The South Sea was not a place for the faint of heart. It was a tumultuous region, both revered and feared, known for its treacherous waters and unpredictable storms. On this particular day, the sea itself seemed to sense the impending danger, as if the heavens were conspiring with the underworld to release something terrible. The sky was an angry swirl of dark, ominous clouds, crackling with energy, while violent winds whipped across the surface of the churning sea. The waves crashed with an unnatural force, sending sprays of cold, salty water into the air. But the stench—foul and putrid—was not just the scent of salt and seaweed. It was something far more sinister, something that made even the most hardened soldiers wrinkle their noses in disgust.
Bai Jue stood at the shore, his regal stance belying the storm of emotions roiling inside him. His face, cold and impassive as ever, was set in a grim expression. His long black hair, tied tightly in a high crown as befitting his status, fluttered violently in the wind. The crown prince of the heavenly realms, known for his stoicism and unflinching courage, was now facing a potential disaster that threatened not just the mortal world but also the immortal realms.
The seal guarding the entrance to the Yao Guai realm was weakening. There was no denying it now. Cracks had formed in the ancient stone structure, cracks that shimmered with an eerie red glow, as if the very essence of evil was seeping through the fractures. Green liquid—vile, putrid, and corrosive—oozed out of the cracks, dripping onto the rocks below and hissing as it touched the ground. The air was thick with the stench of decay, making it clear that something foul and malevolent was stirring on the other side of the seal.
Bai Jue's eyes never left the seal. His mind raced as he calculated the best course of action. He had come here immediately after receiving word of the weakening seal. There was no time to waste. If the Yao Guai—ancient and destructive creatures of chaos—were to break through, they would wreak havoc on both the mortal and immortal realms. His responsibility as the crown prince was to maintain the balance between realms, and he would not allow this threat to go unchecked.
Standing beside him, Lord Fang Zhu, the god of war and one of Bai Jue's most trusted allies, glanced at him with concern. Fang Zhu, who was normally calm and composed, looked deeply troubled. His usually stoic demeanor was betrayed by the flicker of worry in his sharp eyes. Fang Zhu was not easily shaken, but the sight of the crack in the seal had him on edge.
"The crack is larger than we expected," Fang Zhu said, his voice low and tense, the words almost snatched away by the howling wind. "We might not have much time before the Yao Guai start to force their way through."
Bai Jue nodded, his gaze still fixed on the seal. "It has begun," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the roar of the sea. "The seal is weakening, and the Yao Guai will soon break through." His tone was cold and calculated, but beneath the surface was a sense of urgency, an understanding of the gravity of the situation. "If they succeed, they'll spread chaos in both the mortal and immortal realms."
Suddenly, the situation grew more tense as the one person who should have been there—Lord Zhe Yu, the guardian of the South Sea—was nowhere in sight. Bai Jue's jaw tightened in irritation. The ruler of these waters should have been the first to greet him upon his arrival, given the seriousness of the threat at hand.
"Where is Lord Zhe Yu?" Bai Jue asked, his voice cutting through the wind like the crack of a whip. There was no disguising the disappointment and frustration in his tone. As the crown prince, Bai Jue's authority was unquestionable, and Zhe Yu's absence was nothing short of a disgrace.
Pei Yuan, one of Bai Jue's most loyal guards, shifted uneasily. "Your Highness, it seems that Lord Zhe Yu... has not been informed of your arrival. There was... a misunderstanding among his attendants."
Bai Jue's eyes flashed with cold anger. "A misunderstanding? At a time like this?"
Before anyone could respond, a shimmering figure emerged from the depths of the sea. Lord Zhe Yu, the guardian of the South Sea, appeared from the water, his form shifting from that of a towering wave to a tall, imposing figure draped in flowing sea-green robes. His hair, long and dark like the depths of the ocean, was adorned with pearls and coral, and his eyes shone with an almost ethereal light.
He bowed deeply before Bai Jue, his expression one of contrition. "Your Highness," Zhe Yu began, his voice as smooth and deep as the ocean itself, "forgive me for not greeting you upon your arrival. I was... detained by other matters of the sea."
Bai Jue's gaze was cold and unwavering. "Detained?" His voice was low, but the weight of his disappointment was palpable. "Do you understand the gravity of the situation, Zhe Yu? The Yao Guai realm is on the verge of breaking open. There is no time for excuses."
Zhe Yu swallowed, nodding quickly. "Yes, Your Highness. I understand. I have stationed my best soldiers at the entrance to the realm, but I did not anticipate that the crack in the seal would grow so quickly."
"Clearly," Bai Jue said icily, his gaze turning back to the seal. "The situation is more dire than you anticipated. We must act swiftly."
Pei Yuan, always quick to respond, stepped forward and handed Bai Jue the magic seal—a celestial artifact imbued with the power of the gods. Bai Jue took it without hesitation, his fingers closing around it as he began to channel his own energy into the seal. His power, cultivated over eons, surged through his body and into the artifact. The air around him crackled with raw energy as his divine strength flowed into the seal, the very fabric of reality bending to his will.
With a swift, deliberate movement, Bai Jue pressed the seal against the crack in the stone. The red light intensified for a moment, burning bright enough to make those standing nearby shield their eyes. The foul liquid hissed and bubbled as it touched the magic seal, recoiling from its power. Slowly, the crack began to shrink, the red glow fading as the celestial magic took hold. It wasn't a permanent fix, but it would hold for now.
"I've stabilized it," Bai Jue said, stepping back. His expression was still grim, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes. "It should hold for a short time, but we'll need to fortify the area with guards."
Zhe Yu, clearly chastened, bowed deeply. "I will personally see to it, Your Highness. My best soldiers will stand guard, and I will ensure that the seal is monitored day and night."
"Good," Bai Jue replied, his mind already shifting to the next task at hand. He turned to Lord Fang Zhu, who had been silently observing the entire process. "You should return to Kunlun Academy and prepare. We don't know when the next crisis might strike."
Fang Zhu nodded, his face serious. "I will ready the academy and make sure the disciples are prepared for anything."
Bai Jue's gaze lingered on the crack for a moment longer, a deep sense of foreboding settling in his chest. Something larger was at play, something dangerous, and this was only the beginning. But there was no time to dwell on it. He had to return to the mortal realm and to his wife. Yang Mi was waiting for him, and he couldn't afford to waste any more time.
As Bai Jue and his loyal guards prepared to leave, a distant rumble echoed through the sea. He paused, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the horizon.
"Something is coming," he muttered, almost to himself. But what, he didn't know yet.
For now, he had done all he could. But the weight of the future loomed heavy on his shoulders, and Bai Jue knew that the battle was far from over.