The Stars Beyond

Chapter 419: Worried About Marriage

Wang Xuan looked repeatedly with his spiritual eyes fully open, but he didn't notice anything unusual. His parents were too normal, ordinary and plain. He felt relieved. All sorts of troubles had arisen lately and it had made him think too much. He told his parents not to address Fang Yuzhu that way in public. She was an extraordinary figure with an uncertain background.

Wang's mother nodded and said, "I understand. We won't talk about transcendent matters in public. But she's really nice. We chatted all night and got along very well."

"What family heirloom do we have that I don't know about?" Wang Xuan wondered. Fang Yuzhu was also at a loss when she accepted the gift.

Wang's mother gave him a disapproving look and said, "Have you forgotten? My bracelet, my favorite one. It's a beautiful black jade adorned with stars, a rare treasure that was never seen before."

"Wasn't that something you picked up from a street vendor?" said Wang Xuan as he was skeptical.

He remembered when he was in his teens, his parents, as usual, gave him a week's allowance for his expenses while they happily went on a trip. When they returned, his mother was ecstatic, claiming they had found a treasure at a remote stall in a small town, and had intended to be passed down through generations. At that time, Wang Xuan took one look and immediately knew his mother had been swindled. There was no way the black jade was covered in sparkling white dots. It was obviously a glass-inlaid imitation. It was just attractive in appearance. His father even shamelessly praised his mother's sharp eyes, claiming she had searched high and low before unexpectedly finding the treasure. Wang Xuan didn't want to say much at the time. They were too affectionate in front of their son, as if there was no one else around! He felt embarrassed about gifting a fake to someone extraordinary. He couldn't imagine the awkwardness if Fang Yuzhu had worn it on the spot.

"What's with that look, son? Fang Yuzhu said it's very beautiful, just like the deep universe dotted with countless stars. It was very exquisite. She put it on her wrist right away."

"She put it on?" Wang Xuan was surprised, then sighed. She really knew how to handle things gracefully to avoid embarrassment.

"Of course, we hit it off so well in our conversation. Why wouldn't she wear the gift? This is called social adeptness. Don't get too caught up in your spiritual cultivation and forget about human interactions," scolded Wang's mother.

"The transcendent world is chaotic. I wonder if what Master Wukong said is accurate," Wang Xuan's father chimed in.

"Anyway, if something unexpected happens, I'll have to take the bracelet back. At that time, I jokingly told her that it's a family heirloom!" Wang's mother remarked.

"Let's not dwell on that," said Wang Xuan with embarrassment. Constantly bringing up the broken bracelet was too humiliating. He rummaged through his fragments of paradise. In the end, he chose a sparkling bracelet and a purple bangle that were both extraordinary treasures. He handed them to his mother and had put an end to the dilemma. These were the true divine items, capable of protection and being passed down through generations.

"Looks shiny, that's about it. Not as good as my piece. They're worlds apart!" said his mother. Wang's mother's assessment made Wang Xuan feel like he was going to bleed.

How could you even compare? These were mythical items, rare treasures.

"Indeed, nowhere near as good as that black bracelet covered in sparkling white dots," his father nodded in agreement.

"If you don't like it, just leave it at home instead of throwing it away. These are transcendent items!" exclaimed Wang Xuan. He felt mentally exhausted, but he had to make it clear. Otherwise, his mother might just give it to the neighbors next door.

"Also, please don't mention Fang Yuzhu anymore. I met a girl named Zhao Qinghan at the New World. She's my college classmate......" Wang Xuan briefly explained the situation.

He needed to set things straight. His parents kept mentioning transcendent matters, which was really inappropriate. He was afraid it might attract unwanted attention and lead to trouble in the future.

"Wasn't your college girlfriend named Ling Wei? Oh, right, you two broke up later," his father recalled.

Wang Xuan wished he could hurry and send them to the train station.

Whose mom was heart-wrenching like this?

It was a stab to the son's heart.

"How far have you two gone?" his father asked.

Wang Xuan briefly responded. "We’re more than friends but no lovers. This kind of status isn't very stable. Haven't people been saying that myths will dry up in the future, and everything will return to the ordinary? Think about it, the tycoons will definitely return from the depths of the cosmos. Their girl's status, family background are all lofty and imposing. By then, as a regular guy who's shed his divine aura, became weaker, lacking supernatural means, and needing to clock in for work on time. How are you going to pursue her, or even get close to her?"

"Don't be so materialistic, okay?" said the father.

"I'm just giving you a heads-up in advance. This isn't just about the two of you, it also involves her relatives, family, friends, and the environment. There's a powerful trend pushing things forward, sometimes beyond individual will. After the extinction of the transcendent, the power of corporate capital will magnify unprecedentedly. Don't imagine everything will be so rosy!" said the mother. Then, Wang's mother added, "Of course, I'm just talking nonsense."

"Then don't talk nonsense!" Wang Xuan felt like he was being sliced up today and was hoping they'd hurry home.

"Well, hearing you talk like that, I actually think that girl isn't bad. As a mother, I'll definitely support you in winning her over!" said Wang’s mother.

"Whose side are you actually on?" Wang Xuan rubbed his temples and did not want to discuss this issue with them any further.

"You're silly. Since you haven't won any of them over, of course, we support all of them!" said Wang's mother, like it was natural.

"In ancient times, these things weren't a big deal, but times have indeed changed," his father said the same way.

Wang Xuan was stunned. Other parents were afraid their children might go astray, but why was his mother instilling values that didn't match the present? He finally saw them off and watched them board the train. Then, unable to resist, he used his spiritual eye to observe again. Everything was perfectly normal. Clearly, his thoughts had been absurd and he had overthought everything.

"Last night, who were the couple? After Fang Yuzhu, Zhang Daoling, and Yan Yan left, could there still be such powerful people in the old world?"

Especially, a pair of powerful individuals who could walk together like this should have been easily identifiable in the immortal realm. By now, he had some understanding of the transcendent powerhouses behind the great veil. He had heard of their names even if he hadn't seen them.

"There aren't many female powerhouses. Apart from Fang Yuzhu, Yan Yan, and Lingluan Xian, the remaining three or four people have no connection with me. I've never seen them, let alone interacted with them. It wouldn't make sense for them to save me. There simply isn't a suitable person." pondered Wang Xuan.

Some time later, Wang Xuan arrived at Huang Ming's teahouse in An City. Business was really booming, especially when he reached the third floor and saw some familiar faces, such as Zhou Qinghuang, Gu Mingxi, and Cao Qingyu. Even Demon Four was here. When they saw him, their delicate faces were full of smiles as they warmly greeted him. Wang Xuan really wanted to tell him that the Demon Emperor didn't reside in his spiritual depths. He had got the wrong person!

"Forget it, let it be. I might end up having to fight him if I really tell him."

This place had become a gathering point for the transcendents. It was filled with mythical figures and there were hardly any ordinary people on this level. Shortly after, the schizophrenic patient, Qilian Dao, had arrived. He was the demon lord's own son that swore to devour his own father and his main body. Wang Xuan felt a stir in his heart and waved to him. He had invited him for tea.

Originally, Qilian Dao was about to leave. In his eyes, Wang Xuan was the crazy one. He felt that he was the lunatic who would do anything, even daring to confront Master Zheng and Heng Jun at the same time in the mortal world. He believed that Wang, the lunatic, was just lucky. Otherwise, Master Zheng would have dealt with this lunatic long ago, if he hadn't died inexplicably in the immortal realm.

In the end, the two sat together, talking about everything under the sun, from mythology to human technology, from art to the changes in aesthetics over the centuries. In summary, it was all nonsense! The two of them discussed everything and of course they had mentioned ancient celebrities, which even drew Zhou Qinghuang, Demon Four, and Gu Mingxi into the conversation.

Wang Xuan casually mentioned the special inner landscape. Nowadays, many people believed that he had entered the transcendent realm because he had opened his inner landscape. Many thought that he was only a little bit inferior to those with a special inner landscape. Mentioning these things was quite normal nowadays, and it wouldn't cause any taboos. Wang Xuan wanted to know some details about the three people in history who had opened special inner landscapes. He wanted to understand their past! Because he strongly suspected the identity of the terrifying shadows from last night might be those three people!

"It's a pity, those people had tragic fates and had died young. Now, even their friends from back then have grown up, some of them are now transcendent powerhouses in the grand scheme of things!" said Qilian Dao.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan's heart grew heavy. He became even more wary of that shadow. He had no choice. Even in this era that was coming to an end, he would still have to face everything by himself! He silently reminded himself that the future was not frightening. All the obstacles could be overcome as long as he became strong enough quickly! Not long after that, Wang Xuan saw the Little White Tiger, the round-faced girl. She was actually in An City, and had appeared on the third floor of the Immortal Tea House.

"Tiger, there's something wrong with the memory crystal you gave me!" shouted Wang Xuan as he fixed his gaze on her. There was no complete dance of the Demon Lord in that memory crystal. It was just pure deception.

"You should've checked the crystal in person. I'm not responsible once it's taken off the shelf." replied the round-faced girl while raising her chin. She was looking entirely unrepentant.

"Do you think you're a bank?" said Wang Xuan while glaring at her.

"Hmph!" The round-faced girl turned her head away with pride But then she slowly turned back and teased, "Half a month ago, weren't you and the Demon Lord going to outer space together? Why didn't you invite her to dance face-to-face then?"

"Shut up you Little White Tiger." said Wang Xuan as he felt genuinely guilty.

How could she talk nonsense like this?

However, he thought of something as he looked at the round-faced girl. In the exotic space of outer space, the Little White Tiger was on a mission and had even sought Wang Xuan's cooperation for help. Thinking of this, he was greatly shaken, and he thought of the man and woman from last night again.

Am I about to solve the case?

"Come over for tea, it’s my treat." He transmitted his voice to her.

"I can afford it myself. Don't talk about the trash tea here. Even the Demon Lord had once taken me to pick the best immortal tea tree in Heng Jun's family!" she exclaimed. Pride was written all over her round face.

"You know, the Demon Lord’ parents once tried to return from the immortal realm through the strange spiritual world that was adjacent to the exotic space of outer space......"

With a swoosh, the Little White Tiger came over and dragged Qilian Dao aside, saying, "Make way, you have no foresight at all!"

Cursing in his heart, the Demon Ancestor’s son felt really embarrassed. This White Tiger...... forget it. She was the Demon Lord’ most trusted confidante and seemed to hold a higher position in the demon race. Even higher than his own identity as the Demon Ancestor’s second son.

The round-faced girl moved a chair and shooed away Qilian Dao. She sat down herself, staring at Wang Xuan, asking, "Did you find anything?"

"I saw a man and a woman that were very strong, but both were in shadow form......" He briefly explained, but couldn't tell her everything.

"What shadows? I thought you found a real clue." said the Little White Tiger with dissatisfaction.

"Those shadows are stronger than today's top experts, and their identities don't match those of the existing top experts!" Wang Xuan solemnly reminded her.

"I'll tell the Demon Lord after she returns." The round-faced girl lazily said while sipping her tea leisurely. She was not in a hurry. Seeing her like this, Wang Xuan felt it was necessary to find something for her to do!

"Do you still remember the Ghost Monk?" asked Wang Xuan.

The Little White Tiger’s hair stood on end and she instantly stood up. How could she forget?!

"Where is he?!" she asked.

Initially, the Ghost Monk didn't hesitate to turn and run when he saw the Demon Lord, Yan Yan in the inner landscape. But when he saw the Little White Tiger alone, he became brave and fearless. He rushed over to strike her. He beat the Little White Tiger so badly that she was almost beaten up into a pulp. She was almost dragged away in the end.

"He's in Ping City, with the title Wukong," Wang Xuan blew on his hot tea before calmly informing her.

"Ahhh, I'll find him to settle the score! Argh, I'm not done with him!" The round-faced Little White Tiger turned and ran. She displayed incredible speed and disappeared in an instant.

That day, outside Ping City, there was a great battle between the Ghost Monk and the Little White Tiger. It caused a lot of commotion, but in the end, the Little White Tiger was defeated and had fled.

However, the Ghost Monk didn't dare to chase her too aggressively. He knew he couldn't afford to provoke the Demon Lord that was backing her. He even considered resolving their old grievances.

"My Friend, some time ago, powerful beings came to visit me, and had asked about the slightest details of the Demon Lord. They were showing great concern. They even inquired whether the Demon Lord was doing well in the immortal realm, and if she had any liking for a man. It was very strange......" said the Monk.

"What nonsense are you talking about?!" replied the White Tiger. This time, the Little White Tiger was unable to vent her anger and was beaten again. She was furious at first, but she still came back upon hearing this.