Chapter 347: Celestial Beast Emperor; Nine Supreme Beasts (1)
"Cough! Cough!"
"Dear, you know my time is already limited. I can't stay much longer," Baihu's mom replied, trying to keep her composure as she felt a pang of guilt for not being able to spend more time with her daughter.
Her lifespan was already coming to an end, and she wished she could stay longer with Baihu. Baihu's heart ached as she watched her mother slowly fade away, disappearing into the mist.
Her trial was to witness the most painful moment of her life, and for Baihu, the most horrifying moment was when her mother left her alone in this world.
She knew she wouldn't see her again, but she held onto the memories they had shared together.
Still, it pained her to watch silently as her mother took her last breath again and again, each time feeling like a knife twisting in her heart.
"N-No…"
Baihu watched for the hundredth time as her mother died before her eyes, tears streaming down her face. The pain of that moment never lessened, no matter how many times she relived it.
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"Hm?"
Chen Tian suddenly opened his eyes, his expression darkened with a mix of confusion and concern.
A faint, shimmering aura began to form around Baihu, its light gently pulsating with a soft glow. Chen Tian could sense the powerful energy radiating from her, but there was something wrong with the way it was manifesting. It felt raw and uncontrolled.
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"Something is wrong! Baihu, what's happening to you?" Chen Tian's voice was filled with urgency as he quickly reached out towards her, trying to make sense of the situation.
Baihu's eyes were still closed, her body trembling slightly, as if caught in a trance. Chen Tian could see that her face had turned pale, and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.
Even inside the cold water, Chen Tian could feel that her body was heating up rapidly.
"I knew that would happen," the old man's voice suddenly sounded in the place, his tone filled with a mixture of resignation and concern.
"Old man, what happened to her?" Chen Tian demanded, his voice filled with worry and frustration.
The old man sighed and spoke in a calm and soothing tone. "Our divine white tiger bloodline trial is pretty simple, yet it can be overwhelming for those who are not prepared for its intensity. That child is experiencing a manifestation of her inner fears and doubts. She will have to live through the saddest moment of her life until she accepts it—a test she must overcome to prove her worthiness."
Chen Tian listened intently, his brow furrowed in concern for Baihu. He knew she was strong, but this trial seemed to be pushing her to her limits.
"Is there anything we can do to help her through this?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.
"Yes, that's why I needed your bloodline help. The dragon, tiger, and phoenix races are known for their arrogance. None of these races would like another presence in their territory, especially the dragons.
You need to use your dragon bloodline. The tiger bloodline in this girl's body would react. I want you to suppress her bloodline and leave everything to me."
Chen Tian's eyes narrowed as he listened to the old man's words. The tension in the air was palpable, and his heart pounded with worry.
"Suppress her bloodline?" Chen Tian repeated, his voice laced with hesitation. "But if I do that, won't it harm her?"
The old man spoke, his tone serious. "Not if you do it correctly. The dragon bloodline within you is strong enough to temporarily suppress the tiger bloodline, allowing me to stabilize her condition. But you must be careful. The slightest mistake could lead to a backlash, and that could be fatal for her."
Chen Tian clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and placed his hand gently on Baihu's shoulder. The faint aura around her seemed to pulse in response, and he could feel the chaotic energy swirling within her.
"Alright, old man," Chen Tian said, his voice steady. "Tell me what I need to do."
"Focus on your dragon bloodline, channel its energy into her, and guide it to suppress the tiger bloodline. You must be gentle yet firm. Imagine it as calming a raging storm. Once the tiger bloodline is subdued, I'll take care of the rest."
Chen Tian closed his eyes, summoning the power of his dragon bloodline. He could feel the ancient energy coursing through his veins, strong and untamed.
Slowly, he directed it towards Baihu, guiding it with the utmost care. The moment the dragon's energy touched Baihu, he felt a violent resistance from the tiger bloodline within her, but he remained focused, carefully suppressing the wild energy.
As the dragon's power enveloped Baihu, the chaotic aura around her began to calm. Her trembling lessened, and the sweat on her forehead started to dry.
Chen Tian's heart raced, knowing that any mistake now could cost her life, but he refused to waver.
"You're doing well," the old man encouraged, his voice steady. "Just a little more."
Chen Tian pushed forward, maintaining the delicate balance between the two powerful bloodlines.
Unknown to Chen Tian, the old man was startled after watching what Chen Tian had just done. One should know that the divine white tiger bloodline was a divine-grade bloodline; even in the Nine Heavens, it would be considered rare and powerful.
The fact that Chen Tian was able to control it so effortlessly was truly shocking.
The old man had thought Chen Tian would only be able to suppress a fraction of it, but who would have thought he could suppress it all?
Finally, he felt the tiger bloodline submit, its fierce resistance fading as it fell under the influence of the dragon's might. It couldn't even resist!
The aura around Baihu stabilized, and her body relaxed as the tension drained away.
"It's done," Chen Tian said, his voice filled with relief.
The old man nodded approvingly.
"You've done well, young man. Now, leave the rest to me!"
The old man's voice was filled with a sense of gratitude.
"Young man, I am not sure what you discovered at the bottom of this lake, but I will not ask any questions. Just know that place isn't related to our race, but about our savior and protector," said the old man, his voice full of adoration.
"Protector?"
Chen Tian asked, his curiosity piqued.
Which individual could this old man be referring to as their savior and protector?
For a person to be the savior of an entire race like the divine white tigers, that person should be a powerful and benevolent being beyond comprehension.
"Yes, our protector," the old man repeated, his eyes twinkling with reverence.
"He isn't just our race's savior; he is also every divine beast's and normal beast's idol. He was the one who saved all the races and made them acknowledged in the Nine Heavens by the human race."
Chen Tian's breath caught in his throat as the old man spoke. The weight of the revelation was almost too much to comprehend. A being so powerful and revered that even the most prideful of divine beasts would bow in admiration?
The old man continued, his voice filled with deep respect. "He was the one who united the races, who saved us from extinction when humans sought to erase us. His strength was unmatched, his wisdom beyond compare. He brought peace to the Nine Heavens and ensured that even the most powerful beasts would have a place to call home."
Chen Tian's mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of what he was hearing. "How could someone achieve such a feat? Who is this being?"
The old man's eyes shone with a mixture of awe and sorrow as he replied, "His name has been lost to time, known only to some. But his deeds are etched into the very fabric of the Nine Heavens."
"If he was so powerful, why is he no longer here?"
The old man's gaze grew distant, as if he were peering into the past.
"Nobody knows. He just disappeared as suddenly as he appeared. One day, he was here, the next, gone without a trace.
But that person was a powerful figure known for his ability to tame and control divine beasts. He was revered for his unparalleled skills in taming and forming bonds with the most powerful creatures across the realms."
Hearing the old man's words, Chen Tian was filled with shock.
"Someone who could tame all divine beasts!!"
Chen Tian's heart raced with excitement at the thought of such a legendary figure. The weakest of these divine beasts had probably reached the highest realm in the Nine Heavens for a single person to control them.
Chen Tian took a deep breath as he tried to imagine the immense power and skill required to tame such powerful creatures.
"That powerful figure was known as the Celestial Beast Emperor, the one who tamed all nine supreme divine beasts and stopped the deep hatred between the human race and the divine beasts."