'Xueyao, I am so sorry I can't be with you on the very day you will be sent off to endure several tribulations with the immortal black dragon. As it is, I am determined to isolate myself on Long Island until the day of your return, my dearest disciple.'
Xueyao heard her master say through the communication spells for immortals. She stared sadly at the bright golden spell before her in sadness.
Why is Master isolating herself in a place like Long Island?
Does she not know I can't do this without her here to bid me farewell?
She stared as three ice pins manifested beside the communication spell and moved down to float above her left palm.
'This is my gift to you on this journey. It is not fair that you are weak and going to be facing some tribulations. I initially made seven of these with my powers and now I am giving the remaining three to protect you when you are being pushed to your limits and you have nothing else to turn to. I have infused half of my red dragon spiritual powers in it and let the pins guide you on how to access that great power to use it to defend yourself.'
Xueyao listened as her eyes filled with tears as she couldn't imagine how painful it must have been for her master to let go half of her cultivation just to protect her along the way.
'Remember, Xueyao, everything I have done and presently doing is all for your good. I care for no one else but for the both of you. Return to us soon and alive.'
The girl sobbed terribly when the communication spell destroyed itself and the three ice pins entered to stay within her spiritual veins until summoned.
''Master,'' her lips trembled, but no one answered—only the peaceful silence of the open space balcony of Temperance Hall. ''What must be so important to you in Long Island that you couldn't come over here and say it all to my face. How am I supposed to have the strength to continue when you are not even here to say goodbye.''
He watched in annoyance from a distance as she continued to cry and break down like she was some baby. When her cries seemed to not be ending soon and time was already running out and they had to leave soon to the Hall of Regrets, the ancient black dragon moved to stay by her side without sparing her a glance.
''If you continue to break down randomly like this, I will assume you already regret your decision to sacrifice yourself to save the world.''
The girl sniffed and calmed herself by using the back of her hands to wipe her face dry of her tears.
''What's the matter?'' He asked, after he no longer heard her crying by his side. ''Is your Master not interested in seeing her favourite disciple send herself on a death mission?''
Xueyao gave him a nasty side eye before she angrily wiped away the invisible traces of her tears on her face.
''It is not a death mission. We are going to save the world,'' She corrected. The dragon could not hide his smile.
There she is.
He turned and they stared at each other.
''What?'' She asked when he wouldn't stop looking down at her in that way.
''Nothing,'' he shrugged, turning away to stare at the rising sun. ''I don't just understand your reasons and why you are so passionate about saving the people who don't respect you. Even I as their creator isn't this enthusiastic about saving them as much as you.''
Xueyao glared at him before responding with, ''Maybe because I have an actual heart that feels and yours has been frozen since the day you decided to take a nap.''
''Fair point.'' He agreed and he couldn't hold back that faint curve up his lips from happening.
''Come on, let's go. We are going to be late.''
Xueyao prepared herself to fly away but gasped when the dragon pulled her back, his hands not leaving hers as he whispered teasingly to her.
''I know a fastest way.''
''No, don't—''
They both vanished, leaving the once lively Temperance Hall empty and all alone until the day she returns as the hero they are all looking forward to.
☆☆☆☆
The Hall of Regrets was bustling with thousands of immortals trying to make their way through its frozen gates to witness the epic moment where they would send forth the tribulation guardian and the ancient immortal black dragon off to the river of tribulations to experience tribulations that will save their lives.
Everyone gathered above the ever raging river of tribulation cheered at the anticipated arrival of the dragon king. Xueyao stood beside her beautiful tribulation partner on a reserved and raised platform above the river of tribulations.
He wore a dark long robe with a touch of red and gold. Hard golden dragon scales rested beautifully and proudly on his shoulders, the dress complementing his looks, highlighting his power and dominion over all things and his relevance as an ancient immortal/black dragon/god of the whole formless dimension. Xueyao was dressed in a simple light blue dress—her favourite as it was made by her master for her to wear on one of her birthdays. It was sleeveless and praised her doll-like and adorable looks. Her hair was braided and styled beautifully in lovely butterfly pins and some priceless hair pins that belonged to her master and she was free to use them whenever she pleases.
At least she would carry something to remind her constantly of her master and encourage her to be strong enough to go through whatever lies before her and return alive and heroic.
The dragon king added some life to her face with the slight touch of makeup and her apparel looked extra extravagant and covered her bare feet. The male white dragon stood protectively behind her as she addressed the immortals all gathered to witness these moments.
''I remember a few days ago when we were all still helpless and confused on what to do. On how to save our realm. Then Xueyao, the brightest blue dragon among us gave us hope and something to hold on to and it's only a matter of time before this phase will become history and with the vision I saw earlier today, I can confidently tell you all that this would all be a success!''
Everyone clapped and cheered among themselves. Some arrogant red dragons were still holding on to their doubts regardless of the bold words of the dragon king.
Qing Yue smiled at the smile on their faces before looking at her master to see if he was also moved. His gaze only remained fixed on the river of tribulation beneath his feet and it only caused her smile for him to deepen.
''Master, do you have anything to say to us before you go?''
Xueyao turned excited to hear what he would have to say on their behalf.
The pompous black dragon only regarded them like they were indeed his burden. His arms crossed before him as he sighed and turned the other way so that he had nothing to say. Qing Yue couldn't hide her disappointment and she wondered just what they did wrong to him.
''What about you, Xueyao?''
Xueyao's gaze widened in surprise when the dragon king was giving her a chance to speak as well.
''Do you have anything to say to us before you go?''
Now, he was interested as he turned to stare at the shy blue dragon beside him.
Xueyao wondered what to say or where to start. She wanted to say something but at the same time did not want to.
She just decided to keep it as simple as possible yet something they would all reflect on.
''I just hope that once all this is over we all understand it takes one weak and ten thousand strong dragons to save the world,'' she smiled and saw how the dragon king's smile faltered a bit before widening into a more insincere one.
''Alright!''
He kept staring and trying to understand the meaning of her words.
''They are both going to go through five deadly tribulations according to the commandments of the formless dimension to the immortal black dragon of the immortal realm. Five tribulations, mean five chances to gather all the missing Great Karmic Energy that once contributed to the creation of our world.''
Xueyao nodded her head as she listened attentively. Everyone watched in awe as the dragon king used her magic to summon the ancient relic.
The Great Karmic Ring Scale.
A big clock-like magical ring scale glowing brightly with a dark golden color with moving sacred inscriptions of diagrams, magical art descriptions, and schematics designed beautifully on its surface.
''For every successful tribulation, the immortal black dragon would be rewarded with a portion of Great Karmic Energy. This ancient relic known as the great karmic ring scale was designed by one of the five primordial gods to measure and store Karmic energy specifically for creation.''
The dragon king let go of the karmic ring scale and the relic flew towards the tribulation guardian and Xueyao gently received the relic.
''The commandment is very simple to follow.''
Xueyao stared up at the dragon king as she addressed them further.
''Help the black dragon survive all five tribulations, use the ring scale to measure and store up every bit of karmic energy received at the end of each tribulation. Bring it back along with you to be used to restore our world back in its place.''
Xueyao nodded in understanding.
''The formless dimension will choose ways in which it will communicate the interpretations of each phase of the tribulations to you, personally. It's your job as the guardian to use your discretion to determine the goals of each phase and how to survive them all. Do you understand?''
Xueyao paused for a while and when it was very clear to her she nodded her head and everyone was pleased.
''I must warn you to beware of false tribulations. Not all tribulations are in favour of the formless dimension. Once you get deceived to go through it, it's over. It will trap both of you in its sufferings forever and there is no use trying to survive it. You fail. If you truly are the guardian we have all been waiting for, you will have no issue seeing through every tribulation and knowing which is false or true.''
The look on the girl's face showed that she was ready to go through it all, come what may, even hell fire. She would do her best to get it all right. For Sheng Chong.
She turned to him when he did not stop staring at her.
''Very well. Before I open the portal for them to leave and we bid them farewell…''
''Does anyone have any last objections to this?''
Xueyao looked around to see who had something to say against putting their lives on the line to save them. The silence after the dragon king's question prolonged as everyone turned to the other to see if they had anything to say against this.
The immortal black dragon watched as a strange weapon appeared out of nowhere and came flying towards her face at full speed. He moved and grasped it a second before it penetrated her skull. But the resentment of the weapon was so strong, it slipped through his firm grip, brushed past her face to leave a single bloody scar on the left side of her face.