David closed his eyes, bracing for oblivion—but all he heard was a distant, muffled boom. He was still alive.
He opened his eyes to find himself enveloped in a shimmering layer of energy. The house spirit, Albert, floated beside him, his expression unreadable. They were both suspended in the air, untouched by the devastation below.
Looking down, David saw that everything within a mile of the spaceship had been vaporized, leaving a smoldering crater. He turned his curious gaze to the spirit.
"Don't overthink it," Albert said dismissively. "This realm was forged by my lord. The self-destruction of a mere SSS-grade spaceship cannot damage it. Now, let us return."
With a flick of the spirit's hand, they reappeared beside the blood pond—which, to David's surprise, was now full again, its surface glowing with a deep, potent light.
"The blood you first used awakened and reconstructed your bloodline," Albert explained. "Now, this pond will serve as your regular training resource. As for the monster blood and flesh you collected, they will act as nutrients to further refine your lineage. The specifics of your bloodline will become clearer as you grow stronger."
He fixed David with a stern look. "You may wonder why I sent you to collect those corpses. Was it a test? No. In this world, nothing is free. Everything has a price—one we often don't see until it's time to pay. Even this inheritance carries a cost you may not yet understand. Your survival depends on your own persistence.
"Therefore, rely on no one but yourself. Be vigilant. Develop your own strength. Otherwise, you will remain as you were days ago: waiting for a rescue that never comes. Luck is a fleeting shield. One bad day can destroy everything."
A wave of loneliness washed over David. His eyes grew moist, but the thirteen-year-old clenched his fists, forcing the emotion down.
Seeing this, Albert's tone softened slightly. "Do not misunderstand. I am here to guide and protect you on your journey. You are not alone. As you grow stronger and venture into new worlds, you will find comrades. Family… is not something we choose. But friends are. There may also be sides to your story you do not yet know. To uncover the truth, you need strength. In this universe, only one language is spoken: power."
"For now, rest. Choose a room and sleep. Tomorrow, a long journey begins."
David took a deep breath, his fighting spirit rekindled by the promise of truth. "Spirit… What should I call you? 'House spirit' feels odd."
"My name is Albert. The lord gave it to me when I first gained consciousness. You may use it."
"Alright, Albert. Then… let's see what we found in those space rings."
David spent the next few hours emptying over a thousand rings. Many held ancient, damaged items, but others contained treasures: piles of weapons and armor, strange fruits, cultivation resources, and energy cells for starships. Some even held intact spaceships—all A-Grade or higher, including ten pristine, unregistered SSS-Grade vessels.
Four items stood out:
A black collapsible spear, SSS-Grade, meant for Immortals—far beyond his current use.An SSS-Grade armor set capable of weathering attacks from an Immortal King.A sword forged from monster scales, also SSS-Grade, equally unusable for now.An SSS-Grade spaceship, perfect for a swift escape, though too conspicuous for regular travel.
Most cultivation resources were tailored for Immortal Realm experts, but he also found several anonymous human bank cards—a windfall for a boy without a penny or a citizenship ID.
He sorted the vital items into the largest ring and stored the rest separately. Exhausted, he finally slept, unaware of how profoundly his life had already changed.
Outside his room, Albert gazed into the eternal darkness beyond the house and muttered, "I hope he becomes strong enough… before it is too late to aid the lord."
The next morning, David awoke to the reality of his new life. Albert waited at the dining table with prepared food. After eating, they stood before the rejuvenated blood pond.
Albert touched David's forehead, transferring the knowledge of a profound cultivation art. "This divine technique will temper your body and soul in unison. It is essential for unlocking the full potential of your bloodline. You must master it perfectly before reaching the Universe Master realm. It will be invaluable when you ascend beyond the True God level.
"Your task now is to absorb all the blood in this pond. Once done, you will enter the Virtual Arena for combat training. As for the Law Monuments… wait until you experience your first natural enlightenment. That will be the optimal time."
Without hesitation, David plunged into the pond. Agony, far more intense than before, seized him. He immediately circulated the newly imprinted technique, and while the pain only slightly eased, it became a focused, grinding force. He could feel his body and soul being torn apart and rebuilt in a relentless cycle.
He lost track of time. The mountain of monster corpses he'd collected dwindled, converted into pure energy to fuel his transformation. His cultivation level remained at the 9th Star Realm, but the raw power contained within his flesh now dwarfed that of any ordinary Star Realm warrior.
The process lasted over three months. The first blood had been a qualification trial; this was the deliberate forging of an unshakable foundation.
Finally, David emerged, exhausted but radiating latent strength. He ate in silence and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Albert observed it all, knowing well the immense pressure the boy had just endured.
After breakfast the next day, they entered not a room, but a vast, colosseum-like virtual arena.
"Your first opponent will be at the 9th Star Realm," Albert stated. "This will show you the gap between yourself and a true genius of the same level."
As Albert's figure faded, a boy who looked David's age materialized across the arena.
"Countdown begins. The match starts in 60 seconds."
"Select your weapon."
David summoned a sword and a spear—the weapons he had trained with since childhood.
When the countdown hit zero, he exploded into motion. Sword flashing in his right hand, spear held behind his back in his left, he sought an opening. The opponent responded with terrifying precision and speed. David realized with shock that this virtual genius possessed power rivaling a Universe Realm expert.
He fought defensively, searching for a flaw in the opponent's impeccable style. For a moment, he thought he saw an opening in the guard—a slight overextension.
He lunged.
But it was a feint. A cold, silver light flashed, too fast to follow.
David felt a peculiar, empty sensation in his chest. He looked down to see the opponent's sword protruding from his heart, the virtual blade gleaming without a drop of blood.
"Match Terminated. Fatality."
The arena dissolved. David found himself back in the house, gasping, his real body unharmed but his mind reeling from the visceral memory of that perfect, killing strike.