The skies above shimmered in a golden hue with the blazing sunshine , and amidst the floating clouds drifted Bai Long, spiraling like a fish gliding through water....free, graceful, unbound.
The morning sun bathed the earth in warm light, while the cool breeze carried the fragrance of distant blossoms. A few pale clouds draped the skies like soft curtains, letting light filter through like divine whispers.
It was a day too beautiful to be ordinary. And from high above, Bai Long's eyes wandered far across the land, savoring the breathtaking view below.....verdant forests, sparkling streams, and below five figures chasing a butterfly.
Mo Yan, Wuzu, duie, su nian, and Lao Duan were moving together, their faces adorned with mock frowns, feigning irritation at each other's antics. But within, their hearts were at peace ... bound by a silent bond.
Perhaps this journey was never just about reaching a destination. Perhaps it was fate's quiet orchestration, a soft melody soothing the fire that had long raged in their souls.
Yet, something still felt incomplete ..... like a string left untied, a vow unfulfilled.
And who better to sense this than Bai Long?
Hovering mid-air, the majestic white dragon lifted his gaze to the heavens. His eyes closed slowly as if listening to the whispers of destiny itself. Then, with a deep bow of reverence, he acknowledged an unseen order ... one not to be questioned, but obeyed.
As he opened his eyes again, he dove.
Like a silver streak of lightning, Bai Long descended from the heavens, coming to a gentle stop before Mo Yan. In a swirl of celestial mist, he conjured a scroll ... white, ancient, and glowing softly. It floated between them, carried by the wind.
Mo Yan reached out, unrolling the scroll with solemn care. The message within was written in Bai Long's refined hand:
"My dearest master,
To be part of your journey is my greatest honor.
But there is a task still incomplete, a sacred ritual left behind.
Without it, we may not be able to aid you in the times of darkness that lie ahead.
This ritual is not meant to grant power or weapons…
It is meant to awaken the deepest bond with your spiritual beasts.
I humbly urge you all ..... complete the ritual."
Mo Yan's eyes lifted, already knowing the place for such a ritual.
The land before them was a hidden realm whispered about only in ancient texts ..... a valley encircled by the Seven Sacred Peaks. Even the immortals spoke of it with reverence. Here, the earth glowed with an untouched serenity. Blue waterfalls cascaded from towering cliffs like strands of heaven itself. Silver streams meandered through flower-filled meadows. The air was pure and crisp, touched with magic.
Tall, ancient trees lined soft mossy trails, and fields of delicate wildflowers swayed with the breeze. This land, it seemed, was nature's most guarded secret ..... where every season slumbered quietly, hidden from mortal eyes. Snowy cliffs merged into tropical rains, scorched deserts faded into emerald forests. It was a place so divine that even angry souls would find peace simply by breathing here.
Guided by Bai Long's graceful flight, the group followed the butterfly ... which now danced near a tree and landed, with quiet mischief, on the nose of a cute sleeping rabbit. The scene brought a soft smile to every face.Even though the memories of Yu Sui still pricked me like needles But still if someone cannot find peace even in such a beautiful sight of nature then even heaven cannot give any peace and only then their shoulders eased. Their breath slowed.
Before them, a waterfall fell like a silver curtain, merging into a sparkling river that flowed toward the horizon. It was a scene straight from a fairytale ..... too serene to be real. The cool mist kissed their faces, calming the air and hearts alike.
Mo Yan turned, his expression calm but commanding.
"This is the place," he said. "We must complete the ritual. There will be no better moment."
No one spoke.
No one questioned.
Without hesitation, they each found a place ..... clearing the ground, assuming their meditative positions, and slipping into deep focus.
Even Mo Yan, though his heart longed to meet Yu Sui, knew this ritual was more than tradition. It was protection .... not for the present alone, but for the battles yet to come. For dangers unseen. For fates not yet written.
In the skies above, Bai Long resumed his place. His form grew grand .... a majestic serpentine dragon whose white scales shimmered like pearls in the sun. He coiled above the peaks, silent, eternal .... guarding the ritual like a divine sentinel.
The mountains echoed with a stillness too sacred to disturb.
And thus, the ritual began ..... under the eyes of destiny itself.
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18 Days Later…