In the darkness untouched by light, a name was whispered—so faint, yet it made the stars themselves tremble.
Xian Zhu.
A name spoken only in rumors, yet one that resonated across every layer of the Upper World. They said the organization had existed since the First Era, the age when the Great Calamity erupted. For ages it remained hidden, unseen by heaven or man. But now, the shadow stirred again, creeping through the mists of time.
And when that name was heard once more, the universe knew… something was about to change.
That night, within the gentle tides of the celestial sea, countless palaces floated among the clouds. Each structure radiated an ancient majesty, their presence bending the very fabric of space—as if the pillars themselves were carved from the Laws of Heaven. Glowing arrays drifted through the air, flaring for a heartbeat before fading back into the void, leaving behind faint ripples that could shake the hearts of anyone attuned to energy.
Inside one of those palaces lay a dark hall, dimly lit by faint spiritual light. Several figures sat within, their silence alone enough to crush any mortal—or even most Immortals—who dared to enter.
Their presence weighed upon the air like the will of heaven itself. The atmosphere did not tremble with raw power, but with something deeper—an instinctive fear that stirred in the hearts of all living beings when they realized they were being watched by something beyond comprehension.
Their faces were mostly hidden in shadow. Only faint glimmers of their eyes and the curve of their lips caught the pale light. Each of them wore black robes trimmed with fur, the edges embroidered with a unique white sigil—one for each person. But among them sat one figure whose calmness silenced even the air itself.
A young man. Handsome, yet his very stillness commanded reverence. His robe was black like the others, yet carried a subtle authority that made it seem darker, heavier. On his shoulder gleamed an intricate white embroidery unlike any other. No aura radiated from him—but the temperature of the hall quietly dropped, as if the air itself bowed before his existence.
The young man slowly lifted his gaze.
In that instant, even time seemed to hold its breath.
"You already know why I've called you here," he said. His tone was soft, without menace—yet that very calmness made the hall feel all the more suffocating.
A man sitting to his right leaned forward slightly. "Supreme Lord, judging by your tone… I assume this isn't a trivial matter."
From the other side, a gentle voice spoke, melodious as if carried by wind and strings. "Lately, I too have felt unrest stirring in this world," said the woman softly.
The young man smiled faintly. "Xiyan, you're right. And this time… Xian Zhu may not be able to remain untouched by the chaos to come."
Silence fell like a blade. Those few words struck deeper than any shout.
Since its founding, Xian Zhu had always remained above all—moving unseen, manipulating the course of heaven and man alike. But if the Supreme Lord himself said that even Xian Zhu could be affected, then something beyond heaven's restraint was already in motion.
Another woman spoke up, her voice laced with teasing warmth that carried an odd chill beneath.
"Big Brother, Xian Zhu has always stood atop all things… and yet now you speak like this? I'd wager this isn't some mere chaos from outside, is it?"
The others exchanged glances, many nodding subtly. A moment passed before the young man—Yifan—chuckled lightly.
"Heh…" His laugh was soft, almost playful, yet the air seemed to grow heavier. "You truly deserve to call yourself my little sister," he said, amusement in his tone.
The tension that had been choking the room slowly eased. Everyone understood—if Yifan was laughing, then at least the danger hadn't yet begun.
"Supreme Lord," said another man respectfully, "just give the order. We are always ready."
Yifan's gaze drifted slowly across the hall. His eyes weren't sharp—they were calm, almost gentle—but wherever his gaze passed, the air tightened as though his sight alone could strip bare one's soul.
Every person in that room was no ordinary being. Each one was a pillar of Xian Zhu, a being whose mere step could erase a star. Yet before this young man, they all bowed—not out of command, but out of instinct.
Yifan smiled faintly. "For now… leave it be. Otherwise, my long absence among you would be for nothing."
Xiyan spoke again, her voice soft but probing. "Then what will you do next?"
"I'll descend to the Mortal World with Xinyao," Yifan said casually. "She sensed the call of her ancestor's reincarnation. Perhaps… it'll lead to something far more chaotic."
"Then why didn't you summon her here?" Xiyan asked, brows arching slightly.
Yifan exhaled quietly, his gaze turning distant. "That girl left ahead of me without saying a word. I suppose I'll have to 'pay her home a visit' before I follow."
His tone was calm, almost indulgent, yet his words drew brief laughter from those around him.
The look of mock anger on his face was clearly feigned—more like an older brother pretending to scold a mischievous sister. But beneath that ease, there lingered a subtle warning, so faint yet chilling—if anyone other than Yun Xinyao dared act that way, they would not live to regret it.
A moment later, Yifan smiled again—not the cold smile of a god, but a gentle, human one. With that, the darkness of the hall began to fade.
Xiyan shook her head lightly, a small laugh escaping her lips. At that unspoken signal, the entire atmosphere shifted. Soft light flowed along the walls, and in the blink of an eye, the once-mysterious, oppressive hall transformed into something that felt almost like a casual meeting chamber.
"Brother," one man said with a loud laugh, "you know my daughter-in-law? Turns out… she's actually a man!"
Laughter erupted immediately.
"Hahaha! No wonder your son's been pale these past three days—now it makes sense!"
"Uncle, if I became your daughter-in-law instead… would that be acceptable?" a white-robed girl called out teasingly from the back.
The man spun around instantly, his eyes lighting up as if he'd found treasure.
"Whoa… I wouldn't mind that at all, ehehehe!" he said with mock seriousness.
The hall burst into laughter, waves of mirth washing away the tension that once weighed upon it. For a moment, they looked like ordinary people sharing jokes and wine—not the most feared assassins and manipulators of the Upper World.
But behind that laughter, beneath the masks of humanity, lay shadows darker than night itself. Xian Zhu excelled in one thing above all others—deception.
In a world woven from schemes and betrayal, a friendly smile was often deadlier than a blade.
---
The next day, far across the sea of stars, the upper heavens bustled with activity. Countless Immortals drifted between stars as though walking between neighboring houses. Massive floating stones hung suspended in the void, glowing faintly in the reflection of distant starlight. The sight was tranquil, almost serene—but beneath it was an unshakable hierarchy force.
To descend into the Mortal World, one had to pass through a special portal linking the Upper and Lower Universes. Only those with permission could pass through without losing their form.
In one particular region, a bluish portal swirled slowly, guarded by several Earth Immortals.
"What do you think happened to that girl in the amethyst robe?" one guard asked, yawning.
"Which one?"
"The one who fled to the Mortal World yesterday—chased by those powerful experts."
"Haah… she's probably dead," his companion replied lazily.
"Yeah. Unless she has some terrifying background, she wouldn't last long."
From afar, a black figure drifted across the stars, moving so lightly that space itself rippled around him. It was Yifan. He came alone, without concealment—for he had no need to hide. Only a handful of Immortals had ever looked upon his face and lived to tell of it.
Hearing the guards' conversation, Yifan's eyes flickered. A faint smile touched his lips.
He didn't need to guess for long.
The girl they're talking about… must be Xinyao.
Yet Yifan felt no worry. Yun Xi was far from helpless. His gaze lingered briefly on the portal before he took a single step forward.
The moment his foot touched the air, pressure rippled outward. The guards froze instantly. In the next heartbeat, Yifan passed through—
BOOM!!
A violent explosion shook the entire region.
The portal's blue light shattered like glass, scattering into countless shards. The blast wave rippled through the void, throwing the guards backward, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"Wh-what kind of power is that?!" one of them screamed, his voice quivering in terror.
The once-stable portal had been reduced to drifting fragments of light. Yifan strode through its remains without a single glance back. Behind him, the guards stood frozen, faces pale as death.
"W-we have to report this immediately!" one shouted.
Immortals from nearby regions rushed over, drawn by the disturbance. They whispered frantically, trying to piece together what had happened—as if preparing a report for the heavens themselves.
None of them knew why he had done it. But from that moment onward, the Upper World began to tremble.
---
Meanwhile, in the Lower Universe.
A vast stretch of starry sky lay calm and still.
But in the Mortal Worlds, calmness always comes before the storm.
Two old men floated high above, gazing down at a massive green star below.
"Why haven't they come out yet?" one of them muttered, his tone impatient. "Did something happen on that worthless star?"
"Relax," the other chuckled hoarsely. "They're probably… enjoying the girl's body right about now."
"Hahaha! True enough. That girl's quite the beauty. Her body's perfect for dual cultivation."
"Heh, let's see how long she can last."
Their laughter echoed across the void—ugly, vile, and utterly without shame.
The truth of this world was cruel. Even those who sought peace could still fall victim to greed, hunted for the gifts of their birth. The strong devoured the weak, and virtue held no meaning in the face of desire.
Yet neither of the two realized that the air around them had begun to freeze. Their laughter faded abruptly when a calm, cold voice spoke from everywhere at once.
"And how long… do you think you can last?"
The two old men stiffened. Terror crawled up their spines.
"Who's there?!" one of them shouted, eyes darting wildly.
He released his aura in full power, the space around him trembling as he tried to force the intruder out.
But nothing happened. Only silence.
Then that voice came again—this time, whispering right behind their ears.
"You can't even withstand… a single move of mine."
Before they could turn, a hand emerged from the void, seizing one of their heads. There was no time to scream. Only a soft sound—
Crack!
The head shattered like glass. Blood froze midair before vanishing along with the body, leaving only drifting silence.
The remaining old man stared in horror, his face ashen, his eyes wide—terror consuming him before he could even speak.
Moments later, ripples shimmered in the void. From that distortion stepped a young man, his presence bending space itself as though the heavens parted to make way for him. His long black robe hung still, its white embroidery gleaming faintly under the starlight.
Who else could it be but Yifan?
"W-who are you?!" the old man stammered, voice shaking, fear seeping from every pore as if cold had pierced his very bones.
Yifan did not answer. His gaze was calm—emotionless, unreadable. Slowly, he extended his right hand. The movement was gentle, but the world itself trembled in response.
In an instant, the massive stones floating among the stars seemed to receive an unspoken command. They plummeted down, crashing onto the old man with a force that shattered both body and soul.
The stones piled up, forming a mound that pulsed like a giant's heartbeat—
And a heartbeat later—
BOOM!!!
The mound erupted in a blinding white light, brighter than the stars themselves. Then silence returned. Only the faint sound of cracking heavens remained, as though the universe itself held its breath.
Yifan lowered his hand slowly. His gaze pierced the void—sharp, yet shadowed with something unspoken: anger, and disgust. His lips moved faintly, voice echoing like a whisper of death across the world.
"Daring to covet Xinyao's body?" He smirked. "Heh… you fools don't even know who you've laid your eyes upon."