The Stars Beyond

Chapter 41: For The First Time In His Life

In this desperate situation, Wang Xuan could feel his impending death looming. His Hyper Perception, which was triggered by the intensity of the moment, made him acutely aware of the danger surrounding him. Despite his keen senses, he could not be completely certain of successfully avoiding the fate of being shot.

In this Hyper-Perceptive State induced by his desperation, Wang Xuan could see the Inner Landscape. Knowing that he had no other choice, he sprinted toward it with the sole purpose of acquiring the mystery factors. His aim was not to enhance his strength, but rather to swiftly regain his stamina and heal his severe injuries.

The Landscape remained unchanged, characterized by its eternal silence and desolation. It was a mysterious place that eluded those who could not reach the Hyper Perceptive state. Time flowed differently here, where mere minutes in the outside world translated to numerous years in this realm.

Without any hesitation, Wang Xuan stood up and activated the core technique of the bamboo slips from Early Qin dynasty in this desolate realm. Although time passed slowly here, he could not afford to spend several years in this place when his life was in grave danger in the outside world.

He sighed. Although he felt that it was a pity, he did not think of this as a wasted opportunity. After all, his main focus of triggering his Hyper Perceptive State and making his way here was to save his own life. Standing in the vivid moments of emptiness and clarity, he absorbed the mystery factors that had drifted into the Inner Landscape, allowing it to boost his mental focus.

Meanwhile, his body outside of this realm also received an abundance of mystery genomes, rejuvenating his exhausted body and replenishing his stamina.

With a frown on his face, Wang Xuan wondered if he could leave before his time in this realm ran out. He had never attempted to leave this way, as entering this realm was a very rare opportunity. Through experimentation, he soon realized that exiting was not as challenging as he initially believed. His consciousness withdrew and returned to his physical body.

Moments before the Inner Landscape faded away, time in the outside world remained frozen. Wang Xuan once again sensed his vital points being locked on by what felt like a multitude of spears that could easily pierce through his body.

The only difference now was that his body no longer felt exhausted and drained; it overflowed with renewed vigor. Although it was too late to completely dodge every single bullet, he could at least choose where to be hit.

In a split second, he made calculated choices, avoiding bullets aimed at his head, heart, and other vital organs. Suspecting that the bullets were of super special grade with great penetration power, he also avoided being struck in places where it hurt the most.

Most of the bullets hit the spot where he had been lying before, sending mud, water, and debris flying in all directions. Shrubs and other plants were damaged as chaos ensued.

Wang Xuan tumbled out. Two bullets struck his body in quick succession, delivering powerful impacts that shook his body. The front part of his shirt was shredded, and his three layers of bulletproof vests disintegrated one after another. One of the bullets was successfully blocked during this process, while the other partially penetrated his flesh. Fortunately, it was ultimately stopped.

A small amount of blood trickled from Wang Xuan’s body. He exerted a slight force, the bullet was expelled from his flesh and fell to the ground, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

As expected, they were special bullets with great penetration power. Wang Xuan had only been able to stop them by wearing three layers of bulletproof vests, along with the protection provided by the fourth layer of the Golden Body Technique.

Not far away, more powerful bullets and beams of light from energy guns rained down on the spot where Wang Xuan had been lying just moments ago.

With a swift motion, Wang Xuan rushed forward, using rocks and the body of the massive black howler as a shield. His eyes gleamed with determination as he realized there were six skilled snipers targeting him with impeccable timing. They had chosen the moment when he was exhausted and vulnerable, making it nearly impossible for him to evade their shots.

The man in black collapsed on the ground, still alive but in disbelief. He had witnessed the young man’s miraculous escape despite his weakened state, successfully evading the snipers and enduring two bullets on top of that. It was truly a shocking sight.

He a copious amount of blood came out from his mouth and nose, momentarily allowing him to breathe better before his body was consumed by severe pain. The fist-sized hole in his chest left him unable to do anything but lie on the ground, gasping heavily.

Wang Xuan paid him no mind and entered the Inner Landscape without second thought because he realized that he was still in Hyper-Perceptive State, though it was close to fading. Even in the ancient times, when the Old Arts were at their peak, such an opportunity was rare. If someone managed to trigger it, even the sect ancestors would personally assist and guide them into the Inner Landscape.

Wang Xuan had to exit earlier due to lack of choice, but now he seized the moment to enter again. He quickly meditated and began practicing the Golden Body Technique, repeating it over and over again to strengthen himself. He ignored the five-page golden book left behind by Zhang Daoling. The engraved diagrams were too profound for him to fully comprehend at this stage. The first diagram alone already took up a lot of his time.

At his current level, he could only utilize the first diagram, and even then, he could only sustain it for a few moments before exhaustion and excruciating pain set in. If he pushed himself any further, he feared his internal organs would be torn apart. This type of physical art was too overwhelming for him at this stage.

Nevertheless, he could not deny the power and profoundness of the first diagram. It had allowed him to tap into a novel secret power that greatly increased his strength, enabling him to block and strike the man in black with a force that surprised even himself.

The man in black was also in a Hyper-Perceptive State at the time. With an ultimate secret technique activated, he was incredibly powerful, almost god-like. If it was not for mastering that initial stance that Zhang Daoling had left behind, Wang Xuan would have surely perished at the hands of the man in black, even with the fourth layer of the Golden Body Technique. The man in black had only read the first page of that scripture, so his knowledge was incomplete. Wang Xuan could only imagine how profound and unfathomable that scripture truly was.

Wang Xuan continued to practice the Golden Body Technique in the Inner Landscape, determined to improve himself. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly in this place, and Wang Xuan estimated that the six snipers who had destroyed the black howler would not be able to harm him for a while. The large rocks also provided him with cover, making it difficult for them shoot him unless they approached or found higher ground.

Wang Xuan understood that if he chose to exit the Inner Landscape once again, his Hyper-Perceptive State would likely dissipate, making it difficult for him to reenter later today. He immersed himself in the practice of the Golden Body Technique until fatigue set in, at which point he would switch to the core technique to gather the mystery factors in the Solitary Void. During his breaks, he would carefully survey the outside world, fully aware that time was of the essence.

The man in black, who was not far away, observed Wang Xuan and noticed the halo of light surrounding him as he moved slowly. Instantly, he recognized what was happening. “He has reached the pinnacle of meditation and entered the Inner Landscape?” the man in black murmured to himself.

As a great expert in the Old Arts, the man in black possessed a broad insight and a relentless desire to forge a path forward. Suddenly, everything became clear to him, explaining why Wang Xuan had achieved such heights at such a young age.

However, he was puzzled. In this current era where masters from Early Qin dynasty and sect ancestors no longer existed to serve as mentors, how did Wang Xuan manage to stay in the vivid moments of emptiness and clarity and gain access into the Inner Landscape?

He had dismissed the idea earlier, assuming that no one would be able to access the Inner Landscape due to the lack of guidance in the current world. It was only now that he realized that Wang Xuan had managed to enter it on his own.

“A person like him cannot die. Perhaps he truly can revive the Old Arts in this era... and forge a path forward!” The man sighed as his eyes sparkled with a strange gleam.

“Stop... Don’t shoot him!” He coughed up blood as he attempted to shout at his men. Unfortunately, his voice was too weak to be heard. His face was turning purple from the lack of oxygen, but there was nothing he could do to intervene.

Meanwhile, Wang Xuan was making progress in the Inner Landscape. He had attained the fifth layer of the Golden Body Technique, but it was not because he had spent years practicing here. It was mainly because he had already practiced the Golden Body Technique to the late stage of the fourth layer long ago and was very close to advancing to the next layer.

Therefore, attaining the fifth layer did not require too much effort. Although he was only at the early stage of this new layer, it was enough. The recent breakthrough had elevated his overall strength and further boosted his mental focus!

He suppressed his greed and decided to exit. Although he was reluctant, he knew his current situation was not conducive to further his progress. He could be discovered and attacked at any given moment, so he knew he had to be cautious.

Furthermore, he believed that the fifth layer of the Golden Body Technique would be enough to save his life in normal circumstances. However, if he were caught off guard and shot in the head, he would still meet his demise.

As Wang Xuan exited, he felt better than before. He had shed a layer of skin and the bullet wound had expelled some contaminated blood. The wound had almost completely healed, and it seemed that any remaining traces would vanish within a couple of days.

Additionally, the wounds on his hands, caused by the man in black, had long stopped bleeding and closed up. The cracks on his nails, caused by the powerful vibrations, had also disappeared. Wang Xuan estimated that within another night or two, every scar on his body would be gone.

This was mainly due to his recent entry into the Inner Landscape and the breakthrough in his Golden Body Technique, which had led to a complete metamorphosis of his body. His newfound vitality also played a role in this.

When Wang Xuan heard the hoarse voice of the man in black, he could not help but be stunned. The man had actually ordered a cease-fire. In that instant, Wang Xuan understood the man’s intentions. This person had a deep appreciation for the Old Arts and had once desired to walk that path himself. He saw hope in Wang Xuan and wanted to preserve him at the last moment.

“The person who wants to kill me is...” Wang Xuan began to speak.

“Run! Hurry! They have... energy cannons!” The man in black shook his head and anxiously yelled at him, spewing out another mouthful of blood.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Xuan felt the shadow of death approaching once again. This area had been surrounded. Fortunately, he was now in his most powerful state. As soon as his spiritual senses detected the impending danger, he immediately charged into the dense forest.

In the distance, the men had assembled a small energy cannon and activated it. They grumbled about misjudging Wang Xuan’s arrival due to the rain. If they had known, they would not have wasted time disassembling the energy cannon earlier.

Boom! The energy cannon blew apart the black howler. The forceful blast sent rocks flying, and one of them struck the man in black in the chest. He let out a muffled grunt and tumbled a long way. He was already heavily injured, but now his condition was even more critical. It seemed unlikely that he would survive.

The light in his eyes dimmed, and he succumbed to his injuries. Had it not been for the fatal blow, he could have survived if he had been immediately taken to the hospital, given the current advancements in medical technology.

Wang Xuan was heading straight for the location of the energy cannon. He maneuvered through dense forest with agility and speed, fearlessly pushing through thistles and other obstacles in this path. His physique was incredibly strong, thanks to his practice of the fifth layer of the Golden Body Technique. He soon found himself not far from the energy cannon.

“H-He’s here!” Some voices trembled with fear. Despite having advanced instruments to capture Wang Xuan’s figure, they could not lock onto him as he constantly shifted his positions.

The hunt had turned into a counter-hunt!

Half an hour later, Wang Xuan left the Great Black Mountain, his emotions in a state of turmoil. For the first time in his life, he had to steel himself and kill his own kind.

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