The Stars Beyond

Chapter 495: Tired Of Winning

Truly, he was a force to be reckoned with, daring to challenge the "First One" who had pioneered the creation of a unique Inner Landscape. Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan was genuinely shocked. How profound must the foundations of this ancient madman be to engage in such evenly matched battles with the "First One"?

Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao elaborated, "There were losses and draws, but even these outcomes were enough to astonish the world. At that time, the 'First One' was the undisputed strongest in the Immortal Realm."

Later, the most ancient of emperors emerged, hunting down the "First One" and leading to his tragic demise, disappearing from the mortal realm.

"He's labeled a madman, but he's anything but mad. Quite the contrary, he's extremely cunning and adept at self-preservation," Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao recounted some old tales.

Following the "First One's" downfall, Shang Yi vanished, occasionally resurfacing in a seemingly insane state before eventually disappearing for long stretches of time, evidently to avoid disaster and the pursuit of the ancient emperors. In some sense, his madness back then might have been deliberate, but presuming the act for too long might have naturally ingrained some of those traits over time.

"There's another theory that he actually became somewhat insane. After the ancient emperors finished with the 'First One,' they sought him out, deeming him too terrifying, harboring secrets too profound to fathom."

According to this version, after the ancient emperors had slain the "First One" at a great cost to themselves, they attempted to kill Shang Yi but only managed to inflict severe injury to his head, failing to end his life. As a result, he subsequently exhibited signs of insanity, occasionally appearing only to vanish swiftly.

"Many believe that the downfall of the earliest emperors at the hands of Shang Yi and the 'First One' marked the beginning of the ancient era's decline, with these sovereigns gradually fading into obscurity," said Jiang Qingyao.

Reflecting on that era, her eyes shimmered with the recollection of a time when demon lords, supreme magical beings, beast kings, ancient Buddhas, and deities stood tall, a truly glittering epoch. Amid such a grand setting, the rise of Shang Yi and the "First One" to dominate the world was indeed an anomaly. Wang Xuan pondered, finding the latter theory more plausible; perhaps Shang Yi had once been cunning but was indeed grievously wounded by the first wave of ancient emperors.

For a sane person, after refining the Sword of Mortal, why let it roam freely? Clearly, there was still a chance to seize the Roaming Ark and the Ascension Banner with it.

"Unless... he had already refined those two supreme treasures as well!" The thought made Wang Xuan's hair stand on end. Could it be? Surely not!

Was this individual truly mad, or was he a master of deep plots, preparing to catch a big fish? Anxiety washed over him.

His mind quickly turned to Heng Jun, the previous owner of the Ascension Banner, who died a terrible death. Wang Xuan remembered that Heng Jun's demise came from a mysterious sword strike, his arm holding the Ascension Banner severed by an unknown assailant.

Could it have been that madman, harboring such dark intentions?

"Shang Yi dared to challenge the 'First One' in a fight to the death, truly formidable. Could he actually be an extremely ruthless old monster?" Wang Xuan shuddered at the thought.

It wasn't impossible!

Speaking of which, Shang Yi now stands as the oldest cultivator in the realm of immortals. The "First One" from his era has long perished, and those earliest emperors have all died out.

The later ancient emperors were exhausted by the Evil Dragon Qi Tian, and the rest were eradicated by Fang Yuzhu!

Wang Xuan fell silent, contemplating the plausibility of his speculation.

Upon reflection, with the cataclysmic changes of ancient times, the "First One" and the emperors all vanishing, leaving only Shang Yi as the sole survivor, the sole winner, the situation seemed rather terrifying. What was his endgame?

"Could he be aiming to collect all the supreme treasures of the current world?" The more Wang Xuan pondered this possibility, the more uneasy he felt.

If viewed through a lens of conspiracy, the Roaming Ark and the Ascension Banner might have been tampered with by him, deliberately allowing the patriarchs of the Gou Chen Emperor's Palace and the Supreme Palace to take them away, only to return to the Land of the Immortal.

Given the nature of those two, as well as existing rumors, they would inevitably use the power of the two treasures to turn around and seize the Divine Palace, the Immortal Umbrella, and the Pool of Life.

Should the two patriarchs succeed, the ancient madman, wielding the Sword of Mortal and controlling the Roaming Ark and the Ascension Banner, could counterattack, turning their efforts into a bridal gown for himself, their labors in vain.

"Regardless of the truth, once I'm out, I must warn Immortal Fang, Old Zhang, and the others, to be wary at the critical moment, lest they be backstabbed."

After calming his mind, he considered he might be overthinking. Could the world truly be so full of conspiracies? Perhaps Shang Yi was simply struck in the head, a straightforward matter.

Jiang Qingyao nodded, affirming, "Yes, your musings are indeed matters to be wary of. We must not think too poorly of others, yet we can't overestimate the integrity or moral limits of some transcendent beings."

Far away, across a hundred thousand miles, the sky was rent by soaring blood qi and sword energy so fierce that with each swing of that person's blade, the stars in outer space trembled.

Here stood a being who could cleave stars from the earth with his might!

"Is there no one left who can match him?" Wang Xuan's expression grew solemn at the thought of someone practicing to such a terrifying extent, having undergone at least two great nirvanas.

It was a pity about "the First One." Had he survived to this day, he naturally would have been able to suppress this madman. Yet, the world is devoid of so many 'ifs,' and what's gone is forever lost.

Jiang Qingyao commented, "He's one of the oldest practitioners who has lived to see this era. Plus, being second only to 'the First One' back then, he has naturally become a supreme being now. I've also speculated a bit about him."

She paused to ponder, then added, "The woman alchemist should be on par with him, perhaps capable of fighting to a draw."

"Have you studied this madman?" Wang Xuan inquired as they continued their flight, mainly led by Jiang Qingyao, steering clear of the terrifyingly powerful being whose blood qi could surge for a hundred thousand miles.

"I've known a bit about him, having once borrowed his name," Jiang Qingyao said with a light smile.

"Ah?" Wang Xuan turned to look at her in surprise.

"When I first entered the realm of immortals, dangers lurked everywhere, with great demons and even transcendent beings preying on ordinary immortals. Being a newcomer, I kept a low profile for self-preservation. Each time I emerged, I'd pass by that madman's place of cultivation, misleading many," she explained, smiling.

Being a sword cultivator like the madman and choosing to emerge from his territory or pass by it every time, it was inevitable that people would make assumptions.

Thus, without a powerful sect or protection, she managed to secure a period of safety for herself, quickly rising to prominence thereafter.

Jiang Qingyao seemed unashamed, her smile bright and proud, having risen to the pinnacle on her own.

"Hopefully, that madman won't cause trouble, after all, he was your 'fake' protector for a while," Wang Xuan joked as they delved deeper into the dark lands, glimpsing a lantern-hung outpost in the distance, preparing for their return.

"I feel like we've left something unresolved, something undone," Jiang Qingyao murmured, landing with Wang Xuan, "Before we return to the current world, I want to seek revenge."

"Ah?" Wang Xuan was startled. He knew well that Jiang Qingyao's entire sect had been wiped out by a mysterious man wielding a black sword on a rainy night in the current world, leaving only her, who had been away, spared from the massacre.

However, it's suspected that the person never entered the realm of immortals, most likely crossing over to the land of the undying amidst the great wars because his black sword was related to a "mysterious encounter."

If he's still alive, he would naturally be in the grand barrier, having become a supreme deity!

"I'm not going to kill; I'm going to rob!" Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao rolled her eyes at him, making the act of robbery sound so natural and grand. She explained, "Our armor, you said it's quite special, untraceable, so why not engage in some meaningful endeavors?" She managed to make even criminal acts sound refreshingly pure.

"Sure, I have no objections!" Wang Xuan was invigorated, having no reason to oppose. The armor he provided was indeed extraordinary, with successful precedents like Zheng Yuantian's murder and the theft of the Hengjun family's first immortal tea tree, cases that remain unsolved to this day.

"Whose den are we planning to ransack?" Wang Xuan was eager, his eyes ablaze with anticipation. Any supreme den was a super treasure trove worth digging into.

Especially now, unlike before, with the powerful Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao by his side, where couldn't they go? Roaming freely behind the lines of the great immortals, taking advantage of certain individuals' absences to raid their homes was a sure bet!

"Naturally, we're going to rob the Demon Lord!" Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao declared righteously.

"Good grief!" Wang Xuan stepped back, wide-eyed and astonished, taken aback by her declaration.

Celestial Sword Maiden continued, "Two thousand years ago, the Red Clothed Demoness defeated our ancestral master in the Old Earth, stealing our sect's sword scripture, forcing me to consider creating my own techniques in my youth. Of course, I have to seek justice."

Wang Xuan had heard about this from the mini version of Little East, for which he had even gifted her a pile of swordsmanship texts, including the one from the golden bamboo slip, the Severing Path Sword.

"I've given you all those famous swordsmanship scriptures I collected, haven't I? There's no need to risk robbing her," Wang Xuan advised.

Mainly because the Demon Lord felt almost too familiar to him, even potentially considered his sworn sister due to the relationship with that shadowy couple.

So, the thought of actually raiding the Demon Lord's den was something he found difficult to come to terms with.

"It's not about acquiring supreme scriptures, but the significance of the act itself. I must avenge our ancestors. The Red Clothed Demoness robbed my master, so I shall rob her!" Jiang Qingyao declared, her energy boundless, not the least bit tired. Without minding the vast distance, she grabbed Wang Xuan and started dashing toward the distance.

Wang Xuan felt apprehensive. Were they really going to rob the Demon Lord?

Last time in the realm of void, he had torn several pieces off Demon Lord Yan Yan's red battle dress and even brought them back to the present world for verification.

And then, Qingmu, the blabbermouth, not only took photos but also sent them to the Demon Lord, Lao Zhang, and others, exposing his involvement.

Without a doubt, the Demon Lord Yan Yan must remember this grievance against him. Once he returns, she would likely seek him out.

"Now, if we were to empty her den and take all she owns, the Demon Lord Yan Yan would explode with rage upon finding out!"

"Let's go. The Red Clothed Demoness has many treasures, like the heaven marrow that beautifies, the emperor's gel that elevates life levels. Robbing her nest, all will be ours!"

Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao, with her fair fists clenched, displayed an exhilarated demeanor, a tad mischievous and excited.

Wang Xuan was speechless. This endeavor... Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao seemed even more keen on it than he was!

She appeared immaculate and ethereal, yet she was very down-to-earth. For instance, leveraging the reputation of the ancient madman for self-protection, upon learning they could pull off a grand heist, she decisively led Wang Xuan to raid the lair of the evil dragon Qi Tian. She even boasted about her culinary skills after grilling dragon meat herself.

Wang Xuan had no room to oppose. Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao, full of vigor, swiftly flew tens of thousands of miles with him, crossing the heavens at high speed, until they finally arrived at their destination.

He pondered that he should be able to defeat the Demon Lord in the present world. Even if she found out, it wouldn't be too grave. Now, it was time... to take advantage of their acquaintance.

"I'm overjoyed! The Red Clothed Demoness isn't home. This time, I'll empty her den and not leave her a single item!" Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao was all smiles, her visage still ethereal and pure, yet her actions were deeply human.

From a distance, Wang Xuan, using his spiritual eye, spotted the little white tiger, the round-faced girl who was in charge of housekeeping, guarding this grand and beautiful abode.

The area was picturesque, with glowing spiritual mountains, divine waterfalls draping down, and clusters of jade buildings suspended in mid-air.

"That naive and sweet little white tiger has become a near-supreme being?" Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao showed a surprised expression, noticing the round-faced girl and sensing her recent advancement in realm.

Originally, the little white tiger and the ghost monk were just a step away from reaching the near-supreme status. Recently, the Demon Lord bestowed numerous blessings on the little white tiger with White Jade Immortal's help, urging her breakthrough, which eventually bore fruit.

Now, a near-supreme being posed no threat to Jiang Qingyao. She led Wang Xuan straight into the den.

With a silent approach, she used her sheathed sword to knock on the back of the round-faced girl's head, knocking her unconscious and laying her gently on the ground.

"All set, let's start 'helping' the Red Clothed Demoness move house!" Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao was the first to act, striking as swiftly as lightning, truly leaving nothing for the Demon Lord.

Wang Xuan was speechless. To think, the Demon Lord's home was about to be overturned and thoroughly plundered!