Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Were they actually friends? Not really. Maybe if Ryu actually had cultivation, he would have killed that bastard long ago.

As for why Ryu was still living right now, that was even more obvious. He was the Scion of the Tatsuya Clan, how could a brat from the Deep Eruption Sect dare to kill him?

It was quite funny because this was the first time Ryu had ever even joked about him being a friend. If he had remembered that young man a few weeks ago, it would have probably been fleeting before he ignored it. Or, he could have very well decided that he would kill him the moment he saw him.

The two had never had a friendly talk even once.

Back when they were both just boys, Ryu's sharp tongue did nothing but dress him down. At the same time, he always had a quip about Ryu's lack of cultivation back when Ryu was the most sensitive about it. How could they have not grown to hate each other?

But, when Ryu reflected back on it now… That was the only relationship he had that wasn't related to family, and he couldn't be considered a true enemy either.

Ryu wondered if he was still alive. 900 million years might have been not much to the Shrine Plane, but to the Blossom Plane, and especially the Pedestal Plane, very few if any could live so long.

From what Ryu knew, that man's talent wasn't very great. He was born with Earth Grade Meridians and the Earth Grade Eruption Bloodline. However, his Bone Structure was only Black Grade. His best point was his Spiritual Foundation, which was at the Heaven Grade—something he never let Ryu forget.

But, this talent pretty much made the Path Extinction Realm his peak. It would take an extraordinary amount of luck and fortuitous encounters for him to go beyond that, let alone live 900 million years.

To make matters worse, there was the elephant in the room that Ryu had been ignoring all this time… For the Deep Eruption Sect to have survived for so long, even seemingly being intact like this… There was a high likelihood that there was betrayal. If not, why were they in a much better situation than the Awoken Moon Sect that was far more powerful than them?

If there was betrayal…

Ryu sighed. That man was the son of the Sect Leader. It wouldn't be surprising if he was involved in all of this. In fact, it was highly likely.

Ryu shook his head, finally beginning to pay attention to his surroundings in earnest. But, what he found was Isemeine staring at him as though she wanted to take a bite out of his throat.

He had been standing there for several seconds ignoring everything that was around him. In fact, had it not been for Isemeine's presence, the Elders who had been tasked with greeting the new arrivals would have already killed him in a rage. Or… Rather, they would have tried to kill him.

The only reason Ryu would enter such an absentminded state was because he couldn't sense any threat around him, and there was nothing that could hide from his [Third Perspective]. It would have been a pipe dream for Elders regulated to the Blossom Plane to handle him.

"Hello?!"

Ryu finally looked Isemeine in the eye. "What is it?"

Seeing Isemeine's reaction to these words, one would have thought that Ryu had just insulted her mother. She lunged forward, going for his throat with every intention of ripping it out. But, midway, something took control of her body and her lunge became a hug.

The Elders, who had been furious along with Isemeine, suddenly didn't know how to react with her wrapping herself around him like some sort of koala bear.

Isemeine froze in place. It seemed that she had forgotten that Eska could take control of her body whenever the latter wanted…

With slow movements, as though trying to play it cool, Isemeine climbed down from Ryu's body and raised a fist to her lips as she cleared her throat.

"Ahem. Yes, yes. This is a new recruit we are attempting to bring to our side. Please give him the explanations he needs."

Isemeine patted down her tracksuit, clearing it of wrinkles before clasping her hands behind her back like a mature overseer.

The lips of the Elders twitched. They couldn't quite understand what was going on here and why, but they knew better than to question it. Whenever they saw anyone with white-gold hair and eyes, silver hair and eyes, or crimson hair and eyes, they knew it was a person they couldn't afford to offend.

"Right…"

An Elder wearing red robes with black embroidery took the lead. They all wore the same clothing and it hadn't changed at all from the original Deep Eruption Sect attire… Except for the fac the emblem of the Tatsuya Clan was nowhere to be seen.

"… Yes… You have two choices. The first is to leave through here and return to where you came from. The second choice is to join the Martial Gods.

"Should you choose the second, you will be subordinated to one of the Martial Gods' subordinate Clans, among which include our Deep Eruption Sect. From such a position, you will be able to work your way up the rankings of Apostles by completing your assigned missions and eventually reach the Martial Plane should you display enough promise.

"Your recruitment pipeline began with the Silver Touch branch, so you will be treated accordingly. This is just a convenient hub. Should you choose to accept, you will be taken to a subordinate Clan under the control of the Silver Touch as we are under the control the Berserk branch.

"Of course, should you prefer to switch to a different branch, you can attempt to do so. But, please keep in mind that you have only passed the test of the Silver Touch, so if you want to join another branch, you will have to take another."

The Elder finished his explanation and waited for an answer, but Ryu instead turned to Isemeine.

"Didn't I say so already? Bring me to the Martial Plane. I plan on becoming your Throne."