Your mother was heartbroken. She had spent so many spiritual treasures and precious materials, yet your cultivation had not advanced, nor had your bloodline improved.
Gu Jingming examined your body and found that you had been born with both fire and water spiritual meridians. Their two primal forces held each other in check. Every heavenly treasure, earthly rarity, and drop of spiritual essence you swallowed was quietly worn away by those meridians, leaving nothing to nourish you.
He comforted his wife helplessly. "We've done everything we could. Though we failed to improve our child's cultivation as we hoped, our efforts weren't entirely wasted. If we let those meridians clash unchecked, they would become a grave danger someday. At least we've averted that crisis ahead of time."
Deep within the Dragon Palace, the waters of the Dragon-Refining Pool were clear and blue, wreathed in spiritual mist.
A little dragon, purple and luminous from head to tail, flicked its tender tail and swam happily through the pool. Its scales gleamed softly, and it hadn't a care in the world.
Gu Jingming gently drew his wife, Jiaozhu, into his arms. Standing together, they watched their youngest son in the pool.
As though sensing his parents' mood, the little purple dragon swished out of the Dragon-Refining Pool. He bobbed his tiny horns and nuzzled Jiaozhu's palm, affectionate and well-behaved.
Jiaozhu lowered her gaze to the little dragon in her arms. Her eyes softened like water as she stroked his scales. "You little rascal!"
"I used to think Blazing Sun Mountain's family rules were harsh and cold. Now that I'm a mother, I finally understand. Parents give everything they have for their children and plan for their distant future."
Gu Jingming said gently, "Zhu'er, I know you're worried about Southern Shu's safety a hundred years