Chapter 1, The Python Sparrow Devours the Dragon

Zhou Qing's eyes, however, began to redden little by little at this moment, revealing a deep hatred: "Do you not know that fifteen years ago, the current Wu royal family was merely a vassal of our Great Zhou Dynasty?"

Zhou Qing sat beside Zhou Yuan and said in a low voice: "Yuan'er, today our Great Zhou Dynasty may only be considered a small nation in this vast and boundless continent, but what you do not know is that fifteen years ago, our Great Zhou was a towering power, with various nations paying tribute and our might shaking the four corners of the world"

Qin Shi, seeing the gloom on the middle-aged man's face, felt a twinge of compassion. He sighed softly and said, "Your Highness, you are destined by the divine dragon to astonish the world and look down upon the heavens. Who would have thought you would encounter such calamity..."

That is Qingtan stone, which releases a unique fragrance when burned, having the effect of calming the mind and focusing one's thoughts. It is an essential item for cultivation. However, this item is not inexpensive, and its use as a fuel indicates that the owner of this place holds a considerable status

The middle-aged man and the beautiful woman in palace attire both showed expressions of joy upon hearing this, and their tightly clenched fists gradually relaxed.

Zhou Qing's words left Zhou Yuan in shock, his face displaying a sense of being caught off guard

After a duration equivalent to the burning of an incense stick, the blood energy gradually dissipated, ultimately retracting into the young man's palm.

Yuan Er

"Wujia, how dare you harm my mother! You truly deserve to die!"

Beside him, Qin's expression was also one of deep sorrow. He spoke in a low voice: "On that day, in order to protect His Highness, the King fought against the Martial King at Mount Da Zhou, but was ultimately defeated and had one arm severed. If it were not for the Martial King's fear that others would ruin His Highness's sacred dragon fortune, leading to mutual destruction, it is likely that the King would have perished at his hands"

Qin Shi, standing nearby, quickly approached, his palms radiating a gentle energy that flowed into Qin Yu's crown, helping her stabilize the qi and blood within her. He glanced at the pale-faced Qin Yu and then sighed to Zhou Yuan, saying: "Your Highness, do not blame the King and Queen for not being able to protect you well; the King risked everything back then and nearly lost his life in battle"

Zhou Yuan couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. Is there really such a miserable Sacred Dragon? It can't even find the eight meridians within its body

The white-haired elder, upon witnessing this scene, immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He then turned around and, bowing to the anxious middle-aged man and the elegantly dressed lady beside him, said: "Congratulations, Your Majesty and Your Highness. After three years of hardship, His Highness has finally made it through. The next three years should pose no significant issues."

At this moment, Zhou Qing's eyes turned crimson as he stared at Zhou Yuan, his gaze filled with immense sorrow: "At that time, I also did not understand what this truly meant, until that day..."

Beside them, Zhou Yuan's mother, Qin Yu, was covering her mouth, letting out a cry that was suppressed to the utmost degree

On that day, King Wu entered the city, using the millions of subjects of the Great Zhou as leverage, intending to seize your sacred dragon's fortune in front of you and your mother... At this point, there were even blood tears flowing from Zhou Qing's eyes

Qin Shi, now Yuan Er is already thirteen years old. Generally, at this age, young men have already formed their eight meridians and can begin their cultivation. What about Yuan Er?" A dignified man dressed in a bright yellow robe looked expectantly at the white-haired elder and asked

Zhou Qing stared at Zhou Yuan, a look of almost crying yet not crying appearing on his face. The despair and anger made Zhou Yuan's heart tremble

According to the intelligence we have received, the wife of King Wu has been pregnant for a full three years, yet has not given birth. However, today, she suddenly delivered...

Due to the surge of emotions, Qin Yu's cheeks instantly turned pale, and she could not help but spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, staining Zhou Yuan's hair red

And in the altar, there were the pair of children just born to King Wu

Thus, upon hearing Master Qin's words at that moment, Zhou Yuan could no longer contain his emotions, as blood surged wildly to his head, causing his face to turn crimson. His delicate and youthful features appeared somewhat distorted.

On that day, the sacred dragon in the city mourned, transforming into blue smoke that wafted away gently

In the past, I was still unaware of the reason, but at that moment, I finally understood. It is said that those born on the same year, month, and day can devour each other's fortune. It turns out that the Wu family has been plotting for many years, and their aim is not merely to scheme against the Great Zhou, but to target the Dragon of the Zhou family!

Pfft

The sacred dragon's fortune that you possess has been forcibly seized by the fate of the python sparrow, naturally giving rise to intense resentment. The Martial King deliberately sealed this resentment within your body, thus forming the Resentful Dragon Poison, which devours your vital essence and continuously grows stronger. Until one day, when it matures and erupts, it will completely extinguish your life force

In order to successfully seize Your Highness's fortune, King Wu established an ancestral oath, pledging that for a hundred years, the Great Wu shall not step into the Great Zhou even by a single step

Then... why..." His palm trembled slightly as he touched his own body. Since he was born with the eight meridians open, why is it that now he cannot even find the eight meridians within himself?

They are waiting for your birth

The three individuals in the grand hall were taken aback upon hearing this, and they quickly looked up, only to see that the young man on the bed had opened his eyes at some point, gazing at them.

The elegantly dressed woman waved her hand, her eyes filled with sorrow as she gazed at the young man sitting on the bed, and said: "The poison within Yuan'er erupts once every three years, each time more severe than the last. To eradicate it, he can only rely on himself. But now, with his eight meridians not manifesting, what will happen three years from now?"

That strange blood energy surged beneath his skin, and faintly, it seemed as if a vengeful dragon's roar was emanating from within

Beside the youth, an elderly man with white hair held a bronze mirror, from which a gentle light emanated, illuminating the youth's body. Under the radiance of that light, the strange blood energy on the youth's face began to gradually calm down

Zhou Yuan opened his mouth, and a chill surged from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head: "This is a conspiracy!"

The boy known as Yuan'er is named Zhou Yuan, and the middle-aged man and the beautiful woman before him are the king and queen of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu.

A trace of shock finally appeared in Zhou Yuan's eyes. The current Da Wu royal family was actually once a vassal of their Da Zhou? Fifteen years ago, Da Zhou was surprisingly powerful?

We suffered a great defeat in the Zhou Dynasty, and I led the remnants of the Zhou forces in a continuous retreat. The Wu family pursued us relentlessly until they caught up with us at this Zhou city beneath our feet, yet the Wu family surrounded us without attacking, as if they were waiting.

Zhou Yuan pressed his lips together, his youthful face appearing somewhat pale, perhaps due to his frail physique since childhood, which compelled him to read more. He seemed to exude a scholarly air. After a moment of silence, he slowly extended his palm

Zhou Qing trembled slightly as he reached out to touch Zhou Yuan's head, saying: "You should know about these matters now, Yuan'er. Do you understand? You are the Sacred Dragon of the Zhou family!"

Cultivators, due to their ability to absorb and expel the primordial forces of heaven and earth, undergo a transformation of their own, and are thus also referred to as Source Masters

Do you know about the Great Wu Dynasty? When Zhou Qing mentioned this name, he spoke each word slowly, as if it were etched in his memory.

In the inner hall, a middle-aged man dressed in a bright yellow robe stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His face was resolute, and there was an air of authority in his eyes, clearly indicating his long tenure in a high position. Behind him, an aura was rising, resembling flames and thunder, emitting a low rumbling sound

In the palm of his hand, there was a dark crimson mass, as if it were branded deep into the flesh and blood. It slowly writhed, resembling a blood dragon with its claws bared, and faintly emanated a strong aura of resentment and hatred, sending chills down one's spine.

The martial family has designed for him for a hundred years. Although there are waves in his heart, he is able to suppress them. However, they have forced his beloved mother to the brink of exhaustion, which for the first time has instilled in Zhou Yuan an uncontrollable intent to kill.

As the dragon's roar echoed, the veins on the young man's forehead throbbed, his body trembled incessantly, and his face contorted into a grimace, as if he were enduring an indescribable agony

Then... why has it come to this?" Zhou Yuan could not help but ask.

What? What are you saying?

Zhou Qing's excited voice suddenly came to a halt, and the light in his eyes seemed to fade away at that moment, leaving only a deep sense of sorrow. He said with a pallid expression: "Because at the very moment you were born, outside the city, the wife of the Martial King also gave birth to a boy and a girl. The male infant was surrounded by the aura of a coiling python, while the female infant possessed the spirit of a divine sparrow, both endowed with fortune!"

Mother? What is wrong with you?" Zhou Yuan was taken aback and hurriedly helped Qin Yu wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth

A look of surprise appeared on Zhou Yuan's small face. On this vast continent, there are numerous dynasties and empires, and their Great Zhou Dynasty is not particularly eye-catching among them. He did not expect that there was such a status in the past

To this end, they even resorted to extreme measures, causing the wife of King Wu to remain childless for three years, all in anticipation of him

After a moment of silence, Qin Shi slowly said: "Three years from now, the external pressure will cease to be effective. If things remain as they are, Your Highness, your life may be in jeopardy"

Upon hearing Zhou Yuan's words, both Zhou Qing and Qin Yu's faces lost much of their color, especially the former, whose fists were tightly clenched, and whose face was marked by deep regret and self-reproach.

At that time, Qin Yu had just experienced the joy of having a child, yet she could only watch helplessly as her own baby endured immense suffering on the cold altar, crying until his tender voice became hoarse

Zhou Qing was extremely excited, trembling violently all over. When Zhou Yuan was born, one can imagine how thrilled he was. Heaven did not abandon the Zhou family; in this moment of crisis, it allowed the Zhou family to welcome the birth of the Sacred Dragon

At this moment, the evidently high-status man and woman were both looking ahead with a hint of tension on their faces. There, on the bed, sat a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old, his body appearing somewhat frail, with his eyes tightly closed. The youthful face that should have been full of vigor was instead enveloped in a sense of bloodlust.

The dignified man, upon hearing this, also had his gaze dimmed.

What a remarkable coincidence this is; it is evidently a scheme that has been brewing for a hundred years, specifically targeting the Zhou family, and even... a grand conspiracy aimed directly at him

Prophecy?" Zhou Yuan was momentarily taken aback

Every three years, this thing begins to act up, as if it intends to devour every inch of his flesh and blood, bringing boundless suffering

What is the "Cursed Dragon Poison"? Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows, feeling perplexed.

The silence lasted for a while, and the air felt somewhat stagnant. Zhou Qing finally took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice: "This is the poison of the vengeful dragon"

So, are you saying that I only have three years left to live? In the silence, a voice that was somewhat youthful yet calm suddenly emerged.

Beside him stood a beautifully dressed noblewoman, her figure slender and her appearance both dignified and beautiful; however, her cheeks appeared particularly pale and frail

You were born with eight meridians already open, having transcended the stage of opening the meridians at birth, directly reaching the stage of nurturing energy

However, when one looks at his right arm, one finds it empty, as it is a severed limb

The deprivation of fortune is akin to the tearing away of flesh and blood, a kind of pain that is beyond imagination

This is the python sparrow swallowing the dragon

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Yuan felt as if he had been struck by lightning, with blood vessels in his eyes wildly surging forth. Even when he had previously heard that his fortune had been taken from him, he had not experienced such intense emotional turmoil. After all, these events had occurred during his childhood when he had no memory of them, and thus he did not possess a strong sense of belonging to the so-called 'Holy Dragon's Fortune.' Even when it was schemed away from him, he merely felt a sense of shock.

This is the legendary "Holy Dragon's Fortune", one in a billion, destined to reach great realms in the future, shining alongside heaven and earth, sharing longevity with the sun and moon. You are the Holy Dragon of the Zhou family, unprecedented in history!

Until later, the spies obtained some intelligence from the Wu family, which was a prophecy that had been passed down within the Wu family for hundreds of years

My dear child! My poor child! Mother is sorry for you

Zhou Yuan also widened his eyes, clearly unable to imagine that such a strange phenomenon would occur at the time of his birth

"The python sparrow devours the dragon, the great Wudang rises?" Zhou Yuan softly recited it once, yet did not understand its meaning, and asked: "What does this mean?"

Zhou Qing nodded slightly and said in a hoarse voice: "Indeed, it is a conspiracy. The Wu family has endured for hundreds of years in my Great Zhou, fighting in the south and the north, gaining trust. However, no one expected that their century of patience was all for you!"

Zhou Qing lifted Qin Yu and let her lean against the jade couch. At that moment, his hair seemed to have turned slightly gray, and his imposing aura had completely vanished. He spoke in a wooden tone: "There is a saying about fortune in the world. The martial family has a thin foundation; to establish a nation, ensure its continuation through generations, and intimidate the four corners, it is essential to have sufficient fortune to support it. Your Sacred Dragon fortune is the best material for this purpose."

"Your Majesty, please take care of your health. You have previously lost a significant amount of vital energy to nourish His Highness, and you must not let your emotions be stirred up," Qin Shi said hastily upon seeing the situation

The Great Wu Dynasty? Zhou Yuan nodded, the Great Wu Dynasty is one of the top-tier dynasties in this vast continent, with a flourishing national fortune and countless masters. Compared to their Da Zhou, it can be said to be a giant standing next to a dwarf

That kind of despair and helplessness nearly caused her to faint from the intensity of it at that time

Zhou Yuan trembled all over, his eyes blood-red, as an overwhelming surge of fury and murderous intent rose from the depths of his heart

Upon hearing this question, the white-haired elder's expression immediately darkened somewhat. He shook his head slightly and said: "Your Majesty, this time I still have not detected the Eight Meridians within His Highness's body..."

In this world, the path of cultivation begins with the human body. The human body contains countless meridians, among which the eight major meridians are the most important. Generally, for most individuals, these eight meridians begin to take shape around the age of twelve or thirteen, except in certain special circumstances. At this time, it is essential to identify these eight meridians. Only by locating these eight meridians can one commence cultivation, absorb the source energy of heaven and earth, and open the eight meridians. The eight meridians within the body begin to take shape around the age of twelve or thirteen, and at this time, it is necessary to identify these eight meridians. Only by locating these eight meridians can one begin cultivation, absorb the source energy of heaven and earth, and open the eight meridians

One is taken away, while two are obtained

Zhou Qing's body trembled slightly, and the blood vessels in his eyes crawled out at this moment: "However, no one expected that fifteen years ago, the Wu family suddenly launched a rebellion. By this time, our Zhou royal family finally realized that after years of hiding our strength, the Wu family had already amassed an extremely powerful force, and many of the feudal lords within the dynasty had been won over by them"

Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and said word by word: "The python sparrow swallows the dragon, the great Wudang rises!"

During the several hundred years of the establishment of our Great Zhou, the Wu family has consistently followed the Zhou family into battles in all directions, demonstrating unwavering loyalty. Later, when our Great Zhou established its nation, in recognition of their contributions, the Wu family was granted the hereditary title of Martial King, enjoying boundless power. Over the course of a century, the Wu family has also safeguarded the borders of Great Zhou, deterring threats from all sides

The middle-aged man clenched his palms tightly, while the elegantly dressed woman beside him also had reddened eyes, and then she covered her mouth and coughed violently twice

Do you know what it was like when you were born?" Zhou Qing looked at Zhou Yuan, his eyes blood-red, and said: "Yuan'er, at the moment of your birth, there was an extraordinary phenomenon in the heavens, purple energy surged, dragon energy enveloped you, and the roar of dragons shook the earth. It was a sign of the sacred dragon.

Moreover, the queen, after you were deprived of your fortune, infused her own blood essence into your body, and thereafter, year after year, she provided you with blood transfusions. It is through this that Your Highness has been able to survive to this day. However, the queen has paid a tremendous price for this; each time she transfuses blood, she loses three years of her lifespan. Over the course of twelve years, she has lost thirty-six years, severely depleting her vitality, and now she has less than ten years of life remaining

The three of them exchanged glances, clearly surprised that the young man had awakened so quickly. It is worth noting that in the past, he would usually remain in a deep slumber for two to three days before recovering.

This is the Opening Pulse Realm, the beginning of all cultivation

I do not understand why the Wu family would betray us; their status in our Great Zhou is by no means inferior to that of the royal family

What are we waiting for? Zhou Yuan felt a sense of unease

At the same time, your Sacred Dragon. The root has been broken, the eight meridians have naturally faded, and until today, the eight meridians have not reappeared. The path of cultivation is arduous

The brutal memory of that day was once again violently torn open; she clearly remembered that the newly born Zhou Yuan was used as the focal point and placed upon the altar set up by King Wu.

As soon as these words were spoken, a profound silence enveloped the hall. The middle-aged man clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling slightly, while the elegantly dressed noblewoman covered her mouth and let out soft sobs.

Zhou Yuan stared at the object in his palm, which resembled a small blood dragon, his teeth involuntarily clenching. It was this very thing that made him experience a pain that was worse than death.

Father, Mother... this time, you should finally tell me what exactly has happened to me

On that day, outside the city, the pythons and sparrows sang in unison, and the glow of the sunset was magnificent, taking advantage of the moment to undergo transformation

The King Wu seized your fortune and bestowed it upon his son and daughter. From this point on, the Great Wu was protected by dragons and phoenixes, and the national fortune flourished. The prosperity of the Great Wu Dynasty is entirely due to the appropriation of your fortune

Within the brightly lit inner hall, resplendent with gold and jade, an imposing atmosphere prevails. In the hall, a perpetual lamp burns, within which a piece of blue stone is ignited, and wisps of blue smoke rise, swirling throughout the hall

Zhou Qing's voice was desolate, imbued with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. It is hard to imagine what kind of despair that day represented for the Zhou family.

The terrifying scene from that year surged once again from the depths of my mind. Beside me, Qin Yu could no longer contain her emotions, kneeling before Zhou Yuan, tightly embracing him and weeping bitterly, her cries heart-wrenching.

In less than a year, our Zhou family suffered a devastating defeat and fled southward, seeking refuge in the ancestral land where our Zhou family first rose to prominence, which is now the territory of our Great Zhou.