In Western legend, there is Loki, the clever trickster who defies gods and fate, walking the fine line between chaos and cunning.
In the East, there was Shen Gongbao, a sorcerer whose brilliance rivaled the immortals, yet whose pride would turn him into an outcast.
He once trained under the Celestial Master, Yuanshi Tianzun, alongside Jiang Ziya. Together, they tamed storms, summoned spirits, and learned the secret laws of heaven. But when the Master chose Jiang Ziya to lead the divine forces in the coming war, Shen Gongbao was left behind. His heart burned with jealousy, though his mind remained sharp.
"I deserve to shine too," he whispered, his eyes dark as storm clouds.
Determined to prove his power, Shen Gongbao rode his black tiger across the mortal and immortal realms, gathering exiles, demons, and wandering spirits to his side. Wherever he passed, chaos followed: temples shook, rivers roared, and mortals whispered in fear of the shadow he cast.
When he confronted Jiang Ziya on the battlefield, he raised his staff and called out, "Why should the heavens choose him over me?"Jiang Ziya lowered his sword, eyes filled with sorrow. "Power is not for those who demand it. It is for those who serve."
The two fought beneath lightning-split skies. Shen Gongbao's magic clashed with Jiang Ziya's, and for a moment, even the stars seemed to tremble. But in the end, Shen Gongbao's forces scattered, and his black tiger fell. Defeated but unbroken in spirit, he vanished into the mist.
Legends say that on quiet nights, when the wind whispers through mountains and forests, a shadow moves between the clouds. A lone figure still rides a black tiger, neither god nor mortal, teaching those who have been overlooked:"Stand tall. Do not bow. Even the heavens may turn against you, but your will is your own."