No place

As they traversed to the realm of True Spirit, the adept ones were able to move with such swiftness that they appeared as ethereal beings.

Those who reached the pinnacle of the perfect body phase, especially the perfect spirit phase, could manipulate the very fabric of space with the sheer force of their chi, folding it to bring their destination closer. Their movements were fleeting, appearing and disappearing in short bursts.

Yet, this woman was unlike any other. Her mere presence commanded the space to part willingly, as if it was in awe of her terrifying aura.

Nature itself seemed to obey her, as space dared not to restrain or contain her.

She did not rip space apart with brute force, but instead, space parted in terror of her. It was too effortless.

Their flight came to an abrupt halt as the surroundings came into immediate focus. Xuan Yi was particularly disoriented and confused, while Tian Wei managed to maintain his composure.

However, even he felt his legs tremble with a slight wobble.

The woman stepped onto the shore of an island, surrounded by a vast sea that stretched out before them. As her feet touched the ground, the earth split apart in the might of her aura.

Her energy surged, and the fissure that had travelled through the island instantly healed.

With each step she took, the ground quaked and groaned under the weight of her immense power, as though it were weighed down by the heavens themselves.

Tian Wei, unsure of the woman's identity, narrowed his eyes and demanded answers. "Why have you brought us here? What do you want? Who are you?"

The woman regarded him with a pensive expression, her eyes scanning his form and Xuan Yi's.

"One has entered the mystery of breakthrough, and the other bears a spark of deity. I noticed a strange aura on you, and I wasn't sure if you were an immortal in disguise, I am now sure that you are not. But your constitution is no less divine. It appears as an intricate and rare blend of humanity and an immortal soul. One half is fully immortal, and the other is still burdened by the weakness of mortality."

"Since you know all that, then you should know that it might not be certain that you can win against me in an all-out fight." Tian Wei's words were cold and threatening as he challenged the woman's confidence.

"No, that doesn't worry me at all. You have already assumed this incarnate form. You can't truly break through the shackles of your mortal cocoon without experiencing severe injury. At the very least, your body will disintegrate, and your other form might exist but won't be complete and will have been terribly injured. Who knows how long, if ever, it would be required to repair that damage." The woman's expression remained calm and collected, and she shook her head.

She paused, her gaze piercing.

"But I am strongly convinced that you are hiding from something or someone. Why else seek shelter in this mortal space? And if that is the case, I am almost certain that you will invite their presence here if you exerted your limits. And I am also certain that they are not a foe you can keep up with." Her words were calm yet contained certainty and authority.

Xuan Yi felt his knees shake as he stood between two titans, realizing that Tian Wei was indeed an immortal being, or at least half-immortal. The woman's knowledge was overwhelming, and it was clear that she was not to be underestimated.

Tian Wei was all the more anxious to know her identity and intentions.

"Who are you?" he asked apprehensively, his body breaking into a golden hue. He was ready to defend himself if necessary, but he knew that using his full power could invite the wrath of the gods and what the woman said was indeed true. But if he had to choose between death now and death a few moments later, he'd chose to live as long as he could.

As Tian Wei's chi began to spill over like a torrential downpour, the woman spun around, her gaze fixated on the island.

"You are but a mere mortal, feeble even in your fullest immortal spirit's strength," she declared with frigid finality.

With each step she took, the island was plunged into a deep freeze, the once tumultuous seas now solid as ice. A surreal, chilling scene unfolded before their eyes, as if winter had descended upon them in the blink of an eye.

Yet amidst the frozen landscape, within the chilling sight of ice and snow, a strange, burning heat erupted like a supernova, its searing flames devouring everything in its path.

Equally frigid cold, like the icy grip of death, and just as much, searing hot, like the scorching flames of hell. It was as if the heavens had forged a divine contract, binding the two opposing forces in a never-ending dance of flame and ice.

In her presence, Xuan Yi trembled. He felt utterly and completely powerless. His fading strength from the Mystery of Breakthrough felt distant and frail.

He felt like he couldn't fight, like he dared not fight, as if his very being was paralyzed by the sheer force of her presence. Like a mere leaf in the wind, he was powerless in the face of her overwhelming strength.

As nature herself bows and bends in her presence, how could he, a mere fragment of nature, dare to disobey the will of this utter strength?

He was now convinced that his gaze had met a deity, his eyes had laid sight of immortality.

He stood in the presence of a true and complete immortal, a being beyond the grasp of time and the ravages of mortality. There was no doubt.

**

[Dear Reader,

Thank you for taking the time to read my writing. As a new author, I am still learning and growing in my craft. I am currently writing two books simultaneously, both based on the same world dynamics. I may fumble and struggle to get my story across at times, but I hope that I do not throw you off or leave a trail of inconsistencies or plot holes. If you do happen to catch any, please let me know and I will go back and fix them.

It brings me joy to know that I was able to keep you reading this far. Thank you. It means a lot to me.

]