The Stars Beyond

Chapter 450: He Left For Two Millennia

Chen Yongjie was lost in turmoil. Back during the monumental battle on the Pamir Plateau, he had faced death head-on without a flinch, risking his life without a second thought. But now, he was consumed with worry, unwilling to leave at such a crucial time.

He hurriedly left a video message, explaining the cause and effect in case he had no choice but to embark on this uncertain journey. He wanted Guan Lin to understand the reasons behind his actions.

"Perhaps there's still time. Although the light rain flows, it hasn't vanished yet. Is this just the beginning?" he wondered one night, observing the luminescence of his own body.

Suddenly, his expression froze, then became tumultuous with shock. The ethereal light rain exuding from him bore an eerie familiarity.

"Master!" The thought struck him, recalling an event from thirty years ago when his master vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind an aura similar to what he was experiencing now.

That event occurred in the mountains, covered by a serene light where anyone who entered eventually disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only a black sword. That very sword had been his weapon of choice ever since.

"Did my master venture into battle across realms, caught by mistake, or was he mysteriously chosen?" Chen Yongjie's hesitation and unease transformed into a fierce determination in his eyes. He... was tempted to follow.

Recently, he had sought insights from Zhang Daoling and the Sovereign of the Underworld Sect, who speculated that the mysterious encounters might relate to the abrupt appearance of a minor celestial realm. Such light curtains could move, yet the exact nature of these events remained unclear. Now, he believed he had found his answer.

If even beings of their stature couldn't determine the cause, it suggested that these events transcended the scope of their celestial domains, touching upon realms beyond, entwined with other civilizations.

"This black sword once belonged to the arch-enemy of the Sword Immortal, who annihilated her lineage," Chen Yongjie mused. "I should ask her. Could it be that her nemesis ventured beyond our domain?"

......

Deep in the cosmos, within the enchanted bounds of the secret realm, the lake shimmered, and divine trees swayed, dropping crystalline petals. Harmony reigned, free from strife and conflict.

The beings from the three extraordinary stars of Yuhua, Oula, and Heluo could no longer harbor their defiance. Another stand against the young man might result in their annihilation.

Now, he conversed with the unfathomable black fox of the secret realm, his demeanor calm and collected, surpassing their comprehension. Once a mere mortal upon arrival, he had ascended to such heights in an unimaginably short span.

“If you hadn’t brought it up, I’d nearly forget who I was myself,” the old fox, clad in coarse linen, rose and looked skyward, embodying the weariness of the ages. “Accustomed to life here, my edges have been smoothed, passion cooled, spirit wilted, enshrouded in twilight, the fervor of battle long forgotten.”

Peering beyond the barrier into the vast expanse of space, its gaze sharpened, unleashing beams of light that pierced through the enclosure.

All who witnessed were stirred, then astounded. Could he indeed be an unparalleled being from the celestial realms, a mighty entity of the Mo Tian Realm?

Chills ran down many spines as they realized an entity of such celestial stature lived among them, now undeniably confirmed, stirring immense awe.

Then, they saw Wang Xuan rise to stand beside the old fox, his presence just as serene, unsettling the onlookers from the three extraordinary stars.

This alien, who stood shoulder to shoulder with such a formidable being, revealing hints of the old fox’s origins—what kind of phenomenon was he? Their previous attempts to eliminate him now seemed like madness.

To them, their past actions resembled bungee jumping at the gates of hell, leaving them with lingering terror and unease.

“My grandpa is a being of the Mo Tian Realm, worthy of reverence?” the little fox demon murmured, bewildered, gifts tumbling from her arms.

“My grandpa... a legend from the celestial realm, fit for a heroic saga?” Superficial and elated, Transcendent Ma felt a surge of pride, dizzied by the sudden elevation of his status.

"Let's talk, just the two of us," the old fox said, leading Wang Xuan away from the crowd into a secluded chamber, completely cut off from the outside world.

"Who am I? I am Jiang Siyuan's master, a failure who couldn't protect his own disciple, an old wretch who lived and died with regret."

Emotion surged in the old fox, disrupting its usual calm. It was like a meteorite crashing into a still ancient well, causing massive ripples to spread.

Jiang Siyuan? Soon, Wang Xuan learned from the old fox about the man known as "The Whale," who had opened a unique inner realm and sacrificed his life to save Fang Yuzhu.

"That era hardly knew my name..."

The old fox nodded. "Yes, I wasn't very famous back then. Siyuan outshone me, facing beings of the Demon Emperor level. By then, as his master, I had only reached the level of a celestial being."

That was the terror of someone who had opened a unique inner realm during their mortal days, quickly surpassing their own master.

"Watching my disciple perish helplessly, my heart turned cold. I ventured into higher spiritual realms, hoping to return to the mortal world."

The old fox revealed a mournful and regretful demeanor, as if exposing a bleeding wound in his heart. "Returning was not easy. My journey spanned unimaginable lengths of time, surviving death narrowly dozens, if not hundreds, of times, and getting lost frequently. It's a miracle I made it back."

For a celestial being to return to the mortal world, they needed boundless magical power to pierce through the veil, a nearly impossible feat in the past that came with brutal consequences.

Only recently, as the ancient agreements loosened and mythology began to decay, could celestials start crossing realms, though at great cost.

Another path was through the higher spiritual worlds, seeking the mortal realm from there, potentially a safer option. At least on that journey, one wouldn't face death for a long stretch of time.

"But no one has ever heard of anyone truly returning alive!"

"I might be one of the rare three or four cases of success. Yet, strangely and mysteriously, my journey spanned over two thousand years, something I find hard to believe myself. Along the way, I broke through, becoming a master at the Grovelling Heaven level. But upon my return, I paid a heavy price."

Wang Xuan was captivated, a journey home that took over two thousand years?

He couldn't help but think of the Beast Lord's parents and the progenitor of Mo Si's lineage—the Demon Emperor. Had they succeeded?

"Strangely and unexpectedly, while wandering in the higher spiritual world, I lost my physical body and my spirit began to drift. Then I became lost. When I regained consciousness, I could sense the heartbeat of an embryo. I had returned to the womb and then descended into obliviousness once again."

The old fox's tale was indeed bizarre. In this mythological age, reincarnation wasn't commonly believed.

"Only much later did I wake again, this time as a black fox, having married and fathered children for years, living in the secret land. During this time, I lived in a daze for many years, as if witnessing a life not my own, but a portion of a fox clan's past. Eventually, I realized it was as if I had been reborn, but lost for many years, only fully awakening later."

Such a tale seemed like a myth within the transcendent world, where even Fang Yuzhu, Zhang Daoling, and the Beast Lord hardly believed in reincarnation, finding possession and body snatching more plausible.

Yet, as the old fox wandered in the spiritual world, losing his physical form and his spirit drifting away seemed eerily like reincarnation, making it all the more extraordinary.

Till now, no other supreme master exploring various immortal techniques had experienced such a thing.

"Did you awaken with memories of your past life, or did your original spirit awaken after a long slumber?" Wang Xuan inquired.

"My body was reborn, and my spirit grew from weakness to strength, so it can be considered a reborn spirit. However, once I awakened, my entire cultivation returned overnight," the old fox explained.

Wang Xuan was astounded; this seemed both like reincarnation and possession, somewhere in between, indescribably unique.

Such a path was remarkable. If it could continue even in an era of decline, experiencing rebirth repeatedly, wouldn't it accumulate cultivation from life to life, growing ever stronger?

Soon, he fell silent again. Could the old fox's words be trusted? Someone related to the "Whale," born here, and never before mentioned.

The old fox had become equivalent to a returning powerhouse.

Wang Xuan harbored doubts. Was this a tale of the "I have a friend" variety? Perhaps the old fox was Jiang Siyuan, the Whale himself.

Another possibility considered was that the old fox was the spirit who had once aided Jiang Siyuan.

Wang Xuan didn't wish to delve any deeper. As long as the old fox harbored no ill will towards him or didn't covet the life-sustaining furnace he possessed, all was well. His only purpose here was to ensure Zhao Qinghan and Wu Yin's safe return home.

"You carry many secrets with you, young friend," the black fox observed, gazing at him.

Wang Xuan remained silent, sitting in the secluded room, meeting its gaze squarely. Could it be that the old fox had noticed when he had taken the treasure in the past?

The old fox spoke again, "The energy you utilize is akin to the true substance of the cosmos, quite unique. I encountered it during my return journey through the higher spirit realms."

"I've acquired some Primordial Creation Crystals," Wang Xuan responded.

The old fox then steered the conversation away from this topic, "There's been a misunderstanding that I need to clarify. I didn't solely choose suitors for Zhao Qinghan and Wu Yin."

It was direct in its explanation. After the tan star in outer space was attacked, all technological ships had retreated, and with the cosmic wars raging, that path appeared severed.

It hadn't hidden this from Zhao Qinghan and Wu Yin; they might not be able to return home. In such a decaying cosmic age, it truly lacked the power to ferry them across the starry seas.

"I merely informed them that, under the most pessimistic scenario, they might have to remain in the hidden land forever. With the mythic era ending, human lifespans will become exceedingly short, not exceeding a hundred years. Though they are still young, they must start planning for their futures, including their life paths and partners."

Recently, there had been close communication between Yu Hua, Oula, and He Luo with the hidden land, discussing the state of affairs after the mythic era's decline. The old fox had hinted once that, with more monsters than humans in the hidden land, if they were to consider their futures and life partners, they might need to look towards those three mythic planets.

"Recently, I've taken in two unique individuals. One, a corpse that had floated in outer space for years, miraculously revived. The other, born in harmony with cosmic rules. Would you like me to offer one as your disciple?" the old fox suddenly shifted the topic, which seemed a bit abrupt.

......

Wang Xuan and the old fox left the quiet room together.

In a fairy-like courtyard not far away, shrouded in white mist, Zhao Qinghan emerged, dressed in her new attire.

The old fox smiled at the sight and took his leave first. Wang Xuan looked towards her and walked forward.

The last time they were together in the hidden land, they had shared hardships and experienced much. Parting had been difficult, and now, half a year later, as they reunited, Wang Xuan felt a certain unfamiliarity settle in after the initial wave of emotions had calmed.

She had chosen a new long dress that accentuated her figure, unravelled the ancient hairstyle, removed the jade hairpin, and let her black hair cascade naturally down, illuminating her fair, oval face. The path to transcendence had rendered her skin even more radiant and translucent, her eyes sparkling and clear.

Standing tall at around one seventy, her physique was outstanding. Zhao Qinghan often appeared aloof, yet her smile brought out an extraordinary sweetness, her features refined and stunningly beautiful.

Clearly, she matched the modern standards of beauty perfectly. Using their classmate Qin Cheng's words, every gesture and smile of hers was the epitome of grace.

As they approached each other, a gaze was exchanged. After a long absence, there seemed to be a sense of distance between them. Wang Xuan pondered their relationship, finding it somewhat in line with her previous comments about them.