Chapter 26: The Mysterious Awakening

The team was back in the East Immortal Fort.

Their room in the inn was filled with an unusual quiet.

No one said anything, they all seemed to be making a serious effort to not make any sound.

Everyone going about their business with extra caution.

It was already bad in the true outlands, now it was worse.

Neo knew this could not go on forever.

Everyone of them was definitely dying to ask the question.

But no one wanted to be the first to bring it up.

Neo realized that if no one was going to ask the question, he would have to start the topic.

It was time to put an end to all of this.

"Alright."

The reaction was immediate.

Everyone turned their attention to him.

They really had been waiting for him to bring it up.

He sighed.

"The first time we entered the true outlands together, and were thrown into that strange zone."

No one said anything. They waited.

He continued.

"After I used the self destruction technique, and was swallowed into the ground together with that strange creature.

"I was lucky enough to kill it, and also survive after using the technique. While I was suffering the pain of having my body almost destroyed, and searching for any form of solace. I crawled my way into a nearby pool of water. In there, I passed out."

This tale wasn’t new to them.

Their gaze said it all. They waited for him to continue.

"After waking up. I realized I had crawled my way into a healing pool. My body was healed, and all the trauma I sustained from the self destruction technique had disappeared.

"When I thought that was all, and I was basking in relief. I found out something had changed. It wasn’t just my body that was healed. Somehow, I awakened my bloodline. That is the secret I have been keeping from you all."

At that moment, the room couldn’t have been more quiet.

"You awakened a bloodline. How is that even possible?"

Mia pointed out what baffled her the most.

It made no sense for one to awaken their bloodline after eighteen.

She had never heard of such a thing before.

Neo shrugged.

"I am as baffled as you are."

There was no need to explain the lie. It was best to leave the whole thing a mystery.

They would try their best to explain and fit it into their worldview.

Sofia looked at everyone. They were all just as baffled as her.

"So, this bloodline thing how does it work?"

Neo looked at her.

When did she become this hesitant.

"My bloodline is called the Nascent Essence Loving River Snake. It is a Five-character bloodline of the Swallower lineage."

Neo activated his bloodline, the golden light was much dimmer than usual.

It struggled to remain for a few seconds before it deactivated.

"I overdrew my bloodline earlier. It would be hard for me to activate it now. What it does is increase the rate at which I draw in and cultivate essence."

The sharp intake of breaths resounded in the room.

"Cool."

Sofia’s mouth could fit an egg. She was shocked speechless.

"Cool. Very cool."

Derek nodded. Too shocked to say anything else.

"That’s one enviable bloodline."

Even Lancelot could not help but say something.

A bloodline that helped essence cultivation. It was very magnificent.

*

Neo had to leave the team at the inn.

He had somewhere he needed to be.

He was now in front of the Eel Spark inn.

Raela had asked him to meet her here when he got back from the true outlands.

He entered the inn.

There were few people in the common floor.

He looked around.

Raela was there.

She sat alone.

On the table before was a teacup.

She was engrossed in the book she was reading.

Neo didn’t bother with any courtesy. He walked to where she was, and sat at her table.

She looked up when she felt his presence.

Seeing it was Neo.

She glared at him.

Neo stared back.

"Good to see you too." She said.

She dropped the book on the table, and picked up the teacup. She took a sip, and placed it back.

"I didn’t realize we knew each other this well. What are you going to do next now, place your legs on the table?"

"Of course not, my silly Immortal World brat."

Raela almost sputtered.

"Who the hell is your Immortal World brat?"

Neo kept his gaze on her.

She was speechless. He couldn’t really mean her, could he?

"You see. We know each other that well."

He picked up the book she was reading.

"Why are you reading a book about bloodlines, and its awakening? Is this about me being down here despite having a bloodline?"

Raela snatched the book from him.

"What made you think it had to be about you?"

Neo shrugged.

Seeing that he wasn’t going to say anything to that.

She asked him something that had been bothering her.

"Why were you booted down here despite having a bloodline?"

Booted. What a rich choice of word.

Neo looked up, as if searching for some cryptic revelation.

He nodded.

"Maybe it was to find you, and tell you about your immortal ancestor up there."

Raela was fed up of his nonsense. She almost splashed his face with the tea.

What was wrong with him today. He seemed so different at their first meeting.

"You seriously don’t believe that anyone who can awaken a bloodline here, have no relation to anyone up there?" Neo asked her.

"Why can’t we mortals here awaken a bloodline on our own?"

"Because they are exactly as they are called. Bloodline. It is all about the lineage. Sometimes, it might skip a few generations before there is an awakener. Other times, there would be an unbroken line of awakeners, a common thing in the Immortal World up there."

Raela knew he was telling the truth.

But that didn’t mean mortals could not awaken bloodlines, without being related to someone from up there.

"You don’t believe me? Take I as an example. Both of my parents are immortals. Both have Three-character bloodlines of the same lineage. Yet here I am."

"Yes, here you are. Did your bloodline not meet the mark or what?"

Now, he was saying something she found interesting.

"No, I am not here because of that. I am here because, I never awakened a bloodline before I was thrown out."

Raela looked at him carefully.

"But you awakened a bloodline."

"You should know that before the age of eighteen, if one can not awaken a bloodline. There is almost zero chance they will ever awaken it in their life."

Raela was aware of this fact.

"You awakened your bloodline after being thrown down here? How is that possible? "

Neo spread his hands.

He welcomed her to solve the mystery.