Solar Blood Masters

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The spectators' attention was glued to the massive holographic screens that showcased the carnage unfolding within the Selection Trial's Marble World.

"That fire! It's EVERYWHERE!"

"Poor little rabbit. I really thought she had a chance."

"Those scorpions!"

"And that damned Gastaroid!"

Thienika watched with a growing concern as a familiar fiery energy appeared across one of those screens. Those molten pillars and that river of lava…

"He's powerful indeed." She couldn't help but express her admiration, but beneath her awe was a dreadful knowing. This wasn't simply a Calamity, no. This was destruction, and she feared what would become of her young bull companion whose loyalty mirrored the purest of gems she'd seen.

Beside her, Lu Jade felt his scales turn pale. "That mountain is preventing everyone from reaching the finish line. What's that thing's deal?!" His tiny emerald eyes darted frantically across those glowing screens, "I wonder… will Big Brother be okay?"

His question was met with silence. Thienika had no answers, for even she, whose roots had tasted the nutrients of countless trials, could only offer a sliver of hope. "Your brother is strong, Little Lu, he'll find a way."

…

"This is outrageous!" Elder Feng Huo slammed his talons against the platform. His magnificent white feathers were ruffled as those eyes of his glared with outrage.

"Why is Gastaroid there?! Such blatant disregard for the Selection Trial's rules!"

His companion, Elder Lei Lang nodded with a grim expression. "This is unacceptable, Emperor Qi Hawk. This Selection Trial cannot go on like this, otherwise, there will be NO ONE left to represent Black Wind, aside from that blasted Bull Mountain Demon! We must intervene, immediately!"

They both turned towards their emperor, whose single milky white eye was fixated on the screen showcasing Gastaroid's rampage.

"Hmm?" Qi Hawk finally acknowledged their presence with a bored glance. "Gastaroid is indeed strong. I can sense the shell of my Marble World fracturing from his potent Solar Essence. A Peak Nightmare Calamity. Hmm, impressive."

Those words, spoken so casually as if this entire event was nothing but a play for his amusement, baffled them both.

Were their ears deceiving them?

"But your Majesty! We suggest you…" Just as they were about to suggest a course of action, a familiar sound came crashing through the distant sky.

"Boboboboho! Boboboboho! Kyah-kyah-kyah!"

Turning and looking in the distance, they saw a figure dashing across small clumps of clouds below its feet while singing cheerily and acting jovial.

 "Is that…?"

"WHOA!"

Within an instant, before the elders could speak, that figure crossed hundreds of meters and appeared right beside Qi hawk's throne. This figure even had its elbow resting on Qi Hawk's shoulder!

"Such boldness. Who is he?"

He was a lemur. But unlike any they'd ever seen before. His brownish-white fur had streaks of black lightning. A long, black-and-white ringed tail trailed behind him, and it swished carelessly in Qi Hawk's face as if the being he was touching wasn't an Emperor. His mischievous golden eyes glanced around the stunned gathering.

In one hand, he held a massive wooden staff, and upon it, six wine gourds of varying sizes were attached. These gourds crafted from jade, amber and even bone, radiated with a potent, intoxicating aroma that could make even the most disciplined monk crave a sip.

He was taking a big gulp from one that was golden, then smacked his lips with a loud "Ahhh!" before he spoke with that same casual, carefree demeanor.

"Hawk! My friend, I hope those snacks I sent earlier weren't too sour. You've gotten fatter, I see, hahaha! Perhaps those rumors about your nightly escapades with those maidens in the 'Harem of a Thousand Desires' weren't exaggerated? Truly impressive! Boboboboho!"

His jovial laughter shattered the stunned silence.

"Emperor Julian Ringtail!" Both elders shrieked in unison. They bowed their heads in respect.

The crowd also gasped.

"The Wanton Playboy! Emperor Julian is here!"

"I've heard tales about his adventures in the human realms…"

"Truly a magnificent beast!"

A chilling silence then settled upon the venue. The festive mood evaporated. A tense anticipation hung heavy. They all knew, those gathered there, who this being truly was…

Emperor Julian Ringtail, a legend of Yama Yaguai!

Not only was he an Emperor Calamity, but he was also infamous for his exploits in both the beast and human realms, a master of deception, transformation, and truly, a being who'd unleashed chaotic consequences upon those who offended him.

Their fears weren't unfounded, for this lemur was the sole reason why Dinosaurs were almost extinct.

The tale was whispered across those territories:

A few millennia ago, a young, arrogant dinosaur prince, while frolicking near the peak of a majestic mountain, had a sudden urge to relieve himself. The results of his poor bowels control angered the mountain's protector, for that peak was a sacred space.

Emperor Julian, who was meditating within a secret chamber near that peak's heart, felt something land on his most sacred herb garden, his 'Patch of Eternal Youth' with a chilling splat.

He was furious!

"Boboboboho! Such disrespect! Such arrogance!"

He'd burst forth, transformed into a colossal white ape with fangs the size of small trees and promptly decimated that prince's entourage before turning his rage upon the prince.

"You… dare… shit… ON MY MOUNTAIN?!"

He then grabbed that prince and beat the poor thing against every boulder within a hundred-mile radius. He then devoured it whole.

But it wasn't simply vengeance he'd unleashed!

No, this Emperor wasn't done.

He then transformed into a magnificent phoenix. Its flames, blue, purple and orange, blazed with the fury of a thousand suns! And those flames… they spread across that entire Dinosaur territory.

"You will ALL pay for THIS transgression!"

It took months for the flames to subside, and by then, the formerly majestic land of towering trees, ferns, and those ancient lizards was nothing but charred ruins.

Few of the dinosaurs escaped.

And those survivors were now forced to live in fear, hiding in remote corners of Yama Yaguai, forever haunted by the memory of the 'Wanton Playboy's' wrath.

"Hmph, that monkey." Elder Feng Huo mumbled, his gaze fixed on Julian's casual swagger.

"Why is he HERE?"

Those were questions they wouldn't dare to ask, not openly, because there was bad blood between their Emperor and this lemur, a truth that even those whispering spectators acknowledged with a chill.

It all boiled down to a scandal that was both whispered with reverence and fear, for Julian Ringtail, it was said, had a weakness.

He loved beautiful things!

And in Yama Yaguai, none were as beautiful, as elegant, nor as skilled as their Emperor Qi Hawk's daughters.

It was rumored, that many millennia ago…

Emperor Julian had…

Slept with Qi Hawk's beloved daughter – Qi Wella.

She was a majestic creature, with silver and gold feathers that commanded the sunlight.

He'd transformed into a peacock, those legends said, and wooed her with a grand dance of a thousand colors. Their coupling, it had lasted for days.

Until…

Qi Hawk found out.

His rage, they said, was truly terrifying. He'd confronted Julian, and they fought a duel that shook the very heavens, and as a final punishment to this wanton playboy, he stole Julian's favorite gourd, the one that contained the rarest wines brewed from celestial dews and dragon's tears. It was a prize Julian treasured above all else.

And as Julian sat beside Qi Hawk, with a carefree smile, sipping wine and watching those unfolding events.

"Hmm… Hawk… your daughter, she was quite a handful! Truly magnificent!" He winked slyly.

Those words sent a chill through Qi Fenwei. Those rumors… They were true!

"This is why I prefer to travel alone. Family drama is simply too messy, and those grudges they carry are truly absurd."