12 The Dragon Egg

"A dragon egg?!"

"Yes, a dragon egg. Especially my dragon egg."

"How does a dragon egg solve my problem of reincarnating as soon as possible?"

"I first must tell you a brief disclosure. This egg is dead. Only three individuals know this. Only me, the Great Saint, the Patriarch of the Guang clan. Now there's a fourth individual, which is you. It is not truly dead but the soul is no longer present. If it were to be born, it would just be a hollow dragon hatchling." The Black Abyssal dragon spoke in a somber tone.

"The Great Saint? As in the one who stopped the Great War between The Underworld and The Grand Empyrean?"

"Yes, that Great Saint."

"How did your egg end up becoming soulless?"

"The Guang Patriarch took it. Snatched it away like the conniving bastard he is."

"So who's the Guang Patriarch, what's the Guang Clan?"

"To keep it simple and short, the Guang Clan is an influential and powerful family that resides in The Grand Empyrean. They are ancient. Their origins can date back way before the Great War."

"So why did they take the egg's soul?"

"It's a personal matter. I already told you enough of what you need to know. The reason why I brought this up is because you can reincarnate through this egg. You can reincarnate almost instantly."

"As in right away?!" I am in shock. I couldn't believe that all the hassle I would have to go can now be solved with a simple egg.

"Yes, you can begin your new life as a dragon." Never would I have thought my next reincarnation would be to become a dragon.

"Yet there's a fault in deciding to do this."

"And that is?" I don't like where this is going.

"You sacrifice your soul and lose your memories from your life when you were alive and begin anew, forgetting everything. Since you are a special wandering soul that's been casted out by some divine intervention, you're the only and perfect candidate to revive my egg. If you were to go to the Waters of Rebirth you would have retained your memories. I promise I'll carry on your wishes of finding your friend and tell my child within this egg to do it in your stead, since your sacrifice is a great favor to me."

"I don't want that! There has to be a way where I still keep my memories."

"The only option open for you now is to go to the Waters of Rebirth." I feel nauseous. I feel like I can barely stand on my legs anymore. It's either to be reborn and forget about Ming or wait a thousand years and attempt to find a person that could already be dead. "Since I have stated your choices, have you made your decision?"

"Not yet. May I have some time to think it over a bit more?"

"Indeed."

I don't even know if the Black Abyssal Dragon will keep its word. All I can speculate is that the lifespan of a dragon is close to immortality as long it just breathes. As well as a dragon gets more powerful as it ages, especially if it's a descendant of the Black Abyssal Dragon.

If I sacrifice my soul, it won't be me finding Li Ming. All the time we spent together throughout our lives will be forgotten so easily. The time we spent under the tree reading books about cultivators and their martial arts, I don't want to forget such lofty memories. He is my sworn brother at this point.

I know what I must do.

"I've made up my mind." The Black Abyssal Dragon's expression became happy and slightly danced in joy.

"Ho, I'm glad you decided. Now the process is simple and all you have to do is—"

"I reject your offer. Instead, take me to the Waters of Rebirth."

"..." The Black Abyssal Dragon stood still and frighteningly silent. "You what?" The Black Abyssal Dragon roared louder than ever before, truly shaking the environment around us. The spirit beasts were scattering around before the dragon's roar.

"I said I reject your offer and I want to be taken to the Waters of Rebirth." As I said those very words I could see anger and rage resonate from the Black Abyssal Dragon.

"Ho, I was being nice before but now you've done it. Whatever your choices were, I was still going to force you to sacrifice your soul for my egg. Come! Bring life to my heir!." The Black Abyssal Dragon extended its arm and was going in to grab me.

Think! I must do something or anything to help me out of this dire situation.

Wait. Inside my hand.

The hellfire lion's beast core is still in my hand. Upon close inspection I noticed it's a five ring spirit beast core. I can barely handle a four ringed beast core.

I have an idea.

"Stop! Or else I will destroy my soul!" I shouted as I used Ki to further amplify its effects.

"Destroy your soul? Your soul is going inside this dragon egg mortal, your attempts are futile!" I then took out the hellfire lion's beast core, quickly placed it inside my soul, and began absorbing it without any control.

*CRACK*

The golden wisp inside my sea of consciousness slightly made an appearance and aided me by absorbing the Ki from the beast core extremely slow in a discreet manner. It seems to know what I was planning.

The Black Abyssal Dragon suddenly stopped all its movements.

I remembered when I first attempted to absorb the skull bear's beast core. The pain was harsh and enduring. I can't believe I am putting myself to go through that same pain once more.

"You fool! Stop what you are doing! You'll actually break your soul!"

*CRACK*

"AGH! I wasn't bluffing. Take me to the Waters of Rebirth or else your only chance of reviving your heir is gone!"

"You don't understand! I cannot enter that place!"

"And why is that?" I continued talking as my soul continued to slowly shatter.

"The Ghost King and I have a history with each other! Even if I was allowed, he scorns me to the core of my being. Stop this at once, I command thee!"

*CRACK*

The Ghost King? This glass breaking and existence ripping pain tears me apart as I smirked.

"Doesn't the Ghost King control the Nether Realm and its line of reincarnation?"

"Yes he does! Stop at once or you will die!

"Well you just got a reason to enter." I shouted as I kept a minimal control over absorbing this beast core. "Take this forgotten wandering soul back to the Nether Realm and to the Waters of Rebirth. After such a good deed can't you demand a reward from the Ghost King? I heard he's benevolent and always rewards those who help him. If he doesn't reward you for making his job easier, then wouldn't that cause him to lose face? AGH!"

"Where are you taking this?"

"What I'm saying is that for a reward, demand for a soul to use to revive your egg instead of me!"

*SHATTER* *CRACK*

"Ho! You damn insect." The Black Abyssal Dragon controlled the raging fury. "You're the first mortal to negotiate and succeed with this dragon. I accept! Be prepared, this will be fast!" The Black Abyssal Dragon grabbed me with Ki wrapped around my body and flew up high into the crimson sky of the Underworld. "The very heavens will be our witness. Here we go mortal, to the Nether Realm!".