Stellar Transformations

Book 12 Qin Yu – Chapter 14 Second Layer World of the Atlas

+Previously on Stellar Transformations

Having planned on their course of action, Yu Dian’s group of five readily attack the residents of Qin Yu’s bamboo garden. Confronted by these five, Qin Yu did not turn tail nor scheme, but instead showed disdain. Angered by Qin Yu, the five initiated their ultimate technique – Five point chain sword formation. They were astounded by Qin Yu’s survival and in their dazed status they were met with five sword waves…

…

While Yu Dian’s group was still failing to comprehend what in the world was going on. They barely noticed Qin Yu initiating his own counterattack. And before they could move a muscle, three powerful and two slightly weaker waves of sword energy had already arrived at their faces.

The eighth move of the heaven sundering sword style was an extremely powerful technique from the heaven sundering sword repertoire, how could some miserly level 8 golden sword immortal even dream to resist?

“This move consumed about 50% of all nine top grade elemental stones installed. If I couldn’t kill the lot of you, wouldn’t I have made a big loss?” Qin Yu snickered to himself. He was confident in killing the four of the five, except the level 9 golden immortal. He wasn’t a fool to think he could definitely take care of that level 9 golden immortal Heng Yu, so the moment he executed the Omni-slash, he dashed toward Heng Yu.

“Shillllicc!” “Shillicc!”

Feng Lian and Heng Feng was instantly bisected at the chest level, blood spraying from the entry and exit wounds of the sword wave, their bodies completely lifeless as they fall down to the ground.

Confronted by such silent killer move, Yu Dian was no better than his own disciples. He may have had the business savviness of the trader and the management skills of a leader, but in terms of combat prowess, he was much weaker. He too, was rendered lifeless by the attack.

As for Lu Cao, he was, by his nature, a cheeky and cunning individual. The moment he saw the ‘martial uncle’ wasn’t dead, he was the first to react and dodge to the side….

But, the sword wave that was aimed at him wasn’t following a straight line either.

Each sword wave wasn’t a simple sword wave. Each was a wave of sword energy created using the Heaven sundering sword energy, meaning that each wave will home in on their targets like sword waves with consciousness.

The sword energy created by the divine long sword Sky Piercer bestows the ability and moves belonging to the Heaven Sundering Sword Style. Something as profound and omnipotent at the heaven sundering sword strikes wasn’t something a sly and cunning individual like Lu Cao could even dream on dodging. Naturally, he also fell victim to such a horrific display of power.

…

In this world and in any other world, the strong are revered. Sometimes, in the battle between seemingly equally powerful experts, a slight mistake or difference in strength could determine life or death. Who would bother with several hundred rounds of assault? If you wish to kill the opponent, you would use your sure-kill moves.

In a moment of weakness, carelessness or a result of the opponent’s lightning reflexes, and with the element of surprise, the targets wouldn’t have a chance of survival. Not to mention, the difference in power would only widen that gap.

In a blink of an eye, four of the five attackers, who were all late stage golden immortals, were instantly decapitated.

By concentrating the limited sword energies, Qin Yu instantly projected these sharpened blades and killing four golden immortals in one go, while he himself rushes forward to confront Heng Yu, who could feel the chill rise up from his toes.

Being the strongest of the group and most experienced in combat, Heng Yu had just enough time to unsheathe his sword and block the oncoming sword wave head-on. The impacting power from the sword wave sent him a hundred metres or two, while his hands felt a little numb from the jarring force. The force had shocked him greatly, as he felt the pressure from the wave, and his heart quivered in fright. “What a fierce and powerful sword wave.” Even though the wave was only one eighth of the total power of the Omni-direction attack, it wasn’t wise to underestimate its destructive force.

“No wonder. No wonder, my martial uncle and the others could not escape from their fate.” A level 9 golden immortal like Heng Yu was even knocked over a hundred metres back from the strength of that one attack. He now was very cautious and more prepared for the strength of this martial uncle of Qin Yu’s, and stood his ground in mid-air. One should know that melee combat on the ground gives the combatant less manoeuvrability and freedom to rampage, whereas in the air, it allows for more three dimensional movement.

“Hoh, you want to oppose me, eh?” Qin Yu smiled then broke into a loud laugh when he saw the provocative expression on the last golden immortal. Then accelerated into the air and towards his target.

The target was ten thousand and so metres above the ground!

Heng Yu and Qin Yu faced off each other, each clashing at high-speed at which lesser immortals could only catch shadowy blurs in the sky.

It was a fight between two super experts, whose clashes and power fluctuations created huge energy shockwaves the hammered the residents in the land below. Those of the Liu clan and even the Wang clan of the nearby city, could feel energy fluctuations. After all, these people were all immortals with spiritual sense, how could they not feel the wide-spread quakes in the area?

Below, the Liu clan’s clan leader and Liu Han Shu, could only grimace bitterly at the explosive forces rain down from above.

Elders – Yan Xu Fan and Yan Shuo from Yan Shan city, approached from below, towards the Liu family elders. “Liu Ming Han, the honoured guest you invited is simply amazing, he’d even dare to kill a senior generation of the jade sword school.” Yan Shuo sneered at the Liu clan’s clan leader. “It’s no use for excuses now, I’ve already informed the jade sword school about everything with my voice transfer talisman bead.” Yan Shuo laughed and the pitiable expressions on the clan leader’s face, he very much enjoyed to torment the other.

Amber Moon was a planet in the Silver Stream star field, which was in turn, under the command of Emperor Yu’s thirty-six rulers, which in this case was ‘Yu Qing Zi’. Offending the jade sword school was the same as offending emperor Yu. For the puny little clan like the clan leader’s Liu clan, offending emperor Yu was the same as facing genocide.

“Yan Shuo, don’t you dare slander me. My family’s honoured guests have only the power of a level 9 immortal. Can you not free the explosive energy waves from the fight above? How can an expert of that level accepted an invitation from my Liu clan?” the clan leader wore feigned expression of pity.

Ming Han of the Liu clan refuted in a righteous manner, “Yan Shuo, you know you have little grasp in controlling the teleportation array via the contest in a month’s time, such that you dare to use such an underhanded move to ‘hit me below the belt’ and denounce my family. The truth of your intentions will be known by the jade sword school master, who will put you in your place!”

Yan Shuo only laughed in an arrogant and condescending manner. “I won’t argue with you here. When the school master finds out about the death of a senior member of the school, all will be known.” Yan Shuo eyed Ming Han with disdain.

On the surface, Ming Han only nodded and smiled in provocation, but in his mind, he had already made a decision: Qin Yu is undeniably my honoured guest, but his martial uncle and my family have no relation whatsoever. “Qin Yu, hah, Qin Yu, I’d never have thought the prowess of your martial clan senior would be so powerful. Not only Yan Gao, but the man’s master and several more powerful comrades above level 7 golden immortal, each fell at your martial uncle’s blades. One after another was killed effortlessly at your uncle’s blade.”

Ming Han didn’t know whether to cry or laugh in delight.

But he knew one thing: he could not afford to offend the jade sword school nor Qin Yu, since both have the capability to kill level 7 or 8 golden immortals. He had to appease these two powers. With that in mind, he gazed upwards to the showdown between two experts in their final stage of their life and death battle.

“Booom!” howling gales of two powerful sword energy waves collided creating two opposing wind fronts and a subsequent explosion. The force of the collision sent the two combatants flying outwards like two strongly like poles, but without a pause in their cadence, they each launched forward at each other for a second round. This process of clashes and rounds proceeded for a short while, when finally Heng Yu stopped and wiped some fresh blood from the corner of his mouth and stared daggers at Qin Yu. “You, you are very powerful and your techniques are bizarre. I do not have confidence in killing you…”

“If you cannot kill me, but I will kill you.” Qin Yu spoke in a deadly chilled voice.

In reality, Qin Yu was just testing out the true power of a high level expert in a melee combat to get a feel for the powers he will be facing in the future. To do this, he expended all the power from nine top grade holy elemental stones by using lower powered attacks each time to draw out the match.

But now, they were at the precipice of the showdown.

Qin Yu was currently residing in the sword immortal puppet with an essential ‘immortal’ body. To this day, Qin Yu had never seen anything that could actually hurt or damage the puppet’s body in the slightest. That was why, he wanted to utilise this opportunity to test the extents of his puppet’s defence. But despite this aim, in this melee confrontation, his puppet had not suffered the smallest of blemishes yet, whereas Heng Yu was seriously injured. Cuts and gashes were rare to being the man’s body, but internally, Heng Yu was completely battered.

In the man’s eyes was a glint of malevolence. Heng Yu may be an extremely aloof figure even among the disciples of the jade sword school, no one would dare say they had won against Heng Yu. He wasn’t just merciless to others, he was the same with himself. “If you want to kill me, then prepare to witness this last ultimate technique of mine!”

It’s either you or me now!

Bloodlust in the form of crimson invade Heng Yu’s pupils, with his hands clasped together on the double hilt of his long sword, torrents of explosively bright energy channelled into the sword. A second later, the sword erupt upwards like a howling lightning dragon in the sky above, bisecting clouds and creating a special formation region that contained Qin Yu and himself.

Wary of this move, Qin Yu reacted instantly.

Assimilating with his own sword, he cut a wide path by directly colliding with the hailstorm of sword waves, and taking numerous barrages of sword wave he was knocked back a few hundred metres. But even so, would some sword waves hinder his ‘immortal’ body? With a flicker of his eyes and feet, he approached Heng Yu at an even faster speed.

Without hesitation or remorse, he pierced right through Heng Yu’s abdomen.

Tendons and muscles ripped in quick succession, the alarming sound of a blunt knife piercing into a carcass was heard in the region, the hand instantly grabbed the yuanying within the body of the victim, only to feel explosive sword energy emitting from it.

That instant when Heng Yu’s yuanying was gripped –––––––

A terrifying explosion and boom was heard from Qin Yu’s palm, while a wrathful voice was heard in Qin Yu’s mind, “Ha ha, my ultimate technique is to combust my yuanying. I refuse to believe that the explosive force from a combusted level 9 golden immortal’s yuanying will not kill you!”

“BOOOOOM!! RUMMBLE!”

The explosion had occur in the air, but the earth below shook and shockwaves continued to progress until it encompassed the entire planet. The incredible energy stored and combust in a level 9 golden immortal cause a solar flare to envelope the skies of the planet, and in that instant, its brightness eclipse the sun.

Propelled by this ferocious force, Qin Yu was swept aside.

“My goodness!” Cries from below did not wake Qin Yu, as the violent explosion had happened right next to him and shook the very foundations of his soul, making him lose consciousness. Qin Yu’s body – Lan Feng, had assumed a dazed state, and within the time for ten breaths, his body had fallen a considerable height. Afterwards, he woke and exerted control over the body and stopped his descent.

“This immortal sword puppet’s body is…..I wonder how Uncle Lan had been able to refine such an item! That violent explosion had not damaged the puppet at all!” Qin Yu finally recovered from his dazed state and shocked to find his body was not damage and none of his limbs were missing!

The previous explosion had only left a numb feeling in his hand, while the tremor from it was the most harmful, as it partially attacked his soul. “No matter. This Heng Yu guy is now dead.” Qin Yu immediately spread out his immortal spiritual powers.

Below, numerous sparkling treasures littered the grounds of Liu Feng city, but neither Liu clan, the Wang clan or the Yan clan dared to touch anything. They were very much afraid of offending Qin Yu, thus incurring Qin Yu’s wrath to rain on their heads. Their lives were more important than treasure!

The loots below included Heng Yu’s interspatial rings, other assorted items as well as the yuanying and items left from the death of the other four golden immortals. These were all collected by Qin Yu.

“Hah, it’s unfortunate, I could not get Heng Yu’s yuanying. The guy was a level 9 golden immortal no less!” Qin Yu expressed a exasperate sigh, as if the remaining loot was not enough. “No matter. The remaining loot is still quite good: three level eight golden immortal yuanyings and a level 7 yuanying. With these breaking through to the ‘Black Hole’ stage should be useful.

Though Heng Yu combusted the fellow’s yuanying, the other four didn’t have the chance to self-destruct.

While collecting the loot, Qin Yu’s face instantly turned ugly. He had found that the dead body of Lu Cao had held, in the man’s hand, a voice transfer talisman bead! “This guy’s strength was the lowest, yet the fastest to react.”

At first he was afraid of causing a huge uproar and attracting big trouble, but now he did not care, because his current identity was as superficial and fake as the intentions of the lowly three major clansmen of Amber Moon.

“Clans: Yan, Liu and Wang.” His voice sounded out as he eyed the group of people some distance away. He had deliberately raise his voice to be heard by everyone else as well.

The faces of those clansmen was drained of all colour, where each had sported parched white expressions.

They all had a premonition; such an entity was killing level seven to eight golden immortals like taking a stroll in the park, could easily crush their families for breakfast.

“Heh, heeh.” Qin Yu chortled coldly at the clansmen, then disappeared from sight.

This cold snicker was enough to shake the hearts of the clansmen into submission. They unanimously decided, from henceforth, they could not afford to offend the martial elder of Qin Yu’s martial school and jade sword school.

That is the woe of puny powers like theirs. They could only prostrate themselves in front of the greater powers.

…

On a distant and barren mountain, a few kilometres below was piles of gravel and sedimentary rocks, among those specks of gravel was the Jade Immortal Mansion.

Within the jade immortal mansion.

Qin Yu had already returned to his own body, and was sitting a cross-legged position, in front of the same water fountain, but with a level one golden immortal’s yuanying levitating in front, a little below eye level.

A while later, his mouth opened and from his mouth came tongues of blue fire.

After reaching the mid-level of the Dark Star stage, the original heavenly purple flames had become the upgraded ‘blue skyfire’. These tongues of blue fames wrapped around the yuanying of the emissary of old – Hua Yan.

Under the constant heating of the blue skyfire, the yuanying was melted and refined into a golden liquid.

“Glug, glug.”

Like drinking water from an oasis, Qin Yu drew in and drank the golden liquid, then he promptly shut his eyes and cleared his mind, and resumed his meditation.

Within the dantian region – the region a few centimetres below the collar, that golden liquid droplet was eroded drop by streams of golden liquid, as his red ‘Dark Star’ absorbed the concoction. The volume of the star did not decrease but the colour of the star darkened.

“Hm, still no enough.”

He couldn’t detect that marvellous feeling of an imminent breakthrough was at hand. So he instantly withdrew another yuanying, which had belonged to the Devil emissary – Du Zhong Jun. Under the tongues of blue skyfire, the yuanying turned into a golden red droplet.

“Gulp.” The next droplet was swallowed whole.

Once again, the liquid entered the dantian within his body and was absorbed, only this time the absorption rate was much higher. The yuanying of the devil Du Zhong Jun was instantly consumed by the dark star, whose volume increased by an significant multiplication, while the colour was nearly black.

“Crackle.” Along the surface of his ‘dark star’ had begun to split apart and change.

To accelerate this process, Qin Yu withdrew a third yuanying of the dragon emissary Ao Feng, then refined it and drank the golden liquid once again. The subsequent result was the dark star increased in size by another multiplication, though the star was still small in the boundless universe within his dantian. With the purest energy from three golden immortal’s yuanyings, the crackling and changes to the dark star sped up significantly.

“Can’t consume any more yuanyings.” He felt incredible energy erupting from the dark star, threatening to overwhelm his soul’s control, thus he didn’t dare to refine any more yuanyings.

“Crackle, crackle.”

Ionic beams like open wounds laced the surface of the star, and suddenly, the star collapse inwards to a tenth of its original size. Now the star was completely black, deeper than the darkest of nights. Incandescent and ominous light shone from within, like a pearl of evil.

After a long time, the transformation stilled.

He opened his eyes, and from within a hint of a smile was seen, even his lips curved into a natural smile. He knew he had finally reached the late dark star stage. He then broke into a laugh, “Ha ha, now I should have the power to open the second layer world of the Atlas, right?” he asked to no one in particular.

At a moment’s notice, he felt the power of his current dark star was at least ten times more powerful than his previous middle dark star stage.

Given how close he was to opening the second layer last time, he now should be able to open it without difficulty.

“Oh, I wonder how many demon kings will there be within the second layer world of my Atlas? And how many will there be of level 9 demon kings?” His heart thumped with excitement, as he imagined wielding a small army of elite peak level demon kings obeying his will.

Without further ado, he stifled his excitement and directly entered the Atlas to proceed with opening the second layer world of the Atlas!