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Under The Scarlet Horizon

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.
J_TSTBR_Cultivator · 6.7k Views

Emberlyn

"Who are you?" The words hit him like a physical blow. Ethan's eyes snapped open to find himself alone in the market square, the concerned Emberlyn of his desperate hallucination nowhere to be seen. The real Emberlyn stood several feet away, staring at him with cold confusion. "Huh?" The sound escaped him like a wounded animal's whimper. 'Wasn't she just beside me? How did she suddenly end up over there?' His mind reeled, trying to reconcile the vivid embrace he'd felt with the harsh reality before him. "Who are you?" Emberlyn repeated her question, her expression filled with doubt and growing irritation. Ethan felt the world tilt beneath his feet. This was Emberlyn—his Emberlyn—the woman who had pressed kisses to his hand, who had marveled at his cooking, who had whispered sweet words against his back just yesterday morning. But she was looking at him like he was a complete stranger. "What do you mean? Who am I?" His voice was barely a whisper, trembling with disbelief and growing horror. … "EMBERLYN! PLEASE! PLEASE BELIEVE ME! I'M YOUR HUSBAND!" Ethan's cry shattered the afternoon air, raw and desperate and utterly heartbroken. The crowd that had gathered around this spectacle began to murmur among themselves. To them, Ethan was nothing more than a madman, a pathetic figure claiming to be married to the legendary Emberlyn Scarlet. After all, everyone knew she was unmarried—a fierce, independent hunter who had never shown interest in romantic entanglements. The secret they had kept so carefully to protect their love had become the very thing that destroyed it. With no proof of their marriage, no witnesses to their relationship, Ethan's desperate claims sounded like the ravings of a delusional stranger. "Shut up! You're nothing but a liar!" someone shouted from the crowd. "Don't you dare come near Lady Emberlyn again!" another voice added. The crowd's anger turned physical. Fists flew, boots connected with his ribs, and Ethan found himself at the center of a storm of violence. He curled into a ball, protecting his head as best he could, but made no effort to fight back. What was the point? His world had already ended. Through the rain of blows, he caught glimpses of Emberlyn watching with detached interest, as if observing a mildly entertaining street performance. The woman who had once kissed his wounds better now watched impassively as strangers inflicted new ones. When the crowd finally tired of their sport, they left him broken and bleeding on the cobblestones. The market square, which had moments ago been filled with shouts and violence, fell unnaturally quiet. Heavy clouds had gathered overhead while Ethan wasn't paying attention, and now they opened up in a torrential downpour. Rain fell in sheets, soaking through his torn clothes and washing the blood from his face in pink rivulets. "Emm... Berr... lyn..." he whispered, his voice lost in the sound of falling water.
Spec_Eye · 9.5k Views