The Stars Beyond

Chapter 287: Demonic Fetus

Under a sky dotted with stars and a high-hanging silver moon, the forest was alive with the cries of night birds and the distant howls of wild beasts. This was a deep mountain wilderness, far from any city.

"What do you mean by 'experiencing splendor together' and 'reaching the peak of the celestial path'?" Wang Xuan frowned in confusion, looking at Zheng Wu for clarification.

"I will give you a proper burial," Zheng Wu declared, rushing forward like a streak of blood lightning, leaving behind a trail of afterimages.

Wang Xuan activated an ancient lamp, and a dark red arrow shot out, shattering several towering ancient trees in its path.

The blood-colored figure instantly flicked a finger, producing a blood light swarming with dazzling runes that collided fiercely with the dark red arrow.

In the forest, a blinding brilliance erupted, illuminating the night sky and overshadowing the moon. Trees shattered, vines exploded, and the ground turned into a molten lava field, glowing red.

With a swish, Zheng Wu, like a phantom, came close to Wang Xuan, attempting to merge with his body at lightning speed.

Behind Wang Xuan, a dilapidated straw hut emitted a blazing golden light. A one-meter-tall golden tree, rooted in a copper basin, radiated a divine pressure. Nine golden birds chirped on its branches, four of which lunged towards the blood figure.

"Hmm?" Zheng Wu dodged swiftly, moving through the woods like lightning. Trees snapped and rocks flew in his wake, leaving a trail of destruction.

But he couldn't escape. The four golden birds cornered him, emitting four beams of golden light, like celestial swords, trapping Zheng Wu.

With a puff, the four beams of light slashed through him, dividing his figure.

The golden birds chirped mysteriously, their beaks emitting golden light again, grinding the remaining blood light into dust.

"I thought he was a formidable character, speaking in riddles about experiencing splendor and brilliance. Is this it? Just food for the birds," Wang Xuan shook his head.

Suddenly, his expression tightened. He sensed that after the blood figure was shredded, a few glowing pieces of paper fell and burned into ashes.

Was it not his real body?

In the distance, through the forest, a figure approached under the moonlight, ethereal and otherworldly. It was a youthful figure with a celestial air, his body radiating a rich blood essence, glowing like a small sun.

"This is the divine artifact you used to kill my Zheng family's experts? Truly extraordinary. Top-tier divine items left by ancient sorcerers, specialized in annihilating spirits. Both malicious and sacred, quite remarkable to have landed in your hands," Zheng Wu said as he approached. His spiritual form had a transcendent aura but also carried a subtle oppressiveness.

Wang Xuan's eyes were deep, alert to the fact that this person had been cautious enough to use a paper talisman to test his defenses with a fraction of his celestial blood and destiny.

"So it's you, the ones Huang Kun wanted to guide at Jinding Mountain. Those experts who died, they were real immortals from your faction? Disappointing," Wang Xuan remarked indifferently.

Zheng Wu didn't respond, but confidently walked forward, maintaining an air of casual elegance like a celestial being gracing the mortal world.

With a swift motion, he split into nine, turning into nine red beams of light that vanished from their original spot, seemingly piercing through the void. They aimed to enter Wang Xuan through the nine red marks on his body, a difficult defense to anticipate.

The golden tree shone brilliantly, and the nine birds chirped aggressively, once again demonstrating their power. The forest was submerged in terrifying golden light, repelling the nine light beams and preventing Zheng Wu from entering Wang Xuan's flesh, even with the guidance of the embryonic mark.

The nine golden divine birds united, aiming to obliterate him entirely.

Zheng Wu sighed and forced out a drop of golden blood from the blood light, emitting a blinding radiance. A faint silhouette appeared, clad in black armor but radiating billions of golden strands, engulfing the entire mountain range.

The Zheng family was well-prepared, having given him more than a drop of blood from their unparalleled expert.

The divine birds fearlessly attacked, aiming to devour the armored silhouette, unafraid and determined to annihilate it.

Wang Xuan was genuinely moved, realizing the terrifying extent of having a supreme expert backing the opponent. Even possessing top-tier divine artifacts might not be enough for defense.

As the nine divine birds lunged at the illusion of Zheng Yuan Tian, Zheng Wu acted, resonating with the nine red marks on Wang Xuan's body.

He disintegrated in an instant, transforming into a myriad of light beams. In a scarlet mist fashion, they converged from all directions, abruptly merging into Wang Xuan's flesh.

Wang Xuan's eyes were deep and intense as he combated the red mist, swiftly retracting his spiritual form and rushing towards the Life Soil. He sensed Zheng Wu had already gathered from flesh and blood, quickly reaching the edge of the Life Soil.

In an instant, they met again on this special land, standing on a piece of land rich with vitality, the origin of all laws.

Wang Xuan gazed at him in silence.

This uninvited guest, who had intruded into his Life Soil, intending to usurp everything from him, was smiling at this moment.

Zheng Wu's spiritual form was strong, yet seemed quite ethereal. He looked around and commented, "Beyond my expectations, no less than my own Life Soil. This is perfect. My celestial blood and destiny carry all my essence here, using your body to be reborn will yield even better results."

"Devil's embryo?" Wang Xuan stared coldly at the youth before him.

However, he didn't see the main root of the celestial herb or the medicinal earth, which made him frown. Could it be intercepted unexpectedly by Chi Meng?

"Whether it's a celestial or devil's embryo, it's just a name. The effect is the same, capable of forging the strongest foundation. After surviving the great calamity of the immortals, I will soar to the heavens. Given enough time, no one will be my match!"

Zheng Wu's face was illuminated with a confident glow. He looked down at Wang Xuan with hands behind his back, "You might as well end yourself and dissipate from this Life Soil. I've claimed it now!"

Anyone would find such an attitude intolerable – intruding into someone's Life Soil and looking down on them, asking them to die.

Zheng Wu looked celestial but was actually extremely arrogant and domineering.

Wang Xuan's murderous intent surged. Why wasn't the celestial herb visible? His body clanged, covered in a spirit armor, holding an ancient-looking jade dragon knife in hand, both resonating with him.

"Get out!" Wang Xuan shouted, swinging the Pre-Qin Jade Dragon Knife, unleashing a terrifying beam of light, another powerful weapon designed to kill spirits.

It was one of the treasures he had traded from a financial consortium, not as rare as the golden tree but still a valuable artifact.

He was still restraining himself, unwilling to act without seeing the celestial herb.

The sound of metal chains clinking echoed as three silver divine chains flew out from Zheng Wu, colliding with the Jade Dragon Knife. As they clashed, spiritual energy vibrated violently, with sparks flying everywhere.

The three divine chains astonishingly blocked the Jade Dragon Knife, a testament to their immense power. "It's a pity," Zheng Wu lamented softly. "This was once a supreme artifact, but it broke into three pieces during the crossing. Repairing it would take a long time."

With the Jade Dragon Knife knocked aside, the three fragmented silver chains intertwined and flew towards Wang Xuan, aiming to bind him.

Wang Xuan swiftly vanished from the spot, retreating into his physical body, seemingly attempting to refine his opponent.

Zheng Wu smiled, saying, "It seems that's all you're capable of. Despite some fortune in killing the fragments of my clan's immortals at the Golden Top Mountain, it mainly relied on that golden divine tree outside."

He laughed, but his eyes were icy. "I'm allowing you to live for now, as I still need some time."

"The Life Soil is now under my control." Zheng Wu declared, gaining control of this vital area meant he held the origin of all laws. He was aware of the connection between Life Soil and inner landscape; this place was his ultimate goal.

Calm and composed, Zheng Wu waited to refine the Life Soil. Once done, he wouldn't need to pursue Wang Xuan, as he would possess methods to kill Wang Xuan's spiritual form through the Life Soil.

"Come forth!" Zheng Wu's voice thundered, with runes emerging, rushing out of the Life Soil, and exiting Wang Xuan's body.

From a distance, under the soil, a richer blood-colored sphere surged out and instantly pounced towards Wang Xuan's physical body, swiftly entering the Life Soil.

Another Zheng Wu appeared, this time with even denser celestial blood and destiny. This was the real Zheng Wu, hidden and undetected by Chi Meng, carrying the strongest foundation. Assured of his safety, he now made his move.

"You really know how to survive," Wang Xuan mocked from within his flesh. "So cautious for a supposed devil's embryo?"

In reality, Wang Xuan felt a deep sense of dread. Zheng Wu's earlier arrogance and boldness were merely probes, cautious of any anomalies.

Now, having repelled Wang Xuan and driven his spiritual form away, and thinking he had control over the crucial Life Soil, Zheng Wu's true body finally emerged, confident of his victory.

"In my quest for unmatched power to dominate the heavens and immortals, being extremely cautious is only natural. Once I build the strongest foundation, I'll rise and suppress everyone, be it the foremost sorcerers, Shakya, or the founders of Taoism," the newly emerged Zheng Wu proclaimed, his celestial blood and destiny more vigorous, carrying rare celestial treasures.

Merging into one, Zheng Wu emanated an ethereal aura, smiling contentedly. "Everything is ready. The time has come to begin."

He brought out some five-colored soil, not entirely physical but rather a hybrid of energy and matter, harvested from Mount Bu Zhou in the higher spiritual realms. This mountain, forever lush, birthed various spiritual essences and divine medicines, thanks to the soil's suitability for nurturing spiritual great medicines.

"This soil from Mount Bu Zhou, extracted from ancient medicinal fields, enhances the vitality of the Life Soil, making it an ideal nurturing ground for celestial medicines," Zheng Wu explained.

The five-colored soil from Mount Bu Zhou transformed the Life Soil upon contact, significantly enriching its life essence.

Zheng Wu then presented a piece of medicinal soil, a lustrous black resembling jade, brimming with vitality and a faint medicinal fragrance. This was the priceless medicinal soil of the unparalleled Zheng Yuan Tian.

"This ancestral medicinal soil is invaluable. No amount of treasures or divine objects could tempt me to trade it. It's essential for enriching the Life Soil," he shared, having used this soil in his true body within the veil.

The jade-like medicinal soil instantly merged with the Life Soil, intensifying its vitality with each ripple of black energy.

Wang Xuan's Life Soil, now shrouded in an immortal fog, seemed like a supreme holy land, where each breath felt like an ascent to immortality.

"All this preparation is for it - to let it take root again, grow alongside me, nurture the devil's embryo, and build my strongest foundation," Zheng Wu said, revealing a plant root. Though not overly large, roughly as thick as a wrist with several three-foot-long tendrils.

"I'm looking forward to it," he laughed heartily.

"I too am looking forward to it," Wang Xuan also laughed, his heart racing with excitement. The root was from a legendary celestial medicine from the highest spiritual realm, now about to plant its roots in his Life Soil.

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