The Stars Beyond

Chapter 18: Chance Encounter

Wang Xuan anticipated a fierce and bloody clash when Jin Chuan and his team appeared in the underground palace. But both parties quickly retreated after their brief encounter. Wang Xuan could sense that there was something going on between the two groups.

During the return journey, a heavy atmosphere hung within the confines of the small aircraft. Kite bore a grievous wound, a gaping hole in his chest, with his upper body drenched in blood. The other teams too had their share of casualties. They departed with their wounded in tow.

Qing Mu's voice broke the silence, "I'll personally see to it that Falcon's family is compensated."

His expression remained concealed behind a mask,, "You’ll get used to it eventually after witnessing all that. Those who survive are adventurers. As for those who don’t... Well, I guess they’re just along for the ride."

Wang Xuan fell silent. The living, breathing human being who was still tough as nails moments ago was now being sent home in a body bag. The expedition was far from the exciting and mysterious adventure he was expecting. Its dark side was beginning to rear its head. It was telling Wang Xuan that there was a fine line between life and death for those who dared take part in something like this. They were, in a sense, selling their lives for money.

The organization, dubbed as the Adventurer’s Guild by Wang Xuan, had internally assessed the risk of the Qingcheng Mountain operation, and deemed it a low risk mission. Qing Mu revealed that some of their exploits would occasionally place them face to face against supernatural phenomena. Such situations were much scarier than their encounter in the underground palace.

Black Tiger was sharpening his alloy blade, Kite had her eyes closed, and Old Mu let out a sigh. Morale was low among the group, and they were reluctant to speak. Clearly, they had experienced this kind of thing more than once. They had witnessed countless deaths during their many expeditions. It was common for team members to come and go in their years of adventuring.

"I'll retire for good in another two years, once I've saved up enough money," Kite suddenly spoke up.

......

The return journey went smoothly. The aircraft landed in an estate on the outskirts of the city, where several cars were prepared to send Black Tiger, Old Mu, and the others away separately.

Qing Mu kept Wang Xuan at the estate for a conversation.

"Keep the five pages of the golden book for yourself. It might be a powerful form of physical technique, but I suspect it is extremely difficult to master. You need to be mentally prepared," Qing Mu advised.

Qing Mu had only glanced at the first page of the golden book and already he felt overwhelmed. It involved resonance of the internal organs, exertion of force, blood exchange, and rejuvenation. He had heard of similar things before.

"A long time ago, there was a master of the Old Arts in the New World who practiced something similar. He ended up killing himself in the process," Qing Mu recounted.

Wang Xuan was left dumbfounded by the revelation. This was the first time he learned that the practice of the Old Arts could lead to death.

"It involves blood exchange and organ regeneration. Though it focuses on revitalizing specific organs, the temptation for even a master is immense. Once mastered, it could undoubtedly extend one's lifespan by several decades," Qing Mu explained.

The fact that even a Master had succumbed to such a practice was alarming. In the modern era, the Old Arts had been considered to be in decline. It was exceedingly rare for a person to reach the level of Master in this field. It was highly unlikely that someone of that caliber could be found in the current era.

"I’m not joking. The New World have plundered the riches of this planet in the early years. Naturally, there were individuals who achieved great success. However, over the past few decades, the Old Arts have been increasingly disregarded, and this 'field' has been left entirely fallow," Qing Mu added.

Qing Mu's words seemed to corroborate the information from the New World, suggesting that they had been researching supernatural phenomena and possibly even the occult for decades.

"You must be patient with things like this. This isn't something you can master with sheer determination. I experienced discomfort just by trying to practice what I saw on the first page. It felt like someone was tearing my internals apart," Qing Mu's voice trembled.

He turned away, swiftly removing his blue mask to wipe away cold sweat. He was gasping for air. Wang Xuan glanced at his face, and found it to be deathly pale. But he was able to suppress his internal turmoil and handed the golden book back to Wang Xuan. He was reluctant to part with the golden pages, but he was able to exercise restraint through strong self discipline.

"Don't attempt it recklessly. It could easily cost you your life!" Qing Mu cautioned once again. He dared not look at the remaining pages, fearing he might succumb to temptation and put his own life in danger.

Wang Xuan's expression grew grave. For the first time, he realized that practicing physical techniques could be so dangerous. It was even more extreme than cultivating the core techniques.

"The core techniques are the roots of the Old Arts. They enhance your inner constitution, while physical techniques are the trunk and branches that boost your outward strength," Qing Mu explained.

Tracing back to ancient times and even stories recorded in myths and legends, descriptions of physical techniques become even more exaggerated. The ancients were said to be able to lift elephants with ease, and even change the flow of entire rivers by the sheer force of the strength.

Wang Xuan handed over the silver beastskin scroll. It was the primary objective of this expedition. Qing Mu intended to take the silver scroll with him for assessment. Wang Xuan would be compensated greatly if the artifact’s value was found to be higher than expected.

"If you decipher those inscriptions, I want a copy of the translated materials as well." he voiced his request.

"No problem. It was you who discovered and brought it back," Qing Mu assured him, emphasizing the organization's generosity towards its members.

Before parting ways, Qing Mu once again cautioned Wang Xuan, urging him not to act recklessly. The techniques described in the golden book could be immensely powerful, and attempting them without proper understanding could prove fatal. He strongly suspected that those techniques might be related to Zhang Daoling, a historical figure of great significance.

Wang Xuan gasped. He was genuinely surprised. Could the five pages of golden script be connected to him as well? Upon closer consideration, it was indeed possible. There was a legend that Zhang Daoling spent his later years residing in Qingcheng Mountain and eventually achieved spiritual transcendence there.

Wang Xuan suddenly realized that the technique recorded on the five golden pages might be as powerful as the one on the silver scroll. He carefully stowed them away, resolving to study them thoroughly and with great caution upon his return. Qing Mu agreed to let him take the micro scanner with and arranged for a car to send him back to the city.

Back on campus, Wang Xuan packed his belongings, getting ready to leave. Today marked the final selection, and the end of the Old Arts Research Department. He had only a few changes of clothes and no substantial luggage. With a backpack on his back, he was ready to go.

He took one last look at the familiar sights – the towering academic buildings, the crystal-clear manmade lake, and the emerald garden with falling leaves before turning around and walking away. Everything behind him was merely the end of one of the chapters in his life. He would soon be introduced to the true nature of society. He had already rented a new apartment, and arranged for a cleaning service a couple of days ago. The only thing left was to purchase bedding, towels, toothpaste, and various daily necessities. He felt a touch of nostalgia. Now, he had to manage his own livelihood.

It all felt strange to him. He had left Qingcheng Mountain moments ago, where he had been on an adventure, traversing the thin line between life and death. And now, he was in the middle of the city, and the beginning of his new life.

He was fighting for his life moments ago, and now he found himself busy with tasks like buying towels and toothbrushes. In just two or three days, he would start working, hustling for his livelihood. He felt like he had lost his sense of time. The adventure on Qingcheng Mountain and the upcoming nine-to-five job and daily life were all segments of his life's journey. A flurry of emotions rushed through him.

He didn't immediately bring up his plans to go to the New World with Qing Mu. Having just joined the Adventurer’s guild, he had not contributed enough to be making such a difficult request yet. However, the opportunity would come after the research and subsequent translation of the silver beastskin scroll. He could have a chat with Qing Mu then.

Wang Xuan moved swiftly and with purpose, acquiring all the necessary items in a single shopping spree. A taxi was able to accommodate all his belongings. His new rented place was situated in an older residential neighborhood. The environment was pleasant, with mature trees that had been planted long ago now towering overhead, lending an overall sense of tranquility.

The downside, however, was that the facilities were somewhat outdated and not quite up to modern standards.

He had leased a cozy one-bedroom apartment that had undergone a fresh renovation just a couple of years back, giving it a rather pleasing overall appearance. Wang Xuan swiftly arranged his everyday essentials, neatly laying out the beddings, and poured himself a glass of water before taking a rest.

Having kept his phone turned off throughout the day, he eventually booted it up and was greeted by a deluge of messages and voicemails. He made sure to make a call to his parents first, assuring them that everything was well and informing them about his impending official job commencement.

Not long after, Qin Cheng's call came through.

"Hey there, Old Wang, just where in the world did you vanish to? I was seriously getting worked up here! I haven’t heard from you for an entire day, and I was seriously beginning to entertain the thought that Zhou Yun did something to you. I was ready to gather the people from our class to avenge you!" Qin Cheng's words spilled out in an impassioned torrent, the rapid fire of his speech leaving Wang Xuan's ears mildly ringing.

Qin Cheng's concern was genuine. It stemmed from his worry about potential retaliation from Zhou Yun. It might spell trouble for Wang Xuan. After all, he was the scion of a New World megacorporation.

Wang Xuan was tempted to share stories about his encounter with Zhou Yunand the state he left the man in – a broken nose, a fractured arm, and likely nursing a grudge against someone of mixed heritage. Yet, he refrained, wary of Qin Cheng's lack of ability to keep things a secret.

Adjusting his phone's volume and placing it at a safe distance, Wang Xuan offered an explanation – he was deeply engrossed in meditation. This was why he had been unreachable. He had switched off his phone to avoid distractions.

"I'll be departing soon, and I've been trying to reach you all this time. How about having dinner tonight, at the top floor of the Azure Peak Tower?" Qin Cheng asked.

The higher a restaurant is situated on the Azure Peak Tower, the heftier the bill. For a recent graduate like Wang Xuan, who solely relied on his earnings, it was something that he simply could not afford.

Wang Xuan chuckled, "Ah, so you've finally managed to win back your girlfriend, and now it's time to celebrate?"

He was not concerned about Qin Cheng's wallet, knowing that with his financial situation, he did not mind the expenses.

"Sigh, the future doesn't look optimistic. And how do we remedy this situation? By indulging in a feast tonight!"

Sitting in his room, Wang Xuan flipped through the golden book, carefully studying it. Eventually, he couldn't resist the temptation. Following the instructions in the first few pages, he resonated energy within his internal organs and then exerted force according to a specific rhythm.

In an instant, his internal organs felt a bit of discomfort, just as Qingmu had described – this practice was indeed quite challenging.

However, he also harbored some doubts. His condition was not as bad as Qing Mu’s and the pain was somewhat manageable.

"Better be cautious." He didn't take any chances, because this could potentially be a technique left behind by Zhang Daoling, and the significance of that was immense. Taoism had existed for a long time, with ideas such as Huang-Lao’s school of thoughts dating back to ancien times. However, Taoist practices as a distinct tradition emerged relatively later, and it was Zhang Daoling who founded it.

There's no doubt that even if Zhang Daoling were placed in the pre-Qin era, during the golden age of the Old Arts, he would undoubtedly be among the top experts in the realm of Taoist practices.

Glancing at the time, Wang Xuan realized the sun was about to set – it was time to head out.

The surroundings of the Azure Peak Tower were bustling, surrounded by a mature commercial district with a high volume of pedestrian traffic. Upon his arrival, Wang Xuan headed straight for the elevator, making his way to the top floor.

The highest floor housed three restaurants. Despite the exorbitant prices, they were all thriving. He figured that Qin Cheng must have made a reservation in advance, and if all went as planned, they would be dining at Golden Years, the one he most likely reserved. Qin Cheng had treated his guests here before, and according to him, Golden Years had the most exquisite flavors.

As Wang Xuan proceeded, he suddenly froze. Golden Years was fully booked! Someone... had booked the entire place?

It was undoubtedly the work of someone with abundant wealth. The usual cost of a table here could easily amount to a few month’s worth of an average person’s salary. But someone had booked the entire joint. Wang Xuan peered inside and noticed that some private rooms were left unoccupied. Whoever that booked the restaurant was someone who simply wanted a quiet environment.

"Wang Xuan?!" Suddenly, someone called out to him. It was not a friendly one.

Golden Years was big. A group of women had spotted him from all the way across the main hall and were making their way over. He recognized two of them.

The first was Zhou Mingxuan's daughter, Zhou Ting, who was also the cousin of his ex-girlfriend. She was in a good state. There was no air of fatigue around her. She was dressed in a waisted long dress that accentuated her elegant figure.

The other woman was his former classmate. She was a student from the Old World who had been chosen to travel to the New World. She was someone he did not expect to meet.

The woman in a white evening gown, adorned with crystal accents on her high-heeled shoes, spoke with a disapproving tone. "Which Wang Xuan? Are you talking about Ling Wei’s ex?"

"It's him." Zhou Ting nodded.

These women were dressed more formally, predominantly in evening gowns. Their demeanor and appearance were quite appealing – youthful and radiant, or perhaps sophisticated and elegant.

The one in the white evening gown, with her chin held high, cast a disdainful glance at Wang Xuan, scrutinizing him. "Come on! It's been over a year since you broke up, so why bother showing up here? You’re ruining the mood!"

Wang Xuan frowned when he finally pieced together the situation. However, it was impossible for him to have prior knowledge about the situation here. He was not the one to be blamed. The woman in the white evening gown lifted her chin and looked at him in a highly condescending manner.

Arrogance oozed in her voice, "You’re not welcome here, nor is this the place you should be. Please get out of our sight immediately!"

Wang Xuan wasn't one to tolerate such behavior. Calmly, he retorted, "Since when did my presence become any of your concern? You don’t own the place."