The Stars Beyond

The Shadow Couple was ready to strike, overwhelmed with fury, their killing intent surging wildly. The entire surrounding area instantly felt like it had stepped into the depths of winter; springs froze over, and the pine forest was frosted white, the once beautiful landscape now entirely encased in ice.

“In this era, for all the transcendent beings that will fall into decay? You’re just acting out of self interest,” the Shadow Couple burst out. “You just want to use Wang Xuan’s life to continue your own mythological path!”

They launched their attack without hesitation, determined to eliminate him first since they couldn’t reach Wang Xuan in time, but everything was too late. Shang Yi, the ancient sword madman, rose up, towering over two meters tall. His vitality was as vast as the sea, exuding an unmatched oppressive force that daunted all who felt it. His eyes, icy and sharp, shot out beams of light that materialized like twin celestial swords, causing the very void to tremble slightly, blocking the Shadow Couple’s advance.

“Shang Yi, you too?!” The couple was furious. To them, Wang Xuan was like a son, and their desperation was palpable.

In an instant, the Undying Umbrella appeared in their hands, shining with the light of a supreme treasure as they faced off against this ancient lunatic, ready to clash in fierce combat.

With a metallic ring, Shang Yi drew his Sword of Mortal, and in that moment, the heavens and earth seemed to split apart. Even the desiccated supernova flashed with endless sword light, illuminating the cosmos, stunning everyone present.

Fang Yuzhu stepped forward, confronting one of the universe’s mightiest beings. Holding the Heavenly Bracelet, she managed to withstand the Sword of Mortal.

From not too far away, the living treasure—the Life Pool—spoke out, “Everyone, we’ve discussed a new mythology, deliberated on extending the life of the transcendent world. We just reached a preliminary agreement—are we going to turn against each other now?”

The Roaming Ark appeared, with the ancestors of the Superlative Palace and Imperial Palace of Gouchen on guard, wary of attacks amidst the chaos, advocating for peace. “We can sit down and talk this through.”

“There’s nothing to discuss!” the female of the Shadow Couple shouted, visibly infuriated, anxiety for Wang Xuan gnawing at her. “Whoever kills Wang Xuan, I kill them!”

The male counterpart’s cold voice echoed, the Undying Umbrella in his hand trembling as the terrifying aura of the treasure expanded menacingly.

Though Wang Xuan was not their biological child, the Shadow Couple had watched him grow up, considering him their own. They had even joked with the Demon Lord Yanyan, calling Wang Xuan their foster son-in-law. Their affection for him was genuine, and they had promised Wang Xuan’s parents that under no circumstances would they allow harm to come to him.

“Qi Tian, contact the person in the stars immediately and cease your actions, or I will destroy both of your true forms!” Fang Yuzhu also spoke up, her usually composed demeanor replaced by a palpable murderous intent.

Qi Tian, unaffected, maintained his celestial poise, sitting relaxed, “Everyone, please, let’s not be hasty. I do not intend to kill him. All of this is just to forge a new mythological path. I assure you, his life will be spared.”

“We’re telling you to stand down!” How could the Shadow Couple wait passively? The man rapidly deployed the Undying Umbrella, his affection for Demon Lord Yanyan notwithstanding, he was equally protective of Wang Xuan in this life-or-death crisis.

With a clash, Shang Yi, the ancient madman, surged with blood energy that seemed to press down like the cosmos itself. He thrust his Sword of Mortal against the umbrella, blocking their path.

“Back off!” Shang Yi’s voice was cold.

In a flash, Fang Yuzhu, armored and resolute, did not hesitate. She locked her Celestial Braceletwith the Sword of Mortal, ready to battle against this formidable opponent. It was well known that once Fang Yuzhu donned her armor, it signified a major battle; she would not retreat until she saw the enemy's blood.

“Wait!” Qi Tian stood, losing some of his composure in the face of this escalation. He added, “Once I achieve my goal, and if I manage to forge a new mythological path, it will all be disclosed. The Life Essence Furnace that I bring back will be offered up too. I’m not trying to monopolize it but to gather the treasures for the entire transcendent world in these desperate times. Moreover, Wang Xuan will live.”

“Do you need to offer what’s not yours? Those are all Wang Xuan’s; you’re being generous with what belongs to someone else!” the woman of the Shadow Couple rebuked.

“Shang Yi, what does this matter have to do with you? Why do you stand with him?” the man's voice was icy, his murderous intent towards this near-invincible madman unabashed.

Shang Yi spoke plainly, “Qi Tian and Wang Xuan both possess unique Inner Scapes. They are about to merge, and I wish to witness this process, to analyze and study this extraordinary transformation.”

Upon hearing this, the Undying Umbrella was forcefully slammed down by the Shadow Couple. Unable to restrain their fury any longer, they were prepared to cut down anyone in their path.

Clang!

Sword light tore through the sky, and Shang Yi was terrifyingly formidable. With a single strike, he caused the Undying Umbrella to tremble violently, attempting to cleave the Shadow Couple away.

Clang!

Dazzling sparks flew, fragments of rules scattering like shimmering sparks of order. Fang Yuzhu intervened, her bracelet colliding with the Sword of Mortal several times. Shang Yi was immensely powerful, but he was temporarily forced back, pulling Qi Tian with him. He himself feared nothing, but Qi Tian, lacking a divine treasure, needed protection. Clearly, there was some agreement between them.

Just a few clashes had shattered mountains in the ancient range, collapsing them, destroying swathes of forest. The spectacle was terrifying; here in the real world, not the Great Barrier, deities wielding divine treasures still possessed earth-shattering power.

"I do not wish to fight you here, Fang Yuzhu," Shang Yi spoke, his thick black hair flowing over his shoulders, his eyes wild. He was not afraid, but reluctant to engage in a futile battle that would waste time and energy. However, with two divine treasures on one side and three supremely powerful beings if the Shadow Couple joined forces with Fang Yuzhu, they were not inclined to back down, especially as the Evil Dragon Qi Tian had pushed them too far.

"It's too late for any talk now, the distance is too great, we cannot stop what is coming. Better to wait for the end," said the Sword Madman.

Qi Tian nodded, "Even if I tried to persuade him, it would be futile. That version of me, deep in space, also a true form with the Feather Transforming Banner, will not listen to me."

"Then I will kill you first, and collect some retribution!" said the female of the Shadow Couple, her aura swirling with endless killing intent. She too knew that likely, it was all too late.

"Brother Shang Yi, please help me block these two," Qi Tian spoke, then turned to Fang Yuzhu, saying, "Immortal Fang, I have no desire to be your enemy. Today, I intended to bring you good news, which might mend some past regrets. I did not anticipate it would escalate to this."

He looked up at the sky, "It seems the time is nearly upon us, he is coming back."

"What are you implying?" Fang Yuzhu, with her keen instincts, sensed immediately that something personal was about to be revealed.

"Jiang Siyuan, he's still alive. I stumbled upon traces of his presence and found him," Qi Tian disclosed.

This revelation was nothing short of astonishing.

Even Fang Yuzhu, possibly the foremost expert in immortal arts, turned pale, her stunning visage etched with shock and disbelief.

Everyone else was stunned too; the name was from a distant past, the third person to open a special Inner Landscape during his mortal days, with astounding talent. Tragically, he had died young, ascending to peerless heights only to fall meteorically, sacrificing himself for Fang Yuzhu.

"He's really ruthless, to dig him up like that?"

"This man is sinister, targeting with such precision that he even dredged up Jiang Siyuan."

The patriarchs of the Transcendent Palace and Hook Chen Imperial Palace exchanged thoughts in secret; they were familiar with the legends of the celestial realm.

"Qi Tian!" The Shadow Couple's eyes brimmed with killing intent, realizing that Qi Tian was using Jiang Siyuan as a shield to block Fang Yuzhu.

Fang Yuzhu's eyes shone brilliantly, though she was strikingly beautiful, her gaze was intimidating.

Qi Tian remained composed and calm, "I'm not threatening you, that's not my intention. After finding him, I saw his dire state and did my best to preserve his life. He is like a candle in the wind; I feared for his safety and escorted him back, hoping to entrust him to you, Immortal Fang. With your supreme abilities, perhaps you can ensure his survival."

"He's almost here," Qi Tian announced, looking upwards as a spacecraft approached the planet. His voice carried a trace of admiration. "I respect Jiang Siyuan greatly, and I was filled with joy when I accidentally found and saved him."

Fang Yuzhu's eyes sparkled with intense light as she looked out into outer space.

The Shadow Couple's anger was palpable, their gazes locked fiercely on the Dragon, feeling betrayed by his orchestrated plan.

"Why do you have two true bodies?" inquired the patriarch of the Hook Chen Imperial Palace, his disdain for Qi Tian palpable due to their violent past.

Qi Tian was open about his past, explaining, "In ancient times, I was killed by a coalition of emperors. When we perished together, my body was shattered, but a fragment survived. After reviving, I found these immortal remains which allowed my old self to revive, thus I truly am myself."

Unable to hold back any longer, the male of the Shadow Couple launched an attack towards Qi Tian. The Immortal Umbrella spun open, flinging forth the true power of its rules.

With a thunderous roar, the Ancient Sword Lunatic, Shang Yi, swung his Celestial Sword, cleaving the skies, his sword light cascading down with the intense light of celestial judgment, striking the Immortal Umbrella.

He engaged the Shadow Couple directly!

"Think we fear you?!" the parents of the Demon Lord retorted fiercely, unafraid even in the face of the only surviving supreme being from the age of ancient emperors.

Especially the Demon Lord’s father, a great sorcerer who once controlled the thunder, now wielded the umbrella, countering the sword’s celestial thunder with endless rules of thunder.

The Demon Lord's mother surged with twelve unparalleled demon fairy lights, her innate divine power would have torn apart the heavens in the celestial realms, capable of sweeping the stars from the sky.

Though she lacked her usual power to fell stars, with the Immortal Umbrella's enhancement, she still possessed overwhelming force. The twelve beams of light she emitted split the void, turning into blades of rules that slashed at the Sword Lunatic.

Shang Yi, cold and formidable, advanced aggressively. His powerful sword moves, filled with overwhelming blood energy, intimidated many.

Wielding his Celestial Sword, he cut through celestial thunders and diminished the demon fairy power, his movements rippling with the forces of rules and order. His aura alone shattered the surrounding mountains.

He stood against both formidable opponents, parrying the Immortal Umbrella, slashing broadly and widely, in an invincible manner.

"Fang Yuzhu!" the Shadow Couple turned, calling out to her as she held the Heaven Screen Bracelet.

At that moment, a spacecraft pierced the atmosphere of the New Star, diving towards the mountain range, rapidly closing the distance.