Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251

by Translator: Yeow

  Zhou Yuan nodded. His foot powerfully pushed off the ground as his body shot out like an arrow. With a twist of his hip, power surged in his body and converged at his fist. Fist winds immediately emerged as a punch filled with vigorous power heavily slammed into Zhou Qing’s extended hand.

  The soil beneath Zhou Yuan’s feet was sent flying while Zhou Qing’s body remained unmoved. His hand had likewise not budged a single inch, but an expression of surprise appeared in his eyes.

  Zhou Yuan massaged his fist, a little dejected as he withdrew. His full power had not been able to move Zhou Qing’s hand at all.

  “How did I do father?” Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Zhou Qing.

  Zhou Qing did not respond but said, “Let’s test your speed.”

  With a twirl of his hand, a dozen pebbles rose from the ground and revolved above his palm. A sudden wave of his hand and the pebbles shot towards Zhou Yuan like a torrential rain storm.

  Every pebble was akin to an arrow and the sound of rapidly speeding through the wind could be faintly heard.

  The tip of Zhou Yuan’s foot pushed off the ground as his body swiftly backed away, avoiding the majority of the pebbles. However, several pebbles still shooting towards him at a crafty angle, making it impossible for him to dodge.

  Zhou Yuan’s eyes faintly shivered. At this moment, the spirit between his brows jumped and his senses instantly became extremely sharp, making the trajectories of the pebbles exceptionally clear.

  As a result, he suddenly reached out and caught all of the pebbles with two soft ‘pluck’ sounds.

  The force from the pebbles made Zhou Yuan’s hand hurt somewhat. He grinned as he swung his hand and said to Zhou Qing, “Almost wasn’t able to catch them.”

  “Father?”

  Zhou Yuan sudden realised that Zhou Qing blankly staring at the hand which had caught the pebbles.

  Zhou Qing came back to his senses upon hearing Zhou Yuan’s voice and looked at him in a strange manner. Zhou Qing had intentionally increased the force of behind those few pebbles from before to measure Zhou Yuan’s resistance to strikes, in other words, the toughness of his body.

  However, he never imagined that Zhou Yuan’s eyes would be so sharp. He had seen through the trajectories of the pebbles and caught all of them. Was this a coincidence, or something else?

  Zhou Qing shook his head and shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. The former’s finger suddenly flicked and a red bolt of lightning shot out. In the blink of an eye, it blasted Zhou Yuan’s chest.

  Crash!

  Zhou Yuan was sent flying and smashed into a tree. He covered his chest with a hand and cried out in pain.

  Qin Yu hastily walked over and helped him up before angrily looking towards Zhou Qing. “Why did you use Flame-Lightning Qi?”

  After an awkward laugh, Zhou Qing walked forward and looked at Zhou Yuan’s chest. Although it was bruised somewhat green, this was clearly a superficial wound. Zhou Qing’s eyelids immediately twitched. How did someone who had only opened a single meridian channel be so sturdy?

  “How was it?” Zhou Yuan massaged his chest and asked with a pained face.

  Zhou Qing looked at Zhou Yuan oddly and replied, “Are you certain that you’ve only opened

  one meridian channel?”

  Zhou Yuan could not help but roll his eyes. Did his father think that you could really open two meridian channels at one go?

  Qin Yu also sensed that something was amiss and nervously asked, “What is it? Is there something wrong with Yuan’er?”

  “Something wrong?”

  Zhou Qing bitterly chuckled. “Something is indeed wrong, because regardless of whether it is power, speed or toughness, let alone a single channel opener, even a two channel opener cannot compare to this child’s body.”

  “This is the first time I’ve seen such a thing in many many years. To think that the body quality of a mere single channel opener would be so great.”

  Chapter 20 Genesis Technique

  “Better than a two channel opener?!”

  Zhou Yuan’s and Qin Yu’s eyes involuntarily opened wide when they heard Zhou Qing’s words.

  “Master Cang Yuan did not lie. Although it is more difficult to open my channels, the benefits are indeed greater.” Excitement flooded Zhou Yuan’s eyes. From his father’s evaluation, it seemed that the quality of his body was even higher than a two channel practitioner and far surpassed normal one channel practitioners.

  If he added in the Genesis Runes he knew, in terms of battle power, even a three channel practitioner might not be able to defeat him.

  “If I master the Tiger Roar Rune, victory will practically be ensured as long as I don’t encounter a four channel practitioner.” Mumbled Zhou Yuan in his heart as a wave of happiness washed over him. His hard work over this period had indeed achieved rather pleasing results.

  Most importantly, this had given Zhou Yuan hope, a hope that he could continuously climb till the day that he would be able to change everything.

  Zhou Qing’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he looked at Zhou Yuan. The only arm he had was extended as he heavily patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder while the latter could see unconcealable excitement and hope in the former’s eyes.

  “Yuan’er, You’ve done very well!”

  Zhou Qing’s voice was somewhat shaky at this moment, and even his eyes had become red. “King Wu believed that stripping you of your sacred dragon blessing would plunge our Zhou clan’s sacred dragon into an endless abyss, but from the looks of it, he has underestimated you!”

  Zhou Yuan’s mood fluctuated somewhat as he gazed at the emotional Zhou Qing. The former knew that the years where he had been unable to open his channels had caused his father’s lofty aspiration to be slowly and cruelly grinded away by reality, while his father’s heart had perhaps also started to despair.

  Reality had made Zhou Qing unable to see even the slightest hope.

  The Great Zhou Empire was at death’s door, while the Great Wu Empire grew increasingly prosperous and powerful. He knew that once the deadline of king Wu’s vow arrived, Great Zhou would have to welcome its end.

  Now however, at the very moment when Zhou Yuan opened his meridian channel, the despairing Zhou Qing had finally seen a glimmer of light.

  Even if this glimmer was still extremely faint, Zhou Qing believed that there would eventually come a day when this glimmer would transform into a great blazing sun. The fires of revenge would thoroughly incinerate Great Wu, taking back everything that Great Zhou had once lost.

  Currently, Great Wu was waging war against two other nearby empires and could not spare any attention to Great Zhou. Hence, this was the best time for Zhou Yuan to grow.

  Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, pushing down the emotions in his heart. He knew that there was still an immeasurable gap between him and Great Wu. Thus, he needed to pull back his sights from such a distant place.

  What he needed to do now was to enter the A class through the newcomer exam and ultimately ruin Qi Manor’s scheme targeted at the position of Great Zhou Institute headmaster.

  “Practically all of the hopefuls for the top ten spots in the newcomer exam have the strength of four channels. I may be unafraid of any three channel practitioner, but my chances against a four channel practitioner are not great.” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered. To make certain that no mishaps would occur, he needed to improve again in the time before the newcomer exam and unblock his second channel.

  As long as his second meridian channel was opened, Zhou Yuan would have nothing to fear. It was likely that he would have some chance even if he encountered the one who was said to have the best odds at first place, Lin Feng.

  “Looks like I can’t relax if I intend to enter the A class.” Zhou Yuan secretly thought.

  “Yuan’er. Now that your first channel has been opened, you can learn some Genesis techniques and bring out the full potential of your power.” Said Zhou Qing after regaining his calm.

  Genesis techniques
were techniques that utilised one’s Genesis Qi in a more powerful manner. In this world, Genesis techniques were similar to Genesis Weapons and were divided into four tiers, Normal, Black, Heaven and Sacred.

  However, the higher the grade of the Genesis technique, the greater its requirement on the body. Most Channel Opening stage practitioners could only learn Normal tier Genesis techniques.

  “I’ll get someone to send you some suitable Genesis techniques from the royal treasury for you to try.”

  Zhou Yuan nodded. Although he had now opened his channel, it could only be said that all he had was power that he was unable to fully utilise. The root cause was that he had never learnt any Genesis techniques.

  Therefore, a new module was added to his daily cultivation routine from this day.

  ...

  Zhou Qing was highly efficient. Thus, several Genesis techniques were swiftly sent into Zhou Yuan’s hands.

  In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan browsed through the Genesis techniques. The most formidable amongst them were the Universe Origin Fist and the Bright Air-Shattering Fist. Both were mid grade Genesis techniques.

  Zhou Yuan was deep in thought as he stared at these two Genesis techniques. Although they were naturally not too complicated, they were better than low grade Genesis techniques. Of course, the Genesis Qi one had at the Channel Opening stage was not overly abundant, hence even if a more profound Genesis technique was learnt, one would be unable to bring out its true power.

  While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the two mid grade Genesis techniques, he suddenly smelt a light fragrance. His expression immediately changed a little as he lifted his head, only to find that Yaoyao was standing beside him as she cast an indifferently glance at the two Genesis techniques in his hands.

  “Very ordinary Genesis techniques.” Yaoyao quickly withdrew her gaze and heedlessly remarked.

  Zhou Yuan helplessly smiled and said, “They’re only Normal mid grade Genesis techniques, how complicated do you expect them to be?”

  “You want to learn Genesis techniques?”

  Zhou Yuan’s gaze remained on the manuals as he nodded and said, “Now that I’ve opened my first meridian channel, I am able to use some Genesis Qi and naturally intend to learn Genesis techniques to supplement my battle power.”

  If one did not learn any Genesis techniques, there would be no other option than to clash with the quality of one’s body in battle.

  Yaoyao could not help but give Zhou Yuan a strange look when she heard this. “You already have superb techniques on you, why do you still look through these ordinary ones?”

  Zhou Yuan’s eyes suddenly focused. He lifted his head and looked at Yaoyao as his brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  Upon seeing this appearance of his, Yaoyao’s ruddy little mouth frowned slightly. “Stupid.”

  Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw and said with a hateful tone, “Has all my good liquor been drunk in vain?”

  Yaoyao placed her hand on her cheek and lazily replied, “Have you not realised anything after so many days of frolicking dragon forms practice?”

  A look of thought emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face. After a long time, he suddenly stood up, walked out of the stone pavilion, raised his fists and slowly started to do a set of ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon.

  He did not quickly complete the set this time. Every action and movement was done rather slowly.

  Half an incense stick of time had already passed by the time he finished the entire set

  He stood on the spot and seemed to immerse himself in each and every movement. A long while later, his pupils suddenly shrunk as shock appeared on his immature face.

  Subsequently, he raised his head and looked towards the stone pavilion at Yaoyao, his voice containing a tone of disbelief.

  “This… this frolicking dragon forms hides Genesis techniques?”

  A small smirk emerged on Yaoyao’s exquisite as an autumn moon face. “Although you’re a somewhat slow, you are not beyond redemption.”

  Next, she extended two slender fingers and coolly said, “To be precise, there are two Genesis techniques hidden in the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon.”

  Chapter 21 Dragon Step, Dragon Tablet Hand

  “Two Genesis techniques?!”

  Zhou Yuan’s heart shook, eyes full of excitement as he looked towards Yaoyao. The Dragon Breathing method master Cang Yuan had imparted to him was deeply profound and obviously not ordinary at all. Hence, the two Genesis techniques contained within it were likely not simple as well.

  Yaoyao gently stroked the Tuntun and slowly said, “These two Genesis techniques are known as the Dragon Step and the Dragon Tablet Hand.”

  “Dragon Step? Dragon Tablet Hand?” A pensive look emerged on Zhou Yuan’s face.

  He could faintly sense that there were indeed some mysteries within the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon. However, he was incapable of clearly identifying them. After all, the only thing master Cang Yuan had done was throw Dragon Breathing at him, and a disciple groping about in the dark by himself would undoubtedly result in rather slow progress.

  Thus, he begged with his eyes at Yaoyao.

  Yaoyao displayed a very faint smile and winked at him.

  Zhou Yuan knew what she meant. With a wave of his hand, a servant girl immediately sent over a bottle of fine liquor. Only then did Yaoyao nod her head in satisfaction before lifting Tuntun and throwing it out of the stone pavilion.

  Upon seeing her actions, Zhou Yuan’s eyelids jumped as a feeling of unease bubbled within him. “Could it be that Tuntun also knows?”

  Yaoyao’s red lips curved slightly, displaying a playful expression as she replied, “Back then, grandpa Hei would teach Tuntun whenever he had nothing to do. Strictly speaking, Tuntun can be considered your senior brother disciple.”

  The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched as he involuntarily howled in his heart, “Was Tuntun a human wearing the skin of a beast? How the heck was it even able to learn Genesis techniques?! Exactly what kind of beast was it?”

  No matter how he howled in his heart however, he still had to learn what needed to be learnt. Hence, he could only look towards Tuntun, gently rub its head and show an extremely kind smile. “Good Tuntun. Show me the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand.”

  However, Tuntun was currently in a bad mood due to being thrown by Yaoyao. Thus, it merely swept a lazy glance at Zhou Yuan before laying down, refusing to move.

  Zhou Yuan extended a finger and prodded Tuntun’s fat stomach, causing a wave of meat to ripple. However, no matter how he poked and prodded, the latter did not respond at all as if it was dead.

  Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow when he saw that the little bastard was acting dead. Subsequently, he beckoned with his hand and a servant girl immediately brought over a plate of dried Genesis Beast meat.

  Tuntun’s eyes moved the moment its smelled the fragrance of food. It instantly got up and pounced at the plate with a bark.

  Zhou Yuan pulled the plate away, causing Tuntun to pounce at empty air. It immediately bared its teeth at Zhou Yuan and snarled.

  “Show me a first and I’ll let you eat.” Zhou Yuan was all smiles.

  Tuntun looked at Zhou Yuan and then looked at the enticing Genesis Beast meat. In the end, it came to a compromise before the delicious food and stood up on two legs. Its paw-feet slanted at an angle and it began to display a series of bizarre footwork.

  Each step was wide and bold but gave off a mist-like sensation. Its body quickly became somewhat blur and it faintly seemed as if a real dragon was soaring within the mist, making it difficult to make out.

  A small creature standing up on its hind legs and displaying complicated footwork was usually a rather comical sight. However, Zhou Yuan’s expression was exceptionally serious while his eyes were unblinkingly fixed on Tuntun.

  “This is known as the Dragon Step. A dragon hides within the clouds, barely visible. Dragon Step similarly has a misty and illusory feeling, making
others incapable of catching hold of you.” Yaoyao’s indifferent voice echoed from the stone pavilion.

  “You may try to attack Tuntun.”

  Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan clenched his hand and the Heavenly Yuan Brush landed within it. “Martial form!”

  The foot-long Heavenly Yuan Brush abruptly grew as Zhou Yuan grabbed it with both hands. Its body swiftly shot forward, wind accompanying the tip of the brush as it pierced towards Tuntun in a tricky manner.

  Zhou Yuan had spent a substantial amount of time practicing basic spear techniques recently. Therefore, the way he used the Heavenly Yuan Brush now looked a little imposing.

  The brush tip ferociously shot forward. However, just as it was about to strike Tuntun, the latter’s feet slanted and its body seemed to fade away, causing the brush tip to slide past.

  Zhou Yuan could not believe his eyes. Power circulated in his arms as the Heavenly Yuan Brush fiercely thrust forward with swishing sounds. It was a rather intimidating sight.

  However, Tuntun continued to move, neither fast nor slow, as its body seemed to fade away from time to time. Zhou Yuan was unable to even graze the former no matter how he attacked.

  In the end, Zhou Yuan stopped, gasping for breath as light blossomed in his eyes. He had realized the greatness of the Dragon Step. Such mist-like footwork could toy an enemy dizzy. It was clearly no ordinary auxiliary Genesis technique.

  Tuntun also slowed down when it saw that Zhou Yuan had stopped. Its little claw patted its fat stomach and pointed Zhou Yuan with a sneer.

  “Once the Dragon Step is learnt, one’s Genesis Qi will vibrate with the air, creating a smokescreen-like effect. That is how the fade-away effect comes about. In other words, others might see that an attack is aimed at your throat but in reality, the attack has deviated three inches away from your real body. It is these three inches of deviation in which the Dragon Step displays its greatness.”

  “Next is the Dragon Tablet Hand.” Said Yaoyao in a drawn-out manner.

  Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Tuntun. It ferociously pounced, its paws swiping and grabbing in a wild and free manner. This sight vaguely resembled a giant dragon reaching out its claws and gave off a bold and powerful aura as if a giant dragon was smashing a mountain with a tablet.