The Stars Beyond

In the tumultuous weather enveloping An City, Wang Xuan, with the Godslaying Banner in his left hand, executed a relentless assault on the fragmented souls ensnared within. The banner, radiating golden luminescence, reverberated with the wails of the tormented as he twisted and shook it, pulverizing the captured essence utterly.

Mu, the female warrior of formidable strength, faced the grim reality of her downfall at the hands of a youth whose age belied his devastating power. Despite her frenzied efforts to escape, her soul's desperate surge towards freedom only led her into the maw of finality—a seemingly innocuous lid that descended with the force of a muffled thunderclap, extinguishing her last flicker of existence under its weight.

As Wang Xuan turned to leave, the storm around An City raged on, a backdrop to the chaos unfolding as supreme beings fell one after another. The sky above was a battlefield of its own, with the fabric of the celestial realm itself trembling at the tumult. Even the wielder of a supreme artifact was not spared the harvest, his arm severed, contributing to the unease permeating the ranks of the transcendent.

Among the mortals below, a pervasive sense of oppression lingered, the air thick with the aftermath of mythic confrontations that bridged the spiritual and the tangible realms. The night sky bore witness to this epochal clash, offering those who dared gaze upwards a glimpse into the turmoil.

Emerging from the depths beneath An City, through the pathway carved by the man in the black cloak, two decayed figures emerged to survey the aftermath. Joined by disciples who had been expelled from the celestial domain earlier, they approached An City with caution, their presence a harbinger of further intrigue in the shadow of the night's events.

This night in An City, marked by the convergence of fates both divine and mortal, would be etched in the annals of the mythic and the real, a testament to the thin veil separating the worlds and the tumultuous dance of powers that govern them.

......

Cornered and hounded relentlessly, Hengjun's plight worsened as he lost his Godslaying Banner, rendering him incapable of defending against the onslaught. Bloodied and weary, his divine garment woven from yin-yang divine fire silk lay in tatters. As he gazed upon the vast and serene landscapes of the celestial realm for what he feared was the last time, a sense of desolation engulfed him.

A new, formidable Ming Blood joined the chase, launching a deadly assault with an "unprofessional" demeanor. Despite the blood-soaked aura and the distinct scent of Ming Blood, this pursuer wielded a broken mirror as a weapon. From afar, the true Ming Blood Ancestor, eyes glowing with suspicion, wondered if Zhang was also joining the fray under the guise of another.

Hengjun called out, uncertain if the attacker was Zhang, acknowledging past debts owed. However, he quickly realized the chaotic state of affairs might have led to impersonations.

A voice from the distance declared a threat against any impostors, as Zhang Dao Ling made an appearance. The crowd was taken aback, even considering the possibility of Zhang orchestrating a confusion tactic.

The desire for the Godslaying Banner drove many to ruthless measures, aiming not just to kill Hengjun but to claim parts of his body in hopes of seizing the banner through his severed arm.

After a frantic escape, Hengjun disguised himself as the Ming Blood Ancestor, hoping to vanish amidst the chaos. The real Ming Blood Ancestor, closely following, was left speechless and bemused by the sight.

"Are you not ashamed, Hengjun, to impersonate me at such a time?" someone roared in fury, bloodlust palpable, as they launched an attack on Hengjun.

Witnessing this, the true Ming Blood Ancestor felt a complex mix of emotions. Before he could react, another had already expressed outrage on his behalf.

In this battle, Hengjun was in dire straits, acutely aware of his impending doom. His prior overconfidence and offenses against many had finally caught up with him, sealing his fate.

Moreover, he had enemies; how could they let him off easily today?

"I owe many fellow cultivators favors, now it seems I'm repaying them with my life," he said mockingly to himself. Not long ago, when he wielded the sacred relic, who would dare to come after his life?

Of course, there were times he basked in glory, bold enough to threaten the supremely powerful Fang Yu Zhu, even in the presence of four formidable experts.

With a burst, Hengjun was disintegrated, obliterated by the pack, his soul shattered. Some scavenged parts of his flesh and swiftly departed to summon the Godslaying Banner.

Hengjun met a tragic end, and yet, the battle for the sacred relic was far from over.

In An City, Wang Xuan had returned, already having shed his armor and secreted away the divine relic, wandering the empty streets under the pouring rain, furrowing his brows in thought.

The ethereal shadow was unbelievably powerful, and the duo pursuing it hadn't managed to decisively kill it, posing a significant threat.

He desired deeper understanding and decided to study the three individuals in history known for their unique inner realms, making his way to Huang Ming's tea house amidst the rain that had engulfed An City, now home to nearly ten million souls.

In the midst of the storm, figures approached the city.

"My master might be dead, killed by that pair of shadowy figures!" a disciple of the black-robed man exclaimed.

"My master's fate is grim, severely wounded by them right at the start!" a person from the subterranean palace spoke gravely.

Together, these six individuals, their eyes gleaming coldly, dared to venture into the city.

All of them were once celestial beings, brave enough to follow their masters out into the mortal world, stepping into the storm, prepared for whatever may come.

"Our bodies have rotted, having dwelled in the human realm for many years. We can't endure it any longer. Tonight, we sacrifice our lives for a moment of reckoning, to slay in vengeance for our masters!"

"I too am a person of conviction. It was my master who bestowed all this upon me, leading me to ascend to immortality and enter the grand curtain. Today, to repay my master's kindness, I seek a ferocious end!"

The six formidable beings from two factions, as they moved, whispered amongst themselves to steel their resolve, ready to embark on a night of slaughter in the storm, risking it all in vengeance.

"Wang Xuan, you're tonight's third target, chosen by that enigmatic figure to serve as a vessel for rebirth. They even sought my master's aid for this. But now, it starts with killing you," someone couldn't help but roar in a low voice. At this point, they no longer cared if the mysterious shadow figure needed this young man; their masters had died for this cause, demanding vengeance.

"If we can't take down that duo, then killing this kid from the ancient lands is our best shot. Now is the perfect opportunity; no one's going to stop us!"

"Master, we lack the power to confront that pair of shadows. Tonight, let's kill this young mortal as a tribute to you!"

Darkness enveloped the land, thunder rumbled, and rain poured down like the celestial river had descended.

Wang Xuan stopped in his tracks, slowly turning around to see the figures behind him. When he turned back again, his path was blocked by others.

It wasn't that he hadn't noticed them earlier; after sensing their presence, he deliberately slowed down, choosing to wait here. He was now close to the Exiled Immortal Tea House and didn't want to drag Huang Ming, Kong Yun, and others into this mess.

On the wide street, with his path blocked on both ends, Wang Xuan stood calmly like a statue. The six assailants, including two decaying beings and four middle-aged men and women, were so filled with murderous intent that it seemed to push back the pouring rain, creating waves of thick fog.

Without any exchange of words, at this moment, all six had made up their minds. They transformed into six dazzling beams of light, rushing forward to deliver a fatal blow to the young man.

They were aware that the shadowy duo could return at any moment, giving them very little time.

These were beings who had truly ascended to immortality, rising through deadly competition with their unwavering will. Tonight, prepared to risk everything, they cast aside all concerns for their own lives.

Importantly, they had genuine strength!

In the pouring rain, seven figures clashed fiercely. Blood splattered amid the storm, and low roars shattered the glass of nearby buildings. In this real world, where the powers of all transcendent beings were heavily constrained, they weren't supreme beings capable of utilizing remnants of ancient rules. Yet, they still wielded their transcendent powers to warp space, displaying terrifying might. They were disciples of supreme beings, considered among the top tier of transcendent beings!

Under the cloak of night and amidst a raging storm, seven figures moved with incredible speed and ferocity on the street. With each step, they shattered the wide pavement beneath them. Tonight, any release of supernatural substance would dissipate instantly, a consequence Wang Xuan suspected resulted from the simultaneous emergence of the Old Covenant, the Godslaying Banner, and the Life-Sustaining Furnace. He felt as though he was prematurely experiencing the harrowing environment of a supernatural winter night.

He noticed that his punches, normally radiant with brilliance, lacked their usual luster tonight, favoring close combat instead. Despite this restriction, their power to wreak havoc remained a testament to their formidable strength. One of the nearly decayed men, moving through the downpour with the ferocity of a demonic ape, lunged at Wang Xuan. Surrounded and with no path of retreat, Wang Xuan was forced to defend with his fists and arms. Pounding footsteps resonated as the man moved through the air, his immense power numbing Wang Xuan's arms and palms. Wang Xuan's eyes deepened with surprise; these beings, despite their decay from the death of mythology, still possessed a power far beyond that of other transcendent beings. With nowhere to retreat, Wang Xuan chose to advance, meeting all challengers head-on. He soared into the night sky, launching his fiercest counterattack against the assailant.

The opponent, driven by a warrior's blood, used their supernatural material to its fullest extent, charging at Wang Xuan.

Their collision in mid-air was explosive, sending Wang Xuan crashing down. The attacker, his half-decayed flesh bursting apart, landed as a skeletal frame, staggering upon impact.

"Brother!" Finally, someone cried out as another decayed figure rushed to aid.

In the relentless downpour, there were no shouts of challenge, no excessive words exchanged; both sides fought desperately. Wang Xuan held nothing back, seeking a fierce battle to test his limits in a life-or-death struggle.

A dazzling blade light illuminated the night, as a purple-haired middle-aged woman, with a fierce gaze, unleashed her long-harbored killing blade. The blade's brilliant light evaporated the rain and dimmed the lightning, striking at Wang Xuan like a comet streaking through the stormy night. Wang Xuan's hands turned a pale gold, his fingers shooting out blade energies. His arms and fingers seemed to transform into long blades. He dodged her blade and counter-struck, causing her weapon to tremble violently and its killing intent to wane.

In an instant, Wang Xuan closed in, his palms clashing with her blade in a series of metallic clashes too fast to comprehend. The two appeared as intertwining beams of light, their fierce battle so intense that even the onlookers struggled to keep up. Amidst the flurry of blade light, their fierce engagement blurred their figures, making it difficult to distinguish between the two combatants in their rapid and relentless exchange.

With a swift motion, Wang Xuan's right hand sliced through the air, severing the arm of the woman wielding the blade, causing blood to spurt violently. At the same time, a side kick sent her flying dozens of meters away, her bones cracking almost entirely, and her spirit shaking loose.

Upon closer inspection, a massive wound gaped in her body, nearly bisecting her as she crashed onto the street with a heavy thud. Wang Xuan now held her gleaming blade, its song resounding as he wielded it with dazzling brilliance, launching it through the air.

The woman, attempting to rise and gather her spirit for a counterattack, was too late. The merciless blade light arrived, pinning both her spirit and body with a single thrust to the head.

Just then, a metal manhole cover flipped open as Zhou Qinghuang and Gu Mingxi emerged from below, only to witness this scene unfold mere feet away. The spray of blood from the pierced skull stained their clothes and splattered their faces with warm droplets.

Both women screamed in shock at the sudden violence.

Back on the street, Wang Xuan continued the fight, launching another decaying adversary into the air with a kick, causing his flesh to burst away from his bones. Following up, Wang Xuan's punch shattered the entire skeletal frame, scattering it amidst the falling rain.

The battle on the street reached its zenith, a silent struggle between life and death with no room for words, only the final confrontation.

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