By dusk, Grandmaster Ma was thrashing around in the bamboo forest, snapping many green bamboo stalks. His entire body was covered in blood, staining the ground red.
After consuming various mystical herbs in the afternoon, his body became covered in mysterious symbols and underwent a fierce transformation that had lasted until now, with blood continuously oozing from his pores.
His fur was completely dyed red, and he let out low growls of pain. The deepest part of his demon bloodline had been partially activated, and he was undergoing a complete blood change.
At this rate, there were signs that he might enter a transcendent state!
His wings had grown significantly longer, and the runes on them had become even more radiant, producing crackling sounds as tiny arcs of electricity intertwined.
In ancient times, the heavenly steeds didn't rely much on their wings to fly. Instead, they would ignite their runes, releasing secret power, allowing them to speed across the sky.
On the other side, Zhao Qinghan was much quieter than the great demon Ma. She had her eyes closed, carefully sensing the subtle changes in her body, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and her face faintly glowing in the evening light.
Wang Xuan took out several metal tokens and suddenly extended his spiritual domain, drawing out the mysterious energy within them and absorbing it continuously.
He guided the mysterious substance into Zhao Qinghan's body, causing her to tremble slightly. The mystical herbs had already begun taking effect, and now the changes were even more pronounced.
As Wang Xuan sensed her condition, he couldn't help but feel surprised.
Zhao Qinghan had once claimed she practiced the Old Technique to maintain her figure. Now, it seemed that she had been telling the truth.
She was remarkably suited to follow the path of the Old Technique. After consuming the mystical herbs and with the help of the concentrated essence from the mysterious energy, her internal organs began to glow, and her body's vitality increased dramatically, allowing her to quickly enter the realm of grandmasters.
Although her combat strength was still questionable, her speed of advancement was undeniably rapid.
Zhao Qinghan's initial desire to stay beautiful seemed like it was about to be fulfilled.
Wang Xuan turned his attention to the great demon Ma, holding the metal tokens as he began drawing out the essence of the mysterious energy for him as well.
As night descended, Grandmaster Ma finally completed his blood change. Under the moonlight, his entire body emitted a faint glow. His wings had grown broader, and when he flapped them lightly, arcs of electricity danced across them.
Wang Xuan roasted a creature resembling a bear to replenish the great demon's lost energy.
After completing his transformation into the later stage of the grandmaster realm, Grandmaster Ma now stood near the peak of what an ordinary horse could achieve.
As for Zhao Qinghan, she was hiding in a clear spring. Despite being graceful and elegant, even the prettiest girl becomes sticky and sweaty during the metamorphosis of the grandmaster realm.
This was the result of intense physical changes. Her metabolism surged during this period, with her body's constitution improving and becoming more vibrant with life.
Before long, she emerged from the spring wearing fresh clothes, her damp hair cascading down. Her face was pale and luminous under the moonlight.
"So, after the physical transformation, no matter what kind of body techniques you practiced before, the effects are amazing. Your skin improves," she commented as she looked at her snow-white arm and then pulled out a small mirror from her makeup kit, admiring her glowing, radiant face. She was absolutely delighted.
It was clear that she hadn't forgotten about Wang Xuan's earlier peeling incident.
"Stay here tomorrow. It's quite safe here for now," Wang Xuan said.
Although Grandmaster Ma had transformed, carrying just one person would allow him to move much faster.
Even so, Wang Xuan still had concerns, as the places he needed to visit were incredibly dangerous, guarded by transcendent monsters.
His first stop would be a strange land, where he intended to retrieve the mystical items left behind by the immortals from the Inner Landscape artifact.
Since these treasures were meant to change the fate of those below the transcendent realm, it would be best to obtain them before venturing into the eight transcendent lairs in the dying lands.
As for the giant spider, that would be easier to deal with. Now that Grandmaster Ma could soar through the skies, it could provoke and lead the spider away.
What Wang Xuan worried about was whether something dangerous might be released from the Inner Landscape artifact.
Because of these concerns, he decided to venture into the artifact first to scout the way.
If there were no issues, he would bring Grandmaster Ma and Zhao Qinghan to receive the baptism of the mysterious energy.
At dawn, Grandmaster Ma emerged from a distant waterfall, having washed off the blood. The awakened demon horse looked more majestic than ever.
It seemed to be cloaked in a layer of radiance, its fur gleaming with not a single stray hair. Its wings crackled with golden arcs of electricity, making it resemble a celestial steed descending to earth.
Wang Xuan spoke, "If all goes well, I'll have Grandmaster Ma come back for you!"
Zhao Qinghan nodded, handing him the large bow.
Both man and horse donned their armor, then shot off like a glowing arrow across the sky.
Wang Xuan could sense that while Grandmaster Ma was fast, he still lagged behind the silver bear near the dying land. After all, it hadn't reached transcendence yet.
However, riding it to ambush the lairs of other transcendent monsters that could only run on the ground shouldn't be a problem!
The mountain terrain was desolate, with sparse vegetation and crumbling cliffs. A giant spider web was stretched over the black and white ruins.
While the Secret Realm was overall full of vitality, this place was bleak, exuding an eerie sense of desolation.
Wang Xuan sat on Ma's back and dropped a wild boar from the air, which smashed into the ruins of the temple, sending up a cloud of dust.
"Spider, I've brought you some wild game. Could you let me through? I just need to grab something and I'll be on my way."
The extraordinary spider, about the size of a table, had black and white patterns across its body. All eight of its eyes opened, emitting a cold, eerie light.
Grandmaster Ma's fur bristled as he swiftly gained altitude, feeling a strong sense of unease even from afar.
Wang Xuan was startled. This spider had been absorbing the mysterious energy from the Inner Landscape artifact for years, and its power was terrifying. It seemed even stronger than the silkworm snake and the mountain tortoise.
It had just unleashed a psychic attack!
"I tried being polite, but now I'll have to fight you." Wang Xuan took out his large bow, nocked an iron arrow, aimed, and shot at the giant spider below.
Boom!
The iron arrow, imbued with rune power, struck a large pit in the rubble, scattering stones and hitting the spider, enraging it.
The spider spat out a white beam, which was actually webbing, now turned into a lethal weapon that shot up over 200 meters into the air.
Wang Xuan signaled Grandmaster Ma to keep a safe distance. They landed on the ground ahead as he turned back and shot another arrow to provoke the transcendent spider.
Thud!
This time, he hit the spider's head, but it was like striking iron, as the spider's outer skin glowed darkly, shattering the iron arrow.
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Despite its immense strength, the spider's intelligence was still limited, with its bestial instincts far outweighing any wisdom.
Boom!
It broke the sound barrier, leaving a trail of white mist behind as it chased after the provocateur.
At dusk, Master Ma was rolling in the bamboo forest, breaking many green bamboo stalks. It was covered in blood, staining the ground red.
In the afternoon, after consuming various miraculous medicines, its body was covered with mysterious symbols, undergoing intense transformation that lasted until now. Blood continuously oozed from its pores.
Its fur had turned completely red, and it was letting out low growls of pain. Deep within its body, the demonic bloodline was partially activated, and it was undergoing a blood transformation.
At this rate, it showed signs of becoming transcendent!
Its wings had grown significantly, and the runes on them became even more brilliant, crackling with arcs of electricity.
In ancient times, when the celestial horses flew, the flapping of their wings was not the main cause of flight. It was the dazzling runes that erupted with secret power, allowing them to swiftly traverse the sky.
On the other side, Zhao Qinghan was much quieter than the demonic Master Ma. She closed her eyes, feeling the subtle changes in her body. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently, and her face glowed faintly in the sunset.
Wang Xuan took out a few metal plaques and extended his spiritual domain, drawing in mysterious particles and continuously absorbing them.
He guided this mysterious energy into Zhao Qinghan's body, causing her to tremble slightly. The miraculous medicine she had consumed was already taking effect, and now the changes became even more pronounced.
Wang Xuan sensed her condition and was surprised.
Zhao Qinghan had claimed she practiced the Old Technique just to maintain her figure, and it seemed she wasn't lying.
She was well-suited for the Old Technique path. After consuming the miraculous medicine, and with the concentrated essence of the mysterious particles, her five organs began to glow, her flesh became more active, and she quickly entered the realm of a grandmaster.
Though her combat power remained questionable, her rapid breakthrough was undeniable.
Zhao Qinghan's love for beauty appeared to be the beginning of her satisfaction.
Wang Xuan observed Master Ma the demon, and he, too, used the metal plaques to guide the essence of the mysterious particles for it.
As night fell, Master Ma finally completed its blood transformation. Its body now glowed faintly under the moonlight, its wings broad and shimmering with electric arcs.
Wang Xuan roasted a bear-like creature for it, replenishing its consumed energy.
Master Ma had officially stepped into the late stage of a grandmaster, standing at the pinnacle of ordinary horses.
As for Zhao Qinghan, she was hiding in the clear spring. The transformation of a grandmaster level, even for the most beautiful and clean woman, would leave her sticky, drenched in sweat.
It was the result of intense physical changes, with her metabolism accelerating to an extreme degree, and her physical attributes improving, making her even more full of life.
Not long after, she changed her clothes and walked out with her wet hair, her face fair and radiant in the moonlight.
"After the physical transformation, it seems that no matter what kind of body technique one practices, the effect is great, and the skin gets better," she said, looking at her snow-white arm. Then she took out a small mirror from her makeup kit, admiring her beautiful face, which now had a radiant glow, and was overjoyed.
Clearly, she still remembered the time when Wang Xuan had shed his skin.
"Wait here tomorrow. This place is relatively safe for now," Wang Xuan said.
Though Master Ma had transformed, the speed of carrying only one person should be faster.
Even so, Wang Xuan was still a bit concerned, as the places he was about to visit were all dangerous, guarded by extraordinary creatures.
His first stop was the strange place, where he would retrieve the mysterious treasure left by the immortals from the Inner Landscape artifact.
Since it was a treasure meant to change the fate of those below the transcendent level, it was best for him to get it before heading to the Eight Extraordinary Lairs in the decayed land.
That spider was manageable. Now that Master Ma could fly, it could provoke and distract it.
Wang Xuan was worried about what might be released from the Inner Landscape artifact.
It was because of this concern that he wanted to explore the Inner Landscape artifact himself first.
If all went well, he would guide Master Ma and Zhao Qinghan to undergo the baptism of the mysterious particles.
In the morning, Master Ma emerged from a distant waterfall, having washed off the blood. The horse, whose demonic bloodline had awakened, looked even more majestic now.
It seemed to be bathed in a layer of glowing mist, its fur gleaming, without a single stray hair. Its wings were flowing with golden electric arcs, resembling a celestial horse descending to earth.
Wang Xuan spoke, "If all is fine there, I will send Master Ma to fetch you!"
Zhao Qinghan nodded and handed him the large bow.
Man and horse both donned armor, and in an instant, they shot into the sky like a glowing arrow, racing toward the horizon.
Wang Xuan silently felt that Master Ma's speed still fell short of the silver bear near the decayed land, as it hadn't yet reached the transcendent level.
However, riding it to ambush transcendent creatures confined to the ground should be no problem!
In the quiet mountains, sparse vegetation and broken walls were scattered, with a massive spiderweb spanning this area, covering the black-and-white altar ruins.
Though the Secret Realm was teeming with life, this particular ruin felt desolate, with a strange sense of melancholy.
Wang Xuan sat on Master Ma's back and tossed a wild boar down from mid-air, smashing it onto the rubble of the ruined temple, stirring up a cloud of dust.
"Spider, here's some wild game for you. Could you kindly make way? I just need to grab something and I'll be on my way."
The extraordinary spider, about the size of a table, had black and white patterns on its body. All eight of its eyes opened, emitting a cold, eerie light.
Master Ma's fur stood on end as it quickly ascended, keeping a safe distance, yet still feeling a sense of unease.
Wang Xuan was moved. This spider, having absorbed the mysterious particles from the Inner Landscape artifact for so long, was terrifyingly powerful—stronger than the silkworm snake and the mountain turtle.
It had just launched a spiritual attack!
"No choice now. I have to fight you," Wang Xuan said, pulling out his large bow, nocking an iron arrow, and aiming at the giant spider below.
Boom!
An iron arrow imbued with rune power blasted a large pit in the rubble, sending debris flying onto the spider, enraging it.
It opened its mouth and spat out a white beam—spider silk—but now turned into a deadly weapon, shooting straight up more than 200 meters into the air.
Wang Xuan signaled Master Ma to maintain a safe distance, landing ahead. He shot another arrow, provoking the spider further.
Boom!
This time, he hit the black-and-white spider's head, but it was like striking ironstone. The spider's exoskeleton emitted a dark glow, snapping the iron arrow.
Though powerful, it was still a beast at heart, driven more by its violent instincts than by intelligence.
Boom!
Breaking the sound barrier, it left a trail of white mist behind as it charged in pursuit.
Since there was nothing here it needed to protect, it felt free to unleash its fury on the provocateurs.
Master Ma had truly learned how to taunt and distract, flying close to the ground, looking back arrogantly and calling out. It kept a consistent distance of 300 meters, seemingly taunting the spider.
Meanwhile, Wang Xuan continued shooting arrows, further enraging the creature.
The forest erupted in chaos as Master Ma and Wang Xuan led the spider far away from the ruins, guiding it toward other areas of the Secret Realm, constantly provoking it.
They crossed mountains and rivers, running for a full two quarters of an hour, eventually leading the spider into a dense primeval forest.
"Let's go back. That should be enough."
Hearing this, Master Ma soared into the sky, rushing back. Before long, it descended back into the ruins.
Wang Xuan quickly rushed toward the black-and-white altar and found twelve slots—where the metal plaques, or keys, were meant to be inserted.
Without hesitation, he activated the mysterious particles within him and, without holding back, guided them into the twelve slots.
The black-and-white altar trembled, and the mysterious particles boiled, filling the air and swirling around.
Wang Xuan's expression changed. He had used up a lot of mysterious particles. If he entered the Inner Landscape artifact, he would have to reclaim more than he had spent.
In an instant, the black-and-white altar rumbled, and in Wang Xuan's spiritual perception, it transformed into black-and-white energy!
Eventually, the black-and-white energy formed a passageway, flowing like mist.
Wang Xuan felt his spirit automatically leaving his body, being drawn into the black-and-white passage, passing through the swirling mist.
During the journey, a grand fluctuation expanded within the passage, like a brand, echoing a warning to future generations.
Perhaps it was more of a caution: the transcendent must not approach—retreat immediately!
Was this treasure really meant for beings below the transcendent level?
As the black-and-white mist surged through the passage, Wang Xuan's heart trembled. Ahead, he saw numerous figures!
"I'm an Earth Immortal, and I'm about to die here?!" one figure shouted before exploding into nothingness.
"I've nearly reached Ascension. I'm the strongest sect master of this era on Heluo Star, here to seek the legacy of the ancient sages. I can't
believe I'm dying beneath this altar. I am unwilling!"
With a bang, a terrifying being on the verge of Ascension disintegrated, leaving nothing behind.
"I am of the pureblood Golden-winged Roc clan, my magic unmatched, ruling over a transcendent star. I came here to seek the legendary supreme treasure, yet my divine feathers crumble. I cannot even enter the Inner Landscape space and perish in this passage. How did it come to this?"
A Golden-winged Roc burst into flames, its feathers disintegrating before it vanished completely.
"I am the number one Earth Immortal across the three transcendent stars of Heluo, Euler, and Ascension. In my era, no one could rival me across these stars. And yet, even I perish here like an illusion, instantly obliterated. Who is this Inner Landscape treasure truly meant for?!"
Earth Immortals, Ascension-level experts, and even a Golden-winged Roc that had completed the demonic true form path—all died in this passage, reduced to ashes in an instant.
Wang Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. Had he really come to the right place?
In a flash, he recalled the grand voice, that brand of some transcendent rule, warning future generations.
"Transcendents must not approach. Mortals may enter." Wang Xuan was shaken.
There was no doubt that the figures he had seen were the imprints of ancient terrifying experts, their final moments captured before death.
Earth Immortals, Ascension-level experts, a Golden-winged Roc that had mastered the demonic path—all these top-tier beings of different levels and species had died here.
The imprints and scenes were truly shocking.
As Wang Xuan continued forward, he saw even more figures exploding.
"I was too greedy. Every hundred years, I allowed my non-transcendent descendants to seek opportunities here, granting them a chance to change their fate. That should have been enough. Yet I foolishly desired to take that mysterious treasure and brought about my own demise. For five hundred years, I reigned supreme on Ascension Star, and now I die so pitifully."
"I am the Thousand Hands True God, yet I die here..."
Wang Xuan was overwhelmed. The passage wasn't very long, but within this short distance, he had seen too many figures explode, all of them top-tier experts of their time.
Now, where could one even find an Earth Immortal? Not a single one was left!
And yet, in the past, among the people who died here, Earth Immortals were not even the strongest.
"I'm a mere mortal, nothing to worry about," Wang Xuan said, not wasting any time as he rushed through the black-and-white mist-filled passage and finally entered the mysterious space of the Inner Landscape artifact.