Present
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As the current twelfth member of the Twelve Higher Gods'Committee, appointed to preside over mortal cultivators, Long Xiao decided to descend to the Twelve Realms to observe their way of life.
Although, he wasn't technically under Mother Scarlet's decree.
The Higher gods desperately wanted an eye to be kept on the mortals, especially those cultivating immortality. So he, naturally, volunteered to descend although no one asked. Not out of curiosity, of course. But because he wanted an excuse to skip the upcoming Gods' Contest.
Just the thought of that chaotic event made his halo flicker continuously.
In The Clouds
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"Which realm should we explore first, Lei?" He asked his annoying mount, who was flying beside him on the cloud.
"Wherever there are beautiful ladies and good food, Master." Lei smirked.
"Unbelievable Bird! That's certainly not what I taught you." He glared.
"Don't blame me for quoting your exact words, Master." Lei scoffed.
The skies stretched endlessly, and Lei's wings beat with graceful laziness.
After a long flight, he noticed Lei was getting tired and watched as he collapsed dramatically onto a nearby mountain peak like he had carried an entire realm. Honestly, he adores himself too much.
As Lei rested, Long Xiao sat cross-legged. He lay his information he had on the realms before him. He opened the map. As it stretched before him, he threw a divine dice to choose his destination. It rested on the Xuchong Realm.
On Ling Mountain, Lord Zhao smiled in triumph as his prediction of Long Xiao throwing a dice came true.
His next destination: Xuchong Realm, the Realm of Void Surge.
Famous for its unpredictable Qi storms. It is said that only those who practice the Art of Insanity or have been Scarlet-blessed dare enter.
And since Long Xiao had neither qualification, he decided that would be the perfect place to begin his journey.
"The Art of Insanity sounds really divine and since I'm a god of drama, of course I'm definitely going. I can already smell the brewing mortal drama."
He chuckled as he lay on the ground, eyes staring at the night sky.
"Lei, we fly to the Xuchong Realm tomorrow. Specifically Xundu City so sleep well Lei. You'll need it." Long Xiao chuckled, a wicked grin creeping on his face.
Lei sighed, tugging his wings for comfort.
And somewhere above, the stars flickered like they were listening.
Xuchong Realm
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The sun rose up and so did they. They were all set for their journey. Long Xiao gathered the information he lay down in one snap of his fingers, all disappearing into his storage pouch. Lei had already woken up. He was excited to go and explore the realms but not excited enough to have Long Xiao on his back for the entire journey.
Long Xiao sat cross-legged on his back, robes billowing in the wind, hair flowing like a divine waterfall.
Lei, in his celestial form, soared through the air with the grace of a spirit beast and the attitude of a disgruntled chauffeur.
"Master, must you sit like that?" Lei grumbled, wings flapping with extra effort.
"Yes," Long Xiao replied, sipping tea from a floating cup he conjured mid-flight. "It's called being divine."
"Tch!" Lei snorted.
They passed over jade forests, shimmering lakes, and floating islands tethered by chains of light. Mortal cultivators below paused mid-training to stare at the majestic duo streaking across the sky like a divine comet.
"Xundu City ahead," Lei muttered.
"Remember, we're to descend with elegance," Long Xiao instructed. "I want the mortals to know a god has arrived."
Lei sighed, banking toward the city with theatrical flair.
Xundu City
---
They landed in the city at noon.
Lei, being the loyal companion he is, abandoned Long Xiao the moment they touched down.
"Hey! Where are you going?" He called out to Lei desperately.
"See you later, Master!" Lei flew into the capital, blending in flawlessly in his human form.
Long Xiao couldn't even be angry because their exchange was being watched by the mortals.
"I have already hidden my halo so why the eyes? Maybe because yours truly is too dashing."
He grinned, looking all smug.
Long Xiao wandered alone for a while, observing his surroundings because clearly, Lei had decided that he wasn't important to him anymore.
"Unfaithful bird!" He muttered.
The Xuchong Realm, Realm of Void Surge. This was exactly what he'd expect from a place that requires either insanity or divine blessing to enter. The air here hummed with unstable Qi, like someone forgot to turn off the spiritual blender.
Long Xiao decided this was the perfect place to begin.
The city was buzzing. Cultivators strutted through the streets like peacocks in silk robes, flexing spiritual pressure just to make their sleeves ripple dramatically. One of them was balancing on a single bamboo stick while reciting poetry to a crowd of demons. The demons clapped.
He did not.
"The Mortal Realm is...interesting." He muttered.
A group of rogue alchemists were arguing over the correct way to ferment dragon liver. One of them had a cauldron floating above his head while the other held the liver. The cauldron was leaking. No one cared.
As he continued his exploration of the city, he came across a stall selling Spiritual Treasures.
"How much will one spiritual treasure cost? And are they even authentic?" He thought as he passed by.
Another stall offering various "Constellation Formations" with a side of "guaranteed enlightenment or mild hallucinations."
"What's a formation? It looks important. Why sell these in a stall?" Long Xiao pondered as he left the stall.
TheScarlet Star Sect, the largest sect in the realm, revered for its mastery of ancient Qi manipulation and celestial flame arts. Their disciples didn't walk. They glided, robes trailing embers and pride.
One of them had a divine constellation tattooed which glowed across his chest while another had a floating orb of Scarlet's true fire orbiting his head. A third casually summoned a flame lotus to show off to a bunch of mortal maidens.
"That one needs help from Goddess Ling Xing. Freaking Show-off!" He scoffed.
The disciples were dramatic. And they knew it.
Long Xiao sighed, avoiding the urge to look back at the sight.
Anyways, He thought it would be interesting to hang around here for my first city. You know, blend in. Observe. Possibly steal a few techniques while judging the mortals silently or openly.
Depending on the situation.