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Under The Scarlet Horizon

J_TSTBR_Cultivator
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Synopsis
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. Long Xiao never asked for this job. One minute, he was assisting our heavenly therapist while avoiding divine mail. The next, his dearest friends signed him up to replace the wounded Lord Haoyu, former overseer of human cultivation, now in seclusion recovering from a match with Ares, god of war. Naturally, Long Xiao did what any responsible god would do: he ran. Well, “descended for divine research,” as he put it. Scene: Moments before his descent. --- 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 declared 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. Divine Rant Activated  --- Why was I selected?  I neither submitted my credentials nor coveted this position. Also I'm the worst possible candidate for this. This means I'm not only a Holy God but also one of the Higher Gods now. Interesting. Really Interesting. --- While the other gods clashed in the annual Gods’ Contest, Long Xiao rode his phoenix into the Twelve Realms, well rode his cloud to be exact. Seeking enlightenment, peace, stories, and perhaps, definitely not intentionally, an escape from his new responsibilities. What he finds instead? A prophecy unraveling. Two prodigies born under the return of the Scarlet Horizon: Xu Lianhua, chaos incarnate with a quick tongue and quicker fingers, running an empire under the guise of an inn. Mo Zeyan, the Wind Sect’s crown prince, graceful as a sword stroke and faster than reason. Both born under a star that had only flared once before the realms even existed. According to Bai Zhenzhu, Supreme Oracle of the Tianyue Realm, these two would either unify the Twelve Realms… …or shatter them completely. And Long Xiao? He’s just the god who stumbled into the middle of it all, without his storage pouch, without a clue, and definitely without an invite.
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Chapter 1 - The Prophecy

Under the Scarlet Horizon, two stars were born. One carved from evil. One carved from goodness. Apparently among the realms, such an occurrence had only happened once before the Twelve Realms came into existence.

That event nearly destroyed existence itself on Blue Star… and thus from its ruins, the Twelve Realms or Continents were born.

Mortal Realm—Tianyue Continent

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On a full moon day in the Tianyue Realm, the Realm of Divination and Fate, a bad omen was recorded.

Bai Zhenzhu, Supreme Oracle of the Tianyue Realm, claimed to have seen the Scarlet star cast 2 stars together. This, she said, was proof enough of the prophecy she had long spoken of.

Every day, the Supreme Oracle, Bai Zhenzhu of the Starweaver Sect, is tasked with tending the celestial loom, threading constellations together to shield the future from calamity.

That night, beneath the full moon, she sat in the temple before her loom of starlight. Silken threads of destiny shimmered under her fingers; silver for fate, gold for fortune, crimson for chaos. She wove, as she always did, with quiet precision.

But then... something shifted.

One thread trembled. Another snapped. And from the tapestry, the Scarlet Star bled through, casting two stars entwined, moving simultaneously, yet falling in opposite directions.

At that moment, Bai Zhenzhu shivered. The loom, an artifact of cosmic power that had spun the destiny of countless realms, shivered under her touch. Zhenzhu's fingers, which had woven threads of fate with serene confidence for a thousand years, faltered for the first time. The threads of destiny, usually a vibrant, humming tapestry, scattered into chaos.

Her eyes, which held the wisdom of a thousand futures, went blank. A tear in the fabric of fate itself struck her like a physical blow. She staggered back. Her body, a vessel of celestial grace, collapsed onto the floor. She lay there, stunned and silent, her eyes pointed against the sky as she was surrounded by the wreckage of a destiny she could no longer control. 

When the dizzying wave of shock finally receded, a tremor still ran through her hand. She pushed herself up from the floor, her movements stiff and uncoordinated. 

WeiWei, Bai Zhenzhu's apprentice who had just returned from the sect trials, decided to pay her respects to her master. As she entered the Star Temple, the sight that lay before her was overwhelming. Her eyes fell on her master's divine threads that were scattered all around before they landed on her master herself .

"Master," Wei Wei called out as she rushed to her master's side.

"Wei Wei, get me an ink and parchment." Bai Zhenzhu ordered as Wei tried to offer her shoulder as support.

"But Master..." Wei Wei hesitated.

"Now Wei Wei." Bai Zhenzhu affirmed.

She sat down in a meditative pose to regain strength through her cultivation. Wei Wei returned moments later to the temple with the sect master. They sat in a triangle formation.

"Master, how are you?" She rushed to her master's side, laying the ink and parchment down.

"I'm fine." Bai Zhenzu forced a smile, ending her meditation.

Her hands trembled as she dipped the feather into the inkwell, the black liquid swirling like a tiny, malevolent storm. With a deep, shuddering breath, she splashed the ink onto the scroll with her cultivation as she began to to write.:

Today, under the Scarlet Horizon, two stars have been born.

They are of the same origin but do not dwell in the same place.

These two, born under this omen, shall either unify all realms…or shatter them completely just like MiFeng.'

"MiFeng??" The name came out abruptly from the mouth of Tian Xu , master of the Starweaver Sect. 

"MiFeng…?" Bai Zhenzhu's young apprentice repeated, eyes wide with confusion.

"Wei Wei" Bai Zhenzu called her apprentice lightly as she coughed a little blood.

 Wei Wei offered her a petal for the blood. Zhenzhu took the petal, pressing it lightly against her mouth.

"MiFeng… that was the name given to the two heavenly immortals, Jing Mi and Xu Feng, born under the Scarlet Moon, who by the help of the Five Holy Gods  brought about the existence of the Twelve Realms," the Supreme Oracle murmured.

Her voice was weak, but steady. She handed the blood-stained petal to her disciple. Wei Wei supported her as she rose to her feet. Master Tian Xu also rose to his feet.

"Master Tian Xu," she said, coughing and coughing again.

"We must notify the other realms. If Mother Scarlet has allowed this… then the Heavens are moving." Her eyes turned upward to the stars.

 "You don't mean...No. I refuse to believe it," Master Tian Xu replied, his voice sharp and beard-stroking, more frantic now.

"But that is the only conclusion." Bai Zhenzhu's voice was firmer now.

"Why seek to unify the Twelve Realms now? For centuries, it was Heaven's decree to divide the sects." Master Tian Xu's expression darkened. He kept stroking his beard, but with none of his usual wisdom.

"The Twelve Realms cannot be united by only two individuals born under the Scarlet star." Master Tian Xu retaliated.

"But the Main Realm was divided by two individuals with the help of the Five Holy Gods.

Master Tian Xu, the Scarlet Star has been cast. The two chosen individuals are now fated to have the guidance of the Five Holy Gods. Only they and Mother Scarlet know what they have planned for the Twelve Realms." Bai Zhenzu explained her theory calmly.

"Supreme Oracle, you mean the gods are involved?" Master Tian Xu sighed.

Bai Zhenzu nodded.

"Fine. I'll have someone pass the prophecy onto the elders of the other realms." He sighed, leaving the temple in confusion.

After a lot of pacing and beard stroking, Master Tian Xu ordered for the prophecy written by the Supreme Oracle to be written multiple times.

After the copies were massively produced, it spread across all continents over the years.