Chapter 9: The Immortal Blood Pool

Reed stood at the edge of the Crimson Family's estate, his eyes drawn to the massive stone archway that marked the entrance to the inner sanctum, the heart of their ancestral home. The crimson banners fluttered in the wind, casting eerie shadows across the courtyard. He could feel the weight of the history that hung in the air—ancient, oppressive, and steeped in secrets that few had ever uncovered.

He was about to learn the full extent of his heritage, but the price was steep.

His father had never spoken much of the Crimson Family's traditions, but Reed had learned enough in the years of his upbringing to understand that power in this family came at a high cost. He had already endured the trials of his awakening, the awakening of his lightning abilities, but this was something different. This was the beginning of a deeper connection to his bloodline—a power that had been passed down for generations, a power that could alter the very fabric of existence.

He had heard the stories—the women of the Crimson Family who died after giving birth, their bodies unable to contain the overwhelming life force of the child they carried. The life force was a gift from their bloodline, but it was also a curse, for only the strongest of the strong could survive the birth of such a child. It was said that the life force coursing through the newborn was too much for the mother to bear, consuming her from within as her body gave life to the next generation.

Reed knew that the cost of his heritage would not be an easy one to bear. His mother had been one of those women. She had died after giving birth to him, her life extinguished by the overwhelming power that had flowed through her veins. It was a fate he could never forget, a reminder of the price that came with the power he now carried within him. And yet, it was also a reminder of the strength that ran through his veins—the strength that would carry him forward.

He glanced down at his hands, the faint crackle of electricity still dancing across his fingertips. The storm was within him, but it was only a part of what he had inherited. There was more—so much more—that he was about to discover.

The Immortal Blood Pool.

It was said to be a sacred place, where the Crimson Family's most promising heirs underwent a rite of passage. The pool itself was a dark, swirling mass of liquid that shimmered with a faint red glow. It was the source of the family's power, a pool that had been infused with the blood of countless generations. To enter it was to undergo a transformation—one that would push the body to its limits and unlock the next stage of cultivation.

Reed had heard whispers of the Immortal Blood Pool from the servants, and he had seen the look in his father's eyes whenever it was mentioned—half-pride, half-worry. The Blood Pool was not for the faint of heart. It was said to be both a gift and a test, for only those with the right potential could survive the ordeal.

Now, as Reed stood on the precipice of his next stage of development, he realized that this was his moment—his opportunity to push past his limits and step into a realm of power that few could even imagine. His father had prepared him for this day, training him in the ancient arts, teaching him the ways of their bloodline. But it was time to step beyond the training, to tap into the deeper well of strength that lay within.

His footsteps echoed in the silent hall as he made his way toward the entrance to the Blood Pool. The air was thick with anticipation, and his heart raced as he stepped across the threshold. His father stood by the side of the pool, his hands folded behind his back. His expression was unreadable, but Reed could feel the weight of his gaze, a mix of pride and caution.

"Reed," his father said, his voice low and steady, "you are ready for this. You have shown the strength and resolve needed to survive the process. But you must remember—what awaits you is not just a gift, but a trial. The Immortal Blood Pool will unlock the next stage of your cultivation, but it will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine. If you fail, you will be consumed by the power, and all that you have fought for will be lost."

Reed nodded, his resolve hardening. "I am ready."

His father's gaze softened for a brief moment, but it quickly hardened again. "You must enter the pool alone. No one can accompany you in this. The process is personal, and the power that resides within the Blood Pool is dangerous. Only those who are worthy will emerge."

Reed stepped forward, his heart beating faster now, the anticipation of what lay ahead pressing down on him. As he approached the pool, the air around him grew colder, and he could feel the weight of the power that lay just beneath the surface. The pool's red glow pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, as though it were alive.

Without another word, Reed stripped off his cloak and lowered himself into the pool. The moment his skin made contact with the liquid, a surge of energy coursed through his body. The power was overwhelming—far beyond anything he had ever experienced before. His body convulsed as the life force of the Crimson Family flooded through him, filling every cell, every fiber of his being with unbridled energy.

Pain. Excruciating pain.

The power was too much. His muscles burned, his bones ached, and his very soul seemed to crack under the strain. His body had been prepared for this, but nothing could truly prepare him for the sheer intensity of the force that was now coursing through him.

But Reed did not falter. He had been trained for this. The storm inside him surged, and he called upon it, letting the power of the lightning guide him through the pain. He focused, channeling the storm into the very marrow of his bones, pushing back against the flood of life force that threatened to overwhelm him.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as he struggled to maintain control, his body wracked with the agony of the transformation. He could feel his blood boiling, his heart racing, his mind on the verge of breaking. But then, just as he thought he could endure no more, something shifted. His muscles relaxed, the pain receding, and he felt a new power awaken within him.

It was subtle at first, like a faint tremor in the air. But then it grew—stronger, more defined, until it filled every corner of his being. The storm inside him, the lightning that had once been a chaotic force, now responded to him with perfect precision. It was as though his very body had become one with the power, and the power was one with him.

Reed opened his eyes, and for the first time, he felt the full extent of his transformation. His senses were sharper, his body stronger, and the storm that had once been a force outside of him was now a part of him—an extension of his will.

He had completed the first stage of cultivation: Body Building. But this was only the beginning.

The transformation had not stopped with the Blood Pool. No, this was the start of a much longer journey, a journey that would take him through the stages of cultivation and beyond.

He could feel it now, the next stage waiting for him—Metallic Skin. It was said that with this stage, the cultivator's body hardened, becoming as tough as steel. Reed could already feel his skin thickening, becoming more resistant to damage, and the energy that had flooded his body now flowing into his veins, strengthening his bones, his muscles, every part of him. He was becoming more than human.

But the next stage was not far off—Bone Casting, the hardening of the bones, strengthening them until they could withstand even the most powerful blows. Then, Blood Activation, where the power of the bloodline could be fully unlocked, allowing the cultivator to control the very essence of life itself.

As the transformation continued, Reed felt the storm within him settle into a new form. He was no longer just a man. He was something more, something ancient, something powerful. The pain had been intense, but it had forged him into something greater.

The Building Spirit stage would come next, where the spirit would merge with the body, creating a perfect union between mind and matter. Then, Chaotic Perfection, where the cultivator would become a being of pure, unrestrained power, capable of bending the laws of reality itself.

As Reed emerged from the pool, his body humming with the energy of the Bloodline, he felt an overwhelming sense of clarity. He had only just begun his journey, but already, he had surpassed the limits he once thought impossible. He was destined for greatness, and no one—not even his father—could have prepared him for the power that was now his to command.

But the path ahead was not easy. The Great Control stage, where he would be able to destroy cities with a single thought, loomed in the distance. Then, the Nirvana stage, where he could obliterate entire countries and islands, followed by the Overlord stage, where entire continents would fall before his might.

Reed did not fear the future. He welcomed it. He was no longer just Reed of the Crimson Family. He was the storm. He was the legacy of his bloodline, and the world would soon know his name.