The Stars Beyond

Chapter 353: The Strongest Human

Wang Xuan returned, thrusting the Godslaying Banner into the sacred soil, merging spirit and flesh into a formidable unity. As he circulated the supreme scripture, all the purple haze quickly assimilated into his being, not a wisp of this near-real energy material wasted.

To his astonishment, he found Chen Yongjie... his body lay across the water nearby, floating serenely, his head drooping unnaturally, his neck seemingly twisted off by a tremendous force.

Nearby, Gu Mingxi's celestial form sprawled out, her vibrant body once again pristine, the charred areas rejuvenated by the blood pool. Initially bleeding, then shedding a layer of skin, she was now fully restored.

Simultaneously, Wang Xuan sensed intense energy fluctuations above, a crushing force descending like Mount Tai, a vast aura of blood enveloping everything, causing the blood pool to boil over.

The fearsome figure of the Blood God Ape descended, its visage more menacing in the water. With its mouth wide enough to summon thunder and fangs protruding outward, its eyes sparkled with brilliant lightning, its body covered in red fur, epitomizing ferocity.

He dove downwards, all six arms open wide, aiming to grab Wang Xuan in a bid to crush him alive, exuding extreme arrogance and confidence. Undefeated, he looked down upon the lower-ranking human from the depths of his being, embodying the attitude of a supreme predator.

"Dead here, after all. What use is loyalty and courage if you end up a worthless carcass?" he glanced at Chen Yongjie's floating body with disdain.

"Boom!"

A blood-colored radiance burst forth as Chen Yongjie, suspended in the water, flung a crimson talisman. It exploded into a blinding light, akin to a celestial thunderclap, heralding chaos.

"I...#$%" The Blood God Ape was shocked, then filled with uncontrollable rage. The talisman he had bestowed was thrown back at him by that damned, worthless demon cultivator. At such close range and so unexpectedly, he had no chance to evade. It was utterly unforeseen, a dead demon seemingly resurrected!

Blood-colored beams struck the Blood God Ape repeatedly. Amid the dense red twilight, a demonic form emerged, an energy being, identical in appearance to him.

Fury nearly burst his lungs. The talisman's power was immense, equal to his own in his prime, overwhelming him completely. With a wail, he spewed demonic blood as the energy ape hit him again and again, in addition to being bombarded by swathes of blood-colored lightning all over his body.

His armor exploded on the spot, his thick red fur charred and shed in large patches.

"Puff!"

Caught in the chaotic energy, the Blood God Ape felt excruciating pain in one hand as it was pierced by a black sword wielded by the supposedly dead demon cultivator.

For him, this was an utter disaster, unbearable. A mental roar of rage shook the heavens, trembling the souls of those outside the blood pool.

At the bottom of the pool, Wang Xuan was somewhat speechless. Chen Yongjie's feigned death and timing were impeccable, nearly fooling even him at first glance, despite his spiritual eye.

Chen Yongjie had mastered various secret techniques, including this feigned death tactic, which undeniably succeeded brilliantly.

In a crucial moment, Wang Xuan intervened, unwilling to leave Chen Yongjie exposed to danger against a Transcendent-level demon.

A brilliantly shining flying sword surged up as Wang Xuan activated a short sword, transforming it into a whip-like strike aimed at the red-furred giant ape.

Despite his shock and anger, the Blood God Ape's consciousness remained acutely sharp, his instincts warning him of the imminent dangerl.

"Boom!" The Blood God Ape acted decisively, unleashing a palm strike that churned like a tidal wave downwards, his energy boiling over. Then, he soared into the sky, leaping out of the blood pool as a priority.

Behind him was Zhou Qinghuang, who spat in disdain upon seeing the Blood God Ape coughing blood and then noticing Wang Xuan rising majestically, devoid of any "impurities" on his body. Fresh from his breakthrough, Wang Xuan had earlier harnessed the red twilight of the void to temper his body, synchronizing even his flesh. His clothes had long been incinerated.

His physique was strong and proportionate. As he looked upwards, his eyes sparkled with a fearless spirit, ready to confront all celestial demons.

The Blood God Ape's retreat caused those behind him to surge out of the water surface as well. The brief skirmish had left the area trembling non-stop.

Nearby, some exclaimed, mistaking the aftereffects of the battle for the beginning of another disturbance. Their faces paled, a reaction typical of powerhouses who feared a fall in their realm.

Even Qu Chengdao and the progeny of the demon ancestor, Qi Liandao, initially stiffened in alarm, haunted by the fear of past repercussions.

At the bottom of the pool, Chen Yongjie chuckled gleefully, clutching a fragment of a demonic core radiating dense demonic energy. Had his foundation not been so solid, he wouldn't dare to touch this remnant core, so intimidating it seemed capable of devouring the heavens and earth.

"Struck gold," he mused, convinced that the core, likely left behind by an ancient demon, could enable him to cultivate the secret powers of Dao, Buddhism, and Demons simultaneously.

He signaled to Wang Xuan, "Let's go. What are you waiting for? Old Chen will guide you through earth escape. We'll slip away before they can catch up!"

Using the blood talisman to injure the Blood God Ape, Chen Yongjie had no intention of confronting those powerhouses directly; escape was the priority.

"No need. I'll meet them," declared Wang Xuan.

On the shore, the Blood God Ape seethed with rage, dripping with indignation from the ambush. Most humiliating was the explosion of his armor and the loss of the ancient demonic core. This predicament left the surrounding transcendent beings puzzled, wondering how the progeny of the demon sage could suffer such a defeat.

Waves churned on the water's surface as Wang Xuan re-donned his heavy armor, regaining his true appearance with a calm expression and deep eyes. Stepping out of the blood pool, he casually tossed Gu Mingxi onto the shore before turning his gaze towards the several figures opposite him.

Their expressions shifted; not one could muster a smile, including Zhou Qinghuang, as Gu Mingxi struggled for control, attempting to speak.

"Release her!" Qu Chengdao demanded.

Yet, he was ignored; Wang Xuan paid him no heed.

"Wang Xuan, you weakling, rogue cultivator, come here!" Qi Liandao could no longer contain his madness, the frenzy in his eyes erupting.

A madman through and through, he had sworn upon his arrival from another realm that he would even devour his own father—the Demon Ancestor—in the future!

In his view, he wasn't the Demon Ancestor's true offspring; he was a crazed consciousness split from the real Qi Liandao, with a flesh body crafted from the blood of various celestial demons.

"Human cultivators, mere chickens and dogs!" His hostility towards Wang Xuan was intense, beyond just the grievance of being slashed a dozen times. The idea of being castrated was an unimaginable humiliation for him.

"Calm down, or you'll regret it. Your death would be particularly gruesome," Wang Xuan advised softly.

Qi Liandao's glare was murderous, yet he couldn't help but feel a terrifying premonition, instinctively sensing immense danger ahead.

Wang Xuan's gaze swept over them, speaking plainly, "We had no previous quarrels, right? Are you sure you want to be my enemy?"

"Hand over the Godslaying Banner, and our dispute ends. From then on, we'll have no grievances; I'll leave immediately," Qu Chengdao proposed.

"What treasures do you have for me?" Wang Xuan asked with a smile.

"A drop of Heavenly Marrow. If you're willing, I'll trade it with you," Qu Chengdao responded coldly, ready to make his move.

"Keep it safe; that drop of Heavenly Marrow is mine now," Wang Xuan stated calmly, dismissing the notion of handing over the Godslaying Banner. Instead, he suggested a trade, turning the tables on his would-be attackers.

With the waves churning on the surface, Wang Xuan donned his heavy armor once again, revealing his true appearance with a calm expression and deep eyes. He stepped out of the blood pool, casually tossing Gu Mingxi onto the shore before turning his attention towards the few individuals opposite him.

Their faces changed; none could muster a smile, not even Zhou Qinghuang, as Gu Mingxi struggled for control, attempting to speak.

"Release her!" demanded Qu Chengdao.

Yet, he was ignored. Wang Xuan paid him no heed.

"Wang Xuan, you weakling, wild cultivator, come here!" Qi Liandao couldn't suppress the madness in his eyes any longer. He viewed himself not as the direct offspring of the demon ancestor but as a frenzied consciousness split from the real Qi Liandao, with a body patched together from the blood of various celestial demons.

"Human cultivator, mere dirt and rubble!" His hostility towards Wang Xuan was palpable, stemming not just from the numerous slashes he'd endured but also from the humiliating intent to behead him.

"Stay quiet, or you'll regret it. It'll be a miserable end," Wang Xuan responded softly, his gaze cutting through the tension.

Qi Liandao's murderous glare could kill, but he was also internally panicking, sensing the genuine danger emanating from Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan surveyed the group, asking plainly, "We've had no prior grievances, right? Are you sure you want to make an enemy of me?"

"Hand over the Godslaying Banner, and our dispute ends. From then on, we have no quarrel. I'll leave immediately," Qu Chengdao finally spoke.

"And what treasures do you have for me?" Wang Xuan asked with a smile.

"A drop of celestial marrow. If you're willing, we can make a trade," Qu Chengdao replied coldly, ready to act.

"Keep it safe; that drop of celestial marrow is mine now," Wang Xuan declared calmly, dismissing any notion of exchanging the Godslaying Banner for a price.

The surrounding transcendent beings were dumbstruck by Wang Xuan's audacity. Standing before several top-tier powerhouses, he showed no fear, seemingly looking down upon them from a position of strength.

Not just the Blood God Ape, with boundless killing intent, but even Qu Chengdao's face darkened at Wang Xuan's words, mistaking his offer to trade as a demand for his life in exchange for the celestial marrow.

"What treasures do you have to offer for your life?" Wang Xuan turned his gaze to Qi Liandao, highlighting the madness of demanding tributes from the demon ancestor's progeny.

Zhou Qinghuang, always relaxed, chimed in teasingly about her exquisite body and the two pristine souls within, questioning what more Wang Xuan could possibly desire.

As the tension reached a breaking point, Qi Liandao, unable to contain his fury any longer, launched a devastating attack. Wang Xuan didn't evade; instead, he charged forward with astonishing speed, confronting Qi Liandao head-on.

A thunderous explosion silenced the area, already teeming with lightning, overshadowed by the clash's immense force. Onlookers, stunned, fixed their gaze on the dazzling light to discover Wang Xuan unscathed, dispelling any notions of his defeat.

The onlookers were astounded, struggling to comprehend the scene before them. How could Wang Xuan, whose realm was believed to be in the seventh or eighth stages among mortals, withstand an attack from Qi Liandao, a powerhouse of the Xiaoyao journey level, with just one hand?

"This is... defying the heavens. Isn't he said to be in the seventh or eighth realm among mortals? Yet, he can stand up to the mighty and overpowering Qi Liandao of the Xiaoyao journey!" The crowd was speechless, their scalps tingling at the sight of such a monstrous figure.

Qi Liandao's expression darkened. Despite the significant gap and suppression between their realms, Wang Xuan was able to block his fierce punches with just one hand.

"Kill!" His face turned icy. If he didn't eliminate Wang Xuan today, he might never have another chance to kill this human anomaly.

Thuds, cracks, and booming sounds echoed through the area as if thunderous explosions were constantly going off. Neither side showed any intention of backing down, with every clash of fists and palms emitting blinding beams of light and deafening roars.

"Damn, we severely underestimated this human cultivator. He's incredibly powerful, standing up to the demon ancestor's offspring all by himself. Who else could match this state?"

"The key point is, his cultivation realm is still considered low!" added another transcendent being, shocked and somewhat numb at the revelation.

"This guy..." Zhou Qinghuang was also stunned, her glasses nearly sliding off her delicately pointed nose, she whispered, "Mingxi, what do you think? Your body has unexpectedly fallen into his hands, hasn't caused you any shame, has it?"

The Blood God Ape's expression fluctuated wildly. Upon seeing Wang Xuan nonchalantly turn his back to him, closing in without a care, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Acting all high and mighty, who do you think you are, daring to turn your back and approach me?" His hand, covered in red fur, formed a terrifying fist and smashed down with a force that seemed to tear the heavens and the earth apart, shaking the entire Thunder Marsh.

Terrifyingly, when Wang Xuan slightly turned his body, his right fist clashed with Qi Liandao, and his left hand, palm open, ferociously struck the Blood God Ape's fist.

With a thud, it was as if the firmament was about to be punctured, brilliant light burst forth, the ground shook and the mountains trembled. Wang Xuan repelled the furry giant fist of the demon ancestor's offspring.

"What difference does adding you make? Those meant to be killed, will still be killed!" Wang Xuan remained incredibly calm, engaging the Blood God Ape in his next move, daring to face two top powerhouses alone.

Beside them, Qi Chengdao's expression darkened with uncertainty. The situation had exceeded his expectations. The mortal man he intended to challenge in a Dao duel was far stronger than he had imagined, igniting a fierce killing intent within him.

"Come on, if you wish to make a move, join in!" Wang Xuan beckoned at him, inviting him to the fray, ready to face three top-tier powerhouses alone.

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