The Stars Beyond

Chapter 60: Old Chen’s Guardian

Aboard a sleek, gleaming battleship, Zhong Yong, a prominent figure even among the titans of the megacorporations, declared, "Give Little Chen a dose of the Elixir of Longevity I use."

A middle-aged attendant hesitated before responding, "Do you mean the Elixir of Longevity... or the Elixir of Wellness?"

He wondered if the elder might have misspoken. The Elixir of Longevity was insanely valuable, requiring a trek across the stars to gather rare minerals and herbs. Its production was notoriously difficult, with many batches ending up worthless. It was not something that could be mass-produced and that made it virtually priceless. Only the super-elite had access to it, and on the rare occasion, it appeared on the black market, it fetched astronomical sums. Though Zhong Yong was thin with thinning, snow-white hair, he radiated authority. A mere look from him made the attendant sweat.

"I'll see to it immediately," the attendant said, dipping his head.

Zhong Yong gestured for him to be at ease and move along.

"Do you really hold Chen Yongjie in such high regard? He might not even pull through," remarked an elderly man with silvery hair nearby. He was Zhong Yong's younger son, Zhong Changming.

Zhong Yong spoke calmly, "It's about cultivating goodwill. People should understand gratitude."

Zhong Changming was slightly taken aback. Has father grown soft because of his old age? Regardless, facing his authoritative father, he could only nod in agreement.

Zhong Yong added, "What I mean is, after presenting the elixir in public, those practicing the Old Arts should know how to be grateful."

Zhong Changming was at a loss for words. After a moment, he inquired, "Do you have a favorable view of the Old Arts?"

"It's not about favoring one over the other," Zhong Yong replied. "Back then, when we unearthed seeds of potent medicines from the relics, it evidently strengthened the practitioners of the Old Arts. Who knows what we might discover next?"

Zhong Changming suggested, "Should we also send something to those in the New Arts domain?"

Old Zhong shook his head, "Didn't we already provide them with a sizable amount of money? Don't send anything. In the future, directly acquire the latest research results from within their domain, even if it comes at a premium."

He then said evenly, "Power must always remain in our hands. It's a simple truth that remains unshaken through the ages. Add another clause to my will: to be an heir, one must place immense importance on attaining the transcendent domain. The Zhong family must always be at the forefront!"

Subsequently, with deep emphasis, Zhong Yong said, "It might not seem like much now, but what if mythical creatures emerge decades or centuries from now? Among the descendants of the Zhong family, some must retain their advantage and be at the pinnacle of that domain. My time is limited, and I don't have many years left, but you must be proactive to avoid future regrets. It's crucial not to fall from the top of the pyramid and become subservient to others."

Zhong Changming grew solemn instantly, but deep down, he could not help but roll his eyes. For all his father's qualities, sincerity wasn't one of them. His father had a profound fear of death and a strong attachment to life's pleasures. Over the past two decades, he had faced death's door multiple times. Yet, each time, he'd poured vast resources into life-extending treatments, managing to hold on. He had even outlived his eldest son, the main heir. Zhong Changming let out a weary sigh. He figured he might not even outlast his father. Perhaps it was best to step aside and leave the battle for succession to the younger generation.

A striking young woman breezed in. Her easy access showed just how much favor she held with Zhong Yong. With a radiant smile that made her eyes dance, she assured, "Great-grandpa, don't you worry. My expedition team is on the job. We're determined to find that Immortal Grass for you, promising you another five hundred years. I've even got a few talented folks in mind to join the team soon."

Internally, Zhong Changming couldn't help but think, "Darling, if you genuinely get your hands on that Immortal Grass, you might as well give up any hopes of the top spot. The old man will just keep holding onto it, outlasting every single one of you!"

......

This is just the tip of the iceberg; all the major conglomerates and organizations have similar stories.

"How's it going?" Qing Mu asked anxiously. As a small spacecraft descended, he rushed over to inquire about his master's current condition.

"The situation is quite grim," Qian Lei from the concerned department, who had once joined Qing Mu and Wang Xuan on an expedition to the underground lab in Greater Khingan Range, reported. "Upon examination, all of Old Chen's internal organs are cracked, densely so. If we tried to separate them, they'd shatter into hundreds of pieces." He continued gravely, "All available treatments are ineffective. That's because Old Chen's organs are intertwined with mysterious lightning. If we were to take certain measures, the organs might explode on the spot."

Qing Mu's face turned ghostly pale, his body going limp. If even the most advanced medical procedures were useless, then there was no hope left for his master.

"Hmm?" Qian Lei suddenly received a call. When he returned, he brought some positive news to Qing Mu: The Zhong family, one of the super-rich conglomerates, had sent over a vial of longevity serum. Although it couldn't revive the dead, it had stabilized Old Chen's condition.

"It's more precious than the life-saving medicine we had en route, isn't it?" Wu Yin whispered.

Wu Chenglin nodded, saying, "This is definitely Zhong Yong's style—always about give and take. If Old Chen doesn't pull through, I bet Old Zhong will send a condolence letter written personally by him. With all the practitioners of the old arts gathered here, they will surely remember his kindness."

Wu Yin: "..."

Old Wu added, "Of course, he must have placated those from the new arts as well."

Wu Yin murmured, "I'm curious to see just how long he can actually live."

Soon after, Qian Lei informed Qing Mu that, after a consultation by a team of medical experts, the consensus was that after consuming the longevity serum, Old Chen could hold on for two days. Old Wu timely stepped forward and told Qing Mu that the Wu family had also sent a powerful remedy that had nearly half the potency of the Serum of Longevity.

"That means Old Chen can hold on for another two or three days," Wang Xuan said, his furrowed brow slightly relaxing. Pulling Qing Mu aside, he whispered so faintly it was almost inaudible, "I have an ancient method we can try. Now is the time to test your connections. Reach out to the relevant departments for assistance. Seek out ancient relics related to the ascension of the ancients—relics like Buddha's relics, the golden bones of Taoist priests, artifacts from pre-Qin dynasty alchemists... Gather everything! If you can't find those, even broken stones or tiles from legends of immortals will do. Just try to gather as much as you can."

Qing Mu blinked, taken aback. What is this all about?

"Alchemy!" In an instant, Wang Xuan shook his head, saying, "Don't ask. Just say it's from a secret manuscript your master had, detailing rituals from Zhu You and ancient shamans. Using objects for rituals... Anyway, don't mention me at all. Keep my name out of this. Otherwise, there will be trouble!"

Wang Xuan leaned in, whispering urgently to Qing Mu, dishing out a slew of cautions. However, behind those whispered warnings was a sigh of resignation. Sometimes, to save a life, risks were unavoidable.

His anxiety was palpable. These top-tier organizations, the power-brokers, and government officials were notoriously shrewd. No matter how careful or covert they were, it was almost certain they'd leave some trace behind.

"Old Chen," Wang Xuan exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air, "Ever since our paths crossed, my life's been a roller-coaster of chaos!"

He paused for a moment, his gaze sharpening, "And don't forget the Marquis Sui's Pearl. When the moment comes, have it close to your master. Let this ancient talisman, renowned for its protective aura, shield him."

Wang Xuan's eyebrows knit together as he withdrew to a quieter corner of the room. Restlessly pacing, he voiced his frustrations, "Old Chen, you've given me nothing but trouble since day one. I've been dragged into your messes. I’ve sent you the female practitioner and that ghost monk. I’ve given you everything! And here we are, on the brink of another unpredictable storm."

Qing Mu, having been away arranging for resources, used every connection he had to gather ancient artifacts. He claimed they would employ the lost arts of Zhu You and ancient shamans to extend Old Chen's life.

Upon his return, Qing Mu caught the tail end of Wang Xuan's monologue. He rolled his eyes, thinking, "Who asked you to send them in the first place?"

Wang Xuan, catching Qing Mu's exasperated expression, shot back with a defiant, "Your master did!"

Qingmu wanted to argue, but upon reflection, it seemed that Wang Xuan might actually have a point. While others were terrified, his master indeed seemed... thoroughly entertained by it all.

"Do we have a way to save Old Chen?" Wu Chenglin approached them, seeking answers.

Wang Xuan quickly responded, "Old Qing just consulted with an elder. They mentioned the need for rare ancient relics, like golden bamboo slips from the pre-Qin period, which might save a life."

Old Wu ignored Wang Xuan and turned his gaze to Qingmu.

Sighing deeply, Qingmu said, "I spoke on the phone earlier. That elder said we need rare artifacts associated with the legends of the immortals."

Wang Xuan sidled up to Da Wu, trying to curry favor. "Does the Wu family have any golden bamboo slips?"

Wu Yin rolled her eyes at him but finally whispered, "The super-wealthy Zhong family has them. But we won't be able to borrow them. They keep those items highly secretive."

"Does Old Zhong have a granddaughter?" Wang Xuan inquired.

"She does have a great-granddaughter. Why? What are you thinking?" Da Wu asked him, her tone indifferent.

"I think you might know her, right? Close friends perhaps? You could try approaching her. Saving Old Chen's life would benefit you greatly. When the time comes to collaborate with your Wu family, Old Chen would certainly go above and beyond, and even risk his life to help," Wang Xuan suggested.

"I've always hoped someone would take that girl down a notch!" Da Wu remarked, hinting at some past grievance.

Wang Xuan found himself at a loss for words. He tried to console her, suggesting she should not get too upset and that there would be opportunities to settle scores later. He then went off to curry favor with Old Wu.

Wang Xuan noticed that Old Wu was deep in thought. In the end, he dared not bring up any more ideas, fearing he might give himself away. He could only rely on Qing Mu to tap into his connections.

Setting out using the name of Old Chen, Qing Mu indeed managed to gather some items. The related parties seemed quite accommodating. Wang Xuan moved to a corner, pondering over the situation and weighing his options. Eventually, with a heavy heart, he murmured, "Old Chen, you've brought me so much trouble. I offered you the ghost monk, passed on the martial arts technique that surpasses the Great Vajra Fist, and now I'm risking everything trying to save your life. Ever since our paths crossed, I've been continuously watching over you. I've truly become your guardian angel in every sense of the word!"

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