Chapter 14: A Mortal in the Celestial Realm

Shen Mu barely had time to scream before golden light engulfed him, and his surroundings blurred into nothingness.

The next moment—

WHOOSH!

A powerful wind rushed past his face, and he suddenly realized he was floating.

"…Huh?"

Shen Mu looked down—

And nearly passed out.

Beneath him was nothing but sky.

The world stretched out far below, the mountains looking like tiny bumps, rivers like silver threads, and clouds rolling endlessly beneath his feet.

Shen Mu's legs shook violently. "W-WAIT. I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS—"

Empress Yue, standing calmly beside him on her golden chariot, gave him a single glance. "You'll get used to it."

Shen Mu wanted to vomit.

He grabbed onto the nearest pillar of the chariot, clutching it for dear life.

The celestial beasts pulling the chariot roared, their bodies made of pure divine energy. Each step they took moved them faster than the wind itself.

Within moments, the sky shifted again—

And suddenly, they arrived.

Shen Mu, still clutching the pillar, peeked out.

What he saw stole his breath away.

A floating city of gold and jade.

Massive celestial palaces hung in the sky, connected by bridges of starlight. Waterfalls of liquid qi poured from floating mountains, and gigantic cranes with shimmering feathers soared between the clouds.

The sky here was endless, filled with shimmering constellations, even though it was daylight.

This was…

The Celestial Realm.

"…Holy shit," Shen Mu whispered.

The chariot descended, landing at the gates of a grand palace.

Shen Mu felt his legs wobble as he stepped down, his knees still weak from the ride.

But the moment his feet touched the golden ground—

A sudden wave of divine pressure hit him.

Shen Mu stiffened.

The air here was thick with spiritual energy, so dense it was almost suffocating.

Even breathing felt heavier.

A mortal like him wasn't supposed to exist in a place like this.

'Okay. Stay calm. Don't pass out. Don't pass out—'

"Come," Empress Yue said, walking toward the palace doors.

Shen Mu took a deep breath—

And stumbled after her.

---

Inside the Jade Palace

The moment they stepped inside, several powerful figures turned to look at them.

Elders in flowing white robes, celestial generals in golden armor, and divine scholars holding ancient scrolls.

All of them stared at Shen Mu.

Some in curiosity.

Some in skepticism.

Some in sheer disbelief.

"…So this is the mortal?" one elder muttered.

"A simple man… yet he supposedly commands the Dao effortlessly?"

Shen Mu could feel their spiritual pressure bearing down on him.

Sweat dripped down his back.

'Oh god. I'm going to die.'

Empress Yue raised a hand, silencing them all.

She turned to Shen Mu.

"I brought you here for one reason."

Shen Mu gulped. "And that is…?"

Empress Yue's silver eyes pierced into him.

"To answer a question that has haunted me since I met you."

She stepped closer.

And then, with genuine seriousness, she asked—

"…Who are you?"

Silence.

Shen Mu's brain short-circuited.

"…Huh?"

Empress Yue's voice remained calm but firm.

"You possess no cultivation, yet your mere presence bends the world around you. You claim to be a simple craftsman, yet your hands shape the very laws of reality."

She tilted her head slightly.

"You say you are a mortal. But how… can that be true?"

Shen Mu swallowed hard.

'SHE'S ACTUALLY QUESTIONING ME. SHE'S NOT BLINDLY BELIEVING THE HYPE. I'M SCREWED.'

If it were Bai Ling or Elder Zhao, he could've just said something vague and they'd overthink it for him.

But Empress Yue wasn't buying into his legend so easily.

He had to think fast.

Denying wouldn't work.

Lying outright wouldn't work.

Playing dumb wouldn't work.

So instead…

He did what he did best.

He bluffed his ass off.

Shen Mu took a slow breath and made his expression calm, unreadable.

Then, in the deepest, most profound voice he could manage, he said—

"…Do you truly believe the heavens would grant you the answer so easily?"

BOOOOM.

The entire hall fell into dead silence.

The celestial generals stiffened.

The scholars shook.

Even Empress Yue momentarily froze.

Shen Mu internally panicked. 'PLEASE WORK PLEASE WORK PLEASE WORK—'

The elders exchanged nervous glances.

"H-He's testing us…!" one of them whispered.

"No… he's testing the Empress herself!"

Another elder gulped. "To even question the Saint Empress… he truly has no fear."

Shen Mu resisted the urge to scream.

'I WAS JUST TRYING TO AVOID THE QUESTION!'

Empress Yue's silver eyes flickered with something unreadable.

"…I see."

She stepped back, crossing her arms thoughtfully.

Then, she gave a small smile.

"You truly are… a mystery."

Shen Mu nearly collapsed in relief.

'THANK GOD SHE BOUGHT IT.'

Empress Yue turned to the elders. "Prepare a guest chamber for him."

Shen Mu blinked. "Wait, what?"

"You'll be staying here for a while," she said simply.

Shen Mu's stomach dropped.

'WAIT. WHAT?!'

"I still have questions," Empress Yue continued. "And I believe… the longer I observe you, the clearer the answers will become."

Shen Mu felt lightheaded.

"You want me to stay… in the Celestial Realm?"

Empress Yue nodded. "You have no objections, do you?"

Shen Mu's soul cracked.

'YES, I HAVE OBJECTIONS.'

But saying "no" would definitely make things worse.

So instead, he forced the most pained smile of his life.

"…Of course not."

Empress Yue smiled faintly. "Good."

Shen Mu's life was over.

---

End of Chapter 14