Free Web NovelChapter 22: The Ancestor Hidden Within Blood
The Ancestor Hidden Within Blood
The instant the blood contract shattered into crimson fragments, the last trace of hope vanished from Harrier Ravencreast’s eyes.
His expression twisted violently.
Fear gave way to despair.
Despair transformed into madness.
"VICTOR!"
"YOU’VE GONE TOO FAR!"
His furious roar echoed throughout the meeting hall.
The next instant, he exploded from the ground like a starving tiger.
Boom!
True Spiritual Power erupted from his body.
A massive phantom tiger claw condensed in midair, carrying enough force to split boulders as it tore toward Victor’s head.
The attack was swift.
Decisive.
Desperate.
Harrier knew this was his only chance.
If he could kill Victor before the Ashthorn Family’s hidden trump card revealed itself, perhaps the Ravencreast Family still had a sliver of hope.
Unfortunately...
Victor never even looked at him.
His calm golden eyes remained fixed upon Magnus Ashthorn’s motionless body.
It was as though Harrier’s full-powered attack didn’t exist.
Then Victor spoke softly.
"Old monster..."
"Have you enjoyed watching long enough?"
His voice was calm.
"So..."
"Are you still waiting to reap the benefits after everyone else has finished fighting?"
Harrier’s pupils contracted.
"What...?"
Before he could understand what Victor meant—
A brilliant golden radiance suddenly bloomed behind Victor.
The temperature throughout the hall rose sharply.
A majestic cry echoed from the heavens.
Phoenix!
A magnificent Divine Phoenix unfolded its blazing wings behind Victor.
Every feather shimmered like forged divine gold.
Ancient runes danced across its body.
Its mere presence made the surrounding space tremble.
Boundless divine might descended upon the hall.
The overwhelming aura suppressed everything beneath it.
The phoenix slowly flapped its wings.
Only once. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Whoosh—
The world blurred.
Harrier’s vision spun uncontrollably.
He instinctively blinked.
Then...
He saw a familiar body standing a few meters away.
Headless.
Blood sprayed endlessly from its neck.
For a brief moment, confusion filled his mind.
"Whose body is that...?"
Then realization struck like lightning.
"That..."
"That’s my body."
Thud.
A human head rolled across the stone floor.
Its eyes remained wide open, frozen in disbelief.
It rolled several times before finally coming to a stop beside Magnus Ashthorn.
Silence.
Absolute silence filled the meeting hall.
Victor hadn’t even turned around.
He had killed Harrier Ravencreast with a single movement while keeping his attention elsewhere.
His expression remained indifferent.
Almost bored.
He slowly shifted his gaze toward Magnus Ashthorn once more.
"Still pretending?"
His calm voice echoed softly.
"Or..."
"Do I need to drag you out myself?"
The words had barely fallen—
A horrifying scene unfolded.
Magnus Ashthorn’s mutilated body suddenly began twitching violently.
His blood-soaked flesh writhed unnaturally.
Muscles twisted beneath his skin like countless living worms.
Then—
A grotesque bulge slowly formed beneath his abdomen.
It continued growing.
Larger.
Larger.
Larger.
The skin stretched until it became almost transparent.
Beneath it...
A human face appeared.
It was old.
Sinister.
Its expression was filled with cold cruelty.
The face pressed against the flesh from inside, as though some terrifying creature were attempting to claw its way into the outside world.
Crack...
Crack...
The skin split apart.
Blood seeped from every opening.
The scene was so horrifying that even seasoned cultivators would have nightmares after witnessing it.
Then—
BOOM!
Magnus Ashthorn’s abdomen exploded.
Blood and shattered organs scattered across the meeting hall.
A thick crimson mist spread through the air.
From within that cloud of gore...
A short elderly man slowly stepped forward.
His gray hair hung loosely behind him.
His body was thin as a corpse.
His eyes glowed with an eerie crimson light.
An overwhelming aura silently spread throughout the hall.
Yet before anyone could react—
He disappeared.
Not a trace remained.
The next instant...
A cold, sinister voice whispered directly beside Victor’s ear.
The voice resembled a venomous serpent slithering across bare skin.
Disgusting.
Repulsive.
Filled with terrifying killing intent.
"The descendant of the Salvatore Family possesses excellent perception."
"I truly didn’t expect someone who had only recently broken through to discover this old man’s existence."
A dry laugh echoed softly.
"Your strength has exceeded my expectations."
"Fortunately..."
"This old man has always been cautious."
"If I had allowed you another few years to grow..."
"I truly might not have been able to suppress you."
His voice suddenly turned icy.
"But now..."
"You have only two choices."
"First..."
"Become a subordinate of my Ashthorn Family."
The terrifying pressure surrounding the hall intensified.
Every stone beneath their feet cracked apart.
Even the air seemed too heavy to breathe.
The old man’s sinister laughter echoed once again.
"Or..."
His voice paused.
Then exploded like thunder.
"DIE!"
BOOM!
An overwhelming pressure descended upon the meeting hall.
It far surpassed the Astral Manifestation Realm.
The surrounding heaven and earth trembled beneath its might.
Only then did Victor fully understand.
The Ashthorn Family’s hidden ancestor had already stepped beyond the Astral Manifestation Realm.
His cultivation...
Had reached the Half-Step Heavenly Genesis Realm.
