Meanwhile in the Heavenly Realm...
Lord Long Xiao, one of the Five Holy Gods and also the newly appointed god overseeing mortal cultivation, had descended to the realms for "research"... or so he claimed.
The real reason?
To avoid participating in the Gods' Contest, an annual divine competition where gods of various philosophies clashed to determine whose path reigned supreme.
Scene: Moments before his descent.
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Night fell on Adowa Peak. The winds whispered as they blew alongside the serene river. Long Xiao, standing at the bank of Densu murmured,
"The mortals need me... Their cultivation paths are flawed." Long Xiao murmured, his voice barely audible over the whispers of the wind.
"They struggle and suffer, all for the elusive promise of immortality. I cannot stand idly by and watch their futile endeavors." he said as a single tear escaped his left eye.
"Mortals don't even need you to hold a teacup, Master. Don't flatter yourself." Lei, Long Xiao's divine mount said bluntly, hovering above Densu.
Lei's blunt words stung, causing Long Xiao's annoyed gaze to fall on him, his halo flickering for a moment before his gaze fell back on the river.
The moonlight dancing on its gentle waves.
Lei snorted, his celestial aura flickering in amusement. "You think, you descending to their realm will change anything?
This question was sudden. Not knowing what to say,
"Hmm!" He cleared his throat. As he was about to resume, his storage pouch slipped and fell into the river.
"Lei, would you be a dear and retrieve the fallen pouch?" He gave a hearty smile but apparently, the mount was conveniently deaf at the moment.
"Wow! The Heavens are loud today. Aren't they, Master?" Lei giggled, already metres away.
His halo flickered temporarily making Densu boil. The winds blew fast as the rocks present broke subtly. Without uttering another word, he dived into the river. Moments later, he crawled out all soaked with his storage pouch in his left hand,
"I shall descend..." He sneezed.
"I shall descend to the realms to provide aid and gain enlightenment." he declared, voice noble, posture grand.
Then, with the elegance of a god dodging his responsibility, he plucked a glowing petal from a nearby flower and dabbed it against his nose.
At first, nothing happened.
Then…everything did.
A sudden heat surged across his skin, starting from his fingertips and racing up his arms like wildfire. His cheeks flushed, his forehead glistened, and his robes clung to him as if the air itself had turned to steam.
"Aaaah!" he shrieked, flailing dramatically as the petal dropped from his hand.
"I'm on fire!
Literally! "
He dove into the river with zero hesitation, splashing like a mortal child in mid-summer panic. The water cooled him instantly. A nice icy relief against the scorching sensation. He sighed, floating for a moment, arms spread wide as if playing in snow.
But peace was short-lived.
A sudden current surged beneath him, and with a loud splash, he was hurled out of the river like a soggy scroll.
"Kid, can you keep it down?!" Densu, the river spirit, poked his head out from the water, visibly annoyed.
"I'm trying to flow here quietly." . The river spirit's head vanished as fast as it appeared.
Long Xiao lay on the riverbank, soaked and steaming, blinking at the sky.
"Understood." he whispered hoarsely as he raised his thumb up.
Lei, hovering nearby, couldn't contain his laughter at the sight of his drenched master.
"Well, that was graceful." he teased, his celestial form shimmering.
"Perhaps you should stick to dry land during your mortal 'research'."
Long Xiao sat up, water dripping from his hair and robes. He glared at Lei, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
"Laugh it up, you unfaithful bird." he muttered, standing on shaky legs.
"Just wait until we ascend back to the heavens. I'll make sure you're on stable-cleaning duty for a century."
Despite his threats, Long Xiao's eyes sparkled with amusement. He squeezed out his robes, sending rivulets of water cascading onto the grass below.