WHAT?!
What did he say?!
I must be dreaming!
What did he say?!
Ce—Ce—Celestial?!
They're not myths?!
WHAT?!
Gu Tianzhu was reeling from the revelation.
In the Wusheng Empire, Celestials were nothing more than legends and myths. They didn't exist. They were stories written by cultivators to scare disobedient disciples—tales cooked up by old sect elders to hint that something might exist beyond Saints.
They weren't real.
Gu Tianzhu's hands trembled. He muttered like a madman, "This can't be real. This can't be real. This can't be real. I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming. Yes! I must be dreaming!"
He began to recall the first time he met Xuan Tian—how every interaction had chipped away at his understanding of power and strength. How simply being in Xuan Tian's presence could suffocate weaker cultivators. A presence that could kill without a single move.
The deeper he remembered, the harder his hands—and his entire body—began to tremble. The shock overwhelmed him. His knees buckled, and he sank into the nearest chair. A sharp taste filled his mouth.
Blood.
The revelation had shaken him so deeply that it ruptured his internal energy flow, causing internal injuries.
But the human mind was a powerful tool. Though still dizzy and reeling, Gu Tianzhu's formidable cultivation steadied him just enough to begin analyzing every past encounter he had with Xuan Tian.
He never showed off, never claimed superiority—but now it all made sense. The oppressive calm. The unshakable aura. He remembered Feng Hailin's reactions, Elder Mo's reactions. His own reactions. How Xuan Tian's power always seemed to defy logic.
His mind began to shift.
What's next? What is he planning to do next? Why is he here among humans? Oh my Heavens, I was hostile to him! I'm lucky to have survived!
Is Ling Yu a Celestial too? Gu Tianzhu broke into a sweat just thinking about it.
Why is he revealing this now?
No wonder the Empire had no record of him—he was never part of it to begin with. He was something else entirely.
Gu Tianzhu exhaled shakily. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and straightened his back. Everything seemed to have fallen into place.
So this is who I've made a pact with...
He closed his eyes briefly, grounding his thoughts, breathing steadily.
And this is the person I've sworn to protect Ling Yu under. No wonder he said failure wasn't an option.
When he opened his eyes again, they were clear. Steady.
"A Celestial," he whispered. "And I dared question his judgment."
His lips curved into a faint, wry smile. "I suppose I'd better not screw this up."
Gu Tianzhu got up and exited the room.
Xuan Tian was in the main hall, examining Ling Yu's new dagger. He looked up as Gu Tianzhu entered—steady and composed.
His mind is stronger than I thought. My bet paid off.
Originally, Xuan Tian hadn't planned to reveal his identity. But his instincts were strong—Ling Yu was an important piece of a much larger puzzle. Which puzzle, he wasn't certain. He only knew there were many, and she stood at the center of more than one.
She needed to be taught. She needed to be protected. And for that, he needed allies—strong ones—in the Human Realm.
Gu Tianzhu was an excellent choice. His ethics as a cultivator, his calm demeanor, and the way his disciples revered him all told Xuan Tian that this was a man worth trusting. A man worth betting on.
And he was glad the bet paid off.
Gu Tianzhu caught Xuan Tian's gaze and his steps faltered—almost stumbled. He quickly steadied himself and continued forward.
Li Ran spotted him and called out, "Shizun! Look at this dagger! San-Shixiong gave Xiao Wu a beautiful dagger!"
"Really?" Gu Tianzhu's voice trembled slightly. He cleared his throat and tried again, more composed. "Really? A dagger? Let me see."
Li Ran pointed at Xuan Tian. "Shengzun is holding it."
Gu Tianzhu's face visibly paled. He swallowed hard. "I'll—I'll go to him."
All of this was noted by Xuan Tian. Gu Tianzhu's stumble, the fear he tried to mask—it didn't escape him.
Well, he's human after all.
Ling Yu suddenly appeared in front of Xuan Tian, her hand stretched forward. "Give me back my dagger."
Xuan Tian handed it to her and asked, "Have you given it a name?"
Ling Yu took the dagger, eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. "A name?"
Xuan Tian nodded. "A name." Then he turned to Lu Jianhong. "That dagger is beautifully made. Well done."
Turning back to Ling Yu, he added, "It deserves a good name."
Ling Yu glanced around the room. Everyone was watching her with quiet encouragement. After a moment of thought, she blurted, "Yue Ya—Moon Fang."
Lu Jianhong grinned. "Good name!"
Li Ran chimed in, "I like it!"
Ling Yu looked up at Xuan Tian, waiting for his reaction. He simply gave her a small nod.
Her face fell. "That's it? A nod?"
Xuan Tian's eyes widened a fraction. "What did you expect?"
"I don't know. Something. Definitely not just a nod!"
Her sudden outburst caught him off guard. This wasn't like her. He sighed. "It's a fitting name for a beautiful dagger."
Then, more quietly, "What's wrong? Why aren't you happy?"
Ling Yu looked down. "I am happy. I just—" She looked up, locking eyes with him, tears welling. "I just… I'm worried about Lin Qian Jie-jie and Xu Yun Jie-jie. I want to share this good news with them."
Ling Yu hated herself for tearing up. She was happy. But she wanted to share this happiness with the two people who had been like a mother and sister to her. Without them, she felt alone. She was the only female in the group. Even though everyone treated her kindly, she still needed Lin Qian and Xu Yun.
She didn't want to seem ungrateful, but she missed them terribly. She knew she couldn't go looking for them by herself. Things were different now. She had seen just how dangerous the world could be. She wanted to go with Xuan Tian. She felt safest when he was around. He was her Iron Wall.
She wasn't blind—she saw how everyone looked to Xuan Tian before making big decisions. Even her Shizun. Everyone bowed to Xuan Tian, literally.
That was why she had told him directly. If there was one person who could take her to see them, it was him.
She didn't cry often—not when it mattered—but this time, she couldn't help it. And instead of hiding it, she faced it head-on the only way she knew how: by telling the truth to the one person she believed could fix it.
Xuan Tian was taken aback hearing that. He sighed inwardly. Once again, he had failed to notice that Ling Yu was just a child—fragile, emotional, and still learning the weight of this world. He had failed to protect her.
Ironically, he had just threatened Gu Tianzhu to do exactly that.
He had focused too much on her physical safety, overlooking the emotional toll. He had completely forgotten what her true happiness looked like.
He bent forward, lowering himself to eye level. "I apologize, Ling Yu," he said, his voice gentle but firm.
"Captain Bai is taking Feng Hailin and the three junior cultivators to her place for interrogation," he began, hoping to redeem himself.
"I was planning to go with them. I heard Dr. Lin and Dr. Xu are at her infirmary. Would you like to come with me?"