深空彼岸4Unbounded Deep Space — The Other Shore

Chapter 161: No Longer an Immortal

The ethereal light appeared like a bubble, floating in the void. The woman within cast a fleeting glance towards Wang Xuan before turning her attention back to the white peacock, as if she were listening to something. The luminescence shimmered intermittently, cascading down the stone cliff. Undoubtedly, the female practitioner was manifesting in the mortal realm, engaging in communication with the white peacock, seemingly at a cost. Wang Xuan fixated on the light that fell upon the cliff, pondering whether any remnants would linger. Soon after, the radiant figure gradually blurred, vanishing within a bracelet worn by Zheng Rui.

The amalgamation of keywords—Zheng Family, Origin Life Research Institute, and the underground laboratory of the Greater Khingan Range—sufficiently unveiled the woman's identity. The female practitioner had indeed arrived! Although she merely flickered momentarily before swiftly retreating, Wang Xuan had already confirmed her presence. Had some members of the Zheng Family been subjugated? The female practitioner was extraordinary, preserving her corporeal form, lying within a bamboo vessel crafted from the divine bamboo of ascension, her physical vitality intact even after three millennia. At present, it seemed she was the only ancient being who had retained her complete corporeal form!

The celestial beings could leave behind merely a fragment of bone to serve as a coordinate, establishing a close connection with the mortal realm that might prove crucial in the future. Yet, the female practitioner had preserved her entire body—what did this signify? In those bygone days, she had prepared meticulously, seemingly anticipating various possibilities, leaving a path for retreat. Many ascendants had traversed the path of enlightenment while pondering their existence; throughout history, there had been no established routes or experiences, only exploration.

Why did the pre-Qin practitioners vanish suddenly at the pinnacle of their glory? As the most potent practitioners transcended, this path became desolate. In the pre-Qin era, the foremost practitioners hunted divine birds and captured mythical beasts, their journeys drawn by auspicious beings, yet they ultimately disappeared without a trace. The Daoist tradition followed a similar trajectory, enduring numerous tribulations. The path of Daoism repeatedly evolved; early practitioners emphasized inner tranquility and the accumulation of spiritual energy, epitomized by the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi. However, this required exceptionally high qualifications, often delving into the nebulous Dao, leading to the eventual emergence of various concrete practices such as breathing techniques.

Subsequently, the arts of inner alchemy and golden elixir theories arose, undergoing several transformations yet ultimately falling into silence. Thus, some believe that the celestial beings have become relics of the past! Those who have perished are unlikely to return, and those who have departed shall never come back. The female practitioner is exceptional; Wang Xuan had inadvertently released a fragment of her spirit that lingered in the inner realm, returning to the formidable corporeal form she had preserved. It is now challenging to discern her current state. Wang Xuan even harbored doubts—had she truly returned to life through this means? According to the theories from the latter stages of the old path, nourishing the spirit with the body serves as a foundation; now that her spirit had returned and was being revitalized, could it be deemed a return to existence in the mortal realm?

Wang Xuan felt overwhelmed! The possession of such a divine bamboo vessel for transcending indicated her strength and status in that era; utilizing this treasure to secure her future had been premeditated and arranged long ago. Zheng Rui appeared somewhat perplexed, having departed with Zhou Yun. Zhao Qinghan spoke up, urging caution. We should avoid confrontation with them; those two may be under the control of extraordinary beings, Wang Xuan advised.