Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Ryu cast a glance upward, but he didn't seem too surprised by the appearance of this person. This old man had been following him around for years already, he only vanished after Ryu went off to the Moon World. Now, he was back again.

Of course, this old man was Godefride's father, Aberardus Hastam. He was a man who was able to take control of the Hastam Clan's situation the moment he returned and even forced them to have to scheme and trip over themselves using underhanded means to try to reclaim this strength.

It was clear that this man was powerful. In fact, at a glance, Ryu could see that he was at the Peak of the World Sea Realm, no different from King Adonis. The difference was that Aberardus was much, much, much older than King Adonis was. In fact, Aberardus had already experienced trillions of years of life. At this point, it was either he became a Sky God or he died.

From what Ryu could see, Aberardus wasn't bad indeed. In fact, he was probably stronger than about 95% of most Peak World Sea Realm experts. He was about a step below where Ryu's Grandpa Tatsuya and Kunan had been when they were a live, but he was a step above where Ryu's Grandma Kunan and Tatsuya had been.

With that perspective, while it wasn't a guarantee that he would become a Sky God, it wasn't an impossibility either. He probably had about a 10% chance at his current level. But, it would all depend on his luck and a moment of enlightenment.

Aberardus immediately felt uncomfortable beneath Ryu's gaze, something that left him baffled.

Him, feeling uncomfortable beneath the gaze of a junior? What kind of bullshit was this? Also, where was the surprise? Why did this brat act like he had known that he was here the entire time? Which bastard exposed him? Was it that unfilial son of his again?

Aberardus shook his head. Rather than losing the initiative, he decided to firmly grasp it. He had been led by the nose at the hands of this little bastard for too long. No more!

"I'll take you to see Supreme Blacksmith Okie, he owes me a favor. But, you'd do well to watch your tone in his presence. If he heard these words you said, he would rather harm his Dao by ignoring the favor he owes me instead of helping you."

Aberardus put on a fierce expression as though trying to intimidate Ryu. But, what happened next left him quite stunned.

Ryu cupped his fists together and bowed slightly.

"Then I'll thank senior in advance for this favor. I will do what I can to repay it."

Caught off guard, Aberardus blushed a bit. He hadn't expected this brat to know how to be respectful sometimes, he was completely baffled. Was this really the same Ryu who threatened to kill a World Sea Realm expert just a few weeks ago?

If it wasn't for a sudden snort of laughter, Aberardus had no idea how long he would have been stuck in such an embarrassing state.

He sent a glare over toward his son who simply looked away, pretending as though he hadn't done anything.

No longer having the face to stay here, Aberardus flashed forward and grabbed Ryu's shoulder. Before anyone could react, they had both vanished, leaving Godefride's bursting fit of laughter behind.

Eustis and Sabelle didn't dare to laugh so openly at a Peak World Sea Realm expert, but they still covered their mouths as their shoulders trembled. Who knew that Patriarch Hastam actually had such an adorable side to him?

Ailsa stayed behind with Yaana, not wanting her to be alone. She too couldn't help but smile at the situation. Only her Ryu could make a World Sea Realm expert react like this.

…

Despite the speed Aberardus was moving at, Ryu's eyes didn't have much of a problem keeping up at all. Though, if not for Aberardus' protective qi covering his body, it was likely that he would have already been ripped to shreds. This alone painted just how amazing the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth Pupils were.

Not long later, the two of them had entered the main Armament Guild City, a magnificent behemoth that entirely dwarfed the nine cities orbiting around it.

Aberardus shifted through the void without much care for the city's rules, but he, of course, had the right to do so. Within the walls of the city, though, it felt very much like they had entered an entirely new world and environment. It was quite the shocking scene.

Soon, they reached the entrance of a Sect which Aberardus bypassed with ease. Once more, it felt like they had entered a new pocket of space.

With a single step, Aberardus crossed an enormous distance, appearing at the foot of a vast mountain.

The pair now stood between two mountains connected by the archway of a gate. Despite the fact there didn't seem to be any barriers, it felt as though they were staring into nothingness.

Of course, this was just for a normal individual. Ryu felt that if he adjusted his focus just a minor touch, he would be able to see through this veil. However, this time, he didn't do so.

Just because he didn't fear Sky Gods didn't mean he was a fool. He wouldn't antagonize one for no reason, nor would he paint a target on his back either. A lesser expert might not be able to tell, but a Sky God, even one who built their Godhood on Blacksmithing, wasn't to be trifled with.

"Senior, this junior has come to make a humble request of you."

Aberardus spoke neither too softly nor too loudly. He knew that for an expert on the level of a Sky God, especially an existence that relied on their Spiritual Sense as much as a Blacksmith, there was no way their appearance would have gone unnoticed.

"Brat Aberardus, don't tell me that you've come to have me forge a weapon for this kid? If that's the case, you can scram."

Aberardus was speechless. What was wrong with this old man?

Wait, why was his hand suddenly empty?

Aberardus turned his head to find that Ryu was already walking away.

'What the fuck… This kid's temper…'

Supreme Blacksmith Okie sounded like he wanted to speak more when he too suddenly sensed when Ryu what doing. At that moment, despite being stunned, Okie burst into a fit of laughter.

With a wave of his hand, the empty void before them vanished to reveal a path.

"I change my mind, hurry up. This old man doesn't have all day."