On the bustling street, carriages rolled past in an endless stream, people flowed like tides, shoulder to shoulder as they came and went.
Cries from vendors and bursts of laughter rose and fell, weaving together into a lively, chaotic symphony unique to the thriving city.
Suddenly, a sharp scream cut through the noise.
"Ah! Look! What is that in the sky?!"
Hearing the shout, the crowd collectively lifted their heads. In the distant sky, three objects were plummeting downward at an astonishing speed.
"Could it be a meteor fall?" voices murmured throughout the crowd.
People widened their eyes, straining to make out the true nature of the three mysterious objects, but they were still too far away to distinguish clearly.
At the same time, within the resplendent, gold-adorned palace, an elderly man in a Daoist robe stood with his hands clasped behind his back atop the towering Star-Observing Platform.
His gaze was sharp as he stared at the anomaly in the heavens. His brows furrowed slightly, and his fingers moved swiftly as he began calculating.
Moments later, the National Preceptor's expression shifted drastically, and a thin layer of sweat formed across his forehead.
Without sparing even a second more on the observation platform, he turned and hurried down the steps, rushing straight toward the Imperial Court.
Inside the magnificent, gold-adorned Imperial Court, the pillars stood tall and round. Between each pair of columns, a fully carved dragon connected them—its head jutting outward beyond the eaves while its tail extended deep into the hall. Practical structure and ornate artistry blended seamlessly, adding an undeniable aura of imperial grandeur to the grand hall.
The young Emperor sat atop the gleaming golden dragon throne, overlooking the stack of thick memorials submitted by the civil and military officials below. His brows, already tightly furrowed, drew together even more as he read through the reports.
As he continued flipping through the memorials, the Emperor's frustration only grew heavier and heavier.
At last, unable to bear it any longer, he swept his arm violently and hurled the memorial in his hand onto the floor. His roar echoed throughout the grand hall:
"Useless! A bunch of useless fools! The locust infestation destroying the rice fields happened a full month ago, and yet you still haven't resolved it! Does the throne keep you fed just so you can waste time and do nothing?!"
For the past month, the Emperor had been burdened with unending worry, unable to rest or sleep in peace.
His Kingdom of Wuqi was facing an unprecedented crisis—the nation's grain had been nearly devoured by a sweeping locust plague. As a result, the common people had fallen into dire straits, many unable to fill even a single bowl of rice.
A heavy atmosphere of fear and unrest now engulfed the entire kingdom.
"Your Majesty, please quell your anger!"
Hearing the Emperor's furious outburst, the officials in the hall were so terrified that they trembled where they stood. No one dared to speak, afraid that a single misplaced word would provoke the monarch already seething with rage.
In truth, they all understood perfectly well—the Kingdom of Wuqi was but a small, weak nation. Its economy lagged behind, and it was frequently harassed and attacked by the stronger countries surrounding it.
In the previous wars, the Kingdom of Wuqi had already lost more than a dozen cities in succession. If they still failed to resolve the current food crisis and the army's severe shortage of rations, it would only be a matter of time before the kingdom became a vassal of another nation—or was completely swallowed whole.
"Calm my anger? You ask me how I'm supposed to calm my anger?"
The young Emperor's voice trembled with fury. "In just one month, our soldiers cannot fill their stomachs—their hunger weakens them, their strength is fading. We've already lost more than a dozen cities. The common people have no grain to cook, countless lives have been lost. If we don't solve the food crisis immediately, the Kingdom of Wuqi won't last half a month!"
His face was bleak, drained of color.
With no food left, the kingdom wouldn't even need a war to collapse—Wuqi would fall on its own.
Was heaven truly determined to destroy the Kingdom of Wuqi?
"Your Majesty, the National Preceptor requests an audience," a guard outside the grand hall reported.
"The National Preceptor? Quickly, let him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The National Preceptor wore a simple gray robe, his hair already white, giving him the appearance of an otherworldly immortal.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor."
"National Preceptor, please rise quickly."
The National Preceptor was a man who could read the heavens, and the Emperor held deep respect for him. He had not entered the palace for half a month—his arrival now surely meant something important had occurred.
"Thank you, Your Majesty.
The National Preceptor straightened his posture and bowed respectfully.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. This is joyous news indeed."
"Joyous? From where does this joy come?"
"Your Majesty, this humble servant observed the celestial phenomena today. The heavens have shifted—three stars have descended upon the Kingdom of Wuqi. Heaven blesses our land! The Kingdom of Wuqi is saved."
"What? Three stars descended upon the Kingdom of Wuqi?"
The Emperor shot to his feet in shock, disbelief written across his face.
"Yes, Your Majesty. All three stars descended upon Wuqi today. One fell upon the capital, one upon the borderlands, and the last upon a feudal territory."
The National Preceptor was a man of great ability—he had calculated even the exact locations where they landed.
"Good… good, very good! Hahaha!"
The Emperor repeated the word several times, unable to hide his delight. The news brought by the National Preceptor filled him with immense joy—at last, the Kingdom of Wuqi had hope again. Wonderful.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Blessings to Your Majesty!"
All the officials dropped to their knees in unison.
"Good. National Preceptor, have you determined the names of these three stars? I must go and receive them."
"This…"
The National Preceptor hesitated. "This humble servant… has not been able to calculate their names."
"Then how are we to know who the three stars are?"
The Emperor grew anxious. The matter of finding the Three Stars was of utmost urgency.
"These three are people from beyond this world. Their behavior, manner of speech, and conduct will surely differ from ours. Your Majesty may distinguish them by these signs."
"Very well. Since that is the case, I shall personally take charge. Court is dismissed."
The Emperor held these otherworldly arrivals in the highest regard—after all, the fate of the entire Kingdom of Wuqi might rest upon these three individuals.
He would not allow even the slightest mistake.
"Respectfully sending off His Majesty."
All officials bowed together as the Emperor left the court.