In exactly fifteen minutes, five Celestials stepped out of Tianque Inn. Four wore unblemished white robes, each carrying an aura of calm, scholarly wisdom. The fifth, clearly the leader, was the tallest of the group, dressed in a dark green common Celestial robe. Though simple, it accentuated his rigid, righteous, and dangerous presence—an aura that kept others at a distance, exactly as he intended.
This was Xuan Tian. Standing a head taller than the rest, he moved with quiet confidence, leading them toward Tianmen Gate.
At the gate, Xuan Tian handed the soldiers their travel papers along with his personal token. The soldier's eyes widened at the sight, but as he raised his hands to salute, Xuan Tian stopped him with a firm gesture.
"No need. I'm traveling incognito. Just do your job," he said in a low voice.
The soldier quickly composed himself, scanning the papers. "How many people?"
"Five, Sir," Xuan Tian replied.
"Your papers are in order. Have you crossed the barrier before?"
"Yes, Sir. We all have."
"Excellent. You may proceed. Be safe," the soldier said, then added quietly, "Good luck, General."
As they approached the Tianwei Barrier, the air grew thick, heavy with a deep, humming energy. Xuan Tian had crossed countless times, but today the pressure on his chest felt heavier, each step closer thickening the air around him.
The sealing of ninety percent of a Celestial's power was routine, yet it never became easy. It was a necessary measure for the sake of the Human Realm.
The dense, ethereal energy of the Celestial Realm faded, replaced by something colder—more… human. The very fabric of the world seemed muted.
A prickling sensation spread beneath his skin, like invisible threads tugging at him. The stronger the Celestial, the harsher the sealing.
Xuan Tian's body burned as his strength was siphoned away. He closed his purple eyes, jaw tight, resisting the instinct to fight it.
His millennia-honed power folded inward, his Celestial Core bound by invisible chains. The roar of energy in his ears faded to a distant hum. Beside him, Lei Wen and the others tensed; they weren't immune. Lei Wen, usually the calmest, gritted his teeth.
"We're almost through," Lei Wen muttered.
Xuan Tian didn't reply, focused on the slow retreat of his strength. When they finally crossed, it felt like a door had slammed shut behind him, cutting him off from his true self. The world here was smaller, the air thinner, the sunlight harsher. The grandeur of the Celestial Realm—gone.
And he was… less.
He closed his eyes and took a long breath to adjust his state of mind.
When he opened his now dark brown eyes, he caught an unexpected detail.
Sweat.
On Lei Wen's brow. On Zhao Zhi's back. Tiny beads on Lin Qian's forehead and under Xu Yun's nose.
Of course.
Here, they can sweat like humans. He had forgotten the body's limitations, the mundanity of fatigue.
A reminder: Celestials could be made weak.
"We need to keep moving," Xuan Tian said, refocusing. "Baishan City is not far. We must enter before dark."
According to his mission brief, the city gates would close at nightfall. Entry or exit would require the Imperial Seal. He could forge one if needed, but it would waste precious energy—something he intended to conserve.
They moved swiftly. Within the hour, temporary human settlements appeared in the distance. Scattered travelers became crowds, and soon the road to Baishan City choked with people.
They slowed as the press of bodies thickened.
"What's going on?" Lin Qian frowned, trying to see ahead.
A man nearby scoffed. "What does it look like? We're lining up to enter the city."
Xuan Tian scanned the crowd, noting a foul stench. He crinkled his nose, then remembered to block the smell with his spirit energy.
These people didn't look sick—they looked starved, drained from a long, difficult journey. Some could barely stand; others clutched their stomachs.
Hungry. Desperate.
Lei Wen murmured, "They're not sick? Why are they queuing to enter the city, where the plague is supposed to be?"
Xu Yun stepped forward and asked a man, "Why are these people entering the city? Aren't they afraid of the plague?"
The man gave her a strange look. "Plague? What plague?"
Xu Yun blinked. "The plague in Baishan City—"
The man shook his head. "There's no plague. Who told you that?"
Before she could answer, another man interjected. "If there was, why are you here? Not afraid?" His voice drew attention.
A third man stepped in, suspicion sharp. "I think she's here for the same thing we are. Don't let her looks fool you."
He pointed his finger at Xu Yun. "You lied about the plague to scare us off, didn't you? So you could take it all for yourself!"
The first man snarled, "Judging by her clothes, she's rich! Leave the money and go!"
A wave of voices followed: "Leave the money and go!"
The doctors glanced at each other, startled by how quickly the mood shifted. The crowd surged, voices rising, anger thickening. Stones flew. Xu Yun barely had time to flinch before Xuan Tian stepped in front of her, absorbing the brunt of the attack.
Three breaths.
That was all he would give them. If they continued, he would disperse them with his spirit energy, firmly but without harm.
Then—
A voice from within the crowd.
"STOP!"