The sky had long dimmed by the time the golden chains wrapped around Crown Prince Longxuan's wrists.
"By the decree of the Heavenly Court," announced a celestial envoy clad in silver robes, "you, Zhao Longxuan, are under suspicion of consorting with the resurrected Demon Lord and misleading the mortals and deities alike."
Fenglan stepped forward in protest, his face pale with fury. "He didn't mislead anyone! Mo Tianzun never harmed us—he saved us!"
The envoy's expression was unreadable. "Then where is he now?"
Zhenhai growled under his breath. "You came down here thinking you already know everything."
Fenglie stood with his arms crossed, gaze hard but resigned. The portal had closed hours ago, sealing away Mo Tianzun into a realm none of them could track.
The Celestial Army surrounded them, radiant spears pointed but trembling. It was clear not all soldiers believed what they were commanded to.
Longxuan stood in silence, the last sight of Tianzun clinging to his memory the reluctant cry, the white hair streaming as he was dragged into the shimmering portal. His heart had broken with the choice, but he would never regret it.
"Isent him away," Longxuan finally said, voice calm but aching. "Because all of you would have killed him, not knowing the truth."
Silence stretched over the campfire as the soldiers hesitated.
But orders were orders. And under Liu Shengjie's righteous disguise, the heavens believed they were acting against a threat greater than any they had faced in centuries.
The group was escorted to a sealed ward inside the Imperial Capital—where no sword nor talisman could be used. Though treated more like honored guests than prisoners, none of them could leave. Even Shuiyun and Huayin, once gods themselves, were bound by divine law now that the Heavens had declared suspicion.
The days passed slowly.
Zhenhai and Fenglan quarreled with each other to keep spirits high. Fenglie sulked over the lack of tea. Longxuan stayed quiet.
Every night, he dreamed of Tianzun. Alone. Somewhere cold.
And every day, a new rumor trickled through, sects denouncing Mo Tianzun, temples burning incense to repel the Demon Lord, old enemies of Tianzun whispering again of war.
Then, the doors of their holding chamber burst open.
A light wind entered.
In the center of the threshold stood a woman in black robes, her long hair braided in silver and black, her eyes gleaming with yin and yang. The aura around her pulsed with balance, harmony, and something.... rare
"You," Jiang Fenglie whispered, his eyes wide.
Zhenhai took a step back. "You were just a child, but you already have unique energy. A strong one"
She smiled. It was soft. Steady.
"I was a child, when Mo Tianzun saved our village" she said. "But the world needs me now to save him. We need him."
Longxuan stood, his chains falling away as if the heavens themselves had permitted it.
"Who are you now?" he asked, his voice trembling.
She looked at him with eyes that had seen lifetimes.
"I am balance," she said. "And I have come to bring Mo Tianzun home."