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.
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.