Dragon prince Yuan [1]

Chapter 1: Python and Sparrow Swallow the Dragon

The brightly lit inner palace was a dazzling yet imposing sight. Green smoke rose in spirals from the green rock that burned within each oil lamp, and weaved about in the palace.

The green rocks were blue sandalwood. They gave off a rare fragrance when burnt that had a meditative effect and was one of the necessities for cultivation. However, such items were not cheap. Hence, their usage as fuel was enough to show the status of the palace's owner.

A middle-aged man stood within the inner palace with his hands behind his back. Unwavering determination decorated his face, and his eyes contained a dignified aura, evidence that he had occupied a high ranking position for a long time. A faint aura appeared to rise behind him, which seemed to fluctuate between fire and lightning as it emitted muffled rumbling sounds.

However, if one looked towards his right arm, one would find that there was nothing there. His right arm had been severed.

At this man's side was a beautiful woman in palace garments. Her lovely body was slim, and her features were natural and pretty. However, her face appeared exceptionally pale and sickly.

At this current time, the man and woman, whom were clearly of substantial status, had a sliver of worry on their faces, as they looked at the thirteen year old youngster seated on a bed in front of them. The youngster's body was rather frail and his eyes were tightly shut. However, a tendril of blood Qi circled on a face that should have been brimming with youthful energy.

While the strange blood Qi roamed beneath his skin, the bitter and resentful howl of a dragon faintly echoed.

As the dragon howl resounded, the veins on the youngster's forehead squirmed, while his body shook continuously. His face twisted as if he was bearing an indescribable pain.

By the youngster's side was a white haired old man holding a copper mirror in his hand. Soft light shined from the copper mirror onto the youngster's body. Under this light, the strange blood Qi on the youngster's face gradually began to calm down.

The blood Qi persisted for a single incense stick of time before finally retreating. In the end, it withdrew into the youngster's palm.

The white haired old man immediately breathed a sigh of relief as if he had been relieved of a great burden. Subsequently, he turned around and bowed to the worriedly waiting middle-aged man and beautiful woman in palace garments.

"Congratulations your majesties," he said. "His highness has at long last passed this triennial ordeal. There should be no problems in the following three years."

Joy was revealed on the faces of the middle-aged man and woman in palace garments when they heard this, and their tightly clenched fists gradually loosened.

The dignified man in bright yellow robes looked at the white haired elder in an expectant manner and asked, "Master Qin, Yuan'er is already thirteen this year. Youngsters at this age usually have eight meridian channels, and can start their cultivation. What about Yuan'er?"

Upon hearing this question, the white haired elder's expression immediately dimmed somewhat, before he lightly shook his head and replied, "Your majesty, I was still unable to find the eight meridian channels in his highness' body this time..."

The dignified man's expression similarly dimmed when he heard this.

In this world, the Dao of cultivation started within one's body. The body possessed countless meridian channels, and most important amongst them were the eight great channels. With the exception of some unique circumstances, an ordinary person's eight channels would gradually form when they were about thirteen years of age. It was at this time that these eight channels needed to be found. Only by finding the eight channels would one be able to start cultivating; by taking in the Genesis energy of the land, and opening the eight channels.