Wu Tianmo looked around but saw no one. This appeared to be another trial like the one at the gate before.
It was a vast amphitheater lit by torches along the curved walls.
The arena was covered in a deep mist that concealed all but the flames.
A deep voice echoed out,
"So many have come, so long it has been."
A large pair of golden eyes with vertical retinas appeared in the sky among the mist.
"We will now begin the trial---"
The eyes flew closer and narrowed on Wu Tianmo, they were trembling and the voice became erratic.
"Wha---"
"Impossible.."
The guardian had clearly forgotten about the trial.
"What is something like you---"
Wu Tianmo felt his bloodline stir,
This is the voice of an enlightened beast... Not a Demon Core realm... but something stronger! How could something like this be at the edge of the Blackwood Forest.
He clasped his hands,
"Senior, I'm ready for whatever trial you have."
The eyes drifted backward,
"Senior?"
*Cough Cough*
"Yes well.... Hmm, first answer a few of my questions young one."
The eyes relaxed,
This young dragon... wearing the body of a human? Yet he is a true blood beast. How peculiar. How did he accomplish this before the transformation realm?
The voice called out,
"Who are you?"
Wu Tianmo's eyes narrowed,
"I am Wu Tianmo, Patriarch of the Wu Clan in Heimu Village"
The eyes fixed on him and started to glow a brighter golden for a moment, attempting to discern his origins.
Wu Tianmo felt as though he stood naked in front of this beast, for the first time his innate bloodline protection didn't block out their analysis.
Without Wu Tianmo's command, a majestic dragon chant echoed throughout the arena, partially shielding his identity.
Suddenly a pained roar erupted from within the mist, the eyes swayed from side to side slightly fading.
What is that thing! My soul is damaged?!? I attempted to see his bloodline and that chant... A... A True Dragon! If only I wasn't just a beast soul... If I could devour this child I could have become a flood dragon or even a true dragon if I was lucky!
The deep voice sighed,
"Alas, I am already gone... only this remnant remains. This child's background must be unfathomable if he is here traveling among humans."
The eyes looked back at Wu Tianmo,
"Young Dragon, I have never seen a full blooded dragon. Let alone a Blood Awakening Beast that has already taken human form. How... how did you do it?"
Wu Tianmo looked towards the eyes, his demeanor now becoming firmer. He had talked with someone calling themselves his Dad before.
So it wasn't just a dream... I'm truly a.... dragon? Impossible!
Wu Tianmo started to spiral mentally,
I have always been human, I've lived in the Wu Clan all my life! My clan members even look like me... What is going on... Am I truly a Beast?
The eyes noticed his expression changing by the minute,
This kid has no idea what he truly is...
Wu Tianmo should have been more composed but he was faltering, his identity was shattering.
That person in my divine space..... was it all real...
He clutched the side of his head, his mind throbbing in a slight pain,
No...no.... NO!.... My mother carried me. I was born in the Wu Clan!
After a few moments his internal crisis started to dim and he asked,
"Senior... Do you know what I am?"
The eyes narrowed,
This poor kid..
A long sigh was let out,
"Young one, to start, you're not human."
Wu Tianmo looked at his body,
"How could I be a beast I look human!"
Suddenly the mist gathered and a dark blue robed middle aged man manifested before him. The same golden eyes looked at him with great interest,
"Do I also not look human?"
Wu Tianmo had never seen a transformation realm beast before, at this level all could become somewhat humanoid if they so choose.
The middle aged man looked at him,
"I'm the guardian beast of the Thousand Serpent Sect.... At least I used to be. It has been many years and my lifespan has since depleted. I could only maintain a remnant spirit here within the sanctum."
He walked over and placed a hand on Wu Tianmo's shoulder,
"I don't know how you did it, but you have achieved your transformation early. Which may very well have saved your life.
Wu Tianmo's eyebrow raised,
"Why is that lucky?"
The guardian beast's eyes fixed back on him, he said seriously,
"You would have been captured and given a life worse than death."
Humans... are greedy creatures, malevolent and untrustworthy.
"If your companions knew what you were, they wouldn't just kill you."
A bead of sweat dripped down Wu Tianmo's neck.
The beast guardian sighed and looked towards the sky as if recalling a long lost memory,
"You would be lucky if you were only killed. Tens of thousands of years ago the leader of this sect captured a flood dragon from the nearby river."
His voice began to shake,
"The flood dragon was only in the demon core realm, it stood no chance when set upon by our sect leader. It was captured and put into the dungeon. Strung up with ancient iron hooks, it's blood being slowly drained into a pool below. It's scales were peeled off, claws were ripped from their sockets, tendons pulled and eyes plucked."
A tear fell down the beast's face.
"It didn't die, the humans made sure of that... Dragons of any kind are strong and full of vitality. Even through all that, it survived and regrew it's lost limbs."
Wu Tianmo felt nauseous and nearly puked.
The guardian beast looked at him,
"Your kind, has nearly gone extinct."
Wu Tianmo felt the weight of his identity,
How reckless I have been... I thought I simply had a dragon bloodline. Perhaps one of my ancestors laid with a transformation realm dragon and I was the outcome... A True Dragon....
The guardian beast looked at him,
"Even among the true dragons I imagine your bloodline isn't ordinary. There is something tyrannical about you."
The beast thought to himself for a moment while looking at Wu Tianmo,
"If you have the chance would you live among your kind again?"
Wu Tianmo looked at him confused,
"My kind? I thought you said my kind was nearly extinct?"
The guardian beast chuckled,
"No child, among other beasts. I imagine the transformation realm ancestors deeper within the forest would love to meet you."
Me? Go to live among the beasts....
The beast hit the iron while hot,
"Among the beasts, you would be revered."
The guardian beast looked directly into his eyes,
"If you stay, you will spend the rest of your life hiding among humans."