"You... are you Lin Beichen?"
Zhao Yixia stared blankly at Lin Beichen, her eyes filled with disbelief.
At this moment, Lin Beichen was shrouded in a green light. His hair, long and glowing green, made him look like an immortal walking out of a jade-clear spring. His eyes, glowing faintly green, seemed to hold countless mysteries, making it hard for anyone to look away from them for a long time.
The most crucial part was, though this person in front of her resembled Lin Beichen, his aura was beyond Lin Beichen’s by far.
A person’s aura is an almost mystical feeling.
When two people stand together, even if they look the same, their auras can distinguish them.
The Lin Beichen he remembered was utterly transformed compared to the one now.
When Lin Beichen left for Zhongcheng Hall, he was like an unrefined jade, whose brilliance was hidden unless he himself shone.
But now, even hidden in a corner, his presence would be naturally noticeable.
Or rather, as long as Lin Beichen was present, he would always be the center of attention.
It was as if... he was the embodiment of all the beauty in the world.
"You ask this, has someone been impersonating me?"
Lin Beichen asked lightly.
His voice hadn’t changed, but it carried a new rhythm.
Zhao Yixia shook her head in a daze, unable to stop squinting her eyes.
A trace of emotion flashed in Zhao Yixia’s eyes; she couldn’t help but blush slightly under Lin Beichen’s gaze.
"This guy, how has he changed so much?"
Zhao Yixia wondered in her heart.
From Lin Beichen’s departure until now, it had been only a month, yet he carried an extraordinary, almost immortal presence.
During their last meeting, she was awed only by his cultivation, without feeling anything special about the person himself.
Not to mention, Zhongcheng Hall’s Zhao Wuxing could easily surpass Lin Beichen in stature, looks, and aura.
Though Lin Beichen may have been stronger in cultivation, in mere appearance, Zhao Wuxing would outshine him effortlessly.
But now...
Zhao Wuxing didn’t even have the qualification to carry Lin Beichen’s shoes.
Meeting Zhao Yixia’s gaze, Lin Beichen instantly grasped the reason for her surprise.
His withered body had just reached its first stage, merely an entry-level for Lin Beichen, yet for others, especially those fervently pursuing the so-called Celestial Gate, it was akin to achieving Unity of Heaven and Man.
Even if Lin Beichen stopped cultivating now, it would take these people at least a hundred years to catch up.
"Senior, have you already ascended to the Profound Transformation Realm?"
Li Jiang asked cautiously.
The people from the Medicine Immortal Pavilion arrived in shock, gazing in awe at the immortal aura on the mountainside, and knelt down.
Was this air in the sky Immortal Qi?
So, the Celestial Gate had really opened.
Faces of those from the Medicine Immortal Pavilion showed fervor as they knelt in reverence.
"Congratulations, Immortal Monarch, for opening the Celestial Gate. From today onwards, we will follow you without regret, even to death."
Amid the fervent crowd, only Zhao Yixia stood still as if awakening from a dream.
She felt extremely embarrassed at the moment.
Moments ago, she had angrily chastised Lin Beichen and planned to leave, only to realize she had misunderstood him.
The people of the Medicine Immortal Pavilion were even more exaggerated than those of Zhongcheng Hall.
What had Lin Beichen said to these people during his month at the Medicine Immortal Pavilion?
Zhao Yixia, though from an ancient clan herself, had no such obsession with the Celestial Gate.
She only knew of its existence in this world, not what it signified for those seeking breakthroughs.
"The Celestial Gate has long opened. Did I not say so before?"
Lin Beichen looked at them indifferently.
"My goal has never been the Celestial Gate."
"Senior, what is your goal?"
Li Jiang and the others asked excitedly, looking up.
Lin Beichen raised his hand; fluorescence entwined his fingers, forming a unique strand of Spiritual Qi.
Wind, rain, and thunder gathered in his palm, as if planning to create a new world.
Just as everyone watched in fascination, Lin Beichen waved his hand, extinguishing the light completely.
In that moment of confusion, it seemed they heard the rumbling of thunder, a new world being born and destroyed.
Such feats were beyond what the Celestial Gate realm could explain.
"I don’t even know what my path’s goal is, but by walking step by step, across the millennia, I will eventually understand."
Lin Beichen said calmly, with an indifferent expression, as if millennia were just a fleeting moment.
Seeing this, the crowd’s faces changed dramatically again.
To control wind, rain, and thunder, condense a true dragon, and disperse immense Spiritual Qi to nourish the land.
Any of these deeds would be enough to shake the ancients and moderns alike.
But to Lin Beichen, they seemed insignificant.
This only indicated one thing.
Their pursuit of immortality and the Dao were dreams beyond reach, yet to Lin Beichen, these things were just fleeting moments on his path of cultivation.
"Senior, this lady has been waiting for many days, saying she has important guidance and asks for your help."
Li Jiang, coming back to his senses, pointed to Zhao Yixia.
Lin Beichen’s gaze shifted, and the Spiritual Qi around him dissipated silently.
"What do you need?"
As he spoke, it felt as if his body finally stepped into the mortal world.
Zhao Yixia lifted her head.
For a fleeting moment, she seemed consumed by the spiritual light in Lin Beichen’s eyes.
Now that Lin Beichen had asked, Zhao Yixia forcefully broke free from his restraint, feeling a resurgence of unspeakable anger.