The Stars Beyond

Chapter 63: Female Sword Immortal

The sight was mesmerizing. A female sword immortal stood in mid-air, her clothes fluttering. In this serene place, she seemed ethereal and otherworldly, a transcendent being untouched by worldly matters.

"Old Chen, come out and see the celestial being! I told you I'd bring you all the gods and deities, the great demons from all generations. Now, a banished fairy is right in front of us. Wake up!" Wang Xuan called out. For some reason, he felt uneasy, thus he beckoned Old Chen, hoping that he would appear.

However, there was silence behind him. Old Chen did not respond.

"Old Chen, are you pretending to be unconscious? Don't be shy, come out and walk with me."

Throughout this, Qing Mu continued his ritualistic dance, oblivious to everything. He only noticed that Wang Xuan had become silent. Wang Xuan realized that as he channeled the techniques of the Early Qin practitioners, he had unknowingly stepped into the Inner Landscape, isolated from the material world.

He was certain that he had not willingly stepped into this place. How did I end up here?

The surroundings were eerily quiet, the Inner Landscape was dark, and a thick fog seemed to be expanding around him. Was I brought in by this mist? He was on high alert because this situation felt different from previous encounters. An aura of unease pervaded the environment, and he felt a sudden surge of anxiety. In the dim surroundings, a light rain seemed to pour down from the high skies, making it the only luminous area.

Wang Xuan looked up at the female sword immortal. Even though she was far away, within this Inner Landscape, everything was perceived through one's spirit. He could clearly see her face.

The female sword immortal appeared to be no older than twenty. Her actual age was unknown, but her external appearance was astonishingly youthful, pure, and radiant. Wang Xuan remained silent, observing her intently. She was undeniably beautiful, but what stood out the most was her ethereal demeanor, as if she was not from this world. Incredibly mesmerizing, she could capture anyone's attention instantly.

Wang Xuan stood still, lost in thought.

He felt that his sense of awe was deeply rooted in the modern fascination with ancient myths and legends. For generations, the idea of sword-bearing immortals had captivated the human spirit. Hence, seeing one firsthand was nothing short of surreal. But his reverie was shattered by a sudden flash of sword energy from above. This radiant beam cut through his admiration, making it clear that the sword immortal was not there for pleasantries.

She lunged at him with clear intent to harm, radiating a coldness that felt like it could pierce through his very soul. Danger, he realized, was palpable.

Reacting quickly, Wang Xuan sidestepped, dodging the lethal attack. It took him by surprise. How did I even manage to evade such an overpowering strike?

"Right," he thought, "the remnants of past spiritual energy were activated by my presence. What I see isn't the real her but just an echo of her past grandeur. It can't hurt me."

Each time Wang Xuan entered this realm, his senses would sharpen. It allowed him to find clarity, distancing himself from any potential danger. He understood that the sword immortal, though formidable, was not her true past self and did not possess the same immense power.

If she could truly influence the present, she would not have waited for future generations to activate the mysterious catalyst, only to emerge from the remnants of her own remains. The residual spiritual energy she possessed was nothing to be feared.

However, Wang Xuan soon paid the price for his overconfidence. A rain of sword energy descended, with dozens of beams covering the entire area. The majority of her attacks landed on him. Intense pain surged through Wang Xuan's body. It was almost unbearable, as if he had been thrust up into the heavens. The sword energies relentlessly struck him one after another.

Thankfully, they were just residual spiritual energies, peculiar in nature and incapable of completely destroying him. The only effect they could achieve as to cause immense pain. A chilling thought crossed his mind: Is the sword immortal just beginning to exert her influence on the real world? It was a terrifying notion.

"My body is invincible; all external illusions cannot harm me," he roared. If the residual spiritual energies could tear him apart, then things would truly be dire. He firmly believed that energies from beings long gone could not possibly have real power over him.

He channeled his Golden Body Technique, and a faint golden glow emanated from him. Suddenly, like a thrown spear, his body plummeted from mid-air, landing with both feet firmly anchored to the ground.

In this realm, a strong will can change everything and effectively counter the attacks of residual spiritual energy. Indeed, as Wang Xuan became increasingly resolute in his beliefs, continuously using the Golden Body Technique to protect himself and strengthen his spirit, he felt a subtle shift in the entire world around him.

The radiant sword energies in the sky began to fade. As they descended, they transformed into dimmer sword glows. He either dodged them or took them on directly with his Golden Body. Although still painful, the sensation was no longer as unbearable as before.

Finally, the attacks ceased. Wang Xuan stood his ground, channeling the core techniques of the Early Qin sages to draw in the mystery factors. He remembered why he had come: to heal Old Chen's wounds.

The peerless female sword immortal stood in the sky, her sword illuminating the dark expanse. Her moon-white robe danced in the wind, revealing a beautiful face. Her cool, transcendent demeanor gave off an ethereal beauty. Due to her continuous attacks on Wang Xuan, all sense of admiration he had for her were lost.

His heart was serene. In this realm, he was in a state of absolute calmness, sweeping away complex emotions and focusing solely on channeling the mysterious substance. In the outside world, Wang Xuan held onto Old Chen's wrist, with the mystery factor permeating through and entering Old Chen's body, heading straight for the damaged internal organs.

However, since it was not Old Chen himself who channeled the energy, many of the mystery factors were diminished. Regardless, it was undeniably effective. The cracks and injuries that riddled Old Chen's organs were nourished, the deteriorating condition was halted, and even began to slowly heal.

"Those who leave their true bones in this world after transcendence seem a bit different. The spiritual energy remaining in the bones is more abundant. But why did she attack me on sight?" Wang Xuan pondered in the Inner Landscape, finding the situation highly unusual.

Whether it was the female practitioner or the old monk, none had greeted him with such hostility upon their first encounter. The worst they did was to disturb him in dreams, and that too was to entrust him with a task.

He slightly suspected that touching the female sword immortal's bone had caused this trouble. Yet it felt unlikely at the same time. After thousands of years, that bone had turned charred black. Nobody would harbor any ill intensions towards such an artifact. Moreover, it was precisely because he acquired the bone that her residual spiritual energy was released.

After Wang Xuan had channeled enough of the mystery factors, he began to practice the Golden Body Technique. It was a rare opportunity, one he could not waste.

After the battle at the Pamir Plateau, many had set their eyes on him. This meant his fame had skyrocketed, but it also implied that danger was drawing near. He had to ensure his growth in strength so that it exceeded what others perceive of him.

The female sword immortal seemed to truly harbor animosity towards him, launching yet another flurry of attacls. Wang Xuan was in agony, his practice of the Golden Body Technique severely disrupted.

"I released you from the Ascension bone. I don't expect gratitude, but surely you shouldn't be attacking me like this?" He couldn't help but voice his thoughts, feeling utterly wronged by the relentless hostility. Time and again, beams of sword energy rained upon him.

Whether she could not comprehend his words or bore an inexplicable grudge that refused to abate, the female sword immortal continued her relentless attacks. While they posed no mortal threat, Wang Xuan found himself tormented with pain.

"Venerable Monk, where are you? There's a malevolent female sword immortal here; come and release her spirit!" Wang Xuan called out for the ghostly monk, hoping he might intervene.

Yet there was no response. Wang Xuan wondered if the old monk was either concealed within Old Chen's own Inner Landscape and could not hear him, or simply chose to stay out of it. For the sake of Old Chen, Wang Xuan persevered for a full four years, enduring the constant barrage of sword energy. He was on the brink of insanity; his practice of the Golden Body Technique was sporadic and disjointed, producing subpar results.

The female sword immortal unleashed her celestial sword again and again, cascading beams of light from the heavens, attacking him from every angle. For a moment, he even contemplated escaping from the Inner Landscape.

In the fifth year, as Wang Xuan's external body trembled under the weight of the relentless spiritual assault, his palm accidentally brushed against the black sword.

Then, within the Inner Landscape, Wang Xuan felt a sudden sensation. The next moment, a black sword energy appeared in his hand. What’s happening? He was shocked and quickly checked the situation outside. The black sword was still on Old Chen's bed, but since his palm was gripping the hilt, it had now been brought into the Inner Landscape.

He immediately realized that this black sword must have a significant origin!

Inside the Inner Landscape, Wang Xuan grasped the sword formed from the dark light and, without hesitation, slashed towards the Female Sword Immortal. Even if he couldn't defeat her, he had to make his stand.

Suddenly, Wang Xuan felt something was off. The entire Inner Landscape seemed as if it was about to boil over, with countless sword energies erupting from the ground, and everywhere was filled with thunderous rumblings. Then, he saw many mountains, shaped like swords, piercing the skies. Numerous young men and women practiced their swordsmanship on each of these steep mountainous forms.

Is this a Sword Sect? Many youngsters and young adults danced with their swords on various mountain peaks, occasionally sending forth bursts of sword energy.

However, while their sword techniques were strong, they were still far from the true prowess of a Sword Immortal.

The scene shifted, and suddenly, on a day with torrential rain, a man in black, wielding an exceptionally long black sword, arrived. He entered the mountain range, challenging the Sword Sect all by himself.

Boom!

Bright lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the dancing sword energies. The man in black, wielding a 1.5-meter long black sword, wreaked havoc within the Sword Sect. He moved through the sect, unstoppable and unopposed. On this stormy night, accompanied by thunder, heavy rain, and the glow of swords, he single-handedly massacred everyone in the Sword Sect. Leaving behind a blood-soaked sword, he turned his back and walked away.

The next day, after the rain had stopped, a young girl of about thirteen or fourteen years old returned to find the scene of carnage. Although the scene was blurry and no sound could be heard, her heart-wrenching pain was palpable as she knelt down amidst the corpses, crying inconsolably.

Wang Xuan immediately realized the situation. He was being wrongfully accused. A long time ago, the owner of the black sword had massacred a sword sect, and now, the karmic retribution was unfairly falling upon him, a modern-day man.

He felt deeply wronged. "What does this have to do with me?" he thought. "They should be seeking vengeance on the man in black or maybe they should get Old Chen instead!"

The scene continued to change. The young girl rapidly matured. She practiced swordsmanship obsessively, reaching perfection and transcending the ordinary. She became increasingly powerful, yet despite her travels all over the world, she could never locate the man in black to exact her revenge.

Many years later, after reaching the pinnacle of her swordsmanship and being on the brink of Ascension, she stood tall on the peak of a mountain where a secluded Taoist temple was located.

Boom!

Terrifying bolts of lightning raged from the sky, illuminating a night when the moon was full. The incessant flashes obscured the gleaming moon, rendering it invisible.

In the final scene, the female sword immortal soared towards the heavens only to shatter into pieces, vanquished by the thunderbolts. Her flesh and bones turned into a radiant shower of light amidst the lightning, emanating the brilliance of Ascension. This tragic end evokes deep emotions. Even a swordswoman of such formidable power met her end during the process of Ascension.

Ultimately, the only remnant of her that endured the thunder's wrath was the right hand she had wielded her sword with for years. A fragment of her bone survived the onslaught and fell from the skies, landing near the small Taoist temple. This fragment was her sole mark left in this world.

Although the female sword immortal had tormented Wang Xuan for five years, in this moment, he felt a wave of sympathy. He no longer harbored resentment towards her, believing she likely mistook him for a descendant of the man in black.

"Such a mighty female sword immortal, in the end, didn’t truly ascend to immortality but merely underwent Ascension, dissipating between the heavens and the earth," Wang Xuan lamented, feeling an ineffable sense of loss.

Then his thoughts drifted to the female practitioner, the ghost monk, and the ancient Buddha statue outside An City – none of them truly ascended to immortality either.

"Or perhaps, such a state is indeed considered as having achieved immortality?" He had pondered this question before, but he was reluctant to delve into it any further.

Because what he was currently embroiled in seemed to be a trap set by ancient beings, it sent shivers down his spine.

Boom!

Endless beams of sword energy erupted, illuminating the surrounding area with peaks that appeared to pierce the sky. Bathed in the luminous glow of the moon, the female sword immortal stood atop the highest mountain, preparing to strike at Wang Xuan with greater vigor than ever before.

Even within this Inner Landscape, Wang Xuan felt his heart race, gripped by an overwhelming sense of dread.

"Wait!" he shouted loudly, "It has nothing to do with me. If you wish to investigate the events of the past, let me bring someone into this realm for you. Just wait a moment, and I'll guide him into this world!"