of the Departed, enhancing the vitality of your physical body. Once you leave this place and continue your cultivation for a while, your strength will naturally and gradually increase."

Hearing this explanation, Wang Xuan felt unsatisfied. He had entered the Land of the Departed seeking a rapid breakthrough. If it required waiting, he would have chosen a different path.

The Ferryman spoke, "Everything is about balance. Divinization and demonization are the results of the Land of the Departed's potent radiation combined with its mysterious energy. Since you've chosen the gentle path, your physical form has been activated. However, the energy needed for your transformation now has to be slowly supplemented from external sources, hence the delay in progression."

He continued, "Actually, if you had consumed more blood grapes before coming here, even while resisting the demonizing effects, the expulsion of the demonic properties from the fruit would leave behind its beneficial potency. This energy might suffice for your chosen gentle path, allowing for a quick breakthrough."

Wang Xuan pondered, "So, you're saying that even a demonic fruit can be purified here, removing its harmful components? If I gather enough, can I achieve my breakthrough smoothly?"

"Exactly," the Ferryman affirmed.

Regret filled Wang Xuan. While escaping the cave of the silk serpent, he had the opportunity to collect the remaining bunches of blood grapes but had paid them no mind, having known of their demonic nature.

"Quickly, get me to the shore!" Wang Xuan urged.

"Why the rush?" The Ferryman queried, surprised.

"I'll return shortly, to breakthrough here," Wang Xuan declared, resolute in his decision to harvest the demonic fruit. He'd made careful calculations. Whenever the mature silk serpent went hunting, it would grant him enough time to collect the blood grapes. Attempting to flee far would inevitably lead to failure, but escaping to the proximity of the Land of the Departed, given its closeness, was undoubtedly feasible.

Moreover, around the Land of the Departed, eight transcendent creatures had made their nests. It was likely each nest bore a trove of rare and potent herbs.

For a moment, Wang Xuan's eyes shone brilliantly. He was determined to make the most of the Land of the Departed's secrets to advance his abilities. He believed it wouldn't be long before he caught up with Old Chen.

The Ferryman interrupted Wang Xuan's reverie, stating, "Do you think it's easy to come here? Unless you possess an internal scenic treasure or your ancestral teachings have particularly favored you by refining the essence of mysterious genes and depositing them within your flesh. Be aware that the world has changed, the strength of later generations' ancestors is not as formidable, and they can't accumulate much of the essence of these genes."

He knew that Wang Xuan carried within him the mysterious genes of the internal scenic realm, but adhering to ancient covenants, he hadn't utilized his psychic or heavenly eye abilities, leaving Wang Xuan's true potential a mystery.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan felt even more assured. Having opened his own internal scenic realm, he was akin to his own ancestor! Additionally, he recalled consuming the meat of the White Tiger demon with Old Chen and Qingmu, which the Sword Immortal had mentioned was composed of the essence of mysterious genes.

"So, this might be our last encounter. Take care of yourself," the Ferryman said.

Wang Xuan, confident he could return, disregarded his words. He addressed the immortals present, "Any among the true immortals fancy a taste of the wild delicacies of the present world? I'll be coming back shortly. If there are any requests or desired trades, feel free to make them now."

He wasn't sure if he could bring the wild game intact into this realm.

"Wild game of the Earth Immortal grade might be worth considering," a demon immortal responded.

Wang Xuan, losing interest in further conversation, urged the Ferryman to set sail.

The feathered divine bamboo boat transformed into a streak of light, rapidly departing and soon arriving at the shore. Wang Xuan leapt off, finding himself beside a shimmering blue lake where the golden bamboo boat rested in the center.

He was taken aback, "Is this lake the Land of the Departed?"

"This Land of the Departed is indeed a lake," the Ferryman confirmed.

"See you in a bit!" Wang Xuan turned and dashed off.

"You act as if this place is your own backyard," the Ferryman muttered, shaking his head as he guided the small boat away, gradually vanishing into the mist.

As Wang Xuan hastened from this strange domain, he sensed a surge in vitality within himself, an ongoing transformation that seemed to falter, hindered by a deficiency in energy, preventing its continuation.

While the residual energy from the blood grapes provided some vitality, it wasn't sufficient for Wang Xuan. Pondering his next move, he retrieved the luminous blue worms he had gathered and crushed them one by one against his body, channeling the ancient techniques of the Qin sages.

To his delight, these worms possessed an abundance of mysterious genes, greatly benefiting his physique. Their potency far surpassed that of conventional spiritual herbs.

"My apologies, Master Ma," Wang Xuan murmured to himself, "I've used these worms now. I promise to provide you with the demonic fruits later."

With this newfound source of energy, Wang Xuan felt an itching sensation all over his body—a sign that he was about to molt again. But it wasn't just the mysterious genes from the worms taking effect; a surge of potent substances stored within him also began to activate.

Moments later, he shed his tattered clothing and an entire layer of skin. Unlike before, there was no odd odor—instead, his new skin gleamed with a crystalline shine. Previously, his Golden Body technique was teetering at the initial stages of the seventh level. Now, he had progressed to the mid-stages of this level.

"At the same time, I've broken through to the Grandmaster realm!" Wang Xuan silently acknowledged the transformation within him. With a subtle vibration of his internal organs, a streak of lightning shot out. A snap of his fingers and a beam of fiery light melted a nearby rock.

The enhancements to his physique were significant, strengthening his constitution greatly. The mysterious power within his flesh and blood surged, marking a culmination of his persistent efforts. He surmised that if he encountered those extraterrestrials again, he'd be more than a match for them—none would escape his grasp.

"Merely being a Grandmaster isn't enough," Wang Xuan resolved, staring at the enigmatic path of the Land of the Departed, bordered by the nests of eight extraordinary creatures. "I must strive to reach the true transcendent realm while I'm here!"