The Heavenly Realm, specifically Adowa Peak, didn't experience any significant change after Lord Long Xiao left. However his presence was missed by his closest fellows.
A week after his descent.
Odoye Palace
---
"Goddess Ling Xing, my divine companion wants to depart from me because I commented on the looks of her best friend."
Lord Chen sobbed like a man in love, plucking petals for his tears.
"What exactly did you say for her to make such a decision, Lord Chen?" Goddess Ling Xing inquired, her tone soft, halo purple glowing as she sat in her blossomed lotus pod.
"I...I only said that Goddess Wei looks like the Reincarnation of Amaterasu." Lord Chen wiped his nose.
Goddess Ling smiled but not at what Lord Chen said but at her own thoughts.
If Lord Long Xiao was present, he would probably say something like:
"That's why she's leaving you.
Why compare her best friend friend to the beautiful Japanese Sun goddess and not her?
You brought this on yourself, Lord Chen."
He'd be adding more to the fire instead of cooling it down.
Oh Lord Xiao, where are you?"
Goddess Ling Xing wondered.
Goddess Ling Xing began, her purple halo pulsing softly as she sensed the depth of Lord Chen's anguish. She leaned forward, her blossomed lotus pod creaking gently beneath her.
"Lord Chen," she called, her voice soothing . "I understand that you meant no harm with your words. But we must be cautious with our compliments, especially when it comes to the affections of others."
Lord Chen's sobs intensified, his shoulders shaking with each breath. "I never meant to hurt her…
I feel like this session will take us a full moon.
Goddess Ling Xing sighed.
Outside The Great Hall
---
The Four Holy Gods found themselves outside the Great Hall in the search of Long Xiao. They went to his hut but what they found on his door in bold glowing font was Off To Seek Enlightenment. They decided to wait outside the great hall because they assumed he'd be attending the meeting held by the Eleven Higher Gods.
"How do we know he's inside?" Lord Han asked quietly, pacing back and forth, avoiding the gaze of the two guards.
"Easy." Lord Bai smirked, snapping his fingers.
Lord Bai put the guards under a sleep spell.
"Lord Bai, we can't afford any trouble." Lord Han adjusted the sleeping guards.
"Lord Han, I don't know about you but I can surely afford it." Luo Feng affirmed looking smug and showing off his golden dragon necklace.
"Brother Feng, how about you afford some hair with it?" Lord Zhao teased.
"You..."He trailed off, the annoyance in his tone palpable, causing the clouds to go dark for a moment.
"Guys, guys, we came here to look for Brother Xiao, remember?" Lord Han said, trying to ease the tension.
They then peeped through the door to see if Long Xiao was really present.
Inside The Great Hall
---
It had been a week since Long Xiao got selected. Not once had he paid respects to the now Eleven Higher Gods. His lack of manners had become more than an inconvenience.
It was an insult.
The divine court sat in tense silence, scrolls stacked, halos dimmed.
Goddess Jiang Meng slammed her fan against the marble table, her voice sharp as thunder.
"Insolent brat!" she snapped. "Does he think himself above divine order?"
Lord Ye snorted. "I always knew he was an insolent brat."
Lord Run Yu, ever composed, adjusted the jade ring on his finger and spoke coolly.
"Did he not receive the scroll with our stamp?" he asked, though his tone made it clear he already knew the answer.
Lord Zhan exhaled sharply. "Of course he did. He just never paid his respects. Not once since his appointment."
Lord Ming coughed into his sleeve. "Why did you vouch for him then?" turning to Run Yu.
Lord Run Yu's lips curved like a blade. "Because the scroll chose him. Not me."
Goddess Yaa, swirling the tea cup asked "and what's that supposed to mean, great elder?"
Lord Run Yu sighed, fingers steepled beneath his chin, breaking the silence. "I was about to overlook his credentials," he said slowly, "but I felt divine intervention."
Lord Ming raised a brow, swirling his tea with a jade spoon. "Divine intervention?" he echoed, skeptical.
Lord Ye tapped his fan against the armrest, eyes narrowed. "From who?"
Goddess Jiang Meng leaned forward, her fan snapping open with a flick. "Lord Haotian or Mother Scarlet?" she asked, voice sharp.
Lord Run Yu shook his head. "I don't know..." he admitted. "It just happened."
He lifted a scroll from the pile, holding it delicately between his fingers. "His credentials were buried under multiple scrolls. But after analyzing the one in my palm, it was suddenly on top with the others buried beneath it."
He paused, eyes scanning the room. "I felt that the position was his."
A soft chuckle came from the far end of the hall.
Lord Li, ever the quiet observer, adjusted his robe and spoke with a calm smile. "Sometimes fate rearranges the order we think we control."
Lord Yue, leaning against a pillar with arms crossed, scoffed. "Or someone tampered with the scrolls. Divine intervention or divine mischief, who can tell?"
Goddess Wei, seated beside a floating lotus basin, dipped her fingers into the water and watched the ripples. "Regardless of how it happened, the choice has been made. And now… he's nowhere to be found."