The soul continued, "So you should understand how you will have to cultivate, and that this is the only way you will be able to walk the path of Qi cultivation. For now, you will have to kill to cultivate and grow stronger. This is only until you are able to open the required void gates. These void gates are really important, they will be the key to your cultivation in the future."
"There are 9 void gates which are connected to actual voids in the universe. Heaven's will and control are only limited to planetary bodies and the voids around them. Even the heavens can't govern all of the boundless and seamless void. That's where the Heathen's Way draws its power. The mastery of void. Each void gate is connected to a supervoid which has its own properties. These void gates should be opened only when you reach a certain level. Opening each void gate gives you an immense power boost, however it also brings a great pressure on your body. So only use each gate when your body is strong enough to handle it."
"The 9 gates are
Obsidian Void Gate
Desolate Void Gate
Nebulous Void Gate
Abyss Void Gate
Ethereal Void Gate
Forsaken Void Gate
Primordial Void Gate
Timeless Void Gate
Infinite Void gate" the soul had finally finished explaining everything.
"Jiji, how many gates can I open right now" Ryan was really curious to know how strong his body was since he had broken through to Physique Blood Transmutation.
"Gates?! You overestimate your strength brat. You can only open the Obsidian Void Gate and that too only for 3 seconds. Anymore than that would strain your physical body and profound veins. And if you try to open the Desolate Void Gate, your body will instantly blow up."
Ryan gulped and had sweat running down his back as he was just thinking of opening 2-3 gates to check his strength.
Knock*
"Young Master, it's the time for the ceremony. You have to be there with family head to greet other noble families." Ingird's voice came through the door.
"Tell father that I will be there shortly" Ryan replied.
"Yes, Young Master", Ingrid walked away wondering why Ryan was talking to himself before.
"Brat, I will warn you again. Whatever happens don't reveal your chaos dragon spirit, even if you feel like showing off. You will only invite a catastrophe if it gets revealed." The heathen soul sounded uneasy.
"Yeah yeah I get it" Ryan changed into a clean set of clothes and immediately left for arena of the family castle. He was strangely excited to get to the ceremony. "Since even some noble families are coming, I wonder if anyone from royal family would also be there."
-----
The family arena was already filled with people by the time Ryan arrived. Awakening ceremony of noble children was highly celebrated as everyone wanted to know how strong the future of a noble family will be. Other noble families would send their representatives to attend the ceremony and check out the competition they might face in the future.
The arena was surrounded by seats on three sides and on the north side was an elevated platform for all the heads of the noble families and other important dignitaries.
Ryan's father Lucifer was sitting on the main seat. Red, straight hair which almost fully covers a long, time-worn face. Glittering sapphire eyes, set sunken within their sockets, looking down on everyone else. A sword left a mark stretching from the bottom of the right cheekbone, ending above his right eye made him look all the more intimidating.
The heads of Cherub, Bestia, Emhyr and Necromi noble families were sitting next to him. Each family head was accompanied by the younger generation member of their family. Of course, the ones who accompanied them were the most talented members of their family. This was so that they can compare the youth of each family with their own.
Ryan directly headed for the elevated stage to stand beside his father. He felt a headache coming on thinking about how he would have to deal with snotty brats of other families. As soon as Ryan's father saw him coming, his intimidating aura vanished. Lucifer started smiling "Ryan, where were you? Other family heads were waiting to meet you. Oi Darrion, look my son is now taller than even you. Also, isn't he looking handsome just like me, I am sure he will also attract many beauties. Oh since we are talking about beauties, say Darrion, didn't your wife run away?"
Ryan looked towards the Cherub family's head, Darrion. He was the fat dwarf. Darrion's face had turned red from Lucifer's comments. Standing beside him was his son, same as Ryan's age who glared daggers at Ryan even though this was the first time they met. "Hmph, so what if he is tall. I heard that he couldn't go through soul cleansing because profound Qi wouldn't even get absorbed in his body. So in the future he will just be a trash who couldn't cultivate. How can any beauty be attracted to a worthless person?"
Darrion was smiling proudly while looking at his son. But he still had to reprimand his son to keep up the act. "Dale, apologize to Ryan. Didn't I teach you to be kind and helpful towards the weak and worthless?"
All of a sudden, the temperature in the whole arena started dropping, everyone present became silent. Ryan knew his father was angry and wanted to stop him but it was too late. Lucifer's silhouette flashed and appeared right in front of Darrion, he swung his hand and slapped Darrion so hard that he broke his chair and flew directly into the wall behind him. Darrion's fat body got imprinted in the wall. Once Darrion got himself out, he was enraged, "You madman, I'll break all your fucking bones today". Just when he was about to attack…
"Father stop this. How can you do such a thing?! Didn't grandfather teach you to be kind and helpful towards the weak and worthless? Apologize to family head Darrion right now." Ryan shouted towards his father who was also getting ready to attack. He knew his father was a little hard headed and would start a fight.
Laughter was immediately heard from the other family's heads. All the people present there wanted to laugh but no one else would dare to. Dale who initially got scared due to Lucifer's aura found the courage to retaliate as soon as he understood Ryan's actual meaning. "You trash, who are you calling weak?"
"All of you better stop this right now. Do both of you not see that you are making a fool out of yourself in front of everyone? Lucifer you better get out the wine you got from Eastern Draw continent as an apology to Darrion. And Darrion you better teach your son not to interrupt when elders are talking." Emhyr family's head, August Emhyr placated the both of them. He was the bald guy who frequently came over to drink wine with Ryan's father.
"These two idiots don't change at all" sighed the family head of Bestia family. Viola was the head of the wealthiest family which had businesses and auction houses all over the Radiance kingdom.
Dèvel family had a close relationship with Emhyr family, but was often at odds with Cherub and Necromi families. Bestia family usually didn't indulge in any rivalries and had a good relationship with all the families. They usually took a neutral stance when it came to any conflict between families.
"Lucifer, hurry up and call your daughter so we can get started with the ceremony. I only came here to see your daughter's spirit. After all everyone here knows that she has an inborn fiery spirit constitution." Ryan shivered when he heard this voice. It belonged to Havok Necromi, who looked like a skinny bag of bones. His voice sounded like two metals grating against each other,
"Alright alright. I'll get the wine as an apology. Ingrid, go get the wine and also call Zahia here immediately." Lucifer wasn't surprised that others knew about his daughter's talent. Royal family's doctor had checked her constitution which is why everybody knew about it.
The heathen soul asked Ryan in his soul sea, 'Brat your sister has a fiery spirit constitution?! It appears that your sister would have much easier path of cultivation than you.'
'Of course, everyone else can take it easy but me', Ryan could only helplessly curse. 'But I am still glad that Zahia is so talented and anyway she worships me so-'
'Ryan, don't get alarmed but I sense two really powerful auras hidden near the arena.' The heathen soul warned, 'Although it doesn't look like they are enemies, they are just observing for now'.
'Jiji don't worry my grandfather is here. Not many people are as powerful as him in this kingdom.'
'They are much stronger than your grandfather. Just don't do anything that might expose Heathen's way or your spirit.'