Devil's Rise

A strong mountainous oppressive presence descended upon the hall. All members of the Hudson Clan were at full alert, feeling this presence.

It was powerful, strong, and demanded respect. The aura of a devilry practitioner stronger than anyone in the hall! They were on high alert.

The doors of the hall flung open. In the middle of the doorway stood a strong, burly devil. His aura was rippling through the hall, everyone had their eyes on him as he walked in.

Everyone in the hall knew this familiar face. They all quieted down, relaxed slightly, and knelt towards the mountainous devil.

They knew what to do!

"I see Devil Ancestor," said everyone in the hall obediently. All the devils had to show their due respect to the Devil Ancestor whenever he came around.

"Good good good, it looks like you all are filial still remembering how to greet your Devil Ancestor after so many years," said burly Devil Ancestor.

The 'Devil Ancestor' loved to have the glory and respect as a Devil Ancestor. Since they were a young noble clan, his stature was not really befitting of a Devil Ancestor.

Most Devil Ancestors were old, detached from their clans, or deceased. However, he was still a young devil brimming with vigor.

In noble clans of higher status, he wouldn't even have the face to be an elder. However, this was his Hudson clan, and they gave him his due respect. Everyone obediently followed the frivolousness of their 'Devil Ancestor'.

"Why does he make us call him 'Devil Ancestor', it's not like we aren't all within three generations of him? Grandfather is too eccentric," said the Fourth Baron Kerzamoth as he put his head in his hand and sighed.

Fourth Viscount Ar'omath laughed inwardly hearing this.

"I'm his son and I still have to refer to him respectfully as 'Devil Ancestor', he said it's to promote an air of mystery around the Hudson clan," said Fourth Viscount Ar'omath hoping to give his father a bit of face.

"Little Kerzamoth I still remember when you wet the bed and you want to make a quip about having to call me Devil Ancestor you unfilial brat," said the Devil Ancestor loudly.

The hall filled with laughter. To think the high and mighty Baron Kerzamoth used to wet the bed. After such a long ceremony the 'Devil Ancestor' definitely improved everyone's mood with his presence.

Baron Kerzamoth wished he could hide his head under the nearest rock!

'Why would you say that in the middle of the clan ceremony, grandfather! They will be speaking about this around the clan for weeks. I better head to closed-door devilry after this,' thought Baron Kerzamoth.

"Tisk Tisk Tisk, to think one of my descendants would encounter difficulties unlocking a simple Soul Dao affinity," said the Devil Ancestor as he came to James.

"I found spies outside, so I'm locking down the awakening hall. [Mountain Shadow] will search everyone to ensure no recording devices were present. All descendants present will have to swear a devil oath to never speak of the events that transpired today."

Though he lightened the atmosphere with a joke, the Devil Ancestor was quick to cut into the issue at hand.

They searched everyone, had their devil heart oaths taken, and gradually exited the hall.

Eventually, the only ones left were the unconscious James, the Devil Ancestor, and members of [Mountain Shadow].

"It's finally time... for my Hudson Devil Estate to rise!" said the Devil Ancestor with glee as he grabbed the Mercurial Stone that crumbled in his hand and replaced it with another one that looked identical.

"James unlocked an inborn ability with his Dao awakening. The Abyss wants to see my Hudson clan rise! Whatever ability he unlocked should amaze me considering all the fel he absorbed from that Mercurial Stone."

"None of my descendants should be privy to what happened, inborn abilities are rare."

"Even with a simple Soul Dao, James' path in devilry will be remarkable. I can't wait to see his progress."

"His prospects are possibly beyond my own, with such an amazing talent. I must keep this little gem hidden."

"Haha, it's great he got Soul Dao widely considered as trash across low born noble clans. No one will bat an eye at James."

"I only have a little understanding of how inborn abilities work from the information left behind in my Blacksmith Inheritance."

"We will let everyone think James is trash, that's the best as to protect him. I will train him under the guise of his 'recovery from qi-deviation'. If word got out my Hudson clan had such a talented seedling, our peaceful days would quickly end."

"[Mountain Shadow] dismissed, handle this spy situation accordingly. I want my Hudson Devil Estate cleaned up!"

"Jail all suspected internal spies and traitors immediately and get me a detailed report of their other crimes."

"I can't believe some third-generation descendants would be that stupid to take kickbacks from other powers to spy on their own flesh and blood while instigating internal strife."

"All this nice meat here on our Estate to devour. I worked hard to set a good foundation for my descendants. Why eat such tainted soup from outside powers?"

"Do they foolishly believe if the Hudson Devil Estate falls from their foolish actions that devils would welcome them to another noble devil clan instead of swiftly executing them for a job well done?"

"They probably think our clan is too big to fail and that their kickbacks are helping, but they are only digging at the very roots of our clan's foundation with such reckless actions."

"Flowers that grow up in greenhouses don't know the terror of the wind and the rain," said the Devil Ancestor with a hint of melancholy as he disappeared with the unconscious youth in his arms.