The Stars Beyond

Chapter 14: Exploration

Bamboo slips were used extensively during the Early Qin period. They varied in length and were engraved with writing using a knife. The one in Wang Xuan's hand had a warm, golden gleam in the lamplight. Measuring eight centimeters in length, three centimeters in width, and two centimeters in thickness, it was relatively short yet weighty and dense—likely to sink when immersed in water.

Instead of text, the golden bamboo slip bore several intricate illustrations. A humanoid figure with a snake's body was depicted in various postures. The figure spotted a flowing hair, but its gender was indistinguishable. Some depictions showed the body of the humanoid serpent coiled around, while others portrayed it rolling on the ground. There was even an image of the creature standing tall with its tail planted on the ground.

No textual content adorned the bamboo slip. These engraved images were the only thing carved onto it. Their connection to the Old Arts was unclear. Wang Xuan could not tell its value, at least not immediately.

"I’ve had this in my possession for years, but I can’t seem to unlock its secrets. It’s about as useful as a decor," said the middle-aged man behind the blue mask.

He sat quietly behind his desk.

"I wasn’t able to get many of them. Most of the golden scrolls fell into the hands of the New World megacorporations. These two are the only I managed to get my hands on.” he continued.

Wang Xuan was convinced that he was a master of the Old Arts. Having the courage to compete against agents of the megacorporations for the possession of these bamboo slips alone was a testimony of his strength. After all, they were rare artifacts that must be obtained at all cost in the eyes of these organizations. Things to be kept hidden from public view and researched discreetly behind closed doors.

"Has anyone in the New World managed to decipher them?" Wang Xuan inquired.

"Can't say for sure," the middle-aged man replied with a terse response, clearly not eager to delve deeper into the subject.

The room fell into silence.

Wang Xuan met the man two years ago. It was during that time that he was first exposed to the enigmatic underbelly of the seemingly peaceful city. He met him on the ninth underground level of a certain prominent landmark, during the weekly Old Arts tournament held on Friday. It was a gruesome display of combat techniques between combatants in a steel cage.

Spectators, all veiled by masks—both men and women—were cheering and shouting in a symphony of violence and excitement. The sheer carnage unleashed within the arena was something to behold. The defeated would often need to be carried out of the arena, as they would often find themselves with shattered bones and broken limbs.

Wang Xuan had dismissed the man’s proposition right there and then. He made it clear that he did not wish to be part of this debacle. He was passionate about the Old Arts, but he refused to take part in such a bloody spectacle for the entertainment of those who were willing to pay.

The middle-aged man with the cropped hair chuckled then. “I simply wanted to show you a glimpse of the hidden facet of this city. A world far removed from what you see in your everyday life.”

His organization was not responsible for the gory matches in the iron cages. They were a band of adventurers, using the occasion as a scouting ground for promising talent. Their endeavors were infinitely more exciting and terrifying than the arena’s bloody fights.

Theirs was an adventure into the unknown. A journey to explore the boundless realm of the stars beyond. Their adventures brought them far into the sea of the stars, their bases of operations limited not only to the New World.

The middle-aged man had told him that the adventurers were a brilliant tapestry woven from both potential and prospect. It was incomparable to the shadows that roamed the dark underbelly of the city. He had extended his invitation to Wang Xuan multiple times after the occasion, but he was rejected each time.

The man with short hair left him a golden business card, informing him that if he were to change his mind after graduation, he could come to him. Even back then, which was two years ago, the man had predicted that the Old Arts Research Department would inevitably disband, and the project would be shelved.

"Why did you approach me?" Wang Xuan had asked him earnestly back then.

The man had explained that first, it was the establishment of the Old Arts Research Department that caught his attention. He had been observing the students who joined the programme since the first day, and found many among the students lacking in resolve. They harbored doubts about the Old Arts, and he knew that their achievements would be limited.

Two individuals, however, caught his eyes. And Wang Xuan was one of them. Since he embarked on the journey of the Old Arts, his achievements have been astonishing. In just a few years, he had successfully mastered chi Gathering and internal cultivation. The man believed that Wang Xuan had great potential and would likely achieve remarkable things on the path of the Old Arts.

His organization, which was shrouded in mystery, was a loosely structured one. But its power and influence could not be denied. Its influence had extended into the stars beyond, and even into the New World itself.

"Allow me to introduce myself formally. You can call me Qingmu," the man with short hair and the blue mask spoke, breaking the silence.

"Does this mean I've officially joined?" asked Wang Xuan.

Qingmu responded, "Not quite yet. You are one of the promising individuals I've selected over the years, but not the only one."

"Do I have to take some sort of test?"

"Yes, that's the rule. Despite my belief in you, I can't change that."

“An expedition will be held in the next two days. Its outcome will be your assessment.” Qingmu explained, “Would you like to take part in it?”

"I'll do it" Wang Xuan nodded.

"You have an idea of what you'll be facing by joining us, but I want to emphasize again what an expedition entails. There are risks involved, even potential danger to your life. Make sure you've thought it through."

Wang Xuan assured, "No problem, I've thought it through."

Qingmu's expression grew serious. "You'll stay here for now. We must ensure that no information leaks before the operation. This mission is of utmost importance."

“I understand. I have no problems with it.”

“Mind if I ask you a question?” Wang Xuan asked, with the golden bamboo slip still held in his hand.

Qingmu replied, "It depends on the nature of your question. If it involves certain... Secrets... Then I’m afraid I can’t tell you. Even if you’re one of us, it’ll have to come with a price."

Wang Xuan asked, "I want to know about what lies ahead on the path of the Ancient Arts. Is there truly no other way forward once I’ve reached the level of the practitioners of the old?"

Qingmu sighed, "I understand your sentiments, for I, too, started down the path of the Old Arts. This journey is a long one. It takes decades of blood and sweat, and it might not even guarantee success. The end is already set. We know where it leads.”

The answer aligned with the conclusions drawn by the Institute of Life Studies on New Star.

"In truth, what's most disheartening is that even though you know where the end of the path lies, only a handful can ever ascend to such heights. Since the passing of the Early Qin era, individuals capable of reaching the level of ‘Master’ have grown increasingly scarce. In recent times, they have disappeared entirely."

The Old Arts was in decline, and those that had reached its pinnacle a thing in the past.

......

"Is the pinnacle of the practitioners of old where the road ends? Has no one attempted to continue pushing the limits?" Wang Xuan inquired.

"It’s far from easy," replied Qingmu with a touch of bitterness. "Throughout the ages, even true masters of the arts have disappeared. Those who have managed to reach the top grew fewer and fewer, until they ceased to exist completely. The later generations could only dream of such matters? There were indeed ambitious individuals who attempted to go further, but alas, none succeeded."

"Why could those practitioners push the boundaries of ancient arts to the extreme, while the people that tried after them remain unable to surpass them?" Wang Xuan posed his question.

"Think not of it as the effort of a few practitioners alone," Qingmu responded. "It's the result of generations upon generations of refinement of the Old Arts. Eventually, there was simply nowhere else to go, and the most powerful of these individuals could very well represent the apex of ancient human capabilities. We’ve simply reached the full extent of our potential."

...

That evening, Qingmu had preparations made for Wang Xuan's upcoming expedition, including knives, daggers, protective gear, lifelike synthetic masks, and more. And his preparations include firearms.

They set off the following morning, leaving the city and arriving at a hidden estate where a small aircraft awaited, ready to take them to Qingcheng Mountain.

The small spacecraft was highly advanced. It was able to avoid detection by the Old World’s satellites. This was Wang Xuan's first time aboard such a vessel, and he found everything fascinating. However, he remained composed, and opted to quietly observe what was happening around him. He realized there was much to learn.

Qingmu's personal involvement underscored the significance of this mission. There were four others in the group besides Wang Xuan. They were all wearing lifelike synthetic masks to hide their real appearances.

"Our destination is Qingcheng Mountain. A corporation from the New World has dispatched a team to secretly excavate a site there. That is also our objective."

"What did they find at Qingcheng Mountain?" someone inquired.

The mission had been shrouded in secrecy until now, even the team members were unaware of their destination prior to their departure. Qingmu's expression was grave as he explained, "It seems that certain records were unearthed from bamboo slips attributed to an Early Qin practitioner, and they point directly to Qingcheng Mountain."

"Are they still interested in the legacy of the old practitioners?" someone questioned. The Old Arts was something that had been abandoned in the New World in favor of the Transhuman Arts.

Qingmu's tone was somber, "The deciphered scrolls contain undisclosed information. There appears to be something intriguing about Qingcheng Mountain that has captured the attention of practitioners. Hence, the corporations have returned secretly."

The excitement among the group surged, and even Wang Xuan shared their sentiment. A new discovery in Qingcheng Mountain? Something that even practitioners were eager for? Could it possibly be related to... Immortality?

The most powerful among the practitioners were considered as Immortals. However, there were dissenting opinions, asserting that the Immortals were leagues above the practitioners.

"Members of the Zhou and Ling families have unearthed an underground palace. They've found the target!" Qingmu whispered, his voice carrying the weight of the latest confidential report.

Wang Xuan's heart raced—both the Zhou and Ling families?!

It didn’t take long for the party to reach their destination. Qingcheng Mountain, one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Taoism and one of the Five Great Mountains of Immortality. It was also regarded as one of the birthplaces of Taoism. Zhang Daoling had once secluded himself on Qingcheng Mountain to spread his teachings. According to some legends, he eventually ascended to immortality within its peaks.