Chapter 15: The Trapped Grandmaster

Shen Mu sat motionless in the guest chamber of the Celestial Jade Palace, staring blankly at the intricate golden walls.

A gentle breeze drifted through the enormous, open-air windows, revealing a breathtaking view of the Celestial Realm—a sky filled with floating islands, glowing rivers, and divine palaces.

It was a paradise.

It was also a prison.

'Okay. Deep breath. Stay calm.'

He had been forcibly relocated to the Celestial Realm.

The Heavenly Empress herself was keeping him under observation.

And the most powerful cultivators in existence were now watching his every move.

There was no way out.

Shen Mu clenched his fists. 'I need to escape before they realize I'm just an ordinary guy.'

Before he could formulate a plan—

A knock echoed through the chamber.

Shen Mu flinched. "Uh… come in?"

The doors glided open with an elegant hum.

A young woman entered—a celestial attendant, dressed in flowing robes.

Her aura was pure, her movements perfectly balanced, like a painting come to life.

She bowed deeply.

"The Empress has requested your presence," she said softly.

Shen Mu internally screamed.

---

The Heavenly Empress's Study

The chamber was vast, lined with towering shelves of ancient scrolls and divine artifacts. The air buzzed with celestial energy, making even breathing feel overwhelming.

At the center, sitting behind a jade desk, was Empress Yue.

She was sipping immortal tea, her expression unreadable.

Shen Mu hesitated. "…You wanted to see me?"

Empress Yue set her teacup down.

"I have spent centuries cultivating wisdom," she said calmly. "Yet, ever since I met you, I have been troubled."

Shen Mu's stomach twisted.

'OH NO. SHE'S REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE ME OUT.'

The Empress leaned forward slightly.

"I have questions."

Shen Mu forced a neutral expression. "Oh?"

She studied him carefully. "Why do you hide your true cultivation?"

Shen Mu choked.

'I DON'T HAVE ANY!'

But if he said that, she'd just assume he was being secretive.

"…Some things are best left unknown," he muttered vaguely.

The room fell silent.

The celestial attendants trembled.

The Empress narrowed her eyes slightly. "…Is that so?"

Shen Mu gulped.

'Okay. She's not convinced. I need to do something drastic before she gets even more suspicious.'

He glanced around, searching for something—anything—that could help him.

Then he saw it.

A brush and a scroll of blank paper on the table.

The Grandmaster's Counterattack

Shen Mu's mind raced.

'I need to distract her. Make her overthink again. I can do this.'

Moving slowly, he reached for the brush.

Empress Yue's gaze followed his hand.

Shen Mu dipped the brush into ink and, without thinking, drew a single, simple circle on the scroll.

Silence.

The celestial attendants stared.

The Empress studied the circle.

Her silver eyes flickered.

"…What is this?"

Shen Mu exhaled deeply, pretending it had deep meaning.

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

"This… is everything."

BOOOOM.

The attendants' minds exploded.

"The Dao of the Circle…?" one whispered in shock.

Another trembled. "It's… so profound."

Even Empress Yue hesitated.

Shen Mu internally cheered. 'YES! THEY'RE OVERTHINKING IT AGAIN!'

Empress Yue slowly traced the air above the drawing.

"…The circle is flawless," she murmured. "A single, unbroken stroke… it represents balance. Perfection. The endless cycle of life and death."

Shen Mu barely kept his face straight. 'Lady, I was just trying to distract you!'

One of the celestial elders suddenly rushed in.

"Y-Your Majesty! Something is happening in the mortal world!"

Empress Yue turned. "Explain."

The elder swallowed. "The Dao of the Wooden Duck… has spread to the Heavenly Fire Sect!"

Shen Mu froze.

'IT'S STILL SPREADING?!'

Empress Yue's gaze turned back to him, deep with interest.

"…You continue to reshape the world, even from here."

Shen Mu wanted to scream.

---

Meanwhile, Back in the Mortal World…

Inside the Heavenly Fire Sect, an entire group of disciples sat motionless in meditation, surrounding a small wooden duck carving.

Their auras flickered, as if on the verge of enlightenment.

Elder Huo, the newly ascended Earth Immortal, stood before them, his voice solemn.

"Master Shen's wisdom is beyond mortal comprehension," he declared. "We must meditate deeply on the Dao of Simplicity."

A disciple suddenly gasped.

"I… I see it now…!"

Another trembled. "The duck's shape… is it not similar to the natural flow of Qi?"

"The beak… resembles the sharpness of a blade. Could this be the legendary Duck Sword Dao?!"

Elder Huo's eyes widened.

"…Master Shen's brilliance knows no limits."

At that moment, a nearby mountain cracked, and a disciple broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

"…By comprehending the duck?"

Silence.

Then—

The sect exploded into excitement.

"The duck grants enlightenment! We must carve more!"

And thus…

The first-ever Duck Dao Sect was born.

---

Back in the Celestial Realm…

Shen Mu buried his face in his hands.

'I JUST WANTED TO ESCAPE. HOW DID THIS GET WORSE?!'

Empress Yue let out a soft, amused sigh.

"…You truly are an enigma, Shen Mu."

Shen Mu wanted to die.

And worse?

A celestial attendant suddenly rushed into the chamber.

"Your Majesty! Urgent news!"

Empress Yue raised an eyebrow. "Speak."

The attendant bowed deeply.

"The Heavenly Dao Itself… is reacting to Master Shen Mu's teachings."

Shen Mu stopped breathing.

'EXCUSE ME?!'

The attendant's voice trembled.

"Faint golden script has appeared in the skies across the world… The Dao itself is recording his wisdom."

Empress Yue's expression finally shifted.

She turned to Shen Mu, her silver eyes filled with genuine intrigue.

"…Just who are you?"

Shen Mu wanted to jump off the floating island.

'THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU—I'M NOBODY!'

But before he could protest—

The palace shook.

A powerful pressure descended from the heavens.

The attendants fell to their knees.

Empress Yue's eyes narrowed.

"…Something is coming."

Shen Mu's stomach dropped.

'Oh god. What now?'

And then, from the sky, a booming voice echoed across the Celestial Realm.

"THE HEAVENS HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF THE MORTAL SHEN MU."

"THE DAO ITSELF RECOGNIZES HIM."

"A DECISION MUST BE MADE."

Shen Mu's vision blurred.

His knees gave out.

'…I'm dead.'

---

End of Chapter 15