"Good, good, good, next one!"
The elders were overjoyed and quickly sent in the next young golden dragon.
The little dragon that had just emerged flaunted the new horns on its head, strutting straight up to Song Wanníng. "Xiao Jiu, look! I've grown horns! Now I can cultivate and live as long as heaven and earth themselves. I'm amazing!
Too bad for you though. You were struck by thunder at birth, so you've never been able to cultivate. Even if you came to the Awakening Ceremony today, it's pointless!" The tiny dragon looked adorable, but the words coming from its mouth cut deep.
Around them, the other young dragons turned to look at her, eyes filled with pity but also smug satisfaction.
The elders didn't say anything, but when their gazes fell on her, sorrow flickered in their eyes.
Back when she was born, a strange phenomenon appeared. Everyone thought Xiao Jiu was blessed with great fortune, but during the birthing process, she was struck by heavenly punishment and nearly died in the thunder tribulation.
Her mother sacrificed herself to shield her and was killed by the heavenly punishment.
Her father also perished not long after.
She was raised by the clan, but without parents to protect her, and with a body already frail by birth, her life had been far from easy.
The elders had long ago calculated that her cultivation path was severed. At best, she could only live out the natural lifespan of an ordinary golden dragon. So in truth, she'd only come to today's Awakening Ceremony to make up the numbers.
The silence pressing in all around her caused memories to flood into Song Wanníng's mind. Finally, she understood her situation, and her expression grew heavier. One by one, as the other little dragons came out of the passage, overjoyed with their results, she grew quieter, her presence lonelier, almost pitiful.
At last, the Grand Elder opened his eyes. He gave her a long, meaningful look. "Go in."
With that command, she silently walked into the passage.
Golden light immediately swallowed her whole.
Standing within it, the dragons carved on the surrounding walls suddenly seemed alive. They soared and circled around her, swimming rapidly through the golden glow. Bolts of golden light pierced into her body, and she trembled violently.
Agony surged from deep within her flesh, unbearable and unrelenting. She collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain. Screams, laced with the roar of dragons, tore from her throat, shrill and tragic. Outside the passage, both elders and young dragons were alarmed. They stared into the light, faces filled with concern.
"What's happening to Xiao Jiu?"
None of the previous little dragons had cried out in such torment. This was supposed to be a simple test of talent, with the added awakening of innate divine powers. There shouldn't have been any danger.
But her screams kept echoing without pause.
Inside, the golden light repeatedly pierced her body, reshaping her as if she were being reforged, while something else seemed to be growing within her. The phantom golden dragons danced around her excitedly, spinning faster and faster.
As time crawled by, her cries gradually fell silent. The searing torment was still there, but she had adapted. Peering into her internal world, she saw the golden light darting through her body, rebuilding her blood and flesh.
But something strange stood out. A single drop of red blood floated inside her body.
When had that appeared?
Confusion filled her eyes. The blood seemed to have appeared out of thin air. The golden light dared only to circle around it, never once approaching, as if terrified.
"This blood… it's important."
The thought rose unbidden in her mind. Her heart calmed, and for the first time, she stopped wavering. She quietly let the light keep piercing her, steadying her will as though she'd found her path.
Finally, the golden light vanished, hiding itself deep in every corner of her body. At that moment, the blood suddenly exploded, flooding into her limbs and bones. Her entire body turned crimson, as if painted in blood. Every inch of her flesh burned with a searing heat, her nerves screaming in agony.
She clenched her lips so tightly they nearly bled, curling up in the corner, refusing to give in.
This was her last chance. She couldn't, she wouldn't, let it go. Her expression hardened with resolve. She endured the pain without uttering a single sound. The blood seeped deeper, staining her flesh, her bones, her organs, even her hair.
Boom!
A bolt of thunder suddenly descended, crashing down onto the passage.
Outside, the elders flinched, but none dared intervene. It was heavenly punishment.
From the day she was born, Xiao Jiu had suffered heavenly punishment. And now, again.
Did the heavens truly mean to deny her even a single chance at survival?
Crack!
The thunder struck her directly, making her vision explode into white. She nearly lost consciousness. Her body convulsed on the floor, arcs of electricity dancing across her blood-red form. Yet her eyes stayed wide, stubborn, burning with defiance.
Another strike fell, drowning her in lightning.
Pfft!
Blood spewed from her mouth. Her organs convulsed in agony. But amidst the storm, horns quietly began to grow on her head.
At last, the heavenly punishment dissipated. Barely able to move, she clawed at the ground, inch by inch, until she finally dragged herself out of the passage. When the others saw her horns, their eyes went wide with joy.
Even the Grand Elder couldn't help but leap to his feet, voice trembling.
"Good, good, good!" His excitement overflowed. Xiao Jiu had truly awakened. It was the greatest surprise of all.
Surrounded by her people, she managed a faint smile, then finally collapsed unconscious. When she woke, she began her cultivation life with the clan. With time, her strength grew. She ventured beyond the clan to temper herself, little by little becoming the pillar of the golden dragon race.
Ten thousand years passed in a flash.
But calamity came.
Monsters from beyond the stars invaded their world.
She led her clan, joining hands with countless other races to fight them back. The battles were brutal. Wave after wave of otherworldly monsters swarmed in, intent on destroying their home. Heroes fell one after another, their blood soaking the earth.
Song Wanníng relied on sheer willpower to keep standing, but she watched helplessly as one companion after another from the golden dragon clan died before her eyes.
The grief was unbearable, yet it became her greatest source of strength. Standing at the very gates of invasion, she looked down on the land she'd fought to protect. A final glimmer of reluctance shone in her eyes.