The ancestor smiled, a mix of approval and anticipation in his expression. "Then prepare yourself, Ares. The path of cultivation is long, and your journey has only just begun."
"Now that I've told you the basics of the cultivation world, let me explain what our bloodline consists of," said the ancestor, his voice filled with both pride and sorrow. Ares tilted his head slightly, his eyes sharp, like a predator waiting.
However, before the ancestor could continue, Ares interrupted, his curiosity overflowing: "Ancestor, you said you mentioned only the main things. Are there other things beyond what you've told me?"
A small smile formed on the ancestor's lips. "Exactly. In the world of cultivation, there are many paths, many arts and crafts that can be followed. There are alchemists, masters of creating pills and elixirs; blacksmiths, who forge legendary weapons and armor; and many other paths. However, these are things you will have to discover on your own. If I tried to explain everything now, it would take days, maybe weeks. It's better for you to understand them through experience, little by little. Now, let me continue with the explanation of our bloodline."
Ares nodded, although part of him wanted to know more. Curiosity burned inside him, but the ancestor's firm tone convinced him to remain silent.
"The abilities of our bloodline are closely tied to time and understanding," the ancestor began, his tone filled with reverence. "Our clan was one of the most feared in the cultivation world. In battles, with our special eyes, we could see a few seconds into the future. The more our cultivation grew, the longer we could see. For example, I could see up to 9.3333 seconds into the future."
Ares listened carefully, but his mind couldn't help but doubt. "Only nine seconds?" he asked, puzzled.
The ancestor smiled. "From a mortal's point of view, nine seconds might seem like nothing. But you must understand that, at high levels of cultivation, in nine seconds, thousands, even millions of moves can happen. In those moments, nine seconds is an eternity. Do you understand now?"
Ares was speechless. The thought of how much could happen in just a few moments left him in awe.
"And don't think our abilities are limited to this," the ancestor continued. "Our bloodline also allows us to understand laws and techniques more easily than others. Also, the longer a battle lasts, the more advantage we gain. The ability to quickly predict and analyze an opponent's moves is what made us unbeatable."
"And what if someone loses an eye?" Ares asked, suddenly curious.
"Ah, even if we lost both eyes, our spiritual sense remains," the ancestor replied with a smile. "The spiritual sense is even more useful than sight. With it, we can perceive everything, from the position of an opponent to the slightest changes in the surrounding energy."
At that moment, the ancestor took on a more serious tone. "But let me tell you about the most powerful ability of our bloodline. Those who reach the limit of our bloodline and a very high level of cultivation can acquire the power to travel through time."
Ares's eyes widened, filled with amazement and hope. "So, in the future, I'll be able to travel through time? Then I can save my mother!"
The ancestor sighed deeply, his face darkening. "No, Ares. That's not possible. In a single timeline, two versions of the same person cannot coexist. If you tried to enter a time where a version of you already exists, that timeline would be destroyed by the celestial laws. And you would be annihilated."
The spark in Ares's eyes vanished instantly. "But… what if I could save her in another timeline?"
"Even if you succeeded, that salvation would only exist in that timeline. In your reality, your mother would still be dead. Also, traveling to another time requires a huge price, and you cannot stay there too long without risking being destroyed."
The ancestor's words struck Ares like a whip. A brief hope, followed by a deeper pain. Tears began to silently fall down his face. He tried to hold back his sobs, but the emotion overwhelmed him.
The ancestor watched him in silence, trying to comfort him with kind words. However, every attempt was in vain. Minutes passed before Ares calmed down. When he finally looked up, the ancestor was surprised. The young man's eyes were no longer those of a child. Something in him had changed. The pain seemed to have consumed every emotion, leaving him cold and determined.
"Ares, are you okay?" asked the ancestor, with a hint of concern.
Ares responded firmly, without hesitation. "Yes, ancestor. Continue the explanation. I want to know more about our bloodline."
The ancestor paused, hesitating for a moment. Then he nodded. "Alright. But remember, Ares, the path of cultivation is a difficult one, full of suffering. Every step forward will require sacrifice, but also great willpower. If you plan to walk this path, you must be ready for anything."
Ares didn't respond. He looked at the ancestor with steady eyes, as if to say he didn't need any warnings. Inside him, a flame burned with a fierceness he had never felt before. The world could try to crush him, but he would resist. This was only the beginning of his journey.