The Stars Beyond

Chapter 207: Paying Back A Good Deed

New World, Su City – a metropolis of towering skyscrapers built from composite materials, with landmark buildings almost piercing the skies. Various spaceships are parked on their tops.

In mid-air, numerous small flying vessels shuttle rapidly, while hovercars move in an orderly manner below.

Returning to the familiar urban landscape from the primitive wilderness of the Hidden Land, away from the bloody monsters, everyone felt as if they had crossed worlds.

"Back at last, I’m never leaving again!" Zhou Yun, freshly disembarked from the spacecraft, passionately kissed the ground. His resolve was evident; no more exotic adventures for him, not even the promise of becoming a great wizard in a magical world could tempt him. Survival was paramount.

There were tears and laughter among those who made it back alive. Hundreds had perished in the Hidden Land, including renowned explorers and key members of financial conglomerates.

Su City, located in the central region of New World, is a vast city.

Old Chen decided to stay for a while, being cautious. He would not return to the Old Earth unless accompanied by significant figures.

Wang Xuan declined invitations from Zhou Yun and Zhong Cheng to visit their homes, preferring a low profile upon his return and having some matters to attend to.

He bought a new phone and exchanged contact information with Zhou Yun and others.

"Su City, Professor Lin's home is here." Since arriving on New World, Wang Xuan had been wanting to visit him, but the trip to the Hidden Land had delayed his plans.

Professor Lin had taken great care of him during his time in the experimental class on Old Earth. Before leaving for New World, Lin even gifted him a set of ancient bamboo scrolls of pre-Qin dynastic era mystics, incredibly valuable and immensely helpful.

To open an internal landscape, texts of the level of the pre-Qin mystics were required. Without these texts, even if Wang Xuan had triggered his extrasensory perception, he wouldn't have been able to open his internal landscape, which fundamentally altered his destiny.

Professor Lin had been exceptionally kind to him, not only leaving contact details but also insisting on helping him move to New World.

But Wang Xuan declined, not wishing for Professor Lin to humble himself by asking for favors. This time, he intended to visit the elderly professor to treat his old injury.

In his youth, Professor Lin was a formidable expert. During an expedition for a Pre-Qin bamboo scroll, he was attacked with an energy weapon. His body was pierced through, and a punch left a gaping hole in his chest. It was a miracle he survived, but his path in the ancient arts was irrevocably severed. He could only engage in theoretical research in ancient arts and took up a position at a university.

"Hello? Who's this?" came Professor Lin's slightly weary voice over the phone.

"Professor Lin, it's me, Wang Xuan. I'm in New World's Su City now..."

"Xuan, you're in New World?!" Professor Lin exclaimed, surprised. He asked where Wang Xuan was, offering to come and pick him up.

"No need, Professor. You're at Kaiyuan University, right? I'll come to you."

After purchasing some gifts, Wang Xuan arrived at Kaiyuan University, renowned for its prestigious ranking in New World. The campus was dotted with clusters of Silver Moon Trees, their snowy blooms swaying gently in the breeze, emitting a subtle fragrance that invigorated the mind and soothed the heart.

Kaiyuan University's serene environment captivated Wang Xuan. He observed students reading under the trees, their tranquility a stark contrast to his current life of cultivation and facing the decay of myths.

Watching the students, he recalled the days he spent with Qin Cheng, admiring the beauty of their female classmates – a pure appreciation, comparing which department or class had the prettiest girls as they sat on the benches along the walkways.

Ultimately, they concluded that "Goddess Zhao" was the most formidable, seemingly dominating in every comparison.

Wang Xuan smiled as he sat by the roadside, watching the approaching students, and dialed Qin Cheng's number.

"Old Wang, you had me worried sick! More than twenty days without a word, I couldn't reach you. Are you alright?" Qin Cheng's voice came through the phone, filled with concern. He knew Wang Xuan had gone to the Hidden Land, but never expected him to disappear for so long. He had feared the worst.

"I'm in Su City, about to visit Professor Lin. Where are you? Hurry over. I'm treating you to garlic snails and peacock stewed golden mushrooms!" Wang Xuan said cheerfully.

On the other end of the line, Qin Cheng's breath hitched. He was shocked. Was Old Wang joking, or was he seriously defying the heavens? He knew how rare those two delicacies were; even the wealthiest families could only afford to use them in soups or infusions due to their scarcity. His initial comment had been in jest.

Soon, Qin Cheng "came back to his senses," convinced Wang Xuan was joking. "Give my regards to Professor Lin. As for the snails and mushrooms, let's keep that in mind for now. I'm still on New Moon. The old monk at White Horse Temple insists on keeping me for a while longer, teaching me their boxing techniques and some Buddhist scriptures." He should have been able to transfer to New World by now.

"Hurry up and get down here, to New World. You're missing out on some opportunities!" Wang Xuan urged him to come to New World immediately.

Qin Cheng's eyes widened. "Old Wang, you're not serious, are you? You've been reigning supreme in the Hidden Land, playing the overlord?!"

"It's nothing much, just played the part of 'King Invincible' once. Get here quickly!" Wang Xuan indeed had many treasures on him. He planned to help Professor Lin regain his health and cure his old injuries and also wanted to help his friend take a crucial step forward in his path in the ancient arts by enhancing his physical condition.

"Alright, I'm booking a ship ticket right now and saying goodbye to my master!" On the moon, Qin Cheng was immensely excited. He could hardly imagine what Wang Xuan had achieved in the Hidden Land to have outdone even the wealthiest families in terms of gains.

At Kaiyuan University, which offered various new academic disciplines including studies on human potential involving both ancient and modern techniques, Wang Xuan encountered some skepticism.

"Really now?" chuckled a vibrant and attractive young woman, clad in a white training outfit, standing about 1.7 meters tall with a graceful figure, likely a student. She looked at Wang Xuan with amusement. "King Invincible? That's quite a claim, especially here at Kaiyuan University, where both ancient and modern techniques rank among the top five. You don't look like one of our students. Aren't you being a bit overconfident?"

"Maybe," Wang Xuan replied with a smile, choosing not to elaborate. His current strength made him vastly superior to any potential challenger.

"Oh, the confidence of youth, but don't be too arrogant. I know some very skilled people, almost mystical in their abilities, yet they're all incredibly humble. Not one of them acts like you do. Would you like me to introduce you to some of them for a friendly spar?" The beautiful young woman seemed slightly irritated by Wang Xuan's demeanor, almost as if she wanted someone to put him in his place.

"I'm not interested in bullying kids who are still in school," Wang Xuan responded, maintaining his smile. In reality, even the forefathers of these students wouldn't draw his attention.

"I'll show you. Wait here!" the young woman retorted, clearly annoyed.

"Please, I concede!" Wang Xuan was just passing time with some light banter, not really looking for trouble.

But the young woman, sharp as she was, sensed his nonchalance and huffed, "King Invincible, huh..."

Just then, Professor Lin arrived, delighted to see Wang Xuan. "Wang Xuan, I never expected you to make it to New World on your own. I had just arranged a spot for you to study at our institute."

Wang Xuan, grateful for Professor Lin's efforts despite not needing them, quickly went over to support him.

"Professor Lin, is this one of your former students? He was quite full of himself just now, even calling himself 'King Invincible,'" the young woman interjected.

"Zhou Jia, don't take it seriously. Wang Xuan loves to joke around," Professor Lin explained, aware of the young woman's challenging nature and her connections to very capable individuals.

He chuckled and led Wang Xuan away.

"Let's go to my house, Wang Xuan." Professor Lin's home was located in a neighborhood not far from the campus, surrounded by a beautiful environment featuring bamboo groves and a small lake. Overall, the New World offered very habitable living conditions, with most residential areas boasting scenic landscapes.

"You brought so many things? I really don't lack anything here," Professor Lin said, shaking his head. His salary was more than enough to cover all his expenses.

"These are just small tokens of my appreciation. Besides, what I've brought you this time is quite extraordinary. It will be a pleasant surprise," Wang Xuan assured with a smile.

"My wife recently went on a trip with a tour group, my son works in another city, and my daughter, the least of my worries, said she was off to find some secret medicine for me. She went to the Western Continent and hasn't been back for half a month," shared Professor Lin as they entered his slightly empty home.

"Wang Xuan, I don't drink alcohol. Why did you buy wine?" Professor Lin asked, surprised. His internal organs had been damaged years ago when he was attacked, leaving him with health issues.

"This isn't just any wine, Professor Lin. Please drink it. I've come specifically to treat your old injuries," Wang Xuan urged seriously. Helping Professor Lin was one of his goals, a way of repaying the kindness he had received.

"What?" Professor Lin was both astonished and confused.

"I recently visited the Hidden Land. Let's not go into details now. Please, just drink this 'wine'," Wang Xuan insisted.

Shocked to learn that Wang Xuan had ventured into the perilous Hidden Land, a place known for its extreme dangers where entire exploration teams often perished, Professor Lin was speechless. At Wang Xuan's urging, he finally took the bottle and drank heartily. Unbeknownst to him, the beverage was a mix of Earth Immortal Spring water and transcendent royal jelly.

The effect was immediate and dramatic. Professor Lin's body radiated a soft, glowing light from his pores, followed by intense internal changes and a substantial increase in metabolic rate. He opened his eyes wide in amazement, hardly believing what he was experiencing. He could feel years of chest discomfort rapidly fading away and a new, vigorous life force burgeoning within him.

"There's nothing you need to do. Just let it take its course. I believe by tomorrow, your body should be completely healed without any residual issues," Wang Xuan confidently assured. Having personally experienced the swift healing properties of the Earth Immortal Spring, especially after numerous severe injuries in the Hidden Land, he had absolute faith in its effectiveness. The spring's life-extending properties alone were remarkable, not to mention the added potency of the transcendent royal jelly mixed within.

Professor Lin was visibly moved, feeling that his chronic ailments were finally vanishing, and his physical condition was returning to, and possibly even surpassing, its prime. His lips trembled with gratitude, recognizing the miraculous nature of the medicine. For him, Wang Xuan had provided a chance at rebirth.

"Professor Lin, there's no need for words or thanks. This was within my ability to do, and it's not a big deal," Wang Xuan said modestly.

An hour later, Qin Cheng contacted Wang Xuan, informing him that he had arrived in Suzhou from New Moon and was already off the spaceship. Wang Xuan marveled at his friend's speed.

"Come over here," Wang Xuan said, giving Qin Cheng Professor Lin's address and asking him to bring some garlic, pheasants, and other ingredients on his way.

Shortly after, Wang Xuan stepped outside to greet his friend, only to run into the same female student from earlier, right outside the neighborhood. Surprised, he asked, "Why are you following me?"

Clearly taken aback, the woman laughed in frustration and retorted, "I live here too, outside the campus. To think you’re accusing me of following you! Fine, 'Wang Invincible', just wait, I'll find someone for a spar with you!"

Wang Xuan didn’t pay much attention to her and waited for Qin Cheng to arrive. As soon as he did, they headed off together.

"Old Wang, you've really outdone yourself. I can't wait to show off my cooking skills!" exclaimed Qin Cheng, bubbling with excitement on their way back.

That evening, Qin Cheng's wishes were fulfilled. In the kitchen, he cooked with a sense of achievement, preparing dishes like garlic-steamed mountain snails and swan stewed with golden mushrooms, each dish emitting a halo of light and a unique fragrance that seemed to open one's pores. All these were the fruits of his culinary skills.

“What's the use of those wealthy clans and top-notch exploration organizations? They don’t compare to what you've gained from a single trip to the Hidden Land, Old Wang. Let's eat!" Qin Cheng announced.

Professor Lin also beamed with happiness, thoroughly enjoying the joyful atmosphere.

Wang Xuan's phone rang, and he tensed up. The incoming number was familiar; she had given it to him a long time ago. It was Ling Wei's number from New World. It had been a while since they last contacted, and her call at this moment, clearly knowing he was on New World, raised questions. Who had told her?

Wang Xuan muttered to himself, "Zhou Yun's mouth, Zhong's legs... It's probably Zhou Yun, the big talker."

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