As Zhou Fan stood in the awakening hall, surrounded by the elders of the four great families, a solemn atmosphere filled the room. When the faint silver radiance emerged from his body, forming the ethereal silhouette of a crescent moon behind him, a murmur spread among the gathered cultivators.
"Moonshade Bloodline… the second to last worst bloodline," the elders thought in unison, their expressions barely concealing their disappointment.
The elder of the Hu Clan scoffed, his voice laced with condescension. "He is quite lucky to have even awakened a bloodline at all."
The words stung, but Zhou Fan remained silent. In his past life, despite being only Rank 7, he had defied all expectations. With sheer determination, he had forged his path, cultivating his bloodline beyond its limits and developing techniques that left even those with superior inheritances in awe. Though his talent had been mocked, he had once stood atop the battlefield.
The Academic Elder's voice echoed through the hall, his tone neutral yet firm. "Zhou Fan has awakened a bloodline. Next, we have Zhu Ming from the Zhu Family."
A tall youth with broad shoulders stepped forward. Compared to the others, Zhu Ming's physique was notably robust, exuding a natural sense of power. With steady steps, he ascended the Awakening Mountain, his movements filled with ease and confidence.
The first twenty steps passed effortlessly beneath his feet, the pressure barely affecting him. As he crossed the thirtieth step, a faint tremor ran through the mountain, but he remained unfazed. However, the moment he reached the fortieth step, a sharp clang rang out. Chains materialized around him, wrapping around his limbs one after another, each link exuding a suppressive force that sought to halt his advance.
The gathered elders nodded in approval, watching closely. The true test of Zhu Ming's potential had begun.
Zhu Ming gritted his teeth, enduring the crushing force of the chains. With unwavering determination, he pushed forward, each step shaking the mountain. At the 52nd step, his body erupted with a surge of energy, breaking the chains in an instant. A deep, primal aura burst forth, fluctuating between overwhelming strength and fleeting weakness.
The hall fell silent. Then, the Academic Elder's voice rang out in astonishment. "PRIMAL ORIGIN BLOODLINE! What a talent!"
Among the known bloodlines, there were 20 rare bloodlines and 10 common ones, but none could compare to the Primal Origin Bloodline. It was the most revered, the pinnacle of versatility. Unlike others, which bound cultivators to a predetermined path, this bloodline granted absolute freedom. Zhu Ming could choose any path he desired, and if he found it lacking, he could abandon it for another—or even forge an entirely new path of his own. The sheer potential of such a bloodline was immeasurable, a treasure that countless cultivators could only dream of.
The Zhu Family Elder burst into laughter, his voice filled with pride and arrogance. "Ha! My son has greater talent than all of yours!" His words echoed, his expression smug as he looked at the other elders.
The other elders, though silent, couldn't hide the envy in their eyes. Their own sons had awakened rare bloodlines, yet compared to the Primal Origin Bloodline, their talents seemed far less dazzling. This bloodline had too many advantages—unmatched versatility, limitless potential—but how could anything exist without flaws? No power was without its burdens.
As the awakening ceremony came to an end, the results became clear. Some youths had awakened bloodlines, stepping onto the path of cultivation, while others stood frozen in despair. Those who failed left with their dreams shattered, forced to accept their fate as ordinary mortals.
For those who succeeded, their journey had only just begun. Each received a Rank One Qi foundation Pill, a precious resource to help their bodies begin harnessing qi. Along with it, they were granted a basic cultivation technique, the first step toward absorbing qi and stepping into the vast world of cultivation.
Zhou fan went back to his home after awakening ceremony his house was dusty and looked very old he sat down on his bed as he instantly took out the pill and ate it his body started to absorb qi itself as a spirot core was formed in his body
Zhou Fan sat cross-legged, his expression calm and unwavering. "In this life, I will use the Netherworld Reversal Absorption Technique."
As he activated the technique, the surrounding qi trembled and surged toward him, flowing in reverse, defying natural order. Unlike normal cultivators who guided qi gently into their dantian, Zhou Fan's technique forced it inward, breaking down impurities and refining it instantly.
A sharp pressure built within his body as his meridians twisted unnaturally. Blood seeped from his seven orifices—his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth—yet his face remained impassive. His breathing was steady, his heart unshaken.
The pain was immense, but he did not flinch. Instead, his body adapted, his qi pathways forcefully adjusting to the new flow. Within his dantian, the chaotic energy refined itself, forming a solid foundation far stronger than before.
Others might have screamed in agony. Zhou Fan simply continued cultivating.
In an instant, Zhou Fan's entire body trembled as the qi within him reversed, flowing with chaotic force. His dantian, once clear and unblemished, now displayed a striking sight—half black and half white, a swirling balance of opposites. This was the true power of the Netherworld Reversal Absorption Technique. The black symbolized the chaotic, untamed energy he was absorbing, while the white represented the purified qi, steadily integrating with his meridians.
Zhou Fan's mind flashed back to his previous life. A man named Xian Zhao, a legendary cultivator, had been the one to create this technique. "Whoever uses this technique," he had stated, "will gain unimaginable benefits." But at that time, Zhou Fan had been unable to use it. His body, ranked only at Level 7, was far too weak to handle such a technique. The natural flow of qi had been established within him for too long, and reversing it would have shattered his foundations, quite literally. Using the technique back then would have been like choosing death.
Now, however, the situation was different. He was just beginning to absorb qi, but the strain on his body was still immense. His seven orifices bled, yet Zhou Fan remained perfectly composed, his focus unbroken. The pain coursed through him, but he understood its purpose. Every drop of blood lost, every ounce of agony was shaping his path, molding him into a stronger cultivator.
The benefits of this technique would come later, but only if he could endure now.