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 m.u.f.fled 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 br.i.m.m.i.n.g 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 s.h.i.+ned 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 pa.s.sed 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 circ.u.mstances, 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.

　　This was the Channel Opening stage, and was where all cultivation began.

　　Through this, cultivators were able to take in the Genesis energy of the land, and completely transform themselves. Hence, they were known as Genesis Masters.

　　Master Qin gazed at the disappointment on the middle-aged man's face, and could not help but softly sigh, "His highness was originally born with the sacred dragon blessing. He would have stunned the world and looked down upon the heavens. Who could have foreseen that such a calamity would occur…"

　　The middle-aged man's fists clenched tightly, while the beautiful lady's eyes reddened. She covered her mouth and violently coughed twice.

　　"My queen, please take care of yourself," Master Qin hastily said upon seeing this. "You have lost a great amount of essence blood from nouris.h.i.+ng his highness. You cannot allow your emotions to run wild."

　　However, the beautiful lady in palace garments merely waved her hand. Sorrow surfaced in her eyes, as she looked at the youngster seated on the bed, "The poison in Yuan'er's body erupts once every three years. Each outbreak is more serious than the last. He can only rely on himself to eradicate the poison, yet his eight meridian channels have yet to appear. What is to be done three years from now?"

　　Master Qin was silent for some time, before he slowly replied, "After three years, external suppression will lose its effect, and if this situation persists, I'm afraid that his highness' hopes are bleak."

　　The moment these words were said, silence blanketed the inner palace. The middle-aged man's fists tightly clenched, as his body faintly shook, while sobbing noises were emitted through the covered mouth of the lady in palace garments.

　　A rather young yet calm voice suddenly emerged within this silence.

　　"Does that mean… I only have three years left?"

　　The three people in the palace were stunned upon hearing this. They quickly looked up, only to find that the youngster on the bed had opened his eyes at some unknown time, and was now staring at them.

　　The three exchanged a look. It was evident that none of them had expected the youngster to awaken so quickly. In the past, he had remained unconscious for two or three days before slowly awakening.

　　"Yuan'er…"

　　The name of this youngster, who had been called Yuan'er, was Zhou Yuan, and the middle-aged man and lady before his eyes were the king and queen of the Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu.

　　Zhou Yuan's young face was rather pale, as he pursed his lips. Perhaps because his body had been frail since young, he could only read books, and thus looked rather scholarly. After being silent for a moment, he slowly extended his hand.

　　A dark blood-red lump could be seen at the center of his palm, which seemed to be embedded in the deepest part of his flesh. It slowly wiggled and squirmed, looking just like a threatening blood dragon. A faint yet extremely bitter and resentful aura seemed to rise from within it, causing one to s.h.i.+ver although it was not cold.

　　"Father, Mother… I believe it is time to tell me exactly what is happening to me, right?"

　　Zhou Yuan involuntarily gritted his teeth, as he stared at the tiny blood-dragon-like-thing on his palm. It was this very thing that made him feel what could be called pain beyond death.

　　Every three years, this thing would begin to act up. It brought with it an endless pain, that felt as if it was devouring the flesh on his body inch by inch.