Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal

Xiao Fan pondered briefly. "Since that's the case... then I'll help Your Highness think it over. But I should say this first: with my abilities, I might not be able to see anything special."

"I understand. Just do your best. Leave the rest to Heaven..." Ji Xuanyuan let out a long sigh, then fetched brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and began writing out the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal from memory.

As he wrote, Xiao Fan continued, "May I ask, Your Highness, did you say earlier that every prince must cultivate the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal once he reaches the age of twelve?"

"That's right," Ji Xuanyuan answered as he wrote.

Xiao Fan went on, "His Majesty currently has five princes who meet the age requirement. Other than yourself, how are the other four princes progressing in their cultivation?"

The moment those words left his mouth, he stepped squarely on a landmine... Ji Xuanyuan froze on the spot, the hand holding his brush trembling slightly...

Xiao Fan seemed to see the young master's hidden bitterness and added, "If you want to change the current situation, you at least have to tell me what that situation is."

Just as he said, how could they devise a strategy without knowing the current circumstances? There had to be some point of reference for how well everyone's "studies" were going.

Ji Xuanyuan found that reasonable. Though he was a thousand times unwilling, he could only tell the truth:

"Sigh, among all the princes, Crown Prince Brother has the best 'studies.' He has already cultivated the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal to the sixth rank and can manifest a dragon's shadow. The majesty of the heir apparent is truly well deserved."

The Crown Prince was indeed extraordinary. That was within Xiao Fan's expectations.

"Next is Third Brother. His 'studies' are second only to Crown Prince Brother's. He has already reached the seventh rank. His talent is truly exceptional—enough to make anyone green with envy."

Eh? That was somewhat unexpected!

Xiao Fan was slightly shocked. Third Prince was a notorious libertine, forever chasing flowers and plucking grass, never attending to proper business, yet he had somehow not fallen behind in his "studies"!

By comparison, Ji Laowu, who was likewise forever neglecting proper business, seemed rather...

Ji Xuanyuan continued, "After that comes Fourth Brother. Though his 'studies' are inferior to Crown Prince Brother's and Third Brother's, he has still reached the eighth rank. At the same time, he cultivates the Dao of Arts and has already achieved something in it, reaching the seventh rank."

Holy crap? The Fourth Prince was actually a dual-cultivation big shot? Amazing, amazing... Xiao Fan truly admired him. In this world, dual-cultivation big shots were all geniuses.

"As for Second Brother, due to his health, he has spent years bedridden and naturally cannot practice martial arts. Father Emperor granted him special dispensation, allowing him to forgo cultivating the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal."

All right, with that, the first four princes had all been covered. That left their dear Fifth...

After speaking of his four brothers, Ji Xuanyuan said no more. He seemed to find his own "studies" rather difficult to speak of.

Xiao Fan, full of mischief, once again knowingly asked the obvious. His big eyes blinked innocently, making him look like a pure and sunny young man. "Then what about Your Highness?"

This guy was simply too wicked! The young master wore a troubled expression, stammering in extreme embarrassment.

Ji Xuanyuan's face flushed red. He gritted his teeth fiercely. "I! ...I... I still haven't broken through to the ninth rank! There, are you satisfied now?!"

Hold it in! I have to hold it in! Xiao Fan warned himself inwardly. I absolutely can't laugh out loud...

Hold it in...

I have to...

Pfft...

"You're laughing at me!" Ji Xuanyuan exploded at once.

Xiao Fan wore a solemn expression. "My laugh threshold is very high. I wouldn't laugh at Your Highness unless I truly couldn't hold it in... pfft..."

"You!!!" The young master was so mortified he wished he could dig a hole and crawl into it.

Xiao Fan finally forced down his laughter with all his strength. "Ahem... back to the point. Let me see just what mysteries this Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal holds..."

As he spoke, he leaned over and stole a glance...

[General Outline of the Cultivation Art:

Mandated by Heaven, destiny borne within.

Dormant dragon, silent abyss; hidden scales, gathering wind.

Nine turns shed mortality; the Purple Palace becomes a court.

Claws seize the stars; horns butt the vault of heaven.

Qi joins the eight wilds; meridians span the nine heavens.

Spirit and form shine forth in glory—I am the true dragon!]

The instant Xiao Fan saw it, he suddenly felt a scorching current surge up within his body! The golden scale on his chest turned blazing hot as well! It felt as though all the blood in his body were boiling!

What the hell is going on?! Xiao Fan staggered back three steps in fright, panting heavily as beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down from his forehead.

"Xiao Fan! What's wrong? Don't scare me! Could there really be some kind of restriction in there?" Ji Xuanyuan was startled as well.

Xiao Fan stood rooted to the spot, his mind racing...

[Evil Toxin Value: 1/100]

There was nothing unusual in the Evil Toxin Value or cultivation information displayed on the system interface.

At the very least, that meant the abnormality in his body just now had not been caused by the Evil Toxin... temporarily ruling out the possibility of mutation.

Xiao Fan barely managed to calm himself. "This is the upper portion of the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal?"

"It's only the general outline. I haven't finished writing the rest yet." Ji Xuanyuan scratched his head.

"Hoo..." Xiao Fan took three deep breaths, then said, "I'm fine. Please continue, Your Highness."

Ji Xuanyuan looked at Xiao Fan skeptically. "You... are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Xiao Fan nodded lightly, determined to get to the bottom of it!

This Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal seemed highly unusual to him!

Before long, Ji Xuanyuan checked over what he had transcribed, confirmed there were no mistakes, and handed it to Xiao Fan. "This is all the cultivation art I currently know—the first two chapters of the upper volume!"

Xiao Fan accepted the cultivation art but did not rush to read it. Instead, he tucked it into his robes, intending to study it slowly after returning.

"How many chapters are there in the upper volume of this Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal?" Xiao Fan asked.

Ji Xuanyuan thought for a moment. "Father Emperor said the upper volume has four chapters in total and can be cultivated up to the fourth rank of martial cultivation! The lower volume has only one chapter, but I don't know its specifics."

"I understand. Once I return and examine this cultivation art carefully, if I gain any insight, I'll inform Your Highness at once," Xiao Fan said seriously.

He suddenly recalled something and added, "Your Highness, according to what you said, members of the imperial family who cultivate the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal can gradually obtain the power of a true dragon?"

"Yes." Ji Xuanyuan nodded lightly.

Xiao Fan continued, "Then could Your Highness perhaps demonstrate what this so-called power of a true dragon looks like?"

The moment those words fell, the young master flew into a rage. "Xiao Fan! Do you feel uncomfortable all over if you don't make fun of me?!"

Xiao Fan hurriedly placated him. "Please calm your anger, Your Highness! That wasn't what I meant... I merely wish to further understand the characteristics of the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal!"

Though Xiao Fan had a bellyful of mischief, he was serious this time. He had no intention of needling the young master.

Seeing Xiao Fan's grave expression, Ji Xuanyuan finally, albeit reluctantly, gave a "demonstration"...

"Ha! Hah!"

The young master began circulating his power with all his might, yet... there was not a trace of a martial artist's aura...

Xiao Fan was thoroughly awkward. Can you even do this... Then again, if the young master could do it, he wouldn't have come looking for me, would he? Never mind, then.

Just then, relying on a martial artist's keen eyesight, Xiao Fan noticed a subtle change on the young master's right arm...

Xiao Fan hurriedly said, "I see it, I see it! Hold steady, Your Highness!"

He leaned closer for a careful look... They were dragon scales!

A very faint, barely visible black dragon scale, carrying the slightest metallic sheen, appeared on Ji Xuanyuan's arm!

"Huh? Black?" Doubt rose in Xiao Fan's heart. This dragon scale looked very much like the golden scales that had grown when he mutated, yet their colors were completely different.

"I can't... I can't hold on anymore." Ji Xuanyuan could no longer sustain it. He immediately deflated and collapsed into a sitting position, panting heavily, while the dragon scale on his arm vanished without a trace.

Xiao Fan helped the young master up and asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, after the other princes cultivate the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal, are the dragon scales on their bodies also black?"

"Yes. Aren't dragon scales supposed to be black? Mine are just too faint. They aren't like Crown Prince Brother's dragon scales—tsk, tsk, tsk, now those are truly majestic! I'm so envious..."

At the mention of his Crown Prince brother, Ji Xuanyuan's eyes practically glimmered with light.

At those words, Xiao Fan sank into thought...

Black dragon scales... golden scales... Different colors, yet their forms were far too similar... Could the scales on my body also be dragon scales?!

Then the question was, the Ji Clan imperial family's dragon scales were all black, while mine were golden...

A black dragon is a dragon, and a golden dragon is also a dragon? Then can I cultivate the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal too?

If so, could I control the growth of the dragon scales on my body and remove the scales on my chest?

Xiao Fan recalled the sudden agitation of the extraordinary spiritual essence within his body earlier, and the guess in his heart became another three parts clearer.

No matter what, this counted as a rather important unexpected gain!

Once he returned, he would have to study it properly!