Pathway

In the world of cultivation, cultivators had to grow up quickly or die even quicker. Lord Chang Wu glanced at the young Cang Chang who was making her way out of the living chamber and signalled her to stop. Although she was still a young cultivator in the looks of it, she had undergone her blood awakening rite which made her a full blood cultivator. As a full blood in the cultivation world, she would be treated as an adult xu wu if a raging chaos descended. 

Without the necessary motivational push, she could easily die on her extremely dangerous path. He would have to give her the needed motivation to encourage her to put more effort into her developmental growth. He had seen the strength levels of her body and martial combat, and knew they were well beyond her age. Obviously, her soul's strength was lacking, but she was much more stronger than most of her age physically.

Therefore, as the patriarch of the Shadow-Flame clan, he had decided to make her a named deity. He had already sent the decreed decision through soul projection to his assistant to be taken to the judges at the Ivory Conjecture for the record keeping. This was very early for her since she just completed her awakening rite and yet to open her soul space. Even after opening her soul's space, she would have to advance her soul to a certain stage in order to be a named true blood in a clan.

Nonetheless, by now, her name would be entered into their clan's list of known bloods which would appear when their clan's public list was assessed. Clan's list was a way to project the clan's strength, prestige and power to the other clans. Despite knowing that all young cultivators always looked forward to being a named deity, lord Chang Wu knew they still dreaded the dangers that accompanied it. With what he had seen, he knew he was right.

As long as she was alive, she would always be an asset to their Shadow-Flame clan. Especially during a clan challenge. Hence, she needed to be aware of everything concerning the Shadow-Flame clan from now on. Shadow Flame's tradition dictated that a clan's patriarch would decide the state of a blood after the awakening rite. And he had made his own decision regarding Chang Chang. This was a major declaration in their clan. Despite the danger and risk of being a named blood, this was a deity with a grim determination that was exceedingly salient.

"Stay. This concerns you too."

Said lord Chang Wu as he raised his palm to stop the exiting Chang Chang.

"Today, I came here purposely because of you since I didn't have the chance to congratulate you after your awakening. From what I've seen of you today, I believe your congratulation is well deserved. So, I have made a decision and the decree has been sent to the Ivory Conjecture for the records."

He looked at their expectant faces before focusing on Chang Chang and slowly made the announcement.

"From today onward, you are a named blood."

"Ah!"

Gasped Chang Chang with mouth agape as she stared at her second uncle in utter disbelief. Her? Now? How? She just did her awakening rite two days ago! Moreover, she had a cursed path with no future assurance and was yet to open her soul space. How could she be a named blood at this time? Her name would now be known as a named blood albeit a young one that was yet to reach the incipient stage as a true beginner. Highest honour for her in that. But, was that not like walking the path of reincarnation at this stage?

Chang Chang didn't know whether to scream or cry as she turned to look at her parents who were as shocked and surprised as herself. She could see that they were having the same feeling as hers. Seconds later, she could see them smiling bitterly and she knew why. Sooner or later, she would have to be a named blood having undergone her awakening. It was just that, this was happening way too fast for her. It suppose to be during the third stage of incipient at the least, yet she hadn't even started the first stage which would be after opening her soul space. 

But knowing her second uncle, she had the belief that he did it for a good reason, no matter what it entailed. She had to appear strong to her uncle to show he could rely on her.

"Thank you, second uncle. I promise not to let you down."

"Hm."

Lord Chang Wu stared deeply at Ethera and sighed inwardly. As a named blood, her name would be known throughout the cultivation world as a full member of the Shadow-Flame clan, if the records at the Darkfall Conjectures were accessed. This meant that she could be challenged as a part of the Shadow Flame's clan during clans' battles. It was very uncommon but sometimes, other named deities of a top clan could be challenged. Despite this not having any effect on the outcome of the ruler-ship battle between the supreme patriarchs, it was still a way to show the strength of a clan.

However, their could be dire consequences for the loosing clan. This was what they had to avoid.

Although Chang Chang wouldn't be challenged by any blood of the Premier level and above, she could be challenged by any blood of the Incipient levels. There were two general levels; the incipient levels and the ranking levels. The incipient levels were for the new bloods while the ranking levels were for the veteran bloods. The incipient levels were five. They were; bronze puritan, silver puritan, gold puritan, platinum puritan and diamond puritan. While the ranking levels were premier, paragon, paramount, stellar, sovereign and supreme. 

It was a big responsibility to be placed on the young girl's shoulder, but it was a necessity. Yes, these were dangerous times but one never knew. She might not even participate in a single clans battle until becoming a ranking blood.

"Our clan has been challenged by the Death-Skulls clan."

"Ah!"

"The Death-Skulls? I thought they no longer existed as a clan after their last battle."

Seeing the worried look on their faces, lord Chang Chang shook his head before lowering it in contemplation.

"Apparently, they only staged their disappearance."

"Second brother, that means lord Fu Zhi is still alive?"

"Yes. And he has challenged me."

"This is concerning, second brother. We both saw what he did in his battle with lord Olonem. For him to be challenging you now... You will have to be careful, second brother. Even their whole clan will be more dangerous than before. We both saw what they did during their battle with the Rapid-Slayers clan."

"Hm. Let me worry about him, fourth brother. You have been issued a challenge also. A premier blood by the name, Fu Hao. For him to challenge you, he must have known much about you. For what it took, he could be a peak stage premier or even more. I will find out more about him before the clan's salient meeting, a lunar from now. Then you'll decide if you want to go ahead or not. Until then, fourth brother." 

"This is concerning, second brother. We both saw what he did in his battle with lord Olonem. For him to be challenging you now... You will have to be careful, second brother. Even their whole clan will be more dangerous than before. We both saw what they did during their battle with the Rapid-Slayers clan. Hm. Let me worry about him, fourth brother. You have been issued a challenge also. A premier deity by the name, Fu Hao. For him to challenge you, he must have known much about you. For what it took, he could be a peak stage premier or even more. I will find out more about him before the clan's salient meeting, a lunar from now. Then you'll decide if you want to go ahead or not. Until then, fourth brother." 

Lord Chang Wu flicked his hand and three black crystals with one white crystal manifested on his palm. For the first time that day, he smiled thinly when he saw the look on their faces. Especially the shocking expression on Chang Chang's face who was already on her knees. They should have known by now that he would do everything he could for his clan.

"Take these crystals, child. They are all for now."

Lord Chang Wu flicked his hand and the crystals flew towards Chang Chang who quickly extended her hand to receive them.

"Th... thank you, second uncle."

"Welcome to the world of chaos."

With a swipe of his hand, a wide portal opened inside the living chamber. Without looking back, lord Chang Wu stepped into the portal and vanished alongside the portal. With a swipe of his hand, a wide portal opened inside the living chamber. Without looking back, lord Chang Wu stepped into the portal and vanished alongside the portal.