Qin Wentian’s Astral Soul

Qin Wentian's Astral Soul . . . 

In the heart of this mystical realm, Qin Wentian and Yang Yun'er stood transfixed, their gazes riveted upon an unassuming stone that began to undergo a breathtaking transformation. An ethereal astral light emanated from it, casting an otherworldly radiance. Before their very eyes, the mundane rock blossomed into a colossal immortal stone, while an intricate tapestry of hallucinations and illusions wove a surreal landscape around it.

Yang Yun'er, her heart aflutter with awe, couldn't help but exclaim, "The sheer size of this stone renders it invaluable. These naturally-formed ores are of the highest quality. Unlike the refined products commonly found for sale in the Supreme Ancient Immortal Realms, this is a true gem."

In the vicinity, the eyes of many immortal kings gleamed with avid anticipation. Such a colossal stone bore an astronomical price tag, capable of buying freedom for countless criminals or amassing a king's ransom in wealth.

Yang Yun'er sighed as she mused aloud, "This emperor-grade stone carries its own illusion formation, a veritable treasure trove for any formation grandmaster. Imagine the potential it holds."

The vast expanse around them was shrouded in an impenetrable mist, obscuring all sight. Even Yang Yun'er's keen immortal sense faltered in the face of these beguiling illusions. She extended a hand but couldn't see her own fingers. Yet, in that moment of disorientation, a warm current enveloped her palm. Someone held her hand, their eyes shimmering with a golden radiance, as if they possessed the power to pierce through these illusions.

"I can't see a thing," Yang Yun'er confessed, her vision veiled by the all-encompassing mist. She felt comforted by the reassuring grip on her hand.

"Indeed," Qin Wentian concurred, his own sight obscured. Time was of the essence. He decided to take action, lest they become trapped should the higher-ups decide to seal off the mine.

Yang Yun'er was momentarily lost in thought when, suddenly, Qin Wentian's firm hand guided her into a spatial gateway. In an instant, they reemerged in a different location, and Qin Wentian's aura surged forth like a tempest.

Without hesitation, he extended his hand, creating a protective barrier of light around the emperor-grade stone. A thread of spatial energy materialized, and with a swift motion, he drew the thread into another spatial gate and secured the treasure.

In the blink of an eye, the mist dispersed, and the astral light dimmed. Qin Wentian, unfazed by the surrounding immortal kings, made a declaration, "The emperor stone is now mine. Anyone who seeks to plunder it shall find no quarter, for I will show no mercy."

With that, he turned and began walking away, heedless of the gaze of the immortal kings who followed his every step.

"Simply courting death," one of them muttered under their breath as they summoned a Thunder Domain. The sky crackled with purple thunderbolts, entrapping Qin Wentian and Yang Yun'er within its electrified embrace.

Undeterred, Qin Wentian formed a protective energy barrier around Yang Yun'er, who was now under his care. He led her through the maelstrom of purple thunder and lightning. Astonishingly, none of the electrifying assaults inflicted the slightest harm upon him.

The enraged immortal king responsible for the Thunder Domain was growing increasingly frantic. The thunderbolts from the heavens intensified in their ferocity. Within the domain, an ominous visage materialized in the sky, imbuing the thunder with an ominous soul-stirring quality.

Qin Wentian's hand traced an elegant motion, conjuring a spatial sword domain. From the heavens above, an iridescent cascade of divine sword radiance rained down.

In a resolute voice, Qin Wentian declared, "Perish!" His finger pointed, and a million strands of sword intent cleaved through all obstacles, reducing the pursuing immortal king to mere dust in the blink of an eye.

"Allow me to reiterate," Qin Wentian warned the onlookers, his eyes ablaze with authority. "Anyone with designs on the stone will meet a similar fate."

With a casual wave of his hand, Qin Wentian confiscated the defeated immortal king's spatial ring and walked away. None dared to pursue him, their hearts gripped by an inexplicable terror. The superior quality of law energy emanating from him dwarfed their own, quashing any thoughts of confrontation.

Yang Yun'er gazed at Qin Wentian in astonishment. She was growing accustomed to this surreal and unpredictable journey. The immortal-foundation character that had originally been brought here by Jialan Mingyue's subordinates now seemed to be acting of its own accord. Otherwise, it would have eradicated them with ease.

"We have to relinquish 90% of the meteor stones we gather upon exiting. Is there any way to circumvent this tax?" Qin Wentian inquired.

Yang Yun'er explained the harsh reality to Qin Wentian as they traversed this vast and enigmatic realm. "There's no way to evade it. After we exit, all our spatial rings will have to be handed over for inspection. In this boundlessly vast realm, all the cultivation resources here belong to the Realmlord. We can keep only 10% because they acknowledge our efforts in mining them. If the harvest is good, some criminals might even buy their freedom. This mine is owned by the Jialan Monarch, and the resources we excavate here are first handed over to Jialan Emperor City, then transferred to the Lifire Palace before finally reaching the Realmlord's location. No one dares to covet what belongs to the Realmlord. No matter how strong you are, you'd only meet your doom if you tried."

"Mhm, the Realmlord must be filthy rich," Qin Wentian chuckled. He couldn't help but marvel at the vast wealth controlled by the superpowers of the Supreme Ancient Immortal Realms. Apart from these ordinary mines, there must still be higher-grade ones out there.

"Since we can only keep 10%, let's excavate more, then," Qin Wentian declared as he descended. With a graceful motion, a sword formation materialized beneath his feet, continuously extending outward.

The earth quaked, and clouds of dust and tiny fragments of rock filled the air. Thunderous rumblings reverberated through the sky as an ever-increasing number of meteor stones emerged. Qin Wentian deftly controlled his sword with his immortal sense while collecting the meteor stones with his hands, performing each task with remarkable fluidity.

Yang Yun'er was left speechless as she watched Qin Wentian's relentless progress. His actions seemed nothing short of madness, creating a cacophony in their wake. Many powerful individuals soon appeared in their vicinity, casting covetous glances at the seemingly reckless man. They believed that all his efforts would ultimately end up benefiting them.

No one dared to obstruct him, but many chose to shadow his every move, biding their time until they could seize the meteor stones for themselves.

As the days passed, more immortal kings joined the procession. Yang Yun'er followed closely behind Qin Wentian but couldn't help trembling with trepidation as she surveyed her surroundings. Did he truly believe himself invincible in the realm of immortal kings?

Some of the experts in their midst were peak-stage immortal kings, their eyes brimming with avarice.

Finally, Qin Wentian came to a halt. He examined the meteor stones in his spatial ring, a satisfied smile gracing his lips. Although he would only keep 10% of the haul, his harvest had been immense.

Moreover, if anyone sought to kill him for his meteor stones, he wouldn't hesitate to retaliate.

"Let's go," Qin Wentian said to Yang Yun'er, preparing to depart. However, the experts who had been tailing them for so long couldn't bear to watch them leave without a struggle. In a flash, numerous figures appeared, blocking their path and hemming them in.

Spatial fluctuations rippled through the surroundings. Qin Wentian stepped into a spatial gate, navigating the void and emerging in another location.

"Wait here for me," he instructed Yang Yun'er before turning back to the spot they had just vacated.

"Anyone who approaches me will meet their end," Qin Wentian declared as his body soared into the air. A radiant, holy light enveloped him, transforming him into a divine figure.

This was the power of light. Qin Wentian's entire being radiated a brilliance that rivaled the sun itself, rendering the onlookers temporarily blind. The light was more intense than the fiercest sunlight.

Despite the warning, most of the experts paid it no heed. In an instant, several powerful immortal kings charged forward. Yet, as they closed in, beams of light pierced their bodies, and agonizing screams filled the air. One after another, they perished, their bodies reduced to ash within the luminous domain. Regardless of their strength or the law-attributes they cultivated, none escaped this grim fate.

Qin Wentian remained suspended in the air, impassively observing the carnage below. In that moment, he embodied divinity itself, the god of radiant light. The experts who had refrained from joining the fray earlier now quaked in terror as they beheld the devastating consequences of their folly.

Slowly, the radiance faded, and spatial energy coalesced into countless threads, collecting the spatial rings of the fallen. Then, without a word, Qin Wentian turned and departed. None dared to pursue him, their hearts heavy with dread.

Amidst the bewildered silence, one voice dared to speak out, tinged with frustration. "Given his incredible strength, why would he bother to join us in this scramble for cultivation resources?" The crowd murmured in agreement, their faces reflecting their shared disbelief. After witnessing Qin Wentian's terrifying prowess, it was clear to everyone that the monarchs of this realm would vie for his allegiance. They would undoubtedly shower him with resources and vie for the privilege of nurturing him. With a bit of luck, he might even earn the favor of one of the nine empyreans. So why had he chosen to labor in this mine, mining for resources alongside them?

The question hung in the air, unanswered, leaving the gathering in a state of perplexity. Among the miners, criminals were not in short supply, but there were also individuals who had reached a point of desperation. Yet, despite their diverse backgrounds, none could deny that if they were part of a sect or organization, their access to cultivation resources would be far superior.

Yang Yun'er, once again flabbergasted by Qin Wentian's actions, couldn't help but pose her own question. "You possess incredible power, so why did you choose to bring me along?"

Qin Wentian replied with a warm smile, "Because we entered this place together."

Yang Yun'er blinked, absorbing his words in silence for a moment before speaking once more. "I've read extensively about the constellations in the heavenly layers, especially those in the 6th heavenly layer. I've even come across descriptions of astral souls from the 7th heavenly layer, but I've never encountered one as formidable as yours. Is it related to the light law-attribute?"

Qin Wentian nodded with a grin. "Indeed, my astral soul originates from the 8th heavenly layer."

Yang Yun'er's dumbfounded expression persisted as she gazed at him in awe.