Xuan Tian spent the rest of the night sitting cross-legged on his bed, simultaneously cultivating and extending his spiritual sense over Baishan City. His focus sharpened as he scanned for any unstable Immortal Cores or irregular fluctuations in aura. Though the city's streets were quiet, beneath the calm surface, a pulse of tension ran deep.
Earlier that night, he had sent a comprehensive report back to Tianjun, leaving nothing unmentioned. Every detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant, was accounted for. He knew Tianjun demanded thoroughness—and so did the gravity of the situation.
Morning arrived, casting soft golden light through the window. By first light, the group had gathered, ready to embark on their individual tasks.
Before they parted ways, Xuan Tian addressed them, his voice calm yet carrying unmistakable authority. "Stay vigilant. Do not let your guard down. If the situation turns unfavorable," he paused, his gaze sweeping across each of them, "use the jade token. Don't hesitate."
Zhao Zhi gave a half-smile, trying to cut through the tension. "Noted, General. No heroics. Got it."
Xu Yun nodded firmly. "We'll stay cautious."
Lin Qian adjusted the satchel at her hip. "I'll keep an eye on her. If the young woman shows any signs of writing that letter, I'll intervene."
Lei Wen added, "Same with A-He. I won't let him slip away."
Satisfied with their responses, Xuan Tian gave a final nod. "Good. We regroup at nightfall. Be safe."
With that, they dispersed, each moving toward their designated location—Lei Wen to the Luo Residence, Zhao Zhi with Xu Yun back to the Zhang Clinic, and Lin Qian & Xuan Tian headed to the slums together. The calm morning belied the storm beneath.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the slums, Lin Qian and Xuan Tian split up. Approaching the middle-aged woman's tent, Xuan Tian immediately noticed a small crowd gathered around it. He advanced quietly, his senses extending outward to gauge the situation.
"Did you hear?" someone in the crowd murmured. "She's successfully formed a core. They weren't lying. How many people have succeeded so far?" The murmurs grew louder as more onlookers pressed closer, curiosity giving way to awe.
Standing among them, Xuan Tian remained silent, eavesdropping while simultaneously scanning the newly ascended Immortal inside the tent. The woman sat on the floor, arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes—now clear and no longer clouded—reflected confusion and disorientation.
A man from the crowd, emboldened by the murmurs, stepped forward. "Excuse me, Xianren," he said, his voice wavering. "Please enlighten us—how can we become Immortals like your esteemed self?" His posture dropped into a half-prostration, reverence and fear intertwined in his tone.
Xuan Tian observed the scene, finding it both predictable and mildly absurd. This is how it is in the Human Realm, he mused. Immortals revered to the point of worship... regardless of whether they deserve it or not.
The woman inside the tent glanced toward the voice but offered no answer, her gaze distant as if grappling with a reality she couldn't comprehend.
The murmuring of the crowd died down. Tension filled the air. Some held their breaths, necks craned forward, ears tuned to catch any word. They all waited for an answer.
The woman also held her breath, but for an entirely different reason. Disoriented and overwhelmed, her mind raced in confusion. She couldn't remember what had happened the night before. When she woke that morning, she had found herself lying on the floor, strange words scribbled into the dirt beside her. She was illiterate. She knew she hadn't written them—it wasn't her.
What unsettled her more was when one of her neighbors, who could read, entered the tent, glanced at the words, and froze. The neighbor's expression turned dumbfounded before she bolted out of the tent, spreading the news through the slums like wildfire.
With the absence of an answer from the tent, the crowd grew restless. Murmurs resurfaced, rippling through the onlookers like waves.
"Is she still inside the tent?" someone whispered.
"She might have left already," another speculated.
"Why would an Immortal stay in the slums?" a voice questioned, laced with confusion and awe.
The crowd inched forward, curiosity mounting. What started as fewer than ten people had swelled to over thirty, and more continued to gather. Their collective anticipation shifted into something more fervent as they began to chant in unison:
"Please enlighten us. Please enlighten us. Please enlighten us."
Xuan Tian's gaze sharpened. This is escalating too fast. Watching the crowd double in size within moments triggered alarm bells in his mind. Without hesitation, he vanished from his spot, reappearing silently inside the tent behind the woman. His priority was clear—prevent her from panicking. An Immortal unable to control a newly formed core was dangerous, not just to herself but to everyone outside.
The woman's breathing quickened, shallow pants loud and clear to Xuan Tian's sharp senses. Her shoulders tensed as the crowd's chanting grew louder, the pressure from outside pressing in on her fragile composure. Her spiritual energy began to stir—faint at first, like ripples across a still pond, then rapidly intensifying. The air inside the tent grew heavier, tinged with volatile energy that vibrated through the ground. Stray strands of her aura flickered and pulsed, as if searching for an outlet. Xuan Tian's gaze sharpened, recognizing the early signs of a core surge brought on by panic. If left unchecked, it could lash out uncontrollably. He stood ready, prepared to intervene the moment her spiritual energy flared beyond her control.
Then—
"I cannot answer that question." A woman's voice cut through the air, powerful yet soothing, resonating with calm authority. "It is a dangerous path. I almost died."
The effect was immediate. The chanting faltered, replaced by hushed gasps and murmurs of recognition. Xuan Tian's eyes narrowed. He knew that voice.
Lin Qian.
Xuan Tian had to applaud the doctor's initiative. It hadn't occurred to him to take that approach—he was about to knock the woman out to prevent an outburst.
Outside the tent, Lin Qian's voice continued, clear and unwavering. "Becoming Immortal is a calling. One cannot achieve it simply because they choose to. Forcing oneself onto this path is wrong. I was wrong. Do not follow me. Pursue the right way—seek out the Immortal Sects and have yourselves tested for innate talent. Go, disperse. Do not disturb me again."
The crowd stood in a trance, her words settling over them like a calming tide. Eyes closed, bodies swayed gently, the tension dissolving as if swept away by her voice's soothing cadence. Slowly but surely, the crowd began to disperse. Murmurs faded. Footsteps retreated. Within moments, the area returned to stillness.
Xuan Tian appeared outside the tent just as Lin Qian approached, her shoulders relaxing now that the immediate danger had passed.
"Well done, doctor. I couldn't have done it better," Xuan Tian praised, sincerity in his tone.
Lin Qian exhaled. "Thank goodness I wasn't late."
"How's your case?" Xuan Tian asked, referring to the young woman she was monitoring.
Lin Qian's gaze drifted toward the direction of the girl's home. "We were right. Her eyes turned white this morning, and she started writing on the floor. Her father was terrified—she's illiterate."
"I knocked her out," Lin Qian added without hesitation. "She's sleeping now. I told her father to keep her within sight at all times. We can't leave her there unprotected."
Xuan Tian nodded in agreement. "Agreed." His gaze returned to the tent behind him. "She can't stay here either."