"My lord…the catacomb gate is closed…it's not opening… we have to get out of here…" the leader guard said.
The Emperor gazed upon Li Mei and Kenji, both unconscious and injured.
"This has been possible due to the heavenly guardian his highness Kenji. We have to get him out safely. We have to do it somehow." The emperor said.
The Ghost Emperor gathered all his strength and summoned an array of transport seals and binding spells. Violet circles formed around them, the guards followed. He pressed the talisman collectively to Kenji and Li Mei's forehead. The spell circle roared to life—but then sputtered, cracked, and died.
The Emperor tried again. A portal shimmered, flickered — then collapsed into sparks.
"Your Majesty, the resentment sealed in this place is refraining the talisman from coming into effect." The lead guard said.
Kenji's breathing was ragged now, his spiritual core seemed to be collapses . Time was running out. Li Mei stirred weakly, still poisoned from the remnants of the cursed seal that had imprisoned her.
The Emperor tried shifting his energy to Li Mei, his own beginning to fray as he tried to shield them.
Suddenly, the air felt heavy and chilly.
"Shield! I can sense demonic energy." The Ghost Emperor instructed. The guards proceeded to shield as they too sensed the energy.
"It must be Liuxing. That damned being!" The emperor said, anger crystal clear in his voice.
The stoned ceiling cracked, revealing the sky, a sky full of shooting stars.
A figure emerged from the darkness, tall and cloaked in midnight blue. His hair flowing freely.
His presence was silent, and his energy unmistakably heavy and demonic.
The ghost emperor rose, "Don't even dare to take a step further. I will not let you take him or Li Mei." He roared.
Liuxing said nothing, the guards shielded Kenji and Li Mei.
Liuxing's gaze paused on Kenji.
"Refrain Liuxing." The Ghost Emperor roared.
"You misunderstand me." Liuxing said, with a swift motion he moved his hand and the guards fell apart.
Liuxing calmly approached, each step causing a ripple in the air as if the realm bent to avoid him. Stars wept in the sky above. Bolides surfaced more and more.
Liuxing knelt beside Kenji. He gently slipped his arms under Kenji's limp body and lifted him gently.
The Ghost Emperor proceeded to stop, Liuxing met his invisible gaze—his face only a mass of black fog shaped as a face.
"You all cannot get out of here without me." Liuxing said, his voice steady.
The ghost emperor did not lower his flames but he did not strike either. He watched—tensed—uncertain as the demon turned away, kenji resting against both of his hands like a fallen star carried through the void.
Liuxing turned his head slightly.
"You can follow." He said, " Or stay."
The Ghost Emperor followed with daughter and the guards.
Liuxing descended upon the heavenly realm like a darkness amidst light.
The clouds parted in a burst of starlight as his silhouette pierced the firmament, cloaked in a trail of bolide. In his arms, Kenji lay motionless—his once radiant energy now dim, his spiritual core barely flickering. The wound to his energy was was deep,raw and still bleeding into spiritual winds.
The guardians on the outer gates stirred first,alarmed as they sensed Liuxing's energy and then his presence.
Within seconds, the sky was filled with figures.
Swords were drawn, bows pulled taut. A dozen gods and guardians hovered midair, their robes, their robes fluttering, their expressions taut with fury.
"Step away from his highness, Liuxing you are not welcomed here." The commander of the sky wardens roared.
More appeared—clouds chariots arriving and talismans drawn, sacred spears aimed. Even the spirit cranes cried out in panic, circling frantically above the sacred palace towers.
Liuxing did not stop.
He walked through the golden marble of the sky bridge, the ancient road that led to the central palace of the high council. Each step echoed like thunder, he held Kenji close to him, unmoved by the chaos around him.
Chao Xing flew down, blades swirling with golden qi.
"You dar bring him back broken?" She shouted, "You dare enter this real after what you did to Ghost Emperor's daughter?"
Liuxing lifted his gaze, "Move" he said low and commanding.
The sky darkened, clouds rolling as stars shimmered behind the veil of the day. For a moment,it seemed he might unleash devastation, and many readied themselves to collectively stand against Liuxing and give their best to defeat him, and die defending the heavenly realm.
But then, from behind the citadel walls came a cry,
"Wait!"
The Ghost Emperor soared into view carrying Li Mei behind him on a violet disc of energy. His voice thundered above them all.
"He is not our enemy right now!"
Gasps spread like fire through the crowd. The Sky Wardens hesitated. Weapons faltered. Eyes turned towards the Ghost Emperor, the legendary specter-lord, now vouching for his rival who is also the most feared being in all the realms, basically the rival of all.
"He saved his highness Kenji." The ghost emperor announced, "and without him we would have lost them both, Lord Kenji and my daughter."
A tense silence followed.
Finally, Chao Xing moved aside, reluctant but obeying the shift in command.
Liuxing nodded once, barelgg ye acknowledging the path now cleared. He walked forward through the palace gates. Hundreds of wary eyes followed his every move muttering, "How are we to trust him?"
Inside the sacred chambers, he entered the hall.
Liuxing laid Kenji down on the crystal altar infront of Superior Guardian who got up hurriedly but still steady, ignoring Liuxing she joined the healers, "His core is unstable …he poured out too much, Your majesty—"
"The wailing river path is forbidden. You should have not let him walk on that path, emperor Li." The Superior Guardian spoke interrupting the leader of the healers.
"His highness was reluctant. I failed to stop him. It was the only way. The ghost realm will always be grateful superior guardian." The ghost emperor answered.
"Please escort emperor and princess Li to the healing chambers." Superior guardian instructed.
As the ghost emperor and princess Li were led away toward the healing chambers, Superior Guardian turned sharply, her storm coloured robe flaring behind her like an extension of her fury. Her silver eyes locked onto Liuxing, who remained motionless in the centre of the hall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"You have delivered the Prince." Superior guardian spoke coldly, stepping closer. "Now leave!"
The healers paused, stealing glances between the most malevolent being and the most superior being of the heavenly realm. The air thickened with spiritual pressure.
Liuxing did not move, "He needs me here," he said simply, voice as steady as stone.
"You dare defy in my domain?" Superior Guardian's energy flared.
"You've done enough damage to these lands. You kidnapped the Ghost Emperor's daughter. You are not welcome in this realm."
"I did not come for welcome." Liuxing replied, his tone calm. "I came for his highness Kenji Huang."
He looked to the alter of here Kenji lay, face pale and body limp. The ethereal threads that made up his spiritual core flickered dangerously. His essence was unravelling.