Xi—a simple yet strange name. The instant it left Minghe's mouth, the enormous red eyes lit up. The figure slowly bent down. "Since you know, you should understand my situation. This place cannot hold me. There are only a few months left until the New Year!"
Minghe's heart stirred. The other party was right. There were countless rare birds and strange beasts between heaven and earth, yet only two were truly exceptional: Xi and Nian. Both were Fortune divine beasts nurtured by the Heavenly Dao, ordained by fate, immortal and indestructible. Even Saints could do nothing to them. After Xi was defeated by Nian, Lord Lao sealed it here.
But just as it had said, even a Saint could not stop it, because this was a rule of the Heavenly Dao. Without it, New Year's Eve would not be New Year's Eve! On the night of the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, its power would reach its peak, making it invincible beneath heaven. Only Nian could defeat it, and even Nian was no match for Xi under those circumstances. The Mortal Realm needed to set off firecrackers to weaken Xi's power.
Only near midnight on the first day of the New Year would Nian turn from weak to strong and defeat Xi. That was why the thirtieth day of the year was called New Year's Eve: it meant getting rid of the monster Xi.
Minghe swallowed hard and stared fixedly at the shadow, deep in thought. "You want to smash Nian's egg? Unfortunately, it is immortal and indestructible too!"
"I know. I only need to quietly endure a year's time. With every passing year, my strength will surge, accumulating baleful energy without end. If Nian represents Fortune, then I represent misfortune. He brings good luck; I bring calamity.