The Stars Beyond

Chapter 54: Grandmasters

The Pamir Plateau, situated at an altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level, was known for its harsh climate. The soil appeared grayish-brown, transforming into frozen ground as autumn approached.

In the sky, a massive super battleship loomed, its icy exterior reflecting the unforgiving cold. Inside the cabin, the deputy head of a relevant department sat calmly, tapping his fingers gently on the table. He remained silent, deep in thought.

“Old scriptures, ascension, Inner Landscape... It seems like you are constantly digging and seeking understanding of these concepts. Your sole motivation for reaching out to us is personal gain.” The deputy spoke calmly, his gaze cold as he addressed the grandmaster of the New Arts. “We have collaborated with Old Chen for many years, and we will not participate in any actions that betray the trust of our people.”

The supreme grandmaster of the New Arts, dressed in pristine white attire, possessed an otherworldly aura despite his middle-aged appearance. He nodded, acknowledging the statement.

The deputy head’s response did not come as a surprise to him. After all, it was unthinkable for someone in his position to take any actions that would betray the trust of his people at this time. However, the supreme grandmaster was confident that he would eventually collaborate with the Old Earth and fully take control of the Adventurer’s Guild. This endeavor involved the interests of multiple parties and no one could stop him once the momentum was built.

Others within the battleship observed this exchange with furrowed brows or in silence. They understood that the head of the relevant department was not young and sought to prolong his life.

In the end, someone stepped forward to voice their concerns, cautioning against the excessive reach of the New Arts faction. Their intention was to issue a warning and establish boundaries before granting permission for any further advancements.

After all, everything needed to be done gradually and with careful consideration.

......

Today, numerous battleships from different organizations arrived at the Pamir Plateau. Among them were some important figures from various megacorporations.

Renowned figures from the field of the New Arts personally paid visits to some of the super battleships and engaged in secret talks with the representatives from the megacorporations. Meanwhile, various forces also gathered on an interstellar ship to discuss matters together.

“Old Chen was the last beacon of hope in the Old Arts. With his fall, there is no one left to carry on this path. The so-called Old Art experts are far too inferior and lack the ability to rise again. The old arts have met their demise!”

"I believe the resources should now be directed towards the New Arts. From the perspective of growth and sustainability, the Old Arts simply cannot compare. It is a lost cause.”

“In the past, it was believed that the so-called immortals had the ability to observe everything from above. However, the path to becoming a Bodhisattva or an immortal is now inaccessible and impossible. It is likely that the immortals themselves had perished in ancient times. We are currently living in a time of great change, where new techniques are emerging and gaining support. These advancements offer tangible short-term benefits, as everyone fears aging and death. The new techniques have the potential to prolong life!”

“Supporting the New Arts in the short term is inevitable, but we must not forget the significance of the Old Arts in the long run!”

......

This secret negotiation began with a cordial atmosphere, but as it unfolded, intense bargaining took over. Certain powerful forces could not let go of their long-held beliefs, even if short-term benefits were evident.

Unfortunately, none of the representatives from the Old Arts were present at the negotiations. Old Chen, the only qualified individual, was on the brink of death.

Meanwhile on the Pamir Plateau, the people from the New Arts faction wore somber expressions as they watched Old Chen press on.

The frozen ground trembled violently, and a ten-meter tall figure appeared from behind a mountain. The towering mythical giant had long golden hair, dark pupils, and a bronze complexion. He effortlessly wielded a meteor hammer weighing six hundred kilograms, swinging it with ease as the iron chain clattered.

Massive beasts generated wind as they moved, let alone a giant like him. With each thunderous stride, he stirred up gales that whipped up sand.

Witnessing this spectacle, Wang Xuan could not help but express his concern, “What have those people on Terra Nova been doing? I fear that in a thousand years, the human race will be divided and hostile toward each other. These new human species with super bodies might even refuse to identify themselves as humans and declare themselves as a separate race!”

At the same time, he began to wonder if the so-called demons and the likes in ancient times had been a result of human genetic mutation, giving rise to alternative evolution.

Surprised by Wang Xuan’s remarks, Wu Chenglin turned around and smiled. “You have quite the foresight, young man. No need to worry, precautions and measures have been put in place to ensure the ability to reproduce super bodies fades away after three generations.”

Meanwhile, the ten-meter tall giant continued charging toward Old Chen. He swung his meteor hammer with the force of a landslide, causing the six hundred kilograms weapon to become an unstoppable force capable of turning anything it touched into a pulp!

Old Chen knew better than to take such an attack head-on and swiftly dodged with lightning-fast reflexes. The powerful hammer crashed into the ground with tremendous force, creating a massive crater where he had previously stood. The frozen ground exploded, resulting in numerous cracks that stretched far into the distance.

Despite standing at a towering height of ten meters, the giant with super body moved with remarkable agility and boundless strength as he continued attacking Old Chen relentlessly with his meteor hammer weighing six hundred kilograms.

The other Old Arts practitioners anxiously watched as Old Chen faced this formidable opponent. Despite being a grandmaster, Old Chen was still a mere mortal with a body made of flesh and blood. The impact of the six hundred-kilogram meteor hammer would undoubtedly obliterate him.

Clang! Old Chen unsheathed his black longsword and swiftly sprinted toward the giant, skillfully evading the meteor hammer raining down from above.

The giant raised his foot and aggressively stomped toward Old Chen. Despite his impressive strength, he failed to match Old Chen’s incredible flexibility and speed.

Old Chen’s movements were lightning-fast and powerful. With a swift motion, his black longsword effortlessly sliced through the giant’s ankle, causing a sudden gush of blood.

The giant howled in agony, nearly collapsing from the pain. He lowered his injured foot on the ground, afraid to put any pressure on it.

Old Chen seized the opportunity, driving the black longsword into the giant’s other ankle, causing blood to splatter.

The giant cried out in misery before collapsing to the ground, unable to stand. Old Chen approached with lightning speed, his sword poised at the giant’s temple, ready to deliver a fatal blow.

However, Old Chen hesitated, realizing it was not easy for someone to grow so big. He left the giant and a special vehicle arrived to transport his injured opponent away.

A sudden bolt of lightning swiftly rushed out from the New Arts faction and collided with Old Chen, creating a loud clang. The man moved with such incredible speed that no one could see him until he abruptly came to a halt. It was only then that people noticed the pair of light wings on his back, granting him the ability to fly. He wielded a large sword, and had swooped down on Old Chen at incredible speed. To his astonishment, Old Chen effortlessly snapped off a piece of his alloy sword with a simple flick of his fingers.

The opponent possessed incredible speed, with light wings that granted him the ability to fly. He navigated from one side to another, seeking out any openings that would allow him to strike with his alloy sword. However, Old Chen leaped toward him and swiftly disintegrated his opponent in mid-air with a powerful palm strike, causing a shower of blood to rain down.

“The New Arts encompasses communication with supernatural substances, facilitating personal transformation, and harnessing supernatural forces. That is the general explanation you provide to the public. However, I can’t help but notice that each of your New Arts is distinct in its own way. I’m curious to know what exactly you have discovered.”

Old Chen frowned, perplexed by the different New Arts he had witnessed. Some bore resemblance to divine abilities that one could achieve after mastering the Old Arts to a certain extent, while others resembled ancient tales of demons feeding on souls through dark and sinister techniques.

One by one, more than a dozen experts emerged from the New Arts faction, only to be swiftly eliminated by Old Chen’s sword. They were either chopped up or beheaded. Some were even blown apart by Old Chen’s unstoppable palm strikes.

Wang Xuan marveled at Old Chen’s performance from afar. It was not that those people were not strong enough; some of them were incredibly skilled practitioners of the New Arts. Yet, Old Chen’s skills were unmatched, effortlessly defeating each and everyone of them.

Wang Xuan felt a lot more relieved and turned to Qing Mu. “Old Qing, your pessimism was proven wrong today. Your master is truly formidable.”

Qing Mu glared at him, unsure if he should feel offended by Wang Xuan’s remark.

Wang Xuan marveled, “Old Chen is truly formidable. He defeated everyone in the mecha, super body, and the New Arts faction. No other powerful grandmasters emerged to challenge him. Old Chen will go down in history as God, leaving future generations in awe and admiration. Everyone would wish that they had sons like Old Ch...”

“You can stop right there!” Qing Mu thought that Wang Xuan’s initial statement was decent, but the later part kind of spoiled it.

From the look of things, Wang Xuan believed that he had no opportunity to fight. Old Chen had single-handedly destroyed the confidence of other factions, as well as those who were foolish enough to challenge him.

“Let’s call it a day, Old Chen. That’s enough for today.” Chang Heng, the man in traditional clothing, sighed.

“Fine.” Old Chen had no objection to the suggestion. He sheathed his sword and turned around, ready to leave.

“Hold it right there!” A voice came from the valley. A middle-aged man in pristine, white clothes stepped forward. He seemed to be an amateur in the field of the New Arts, yet he exuded an inexplicable Taoist aura. Simultaneously, a woman in alloy armor approached, her cold metal battle suit accentuating her well-built body.

As the two approached from different directions, an unseen force stirred up a terrifying wind, causing stones on the ground to float, shatter, and explode. Everyone’s heart raced in their chest, as they sensed an overwhelming pressure. The presence of these two people seemed to expand and fill the atmosphere.

They were both... grandmasters! Not only that, they were exceptionally formidable. Their presence was even more intimidating than the man with Six Armed Bodhisattva Super Body! How could anyone possibly survive a fight with two grandmasters at once!

Old Chen sighed, realizing that the other party was aware of his weakened state and intended to exploit it. They were determined to push his failing organs to their breaking point and get rid of him for good!

Qing Mu’s face turned pale, wondering if his master could handle two grandmasters alone. At this point, he was still unaware of Old Chen’s deteriorating health.

Wang Xuan sensed the danger in the air and realized the situation was dire. The calmness of those two grandmasters indicated their absolute confidence in defeating Old Chen. He feared that Old Chen would find himself in a perilous situation.

“No more fighting, Old Chen. We’re leaving!” some of the old men who practiced the Old Arts shouted, rushing forward to stop the battle between the grandmasters. Though they were far weaker than Old Chen, they sensed the impending danger and felt compelled to intervene.

However, many people from the New Arts factions quickly stepped forward, blocking their path. Old Chen waved his hand, signaling them to stand down.

“It’s an honor to finally meet you and battle you today, Mr. Chen,” said the middle-aged man in pristine white clothes. It was the same man who had spoken to the deputy head of the relevant department from the Old Earth, expressing his desire to take over the Adventurer's Guild.

“I’ve been looking forward to sparring with you, Mr. Chen,” the female grandmaster in metal armor added. Though she appeared to be in her thirties, her true age exceeded fifty.

Those who knew the inside story understood that the two grandmasters had joined forces to prevent Old Chen from leaving. They were determined to push Old Chen to his limits, ensuring he would not leave this place alive. This plan was widely supported by some members of the New Art faction who believed that if Old Chen were to break through further, his health issues would be fully resolved.

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