The Province of Rainbows (Niji-no-Kuni) was a land of vibrant, chaotic Mana. This was the domain of the Ancestral Dragon Nest (Zuryu-no-Su), an Ancient Royal Family whose lineage predated the current human empire.
Their ancestors included an Ancient Dragon Emperor, a being whose power once rivaled the human Supreme Gods.
Inside the golden restaurant in Rainbow City, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of high-grade Spirit Wine and raw power.
At the center of the gathering sat Ryuu Haotian, the Second Dragon Prince.
"Congratulations, Your Highness!" a Bull Demon raised his cup. "I heard you successfully fused with a Dragon Essence! Your strength has soared!"
"Indeed," a Winged Spirit chimed in, flattering him. "Dragon Essence contains the chaotic power of ancient dragons. Most would explode trying to absorb it, yet Prince Haotian refined it with ease. Truly a prodigy!"
Ryuu Haotian swirled his wine, a smug smile playing on his lips. His golden dragon eyes glowed with satisfaction.
"It is nothing," Haotian said, feigning modesty. "It is just one Dragon Essence. My older brother, Ryuu Tatsuya , has already fused three."
"Three?!" The crowd gasped.
Dragon Essence was the crystallized blood and soul of a fallen True Dragon. To absorb one was a feat of genius. To absorb three was monstrous.
"That's not all," Haotian continued, enjoying their shock. "My brother's goal is to fuse seven. Once he does, combined with his Emperor Dragon Blood, he will become the undisputed Sovereign of this generation."
Haotian felt no jealousy toward his brother. In the Ancestral Dragon Nest, strength was absolute. His brother was a god in the making, and Haotian was his loyal general.
"Then the future belongs to the Dragon Nest!" The Bull Demon laughed. "By the way, I heard the Ryuzaki Clan is holding a Tenth Birthday Banquet for their Divine Son soon."
The laughter in the room died instantly.
The name "Ryuzaki" cast a long shadow over the Yamato Empire.
Although Ryuzaki Haruto had been low-key for ten years, the memory of All Saints Bowing at his birth still haunted the older generation. And then there was his father, the White-Clad God King, Ryuzaki Mumei.
Decades ago, Ryuzaki Mumei—while still only a Saint—had stormed the Ancestral Dragon Nest, skinned a Quasi-Supreme Dragon Elder alive, and made a belt out of his tendons.
It was the greatest humiliation in the history of the Dragon Race.
"Hmph," Haotian sneered, crushing his wine cup. "The Divine Son hasn't even been weaned yet. Who knows what trash he is? My brother's birth summoned an Ancestral Dragon phantom. He is no less impressive than that Ryuzaki brat."
"Besides," Haotian added arrogantly. "I don't need my brother. I alone can suppress him."
"Of course! The Divine Son is no match for Prince Haotian!" a Winged woman giggled. "I wonder what kind of physique he has? The Ryuzaki Clan keeps it so secret."
"I know what physique he has."
A cold female voice cut through the noise.
The gathered non-humans turned to the entrance. A human woman in a blue cloak stood there, her face pale but determined.
"A human?" The Bull Demon frowned, his hand reaching for his axe.
"Wait," Haotian raised a hand. He looked at the woman with interest. "You say you know?"
Tachibana Ayaka stepped forward. She lowered her hood, revealing her hateful eyes.
"I am Tachibana Ayaka," she said. "I was a follower of the Ryuzaki Clan's Tenth Sequence. I know their secrets."
She briefly explained her "unjust" expulsion, omitting her own arrogance and framing Haruto as a tyrant.
"Interesting," Haotian leaned forward. "So, what physique does he have?"
"The Ancient Sacred Body," Ayaka declared.
Silence.
Then, the room erupted in laughter.
"Bwahaha! The Sacred Body?" "The Kongo-Seitai? That trash physique?" "Is the Ryuzaki Clan desperate? Raising a cripple as a Divine Son?"
Haotian laughed the loudest, tears forming in his dragon eyes. "Are you joking, human? In this era, the Sacred Body is cursed by the Heavens. It can't cultivate!"
"It is true," Ayaka insisted. "But... he has broken one shackle."
The laughter stopped abruptly.
"Broken a shackle?" Haotian's smile faded. "Are you sure?"
A Sacred Body that broke the Heavenly Shackles was no longer trash. It was a terrifying weapon of war, known for invincible physical strength.
"I saw him shatter the Takachiho Stele," Ayaka lied slightly, mixing truth with speculation. "He definitely broke at least one."
Haotian rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing.
"With the Ryuzaki Clan's resources, forcing open one or two shackles isn't impossible," Haotian analyzed coldly. "But the cost is astronomical. And the more shackles you break, the harder it gets. He will never break all ten. His path is dead."
He stood up, a cruel plan forming in his mind.
"This is interesting. A Sacred Body that can cultivate? A perfect stepping stone."
Haotian grinned, revealing rows of sharp, draconic teeth.
"It seems I must attend this Tenth Birthday Banquet. I will go there personally. I will defeat their precious Divine Son in front of the entire Empire."
"I will turn their celebration into a funeral."
"Brilliant!" The Bull Demon cheered. "Let's humiliate the Ryuzaki Clan!"
Ayaka bowed, a twisted smile on her face. 'Ryuzaki Haruto... you destroyed my life. Now, I will watch the dragons destroy yours.'
The Sword Invitation
Days later.
From the floating islands of the Central Province, a spectacular sight stunned the world.
Shoom! Shoom! Shoom!
Thousands of golden streaks shot into the sky from the Ten-no-Kura.
They were Flying Swords, each made of pure spiritual gold. Tied to each hilt was an invitation written on silk woven from starlight.
"Look! The Ryuzaki Clan is sending invitations!" "Flying Swords as messengers? How extravagant!" "It's for the Tenth Birthday Banquet of the Divine Son!"
The swords traveled to every corner of the Desolate Heaven Immortal Domain.
To the Northern Snow Plains, where the Ancient Jiang Family resided.
To the Western Desert, home of the Buddhist Sects.
To the Eastern Sea, domain of the Immortal Dynasties.
To the Southern Forbidden Zones, where ancient monsters slumbered.
One sword flew straight into the Ancestral Dragon Nest.
Ryuu Haotian caught the sword, reading the golden text.
[You are invited to witness the debut of Sequence Zero.]
"Sequence Zero?" Haotian scoffed, snapping the sword in half. "Arrogant. I will be there, Ryuzaki Haruto. Wash your neck and wait for me."
The calm waters of the cultivation world were churning. A storm was gathering over the Ryuzaki Clan.
And at the center of the storm, Ryuzaki Haruto was still in seclusion, unaware that the entire world was coming to watch him perform.