The fire crackled low in the hearth. Outside, the village slept. Inside, the weight of revelations still hung heavy in the air.
Yoon-Hee sat quietly, her fingers tracing the edge of the Crimson Serpent Elixir. My father leaned forward, his face grim. "A bloodline of the gods?" he repeated, his voice rough with disbelief.
The Seer nodded. "The Celestial Phoenix Lineage. It's why the bandits took her village — they must have sensed it. Such power… is never left alone."
Yoon-Hee's hands trembled, but she kept her voice steady. "They killed everyone. My parents. My brother." She took a breath. "I never understood why. Until now."
I reached for her hand, and she squeezed back — a silent promise.
Then the Seer turned to my sister.
"And you, Seol-Ah… you carry something even rarer. A bloodline one in ten million."
My little sister blinked, wide-eyed. "I-I do?"
"The Starlight Vein," the Seer said softly. "A bloodline of wisdom and power. You may not understand it yet — but one day, the heavens themselves will take notice."
My mother's hand flew to her mouth, tears brimming. My father sat back heavily, his face pale.
"And you, Seol-Yeong," the Seer continued, her silver eyes meeting mine. "Yours… is beyond any bloodline."
The room fell silent.
"You are the bearer of the Primordial Ascent — a power older than gods, older than creation itself. It is a power of limitless growth." She paused. "But power like this always comes with a cost."
I already knew that. And I didn't care.
"Tell me what I need to do," I said.
---
Martial Levels and Progression:
Seol-Yeong (15)
Martial Level: Iron Stage, Peak (One step from Bronze)
Bloodline: Primordial Ascent (Unawakened)
Cultivation Manual: Heaven-Severing Manual (Divine Rank, Beyond God)
Weapon: Moonshadow Blade (Heavenly Artifact)
Techniques:
Heaven-Severing Strike (Unmastered)
Silent Fang Step (Earth Rank)
Iron Reaper Claw (Low Rank)
Seo Yoon-Hee (14)
Martial Level: Iron Stage, Mid
Bloodline: Celestial Phoenix Lineage (Unawakened)
Cultivation Manual: Azure Lotus Scripture (Heavenly Rank)
Weapon: Frostpetal Dagger (Spirit Artifact)
Techniques:
Phoenix Flame Dance (Unmastered)
Lotus Blooming Steps (Earth Rank)
Frost Needle Strike (Low Rank)
Seol-Ah (8)
Martial Level: Untrained (But with massive potential)
Bloodline: Starlight Vein (Unawakened)