I stood in a room filled with the most powerful people of the empire. Yet that thought barely even came to my mind right now. With the death of the emperor and the loss of the Azure Dragon, the Azure-Jade empire was the closest it had ever been in its history to collapse.

Around me stood the four Divinities. Closest to me was the Shie matriarch, and Liuxiang’s great-great-great-grandmother. The young and sharp looking lady had a cold and tense expression drawn across her face. Next to her was the Yue clan head, the water divinity. I was told he had handed off all governing responsibilities to his heirs and did not participate in politics. The man stood scratching his head, as if unsure what to make of the situation.

Next to him was the Huo patriarch. The clan the old man had belonged to.

The clan Yang Shen had been born in.

The Huo patriarch had a burning aura all around him, little gouts of fire bursting as his control slipped from bottled rage. His brow was creased so much, it seemed like it’d leave wrinkles etched into his features. All of which was in stark contrast to the last divinity, the Tu clan head. The oldest cultivator I had ever seen, older than even the old man, with his body shrunk and back bent, and wrinkles covering all his features. He wore a simple orange cloth and had a bald head, much like a monk, simply seated nearby in meditation.

And somehow, among these people, I stood there, gathered beside them across a map of the empire.

Next to me, Elder Tian Feng stood, head bowed in respect to the Divinities.

“They’re attacking from the north and west, which we’d expected, given the demon stronghold over the lands in each of those directions. The celestial peaks are holding and resisting the attack from both of those fronts, and holding the lands,” the Huo patriarch said, circling the map.

“The problem is the southern front,” he added, highlighting an area to the south.

“The sea has always been a barrier, how have the demons breached it?” The Shia matriarch asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

“Ships. The demons do not swim well, but with guidance, it seems they’re capable of managing ships. Half of them sink, drowning the army, but the half that survives is a problem,” the Yue patriarch said, scratching his chin in thought.

“We’re not ready for this war,” the Huo patriarch said. “They’ve caught us off guard and landed a blow at our very heart… I fear this time…”

The Shie matriarch snorted. “Is that all the courage you boast of? I, for one, do not intend to roll over and simply let the demons conquer our lands. I will protect my home even if I’m the last one standing,” the Shie matriarch said, a phantom snake slithering around her neck which she gently caressed.

“You do not get to say that, Zhuihu. Not when we all know that you were the first who was ready to—”

“Children. It is not the time to quarrel,” the Tu patriarch interrupted, speaking for the very first time. I faced the old monk, hearing his voice for the first time. “The heavens require us. They ask for our aid. We must perform our duties.”

To my surprise, the Divinities did not speak back, simply nodding at the words of the old man. The Tu patriarch opened his wrinkly eyes, enough that for the first time I could see his pupils, and found in them a brilliant golden glow that mesmerized me where I stood. There were deep secrets lurking in them, ones I could only hope to glimpse at from where I was.

“We have called upon the earth, and raised a barrier around the entire empire. It will hold the demons back, preventing them from burrowing into the earth and striking us from beneath. To continue this, we will need to return home and enter secluded meditation. Sea child, it shall be your task to hold the enemy lines from the south.”

The Yue cracked his knuckles in response, grinning.

“Fire child, you protect the west. That is where the demon Yang Shen will most likely be leading his army from. He is your kin. You will be most suited to hold him back.”

The Huo patriarch nodded at that.

“Poison child… help the celestial lords in the north. They will require your assistance and cunning. Make sure they are supplied and prepared for what is to come.”

The Shie matriarch gave silent acknowledgement.

And then, to my surprise, the Tu patriarch turned to look at me.

“Vassal Child. Do you know your purpose?” The Tu Divinity asked me, making me freeze.

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I did not know what he meant, and so I simply looked at him, unsure of how to answer.

“You possess the spirit of the Lord of North. Speak to the Divine Beast, they will guide you towards the location of the Azure Dragon,” the Tu Divinity said, before glancing at Elder Tian Feng.

“Dream Child, you must have seen this path. We have been plagued by similar mirages, but trying to alter these paths often leads to unintended outcomes. Who can alter fate, after all.”

Elder Tian Feng bowed his head. “But, this does not mean we must not try. Guide the child on his path. If… this war is to be won, we will require him for it,” the Divinity said.

“Elder, your wisdom is grand, but should we really let the Azure Dragon in the hands of a child?” The Huo patriarch asked, glancing at me. “He has proven that he is a talent seen only in centuries, blessed by one divine beast, but no matter how talented, he is still a mere child. Would it not be better for one of us to seek the Azure Dragon? If anything, the Xuanwu should come out and join strengths with one of us as well, bolstering our powers. The child has done his part, but this war is no game. The existence of the empire depends on it.”

The Yue patriarch nodded as well.

“We have to concur with the Huo patriarch. We know the child and see his potential, but this is not the time to be staking the fate of our existence into the hands of children.” The Shie matriarch said.

I looked down, clenching my fist. I did not like that. Having to give up Xuanwu, or sit by the side, but I understood the point. I was by no means anywhere close to their power. I could barely even channel Xuanwu’s power on my own, much less bring out its full potential.

“You can try,” the Tu patriarch said, before glancing at me. “Call upon the divine beast, child of old.”

I looked at the divinity, gulping, before I gave a nod. I closed my eyes, reaching within myself as I found the familiar presence inside of me. I did not have to say anything, and Xuanwu manifested around me, through me.

Power flooded me, harmony thrumming through my spirit as the power of a divine beast flooded my body. The silhouette of Xuanwu formed around me, the giant spirit turtle-snake looking down upon the divinities.

“Who seeks to command our strength?” Xuanwu asked.

The three divinities regarded each other. “Water is where I belong. I will be the most suited to do so,” the Yue patriarch said.

The other two did not deny the claim, as the man stepped forward.

“Lord of the North, it is an honor,” the Divinity said, bowing.

Xuanwu grunted, before his form began to flow into the man. Power rushed out of me, flooding the Divinity, as he stood, fists clenched, veins throbbing and a chilling cold spreading from him.

Then, light began to leak from his body as cracks formed in his skin. The man visibly began to shake, teeth clenched hard, and I noticed his fists starting to tense hard enough to turn his knuckles white.

The power continued, not stopping, flowing endlessly into the man. He gasped, falling to his knees and the flow stopped. Within a moment, Xuanwu returned to his spectral form, presiding over from above me, looking down upon the kneeling Yue Divinity.

“You are not suitable,” he claimed, looking down at the patriarch. His gaze traveled to the remaining two. “None of you can hold us. Your spirits are tied to this empire, and to your own transcendence. We will break you.”

The kneeling divinity slowly pulled up to his feet, bowing. “Honored Divine Beast, apologies but… how? How is a mere child… holding all of that?”

I watched in confusion, feeling rather surprised myself. I knew how vast Xuanwu’s presence was. Like a tall mountain, or the crashing waves of the ocean, there was so much vastness to it. But somehow, I’d never had to think about how I’d managed to fit all that inside my own spirit.

“A child burdened with two spirits. It is his gift for having eternally carried another soul inside of him. And for the path he found within it. None of you would be able to hold the Azure Dragon. Not even Yang Shen could, he had to resort to distorting and capturing them. But Lu Jie can.”

I simply stood, not in control of my own body or expressions, for which I was partly glad, but the surprise on the Divinities’ faces would’ve been multiplied ten times on mine.

“The emperor who held the power of the very heavens lost.”

“He was tricked,” Huo patriarch spat with anger.

“He was. But even in power, he was matched by Yang Shen. If we wish to win, there must be Harmony. Our sibling, we must go meet him directly. Bring him to his senses, and return together, in a singular vessel of power,” Xuanwu proclaimed.

The Divinities looked at each other in surprise.

“We’ve wasted enough time. The enemy approaches,” The Tu head said, glancing at the rest of them.

“Child, head to the Cradle of Dragons. In the valley between all celestial peaks, it is the birthplace of the Azure Dragons, and the seven celestial dragons. You will find him there. Find him, and bring him back. You are our only hope,” the Tu patriarch said.

I felt Xuanwu’s power return into me, regaining control as I simply looked at the old monk. After a little bit, I steeled my resolve and I gave him a nod.

“Let us depart then,” the Tu clan head said, and one after another, the divinities all left. Heading for battle, and to protect the empire.

I glanced sideways, looking at Elder Tian Feng who stood next to me.

“The Tu clan head said you had seen visions… is that why you helped me?” I asked.

“Not entirely. We had… simply followed the visions of fate, and they had led us to you. But destiny is not predetermined. No one could have foreseen this outcome,” Elder Tian Feng said.

I nodded, still feeling somewhat unsettled.

I was not a huge fan of fate and destiny or what not. But it seemed that this battle and responsibility was impossible to escape.

“Let us make preparations. We will need to depart soon,” Elder Tian Feng said and I nodded, following behind him.

For now, my path was decided.

I needed to head to the Cradle of Dragons.