"Alas... Chuan'er, let's not dwell on other matters for now. The evil seal within you is likely nearing its time to act up again, isn't it?" Xia Yong sighed deeply, his gaze grave as he looked at the young man before him.
Xia Chuan was his ninth son. His first eight sons had all died at birth.
He had once sought out the Grand Astrologer to divine the Great Xia's dragon fortune. At that time, the Grand Astrologer had said the ninth son would possess the body of a true dragon, bearing great fortune!
Indeed, when Xia Chuan was born, the entire Great Xia imperial palace was enveloped in golden light, with faint dragon silhouettes manifesting. Celestial music resounded across a hundred thousand miles of mountains and rivers.
That night, the people of Great Xia knelt together before their doors, bowing in worship to the golden dragon's sacred image. Everyone believed this newly born Ninth Prince would be another chosen son of Great Xia to ascend to the Upper Realm. They even believed the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, under his leadership, would rule the Western Frontier, achieving eternal dominance!!!
But...
No one could have predicted what happened next, an event that shocked the entire Great Xia.
Just as the golden dragon's celestial image soared into the sky, a black demonic shadow silently descended from the darkness. Though sacred and awe-inspiring, the golden dragon was still in its infancy, small and powerless. But the demonic shadow was a thousand-zhang black Jiao (flood dragon) that directly... swallowed the golden dragon in one bite!
Heaven and earth began to manifest fiendish demons, and distant skies echoed with the roars of great monsters!
At that moment, the aura on Xia Chuan's body began to grow weak and wilted; the celestial music turned into demonic chants! And after swallowing the golden dragon, the black Jiao transformed into a blood-red light that imprinted itself on Xia Chuan's chest, turning into scales!
Even Xia Chuan's birth mother died from the invasive evil energy!
Simultaneously!!
Rumors spread like wildfire outside the imperial palace. They claimed the born Ninth Prince was not a true dragon, but a demonic Jiao destined to bring chaos to the world! What he had devoured was the Great Xia's dragon fortune!!
This scheme was utterly vicious and sinister, not only twisting right and wrong but also silencing the mouths of the world.
Sure enough... people began forcing their way into the imperial palace under the pretext of slaying the demon.
It was laughable; people revered the dragon yet saw the Jiao as a demon.
Thus, true power is the ultimate path to survival!
The slaughter that ensued unfolded logically, as if orchestrated by an unseen hand. Even the Jiao shadow seemed to have been waiting in the sky above, just for the golden dragon's birth.
Bizarre, evil, unbelievable!
Xia Yong had also considered that Xia Sheng and his son might have sought someone who understood the workings of Heaven to divine everything. But the Grand Astrologer only shook his head and sighed, saying that if such a remarkable person existed in the Holy Realm, they would never be employed by Xia Sheng and his son.
Moreover, upon learning that the ninth prince would be the Great Xia's true dragon, the Grand Astrologer had taken measures to conceal his fortune. With the Grand Astrologer's fifth-grade Divine Emperor strength, let alone whether anyone in the entire Western Frontier could break his arts, even if there were... he would have undoubtedly noticed unless...
But in the end, the Grand Astrologer proved his innocence with his death, only making the entire matter more perplexing.
"Yes... Father Emperor, it's almost time." A flicker of pain passed through Xia Chuan's eyes.
Every time the evil seal acted up, the scales on his body would increase. The torment of being neither fully human nor fully demon was sheer nightmare. But over the years, he had gritted his teeth and persevered, all because he was unwilling!!
He was supposed to be the Great Xia's true dragon, a person standing at the pinnacle of heaven from birth. Wealth and honor were trivial; what he should have enjoyed most was the reverence of millions of subjects!
But now, he was seen as a demonic fiend by the world, while the true demons sat upon the imperial throne!! And because of that blood seal's presence, he couldn't even cultivate!
This humiliation oppressed him! Filled him with hatred! It was utterly unbearable!
As for the youth who dared to attack him on the street earlier, Xia Chuan guessed he was probably hired by the sons of those few ministers who still followed his father to deliberately humiliate him.
Now, he was a cripple, and his father's cultivation had fallen. If not for this place being the ancestral land of the Xia Clan, protected by the ancient emperor, these ministers would have likely rebelled long ago.
Even so, he faced provocation, beatings, and ridicule almost daily. Xia Chuan didn't tell his father about these things because it was useless and would only trouble him.
"Back then... the Grand Astrologer said there was only one method to break this blood seal: to channel an immensely terrifying amount of spiritual power into your body to shatter it in one go! But..." Xia Yong sighed heavily. But Xia Chuan had a mortal, ordinary body; how could it withstand spiritual power infusion? The blood seal might not break, but he certainly would...
So, all these years, Xia Yong could only use minimal spiritual power to slow the blood seal's spread. But... it was becoming increasingly difficult. The blood-colored Jiao seal seemed to grow as Xia Chuan aged. Now, scales almost covered his entire chest. If this continued, Xia Chuan would truly transform into a demon!
"Spiritual power infusion?" A look of surprise flashed across Xia Chuan's face, but it soon turned into resolve.
He naturally understood his father's concerns. But rather than clinging to a meager existence, only to be eventually corrupted into a demon by the blood seal, it was better... to risk everything!
He was the true dragon of the Xia Clan, protected by his ancestors since birth! If not for the schemes of vile individuals, his path to immortality should have been smooth.
So... he believed that all this before him was merely a trial! To stand at the pinnacle of heaven and earth, one must... be fearless!! What was this little risk in comparison?
"Father! I am willing to try!!!" Xia Chuan looked up abruptly at his father, his eyes filled with a determination that commanded respect.
"Chuan... Chuan'er, have you truly thought it through?" Xia Yong's expression turned solemn, but he finally nodded.
Yes, my son should have such resolve! Rather than living a wretched life, why not... gamble everything?
As the saying goes, wealth and honor are found in danger!
"Father Emperor! I have thought it through! Rather than being seen as a demonic fiend and clinging to a wretched existence, let your son risk his life in one attempt! For the Xia Clan, and for the glory of our lineage!!" The young man nodded, his face already calm again.
"Good, good, good! I originally intended... Never mind. Since you have decided, I believe the ancient Emperor Xia Chen, if he knows in heaven, will also protect you..."
"Halt! Who dares to trespass in the palace of our Great Xia Dynasty!!" Just as Xia Yong's voice fell, a cold shout suddenly came from the distant sky.
Immediately after, countless powerful auras surged forth, shrouding the sky above the entire ancient hall.
"Hmm?" Xia Yong's face stiffened. "Chuan'er, quick, go to the ancestral hall in the rear palace! There is a mechanism in the hall, on the green brick beneath the feet of the Xia Ancestor. You only need to move this brick to enter the ancestral grounds of our Xia Clan. Inside..."
"Father Emperor..."
"Remember! An Emperor cannot be bound by sentiment. Go quickly. You... are the sole hope for the revival of our Xia Clan!"
With these words, Xia Yong waved his hand, instantly pushing Xia Chuan toward the direction of the rear palace, while he himself flashed toward the outside of the hall.
Have they come? Although this ancient hall contained the ancient formation set up by Ancestor Xia Chen... Xia Sheng also knew this secret. And since he dared to come here, he must have something to rely on.
For some inexplicable reason, Xia Yong's back suddenly seemed desolate.
Today, he feared, he would perish!
"Father Emperor!!" Xia Chuan stood at the end of the great hall, his fists clenched tightly, tears glistening in his eyes.
Father Emperor, rest assured. If your son survives this trial, heaven and earth will lie prostrate at my feet! When that time comes, I will surely use the blood of Xia Sheng's lineage to sacrifice to the glory of our Xia Clan!!
In the end, Xia Chuan gritted his teeth fiercely, his face full of resolve as he turned and ran toward the ancestral hall in the rear palace.
"Who are you?! How dare you forcibly trespass into our Great Xia imperial palace!" Outside the ancient hall, Ling Xiao looked indifferently at the several figures before him, whose auras were not weak.
"Summon your Emperor to see me."
"Audacious! Where did this arrogant brat come from, daring to run wild in our Xia Palace?! Surrender immediately!" At the head of the group, a Divine King-level guard shouted coldly, holding a divine blade horizontally, his aura soaring to the heavens.
Although, at this moment, he was also very panicked. This young man was clearly no ordinary person; daring to come here, he must have some backing! But... he was just a guard, what stance could he take? Of course, he had to protect his master wholeheartedly!
"Oh?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly and waved his hand.
From behind him, two figures clad in armor suddenly appeared out of thin air, one gold and one black, exuding boundless, ferocious might.