chapter 60: stepping beyond the beyond

A silence settled over the vast expanse of reality as Shen Tian took his first step on the Unwritten Path. Unlike the Dao, which followed the natural laws of the universe, or the path of transcendence, which sought to break free from them, this new journey had no restrictions, no framework—only possibilities.

The golden sigil of the Codex of the Unwritten pulsed within him, feeding him glimpses of things that had never been conceived, concepts that existed outside time, outside reason.

Shen Tian smirked. "Interesting."

He turned his gaze toward the vast cosmos stretching before him. He had already surpassed creation, but now he would surpass surpassing.

A Moment of Peace... or So He Thought

Before continuing forward, he decided to return to his domain. After all, what was the point of ascending infinitely if he didn't take the time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life?

With a mere thought, he appeared in the grand floating palace where his wives awaited.

"Husband!"

The moment he arrived, a dozen figures rushed toward him. Each one was a supreme beauty, their celestial auras dazzling even the greatest of immortals. His many wives had cultivated their strength, some ruling over entire realms, yet in his presence, they all softened.

"You're back so soon?" asked Bai Xue, the Ice Phoenix Empress, crossing her arms. "I thought you were going to explore the beyond for longer."

Shen Tian chuckled. "The beyond isn't going anywhere. But I figured it was time for a break."

Xiao Ling'er, the playful dragon queen, wrapped her arms around him. "Oh? Did the mighty Shen Tian miss his wives?"

He grinned. "Of course. I'd be a fool not to."

They laughed, the warm atmosphere filling the divine palace. Shen Tian enjoyed these moments—the simple, fleeting joys that even gods and transcendents rarely experienced.

An Unexpected Visitor

As they sat around a jade table, discussing various matters of the heavens and realms, a strange ripple passed through the air.

Shen Tian's gaze sharpened.

A figure stepped forward from the void—cloaked in a robe of shifting stars, his face hidden beneath a veil of pure energy. His presence was… undefined, as if reality itself struggled to perceive him.

The palace guards tensed, but Shen Tian simply sipped his tea.

"I assume you aren't here for a fight," he said casually.

The figure chuckled. "No, that would be pointless." His voice was neither male nor female, neither young nor old. It was existence itself speaking.

"You have begun walking the Unwritten Path," the figure continued. "And that means… you have caught the attention of something greater."

Shen Tian narrowed his eyes. "Greater? What could possibly be beyond what I've already reached?"

The figure raised a hand, and suddenly, the air twisted. The entire cosmology of reality itself shifted.

His wives felt it, their divine souls trembling as something incomprehensible loomed over all of existence.

"It is not about power," the figure said. "It is about concept. You have begun to step outside of what 'is' and into what 'is not'."

A moment of silence. Then, Shen Tian grinned.

"Then tell me," he said, standing, his aura shifting into something boundless. "What is it that I'm walking toward?"

The figure's veiled face seemed to smile.

"The end of stories themselves."

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End of Chapter 60