Yang Xue saw the old man who had given her the Celestial Book again. He had white hair and an otherworldly air. Apart from his white hair, there was no sign of old age on him.
His eyes were as black as ink, as bright as a newborn baby's. Without the white hair, he was no different from a young man.
But she recognized him at a glance as the one who had given her the Celestial Book back then.
"Long time no see. You seem much younger," Yang Xue said first as she saw the man approaching from afar, her tone calm.
"After a few years, you little girl really surprise me," he said. Holding a tall walking stick in his hand, his voice carried the steady aura of a middle - aged man.
"I should thank you for the book you gave me back then. Otherwise, I wouldn't have achieved what I have in just a few years," she said obediently, standing aside and watching him slowly walk down the steps.
Although she didn't know his identity, Yang Xue knew that he must be more familiar with this world than she was. Maybe he could travel freely across multiple worlds.
Hearing her words, he stopped and turned to look at her in surprise, as if he couldn't remember this matter.
"You're not one of those forgetful important people and don't remember what happened back then, are you?"
Yang Xue thought that if it weren't for the Celestial Book, although she could have practiced fast with the Undying Scripture, the Celestial Book was even more powerful. Otherwise, she wouldn't have always made Tathagata run into difficulties.
"You mean that book with no words?" he finally seemed to remember and waved his hand nonchalantly. "It's not really a Celestial Book. But the name you gave it is really quite intimidating. It almost made me believe it."
Now Yang Xue was even more confused. "Isn't a book like that worthy of being called a Celestial Book? Tathagata was so scared by it that he had a mental demon several times. Now he's been taken away by the system for transformation."
She couldn't believe that this man whose age was hard to tell had so many amazing treasures that he regarded her most precious item as an ordinary book.
"It's just your good fortune. It was originally just an ordinary booklet. Before you, no one had ever discovered that it had such great power. But the material of the book is very good. It's invulnerable to poisons, fire, and water, and it's not afraid of knife cuts. I just thought I was fated to meet you back then, so I gave it to you casually, thinking it might be used as a weapon because I accidentally found that it could block weapons."
"..." Now it was Yang Xue's turn to be stunned.
So, the Celestial Book was the great treasure she had discovered!
Now that he knew how powerful the Celestial Book was, wouldn't he take it back?
"Don't worry. Since it's yours, even if it's more powerful than me, I won't take it back," he said, seemingly not caring about such a precious item at all. Then he casually changed the topic. "It's your good fortune to have reached your current status. But I heard that you're going to marry Sun Wukong. Is that true?"
"How do you know that?" Yang Xue thought she couldn't pretend not to be curious anymore. "Are you one of the legendary sages or someone from beyond the sky?"
"Both, I guess. Most of the sages who have retired from the Three Realms can go beyond the sky and have seen a lot of the outside world," he said, turning to look at her carefully. "So, you cooked for Tang Seng and his disciples back then because you're from beyond the sky and already knew the fate of the White - Bone Demon?"
"..." She was dumbfounded!
So, this seemingly all - powerful old man didn't even know where she came from?
She had thought he was a great being comparable to the system.
"I know about Tathagata, but about you..." As if he had seen through her thoughts, he raised his hand as if stroking a non - existent beard and only then realized that he hadn't worn his beard when he came out today. "I don't know about your business with Bai Xue either."
Yang Xue suddenly felt a bit puffed up and asked tentatively, "So, in the current situation, I don't need to be afraid of or take into account anyone?"
"Do you still fear me?" he smiled slightly and slowly walked down the mountain. "I'll take you to a place, and you'll understand."
As soon as he finished speaking, following the steps of the white - haired man in front of her, she suddenly appeared on the top of a mountain in the mortal world.
When they started walking down the mountain, suddenly a strong wind blew, thunder roared, and lightning flashed. As they got closer, sand and stones flew, trees were uprooted, all things couldn't bear it, quickly shrank, and then turned into ashes and disappeared with the wind.
After walking five steps, he stopped.
Everything around also stopped at the same time.
What was going on?
Did their presence in the mortal world cause such a big reaction?
But she had walked freely in the mortal world before, and this situation never happened.
"As you can see, we can't come to the mortal world in person," his tone carried a sad sigh. "For us, the higher our status, the more we are separated from the mortal world. It's like a prison for those named sages."
Yang Xue was puzzled. "But can't you interfere with the decisions of the supreme rulers in the Three Realms?"
"So what? We'll be punished if we interfere."
"..." Yang Xue kind of understood. He meant that although they had high cultivation and great prestige in the Three Realms, in fact, it was a kind of restriction.
They were beyond the Five Elements and no longer restricted by life, but they had to draw a clear line from mortal lives.
Just like the God of Wealth who once appeared in the mortal world with her but couldn't interfere to save people.
But why could she do it?
"So, you're a variable in this world and a lucky star for mortals. Although you've reached the state of a sage, you're not restricted by these boundaries. It was really a wise move for the Western Tathagata to try to win you over."
"..." Somehow, she suddenly felt like she was floating.
This feeling was so good, with an indescribable sense of superiority.
"But you mustn't get carried away, nor should you be greedy for romantic relationships. Since you've understood your abilities after tonight, you should do good for the people and all sentient beings, just like when you practiced with the Undying Scripture in the mortal world and helped all those suffering through difficulties. You'll always exist here."
He gently waved his hand, and the scene changed. The next moment, they were riding on clouds.
Yang Xue suddenly felt a sense of mission to save the world from the fire and water.
It seemed that she really couldn't just live a simple life. She still had to work.
However, she felt honored to be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility.
She could live a simple life, but she couldn't be idle. Finding something to do could indeed avoid various crises brought about by marriage.
"Actually, I have another request for you today," the man in front of her suddenly lowered his voice and said this very earthly - sounding sentence while Yang Xue was secretly making up her mind and planning for the future.
Yang Xue was flattered. "There's no need to say'request'. It's my honor to share your worries. As long as I can do it, I'll do my best."
"You're being too serious. In fact, we're on par with each other. There's no need to be so formal," he turned his gaze to Yang Xue and said softly. "I'd like you to make a clone for me so that I can travel in the mortal world for a month. This clone must be made by you. Otherwise, I still can't come to the mortal world in person."
"..." Alright, he just wanted to experience the earthly life of mortals after being a sage for too long.