《Breaching Heaven》


 Chapter 1: Heavenly Phenomenon

    In a dimly lit room, Jia Zhenya sat cross-legged on his bed, his loose robes clinging to his sweat-soaked body. His long black hair, tied into a ponytail, swayed slightly as his body trembled.


    A searing heat coursed through his body, like his blood was turning into lava. Each breath felt heavier than the last, his vision blurring. The temptation to collapse tugged at him, but he gritted his teeth and endured.


    He couldn''t give up, not now. Deep in his chest he felt it. A precious opportunity was in front of him; letting go now meant losing it forever.


    Their faces flashing in his mind, his parents smiling warmly. Then the images twisted, swallowed by the chaos of a beast tide that had destroyed everything 5 years ago. That tide had taken them from him, leaving only their memory and his burning desire for vengeance.


    His fists clenching tightly, nails digging into his palms. "I won''t stop here," he said through gritted teeth with a determined look on his face.


    Despite being only ten years old, he had endured countless hardships. The Jia family, known for their ruthless and pragmatic nature, had offered him little to nothing after his parents were killed.


    Left to fend for himself, Jia Zhenya had been forced to grow up quickly. He learned how to cook with whatever scraps he could find, how to hunt small beasts for food, and even how to navigate the intricacies of currency in a world where trust was scarce. Each day was a battle for survival, but it only steeled his determination to rise above his circumstances.


    Now, as his body felt like it was being burned alive from the mysterious force coursing through him, those memories fueled his resolve. He had survived alone for five years; he could endure this too.


    The burning sensation grew even worse, but Jia Zhenya refused to give up. His teeth clenched so tightly that he began to bleed, yet he pushed through the searing pain. The heat within him started to shift, gathering and intensifying in one spot, his forehead. It burned hotter and fiercer with each passing moment until, at last, it reached its peak. The unbearable intensity overwhelmed him, and he collapsed backward onto the bed, unconscious.


    Despite the ordeal, a faint, content smile remained on his face as he lay motionless. Unbeknownst to him, a shocking phenomenon was unfolding in the skies above: a massive, pure-white waning crescent had appeared, glowing with divine brilliance. Its radiance illuminated the entire Jia family compound, drawing the attention of all who saw it.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    In the meeting hall, the clan head stood by the window, his expression shifting from awe to ecstatic delight. "Yes!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with fervor. "Finally, someone has awakened the true Jia bloodline!"


    He quickly turned back to the gathered clan elders, his excitement giving way to a stern, commanding tone. "Call all the young clan members between eight and sixteen years old. I mean all of them, even the ones you¡¯ve abandoned and cast aside!" His sharp gaze swept over the elders, who stiffened under his scrutiny.


    The elders exchanged uneasy glances, their flustered expressions betraying the secrets they had thought were well hidden. With reluctant nods, they left the hall to carry out his orders.


    Outside the meeting hall, the elders looked at each other, and Jia Zhong started, "How did he find out? Did any of you rat us out to gain his favor?" looking suspiciously at all the elders standing in front of him.


    The other elders exchanged wary looks, their discomfort evident. Finally one of them, Jia Rui, a thin, shrewd-looking man, broke the silence. "Don''t be ridiculous, Jia Zhong. None of us would be foolish enough to cross the patriarch like that. If anything, we should be asking how he managed to uncover it on his own," scanning the other elders'' reactions for any sign of suspicion.


    Another elder, Jia Lian, a burly man, crossed his arms, his frown deepening. "It doesn¡¯t matter how he found out," he grumbled, his voice low. "What matters is what he plans to do next. You heard him. He¡¯s bringing all the children in, every last one of them, even those worthless branch children." He spat the words with disdain. "Like any of them could awaken the true bloodline."


    Jia Zhong scowled, his lip curling in contempt. "Even those... they¡¯ll never be a threat. But that doesn¡¯t mean we shouldn¡¯t be ready for whatever the patriarch decides. We don¡¯t want to be caught off guard."


    Jia Rui¡¯s eyes narrowed, a calculating look in them. "True," he said, a hint of irritation in his voice. "Well, let¡¯s get to it then. We¡¯ll gather all the children in front of the main house and see which one has awakened the bloodline. The sooner we know, the sooner we can deal with it."


    "Disperse!" Jia Rui barked, and the elders nodded quickly in agreement, a mix of reluctance and urgency in their movements.


    Just as they were about to leave, Jia Zhong halted, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Wait, do any of you know how to identify who awakened the bloodline?" he asked, his voice betraying a growing unease.


    The elders froze in place, exchanging glances of disbelief. How could they have forgotten something so critical? Jia Rui stepped forward, his annoyance barely contained. "Only the patriarch knows how to identify it, I¡¯m afraid." He twitched his eyebrows in irritation before continuing. "I think it was a precaution for situations like these."


    They exchanged somber looks, the weight of their mistake settling in. Without further word, they turned and left the building to gather all the children, as per the patriarch''s orders.

 Chapter 2: Ancestral Building

    The elders moved quickly, gathering every young member of the Jia family who was between the ages of eight and sixteen. As they brought the children before the ancestral building, the air thickened with anticipation. While some were confused, others fearful and unsure of the reason for this summons, they all understood the significance of this moment.


    The sun was high in the sky, casting rays of sunlight across the compound. In the center, the grand ancestral building stood, its towering pillars glowing under the sunlight. The patriarch''s figure stood tall in front of the building, a stern and commanding presence, flanked by the elders.


    Jia Rui took his place on the left of the patriarch, scanning the gathered crowd, noting the fidgeting of the younger members, their nervous whispers, and the occasional stifled giggle from those who still didn''t grasp the seriousness of the situation.


    "We will not tolerate delays," the patriarch''s voice rang out, calm but commanding. His eyes narrowed as he regarded the children. "You will one by one try to enter the ancestral tomb. Only one of you all will succeed, and the one that does succeed will become the heir to the Jia family," he said as he turned around and entered the hall.


    The gathered children were all confused and looked at one another with uncertainty. Some were excited, hoping that they would be the one to enter the ancestral tomb, while others were filled with regret, knowing they were not the one that awakened the bloodline.


    Jia Zhenya, hidden amongst the group. felt his heart race as the eyes of every elder locked onto the waning crescent on his forehead; it stood out too much, but he had no idea when it had appeared there; still, he had a slight feeling that it was him that awakened the Jia bloodline.


    He had heard stories from his parents that young members of the clan had to undergo a trial between the ages of eight and sixteen, and only someone who could pass this trial could awaken the bloodline and enter the tomb.


    Taking a deep breath Jia Zhenya clenched his fingers into fists at his side; he hoped the trial he overcame yesterday was for awakening the bloodline.


    One by one, the children stepped forward, each glancing nervously at the towering entrance of the ancestral building. The heavy wooden doors, intricately carved with depictions of the Jia family''s history, loomed ahead, a symbol of both pride and burden.


    The first child, the oldest among those gathered, stepped forward with confident strides. Yet, as he approached the towering wooden doors of the ancestral hall, the grandeur of the building seemed to dwarf his resolve. Jia Xinyi halted at the entrance, taking a breath while waiting for the patriarch¡¯s summons.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ¡°Jia Xinyi, enter.¡±


    At the call, Xinyi crossed the threshold, his confidence faltering under the weight of the moment. Despite being the Supreme Elder¡¯s grandson, the gravity of standing before the patriarch and the chance to claim the Jia family¡¯s greatest inheritance. Made his palms sweaty. No one had succeeded in claiming the true Jia inheritance since the death of Ancestor Jia Qiu.


    He approached the patriarch and bowed deeply. ¡°Greetings, Patriarch,¡± he said, nervously.


    The patriarch greeted him with a small, approving smile. ¡°No need for such formality, Xinyi. I¡¯ve seen your diligence and hard work over the years.¡±


    The Jia Fu''s voice softened as he continued, ¡°When we are alone, you may address me by my name.¡±


    Jia Xinyi straightened, surprise flashing in his eyes before he replied, ¡°Thank you, Jia Fu.¡±


    The patriarch nodded, his expression composed as he turned on his heel, clasping his hands behind his back. ¡°Come,¡± he said, his tone calm but commanding. ¡°We will determine whether you are the one who awakened the bloodline.¡±


    Xinyi followed, his heart pounding with anticipation. Yet behind the patriarch¡¯s steps, a different truth lingered. He already knew the outcome. During his earlier remarks, his keen eyes had spotted the mark of the awakened bloodline on a much younger child in the crowd.


    But tradition dictated the trial proceed in order of age, and so Jia Fu led the boy deeper into the hall, giving him hope he could not fulfill.


    "We have arrived," Jia Fu declared, his voice calm, as he gestured toward a pair of towering, pitch-black double doors that dominated the heart of the ancestral building. Their surface was smooth but imposing, adorned only with faint carvings.


    Jia Xinyi''s gaze locked onto the doors, his determined expression faltering slightly as he took in the sheer magnitude of the moment. Clenching his fists, he straightened his posture, pushing aside his nerves. "I will not fail," he muttered under his breath, loud enough for Jia Fu to catch.


    The patriarch glanced at him, his face inscrutable. "Very well," he said. "Step forward and place your hands on the door. It will open if you have awakened the bloodline."


    Jia Xinyi nodded, swallowing his hesitation, and stepped closer. The air grew heavier with each step; placing his hands against the cold surface, he closed his eyes and waited.


    For a moment, silence reigned. Then, a faint hum resonated from the doors, like a breath of wind stirring the void. Jia Xinyi''s heart leapt, his confidence swelling, only for the sound to fade into nothingness, leaving the room hollow and still.


    Jia Fu placed a hand on the boy''s shoulder, his touch firm but not unkind. "It¡¯s not you," he said softly, his voice carrying a quiet finality. "You have tried, and that is what matters."


    Xinyi withdrew his hands, his shoulders slumping under the weight of defeat. Yet, a flicker of doubt lingered in his eyes. He hesitated, then turned back to the patriarch. "Why did the doors react at first? It felt like... something," he asked, his voice tinged with hope and confusion.


    Jia Fu exhaled quietly, having anticipated this question. His gaze softened. "That initial reaction happens with all who carry the Jia family bloodline. It is proof of your heritage, but not of the true bloodline. You failed to awaken it," he explained, his tone firm but gentle.


    As he absorbed the explanation, his fists clenched momentarily before loosening. Jia Fu continued, a note of encouragement in his voice, "Do not dwell on this. Focus on your strengths, Xinyi. The family values your effort."


    The boy nodded, though his gaze was fixed downward, his shoulders still heavy with disappointment. Without another word, he turned and made his way out of the hall, his steps slow and laden with thought.


    Emerging from the ancestral building, he approached the next candidate, a girl standing nervously at the front of the line. "Your turn," he said, his voice subdued. "Just keep walking forward. You''ll see the patriarch by the doors."

 Chapter 3: Ancestral Tomb

    One by one, candidates entered the hall, each carrying the weight of generations'' expectations. Some emerged with tears barely contained, others with tight-lipped resignation. The doors remained stubbornly still for most, though a few experienced that cruel flicker of hope, the initial response that had teased Xinyi before facing the same crushing disappointment.


    As the afternoon stretched into evening, the line of hopefuls dwindled. Those who had already attempted the trial lingered in small groups around the candidates that hadn''t gone yet, their whispered conversations a mix of consolation, envy, and speculation. The few remaining candidates shifted nervously, each failed attempt seeming to drain what little optimism remained in the air.


    By the time the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ancestral grounds, it was finally Jia Zhenya''s turn. But seeing the faces of every other candidate that went before him, he couldn''t help but become very nervous.


    Doubts started appearing in his head. ''What if it isn''t me? and the suffering I went through yesterday was for naught.'' As he kept doubting himself, it was finally his turn; slowly entering the huge ancestral building, he walked step by step towards where the patriarch was waiting.


    As Zhenya ventured deeper into the hall, rays of dying sunlight filtered through the high windows. His footsteps echoed against the stone floor; he could hear his own heartbeat reverberating through his throat.


    Ahead, the massive double black doors loomed. Beside them stood the patriarch, his imposing figure framed by the flickering light of lanterns.


    As Jia Zhenya approached, he felt the weight of countless eyes on him. His heart pounded, but he kept his steps steady. When he reached the patriarch, he bowed deeply, his movements deliberate and measured. Better to be overly respectful than risk offending anyone, he thought, the memory of past slights gnawing at the edges of his mind.


    The patriarch regarded him with a neutral gaze, his voice firm but not unkind. "Name?"


    "Jia Zhenya," he replied, his voice soft but steady, his eyes fixed on the ground.


    "Age?"


    "I just turned ten," Zhenya said, keeping his posture rigid and his tone polite. His fingers twitched slightly at his sides, a small betrayal of the nerves he fought to suppress.


    The patriarch studied him for a moment longer, the silence stretching thin. Zhenya felt his breath hitch, but he didn¡¯t dare look up. Finally, Jia Fu nodded, a subtle acknowledgment.


    The patriarch''s gaze shifted, his sharp eyes scanning Zhenya thoroughly, which made the boy''s pulse quicken. For a fleeting moment, his eyes lingered on Zhenya''s forehead.


    A faint crescent shape was pulsing softly. Jia Fu''s expression didn''t change, but a spark of something unreadable flickered in his eyes.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "You carry yourself well," he said at last, his tone steady. "Have you prepared yourself for what lies beyond these doors?"


    Zhenya hesitated, unsure how to respond. He lifted his gaze slightly, daring to meet the patriarch''s eyes for just a moment before lowering his gaze again. "I will do my best," he said, his voice still quiet but resolute.


    Jia Fu nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over Zhenya for a final time. "Good, now step forward and see if you''re the one that awakened the true bloodline."


    Zhenya''s breath hitched as he took a step toward the huge doors. He could feel a faint connection to the doors, as if he was the missing piece for them to open for the first time since the establishment of the Jia family. As he got closer and closer, the crescent on his forehead started to glow brighter and brighter.


    Behind him Jia Fu''s fingers tightened ever so slightly, betraying the anticipation he hid from the boy. ''Could it be? After all this time... a true heir?'' He forced his hands to relax, looking expectantly at the young boy in front of him.


    As Zhenya approached the doors, the crescent was illuminating the whole room. They slowly groaned open, revealing a winding staircase.


    A triumphant grin spread across Zhenya¡¯s face, and he couldn¡¯t hold back the surge of joy. He punched the air, his exhilaration breaking through his usual restraint. He had done it¡ªthis was his opportunity.


    Behind him, Jia Fu cleared his throat, his voice measured despite the flicker of pride in his eyes. ¡°Well done, Zhenya. Enter the tomb. I will ensure all preparations are made.¡±


    Zhenya composed himself at once, turning back to the patriarch with a deep bow. ¡°Yes, Patriarch. I will not disappoint you.¡±


    With that, he turned again, stepping into the stairwell. The doors groaned shut behind him, sealing him away from the world above.


    The stairs spiraled downward, each step echoing faintly in the oppressive silence. The air grew colder as he descended deeper and deeper. The glow of the crescent on his forehead was the only light in the staircase. Despite the chill, his heart burned with anticipation. "This is it," he exclaimed, steeling himself as he slowly approached the bottom.


    As Zhenya''s footsteps faded into the depths below, Jia Fu remained motionless before the doors, his expression thoughtful. After a long moment, he turned sharply on his heel. his robes sweeping across the stone floor. There was much to be done and little time.


    Exiting the building, he looked at everyone still waiting. "Jia Zhenya has entered the ancestral tomb. You all can leave; only the elders need to stay." After giving his orders, he turned to his right and saw all the elders look dumbfoundedly at each other.


    "Is there a problem?" he asked, raising his eyebrow. Jia Zhong stepped forward, lowering his head slightly. "No problems here. But I don''t remember there being a Jia Zhenya in the main family."


    Jia Fu could only shake his head slightly. He had forgotten, in his excitement over finally finding someone to awaken the Heaven''s Fall bloodline. These elders were extreme purists, having gone as far as cutting support for struggling branch family members. He had let it slide before due to more pressing matters, but now...


    "Well, of course that''s because he isn''t from the main family," he said matter-of-factly. "Now onto the preparations that need to be done. Jia Rui and Jia Lian, you two will look for beautiful girls around 10 years of age among all the servants in the estate and bring them here as fast as possible."


    Jia Rui and Jia Lian looked at each other, mouths agape. But quickly composing themselves, they swiftly left to finish their task. "And you, Zhong, you will be coming with me to the main quarters."

 Chapter 4: Ancestor 1

    Zhenya''s footsteps echoed faintly as he descended the winding staircase, each step making the qi grow thicker until it hung in the air like morning mist. His lungs burned slightly with each breath, unused to such dense spiritual energy. A massive door stood before him, etched with intricate carvings of all kinds of celestial phenomena and mythical creatures, their lines faintly glowing as if alive. The crescent mark on his forehead pulsed in response.


    His hand trembled slightly as he reached out, not from fear but from anticipation. The door''s surface was ice-cold against his palm, but as his crescent mark blazed brighter, warmth began to spread beneath his fingers. The carvings shifted and writhed, the dragons seeming to turn their heads to watch him while the phoenixes spread their wings. Then seemingly all of them bowed down in unison toward Zhenya. A deep groan echoed through the chamber as ancient mechanisms stirred to life, and slowly, the door began to open.


    A gust of warm qi rushed out; the qi inside the room was even denser than outside. Zhenya braced himself, taking a deep breath. "This is what I''ve been longing for. Strength to avenge my parents," he murmured, stepping into the chamber.


    The chamber beyond was surprisingly modest in size, its walls smooth and featureless. In the center lay a circular array formation, its lines etched into the stone floor with remarkable precision.


    He approached cautiously, each step measured and deliberate. Looking around cautiously to not miss anything. When he stepped onto the circle''s edge, the crescent mark on his forehead tingled with increasing intensity, as if responding to a call he couldn''t quite hear.


    Moving to the array''s center, Zhenya noticed how the lines beneath his feet seemed to ripple like water, though they remained solid to the touch. The qi here was so dense it made his skin prickle, and he could feel his meridians expanding slightly to accommodate the increased spiritual pressure. Something about this place felt right, as if he had finally found a key that fit a lock he''d carried his whole life.


    Standing in the center of the formation, he was disappointed to see nothing change. "Where is the treasure? There is only a stupid formation here, and the qi is super dense." He grumbled, but then a realization struck him: the qi is so dense here, so he could start his cultivation journey right here.


    But what he failed to realize is that the massive door had closed at some point during his approach of the formation.


    Taking a deep breath, he sat down with his legs crossed. And then something extraordinary happened: the whole formation started glowing. Closing his eyes and covering them with his hands, Zhenya couldn''t see anything; the whole room went white, the formation glowed so brightly.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    When he opened his eyes again, he was still in the small room, but in front of him. Something was floating; it looked like a human, but his whole figure looked almost see-through as if it were a ghost. Trying to touch it, Zhenya froze. No, it wasn''t that he couldn''t move. His limbs felt impossibly heavy, as though an invisible force had locked them in place. Even his breath caught in his throat, his body refusing to respond to his commands. Panic prickled at the edge of his mind, but he snapped out of it; panicking now was useless, so he forcibly calmed himself down.


    Even though his whole body felt heavy, he could still move his face. "Umm, hello, I am Jia Zhenya. I''m sorry if I disturbed you, but who are you, and what are you doing in the Jia family''s ancestral tomb?" he asked nervously.


    "Hahahah! Finally someone from my useless descendants has awakened my very own bloodline. Took ya bastards long enough." The ethereal figure exclaimed as he stretched lazily and looked Zhenya deep in the eyes as if scrutinizing him, measuring his potential, and gauging his worth. The intensity of the gaze was unnerving, as though the figure could peer into the depths of Zhenya''s soul, assessing every hidden strength and flaw.


    "Hmm, not bad. For even the Immortal World, your potential is quite solid," he mumbled, stroking his translucent chin with an exaggerated air of thoughtfulness. "Since you''ve caught the attention of someone as magnificent as me, I''ll grant you a rare opportunity. Three whole questions. Use them wisely, boy!" His tone dripped with arrogance, but a mischievous gleam danced in his eyes, as though he found the whole situation endlessly amusing.


    Zhenya stared blankly at the ethereal figure. His mind boggling with all the things it said, ''Immortal World? potential? What are you talking about?'' He couldn''t comprehend it, but what he did know is that these three questions were an opportunity, and he was going to make full use of it.


    "Who are you?" asked Zhenya nervously; he knew it was a bit of a waste to use that as the first question, but the figure hadn''t introduced himself yet, so he was curious about his identity. Even though he had a rough idea.


    The ethereal figure looked at Zhenya with a smirk. "Good question, little one; I shall answer this one." He said, clearing his throat; he continued. "I am the great Jia Qiu, the creator of the Heaven''s Fall bloodline, the one who terrorized the whole planet with his godlike talent. And the one and only ancestor of the Jia family."


    Zhenya looked at the figure suspiciously but did not give a reaction. As he started thinking about his second question, he was not going to start a conversation to risk accidentally asking questions, and this weird ancestor could count that as another question.


    "Why are you not answering? You¡¯re not fully immobilized." Jia Qiu asked, looking suspiciously at Zhenya.


    Zhenya, with a lot of effort, pointed 2 fingers in the air. And Jia Qiu looked intrigued at the little boy. He hadn''t expected this little boy to be so sharp he was trying to start a conversation to make him waste his questions. As a test to see how witty he would be, he was pleasantly surprised. He gave Zhenya a firm nod and patiently waited for the boy''s next question.

 Chapter 5: Ancestor 2

    Zhenya, still pondering his next question, didn''t seem bothered by Jia Qiu''s scrutinizing look at all this time, like he was in a world of his own. The ethereal figure watched him with growing interest, occasionally stroking his translucent chin as the silence stretched on.


    After what felt like ages for Jia Qiu, he finally saw Zhenya move. "Did ya finally think of a question?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance beneath its casual surface. But there was also a glimmer of approval in his eyes; not many would dare keep the great Jia Qiu waiting, yet this descendant was thoughtful enough to weigh his words carefully.


    "Yes, what abilities does the Heaven''s Fall bloodline grant us?" Zhenya asked, crossing his fingers with a lot of effort as he was still being affected by the mysterious force that he felt after the ancestor appeared. He had his suspicions but couldn''t really act on them as he didn''t want to anger Jia Qiu.


    Jia Qiu looked him deep in the eyes in complete silence for a while, and then he showed a toothy grin. Zhenya couldn''t help but heave a sigh of relief as he thought that his question was approved and expectantly awaited the answer.


    But then Jia Qiu just shook his head with a somber expression, clicking his tongue in disappointment. "Was that the best you could come up with in all that time? I''m disappointed, little one," he said softly, looking straight at Zhenya.


    The boy, who had felt proud of his question just moments ago, now couldn¡¯t help but sniffle as he tried to maintain a stoic front. Deep down, however, he was disappointed in himself, feeling as though he had fallen short of the figure¡¯s expectations and missed a precious opportunity because of his own inadequacy.


    Jia Qiu, seeing Zhenya react so heavily, decided to drop the facade and answer the boy seriously from now on. He had also waited for eons for a successor to his legacy. "My bad, little one. I will answer the question; also, it was a good question. Don''t cry, please," he said in a very gentle voice, his earlier demeanor completely vanished.


    Zhenya''s face lit up when he heard the elder''s words, a bright smile appearing on his face. Jia Qiu couldn''t help but see his own son''s silhouette in this young boy, but then his face darkened, remembering how his son had died so unjustly. Was too painful, so he shook his head from left to right and focused on helping the little boy in front of him as much as possible. "Eons of solitude are enough to even dull the sharpest grief," he whispered, barely audible.


    Clearing his throat loudly, "Now, onto the topic at hand. My bloodline has the following abilities: He said, looking at Zhenya, and when he saw the boy''s eyes light up. He couldn''t help but crack a small smile as he continued, "The main ability of our bloodline is absorbing other abilities and sensing strong and pure bloodlines in our surroundings."The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Stopping momentarily to check if Zhenya had absorbed all the information he had just revealed, Jia Qiu looked into the boy''s innocent eyes and looked impressed; it didn''t look like he was confused. ''This guy might be able to accomplish what I failed.'' Cracking a huge grin just at the thought of that insane thought.


    "Do you understand what I meant?" he asked tenderly. Zhenya just quietly nodded. Seeing that Jia Qiu cracked a small smile and continued his explanation. "And when you evolve your bloodline high enough, it will even grant you special abilities. But that''s not anytime soon. For now just focus on absorbing as many new bloodlines as possible."


    Zhenya sat quietly, processing the revelation about his bloodline''s true nature. His mind full of possibilities, but also with the weight of responsibility. This was clearly no ordinary power. Looking up at the ancestor''s ethereal form. He realized he had only one question left. This was his last chance to learn from someone who had mastered these abilities. He had to make it count.


    Clearing his throat nervously, he made eye contact with Jia Qiu and started. "For my final question. I would like some advice from you. What cultivation path would best complement me and our bloodline?"


    Jia Qiu looked impressed at the question the young boy asked. This was an extremely well-thought-out question for such a young child; he started clapping, and then Zhenya felt the pressure around him disappear like it was never there. Pleasantly surprised, he stretched his arms and legs quickly and sat down cross-legged again to pay close attention to Jia Qiu''s answer.


    Jia Qiu stroked his chin, his eyes taking on a distant look. "The dao of Emptiness will help you manage the side effects of absorbing other bloodlines because nothing comes without a price."


    He traced a pattern in the air, leaving a trail of ghostly light. "Stillness is also crucial. The calmer your mind, the better you can absorb other bloodlines and the more benefits you can reap. Think of it like a still pond reflecting the moon. Any ripple distorts the image."


    A translucent puppet materialized beside him, its joints moving with uncanny grace. "And puppetry..." His eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. "Well, what better way to use multiple abilities than to have multiple bodies? Plus, puppets don''t tire like flesh and blood."


    The puppet dissolved as Jia Qiu''s expression grew serious. "But remember this, little one. These are only suggestions, not chains. The greatest cultivators don''t just follow paths; they forge them." He raised his hand, pointing his index finger right at the crescent on Zhenya''s forehead. "These are the four techniques I wanted to give you. How you use them..." He smiled. "That will be your story to write."


    As soon as he finished speaking, his ethereal form began to fade slowly from the bottom up. First his feet dissolved into mist, then his legs, his torso, until only his face remained. With a peaceful expression, he offered his final words to Zhenya: "Don''t worry too much. It will all eventually fall into place. Just do your best."


    Then he vanished completely, leaving only the lingering warmth of his presence in the air.


    Zhenya stared blankly at the space where his ancestor had been floating, the weight of everything that had just happened settling over him. Standing up abruptly, he made a deep bow, his voice ringing with conviction through the chamber: "Thanks for everything, ancestor! I will not let your legacy end here!"

 Chapter 6: Solvara

    Before Zhenya could straighten from his bow, the array beneath his feet flared to life. The lines that had seemed like mere decorative etchings now blazed with an intense light, their patterns shifting and flowing. A familiar sensation washed over him; the dense qi in the room now pressed down on him from all directions.


    "One final test, little one," Jia Qiu''s voice echoed through the chamber, though he was no longer present. "Show me what you can do with that sharp mind of yours."


    The world around Zhenya began to blur and fade, the solid walls of the chamber dissolving slowly. When his vision cleared, he found himself on a small island with only a single large tree standing in the middle, and next to the island was a massive ocean. Stretching out as far as he could see.


    But Zhenya wasn''t focused on the environment; right now he was looking around for Jia Qiu. "Ancestor? Where are you? Please just come out; the joke has gone on long enough." Shouting with all his might, he looked around the whole island, walking around all the edges and inspecting everything he could. He even climbed the large tree to search for any signs of Jia Qiu. But alas, he couldn''t find him.


    Sitting down under the tree, he sighed heavily and leaned against the large tree to rest. Running around looking for the ancestor had exhausted him. And he fell asleep almost immediately after sitting down; the little boy was so exhausted after everything that had happened today.


    While Zhenya slumbered against the tree, a shimmer of light materialized in the air above him. It formed into a translucent figure that observed the exhausted boy. This was the guardian of the trials, an ancient spirit, bound to this realm by Jia Qiu eons ago. Tasked with overseeing the inheritors of the Heaven''s Fall bloodline, he had been living here all alone for eons.


    The spirit''s form rippled as it circled around the sleeping child. "So this is the first one to awaken the bloodline," it mused silently, studying Zhenya closely. "He burned through his energy so quickly searching for Jia Qiu... That bastard! He said it wouldn''t take that long for someone to awaken that accursed bloodline!"


    The guardian settled onto a branch above Zhenya, its ethereal figure floating on it. It would wait and watch until the child woke up. To start the trials, even though it hated Jia Qiu, it did sign the contract, and breaking it meant death.


    After what felt like hours, Zhenya woke up from his slumber. Stretching his whole body, he slowly stood up and looked around, hoping what he remembered from before dozing off was just a bad dream. And he could go back to his old routine and peaceful, struggling life.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Help! Please, someone help!" he screamed, his voice tinged with hysteria. The thought of being all alone on an island terrified him, especially after losing his parents. Though he had lived on his own since then, the other kids in his neighborhood had given him precious memories, often supporting him in whatever small ways they could.


    Looking around but not seeing anything change, he just sat down and leaned against the tree again, trying to calm himself down. Which was not going well as he kept sniffling. Then he heard a branch cracking in the tree; jumping up and taking on a clumsy defensive pose, he peered into the tree.


    Seeing an ethereal-looking figure in the tree, Zhenya looked at it with a blank stare. "What are you?" he asked as he wiped the remaining tears from his face.


    The spirit just looked at him with a caring look; even though it hated Jia Qiu, that did not mean it hated everyone related. It felt bad for the young boy as he panicked after waking up. Stifling a giggle, it descended from the branch, landing in front of Zhenya.


    "I am Solvara, a great spirit, and the guardian of this trial left by your ancestor." He said slowly so the child could understand everything through his sniffling.


    Zhenya rubbed his eyes again, staring at the spirit with a mix of awe and apprehension. "A... a trial?" His voice quivered slightly. "But the ancestor didn''t say anything about a trial. He just disappeared!"


    Solvara''s form shifted. "That is because he didn''t have much time left. Otherwise he would definitely have explained it to you." The spirit explained, then added with a hint of warmth, "Though I must say, I didn''t expect you to spend hours climbing the tree."


    The boy''s cheeks flushed red. "I thought he might be hiding up there..." he mumbled, then straightened up a bit. "What kind of trial is it? Do I have to prove myself by fighting something?" his hands unconsciously tightened into small fists, though they trembled slightly.


    The spirit nodded, a gesture that sent ripples through its ethereal form. "That is the second part of the trial. For now you need to cultivate and train the techniques the ancestor gave you."


    "I can finally start cultivating?" Zhenya asked, leaning forward, his eyes alight with childlike enthusiasm.


    "You haven''t cultivated before?" Solvara asked with a suspicious look on his face. He couldn''t fathom why they would start cultivating this late.


    "Um, yeah. Is that weird? From what I heard from my parents when they were still alive. The main family keeps all the techniques for themselves, so if I wanted to ever start, I would have to leave the clan and join a sect. Or make contributions until I could lend the technique from the main family." Zhenya said, looking a little down again. But right after, he looked expectantly at the spirit again.


    The spirit was speechless; the human race was a true mystery to him. Why would they limit themselves so much? He wondered, shrugging; he just let it go. There was nothing he could do about it anyway. After this trial is over, he would return to the immortal world.

 Chapter 7: Breakthrough

    Solvara gestured toward the base of the tree. "Sit there, young one. We''ll begin with the basics of cultivation."


    Zhenya quickly settled himself on the ground, his earlier nervousness replaced by barely contained excitement. Finally, after years of watching others cultivate from afar, he would learn the art himself.


    "First, sit down comfortably. Finding your own pose is the best idea in the long term," the spirit said as he sat down to demonstrate his own cultivation pose. "Cultivation also requires a calm mind and relaxed body."


    Sitting down cross-legged, Zhenya straightened his back, laid his hands on his legs, and closed his eyes to calm his mind. When he closed his eyes, it felt like the world had stopped. He calmed down immediately and continued listening attentively to the spirit''s explanation.


    "Now," Solvara continued, its voice taking on a patient, instructional tone, "close your eyes and try to feel the qi around you." He briefly paused to let Zhenya try and feel the qi in the air. "Then you will need to bring the qi you just sensed toward your dantian through the meridians."


    Looking at the little boy trying his hardest, Solvara just had a peaceful smile on his face. Reminiscing about how he had taught the young spirits, it made him feel good; he loved teaching the younger generation about cultivation.


    "Oh? This little guy is quite talented. I can see why that madman would want to make him undergo this trial," he muttered to himself.


    Zhenya was slowly absorbing the qi in the air and bringing it to his dantian. He wondered what was next. Opening his eyes, he looked straight at Solvara, but unsure if he should ask or just continue absorbing qi, he closed his eyes again and started absorbing the qi again, letting it flow into his dantian.


    Solvara seeing this giggled a little. "If you have any questions, you can ask them. I don''t mind," he gently said, so as not to disturb Zhenya.


    Immediately after, Zhenya opened his eyes wide. "Can I call you by your name?" Zhenya asked politely.


    Solvara just looked dumbfounded at the little boy. When he was teaching the young spirits, they never showed such courtesy, so he was quite amused by how polite Zhenya was compared to the madman that had locked him up here. He couldn''t find any resemblance at all; it was a mystery how they came from the same bloodline.


    "You can call me Solvara, little one," he said as he lay down in the grass awaiting Zhenya''s question.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "So the ancestor gave me four techniques before he disappeared, but he just pointed at my head. How do I read them now? Or, well, find them," he asked as he scratched his head awkwardly.


    Solvara couldn''t help but let a small laugh slip. "Oh, yeah, he did say he would impart anywhere from two to four techniques to the first one to awaken that bloodline. But he actually gave all four, huh." His expression changed to a serious one.


    ''That must mean this boy holds that much potential.'' slightly alarmed Solvara scrutinized Zhenya closely to try and find what made him so special and worth imparting all four techniques to. Then he saw it; he had not only awakened that bloodline, but he also had a special physique.


    ''This cannot be good for the world; if he is even half as crazy as his ancestor, the whole world will fall into chaos again. But I cannot do anything about it right now as I''m bound by the contract.'' Solvara decided to just let it go; not like he could do anything about it at the moment anyway.


    "For the techniques, you just need to imagine a manual in your head, and they should appear in your mind. Now I will leave you here to practice, and when I return, the test will begin, okay?" He asked Zhenya, looking forward to how much progress he could make before the test would start.


    "Okay." Zhenya said enthusiastically, immediately after he closed his eyes and imagined four manuals, and there they were, all four floating in his mind.


    "But which one do I start with?" he wondered aloud, with a pondering expression on his face. Then, what felt like an instinct, he focused on one of them reading its name aloud.


    "Boundless Void Secret Art."


    Reading the name a couple of times Zhenya was impressed by its grandeur. "I will start with this one." He mumbled as he started reading its contents. He became so immersed in it that he didn''t even notice Solvara leaving the island.


    A while later he had finished reading the whole manual; opening his eyes again, he was eager to try it out. This was it! A real cultivation technique, and it looked like a really advanced one as well.


    Getting comfortable again Zhenya closed his eyes, slowed down his breathing, and emptied his mind. Letting the qi flow through his meridians, he followed the instructions in the manual.


    Let the qi flow throughout your body, but don''t absorb it into your dantian; let your flesh, organs, blood vessels, and all other body parts absorb the qi slowly. In the beginning, you first focus on the flesh, then the internal organs, and finally, after all that, your meridians; after that, you are ready to enter the next realm.


    As he kept repeating this process, again and again letting his flesh absorb as much qi as possible according to the manual. He felt something change inside his body almost as if he had broken through a wall. He knew instinctively he had reached the first stage of the Body Tempering realm.


    Jumping up ecstatically, finally he had taken his first step on the road of cultivation. "Yes!" he screamed while doing a small celebratory dance.


    While dancing he remembered he wasn''t alone here. Looking around for Solvara, he did not find him anywhere. "Where did he go?" he wondered aloud.


    "Did he not say that he would leave and come back when the test was going to start? Ahh yeah, he did say that." Composing himself, he sat down again, feeling the urgency of the situation.

 Chapter 8: Serene Tide Sword Art

    Continuously circulating qi throughout his meridians, Zhenya felt refreshed. This was great; the feeling of getting stronger felt wonderful. Losing track of time as he cultivated to his heart''s content, time slowly passed. From evening to morning.


    Until he suddenly jerked awake, nearly falling over sideways. "Huh? What?" he mumbled, wiping a bit of drool from the corner of his mouth. Looking up at the bright sun, he realized with embarrassment that he had dozed off while cultivating.


    "So much for being a dedicated cultivator," he grumbled to himself, stretching his stiff muscles.


    His stomach chose that moment to let out a loud growl, reminding him that in all his excitement about cultivation, he had completely forgotten about eating. Looking around the island, he stood up, searching for something to eat.


    "Only a couple apples hanging on the tree. I should hurry and practice the other techniques," he said as he bit into an apple.


    "This apple tastes so good! I also feel qi entering my meridians. Is this spiritual fruit?" His eyes widened. Something so rare was just hanging on that tree. Was this a special place then?


    With a big smile, he continued munching on the apple, and after finishing three, he felt completely satiated.


    "Now onto the next part. First I cultivated, and now I should see if any of the other techniques are useful."


    Sitting down, he closed his eyes, imagining the three other manuals he had yet to open. "Serene Tide Sword Art. Oh, a sword art¡ªthis will definitely be useful for the test. I''ll start with this one."


    Opening his eyes after finishing the manual, he scanned the island for a sword or anything he could use as a substitute. But there was only a huge tree in the middle.


    "A huge tree is perfect. I can use a branch to practice."


    Zhenya approached the massive tree, his mind already focused on the technique. He reached up and snapped off a sturdy branch, holding it like a sword. The branch was light but firm in his grip.


    "Let''s see what this sword art can do," he muttered, settling into a stance. He visualized the movements from the manual, recalling the fluid motions of the Serene Tide Sword Art.


    With a deep breath, Zhenya swung the branch in a wide arc, the motion slow. Then he transitioned into a more defensive stance while still moving the branch fluidly. From the left to the right, forward then back. He was fluidly moving his body and sword as if he were a wave.


    His stance shifting with each step, a series of flowing movements building in rhythm. It wasn''t perfect, but he could feel the technique working. The technique focused on fluidly transitioning between offense and defense. Like water, become flexible.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    As time passed, Zhenya''s movements became more connected and more fluid, his posture steadier. The strikes becoming faster, and his footwork rapidly improving. With each swing he could feel his control improving.


    "Not bad for a first try," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    He took a moment to rest, letting his mind settle as he replayed the movements he had just practiced. His thoughts focusing on the fluidity of the transitions.


    Now, he thought, it was time to move to the harder part. Trying to master the individual techniques within the Serene Tide Sword Art. He recalled the first move: Tidal Slash.


    Zhenya stepped into position, recalling the first move. He held the branch with one hand, remembering the manual''s instructions to keep his movements fluid. He swung the branch in a wide arc, but the motion felt off, too stiff, too mechanical.


    "The wave must flow," he mumbled, taking a deep breath. "It''s about grace, not just strength." He tried again, allowing the motion to flow through his body, his arms guided by the rhythm of the wave. This time, the branch moved more naturally, but he could still feel it lacking something. Remembering the manual''s notes: Tidal Slash requires the transition between offense and defense to be seamless, like a wave ebbing and flowing. It wasn''t enough just to strike. He needed this strike to be part of his swordplay. So he could use it at a moment''s notice to catch enemies off guard.


    As he kept repeating the same moves over and over again, he started improving his Tidal Slash slowly. But he couldn''t keep going forever, so after he had practiced for the whole afternoon, he fell down headfirst into the grass, too exhausted to even move a finger.


    As Zhenya lay in the grass, his body sore from hours of practice, a satisfied smile lingered on his face. He had pushed himself to the limit, but it had felt worth it. His limbs heavy, he quickly drifted off into a deep sleep, his mind still immersed in the sword art.


    From a distance, Solvara, who had been watching him with quiet amusement, shook his head in disbelief. "How does he manage to practice that long? Did he enter a trance or something?"


    "Well, at least I know the test is not going to be boring," he said as he just kept watching Zhenya peacefully sleep.


    The next morning, Zhenya awoke to the bright sunlight streaming across the island. His muscles ached, and his face was drenched in sweat. Groaning, he rubbed his eyes, looking around to see if Solvara had returned yet. The test was supposed to begin soon, wasn¡¯t it?


    For now, he needed to gather his strength; his stomach growled, reminding him he hadn''t eaten since yesterday. Slowly pushing himself to his feet, he staggered over to the tree and plucked a few more apples, their sweetness refreshing and invigorating.


    After finishing his meal, he took a few deep breaths and sat in a cross-legged position, settling into his cultivation. The qi flowed through him, rejuvenating his body and mind.


    Once he felt more centered, he stood up and stretched, ready to continue his training. His sword art still needed a lot of work, but he had made progress. Without hesitation, he moved into position with his branch and began to repeat the same movements as yesterday.


    The sword art felt a bit more familiar now, his movements smoother, more controlled, but still lacking something that he wasn''t sure what it was. He practiced again and again, refining the movements, focusing on the transitions, trying to capture the essence of the technique.


    After some time, Zhenya took a break, wiping sweat from his brow. Exhausted, he went to the edge of the island to wash up. Jumping straight into the ocean, he felt it cool him down immediately, washing away the exhaustion that had been building up from practicing all morning.


    Stepping out of the ocean, he lay down on the beach. His body exhausted. "I''ll take a small break and afterward try and learn the movement technique."

 Chapter 9: Illusory Flow Art

    Zhenya stood next to the tree in the center of the island, his body still sore, but he was determined. He focused on the task at hand, the new technique he had just read. Illusory Flow Art, a movement technique focused on speed and unpredictability.


    He stepped into position, and with a deep breath, he tried imitating the technique. "Empty your mind and let your body guide you," he whispered, trying to empty his mind to let his body guide him. But after a while he stopped moving and stood completely still.


    Letting the contents of the manual echo through his mind, he tried his best to not think of anything, empty his mind completely, but it wasn''t working at all. Trying to imitate the movements of the manual for an hour straight.


    He kept repeating the same movements, but he felt something was missing; the manual mentioned being unpredictable, like an illusion, but his own movements felt sluggish and predictable, the complete opposite of what he had to do.


    So he sat down. "It''s totally not working; what am I doing wrong?" puzzled, he had no choice but to start cultivating again. Because during cultivation he felt like he could reach that state of mind, the one the manual mentioned.


    Crossing his legs and straightening his back, he closed his eyes and let the qi enter his body, letting it saturate his flesh as described by the Boundless Void Secret Art. Repeating that same motion over and over for hours, he felt it; he was coming close to the void state that the Illusory manual mentioned.


    The void state was a special kind of trance where the person would be able to be almost free of any thoughts or distractions, focusing only on the moment. As Zhenya kept repeating the same cycle, he was getting closer and closer to this state.


    Absorb qi, let the flesh absorb it, rinse and repeat; Zhenya''s mind kept becoming calmer and calmer, and then half an hour of this process, he finally achieved it. The void state.


    It was almost as if he was on autopilot; he kept cultivating without wasting any time. Then he stood up and started performing the Illusory Flow Art.


    This time, however, his body moved like an illusion. It looked like he had mastered the technique; his body kept moving according to the manual, leaving phantom images behind as he also used qi to strengthen his body.


    After some time he just fell down, unconsciously. He had completely exhausted himself.


    A while later he woke up, groggily looking around, then he kept turning his head from the left to the right. "How did I get here? And when did I fall asleep?" wondering aloud, he tried to stand up, but his legs weren''t budging at all.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "What happened? I think I tried entering the state of mind mentioned in the Illusory Flow Art, and for that tried cultivating and then... huh, why can''t I remember what happened after?" scratching his head awkwardly, he lay down flat on his back.


    "It feels like I did enter the state of mind but then lost consciousness." He mumbled, as he looked around, and he saw footprints everywhere across the island.


    "Did I do that? Did I try the movement technique while in that state?" Sighing, he felt helpless. "When I do enter the state, I lose consciousness, and when I don''t, the technique feels out of reach..." He had no idea how to fix this problem. What should he do now?


    "Ah," he exclaimed. "Maybe I can ask Solvara for advice when he comes back. Yeah, I''ll do that."


    "No point in dwelling on it now," Zhenya muttered as he looked at the branch he had broken off earlier. "I''ll focus my practice on the Serene Sword Art while I wait for the test to start."


    Slowly getting up, he grabbed the branch and started repeating the movements of the sword technique. Imagining an enemy, he kept on fighting it.


    "Offense and defense are basically one and the same in this sword art. And the Tidal Slash can be used for both; you gotta keep an open mind when using this technique," he mumbled as he immersed himself in fighting his imaginary enemy.


    And just like that, time passed slowly from noon to evening; when he realized it was evening already, he stopped his practice. humming happily, he grabbed a couple more apples and ate them up swiftly.


    "Phew, I''m totally full. Those apples are some of the best I ever had," he said as he made himself comfortable under the huge tree.


    "I hope tomorrow is the test. It''s not bad training peacefully like this, but I miss the others." muttering that he closed his eyes and fell asleep.


    As the sun peeked through the tree branches, Zhenya woke up; he then sat cross-legged, letting the qi flow through his meridians. The qi kept moving smoother and smoother as he cultivated more, letting his flesh absorb as much qi as he could; he finished his cultivation.


    Standing up, he saw Solvara standing in front of him. "Ohh... sorry, did I make you wait?" He mumbled, flustered.


    "Hahaha, no, it''s fine. It''s good that you are cultivating diligently." Solvara said with a big smile. "Now, the test will start in a couple of hours. So if there is anything you''re unsure of, you can ask questions now."


    Hearing this, Zhenya''s eyes lit up with excitement. He bounced on his toes, barely able to contain himself. Remembering his manners, he took a deep breath to calm down before asking, "About the Illusory Flow Art, I entered the mind state that''s described in the manual, but when I enter it, I can''t control it. Like I woke up totally exhausted with no idea what happened. Do you know how I can master it?" he asked, his eyes looking straight into Solvara''s.


    Solvara looked at him with some doubt in his eyes. "Did you really enter that state?" he probed, as entering this state is not easy. Especially as a young child, so he had to make sure.


    "Yes, I''m sure I did!" Zhenya said confidently, straightening his back and puffing his chest out slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His eyes gleamed with certainty.


    "Well, the thing is I cannot really help you with that. That state is different for everyone, and how to master it is also different." Solvara answered the little boy and saw his expression deflate from proud to sad. But he couldn''t help him; if he gave wrong advice here, he might hinder the little boy''s path forever.

 Chapter 10: Test 1

    Zhenya wandered around the island, his earlier confidence somewhat deflated. He had hoped Solvara could have helped him solve this issue before the test; now he was going to focus on cultivating to clear his mind and gain as much strength before the test. With a few hours remaining before the test, he found a quiet spot under the tree and began meditating to clear his mind.


    Time passed quickly as Zhenya sat cross-legged and circulated his qi throughout his body. Feeling refreshed, he had forgotten about the earlier setback of not getting advice on how to master the void state.


    Solvara looked at Zhenya peacefully cultivating with an approving smile. "Now that is a good mindset: don''t worry about things you can''t change at the moment; instead, focus on the things you can improve," he muttered, walking to Zhenya.


    "It''s time for the final test to start. Are you ready?" he inquired.


    Zhenya stood up almost instantly, a bright smile on his face. "Yes!" he shouted enthusiastically, full of vigor.


    Solvara smiled, taking out a typical iron sword out of nowhere, and handed it to Zhenya. "This will be your only weapon for this test. The test is simple; you just need to try and defeat as many opponents as you can."


    Zhenya hugged the sword tightly, his eyes full of enthusiasm. "Okay! Do we start immediately?" he wondered.


    "Yes, I will stay close so you do not have to worry about injuries or even dying; just go all out and try to get as far as possible." Solvara, he said as he disappeared.


    Reappearing on a thick branch of the tree in the center of the island, Zhenya gave him a polite bow. Then he tensed his body, taking on a defensive stance, scanning the whole island for his first enemy.


    There it was, another young boy that looked about the same age as Zhenya, the only difference being it looked more like a phantom in the form of a human than an actual human.


    Zhenya immediately felt his body tense; trying to stay calm, he slowly moved a little closer to the other boy. Keeping his guard up and his sword ready to strike.


    The next moment the other boy charged straight at Zhenya; even though it didn''t have a weapon, Zhenya still froze. He was afraid. What was that boy? How did he appear here? Lots of thoughts raced through his mind.


    He kept screaming in his mind, ''Move!'' but to no avail; the boy struck him head-on, sending Zhenya flying through the air and landing on the grass. He lay there frozen in shock. His eyes starting to water, trying to stifle the sobs that were coming.


    Zhenya slowly crawled up, slapping himself lightly on the cheek. "I can do this! This is nothing compared to what I experienced that day." His eyes full of determination, he approached the little boy, gripping the sword so tightly it felt like his hand would break.


    Then the little boy charged again straight at Zhenya, a playful smile plastered on its face, as if mocking Zhenya. But this time Zhenya was able to move his body.


    "Tidal Slash!" he shouted, subconsciously remembering all the practice he had done the last couple of days. And he sliced the little boy straight in half around the waist. Falling onto his behind, Zhenya breathed heavily, nearly panting.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    He pumped his fist in the air, a triumphant grin on his face. He had done it in his first battle; sure, it wasn''t pretty, but he had won. Solvara looked at the little boy from the tree, smiling. "Good job, Zhenya, but that was only the first opponent. He had no cultivation; now another phantom with the same cultivation as yours will appear. After that, one layer higher, and so on until you can''t win anymore."


    Hearing that, Zhenya scrambled to his feet as fast as he possibly could and looked around warily. For the next phantom that he had to face. And there it stood; it looked the exact same as last time, but this time it was also holding an iron sword just like the one Zhenya had.


    He gulped; this was the real test. Last time, he was just a normal person; now he had to face an actual cultivator. Zhenya kept his distance this time, mirroring the phantom''s moves to keep the distance between them the same.


    Walking around for a couple of minutes like this, he caught his breath and steeled his nerves. "This is going to be dangerous, but I can do this," he muttered, steeling himself. "I''ve trained hard for this. Pain is nothing. I just need to be brave."


    Looking around the island, Zhenya got an idea; dashing towards the tree, he disappeared from the phantom''s sight. The phantom just dashed right after him toward the huge tree, but then Zhenya reappeared from the other side of the tree.


    Zhenya''s blade moved through the air, aimed at the phantom''s arm that held its weapon. The iron sword sliced with a faint whistle, finding its mark just as the phantom twisted to evade. It moved unnaturally, its semi-transparent form bending and shifting as though liquid, but it couldn''t escape entirely. The blade grazed its arm.


    The phantom let out no sound, but it looked straight at Zhenya, its hollow eyes narrowing.


    "Tsk!" Zhenya clicked his tongue in frustration, gripping his sword tighter. He surged forward. Pressing his advantage. Each strike of his blade came faster than the last, flowing together like a practiced dance.


    The phantom raised its sword in defense, but Zhenya''s relentless assault left almost no openings. His strikes rained down: a diagonal slash, a quick thrust, and then a sudden overhead chop. Sparks flew as the swords made contact, and the phantom was forced to retreat, its steps unsteady.


    Zhenya''s heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "I won''t let you counter!" he muttered under his breath, recalling every movement he had practiced. The phantom tried to parry one of his slashes, but Zhenya feinted, pivoting at the last moment to slash at its side.


    The sword connected, this time leaving a deeper gash that hissed as faint tendrils of smoke spilled out. The phantom staggered, its form flickering for a moment as if it were about to dissolve.


    Seeing this, Zhenya fiercely attacked again. Gritting his teeth, he swung again and again, his attacks flowing seamlessly, each one driving the phantom closer to the edge of defeat.


    The phantom, now visibly slower, swung its sword in a desperate arc toward Zhenya''s side. He saw the attack coming and sidestepped, feeling the faint rush of air as the blade passed harmlessly by. His eyes locked onto his opponent¡¯s form, and his grip tightened on the hilt of his weapon.


    ¡°This is my chance!¡± Zhenya thought, stepping into the phantom¡¯s reach.


    He lowered his stance, twisting his body as he unleashed a powerful horizontal slash. The blade cut cleanly through the phantom¡¯s torso, bisecting it with a faint hiss. The phantom disappeared immediately after turning into smoke.


    For a moment, Zhenya stood still, chest heaving from exertion, watching as the phantom dissolved into faint wisps of smoke. A surge of pride bubbled in his chest; this was his victory.


    But his moment of triumph was short-lived. A low hum reverberated through the air, and another phantom began to materialize just a few meters away. This one looked identical to the first, but its presence was heavier, more menacing. Its eyes gleamed faintly.


    Zhenya gulped, feeling the strain in his arms from the previous battle. He steadied himself, planting his feet firmly on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet,¡± he muttered, raising his sword once more. His heart pounded, but this time, there was no hesitation in his movements.


    With a determined grin, he whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s see how far I can go.¡±

 Chapter 11: Test 2

    The phantom that just appeared with an iron sword again charged straight at Zhenya, not giving him any time to catch his breath.


    Zhenya, still exhausted from his previous opponent, felt sluggish; his whole body felt like one huge rock. But he gritted his teeth and parried the phantom''s first strike, flying backward when the swords collided.


    "This is going to be difficult," he mumbled. readying his stance again for the phantom that was charging straight at him once more.


    This phantom felt a lot stronger, faster, and more intelligent than the last one he had faced. The difficulty felt like it spiked after every round, gritting his teeth. Zhenya engaged the phantom in an intense battle.


    "Am I imagining it, or is he copying my moves?" Zhenya stated, as he parried another slash of the phantom. "It feels like he''s using the sword art I just learned? But how?"


    But Zhenya didn''t have much time to think; he kept getting pushed back bit by bit by the phantoms overwhelming assault.


    Its blade racing through the air, aimed at Zhenya''s right arm. Zhenya barely sidestepped it, his robe getting cut during the process. Then it aimed for Zhenya''s right leg; its sword fluidly changed its trajectory after missing its mark earlier.


    Parrying the attack, a loud clanking noise echoed around the island; the phantom, undisturbed by the parry, smoothly transitioned its stance, stabbing toward the center of Zhenya''s forehead right between his eyebrows.


    Ducking quickly, Zhenya barely avoided the strike, but the phantom didn''t miss this opportunity to attack. Severing Zhenya''s right tendon completely.


    White-hot pain exploded through Zhenya''s leg. A cry of agony tore from his throat as his leg gave out beneath him, sending him crashing to the ground. His vision blurred, the world spinning as waves of nauseating pain pulsed through his body.


    The phantom slashed towards Zhenya''s neck without hesitation; seeing this, Zhenya closed his eyes and tried to dodge or at least make it so the phantom wouldn''t hit his neck. But right before impact, the phantom vanished like it was never there.


    Solvara appeared behind Zhenya. "You did good for only starting your cultivation journey a couple of days ago." patting Zhenya''s head lightly, he handed him a pill.


    "This is a healing pill. Take it and circulate its energy throughout your body to let its effects heal you." Solvara instructed, tossing a small green ball toward Zhenya.


    Holding his leg in agony Zhenya looked at the pill Solvara tossed right beside him; letting his leg go and biting through the pain, he grabbed the pill, sat straight up cross-legged, and swallowed the pill hurriedly. Then, following Solvara''s instructions, he begins circulating his qi to activate the pill''s healing properties.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Relieved the pain subsided relatively fast, he continued circulating his qi to not waste any of the pill''s effects.


    As the last of the pill''s energy spread through his body, Zhenya couldn''t help but reflect on the battles. "Can I ask you something, Solvara?" he said, looking up at Solvara.


    "Sure, what do you want to know?" Solvara answered as he sat down next to him.


    "I felt like that last phantom was using the sword art I practiced the last couple of days. Why is that?" he wondered aloud.


    Solvara briefly glanced at Zhenya. "That''s because of how the array is set up. It''s a very special array that sends a stronger opponent that learns your techniques or, well, learns everything you show. So you need to be very cautious. Of course I could not tell you that beforehand." He explained, seeing Zhenya''s expression change so drastically from intrigue to outrage, Solvara giggled a little.


    "That''s so unfair!" Shouted Zhenya, as he let his body fall flat on the ground. He turned away his face with a pout.


    Stifling a laugh, Solvara just patted the pouting Zhenya on his head. "No! Don''t go trying to comfort me now." Zhenya jumped to his feet, snorting as he distanced himself from the great spirit, stomping away angrily.


    "Well, fine, shall I just leave then? And send you back to the tomb?" teased Solvara, making over-the-top gestures with his hands to make Zhenya believe he was really going to do it.


    "No, I was just joking!" Zhenya shouted, turning around and running back to Solvara''s side. He lowered his head, presenting it with a boyish grin, as if silently asking him to pat it again.


    "See, you can continue patting me. Don''t leave yet. Do I not get any rewards for beating two of those phantoms?" Zhenya said, grabbing Solvara''s hand and placing it on his head. A triumphant grin spread across his face, anticipating his answer.


    Solvara sighed, shaking his head with a smile on it as he patted Zhenya''s head. "Alright, I shall give you your reward after that, though I will send you back to the tomb. My job will be finished then," he said softly, looking into the distance.


    When Zhenya processed what Solvara had just said, his earlier enthusiasm vanished like it was never there. "When will I be able to meet you again?" he asked, looking at Solvara, his eyes wide and pleading.


    Pondering for a little while, Solvara looked straight at Zhenya. "Just come find me in the Eternal Radiance Forest; it''s close to the heavenly pavilion. So it''s easy to find; just ask anyone from your clan; they should know where the heavenly pavilion is." Solvara said, his voice laced with pride.


    "Okay, I will ask them. Now onto the rewards!" Zhenya said, practically bouncing with anticipation, his hands rubbing together as if he couldn¡¯t wait to get what he¡¯d earned.


    "So young and already so greedy. Well, you did earn it, so here it is," stated Solvara, taking out another small pill from the beautiful black ring on his middle finger. "This is the sword soul pill. It can help you understand sword arts or even help you awaken a martial intent."


    "Martial intent, what''s that?" Zhenya asked, as he looked at the pill in Solvara''s hand. Like it was a godly treasure.


    Solvara was shocked; how did he not know what martial intent was? ''To what kind of backwater region did that monster relocate?'' Solvara wondered to himself, then threw the pill to Zhenya. "Ask your elders that little one; the time is up. If fate allows it, we shall meet again, and if not, all the best to you," he remarked as his figure faded.


    Zhenya grabbed the pill, clutching it in his hand, and holding the iron sword in the other hand, he also started fading. "I will come find you; I''ll become a famous cultivator. Just wait!" he said with a determined look in his eyes.

 Chapter 12: Choice

    As the shimmering light faded around him, Zhenya found himself back in the tomb, its walls still the same as before he left. The only difference was that the array was gone and the door was open again. Clutching the pill and sword in his hands, he breathed in and out a couple of times and sat down, cross-legged.


    "Gotta make use of every opportunity I can grasp," he remarked, closing his eyes and absorbing the dense key in the room slowly. Circulating it according to the technique he inherited from the ancestor.


    Feeling the qi flow through his meridians. The energy getting absorbed by his flesh smoothly. It moved smoother with every passing minute; he felt energized, his flesh stronger than ever. Then it happened: the qi inside his body started pulsing, differently from his usual cultivation rhythm. Zhenya''s eyes snapped open as he felt something shift within his core, like a door unlocking. He''d reached the next minor realm.


    Not only did his body feel more robust and powerful than before, but it also brimmed with an unexplainable vitality. Almost as if he was a newborn baby and just now grew up into a small child. His muscles hummed with newfound energy, and his skin seemed smoother and tougher.


    "Is this what the manual mentioned as the first stage of body cultivation? The initial flesh tempering realm," he muttered, his voice carrying an edge of disbelief and pride. A beaming smile broke across his face as he clenched his fists.


    His gaze shifted to the sword resting by his side. He grasped it with a steady hand, feeling the weight differently now; it was lighter, almost as if it was an extension of his arm. Taking a deep breath, he moved into an open stance, his mind recalling the principles of the serene sword tide.


    The first motion came naturally: a sweeping slash, smooth and unhurried. His body flowed with the movement, each step deliberate yet seamless. The sword hummed faintly as it cut through the dense qi.


    He transitioned into the next movement¡ªa downward slice. The blade''s arc was precise, his grip firm yet flexible, and his stance solid as a rock but at the same time flexible. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he repeated the motion, striving to grasp the essence of the technique combining offense and defense into one.


    As he entered the final sequence, an explosive thrust, he felt the surge of power radiate from his core. The sword became an extension of his body. He exhaled, lowering the blade, his breaths measured.


    The practice session left his muscles tingling, not with exhaustion but with the satisfying burn of refinement. A grin tugged at his lips. "So this is what body cultivation is for. Feels great," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Zhenya sat down again; he saw that there was still some qi left. So he went back to cultivating, trying to break through to the next minor realm.


    As Zhenya sat cross-legged, he closely inspected his body while he circulated the qi throughout. What were the differences between before stepping onto the path of body cultivation and after? He wanted to know as much as possible about his own body to not leave room for any hidden dangers.


    Carefully circulating the qi and letting his flesh absorb it he felt it, the curculation became smoother and it took less effort after he broke through to the flesh tempering realm. As the dense qi in the room gradually diminished.


    Hours passed in silence, the only indication of time being the qi that was visible to the naked eye disappearing little by little. By the time Zhenya opened his eyes, his body hummed with vitality; he had broken through to the second layer of the body tempering realm. His skin became smoother, and he felt sturdier, his senses also sharpening significantly.


    "Another step forward," he murmured, clenching his fists. His gaze fell on the now-empty chamber. It was time to move on. But before that he had to make a decision: was he going to take the pill now or later?


    He looked at the pill, of which he knew almost nothing about it, only what Solvara had told him. "I should first gather more information about it." He mumbled, stuffing it in his pocket, and grasping the sword, he approached the door, ready to face the clan; after this opportunity, he was eager to see their reactions about his cultivation progress.


    He slowly exited the room, climbing the winding stairs again, his gaze scanning everything to not miss any other treasures or opportunities Jia Qiu could have hidden. But unfortunately he found nothing as he arrived at the huge black doors where this all started.


    Pushing them open, he saw only the patriarch and about ten little girls waiting in the hallway. Zhenya''s brows knitted together, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the perplexing sight.


    "Um, patriarch, what is going on here? Are you interested in little girls?" Zhenya said, his lips forming a straight line and his expression as blank as a slate.


    The patriarch''s face twitched, and he closed his eyes for a moment as if praying for patience. "These," he said with careful dignity, "are for you to choose from; one of them will become your personal servant, as stated by the ancestor." Opening his eyes, he fixed Zhenya with a stern look that somehow contained a hint of amusement. "And I would advise against such assumptions about your elders in the future."


    "Are you serious? I get my own personal servant, and I can choose?" Zhenya inquired, his eyes narrowing with a mix of doubt and curiosity, his lips pressing into a thin line as though trying to gauge the truth behind the words.


    "Yes," Jia Fu stated. "The ancestor left behind a couple orders for when someone awakened the true bloodline. So we have found the most beautiful girls around your age from the servants."

 Chapter 13: Yi Yun

    Zhenya had a silly grin on his face and looked at all the girls taking in the amazing view. They were all wearing beautiful dresses and had styled their hair. If that was done by them deliberately or forced, he didn''t know, nor did he care. After suffering for years, this felt good: finally being recognized by the clan and being treated so well.


    "So I just choose one now? Or do I need to do something else first?" Zhenya remarked while carefully checking out all the girls.


    "Just choose one first, then we will discuss what you found in the ancestral tomb. After that a lot of things will be happening, but that''s for later." said the patriarch.


    "Alright, introduce yourselves shortly, please." Zhenya stated, looking at the girls. Still wearing that silly grin.


    The girl closest to the patriarch stepped forward, giving a courteous bow while holding the hems of her purple dress; her long white hair was tied in two buns, and she had gorgeous blue eyes. "I am Gao Yun; my hobbies are cleaning and cooking, and I would like to become your servant, my lord."


    Zhenya just looked at her with a silly expression on his face, his facial features scrunching up. "My lord? What the hell, patriarch, what did you say to them?" he asked, staring straight into his eyes.


    "Well, that you are going to be the next patriarch, of course. Which you are going to be," he stated, stroking his beard.


    Zhenya froze, staring at the patriarch, his mouth widening so much it almost tore apart. "Are you serious? I, a branch family member, am going to become the patriarch." He said dumbfounded; he couldn''t comprehend what was happening anymore. Never in a million years would Zhenya have expected this.


    "Well, that''s for later; first choose one to become your servant. Ok, start introducing yourselves quickly, one after the other." Jia Fu told all the girls.


    They, of course, didn''t want to earn the resentment of the patriarch, so with stiff movements and some tears forming, they quickly started introducing themselves one after the other.


    The second girl stepped forward with a more forced smile and barely bowed down. "I am Xing Xue; please choose me. My lord," she almost whispered, quickly stepping back into the line. She almost started crying but just barely kept it together.


    "I am Mao Xinya, my lord. I enjoy playing sports and cooking; please pick me," she stated, as she also quickly got back in line.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "My name is Yi Yun; it''s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Zhenya." She said, bowing politely, even showing a teasing smile. She was wearing plain green hanfu, but that plain hanfu accentuated her long brown hair and her beautiful green eyes, making her stand out among the other girls.


    Zhenya didn''t hesitate a moment. "I want her to be my servant!" he declared loudly, flashing a triumphant grin as if to show his masculine side to the girl.


    "Are you sure, Zhenya? There are still more girls that haven''t introduced themselves. Shouldn''t you at least hear them  out?" Jia Fu mentioned, looking at Zhenya.


    "No, I want her. You said I could choose any of them, so I choose her. Simple." He insisted, crossing his arms and pouting.


    "Alright, I was just making sure. No need to act like that." Turning toward the girls, he continued, "Everyone except Yi Yun can leave. Tell the elders that Zhenya has chosen so they can arrange for you all to return back to your duties."


    "Now, Zhenya Follow me to the main building, and you as well, Yi Yun. There the previous patriarch will explain everything to you two." He said, turning around and walking toward the exit. "Follow me."


    The boy and girl hurried after the patriarch; first, they exited the ancestral building, walking across the massive square that stood in between the ancestral building and the main hall where the patriarch and previous patriarch resided.


    They arrived promptly at the main hall, entering it and walking through numerous halls, meeting countless servants and main family members who all looked curiously at the two children that were walking behind the patriarch.


    "Who are they?" A servant murmured to the servant that stood next to her holding laundry.


    "I have no idea, but they must be important if they can enter this estate guided by the patriarch," mumbled the other.


    Both wanted to follow them and find out who the kids were, but they didn''t have the guts to do it. The patriarch walked menacingly right in front of them, and it looked like they were going to the restricted part of the estate where the retired patriarch resided.


    "So, Lord Zhenya. How was it in the tomb?" Yi Yun asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.


    "Why are you so daring and casual with me? Aren''t you afraid of displeasing me?" Zhenya replied, looking intrigued at the girl walking next to him.


    Yi Yun tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowing ever so faintly, a puzzled expression crossing her face. "Why would I be afraid? You chose me! Not any of the others; that means you must have fallen for my irresistible charms," she said proudly.


    Zhenya heard the patriarch stifle a giggle but ignored it; he was getting more and more interested in this girl. At first he just chose her because of her introduction, but now he was genuinely getting interested in her.


    "Well, what if you displease me so much, and I ask the patriarch to replace you?" he inquired. curious what Yi Yun''s answer would be.


    She looked at him with a teasing smile. "Well, I''ll just have to make sure I don''t do that, but by the looks of it, I don''t think that is going to be a problem."


    Zhenya felt his cheeks flush red, turning his head away abruptly. ''I like her,'' he thought to himself.


    Clearing his throat, the patriarch abruptly stopped in front of a door that had the word "Jia" written on it in beautiful golden ink. "Enough with the silliness; you are now going to meet the previous patriarch. Jia Hui, so watch your tones and be respectful, or not even I will be able to save you.

 Chapter 14: Diary

    Entering the chamber, Zhenya and Yi Yun looked around curiously. It was a spacious room with a single bed standing in it and a table. Very simplistic, on a carpet sat an older-looking man with short white hair, a wrinkled face, and blue eyes. He was wearing a simple black hanfu and deep in meditation.


    Jia Fu bowed deeply before the elderly man, his upper body bending at a perfect ninety-degree angle, his head lowered in a gesture of utmost respect. He cast a quick, meaningful glance at the two children, prompting them to follow suit. Without hesitation, they knelt on one knee and bent forward, their waists folding sharply as their heads hovered low, almost touching the ground, mirroring his reverence.


    And they stayed like that, waiting for the elderly man to open his eyes and acknowledge them. But he just kept on meditating as if he hadn''t realized Jia Fu and the others had arrived. After a while, Yi Yun was sweating profusely, almost losing her balance and tumbling over, her body exhausted.


    Her hanfu was covered in sweat, her hair sticking to her face; she was barely holding on. Zhenya, seeing this, wanted to do something, but he didn''t know what. Should he alert the Jia Hui of their presence? But he didn''t know what kind of consequences that would have. Gritting his teeth, he lightly faked a cough twice, trying to alert Jia Hui that there were guests.


    Opening an eye, Jia Hui saw them bowing in front of them and cleared his throat loudly, standing up slowly. "Sorry, I didn''t realize you had arrived," he said, taking a seat at the table.


    Only when he was seated did the patriarch finally stand up. "Please think nothing of it; I have brought the two children here," the patriarch remarked, pointing toward the kids behind him.


    Zhenya, who was helping Yi Yun stand up, looked at Jia Hui. "Hello, I am Jia Zhenya, the one that entered the ancestral tomb." He politely said, still holding Yi Yun so that she wouldn''t fall over.


    Yi Yun then tried bowing, but her body was too exhausted, and she only moved her head slightly. "I am Yi Yun, the personal servant of Lord Zhenya," she said, still catching her breath.


    "Good, take a seat, and Fu, you guard the entrance. No one is allowed to enter, not even if there is an emergency." Jia Hui ordered, pointing at the door.


    "Understood." Jia Fu said, bowing slightly as he promptly exited the room.


    "Now that we''re alone, take a seat, you two. I have a lot to tell you," he added, as he pointed at the chairs opposite to him.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Thank you," answered Zhenya politely as he helped Yun take a seat first and then sit next to her.


    Waiting for the two to be seated, the patriarch observed Zhenya closely, taking note of any special things about him. ''He definitely awakened the bloodline; he has the mark on his forehead, but it feels like his physique also isn''t normal,'' he pondered. Seeing they were both seated, Jia Hui decided to let that be for later and focus on the more important matters first.


    "Zhenya, since you awakened the bloodline, I assume the patriarch told you that you will be the next patriarch, right?" Inquired Jia Hui.


    Zhenya nodded, "Yes, but that is all he said. After I came out of the tomb, I chose my servant and then immediately came here." he mentioned as he recalled what had happened after exiting the tomb.


    "That is normal; only I know the actual procedures the ancestor left in place for when someone awakened. I just told little Fu what he had to do when that heavenly phenomenon appeared," said Jia Hui.


    Zhenya raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Phenomenon? What phenomenon?" he asked, confused by what Jia Hui had mentioned.


    "The huge crescent that appeared in the sky a couple of nights ago, of course, did you not see it?" he asked, looking Zhenya straight in the eyes.


    "Well, no. I was in the tomb for a couple of days, and before that I was unconscious for a night; this was because my body was burning up, and after waking up, this crescent appeared on my forehead," he said, recounting what had happened the last couple of days.


    "That must have been your test, and then you fell unconscious while awakening, huh," suggested the patriarch. "Anyway, that is for another time. "Zhenya, now that you have awakened, I will hand you the patriarch''s diary; just drop a little blood on it to bind it to you. It''s an artifact that will let you read more as your cultivation improves," he added as he handed Zhenya a book with a pitch-black cover.


    "Thank you," Zhenya replied, bowing. Accepting the book politely.


    "Ok, that is done. Now a little explanation of why you had to choose a personal servant." Jia Hui began. "That is because the ancestor should have recommended you some Dao''s to study to better utilize the bloodline, right?" he inquired.


    Zhenya nodded, his eyes locked onto Jia Hui''s eyes. He did not want to miss a single detail; this was important information.


    "Good, they should be the dao of emptiness and stillness. Hence the servant, when mastering those dao''s, you basically can cut off your emotions so you could become an emotionless killing machine. That''s why the ancestor set a requirement: you need to take your servant with you everywhere and never turn your back on her," he ordered.


    "Or I will kill you right now. So what is it going to be?" Jia Hui stated, looking deep into Zhenya''s eyes. As the words left his mouth, an overwhelming pressure descended upon Zhenya. He found himself sweating profusely as the ancestor released his killing intent¡ªit was overwhelmingly dense, unlike anything he had ever felt before.


    Turning his head, he sneakily looked at Yi Yun, but she seemed totally fine, completely unbothered as if the ancestor had only aimed it at Zhenya. ''How is it possible that Yun didn''t feel a thing? Can only cultivators feel it?'' Zhenya wondered to himself.


    Zhenya then nodded slowly, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I agree; I will take Yi Yun with me everywhere. And will protect her as well." Zhenya declared.

 Chapter 15: Jia Hui

    Yi Yun turned bright red after hearing Zhenya''s declaration, quickly hiding her face behind her hands.


    "Hahaha, good. I like you, Zhenya," exclaimed Jia Hui. "Now that that is out of the way, Could you tell me what you experienced in the ancestral tomb?" He continued, leaning forward and letting his face rest on his hands.


    "Is that all you want to say, or after that do you want to explain some other things?" Zhenya countered, also leaning forward. "I might be young, but I have been fending for myself for a couple of years. I will not tell you if you''re not giving me more information."


    Jia Hui looked surprised at Zhenya. "What do you mean, fending for yourself? Aren''t you only ten years old? Why would your parents not take care of you?" he asked, looking suspiciously at the little boy.


    "They died during the beast tide a couple of years ago," he murmured, a sad look appearing on his face. Sighing, he collapsed into the chair like a sack being dropped.


    Yi Yun looked at him in horror; she had thought he was like a rich kid that had everything given to him on a silver plate. That''s why she was confused when he reacted like that after coming out of the tomb, but now it all made sense. He was also from lower birth and had even been fending for himself for years, but luckily he awakened the bloodline, and his status rose overnight.


    ''I should stop judging other people on my assumptions. I wanted to butter up to him by acting confident to try and gain cultivation resources and then run away. But it seems the situation isn''t that simple.'' Sighing, she wondered. ''What have I gotten myself into?''


    "You ok, Yun?" Zhenya whispered, seeing her slump her shoulders.


    "Ah, yes, I''m fine," she confirmed. "I just felt bad for what happened to your parents," she added, a sad expression appearing on her face.


    "It''s fine now. I''m used to it after all these years." Zhenya stated. Looking back at Jia Hui, his demeanor shifted from empathetic to guarded, his gaze steady.


    "Do you just want the information, or is there a reason why I should tell you?" Zhenya said politely.


    "Good, I like you. Don''t worry; you don''t have to tell me." Jia Hui advised, a smile appearing on his face. "It''s a ruthless world out there. Don''t just blabber about your opportunities or secrets to anyone. Always be cautious," he explained.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "Now only one thing is left: you two will be going to the Azure cloud sect for the entrance ceremony that will happen soon. But before that we will help you here so you can use most resources you want and the training grounds." Throwing a token at both of them.


    Zhenya inspected the token; it was a rectangular token with black edges and white on the inside with the word Jia written on it in gold.


    "Isn''t this the token to prove you''re from the main family?" he asked Jia Hui.


    "That''s correct; you are hereby adopted into the main family as my godson," he said, a smirk appearing on his face. It was like Jia Hui was enjoying this moment.


    "Tha... Thank you!" Shouted Yi Yun, bowing her head repeatedly, almost slamming it into the table.


    Zhenya and Jia Hui both giggled at the sight; they hadn''t expected this cheeky girl to be so nervous receiving this token.


    "You can leave little Yun, ask little Fu to guide you to your quarters. Zhenya will follow soon after," he told her.


    Yi Yun stood up, bowed politely to Jia Hui, and blew a kiss to Zhenya, exiting the room.


    Zhenya was taken aback, and his ears turned slightly red. "She''s so bold," he mumbled to himself.


    "I know, right?" Jia Hui said, with a teasing smile. "You should treasure her; you might become dao companions someday," he teased.


    Sighing, he got comfortable leaning back into the chair. ''That would be for the best,'' he lamented.


    "That was not for you to hear!" he argued, pouting.


    "Alright, enough small talk. I''m sure you have a lot of questions after your trip in the ancestral tomb. I''ll answer them to the best of my ability." Jia Hui stated.


    ***


    An hour later, Zhenya walked through the corridors toward his quarters, his mind racing with everything Jia Hui had revealed. The answers about martial intent puzzled him because Jia Hui barely knew anything about it, like it was a lost art.


    Then when he asked about the heavenly pavilion and the Eternal Radiance Forest, it was even worse; he said there were no such things here. After that he also asked about the immortal world, but apparently that is only a myth. Even though the ancestor left notes about it, they don''t believe it.


    So he made up his mind to look for information about all those things during his journey and when he arrives at the Azure Cloud Sect.


    Absently touching the token in his sleeve, he still couldn''t believe he was now part of the main family. Everything was changing so fast¡ªthe bloodline, Yi Yun, and now this adoption. His parents would have been...


    He shook his head, forcing the thought away. Right now he needed to focus on preparing for the Azure Cloud Sect''s entrance ceremony. But first, he should check on Yi Yun and make sure she''d settled in.


    Entering his residence, he was taken aback by how luxurious it was; it had multiple stories and even had servants that did everything from cleaning to laundry and cooking. Well, cooking wasn''t necessary, as that was Yi Yun''s task. It could help them build a bond, mentioned Jia Hui, so Zhenya decided it would be a good idea to let Yi Yun do the cooking.

 Chapter 16: Discussion

    Walking around the residence looking for Yi Yun, Zhenya admired the luxurious interior he had only dreamed of owning¡ªpolished stone flooring, beautiful door handles, and furniture covered in intricate designs of gold and silver. Just trying to estimate the cost made his head spin. After strolling around for a bit, he finally found Yi Yun sitting in the living room on a big sofa.


    "Hey," he greeted her as he scratched the back of his head and took a seat next to her awkwardly. Not knowing what else to say. So they both just sat there in silence trying to come up with something to say to break the ice.


    Zhenya couldn''t handle the silence anymore; coughing lightly, he started. "How about we both introduce ourselves properly? After I came out of the tomb, everything had been happening so fast," he said as he slouched into the sofa.


    Yi Yun nodded. "I''ll start then." She said, correcting her posture, breathing in slowly, then exhaling, she continued. "I am Yi Yun; I was a servant for the main family before becoming your personal servant. I enjoy cultivating and cooking." A slight smile appeared on her face.


    Then turning toward Zhenya, she looked at him as if urging him to go next to not let the atmosphere turn so awkward again.


    Clearing his throat, Zhenya began. "As you know already, I am Jia Zhenya. I am from a branch family and also enjoy cultivating; my parents died a couple of years ago during the beast tide, so I am training to get stronger so that doesn''t happen to me." his shoulders heavy and his gaze fixed on the floor. His expression was distant, a faint sadness flickering across his face as he spoke.


    Yi Yun also had a somber expression on her face; hearing it for the second time didn''t make it any easier to process. "If it''s okay with you, would you like to tell me a bit about how it felt after losing your parents?"


    Zhenya looked at the girl sitting next to him on the sofa, not sure how to answer that question. "Why do you want to know that?" he asked after pondering for a while.


    "Well, I''m not sure myself, to be honest; it just feels like something I should know about. As your personal servant," Yi Yun said with a serious expression. "As your first wife, I should know this," she mumbled under her breath.


    "Sorry, what did you say at the end?" Zhenya inquired.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Nothing, don¡¯t worry about it!" Yi Yun shut him down immediately, waving her hands frantically in front of her. As Zhenya raised a brow, unconvinced, she puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, her lips jutting into a pout. "So, will you tell me a bit about your past?" she asked, tilting her head slightly with an exaggerated look of curiosity, clearly trying to distract him.


    "Alright, I''ll tell you." Zhenya said, sighing, as he turned slightly red. He had never had contact this close with a girl this cute and with her acting like that. He couldn''t handle it very well.


    "Do you remember the beast tide that happened five years ago?"


    Yi Yun nodded, then Zhenya sat up straight, looking her straight in the eyes. He started. "That is the day I lost both my mom and dad; as you know, I''m from the branch family, so I don''t live in the inner court. And because of that, when the tide happened, we had to fend for ourselves, but I was only five years old at that time, so I hadn''t even started cultivating yet." a sad look plastered all over his face, he wiped the tears forming in the corner of his eyes away in a resolute movement.


    "So I could only watch as my parents hid in the closet and ran outside to protect me." Zhenya finished, and then there was silence again. Yi Yun did not know how to comfort him at this moment; she was frustrated, and she clenched her fists.


    ''Why can''t I say something? I want to say something to make him feel better, but I just don''t know what,'' she thought, but couldn''t come up with anything she could say.


    Then Zhenya balled his fist, and his features twisted, his eyebrows scrunching up, a look of pure rage on his face. "But I also learned a lot at that time; I will not let that happen again, and I will wipe out all the monsters in the domain where the beast tide came from!" he stated, standing up and pumping his balled fist forward. "That is the oath I swore to myself that day."


    Yi Yun looked at him surprised; she mused to herself, ''Maybe I don''t need to do everything for him; he has been through a lot after all.'' She clapped a couple of times; she was genuinely impressed by his mental fortitude. She doubted she could do that remembering the warmth of her parents embrace and the care she had gotten from them.


    Losing all that at such an early age must have been really hard on him. She stood up and almost subconsciously started patting his head like it was a motherly reflex.


    As she was patting his head, she froze, her head turning bright red. She dashed out of the living room as she shouted. "I''ll make dinner now!"


    Zhenya stood there all alone in the large living room beet red; it looked like there was steam coming out of his ears. "Why did she do that?" he muttered to himself as he let himself fall into the sofa again, grabbing a cushion to cover his face.


    "Ahhh, that''s so embarrassing. Why did I let her pat me like that?" he shouted into the cushion. "I even lowered my head slightly, so she could pat me better."


    And while he was dying from embarrassment on the sofa, Yi Yun in the kitchen wasn''t doing any better in the kitchen.


    She was also beet-red as she stood in the kitchen preparing the vegetables for dinner. "Why did I do that?" she exclaimed, cutting the vegetables faster and faster to try and forget what had just happened.

 Chapter 17: Origins

    After setting the table, Zhenya sat down, pondering what to do when Yi Yun would arrive with the food. Sighing heavily, he let his head lean on his hand. "What now? I can''t just keep avoiding her. I should just man up and get over it; it was only a little embarrassing," he remarked to try and convince himself.


    "But that must have looked very weak to her, letting her pat me and even leaning into it... Argghhh!" he shouted in frustration. "I''ll just try my best to not think about it. Things like that can happen."


    Then Yi Yun arrived with the food; setting it on the table, she took a seat as far away from Zhenya as possible, her cheeks still slightly flushed. "The food is ready; take as much as you want, Zhenya," she mumbled, barely audible.


    Zhenya just nodded and started to fill his plate with food and started eating it in total silence, keeping his eyes on the plate. Yi Yun did the same.


    Like that, they ate their meal in complete silence, neither of the two daring to speak up or address what had just happened, as if they came to a consensus that they would just let it be and start the next day fresh as if it never happened.


    After finishing dinner, Zhenya stood up. "I will go to my room now; tomorrow the training starts, so don''t wake up too late." He mumbled as he left the living room.


    Yi Yun just nodded and started clearing the table, sighing in relief. She also wanted some time to herself now to process everything that had happened today. It was a very hectic day becoming the personal servant for the future patriarch, getting told by the current patriarch that she could even become his first wife if she plays her cards correctly.


    Lots of stuff to think about and consider; after clearing the table, she also went to her own room.


    ***


    Zhenya entered his room. It was a relatively large room with a double bed, a large window, and a wooden desk with a wooden chair. Entering the room, he closed the door and sat down on the chair.


    Taking out the diary he had gotten earlier, he took a deep breath, bit in his finger, and let blood fall onto the diary just like Jia Hui had said. When the blood hit the cover of the diary, it erupted in a burst of blinding light, engulfing the room in brilliance for a fleeting moment before fading away.


    Opening his eyes again, Zhenya looked at the book and opened it. The pages were yellowed with age, covered in elegant handwriting. His heart racing with anticipation, he began to read:


    "Entry 1


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.Hello, whoever you are, I am Jia Hui, also called the mad demon. Why am I called that, you might wonder. Well, that is because I did something mad. I went around absorbing other creatures bloodlines, combining them with my own."


    Zhenya''s eyes widened. So that is how the Heaven''s Fall bloodline came into existence; he wasn''t born with it; instead, he created it. Eagerly, he read on:


    "And the world gave it the name Heaven''s Fall because it is taboo, so the whole immortal world is hunting me down, which I do not mind; it''s fun, you know. I keep finding new, interesting bloodlines to absorb. But well, that''s for another time. To whoever is reading this, this diary will contain all my secrets and everything I found out about the Heaven''s Fall bloodline and more."


    He sat up straighter, gripping the diary tighter. The ancestor seemed to know something about the immortal realm that Jia Hui had dismissed as myth. What else might this diary reveal?


    "The bloodline can increase your talent by absorbing strong bloodlines; that is why I decided to go down this path. To reach the pinnacle of martial arts. I just broke through to the Lord realm, which is still a small fry in this vast immortal world, but, well, you gotta start somewhere, you know."


    Zhenya was making mental notes of all the information he was absorbing. "So I should really focus on absorbing bloodlines, and then the Immortal world and Lord realm I really don''t know anything yet," he muttered to himself, clenching his fist tightly.


    "I shall surpass your ancestor; just watch!" he vowed to himself as he stood up. Then he sat down again, breathing in and out slowly to calm himself down so as not to miss any details in the diary.


    "It took me multiple decades to finally arrive here, from the mortal world and after that the eternal domain. Those bastards keeping all the good spots for themselves, well, I just wiped them all out, so it''s fine; it gave me a lot of new abilities. Well, that was it for this first entry. I might later on edit it if I don''t forget. To the one reading this, this world is ruthless; you also gotta be ruthless, or you''ll get trampled by others. Jia Hui, the mad demon."


    Seeing the end of the page, Zhenya was stunned. Who was his ancestor? The information in this diary is likely priceless; the future cultivation realms, and now he also had a clue about how to get to the immortal world finally. Not that he wanted to go there right now, but it''s good to know for when his cultivation is high enough.


    Sighing softly Zhenya tried to turn the page to read the next entry only to find that he couldn''t turn it. Like there was a restriction cast on it, and he didn''t meet the requirements to read further.


    "This must be what Jia Hui meant; it''s cultivation locked." Zhenya looked annoyed; this diary possessed a lot of valuable information, and it was right under his nose, but because of his own incompetence, he couldn''t access it.


    He closed the diary, and it disappeared; Zhenya panicked slightly. "Where did it go?" he exclaimed, looking around frantically. overturning his whole room, but it was nowhere to be found.


    "What do I tell Jia Hui now? I can''t just say that I lost it after only reading one page, right..." he mumbled, as he kept looking around the room for any spots he might have missed.


    Half an hour later he sat down on the bed exhausted; the mental strain of losing such an important asset was tremendous. "I give up. I''ll just tell them honestly tomorrow that I lost the diary."


    But when he mentioned the diary, it appeared in his hand. Stunned, he lay on his bed staring at the diary, and after a while, it disappeared again, then he tried it again. "Diary." It reappeared right after, relieved he went to bed; it was a long day, and he was exhausted.

 Chapter 18: Resources

    In the morning, Zhenya would spend an hour cultivating.  The routine had become as natural as breathing¡ªcirculate it through his meridians, let his flesh absorb it, repeat. Simple but effective. After finishing that, he got out of bed, stretching his whole body.


    "A good night''s sleep always does wonders," he muttered as he entered the living room where Yi Yun was waiting with breakfast on the table.


    Bowing politely, Yi Yun looked at him. "Good morning, Zhenya," she said, scratching her cheek and trying to dodge eye contact.


    Zhenya greeted her back. "Good morning, are you ready to start the training today?" he inquired, also dodging eye contact. He sat down and started eating the food Yi Yun had prepared, eating with relish.


    "Wow, this is delicious. Well, compared to what I made before, this is a hundred times better. Great job," he said while stuffing his face and giving her a thumbs up.


    Yi Yun giggled a little while she was also eating her breakfast. "Mind your manners, Zhenya. You''re still the heir, so don''t let other people look down on you for your manners." but even though she said that she liked this side of him, it made him easily approachable and likable.


    "Well, it''s only us two here; if others were present, I would mind my manners," he stated, still stuffing his face. "Also, don''t worry about what happened yesterday; let''s just forget about it. Things like that happen," he finished.


    Trying to be mature, he wanted to just forget about it ever happening, and he hoped Yi Yun would share the same sentiment.


    She nodded shyly, turning red again when he mentioned yesterday''s incident. She also wanted to forget it ever happened, and she was looking forward to today''s training session because as a servant she never got any resources to cultivate, but now she would finally be able to cultivate.


    Slapping her cheeks lightly, trying to snap out of her daze, she would not miss this opportunity. She had to enter the azure cloud sect to get stronger herself but also fulfill her duties as a personal servant.


    When they both finished eating, they got ready, and then it was time. They went toward the main estate where yesterday they had the conversation with Jia Hui to collect the resources allocated to them.


    When they arrived where they had to be, they entered the room and saw other children standing in a line, so they quietly got in line, patiently awaiting their turn.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    As soon as they arrived, however, the other children waiting in line started whispering to each other, their hushed voices barely audible but clearly focused on the newcomers.


    "Is that the one that entered the ancestral tomb?" a young boy said softly to Xinyi, who stood all the way at the front of the row.


    Jia Xinyi then turned around immediately to glare at Zhenya, who paid it no heed. "Yes, that''s him. You can recognize him from the glowing crescent on his forehead," exclaimed Xinyi loud enough so everyone could hear him.


    The other youth that was talking with him quickly took a step back, not wanting the ire of Zhenya Xinyi; he could handle it because his grandfather was the supreme elder, but he was just an ordinary main family member. The elders had also warned all the main family children to watch out for Zhenya.


    Because the patriarch will be very cautious and overprotective, finally, after eons of decline, someone awakened the bloodline, so the patriarch was betting on him to make the Jia family rise again. But of course not everyone was happy with that, especially the supreme elder, as his grandson was the best candidate to become patriarch before this nobody awakened the bloodline.


    And the patriarch knew that, so he had probably prepared protective measures for Zhenya and his servant. So the elders and supreme elder were also being cautious with their plans to let someone from the main family become the next patriarch.


    Waiting for a while, it was finally Zhenya''s turn to collect his resources; the attendant standing at the counter looked at Zhenya and bowed slightly. "The patriarch told me that I could expect you here with your and your servants resources, young master," stated the attendant.


    "5 pure qi stones, 500 qi stones, 2 bone strengthening pills, 5 qi gathering pills, and 5 essence restorative pills. For both of you," he said while handing them both a sack.


    "I''ll explain everything for you two because the patriarch asked me to do so. Pure qi and qi stones can be used as currency, and to cultivate one pure qi stone is equivalent to a thousand qi stones. As for the pills, the essence restoration pills are of the mortal grade, and the other two are of the earth grade. They''re all normal quality pills." while saying that, the attendant leaned in closer.


    "Also do watch out for the other children, because the elders did not take kindly to your arrival and you being appointed as heir. It''s also not just the elders but even the supreme elder. You remember that boy that said those things about you. That''s his grandson, so be especially cautious around him," he whispered to Zhenya, still smiling.


    Zhenya nodded, and after collecting both sacks with resources, they left the main estate, and they went back to their residence. On the way to their residence, he kept his guard up, looking around cautiously as he advanced toward the residence.


    Only after arriving and closing the door did he relax. "You heard it as well, right, Yun?" he asked.


    "Yes, young master," she said, smiling teasingly. "I will also be careful when going out with the main family children." Saying that she sprinted toward the garden where their training space was.


    Zhenya just stared blankly ahead. "Is she that excited to start cultivating?" he mused to himself, but when he remembered when he started cultivating in the tomb, he smiled. "I guess I was the same back then."


    Standing up, he also made his way toward the garden to start training to enter the Azure Cloud Sect.

 Chapter 19: Challenge 1

    In the garden, Zhenya and Yi Yun looked at all the resources they just collected; excited, Yi Yun wanted to just swallow the pills. But Zhenya stopped her just in time.


    "What are you doing?" he asked exasperatedly, looking at Yi Yun like she was a completely different person. He had no idea she wanted to cultivate this badly.


    "Well, I want to start cultivating, so why not just take a pill and see where that takes me, you know?" Yi Yun said, shrugging.


    Zhenya sighed. "I will guide you, okay. Please don''t do something so reckless. Also, just randomly taking pills could be very dangerous," he stated.


    ''But she doesn''t have a cultivation technique, nor does she have any techniques; I could let her learn mine. But is she trustworthy enough for that? As he was contemplating, he saw Yi Yun nod vigorously.


    "Okay! What do I need to do, Zhenya?" she said as she sat down cross-legged with the biggest smile Zhenya had ever seen. It wasn''t a teasing smile or a calculated smile; no, this was a smile that came from the heart. She was genuinely super happy Zhenya had proposed to teach her.


    Zhenya felt a little bad, as he wasn''t sure if he should give her this opportunity, but he had to be cautious, especially after reading the first entry in the diary. It''s a cruel world, so being soft will only result in tragedies.


    ''Should I? Or should I not? There are pros and cons to both. For one, she will be staying with me for a long time, and her being stronger could benefit me in the long run.'' While deep in thought, he didn''t realize Yi Yun, at some point, had sneaked behind him; she was getting impatient.


    "Why is it taking so long, Zhenya! I want to start cultivating; we don''t know when the entrance test will start. I gotta make use of every moment I get!" She shouted, as she crossed her arms and gave a light stomp of the foot, paired with a slight tilt of the head and a pouting expression.


    Startled Zhenya turned around and couldn''t help but giggle a little. "You''re cute when you act like this, you know that, right?" he said.


    ''Well, it can''t hurt to help her, right? It will also benefit me; even if she betrays me later on, I''ll just have to be extra cautious then.'' After making his decision, he sat down cross-legged and pointed to in front of him.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Sit down; we''ll start now. Also, I will be teaching you some techniques, so do pay attention," he remarked, with a bright smile on his face.


    Sitting down eagerly Yi Yun looked at Zhenya excitedly; she couldn''t wait to start. Seeing her sit down, Zhenya cleared his throat.


    Zhenya began with the basics, explaining the significance of qi and the role of the dantian in cultivation.


    "To start, sit in a comfortable position; for me, it''s cross-legged, but for you it might be different. Then close your eyes and breathe in and out slowly; try and feel the qi in the air. And when you feel the Qi, try and absorb it into your meridians and let it flow inside your body."


    Yi Yun nodded, her brows furrowed as she tried to feel the qi. Zhenya looked at her and waited patiently for her to succeed while also cultivating.


    Gradually, Yi Yun got better and better at absorbing qi and letting it flow inside her. When he saw she had succeeded, he stood up.


    "For the techniques, I will give them to you how I got them because I''ve also only just started practicing them. So if you have questions, you can ask me, but I might not know all the answers." He said, tapping her forehead with his index finger, and transmitted the three techniques he wanted.


    "First practice the Boundless Void Secret Art; after that you can start on the other two. But never tell anyone where you got these techniques or their name. They''re high-quality techniques." Zhenya ordered.


    "If you have any more questions, you can ask me, but I will now also do my own training, so just start training and ask me if you have any doubts."


    After saying that, Zhenya sat down and started cultivating.


    A couple of hours later, Zhenya and Yi Yun were eating together; Yi Yun looked very satisfied and happy.


    "Why are you so happy? Was starting your cultivation journey that special to you?" Zhenya asked, still munching on the food Yi Yun made.


    Looking him straight in the eyes, Yi Yun finished chewing. "Yes, it is that special to me. It has always been my dream to cultivate ever since my parents were saved by cultivators of the Jia family, and they even gave us a job and housing." Yi Yun said.


    "But that is not the only reason. Don''t you just want to do whatever you want? And by cultivating, I can make that a reality. Live my dream life. Not everyone has a grand reason to start cultivating; mine is rather simple, I would say." She finished, as she shrugged and continued eating the meal.


    Zhenya nodded; he also didn''t have that grand of a reason. It''s mostly to avenge his parents, but after that, it''s the same as Yi Yun: to have the strength to do what you want.


    "So, how did training go for you, Yun?" Zhenya asked. Curious about her progress and wanting to compare how she did compared to him on their first day.


    "Well, it''s not bad. I think I''m close to reaching the body tempering first stage that you told me about." She replied, feeling insecure. "But you said you broke through on the first day you started training, right? Am I just not talented?" she wondered.


    "Don''t worry about it too much. I can''t say why you didn''t break through, but everyone has their own journey. Comparing yourself to other people is not necessarily bad, but I wouldn''t do it too much. Have faith in yourself." Zhenya said, giving her a thumbs up.


    Yi Yun nodded shyly. "Thanks," she whispered, barely audible.