"I didn't expect things to turn around this quickly..."
Ryan was panting heavily, his body completely exhausted after using Boundary Break. The immense power he felt during the moment of explosion had begun to fade, leaving behind overwhelming fatigue. His body trembled from pain, and his heartbeat grew erratic, as if he were burning from within. And yet, he knew this wasn't over. The battle hadn't ended, and he hadn't achieved his goal.
In the midst of combat, as Liang Tian unleashed devastating red energy, Ryan felt his body beginning to revolt. His muscles trembled, his limbs nearly failed him—but his determination was stronger than his physical weakness. Suddenly, Ryan shouted defiantly, "I won't let you surpass me any longer!" As a celestial blue light surrounded him, he unleashed the Heavenly Void technique in a way no one had anticipated; his energy surged like lightning, causing a massive explosion that shifted the entire battle's momentum.
But amidst the chaos, a strange sense of violence crept into his soul, as if something dark was tempting him to let go of everything. He didn't yet know this inner conflict would come at a great cost. In a moment of instability, the unexpected happened: a colossal energy gate opened behind Liang Tian, revealing a giant dark figure—an ancient, mythical being from another world.
"I suppose it's time... to face a greater threat," Liang Tian said as he pointed toward the dark entity, his eyes glowing with deep caution.
As Ryan approached the creature, a surge of uncontrollable power erupted within him; he blacked out suddenly and fell into the gate, where shadows and light mixed until his consciousness faded away.
Hours passed before Ryan awoke. He found himself surrounded by a faint celestial glow, and his eyes met the faces of ancestors—beings greater than men—standing silently before him. The expression on the eldest ancestor's face conveyed deep surprise and sincere respect.
"What willpower and resolve... despite lacking the innate talent we often see," the elder said calmly, though his tone held a rare note of admiration.
Then, the voice of the system echoed in Ryan's mind:
[You have passed the trial successfully. The 17 Ancestors await you. Learn their powers and titles. Remember, this is the beginning of your path.]
But Ryan couldn't stop thinking about something strange: Why can't the system reveal anything about the Founder? Or that dark creature that appeared? He pondered it deeply, with a vague sense that something unknown was being hidden from him.
As he tried to collect himself, something changed within him; an enormous energy was flowing through his veins, and he felt his inner energy unlocking like never before. His meridians gradually widened, releasing stored power, and through this breakthrough, Ryan realized he had advanced from the Deep Qi Stage to the Meridian Opening Stage—a new realm of control over his spiritual energy.
Ryan smiled as he felt waves of power flooding through him, sensing that the potential long hidden within him was finally beginning to surface. He stepped forward with firm steps toward the ancestors, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, honored ancestors." Yet his mind was still troubled by the unanswered mysteries of the Founder and the beast.
Some watched him with thoughtful gazes, while others remained reserved. In that moment, the Founder entered the hall, surrounded by an aura of overwhelming might and authority. He approached the dark creature.
"You are here too... So it's time to decide our fate," the Founder said, his sharp gaze fixed on the dark entity, which seemed to belong to another realm.
The Founder spoke with a calm but commanding voice:
"You have proven your will and resolve despite everything. You may lack natural talent, but your determination is unmatched. I will place my trust in you, Ryan. You now deserve to succeed in this trial."
Silence fell across the hall, then the system began revealing the details of the 17 ancestors—those who embodied the legacy of history and power:
1. Ancestor of the Ice Dragon – Master of ice and summoner of blizzards, Ruler of Frozen Storms.
2. Ancestor of the Killing Blade – Expert in sword techniques and close combat, Specter of the Killing Sword.
3. Ancestor of the Freezing Winds – Controller of cold winds and creator of terrifying storms, Frozen Wind Tempest.
4. Ancestor of the Blue Flame – Master of fire, the Hellfire Scorcher.
5. Ancestor of Deadly Shadows – Wielder of shadows for offense and stealth, Lord of Lethal Shadows.
6. Ancestor of the Golden Spear – Skilled in long-range combat, Golden Spear Hawk.
7. Ancestor of the Iron Knight – Possesses an unbreakable iron defense, Iron Mountain.
8. Ancestor of the Sacred Light – Uses light for healing and attack, Servant of Holy Light.
9. Ancestor of the Swift Storm – Controls wind speed like lightning, Swift Skybird.
10. Ancestor of the Falling Star – Summons stellar explosions and celestial radiation, Celestial Ruler.
11. Ancestor of the Dark Purple – Commands dark energy and shadows, King of Darkness.
12. Ancestor of the Sacred Shield – Crafts unbreachable spiritual shields, Fate's Guardian.
13. Ancestor of the Radiant Dawn – Uses healing light and attacks with the power of dawn, Dawn's Servant.
14. Ancestor of the Deep Abyss – Manipulates spiritual forces and opens dimensions, Abyss Summoner.
15. Ancestor of Crimson Blood – Masters blood-based combat techniques, Bloodlord.
16. Ancestor of Dark Riddles – Manipulates time and dimensions, Mystery Master.
17. Ancestor of Sword Formations – Controls all types of swords and crafts multi-layered sword attacks, Ultimate Swordmaster.
In that moment, Ryan was in awe of the titles and powers revealed by the system. His vision for the future of his strength was beginning to take form in vivid detail. There was no time to dwell further; his meridians were fully opening, granting him new spiritual power, and allowing him to channel energy far greater than before.
Suddenly, the system's voice returned:
[Your progress is unprecedented! You can now absorb more spiritual energy.]
Ryan smiled as he lifted his gaze toward the future, offering his respects to the grand secrets that would accompany him on his journey. This was only the beginning—his path toward true power had just begun.
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🔥 End of Chapter 🔥