Chapter 45: White Tiger

Northern Star, Ziwei Enclosure of Heavenly Principles, Taiyi Palace.

The Jade Emperor, Haotian, sat high upon the True Dragon Imperial Throne, listening to the report from Houji, the Central Heavenly God, who stood beneath the ninety-nine golden steps.

"You mean to say that the Primeval Mother Goddess, Nüwa, wishes for Us to lend her the White Tiger for a period of time?"

"Yes, Your Majesty the Jade Emperor! The Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa is willing to offer the supreme treasure, the Myriad-Source Unity Cauldron, in exchange!"

With that, the Central Heavenly God Houji produced a three-legged circular cauldron, three inches in height. Carved upon its surface were divine patterns of heaven and earth, the sun, moon, and stars, radiating an unfathomable and miraculous charm.

"Your Majesty, this Myriad-Source Unity Cauldron can alter its size according to the user's will, and may be used to refine rare and precious treasures between heaven and earth. According to Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa, this Myriad-Source Unity Cauldron was forged in imitation of the Heaven-Refining Furnace."

The Heaven-Refining Furnace was none other than the supreme treasure used by the Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa to refine heaven-and-earth divine stones, divine implements, and divine weapons. It was said that the five-colored stones used to mend the heavens were also refined by Nüwa using the Heaven-Refining Furnace. There was another legend stating that when Nüwa fashioned all things in heaven and earth, the Heaven-Refining Furnace played a crucial, indispensable role.

Although the Myriad-Source Unity Cauldron was merely a supreme treasure crafted in imitation of the Heaven-Refining Furnace, it was nonetheless sufficient to satisfy the Jade Emperor, Haotian.

"We have long heard that Dijun and Nüwa possess countless supreme treasures, among which are proofs of their activities dating all the way back to the chaotic era of the Primordial Ancestral Star as primordial creator deities. Today, the Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa has shown such immense generosity, proving that the rumors are indeed true."

The Central Heavenly God Houji did not reply; he simply lowered his head in obedience to the Jade Emperor's decision.

Haotian pondered for a few breaths before speaking to Houji below: "Tell the Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa that We grant her request. However, the White Tiger must guard the western realms of the Huaxia world, and therefore this is a temporary loan, not a permanent parting."

"As you command! Your Majesty, this subject takes his leave."

Having spoken, the Central Heavenly God Houji departed the Taiyi Palace to deliver the imperial decree to the White Tiger, one of the Four Symbols of Heaven.

***

Origin Temple.

When the Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa received the request from Athena and Mu Changge to borrow the White Tiger from the Jade Emperor, she fell silent for ten breaths before speaking. "I can help you borrow the White Tiger from the Jade Emperor, but what reward do you intend to offer Me?"

Athena smiled and replied, "Primeval Mother Goddess, what my student and I seek is not limited to the White Tiger alone."

"Oh? Then what else do you desire?"

"The power of faith."

***

The Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa did not display any expression of surprise or astonishment; she merely looked calmly at Athena and Mu Changge.

"I can help you borrow the White Tiger, and I can also bestow my power of faith upon you. However, the conditions will be set by Me, and you may not refuse—you must abide by them."

Athena and Mu Changge exchanged glances, then nodded simultaneously to Nüwa in agreement.

A smile appeared on Nüwa's face. "Very well! I want all the dragon meat of that silver dragon. Furthermore, whenever I wish to eat dragon ribs, you must prepare them for Me, and they must be delicious!"

Mu Changge suddenly felt puzzled. "Primeval Mother Goddess, how much of the power of faith are you willing to grant?"

"I shall grant you all of my existing reserves."

"So much?" Mu Changge was startled.

"There is no need to be so surprised. In any case, for Me as I am now, the power of faith is entirely useless."

Athena suddenly asked, "Primeval Mother Goddess, might I ask if you became unable to absorb the power of faith after defeating the Beast of End?"

"Mh-hmm, you guessed correctly. After I slew the Beast of End back then, I received a blessing akin to the Will of the Universe, and from that moment onward, I could no longer absorb the power of faith. Of course, the upside is that I felt a certain qualitative transformation in my divine persona."

"Wait, Primeval Mother Goddess! You just mentioned the Will of the Universe—could it be that you communicated with the Will of the Universe?" Mu Changge hurriedly pursued the question.

"No, I only know that the entity which bestowed the blessing should be something akin to the Will of the Universe."

Hearing Nüwa's account, Mu Changge and Athena exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

Mu Changge surmised that if the universe truly possessed a will as Nüwa claimed, it was undoubtedly the mastermind behind the scenes, or at the very least intimately connected to the true mastermind.

After all, the entity that emerged from the East African Rift Valley in the future was none of other than this universe's Beast of End!

As the ultimate and singular entity capable of driving the universe to its final doom, the Beast of End could only be directed by the universe itself or an even higher existence.

Without a doubt, the Will of the Universe was the most probable suspect.

Then what about Tianyuan Yinglong? If Tianyuan Yinglong wished to destroy the Beast of End, could it be a staged performance directed and acted by itself?

Or perhaps, was this a contest of sorts between Tianyuan Yinglong and the Will of the Universe?

Mu Changge felt he was not far from the truth, yet he dared not display his elation too openly, for he suspected that the Will of the Universe might very well be watching them.

Mu Changge decided to discuss this with Athena later.

***

The Primeval Mother Goddess Nüwa returned to the Origin Temple, bringing the White Tiger with her.

Looking at the White Tiger, whose fur was as white as snow, Mu Changge restrained the urge to immediately step forward and stroke it.

The White Tiger glanced at Athena and Mu Changge, then asked Nüwa, "Primeval Mother Goddess, is it this human male?"

Nüwa nodded. "It is him. Your task is to temper him and help him successfully complete his foundation establishment."

Mu Changge was startled. The White Tiger could actually speak human language—truly worthy of being one of the Four Symbols of Heaven.

The White Tiger slowly paced toward Mu Changge. Its massive, tiger-like form carried an oppressive weight that forced Mu Changge to swallow hard.

The White Tiger’s head was broad and rounded, its sharp feline eyes flashing with a cold, all-seeing light. Its muscular physique was robust and powerful, easily the size of an ox, radiating an incomparable kingly aura filled with supreme dominance and majesty.

Suddenly, the White Tiger stood up on its hind legs, its massive paw pressing directly down onto Mu Changge's shoulder and instantly pinning him to the ground.

At that moment, Mu Changge experienced the majesty of the tiger firsthand, and he finally understood why so many internet users in his homeland constantly hyped up tigers. It was terrifying; a simple movement carried ultimate power. Just a casual breath exhaled by the White Tiger made one feel uncomfortable, and its enormous paw felt as though it could turn him into a meat patty the very next second. Mu Changge felt that not peeing his pants from fright was already a remarkable feat on his part.

The White Tiger stared at Mu Changge for a moment, then paced around him a few times before speaking. "To have been stared at by me for so long without crying from fear—you have some guts."

Just as Mu Changge inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, the White Tiger suddenly let out a deafening roar.

"Roar!!!"

"Wah!" Mu Changge was startled right out of his wits.

The White Tiger seemed somewhat displeased with Mu Changge's reaction. "How come you were only startled?"

Mu Changge muttered inwardly, "Did you seriously expect me to wet my pants?!"

At this point, Nüwa spoke up. "Very well, White Tiger, there is no need to test him further. The Jade Emperor wants you to finish your work quickly so you can return to suppress the western realms."

The White Tiger nodded. "Rest assured, Primeval Mother Goddess, leave it to me. I will temper this human male thoroughly."