A journey through immortal realms begins with a phantom tale.

A century later, Luo Cheng and Lin Chen return to Apocalypse.

After a century of reconstruction, the civilization of Apokolips has gradually recovered, and people are rebuilding cities on the ruins. However, some cities still retain their original appearance, with weeds and trees growing among the broken walls, becoming "historical sites" to warn future generations—to remember that tragic past and to remind people of the past.

The ancient teleportation array on Apocalypse Star was located in the desert. After Luo Cheng and Lin Chen stepped out of the array, he reinforced its defensive formation, leaving a way out for the cultivators on this planet. Apocalypse Star was no longer suitable for cultivation, and the number of remaining cultivators was becoming increasingly scarce.

Standing in the desert, Lin Chen gazed at the distant city skyline, his voice filled with excitement: "I wonder how Mengmeng is doing now?"

"We'll find out when we get there." Luo Cheng used his divine power to protect Lin Chen and then used teleportation to arrive in the city where he first met Lin Mengdie.

A century of restoration has breathed new life into the city, with only a few places retaining some of its original features. At this moment, many tourists wander through the ruins, their casual conversations drifting intermittently.

"It's hard to imagine how people survived a hundred years ago."

"I heard that people back then were all contaminated by radiation, and many of them didn't live past thirty."

"Fortunately, the Empress appeared out of nowhere."

"Yes, after the Empress rose to power, she destroyed all the high-end weapons, leaving not even the blueprints and data behind."

"And the Empress's brother, according to historical records, used his great supernatural powers to purify the air and radiation, allowing the Apocalypse civilization to be reborn."

"Do you think the Empress and her brother are really that powerful? That they could eliminate radiation all by themselves?"

"Maybe it's just boasting. History is history, after all, and people can write it at will."

"I think it's true..."

"Let's go see the place where the Empress once lived!"

Several young people who looked like students walked along the tourist route and came to a three-story building. The building was still dilapidated, as if it would collapse with a gust of wind. In Luo Cheng's view, the building was engraved with defensive formations, which was why it had been preserved to this day.

Tourists gathered around the small building, gazing in amazement at the mottled walls and faded doors and windows.

"Look, there are marks here!"

"Wow, this is a building from two hundred years ago!"

Historical records state that the Empress lived here, sharing a small room of less than ten square meters with her brother.

"Can we go up and take a look?"

"It seems that won't work; they won't let us in."

Lin Chen gazed at the small building, and distant memories flooded her mind—it was here that she met Lin Mengdie, that weak yet stubborn little girl.

"I never imagined that she would become an empress revered by everyone," Lin Chen sighed softly.

Luo Cheng released his divine sense to scan the entire planet, then shook his head: "Mengmeng should no longer be on this planet."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed across Lin Chen's face.

Luo Cheng added, "Based on the current information, this little one's talent is even higher than yours. When she left Apokolips, she had already reached the Nascent Soul stage."

"She really is a monster." Lin Chen was somewhat annoyed. Thinking about how she had cultivated for over two hundred years and was still only at the Nascent Soul stage, the difference was too obvious. Thinking of her cultivation level, she tugged at Luo Cheng's sleeve and pleaded, "Brother Cheng, I don't care, just give me the elixir! I want to become an immortal!"

"No," Luo Cheng refused, then gently comforted him, "Once we get to the Ancient God's Treasury, I'll help you find the Purple Slip. With the Purple Slip, we can help you balance your Divine Chess Power, minimizing the risks of cultivating to godhood, and then help you cultivate to godhood."

"You're not allowed to lie to me." Lin Chen stared into his eyes.

"Of course I'm not lying to you."

The Purple Slip is a small gadget crafted by the gods. It has a great auxiliary effect on cultivators, stabilizing the divine power within the body and reducing the risk of the body exploding.

Lin Chen connected to the internet to research Lin Mengdie's deeds. Later records offered mixed reviews of this empress: commoners praised her virtues, while powerful families and nobles resented her and even attempted to erase her achievements. However, her contributions could not be forgotten, and the common people always remembered the empress's kindness.

After reviewing the information, Lin Chen said, "When I reach the Distraction Stage, I'll travel around like her."

"Sure," Luo Cheng replied with a smile.

Now that Lin Mengdie had left Apocalypse Star, the two strolled around the planet before taking a teleportation array to leave. After several transfers, they arrived at Heavenly Court Star.

"After Li Qiang left Blue Star, his first stop was this planet." Luo Cheng pointed to a stone tablet in front of him.

"Celestial Star..." Lin Chen looked at the large characters on the stone tablet and chuckled, "This name is quite fitting."

The stone tablet is protected by a simple protective array, and there are some inscriptions from different eras on it: Thousands of years ago, immortals migrated from Earth more than ten times, claiming that they would take people to the "Heavenly Court" to become immortals.

When people arrived here, they discovered that the so-called "Heavenly Court" was not the celestial realm.

After experiencing great joy and sorrow, the immigrants could only struggle to survive on the planet Tianting and gradually established the Later Qin, Later Han, Later Tang, and Later Song dynasties. Their origins can be seen from their names. The descendants of the Han dynasty immigrants established the Later Han dynasty, while the descendants of the Tang dynasty immigrants were called the Later Tang dynasty.

"Let's go." Luo Cheng grabbed Lin Chen's hand and used teleportation to arrive in the capital of the Later Song Dynasty, landing in front of a magnificent royal mansion. "Chenchen, this is Hou Pijing's Holy King's Mansion, which is also where Li Qiang used to live."

"The environment is really nice, and the architectural style is also very grand." Lin Chen looked at the vermilion gate and stone lions, his eyes full of curiosity.

Whoosh! A flash of light appeared, and Hou Pijing's figure appeared in the doorway, laughing heartily: "You two little rascals, what brings you to visit your old man?"

This is Hou Pijing's style; he always starts with "Laozi".

Luo Cheng laughed and said, "I originally wanted to come with Li Qiang, but that guy went into seclusion."

"What a pity." Hou Pijing clicked his tongue. He knew that these two people had come to see him off to ascension.

"I ascended to the Immortal Realm, not died. If you want to see me again, just go to the Immortal Realm to find me," Hou Pijing said.

"Going to the Immortal Realm isn't that easy; we have to report to the Azure Emperor first," Luo Cheng joked.

"Stop talking nonsense and come in for a couple of drinks with me."

After chatting for a while, Luo Cheng casually asked, "By the way, where do you plan to go before you ascend?" He remembered that Hou Pijing had a tribulation before his ascension.

"A few days ago, I received a message from Illusion Tree Star asking me to do them a favor," Hou Pijing replied casually.

Luo Cheng understood: they really were going to Illusion Tree Star. In the original story, Hou Pijing was critically injured and on the verge of death there; if Li Qiang hadn't arrived in time, he might have perished.

He immediately took out a defensive treasure, along with some divine items and pills, and handed them over: "Take these."

"What's the point of taking so much? I can't take it with me when I ascend to heaven." Hou Pijing waved his hand.

"You haven't ascended yet, have some first," Luo Cheng insisted. "Don't underestimate this cultivator just because you're a Mahayana cultivator. This stage is the most vulnerable. If you get injured, you can forget about ascending."

Hou Pijing's heart tightened, and he stopped refusing, grabbing the things: "Then I won't be polite!" He seemed rough, but he was actually loyal and righteous, knowing that Luo Cheng was genuinely looking out for him.

Luo Cheng instructed, "If you can wait, stay on Tianting Star for a while longer. Li Qiang will definitely come to find you when he finishes his seclusion."

"Alright," Hou Pijing replied.

After bidding farewell to Hou Pijing, the two continued to travel and enjoy the scenery of the Heavenly Court.

"Brother Cheng, I want to ride in a horse-drawn carriage." Lin Chen pointed to the carriage shop by the roadside.

"Alright." Luo Cheng always fulfilled Lin Chen's requests. He immediately went to the carriage shop, bought a clean carriage, lifted the curtain, and gestured for her to get in. "Princess, please get in the carriage."

"Hehe." Lin Chen chuckled as he jumped into the car, casually asking, "Brother Cheng, tell me, what's the point of cultivating immortality?"

Luo Cheng looked into her eyes and said earnestly, "So that I can always be with you."

The two chatted casually as the carriage moved slowly forward. Luo Cheng fed the horse a drop of Pure Water, and the horse, seemingly imbued with spirit, followed the road without needing to be driven. They sat inside the carriage, watching the scenery outside the window and conversing in hushed tones, occasionally punctuated by laughter.

"Brother Cheng, there's someone here!" Lin Chen suddenly pointed ahead.

A woman carrying a child stumbled towards the carriage, shouting, "Help! Help!"

She was followed by a dozen or so pursuers, each carrying a long knife.

Lin Chen was somewhat helpless; he hadn't expected to encounter something like this while riding in a carriage. Luo Cheng glanced at the woman and sensed a faint energy fluctuation emanating from her, indicating she was likely a martial arts master—it was precisely because of her skills that she had been able to escape until now, but she had already reached her limit.

The woman ran to the carriage, saw Lin Chen and Luo Cheng, and hurriedly shoved the child into Lin Chen's arms: "Please, please take care of her for me!"

Before the words were even finished, more than a dozen pursuers had surrounded the carriage. The leader, upon seeing Luo Cheng and Lin Chen's attire, was startled—this was the attire of an immortal!

He quickly cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Immortal, this person is the one Her Majesty desires. Please grant us this favor."

"Your Majesty?" Luo Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Which country's Your Majesty?"

"The Later Tang Dynasty," the leader replied.

The Later Tang and Later Song were neighboring countries, and the two had unknowingly reached the border area between the two countries.

Luo Cheng said calmly, "Now that I've come across this, I can't just ignore it."

"My lord, this palace maid has violated the palace rules and must be brought back to receive the Empress's punishment," the leader said, forcing a smile.

Luo Cheng's eyes narrowed: "You can leave now."

"Immortal, our Later Tang Kingdom also has immortals to worship..." The leader tried to exert pressure.

"Are you threatening me?" Luo Cheng's voice turned cold.

"I wouldn't dare!"

"Get lost!" Luo Cheng's words contained a hidden sonic attack.

In an instant, more than a dozen pursuers coughed up blood. Seeing this, the leader knew that continuing the fight would be pointless, and shouted, "Let's go!"

After the pursuers dispersed, the woman tearfully recounted her ordeal to Lin Chen. Luo Cheng waved his hand: "I don't want to hear about your affairs. I just feel that since it's a life, it has the right to live."

"Thank you, Immortal!" the woman sobbed uncontrollably.

Luo Cheng flicked out two drops of ethereal water, which landed on the woman and child respectively, cleansing their bodies. He then transmitted a simple Qi-refining technique to the woman: "You may leave now."

"I..." the woman hesitated, seeking refuge.

Lin Chen pursed his lips and remained silent.

Luo Cheng said, "I have helped you recover from your injuries. Find a place to hide, and you will survive."

"Thank you, Immortal!" The woman bowed deeply, then asked, "May I ask your name, Immortal?"

"It's not necessary to know."

The woman bowed again, then turned and left, carrying her child. Perhaps it was the light, ethereal water that made her steps lighter, and she soon disappeared at the end of the road.

After this brief interlude, the carriage continued its journey. Lin Chen gazed at the passing scenery outside the window and suddenly said, "Brother Cheng, do you think the Illusion Tree Star is really a tree? I really want to see what it looks like."