The Stars Beyond

Chapter 264: A Great Happening

Outside Yucheng city, although it was still morning, the sky turned as dark as ink. Massive clouds, like two colossal landmasses colliding, pressed down from above. The energy released from their contact was terrifying; thick, green lightning, like a vast range of verdant mountains, spanned the horizon. Everyone was stunned by this spectacle - the mountain-like green lightning, towering and majestic, seemed to suppress the world itself.

"Something bizarre is happening! Have you seen the news reports? Yucheng is experiencing a once-in-a-millennium celestial phenomenon. The lightning, like huge mountains across the sky, is terrifying!" someone posted online.

Indeed, platforms were already covering Yucheng's strange weather phenomena, first reporting blood-red lightning, then spherical lightning, and now, mountainous thunder. Some experts claimed this was normal, a momentary illusion caused by dense, multi-layered clouds. However, the public remained skeptical.

"In reality, the green mountainous lightning hasn't disappeared yet. How can this be just a fleeting image?" questioned a local.

In the high sky, the two blurred landmasses collided again, causing the lightning mountain to collapse, with one area of lightning pouring down like a waterfall.

Boom!

A famous local landmark, Golden Peak, was obliterated by the lightning waterfall, leaving only half of the peak standing. The scene was so shocking that everyone was rendered speechless.

"Come out, experts! Walk a few steps and dare to say this is an illusion? I'll throw you into that lightning hole!"

The dark sky outside Yucheng, shadowed by floating supernatural landmasses, unleashed terrifying energy, causing a frenzy of media reports.

Huang Kun focused intently on the sky. As the vast lightning spanned the heavens, he saw much more than the average person. A plant appeared incredibly vibrant and sacred.

"Tell Wang Xuan not to rush over; he still has time to prepare. What we see now is not the real Celestial Herb, but just a reflection caused by the lightning," Huang Kun instructed Huang Xinghai to convey. The Celestial Herb rooted in higher spiritual realms is invisible to most, only vaguely perceptible through celestial methods.

......

At the Zhong family residence, Wang Xuan watched the screen, nodding after receiving the message from the Huang family. Chen Yongjie commented, "Old Huang is quite sincere, not hiding anything to push you into action."

Zhong Cheng, also in the monitoring room, was thrilled by the partial truth he learned. "Celestial Herb from higher spiritual worlds? Immortals fighting over it behind the veil, and we can compete for it here in the real world, even... fishing for Celestial Herb? What a grand spectacle!" contemporary romance

"There's nothing for you in this!" Zhong Qing glanced at him, urging him to quiet down.

Chen Yongjie and Wang Xuan communicated cautiously in the spiritual realm, wary of other transcendent beings eavesdropping with their secret treasures. "Are you really going to fish for the Celestial Herb? Great opportunities always come with great risks. You have to consider everything, including the spiritual heavenly fire," Chen Yongjie advised.

Wang Xuan pondered as he caressed the translucent fishing line, now attached to an ancient fishing hook, a relic left by a covenant keeper capable of piercing spiritual realms. "Honestly, I've thought a lot about it and even had some good plans. But considering the magnitude of the event, with immortals and Celestial Herb, I'd rather just watch quietly from the sidelines. I won't participate."

He added, "Since I've decided not to go, I'll let go of everything. I'll return the fishing line to Huang Kun and let him find another partner. The hook can be lent to him."

In Yucheng, Huang Xinghai relayed Wang Xuan's phone call to Huang Kun. "He's a good man, willing to lend the fishing hook directly to the Huang family. He said he feels too weak to participate in such a grand event," he informed Huang Kun.

"That's really a pity," Huang Kun sighed, expressing hope for a future collaboration through Huang Xinghai.

...

At Wangyue Cliff, amidst ancient osmanthus trees exuding a refreshing fragrance, a woman in white used her transcendent abilities to send a message outward. "The Huang family is making a big move. It seems they're planning to fish for Celestial Herb!"

Clearly, there were more than a few transcendent beings related to the veil and the real world on New Star. This message caused significant ripples among the underground circles.

In a certain crypt, Zhou Chong, after three months of recuperation, was still in poor condition, mainly because his immortal bone had been broken! The bone shards, his lifeline of immortality, had been fractured, causing substantial loss of immortal substance. This left him in excruciating pain, harboring a deep hatred for the Robot Number 5.

The only source of comfort and excitement for Zhou Chong was that the Soul-Locking Bell was in his possession. Suddenly, a glowing butterfly fluttered in, dancing elegantly as it conveyed a message. Zhou Chong's face lit up with surprise, "The higher spiritual world is manifesting, and Celestial Herb might fall. If I can get it, regenerating my broken immortal bone and perfectly reshaping my flesh would be no issue at all!"

In the region known as Demon God Ridge, a shadowy figure emerged from a lake, walking on water, clearly moved by the news.

At Yuan Quan Mountain, a hazy figure murmured to itself, "My followers, Kristin and Hansolo, died here. This is the collision of technology and mythology, and it's just the beginning. The mortal world is so intense already. Ah, and now even the Celestial Herb emerges."

In an ancient Taoist temple of a certain financial group, a silent, blood-entwined immortal bone was disturbed by the unusual fluctuations outside, as if being called upon. "Please forgive me for disturbing you, but I must report that the Celestial Herb has appeared, capable of reshaping the immortal body!"

In other cities, shadowy figures in ancient temples were also awakened by the news, temporarily rousing from their slumber.

Outside Kangning City, in the Sun family's mothership base, the eyes of Mechanical Being No. 5 flickered wildly with various informational symbols. In a sense, it could monitor various locations and collect information much faster than others. It was invading secret networks, gathering all sorts of information about the Huang family, Celestial Herb, and Yucheng, switching between surveillance footage.

"Celestial Herb, a product of the higher spiritual world, could greatly benefit my 'spiritual fire seed'. It might even restore me!" It was verifying and monitoring, assessing whether to take action.

Then, it transformed into a frenzied mechanical being, recklessly invading the Sky Network, searching for information everywhere. In this era, almost all human activities were under the surveillance of Sky Eyes and detectors, leaving hardly any secrets.

Mechanical Being No. 5 worked efficiently, tracing Wang Xuan's visit to the Huang family's ancestral temple. Moments later, its eye sockets flickered intensely.

Shortly after, it transformed into a shuttle-shaped flying vehicle, soaring into the sky and disappearing rapidly.

......

"The channel reports: A massive thunderstorm struck the mountains outside Yucheng, destroying the main peak of Jinding Mountain!" This event captured the attention of the entire internet, as no one had ever witnessed such a terrifying thunderstorm, resembling a mountain crashing down from the sky, followed by a river flowing downwards.

"Which Daoist friend is undergoing tribulation? Give us a heads-up next time. I was so scared that I wet my feet going to the bathroom just now!" The rare phenomenon inevitably drew public attention, with comments ranging from genuine fear to humor, highlighting the impact of the thunderstorm on Jinding Mountain.

Soon, a photo of a young man with a buzz cut appeared online, captioned: "This monk is undergoing tribulation on Jinding Mountain!" Old Chen almost smashed his screen upon seeing it. Someone had posted his photo from the battle in Mucheng, where his golden body shone with a hint of Buddha's light.

Initially, people joked about it, but soon they remembered the emergence of supernatural beings and the blending of mythology into reality. It wasn't impossible.

Was it a natural thunderstorm? It seemed too grand and terrifying!

Zhong Qing, Wang Xuan, and Chen Yongjie were all watching the thunderstorm outside Yucheng on the big screen, increasingly amazed.

"Aren't you regretting giving up on the Celestial Herb?" Old Chen asked Wang Xuan.

Suddenly, the supercomputer at Zhong's house emitted a piercing alarm – it had been hacked. Who dared to be so bold? Zhong Changming was furious.

However, the problem was quickly resolved. In the secret vault, rich with supernatural substances and a mysterious, ashen pool, everything remained eerily quiet without any anomalies.

"The items we just dispatched have been intercepted!" someone reported, showing parts of the footage. A small spacecraft from Zhong's family, originally transporting the silk line and fishing hook to Yucheng, was invaded mid-journey by an unknown flying object, and the supernatural items were seized.

"How audacious! Which mechanical being dares to rob our family's spacecraft?" Zhong Qing slammed the table in anger.

In Yucheng, Huang Xinghai was stunned, then quickly informed Huang Kun that the hook capable of penetrating higher spiritual worlds had been stolen.

Huang Kun frowned, "No matter, whoever took action must be interested in the Celestial Herb. They'll soon appear at Jinding Mountain."

......

......

Wang Xuan pondered for a moment and asked Zhong Qing if he could rent a medium-sized battleship. Zhong Qing looked at him curiously, wondering what he was planning, as her family indeed had various new types of ships.

"Old Wang, are you planning to snatch the Celestial Herb?" Zhong Cheng piped up, always ready for a bit of excitement.

Wang Xuan shook his head, "No, I just want it for self-defense. But I don't want to use a battleship from the Zhong family. It's better to have one that can't be traced back."

Zhong Qing suggested, "That's easy. Just contact the Grey Blood Organization. They handle tasks like assassinations and renting battleships, and if anything happens, it won’t be traced back to you."

...

Outside Yucheng, thunder rumbled and lightning struck, creating a spectacle as if two massive continents were colliding. Astonishingly, mountains seemed to fall from the sky, illuminated by the thunder. This phenomenon had everyone buzzing on various platforms, suspecting that these lightning shapes were not natural.

"Everyone, that's not just lightning. It seems to be... a celestial realm, illuminated by the lightning, revealing another world's scenery."

"Look, someone is undergoing tribulation!"

Countless people were discussing fervently online, watching the latest news.

"Have beings beyond the veil started competing for the Celestial Herb?"

Supernatural beings had already arrived at the scene, observing the dark sky.

"Immortals beyond the veil have made their move, attempting to enter the higher spiritual world to harvest the Celestial Herb!" a shadowy figure exclaimed.

Supernatural beings lurking in the shadows knew that the time was near. The immortals would only have a brief moment to seize the opportunity to obtain the Celestial Herb.

The symbols in the eyes of the Robot Number 5 flickered crazily, ready to use the hook to penetrate the dark firmament at any moment.