The Stars Beyond

Chapter 204: Preparations

The Early Qin female immortal had indeed arrived. Her flowing black hair and fluttering garments gave her an ethereal and otherworldly appearance, radiating an aura of exceptional grace and transcendence. For others, this encounter would be a moment of great excitement and honor, but Wang Xuan felt a shiver run down his spine, filled with trepidation.

Since discovering the presence of the female immortal's spirit within the bead bracelet on Zheng Rui's wrist in the Hidden Land, Wang Xuan had harbored an uneasy premonition. Now, his worst fears seemed to be coming true.

The grandeur of the Earth Immortal City's altar, capable of connecting to the celestial veil, was extraordinary. Wang Xuan couldn't help but wonder what might happen when the remnants of the female immortal's spirit in the modern world met her ascended form, a reunion after three thousand years.

"An actual immortal, a living female celestial, appears before us, resembling a goddess gliding over water, shining like the moon from the vast lunar palace. We are witnessing a myth come to life!" exclaimed Zhong Cheng in awe, never having seen anything like this before. The impact of mythology merging with reality was immensely powerful for those of the modern world.

Zhong Qing pinched him to silence, warning him not to speak carelessly in the presence of a real ancient immortal. Offending her could spell trouble.

At the same time, she couldn't help but feel envious of the immortal's eternal youth and radiant beauty, a temptation too great for any young woman who cherished beauty.

"Senior, I think this item here is also quite remarkable," Wang Xuan said, his finger moving towards another item in front of the celestial veil, eager to avoid a direct encounter with the supreme celestial.

"Coincidentally, that too is an item left by her," White Peacock informed him.

Wang Xuan stiffened, realizing that no matter what he chose, White Peacock would probably claim it was an artifact left by the female immortal. It seemed he had been deliberately set up for this encounter.

The female immortal descended gently, enveloped in a faint mist, embodying the legendary image of a celestial being descending to the mortal realm. Even amidst the mundane world, she retained her unparalleled and solitary splendor.

"Greetings, Ladyl," Wang Xuan said with utmost seriousness, not daring to speak out of turn.

After all, this was a being who had achieved ascension to immortality three thousand years ago. Who could predict her temperament or nature after enduring such an extensive period in the celestial realm?

Indeed, she was different from her spirit remnants left in the modern world. Upon her descent, she remained motionless and silent, exuding a quiet beauty and otherworldliness, yet there was an invisible majesty about her. Despite the barrier of the celestial veil, one could feel her chilling presence, like facing a frozen tundra.

She acknowledged Wang Xuan's greeting with a slight nod.

Having become an immortal, her demeanor had indeed transformed. After thousands of years of battles and confrontations with the foremost figures among the celestials, she stood firmly at the pinnacle, commanding respect and awe with every gesture.

Overall, she was reticent, resembling an ice-covered figure, possessing an almost queenly air. Her distance from the mundane world seemed vast and unapproachable.

Wang Xuan couldn't help but recall when the spirit of the female immortal in the modern world had just awakened and entered his dreams. In an act of resistance, he had even touched her delicate, porcelain-like cheek. He imagined how she would react if she knew about it. Such a commanding figure, accustomed to superiority, would likely have a fierce temper.

Yet, he felt no fear. After all, he wasn't the one seeking her favor, and time seemed to be on his side. In three years, if the celestial veil truly extinguishes and the celestials face extinction, even the top immortals escaping back to the mortal world would lose their transcendent abilities.

The thought of this celestial woman eventually becoming mortal left Wang Xuan somewhat lost in thought, wondering about the choices she would make in the future.

To his surprise, the celestial woman in the veil didn't speak to him but turned her attention elsewhere.

Her spirit remnants from the modern world silently drifted over. Both figures were stunningly beautiful, but their temperaments were distinctly different. The spirit from the modern world was somewhat gentle, with a warm smile, while the celestial woman was cold and distant, as if keeping everyone at arm's length.

It made sense, after all. Three thousand years of warfare in the celestial realm, accustomed to the company of powerful beings from various races, and stained with the blood of celestials – the female immortal in the veil had indeed evolved into a formidable figure, distinct from her earthly counterpart.

Two identically beautiful women, with their fingers touching across the celestial veil, caused the very fabric of space to seemingly rupture. The veil thundered as a crack appeared where their fingertips met, an astonishing feat.

In an instant, the gaze of the celestial female immortal shot towards Wang Xuan, her eyes blazing like divine rainbows slicing through the void. Wang Xuan understood that the spirits of both female immortals had merged, sharing their experiences of the years apart. The celestial immortal knew his situation.

"Three years later... guide me, help me cross... the Celestial Tribulation, I shall reward you handsomely," a mental message echoed from the veil, clearly defying the ancient pact by directly communicating with Wang Xuan.

Before, only the red-robed female demon had spoken clearly from behind the veil. Now, the female immortal had taken a further step in breaking the ancient covenant.

In the depths of the veil, a lightning bolt hundreds of miles long struck towards the female immortal. The thunderous bolt, terrifyingly immense, seemed unstoppable.

Unperturbed, she didn't even turn to face it. With a flick of her sleeve, she dispersed the overwhelming thunder with a resounding crash. The entire hidden land trembled under the might of the heavenly thunder, yet she remained unshaken, dispersing it effortlessly with a mere gesture.

Then, lightning filled the sky, torrents of thunderbolts rained down upon her, attempting to obliterate her in a unified assault. The world behind the veil transformed into an ocean of thunder, with mountains and rivers wailing, islands in the sky plummeting, and sacred beasts and divine birds fleeing in terror.

Bathing in the electric light, she remained as unyielding as a snow lotus in the coldest winter. A soft glow emanated from her, forming a halo that repelled all the thunderous onslaughts.

Her gaze remained fixed on Wang Xuan, repeating her earlier words with a powerful will that pierced through the veil. Though others couldn't hear, Wang Xuan alone received her message – a resonating echo like thunderclaps and the roar of a tsunami, reverberating through the heavens.

"Red-robed female demon is hunting me!" Wang Xuan hastily disclosed his concern. He wasn't particularly eager to assist the female immortal in crossing the Celestial Tribulation. Who knew what it would entail? Most likely, it would involve using his Inner Landscape.

"Oh, she's here today as well. I'll fend her off. It seems she still has significant control over the earthly realm, knowing you've come here," the female immortal informed calmly.

Wang Xuan's scalp tingled with unease. The red-robed female demon was also behind this celestial veil? How could this be such a coincidence? He rapidly pieced together various thoughts. Both the female immortal and the demon had left their marks in this hidden land. And with Bai Kongque's close ties to the female immortal, he pondered if there was also a deep connection between a great demon of this place and the red-robed demoness. Could it be the old fox?

At that moment, the celestial female immortal's fingertips emitted a blinding light, tearing the veil apart, creating a web of cracks. Everyone in Earth Immortal City felt a heart-pounding tremor, and all the creatures shivered in awe at the sight of her, unyielding amidst the celestial thunder, causing immense shock.

Mysterious life energy seeped through the cracks in the veil, dissipating steadily, but eventually, some of it merged into the spirit body on this side. The once faint and indistinct spirit body now seemed to be materializing, almost manifesting flesh and blood.

Indeed, the female immortal was preparing in advance, transferring part of her life essence. However, the loss was substantial, and she swiftly withdrew, disappearing into the distance. Unwilling to wait for the three years, she paid a significant price to transfer a portion of her life essence early, ensuring her survival.

Wang Xuan was deeply moved. He sensed the earthly female immortal's spirit body becoming more concentrated. If she were to return to her physical body on the Old World, she would most likely come back to life directly. This was a celestial being who had left her physical form on Earth, perhaps foreseeing something long ago.

Wang Xuan realized that she was far more prepared than the celestials behind the veil. In three years, even if the myth decayed and she fell from the sky, losing her transcendent powers, she would likely be in a much better situation than other true immortals reduced to mere mortals.

"Indeed, she has deeply infiltrated the Zheng family conglomerate, setting the stage for her future in these three years."

As the celestial female immortal departed, the encompassing thunder erupted multiple times before vanishing completely. At the edge of the celestial realm's land, a figure in red appeared to approach but was intercepted by the female immortal.

"Boom!" A more terrifying radiance exploded, more fearsome than heavenly tribulation itself. The two figures clashed, moving faster than lightning, sweeping over the land and soaring into the sky. However, they soon ceased, seemingly engaging in conversation, standing at the edge of the heavens, their figures hazy and distant. Finally, they both looked out beyond the curtain.

Wang Xuan felt a chill, sensing their gazes on him.

With a tearing sound that ripped through the celestial earth and sky, the two figures vanished, leaving it uncertain whether they had departed in combat or in agreement.

Wang Xuan remained stoic, hoping they had continued their fight far away, rather than reaching a mutual understanding. If it was the latter, he felt uneasy.

"No matter what, the future is in my hands. Even if you survive, you are destined to fall from the celestial realm to the mortal world. From celestials to mortals, after the initial hardships, this human world will belong to Wang Xuan!"

He silently bolstered his spirit, fortifying his resolve.

"The item you initially chose is good. It's medicinal soil I left behind. Once you enter the Life-Earth and Herb-Gathering realms, it will be greatly useful."

The spirit body of the female immortal remaining in the earthly realm spoke, nodding at Wang Xuan while looking at a glowing purple jade in the veil.

This medicinal soil, not actual soil but rather a type of medicinal essence, contained a part of the essence of heavenly medicine! Wang Xuan was not new to such substances, having once tricked a piece of medicinal soil from the White Tiger True Immortal, originally from the red-robed female demon, now kept in his fragment of the blessed land.

Now, Wang Xuan had chosen another piece of medicinal soil left by the female immortal, accumulating two pieces. Both originating from the extraordinary celestial immortals, these would undoubtedly be immensely beneficial once he entered the Life-Earth and Herb-Gathering realms.

Nearby, upon hearing this, Old Chen promptly gave up on the item he had initially set his sights on. Approaching humbly, he said, "May the immortal guide me through my confusion. I, too, wish to exchange for a piece of medicinal soil."

"There are indeed several pieces of medicinal soil here, but the ones with the essence of heavenly medicine... Ah, there indeed is one, probably left by a great sage of Buddhism."

The female immortal's spirit in the earthly realm was amiable and approachable, much warmer compared to her celestial counterpart, who was as cold as ice.

In the distance, Zhou Yun, Zhou Cheng, and Zhou Qing, who were not transcendents, couldn't see her spirit body without her making a special appearance.

"Was that a celestial maiden just now? Will such high-level true immortals really fall to the mortal world in three years? I feel motivated to strive harder now. Marrying a celestial immortal as a mortal might not just be a dream!" Zhou Yun clenched his fists, his face glowing with excitement and his eyes sparkling with possibility.

"Yes, the future is full of possibilities, anything could happen!" Zhou Cheng nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Shut up, the veil is still here!" Zhou Qing scolded him, lost in thought. In the next three years, the celestial immortals, desperate to survive, would likely resort to extreme measures.

Before the veil extinguishes, the celestial immortals will certainly seek ways to escape their fate. This implied that the coming three years might witness frightening scenarios like warships battling celestial immortals in the earthly realm!

Zhou Qing pondered deeply. The drastic changes wouldn't just begin in three years; they could start at any moment!

......

“Immortal, since we are somewhat acquainted, I have a question to ask. The Red-Clothed Female Demon Immortal is destined to enter our world soon. How can I confront her effectively?” Wang Xuan asked, seizing the rare opportunity to communicate with the earthly spirit of the female immortal.

At that moment, the female immortal was recommending an artifact to Old Chen, "This seemingly rotting wooden sword is quite remarkable. It can slay Earth Immortals."

"What?" Old Chen was startled.

"Oh, you can't exchange for it. It requires someone at the initial stage of the Free Roaming Realm to activate it," the female immortal clarified, shaking her head.

Then, turning to Wang Xuan, she said, “Why the urgency? Time is on your side.”

“I must be cautious. Currently, I fear her potential attack on me, as I lack the strength to retaliate,” Wang Xuan spoke earnestly.

He then inquired seriously, “Where did the Female Demon Immortal undergo her transcendence trial? Or where is her cave dwelling located? It should have fallen from the void into our world, right?”

Wang Xuan sought to find the remnants left by the red shirted demoness Immortal, like her immortal bones. Moreover, if she defied the odds and left her physical body behind, it was all the more crucial for him to act swiftly and preemptively.

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