The Stars Beyond

Chapter 348: The Tragedy Of Reverse Cultivation

Everything was ready, and Wang Xuan prepared to enter the Ethereal Realm once again, getting closer to the truth. Chen Yongjie stood ready, prepared to wield his massive black sword at Gu Mingxi. He was now in charge of guarding the hostages. His undercover identity within the Demon Clan could be discarded at any time.

Wang Xuan calmed down as his spirit entered the Life Soil. Vitality flourished here. A faint silver mist rose. It resembled spring snow, yet it was also like willow catkins, indicating the budding of all things. A Heavenly Herb that was pure and white had broken through the soil for many days. This was personally picked by the peerless expert Zheng Yuantian in the highest spiritual realm. Now that it had grown two silver tender shoots, it flourished with vitality, giving off a fresh sense of life. It was capable of reviving flesh and bones.

"It seems that there is indeed a faint connection between here and the ethereal realm. With some silver substances vaporizing, the growth rate of the Heavenly Herb has increased." said Wang Xuan.

Another Heavenly Herb also had two tender shoots, it was emitting a hazy purple light. Mist had surrounded it while exuding a natural charm and indescribable sense of mystery. Wang Xuan didn't know the ultimate form of the Heavenly Herb born from the germination of the wooden pedestal under the life essence furnace.

"Old Chen suspects that my breakthrough in the ethereal realm is equivalent to finding a new mythological world, paving a new path, thus causing a disturbance in the existing transcendent world. Although I also have doubts, rational consideration makes me think it's just a coincidence, coinciding with the emergence of treasures."

Wang Xuan pondered. He had to take some initiative, so he came to the life essence furnace. He used all of his strength to lift the extremely heavy furnace lid, then slammed it down with a clang. He intended to shake the treasures with it. Would this cause anomalies in other treasures that were in the mythological domain? He remembered that when the treasures emerged in the past, the life essence furnace had also rumbled along. It only quieted down after he cautioned it.

After a few clanks, Wang Xuan quickly stopped, knowing when to quit.

"Depart!" shouted Wang Xuan.

With the Godslaying Banner in hand and the Silver Beast Skin Scroll tucked away, he delved into the depths of the Life Soil and disappeared in an instant. Another ethereal journey commenced. Approximately two months had passed in Wang Xuan’s perception, and he reappeared near the Pool of Life.

"After transporting a large amount of Life Soil and planting Heavenly Herb. The distance between the two places seems to have shortened, saving me a lot of time." He had felt this way during his last return.

At first, It took him a full eighteen months to travel from the Life Soil to here. Now, it seemed that the distance had been significantly shortened! Silver substances pervaded the air, and vitality flourished here. The liquid in the crude pool showed no signs of diminishing. It remained abundant throughout the ages. Wang Xuan was surprised. What astonished him the most was the considerable transformation of the mound of Life Soil and the transplanted Heavenly Herb.

The soil mound was covered with life essence, and the silver mist seemed to transform into lifelike creatures. It was like hovering dragons, tigers raising their heads, and ferocious birds fanning their wings. The heap of Life Soil was shrouded in clouds and mist. White fog ascended the mountain and it flowed continuously. The Nine Calamity Heavenly Lotus was also drastically different. It sprouted a long vine with three new leaves adorned with silver light. Had it mutated?

No matter how he looked at it, it no longer resembled the embryonic form of a lotus but more like a vine that was sprouting branches. It had grown to over a foot long, and small thorns had appeared, tinged with a dark red hue. Was this for self-protection?

"It's growing so fast. I can consider transplanting the Heavenly Herb again. It will bring my Life Soil closer to this place." said Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan became increasingly convinced that his previous speculation was correct. Where his footsteps, the Life Soil and Heavenly Herb reached, was akin to pioneering in the ethereal realm, bringing him closer to truth.

"Regardless of anything else, I'll take a bath first." With a splash, he jumped into the pool carved out of rough rocks, soaking in the silver liquid.

"It’s so comfortable, it’s much better than staying in the blood pool. My own pool is still the best." Wang Xuan said to himself. His spiritual form greedily absorbed the silver liquid.

This was an extremely advanced energy. It had astonishing nourishing effects on both the physical body and the spiritual mind. It was capable of rejuvenating the spirit. He experienced new changes every time he came, shedding his spirit layer like a cocoon. It significantly enhanced his spiritual power.

"Speaking of which, where did that meteorite in the blood pool come from? Did it fall because it was captured from some corner of deep space as it passed through the solar system?" Wang Xuan pondered.

He furrowed his brow. The meteorite contained power close to the truth, it sparked many thoughts in him. Wang Xuan looked at the distant pitch-black void.

Was this the true universe? Is it possible to find a corresponding position in the real world?

With a skeptical look, he wondered if this place belonged to himself or if it was still part of the external cosmos. Or perhaps he had entered a strange realm, and approached a new mythological system? What exactly was the so-called Realm of Truth like, and what did it hold?

Wang Xuan indeed harbored suspicions about the traces left by the meteorite in the blood pool. Could it have fallen from the ethereal realm? Or was it collected and brought out by someone? There were meteorite zones in the ethereal realm as well, accompanied by the ever-blooming Immortal Flowers. It was quite dangerous there, and this time he wanted to take a look. Of course, he needed to cultivate here for some time before he went. He needed to focus on improving his strength.

"After half a month, I advanced to the seventh stage in front of the bonfire that contained the scriptures, drawing near to Real Energy in the real world. Overall, that paper from the severely mentally ill patient was still useful to me. Viewing all things as external stimuli and interacting with my inner self. It interpreted the truth from another perspective. Since it inspired me, I'll borrow the two words on it for the name of the seventh stage—External Stimulus!"

After thorough preparation, Wang Xuan set out with the Godslaying Banner and the Silver Beast Skin Scroll that were soaked in the silver liquid. He was ready to hunt the red mist.

"Another journey of being tortured!" exclaimed Wang Xuan. He was very clear-headed. The so-called hunt was mutual, but mainly he was the one being tossed around, entangled, corroded, burned, and bombarded by that red mist.

Several days later, he saw the red mist surging from afar like a tide. It illuminated the dark void, resembling an army of thousands, intimidating souls.

Wrapping himself in the Godslaying Banner, Wang Xuan cautiously absorbed the red mist, embarking on a purgatory-level cultivation journey, in hardship and misery. Being tortured was worse than death.

"Ahhh......"

He began screaming in agony, followed by tumultuous sensations that felt like rolling in hell. The Godslaying Banner fluttered, and threads of red mist entwined him, tearing his spirit apart.

This wasn't his first time experiencing this, but it was still extremely painful to him.

Like thunderous strikes the red mist descended. The lingering red mist covered him, as if the most powerful heavenly fire was burning, almost causing his spiritual form to collapse.

Wang Xuan repeatedly absorbed small amounts of the red substance, assimilating it into himself. Each time, he tortured himself to the brink of death before struggling back to the silver pool to prolong his life.

In outer space, in a different realm.

"Hoo......" The round-faced girl was ecstatic. Having found the ancient den of the White Tiger clan, she immediately reaped the benefits, devouring a rare Tiger Medicine within the tiger's lair. She rolled around in happiness. Happiness was just unexpectedly simple like this.

Then she began to break through, ready to advance to the next level. But just as her strength began to grow and her cultivation improved, she felt her body swaying, making her a little dizzy.

"No, it's not me swaying, it's my Tao Foundation. My realm seems unstable. Damn it, I haven't advanced, but instead, I'm about to regress? Ahh!" she said furiously.

In the Old World, Old Zhang had just entered the deep-space spaceship base in An City. He prepared to board a spaceship to outer space to investigate the situation in the foreign realm.

However, he came to an abrupt halt. He stood stiffly in the base and felt uneasy.

Another tremor?

He immediately contacted the Female Taoist on the other side, asking if she sensed anything unusual, saying, "Did the Sword of Mortals and the Roaming Ark appear behind The Great Veil again?"

"It's possible," Fang Yuzhu was uncertain, but she clearly sensed another tremor. It indicated a high probability of another treasure soaring into the sky.

"Not good, this tremor is quite intense!" Zhang Daoling stood still, feeling uneasy. He took out a rusty copper mirror and immediately flashed it upon himself. The radiance was dazzling and it illuminated his whole body.

Feeling unsure, he then placed the copper mirror on his face like a facial mask, and stood there motionless. A few enthusiastic youngsters approached and asked him what was wrong and if he needed help.

"Don't come over and harm me. I'm old. I’m over two thousand years old. Don't help me, or I might deceive you. Helping me like this isn't being heroic," Old Zhang warned them, gesturing them not to touch him.

In outer space, in a different realm. At the bottom of the blood pool. For a moment, Wang Xuan's body emitted a burst of red light, with electric arcs intertwining. It burned his flesh and left him charred. After a while, his body emitted a silver light that was vibrant and lively, and all his wounds healed.

"It's really here!" shouted Chen Yongjie. He rubbed his hands eagerly and immediately pulled the Soul Chain, tossing aside Gu Mingxi's physical body. Just now, her body was nearly ignited by the red light.

Even with just a momentary contact, one of her white feet was slightly scorched by the red light, turning slightly black.

"This is remarkable! The red substance refined and filtered by Wang Xuan is so domineering and terrifying." Chen Yongjie absorbed strands of the red substance, causing his hands to peel and bleed immediately. He felt shocked and apprehensive.

In the ethereal realm, after several trials and tribulations, Wang Xuan, on the verge of life and death, experienced the cycle from heaven to hell. He then ascended from the abyss back to the sky. He experienced ups and downs, pain and pleasure, but he was indeed about to break through!

"After breaking through to the eighth stage, I should go to the meteorite crater and try to see if I can dig up the meteorite. I want to see if I can absorb new mysterious substances to continue advancing my cultivation!" Wang Xuan said with excitement.

Wang Xuan danced between life and death. This kind of arduous cultivation was like walking at the edge of a cliff. It really felt like he was kicking at the door of the King of Hell, cursing and clamoring to return to the mortal world.

In the outer space, in a different realm. At a distance from the blood pool, the three-headed, six-armed Blood God Ape, with a brilliant divine halo behind its head, held the residual elixir of an ancient divine demoness in his mouth. At the start, it had a steady stream of demonic power surging, but all of it was absorbed and refined by him in preparation for breaking through.

But now, with one tremor after another, even his body started to sway. The Life Soil within its body started churning, causing its cultivation to become unstable. It failed to break through and, unbelievably, it was about to regress in cultivation! With his eyes glowing red, the Blood God Ape was filled with anger and resentment.

What's going on? He roared angrily.

On the other side, Qi Chengdao with widened eyes was utterly bewildered. Instead of breaking through, he was regressing. What the heck was happening? The ceiling of his cultivation crashed down on him, making his head buzz and his vision filled with stars.

"Zhou Qinghuang, are you stealing my transcendental power?"

In the distance, the faired and beautiful Zhou Qinghuang took off her glasses that gave her a scholarly aura, and threw them on the ground.

Obviously, it wasn't Zhou Qinghuang herself speaking at the moment; it was Gu Mingxi venting her frustration.

"I didn't! I'm also regressing in cultivation. Is the Heavens gently patting my head? This isn't isn’t love, it’s making the ceiling collapse on me. This is an overkill, it’s truly unbearable!" Zhou Qinghuang exclaimed.

She fell silent too. Just when she was about to break through, she was unexpectedly shaken back down again. She experienced violent turbulence that was extremely unbearable.

In a secluded realm, Taoist Qi Lian's hair danced in the air. His eyes flashed like lightning as he roared, "I'm going to charge up and break through!"

However, in the blink of an eye, he became furious again. He exclaimed, "it's happening again!"

This time, it was even more straightforward. Forget about breaking through; he discovered that his cultivation was rapidly declining. He was regressing in cultivation, experiencing a reverse breakthrough!

"I......" he couldn't contain his anger, swearing in the name of demon ancestors, cursing the heavens!

At this moment, everyone was in a dire situation. Those celestial geniuses who had hoped to break through with the help of heavenly medicines, demon pills, and other extraordinary items began to experience the tragedies of reverse cultivation one after another!

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