Baxia

After losing his master and comrades during the Battle of the Twin Dragons, Baxia, the spirit of the Mystic Tortoise, took on the responsibility of protecting the Cadia Riverlands. While unshakeable like a mountain on the outside, the weight of the fallen had a heavy toll on his life. But the appearance of Yu Zhong and the new Oriental Fighters opened a new chapter in his story. Baxia meditated on the choices he's made and realized that he could no longer cling to the past. Thus, he decided to let go of his burdens and focus on forging a new path. The roads he had walked will always be there, but the future is decided today. Baxia has almost finished packing his things. When the Black Dragon's seal was broken, a chapter of Baxia's life concluded. Yu Zhong had regained his powers and left in pursuit of the Evil God Lieh. Ling and Wanwan returned to their lives while Baxia and Zilong remained at the Dragon Altar. It was at this time that Baxia suddenly felt the urge to go on a journey. Ever since he awoke from his long slumber, he had been tested time and time again. First was the appearance of Yu Zhong, then Ling and Zilong, and finally the battle at the Dragon Altar. He felt that he had done his duty and honored his promise, and now it was time to see what's become of the Cadia Riverlands in this era. A chipped piece of shell slid off the table. As Baxia went to pick it up, he heard an angry shout that seemed surreal. ''"This child has a boar's temperament! How could he possibly handle such power and responsibility!"'' At that time, the Four Immortals had returned to the great cycle and the Twin Dragons were choosing suitable successors from amongst their disciples to inherit their power. Baxia's selection as the Mystic Tortoise's successor was met with dissent from his fellow disciples. The Cadia Riverlands were in much turmoil back then due to the imbalance of Yin and Yang, and demons and beasts freely roamed the land. There was a Nature Spirit named Baxia who had been born with human form. He held dual shields and moved like a fiery wheel. Wherever he went, his flames would scorch the vegetation and crack the earth. The nearby villagers thought Baxia was a demonic beast and tried many times to subdue him. Unbeknownst to them, Baxia himself resented his existence. He never wished to be born with these flames that only caused fear and destruction. No matter how much he had attempted to smother the flames or avoid others, he could never find peace. When Baxia's conscious first awoke, he was a wild and unruly Nature Spirit. Anyone or anything that got too close would suffer his wrath, until he was visited by the White Dragon. Instead of punishing the upstart, the dragon had come because the Mystic Tortoise of the Four Immortals chose Baxia as his successor. The White Dragon erected a barrier and personally instructed Baxia for ten days, helping him to control his flames and move like he never thought he could. Baxia was deeply honored to have the White Dragon as his master, but he was still apprehensive of his future. The White Dragon remarked, "The Four Immortals were sworn to protect the Cadia Riverlands, and their power has been passed down from disciple to disciple. Once an Oriental Fighter has been chosen, they must carry that same responsibility. ''"I do not know what I can do, but I promise that I will honor this responsibility!"'' the young Baxia loudly proclaimed. In the subsequent years, Baxia and his fellow Oriental Fighters went about eradicating evil from the land. He was the youngest among them and often sought their guidance. As he grew older, he traveled to almost every corner of the Cadia Riverlands. He witnessed all the good that the Twin Dragons had brought to the land, and his admiration for them grew stronger. But everything changed after the Battle of the Twin Dragons. The Oriental Fighters sealed the Black Dragon's Reverse Scale before three of them succumbed to their injuries and perished. In order to ensure the safety of the Cadia Riverlands and keep his twin contained, the White Dragon transformed into the Dragon Altar, and became known as the Great Dragon. Baxia was the only survivor. He packed up the belongings of his fallen comrades, concealed the Dragon Altar, and went about repairing the destruction the Black Dragon had caused. As time went on, Baxia grew more and more withdrawn. Baxia was also gravely injured during the battle and would have perished as well if the other Oriental Fighters had not shielded him. Now he was the only one left to honor his promise to the Great Dragon. Baxia silently carried his burdens and performed his duty. When the work was settled, he fell into a long slumber. When Baxia awoke from his slumber, he felt like he had just been born into a new world. There was a new Black Dragon, and new Oriental Fighters. Baxia was now the eldest and continued to carry the weight of the world. During the fateful encounter at the Dragon Altar, Yu Zhong successfully absorbed the powers of the Black Dragon. When Yu Zhong emerged from the enchantment circle, Baxia exploded in flames and slammed straight into him with all his might. However, with his new power, Yu Zhong managed to easily stop the attack. ''"I am not the corrupted Black Dragon. I am Yu Zhong. Stop living in the past, Baxia."'' Baxia froze. A chipped piece of shell fell to the ground. Thousands of years ago, the young Baxia shed a piece of shell after finally suppressing his flames. Thousands of years later, a piece of shell fell to the ground from the Black Dragon's aura and Yu Zhong's words. At the same time, Baxia heard a loud crash, like many heavy weights dropping to the ground. Baxia walked to the exit of the Dragon Altar and found a young man holding a spear leaning nearby. ''"So you're leaving?"'' Zilong asked. ''"Yes, I plan to visit every corner of the Cadia Riverlands... to understand the path I have chosen."'' He had always kept his promise and upheld the responsibilities of the Great Dragon and his fallen comrades, but now it was time for the new Oriental Fighters to shine. Perhaps it was just as Yu Zhong said, Baxia had always lived in the past and never tried to experience the present, which is why... ''"You've never strayed from your path, Baxia."'' The new successor of the Cloud Dragon interrupted Baxia's thoughts as he saluted him with his spear. ''"Thank you for watching over the Cadia Riverlands these past millennia. We'll be waiting for your return."'' At that moment, a dragon's roar bellowed from the Dragon Altar, as if echoing Zilong's words. Baxia walked past Zilong with a wave and a faint smile as he headed down the mountain.