He crouched by the corpse and spotted a pale-green crystal lodged where the skull had been. It pulsed with the faint heartbeat of lingering spiritual energy.
“A Corrosive Crystal…” Jared murmured, rolling it between thumb and forefinger. “Perfect catalyst for an anti-demonic pill.”
He slipped the crystals into a pouch, then glanced at Flaxseed. “Looks like level six hides more hazards than we bargained for.”
Flaxseed nodded, sweeping the charms into his sleeve. “Let’s find a busy town, ask directions to Roaring Storm Church, and learn what Celestia really is. Something about that place feels wrong.”
They leaped skyward on streaks of light, skimming the treetops.
A handful of prowling demon beasts lunged from the canopy, yet each fell in a single heartbeat to Jared’s blade or Flaxseed’s charms.
Roughly an hour later, the forest opened into a broad valley. A modest town rested at its center. It was called Breeze Town.
Inside, cultivators bustled through narrow lanes, some in flowing robes, others in battered armor, a few hauling weapons taller than themselves. Even the weakest radiated the aura of an Earthly Immortal Realm Level Seven.
When Jared and Flaxseed crossed the threshold, conversations faltered. Though they muted their auras, the lingering weight of an Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine made lesser souls instinctively shiver.
“New arrivals, are you?” A middle-aged man in gray coveralls hurried over, smile warm and practiced. “Name’s Keenan Flores. I guide travelers in Breeze Town, news, lodging, anything you need, I can arrange.”
Jared’s gaze flicked over him, only Earthly Immortal Realm Level Seven, yet bold enough to approach. That earned a sliver of respect.
“We’re looking for Roaring Storm Church,” Jared said, voice low but steady. “And we need the truth about Celestia…”
“Easy!” Keenan’s smile tightened as glanced around the street. “You don’t toss that name around in public. Celestia rules the eastern plains up here, offend them and you’ll be lucky to keep your cultivation, let alone your head.”
Flaxseed frowned. “That strong? Then what’s their link to Celestial Palace? I heard that Celestial Palace’s Sixth Hall is also on level six.”
“Different beasts entirely,” Keenan said, guiding them to a shadowed corner of a teahouse and ordering spirit tea. “Celestia is orthodox, pure-blood celestials born with celestial power. Their throne sits on Celestial Fall Plains, far to the east of level six. Celestial Palace’s Sixth Hall rose later in Dark Canyon to the west of level six…”
“They cultivate twisted celestial techniques, and rumor has it that they kidnap human cultivators for alchemy purposes. Celestia despises them, they sneer back. Open war, quiet ambush, take your pick. Roaring Storm Church stays neutral…”
“It crowns Roaring Storm Mountain hundreds of kilometers south. Abbot Infinides, a supreme being at Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine, often aids cultivators like us, though vanished for years and only just resurfaced.”
Jared nodded, placed one celestial gem in Keenan’s palm, and uttered, “Much appreciated, Keenan…”
“My pleasure!” Keenan’s grin widened as the celestial gem vanished into his sleeve. “Word is Celestia’s in turmoil. A highborn celestial escaped, and they’ve unleashed their Celestial Guards to hunt her. If you spot silver armor etched with divine wings markings, steer clear, the weakest of those brutes sits at Earthly Immortal Realm Level Eight.”
