The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the rocky plains as the crocodile demon tribe began to stir. Arthul stood atop a jagged outcrop, his golden eyes fixed on the rising sun as it painted the sky in hues of pink and gold. The cool morning breeze ruffled his scales—the air crisp, filled with the quiet promise of a new day.
His body thrummed with power, the lingering energy from the Second-Grade (Low-Level) monster he had consumed still coursing through his veins. Every muscle was taut, his senses sharpened, and his blood pulsed with vitality. He could feel himself edging closer to the peak of the Blood Awakening realm, each heartbeat strengthening him.
But it wasn't enough.
If his tribe was to rise above the others and thrive in this brutal world, they needed more than brute strength—they needed evolution. They had to break past the Blood Awakening realm and reach the Bloodline Tempering realm, a threshold of power that would elevate them from contenders to dominators within the demon race.
He closed his eyes, summoning the ancient teachings of his people.
Demon cultivation was a path carved through bloodline power and spiritual evolution. Each realm unlocked a deeper connection to one's ancestral roots, awakening abilities tied to their lineage. The Blood Awakening realm was the beginning—where one learned to stir the latent strength within their blood, enhancing their physical form and primal resilience.
But true power began with tempering.
The Bloodline Tempering realm refined that raw heritage, allowing qi to merge seamlessly with bloodline power. Those who reached it could summon the strength of their ancestors, wield elemental might, and command the forces of nature as extensions of their will.
Beyond that lay the Blood Core Formation realm, where bloodline and qi coalesced into a Blood Core—a spiritual nucleus enabling mastery of advanced techniques and personal domains of power.
And yet... his tribe remained shackled to the first step.
Their ancestral cultivation technique, Blood of the Abyssal Tide, was powerful, yes—rooted in crocodilian heritage, emphasizing endurance, water affinity, and primal might. But it was incomplete. Its fourth and final known chapter, The Reptilian Resilience, marked a hard ceiling. No crocodile demon had ever used it to step beyond Blood Awakening.
But Arthul was not like those before him.
He had a secret weapon—a mysterious power that returned his offerings a hundredfold. It had already gifted him the meat of a stronger beast... and now, it would be the key to lifting his people from stagnation to supremacy.
He turned away from the sunrise and descended the outcrop. A squad of guards fell into formation around him—loyal warriors, their scales gleaming in the light. Together, they made their way through the waking settlement, toward the training grounds.
There, among the rough terrain and dust-kissed stones, the young trained under the watchful eyes of the Elders. Their scales were duller, their bodies smaller, but their eyes burned with youthful determination. They practiced the fundamentals of the Blood of the Abyssal Tide, their movements clumsy but driven.
Elder Torak, a grizzled veteran, barked instructions. "Focus your breathing! Feel your bloodline stir! Let the water guide your limbs—slow, strong, inevitable!"
As Arthul approached, the children froze, then bowed deeply. Even Torak inclined his head, voice respectful.
"Leader Arthul. What brings you to the grounds so early?"
Arthul smiled, his gaze warm but firm. "I had time to spare. I thought I might observe the training. Perhaps share a few insights."
Torak's brows lifted in surprise, but he nodded quickly. "Your wisdom would be a great gift."
Arthul stepped forward, addressing the wide-eyed youths. "Blood of the Abyssal Tide is our legacy—power that flows through your veins. It grants strength, endurance, and connection to water, but it is not just a technique. It is a reflection of our spirit. To master it, you must understand it—deeply, completely."
He knelt among them, guiding them through the foundational chapters—The Abyssal Blood Stirring, then The Crocodile's Patience. He spoke of the discipline needed to awaken dormant bloodline powers, of the serenity that came with sensing the currents within.
A few of the young ones began to glow faintly with qi resonance. Their movements grew fluid, their breathing synchronized with the pulse of their heritage. Sparks of comprehension flickered in their eyes.
Pleased, Arthul retrieved several scrolls from his satchel—skin-bound and inked with teachings from the previous host of his body. He handed them to the most promising students. Their eyes lit up with wonder, gratitude brimming in every gesture.
Ding! The host has given knowledge of the Blood of the Abyssal Tide technique to loyal subordinates. Triggering a hundredfold return—obtained upgraded skin scrolls containing advanced insights.
A jolt of energy pulsed through Arthul. Within his system storage, a wave of newly enhanced scrolls materialized—vastly superior, imbued with profound understanding and refined principles.
His mind raced as he mentally unrolled one. The technique had transformed.
Not only had its cultivation speed increased significantly, but a new chapter had emerged—The Tide-Blood Resonance, the bridge to the Bloodline Tempering realm.
Arthul's heart thundered. This was it—the missing path.
With this, the ceiling that had shackled his people for generations could be shattered. His tribe could finally rise beyond their limitations. Their future was no longer confined to brute strength and endurance—it could now encompass elemental mastery, ancestral summoning, and the shaping of nature itself.
He closed his eyes and breathed in the morning air.