The Celestial Zone

The Celestial Zone

Cover, The Celestial Zone I volume 1 (English edition)
天界无限
(Tiān Jiè Wú Xiàn)
Genre
Author Wee Tian Beng
Publisher TCZ Studio (Singapore)
Original run 1999 – ongoing
Volumes (The Celestial Zone)
25 (1999 — 2003)
(The Celestial Zone II)
40 (2003 — 2006)
(The Celestial Zone 21)
Ongoing (2006 — )

The Celestial Zone (simplified Chinese: 《天界无限》; traditional Chinese: 《天界無限》; pinyin: Tiān Jiè Wú Xiàn), sometimes commonly abbreviated as "TCZ" is a comic strip created by Singaporean Wee Tian Beng (黄展鸣). There are two series for the strip: The Celestial Zone I and The Celestial Zone II. The Celestial Zone II broke new grounds as it was fully coloured in A4 Size like the Hong Kong Comics. The Celestial Zone has attracted a dedicated following among fans in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Europe and North America. The series is published both in Chinese and English.

Following the TCZ Saga, a new series was created, The Celestial Zone 21. It had an entirely new plot, era and characters.

Plot summaries

The Celestial Zone I

This series relates the camaraderie and heart-stopping exploits of the Celestians, extraordinary people who live during the tumultuous Warring States Era. Living in a world of their own - a place known as the 'Celestial Zone' - they cultivate special powers beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. Unfortunately, some of them branch into the cultivation of the evil power of corruption, bringing destruction and sorrow to the mortal world. The series centres around the war that starts between the Celestians. The evil Moon Sect rules over the west with scheming Moon Monarch as its leader. This sect possesses uncountable ghost and demons as the lowest and second lowest types of evil practitioners. In addition, it is under the protection of three powerful guardians: the Green Dragon Jian Ao, the White Tiger Zi Yan and the Red Phoenix (twins). The fortress of the righteous sect, Mount Cloud Dream is the only sect standing up to the might of the evil sects with the help of unique individuals such as the Destroyer Chi Xue and a young girl named Xing Ling who gains power under extraordinary circumstances.

The Celestial Zone II

This series follows a couple of years after the events in the first. Peace has reigned ever since the fall of Moon Monarch, the leader of the evil forces. Yet unknown to them, a strange and new power has crept up from behind, threatening to destroy the peace which has been obtained most painstakingly.

The Celestial Zone 21

Unlike the plot from the Warring States Era set in TCZ I and II, The Celestial Zone 21 is set in 21st century Singapore where a particular number of people possessing extraordinary powers live among us. The main character is Mi Sheng, a manga artist who under the arrangement of his little sister, Mi Yu, meets Xiaoxun (or Lavender), an Extra-sensory power (ESP) mentor. It seems Xiaoxun was sent on a mission to train Mi Sheng who unwittingly possesses high potential for special powers. Right at the same time, several other ESP custodians from the Crane Shadow Clan arrive intent on seizing Xiaoxun's "Mentor's Stone" which can jump start one's Extra-sensory power.

The Celestial Zone X

A new sequel of The Celestial Zone II. Some familiar characters are brought to another part of the vast world (West). There they meet characters that utilize different skills, different from those of the East (Celestial Zone).

The Celestial Zone X-2

Continuation of X, this series is to come out in 2012.

List of characters

Celestial Zone 1

The Righteous Way

The Evil Way

Others

Celestial Zone 21

The Celestial Creatures

The Celestial Creatures are a group of people with special spiritual energy, who are associated with a particular direction and animal, with reference to Chinese beliefs.

The four celestial creatures (TCZ 1)

In The Celestial Zone 1, four Celestial Creatures are introduced, namely the Eastern Green Dragon, the Western White Tiger, the Southern Red Phoenix and the Northern Jet Tortoise. They function partially as guardians of the Celestial Zone, and are in their own right formidable opponents, whether of the righteous or evil way. Each of the Celestial Creatures have their own special set of skills and principles, which sets them apart. Eventually, all of the guardians have to train an heir to succeed them, and ensure the continuity of the Celestial Creatures.

Originally, all of the Celestial Creatures were guardians of the righteous way; however, subsequently, three of the guardians were turned to the evil way in the setting of The Celestial Zone 1.

The fifth celestial creature

In Celestial Zone 2, the Golden Nymph is introduced. If all of the five celestial creatures' skill were to be combined they produce an extremely strong force that is able to strip any one of their power.

East Green Dragon

History

The Dragons have always been a powerful force in the Celestial Zone. Despite the radical changes in the Zone, the guardianship of the Green Dragon has endured and been continued.

Blazing Sun passed the title on to his protegee Jian Ao. Arrogant and handsome, Jian Ao was a powerful foe in most of The Celestial Zone 1 series. However, he was killed in a backhanded battle with the Xuan Hua Heavenly King (Prince of Wei), who he once insulted and who felt inferior to Jian Ao. The Xuan Hua Heavenly King was eventually killed, avenging Jian Ao. In The Celestial Zone 2, Xing Yun of Mount Dream-Cloud was poisoned by Three-Star Toad and fell into the Green Dragon Pool. He was rescued by Greenie, the dragon that resides there, and Jian Ao's spirit. Jian Ao then trained Xing Yun as the newest Green Dragon of the East.

A Dragon is left-handed, garbed totally in green, and eventually their hair changes to green as well.

Known Guardians

West White Tiger

History

A White Tiger has dual spirit sabers that can be formed into one single spirit sword. In The Celestial Zone 2, Zi Yan's spirit energy has grown to the point where she possesses dual spirit swords.

Her master Lei Lie was killed in battle by Moon Monarch while Zi Yan was tricked into training with Moon Monarch. Moon Monarch used a secret formula to teach her in which Zi Yan would have to ingest human blood in order to survive. As a result, she was shamed into staying with Moon Monarch. Everything changed when she met Wang Chan of Mount Dream-Cloud, and her loyalties wavered. Three-Star Toad was dispatched by Moon Monarch to eliminate Zi Yan; however, she escaped by faking her death. At the end of The Celestial Zone 1, she showed herself to her one-time leader and persuaded the Celestial Demons to kill Moon Monarch. In The Celestial Zone 2, Zi Yan has reverted to the side of good. She strives to locate Wang Chan while being 'courted' along the way by 5 Elements (who she turns down). When Wang Chan is wounded by the Great Evil, she takes his blood to save him and is subsequently disfigured. Participating in the battle against the Great Evil, she helps the others to defeat him. Eventually, through Chuyi's medical help, she is cured back to her original beauty, much to Wang Chan's delight.

Known Guardians

South Red Phoenix

History

All heirs to the Red Phoenix have to be Siamese twins (conjoined twins) so as to be able to learn the Red Phoenix special skill.

In The Celestial Zone 1, Xue Wu faces both Red Phoenixes who can interchange their bodies—when one is injured, the other can take over, thus making the Red Phoenix formidable in combat. He defeats them both, and Chi Xue spares their lives when she comes across them as they remind her of her own identical twin, Chi Shuang. In The Celestial Zone 2, Red Phoenix's brother gave his life for her to exist alone and find Xue Wu to take revenge. Sporting a different look, she does locate Xue Wu (the real one) and battles him. However, he ends up defeating her, and saves her life from the Golden Nymph. He kisses her, and they eventually fall for each other. When Xue Wu is heavily wounded, Red Phoenix summons the Phoenix formula, sprouting massive golden wings and her Phoenix arrows that defeat the Golden Nymph. She then uses her Phoenix healing power to heal Xue Wu. At the end of the series, they remain together and as close as Wang Chan and Zi Yan are.

Known Guardians

North Jet Tortoise

History

The Northern Jet Tortoise does not make an appearance at all in The Celestial Zone 1, although Danian Chuyi, with her unrivaled prowess in the medical arts, is strongly suspected to be the Tortoise or closely tied to the Tortoise. However, in The Celestial Zone 2, Xingyun is saved from death by poisoning by Le Tian, attired in the same manner and with the same personality and attitude as Chuyi. He defeats the two Grannies and Three-Star Toad easily with his spirit sword and Golden Needles. It appears that he was mentored by Chuyi. He and Avian form a relationship (based on teasing banter).

Known Guardians

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