Chapter 162: Fishing? For Real?!

In the stillness of the evening, Wang Xuan and Zhao Qinghan lay side by side amidst a bamboo grove. Through the gaps between the bamboo leaves, they could glimpse fragments of the starry sky, each star shimmering with its soft, silvery light.

Not far from them, Grandmaster Ma glowed with an ethereal aura. His pristine white wings, kissed by the moonlight, were expanding and adorned with a faint golden hue. But something peculiar caught their eyes - blood dripped from the base of his wings, and mystic symbols, resonating with a demonic force, were emerging. These intricate symbols spread densely across the expansive wings and even half of the creature's body.

Both Wang Xuan and Zhao Qinghan approached the Grandmaster with heightened curiosity. It was evident that Grandmaster Ma was undergoing a powerful metamorphosis. His wings had grown significantly, stained with blood and bearing the mysterious symbols. "He's nearly reached his optimal state, almost seventy to eighty percent there," Wang Xuan remarked, visibly impressed. "If he continues growing like this, thanks to the four demonic fruit cores, he'll be even more formidable than others of his kind. He's awakened the bloodline of his demonic ancestors, and their symbols are now manifesting!"

The shimmering gold now enveloped both Grandmaster Ma's wings and the half of his body covered in symbols. Zhao Qinghan, taken aback, commented, "Considering how powerful his bloodline seems, could he possibly transform into a celestial steed if he consumed actual demonic fruits?"

The following morning, as the first rays of the sun pierced through the bamboo grove, Grandmaster Ma stood enveloped in a crystal-clear glow, his golden fur radiating brilliantly under the dawn sky. With a swift motion, he took to the sky, carrying Zhao Qinghan with ease. However, when attempting to carry both travelers, he struggled.

"We're still a bit short," Wang Xuan murmured. "He can't quite bear both of our weights yet. But the treasures I have my eyes set on - the relics of the immortal ranks, the Earth Immortal Spring, the lairs of the eight transcendents - I aim to claim them all!" Filled with determination to grow stronger and to confront his formidable adversaries, Wang Xuan was ready to seize every opportunity that lay ahead.

Central to their mission was leveraging the incredible speed of Grandmaster Ma. Wang Xuan made a decision: he would set out alone, seeking rare treasures. His primary objective was to gather herbs powerful enough to complete the Grandmaster's transformation.

With the newfound abilities of Grandmaster Ma, who could now soar through the skies and traverse vast terrains with a passenger, Wang Xuan was confident that Zhao Qinghan would be safe. Additionally, their current location was far from the contested territories and devoid of any transcendent beings, making it relatively secure.

"As you embark on this journey, ensure your safety first before pursuing anything else," Zhao Qinghan said, approaching Wang Xuan. Bathed in the morning glow, she looked radiant. Embracing him gently, she knew well that every journey Wang Xuan undertook into the Hidden Land, teeming with the unknown and fraught with danger, could be his last. A single mishap, and they might never see each other again.

Acknowledging her concerns, Wang Xuan donned the armor from the Eura star and slung a massive bow on his back, ready to head out. "Grandmaster Ma, take good care of Qinghan. I promise, this time, I'll bring back a genuine demonic fruit for you – it's absolutely delicious, a hundred times tastier than just the core!"

With palpable excitement, Grandmaster Ma nodded vigorously. But after Wang Xuan had disappeared from sight, a realization struck him. How could Wang Xuan possibly know it tasted a hundred times better than the core? Annoyed and bemused, he thought, "He's really trying my patience!"

As Zhao Qinghan stood on the outskirts of the bamboo grove, watching Wang Xuan's retreating figure, her thoughts were preoccupied. The previous night, Wang Xuan had shared some of the potential threats they might face, mentioning the Red Cloaked Sorceress.

Deep in thought, Zhao Qinghan knew she had tasks to tackle upon returning to the New World. Every being has a vulnerability, and those emerging from the shadows inevitably leave traces behind. She planned to employ discreet agents to delve deep into the annals of history, searching for tales that might reveal the true identity of the Red Cloaked Sorceress, thereby exposing her weaknesses.

Goddess Zhao sensed the strain behind Wang Xuan's seemingly confident facade. His laughter and bravado barely concealed the immense internal pressure driving him to take increasingly perilous risks to become more powerful.

Back in the New World, within the modern society, she had the capacity to wield some of her power, swiftly and decisively, to address certain challenges and lend Wang Xuan a helping hand. However, accomplishing this wouldn't be simple. It would require meticulous planning, the collaborative efforts of a formidable team, and a thorough, well-crafted strategy.

Goddess Zhao even pondered the idea of involving the powerful conglomerates that held animosity towards the Zhao family. Perhaps, she could discreetly orchestrate events so that these two rival factions "discover" the information she wanted them to know. Both conglomerates had previously profited from the "benefits" of celestial beings. If they were to learn of the return of a weakened sorceress, they would undoubtedly go to great lengths to capture her.

......

"Eura!"

Standing firm in the face of confrontation, Wang Xuan exuded confidence. His intentions were clear – he sought mutual benefit and had come to negotiate.

Ahead, four extraterrestrial Masters – three women and one man – stood near the mouth of an active volcano. They'd just harvested a pristine white orchid, its fragrance potent and petals glowing with a soft white flame. They had battled and defeated a formidable swarm of fiery bats to claim this orchid, known for its medicinal properties even potent for beings of their caliber.

Wang Xuan unveiled a metallic key, signaling a desire to barter for the celestial herb. The risk of a surprise attack from the extraterrestrials didn't perturb him; his confidence stemmed from his inherent strength.

"Has this Euran lost his mind?" one of them whispered. "Exchanging a key to the Cosmos for a mere herb?"

"It's the genuine key, not a replica. Should we make the trade?" another mused.

"Of course! But do we need to engage in battle?"

Listening intently, Wang Xuan subtly raised five fingers, signaling he wanted five times the amount of the orchid.

The group hesitated. "Why not eliminate him?"

"Hold on," another intervened. "His boldness in coming alone speaks volumes of his backup. The value of five rare herbs is minuscule compared to that key. It's a profitable deal for us. But his motives remain a mystery. Let's be cautious. Let’s trade."

After making Wang Xuan wait, two additional members joined them from the nearby forest, bearing more herbs. Even with their superior numbers, they refrained from attacking. Their transaction with Wang Xuan was conducted cautiously.

Though both parties left seemingly satisfied, the six extraterrestrials felt uneasy, watching warily as the enigmatic Euran disappeared into the distance.

"Could he be injured and in desperate need of that medicine? So desperate that he's willing to part with the key to Cosmos?" one mused, looking back in the direction Wang Xuan had gone.

"Why should we care? We got a good deal. Let's leave," another replied.

"But what if, after he's healed, he comes after us? To reclaim that metal key?" a third speculated.

As their imaginations ran wild, they swiftly retreated. But one of them paused, "Why are we fleeing? If he truly has ambitions, our paths will cross again. Why not follow him now?"

"No," another countered. "Let's spread the word instead. Say the Ouran is injured and trading the Cosmos key for medicine."

Overthinking can indeed complicate matters.

Wang Xuan hadn't gone far. He was trying to establish contact with other teams. While aware this could escalate into conflict and make him a target, he wasn't deterred. Those with malicious intent would simply be dealt with.

Soon enough, a new party approached him, inquiring about trading for medicine. Wang Xuan nodded in affirmation.

This five-member team hailed from Heluo Star, originating from the same planet as the archer Wang Xuan had previously encountered, though they weren't from the same group. They quickly struck a deal, exchanging five rare herbs for the metal key.

They informed him that the intel about his supposed injury was circulated by the group from Yuhua Star. Essentially, they were painting a target on his back, implying he was weak and an easy prey.

Clearly, this Heluo Star team had their own motives. While they didn't want to be used as pawns, they were curious about Wang Xuan's strength and whether he'd confront the Yuhua Star team.

"I am indeed injured," Wang Xuan sighed, shaking his head. Without any intent of retaliation, he continued on his path.

With ten rare herbs in his possession, some of which were of Grandmaster caliber, Wang Xuan felt sufficiently prepared.

"Is he truly injured?" The figures behind him watched as Wang Xuan confidently retreated, their expressions filled with surprise.

"Why are we hesitating? Let's retrieve the herbs!" One among them exclaimed, unable to contain his greed. After all, Grandmaster-level herbs were at the pinnacle of all earthly medicines. Though they couldn't offer breakthroughs in power, they were invaluable in rapid recovery from injuries.

Wang Xuan's expression shifted. He had no intentions of exploiting these men; he was simply in a hurry, hoping to hasten Ma Dayao's transformation. However, their aggression left him no choice but to retaliate.

"Boom!"

His body illuminated, escalating his golden body technique to the late seventh stage. At this level, weapons could barely harm him; he was nearing the pinnacle of mortal strength. As he unleashed his power, he charged forward, making quick work of the five aggressors. Coupled with techniques from his golden book, his strikes were precise and crippling, though not lethal.

He held back intentionally, observing their techniques and secrets, as his real goal was the transcendence battle. Any insight into diverse abilities at this stage would be beneficial.

Ultimately, Wang Xuan retrieved his metal key and took their cosmic keys as well.

"He's a baiter!" The five adversaries grumbled in frustration, retreating and supporting one another.

Exhausted, Wang Xuan lay on the ground, panting heavily.

Soon, the original team he had traded with, consisting of six members, approached. They had intended others to probe Wang Xuan's strength and potential weaknesses. Seeing him now, drained of energy and vulnerable, they exchanged knowing glances.

"The men he fought with earlier are gravely injured, but they managed to flee alive. This indicates Wang Xuan's might. However, he too must've reached his limit, otherwise, he'd have eliminated them," one analyzed.

Indeed, this team had been careful from the start. Their cautious dealings with Wang Xuan, their reluctance to confront him despite numerical advantage, and their tactic of using others as probes spoke volumes. But now, their patience was running thin.

These men were overly cautious. Having hidden at a safe distance, they hadn't witnessed Wang Xuan's earlier confrontation, leading them to naturally assume that both parties had been grievously wounded, and Wang Xuan was at his breaking point.

"It's our time to strike; there's nothing to worry about now!"

"What a delightful surprise! He most likely possesses the cosmic keys from the previous group. They'll all be ours!"

Despite their confidence, the six remained cautious, advancing collectively with decisive determination, leaving no room for hesitation. But in the blink of an eye, they noticed the faint golden sheen on the skin of the figure lying on the ground. Wang Xuan sprang to his feet, charging at them with unrestrained ferocity.

"Bang!"

A scream echoed, signaling the shattering of bones.

A fierce battle erupted in the woods. By the time the dust settled, all six were sprawled on the ground, defeated but still breathing. Wang Xuan now had four metal keys on him.

His expression was one of genuine surprise. He hadn't intended to bait anyone; all this was purely accidental!

Previously, the two keys he had given away had a portion of their mysterious factors extracted by him. He wasn't worried about the recipients collecting all and unlocking the inner treasures. This left Wang Xuan feeling a tinge of guilt, which is why he refrained from delivering fatal blows.

"He's a baiter, this man... Damn him," one of them muttered.

In the woods, the group of six, consisting of young men and women, had faces darkened with rage. The regret was palpable among them. They wished they hadn't been so inquisitive, for had they not pursued, none of this would've happened.

......

"The metal keys contain the essence of the mysterious factors, and even though they offer limited benefits to me, for Qing Han and Ma Da Yao Mo, they are undoubtedly treasures," Wang Xuan mused as he ambled through the area.

By the end of the half-day, he had accumulated two more keys, bringing his total count to six. During this time, two separate groups had been soundly defeated, leaving the scene filled with anger and resentment.

"That baiter is shameless!"

"The people of Eura Star intentionally showcased several cosmic keys to exchange for rare herbs. They're fishing for prey!"

Rumors of the infamous "baiter" spread rapidly throughout the region.

"Don't trust anyone from Eura Star!" This sentiment, when heard by the other two squads from Eura Star, immediately weighed heavily on them.

...

Wang Xuan was in high spirits. With six metal keys in his possession and a dozen rare herbs, he ventured forth. He wouldn't admit to baiting anyone. To him, those people's greed forced his hand, and he merely defended himself.

In Wang's eyes, he was justified. He considered himself a good man.

Regardless of the tales surrounding him, he now had enough herbs. Coupled with the invaluable and dense essence of the mysterious factors in the metal keys, he believed Ma Da Yao Mo would surely undergo a flawless metamorphosis. Additionally, these unique items might help elevate Goddess Zhao to new heights.

Wang Xuan felt a flurry of emotions. Possibilities like the immortal relics and the terrestrial spring beckoned him, promising that they were almost within his grasp!