The time came for everyone in the ninth heaven to hold the centennial picking of the candidates for divine position. LanRong and XuanWu bade a short goodbye to the mortal realm after being called back to the ninth heaven to judge the said event. Every immortals gathered at a circle and between the circle, the eternal flame burned endlessly fascinating the rookies and the naive immortals.
XuanWu seated beside Chang 'e and LanRong seated beside WangMu Niangniang. The Kong Guan rang the gong and announced then the tribulations for the said event.
"TRIUMPH BY FIRE! For this said picking, the delegates shall be tested according to his mind, soul and heart. In mind, you are to take an examination prepared by the Principal Goddesses. In soul, you need to bathe yourself in the illusory waters of Qi facing the monster inside you and in heart, you need to weight your emotions in overcoming a situation. Failing in one of the challenges is considered as absolute disqualification."
The gong rang again and the summit of ninth heaven opened forth and beckoned the great dragon of light. The dragon swirled up and descended down at the eternal flame facing the immortals that will partake at the picking.
"I am Zhu Yen. The dragon of light. I will be your guide in the tribulations. When you are ready, please step inside the circle and touch the flames."
The participants were hesitant at first but they soon touched the flames one by one making them disappear and teleported into the first tribulation.
Chang 'e wanted to judge the Mind examination and WangMu Niangniang wanted the Soul tribulation leaving LanRong and XuanWu to judge the Heart challenge.
"But High Goddess Chang 'e... I should stay, I have just became a Goddess for a few days. I cannot judge for the tribulations along with XuanWu."
"I know you are fit LanRong. The minute that you stood out for the truth against your own family, you are worthy of a position here with us."
"Thank you for your trust in me High Goddess."
"No, LanRong. For us immortals, we value justice more than our own self. You have made a great sacrifice."
Chang 'e soon disappeared along with WangMu Niangniang leaving XuanWu and LanRong alone with each other.
"So you are LanRong. You're prettier than I thought."
"Ah. Thank you Goddess XuanWu."
"My son likes you a lot. Have you two... *wriggles her pointing finger*??"
LanRong turned ripe tomatoes. She didn't want to tell anyone about the things between her and Xiao Na but since XuanWu is Xiao Na's mother, she could neither deny nor shake her head.
"Mhhmm... *nods*"
"Oooh. That's what I like! Welcome to the family Rong 'er."
LanRong and XuanWu decided to go to the tribulation and touched the fire when... Chang 'e and the other immortals went back panthing and shaking. Some cowered in fear and others were crying.
XuanWu ran up to Chang 'e and found out a stab wound beside her waist.
"Chang 'e! What happened?"
"XuanWu... Alert the other Gods. Zhuge Liang... He has escaped."
Chang 'e's sweat heavily fell from her face as she struggled to deal with her wound. XuanWu instructed LanRong to go get the Goddess of healing. LanRong nodded and ran outside the hall.
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"Puny immortals! Putting me in a dungeon is a mistake!" Zhuge Liang cussed as he was held behind bars at the deepest dungeon in the ninth heaven.
His anger is seething inside himself awaiting to be unleashed.
'Once I get out of this farce cell, I will make the immortals cower in fear!'
He clenched his hands on the bars while gritted his teeth. While plotting his revenge, he did not notice the maid servant came in bringing food for him. He snapped out of his imagination when the maid servant handed him the food.
"Your grace. Here is your food. Please eat."
A smile curved up Zhuge Liang's foul face. He thought up of a dire plan to get the immortals to release him and later on execute his devious act.
He wrapped his hands around himself and pretended to be sick and feeble cowering at the corner of his cell.
"Oh dear. I think I am sick. If you could please feed me darling..."
"But your highness... I cannot do that. That is against the rules."
"Please... If I could not feed myself, I will starve and die. Would you want that?"
The maid servant shook her head and neglected his advances however, he pretended to be more sickly coughing over and over. Finally, he thought of a scheme to trick the maid servant to open his cell.
"Please... *cough* Please *cough*"
He bit his lower lip until it bled and pretended to cough up blood. When the maid servant saw this, she hurriedly opened the cell and attended to him.
Zhuge Liang pretended to lean at the maid's arm when he suddenly grabbed the maid servant by her arm and put a sleeping spell on her.
"Alas! Freedom is mine! Mwahahahaha."
Zhuge Liang made his way up the seventh cloud. There, he saw the immortals beginning to start their tribulations separately. As he saw Chang 'e presiding over the examination, a dexterous plan ran through his mind. If he could obtain a strand of Chang 'e's hair, only then the seal on him will break and he'd be free to roam on the mortal realm.
He slowly crept at the back of an unsuspecting immortal and grabbed her putting a cloth on her mouth. He had then ascended in air and disrupted the examination causing fear among the rest of the immortals.
"Zhuge Liang! How dare you come here. Release her at once and I might spare your wretched life!"
"Oh... You wanted to spare my life? How about hers? Do you want me to stab her with this dagger?"
The dagger looked sharp and shiny as it glistened beside the neck of a young immortal. Chang 'e could not pose a fight. She's at her wit's end.
"Alright. Tell me. What are your conditions Zhuge Liang."
"Well... If you give me a strand of your hair, I will release this girl."
"How do I know that you won't hurt her?"
"Just give me a strand of your hair and I'll let her go!"
"Fine."
The immortals gasped in shock as Chang 'e rose up and went straight to Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang let go of the girl making the other immortals below catch her. He took a strand of Chang 'e's hair but that's not all...
"You know what Chang 'e... If you should've believed me and not my ungrateful daughter, I wouldn't have to do this."
"Wha—"
Zhuge Liang stabbed the dagger beside Chang 'e's waist and golden blood came flowing out of the wound. Chang 'e lost balance making her fall from levitation. Luckily, the immortals caught her. Zhuge Liang then fled away laughing like crazy.
Chang 'e gathered the immortals and cancelled the examination due to circumstances.
"Q—Quickly... Let's go back."
"Aaaah... The ancient evil tree of the dire necropolis. XuanZheng... You are not needed anymore."
Zhuge Liang released an ominous laugh that echoed throughout the dark heavens of the dire necropolis as he descended from the ninth heaven.
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"That's not fair!"
Luo Na yelled and crossed her arms as Xiao Na told her about the things that he learned about their mother before she left.
"Don't worry sister! I'm sure mother will come back soon!"
"Soon? Augh! How could she pamper you the most? I'm jealous!"
She pouted and sat at the corner. Xiao Na laughed and ruined the hair of his little sister.
"Mother will come back. I know. For now, just go and have fun with Xian Hua alright?"
"Hmm... What about you and your LanRong. I've heard that you two act chummy when you're alone in a room."
'Sh*t'
Xiao Na turned red peppers and avoided Luo Na's smirk.
"I know right! HAHAHA! I'm your sister so I would know if you did something chummy."
"Aiiiya! Luo Na! Go bother someone else!"
"HAHA! Xiao Rong Xiao Rong! Acting all chummy!"
Xiao Na could not contain his embarrassment and pushed Luo Na outside his room and shut it.
Outside, he could hear Luo Na yell once again.
"Xiao Rong Xiao Rong! Acting all chummy!"
Xiao Na face palmed and put a pillow on his head laying face down in his bed.
'Heavens! What did I do to deserve a sister like this?'