Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!

The Eight Family Heads understood—it was a seal. That person had used his own life force to seal the Shell Nexus. The Shell Nexus, which had once communicated with them all, fell silent once more.

The Eight Family Heads prepared to find that person and demand answers about what had happened. But he and his family had vanished completely. He had taken his wife and children and simply left—without leaving any trace behind.

He was the one who had sat in the central seat of authority in the Council Chamber. He had abandoned his control over the Eight Families and departed without a word.

And so, the Eight Families lived in peace for twenty years.

---

One day, the current generation of Family Heads gathered once more. Someone proposed a plan—to use endless blood energy to nourish the Silverwood family's Shell Nexus. Twenty years had passed, and the emerald barrier surrounding the Energy Core-producing Shell Nexus had disappeared. Once again, it began to tempt them.

This time, it was when Matriarch Whitmore had beaten the seven Family Heads senseless. The Wynn Family Head had also left after that incident, leaving only six Family Heads to scheme.

In that generation, the Quinn Family Head was Grandmaster Quinn's younger brother—Quinn the Second. Not long after, for unknown reasons, Quinn the Second returned to the Quinn family gravely injured. On his deathbed, he passed leadership to his older brother, asking him to manage the family in his place. And he told him about the plan—to nourish the Shell Nexus with endless blood energy.

Grandmaster Quinn asked who had wounded him so severely—was it someone from the Whitmore family?

Quinn the Second shook his head and said: "It was a pregnant woman."

Those were his final words.

The other Family Heads from that generation also passed on their positions around the same time. However, Melody, Samuel Wynn, and others had never heard of this plan.

Now, as Grandmaster Quinn revealed this information, Melody and Samuel finally learned what had happened back then.

Across from them, Lachlan Silverwood's eyes turned cold. "Hold them off. I'm going to activate the array."

"To activate the Soul Sacrifice Array, we need at least three more Blood Convergence Formations with sufficient blood energy," Seamus Zane added from beside Lachlan.

The latter nodded and prepared to leap from the platform.

Twang... Melody plucked her zither strings, sending an energy strike straight at Lachlan.

Sylvan Wynn, ready for action, flicked his flexible blade.

Clink…

He effortlessly intercepted Melody's attack.

"With me holding off these three, why would Master Zane need to lift a finger?" Sylvan sneered.

"Sylvan Wynn... when it comes to swordplay, you're lacking..." Samuel Wynn also made his move, with his fingers and pointing at the center of his forehead. "Blade, come forth..."

Whoosh... A palm-sized flying blade emerged from his head. It traced an arc through the air, slashing directly toward Sylvan.

Everyone noticed the commotion on the platform. Those who didn't understand the situation stood frozen in confusion. Why were the Eight Family Heads fighting each other?

Even Matriarch Whitmore rose to her feet, her gaze blazing. She spoke to someone beside her: "Melinda, go save them!" And she stepped forward...

Roar...

A golden dragon phantom materialized beneath her feet from thin air. Carrying Matriarch Whitmore, it soared directly toward Lachlan, who had leaped from the platform.

Everything happened so suddenly that Ethan was completely bewildered. How had fighting broken out? He had no idea it was all because he had killed too many people on Arena Three. This had caused problems with the array that Seamus Zane and Lachlan Silverwood had set up—making the battle erupt ahead of schedule.

Seeing someone leap from the platform—that old schemer Lachlan Silverwood—Ethan naturally wouldn't forget why he'd come to the Silverwood family.

"You guys hurry and regroup with Aunt. I need to find Lyla!"

After saying this, Ethan activated his panther form and burst into speed. He headed toward the Silverwood family's inner territory, planning to take advantage of the chaos to reach their core area. At the same time, he released the soul sense he'd been afraid to use.

"Kiara, run!" A warning came from the platform, accompanied by the sound of clashing metal.

Ethan looked up just in time to see Seamus Zane strike out with his palm. A massive handprint appeared in midair—heading straight for Arena Five...

And Ethan was currently beneath Arena Five.

His consciousness swept the arena, detecting a terrified little girl clutching an ancient zither not much smaller than herself.

It was... Kiara!

Without thinking, Ethan leaped onto the arena. Displaying incredible speed, he rushed to Kiara's side. He couldn't worry about anything else now.

Seamus Zane's massive handprint was already overhead.

Ethan grabbed Kiara by the collar and flung her with all his strength.

Kiara flew clear of the arena's boundaries.

But Ethan's movement was interrupted by this action.

The giant hand engulfed him.

Boom...

The entire combat grounds shuddered from the impact. Arena Five was covered in blood and flesh. Hundreds of people who had been fighting but stopped to watch the commotion on the platform were all crushed to pulp by that single strike.

Visibly, red light emanated from the arena floor as blood and flesh continuously seeped into the ground.

Hiss...

Ethan lay on the ground, coughing up blood twice. Just moments before, he had activated bear form while using the energy fusion technique—Iron Hide. But... he'd still nearly been flattened on the arena by Seamus Zane. Family Head-level figures were truly monstrous.

Ethan cursed silently.

"Big brother..." Kiara, whom he'd thrown clear of the arena, immediately jumped back onto it after dodging that strike. She came to Ethan's side and reached out to help him up, though she lacked the strength to lift him immediately.

Ethan struggled to his feet, tilting his head to look at her. He grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth: "You're Heaven's Dawn, aren't you?"

"Mm-hmm..." Kiara nodded tearfully.

"Heh... I guessed right! Go find Aunt Melinda. I need to find Lyla." As he spoke, he pointed toward where Melinda and Markham had regrouped.

Boom, boom... More thunderous crashes followed as Seamus Zane attacked the other arenas.

Though Arena Five was hit first, people on the other arenas panicked and fled in all directions. But Seamus Zane's attacks came too quickly. Strike after strike, countless people were still crushed beneath them. Among them, disciples from the Eight Families couldn't escape either.

This sudden turn of events happened too fast, leaving everyone at the gathering like startled birds.

The entire combat grounds descended into chaos.

Angry shouts and roars filled the air.

"Big brother... are you okay?" Kiara helped Ethan stand. His body swayed, but he wasn't seriously injured. He'd just been shaken enough to cough up some blood.

Just as Ethan was about to speak—

Whoosh...

A figure leaped onto Arena Five.

Seeing who it was, Ethan's eyes narrowed. He took a defensive stance.

"Dominic, what are you doing?" Ethan pulled Kiara behind him and demanded sharply.

Dominic ignored him and beckoned to Kiara. "Kiara, come with me quickly!"

Ethan frowned and reached out to stop Kiara from moving toward him.

"Big brother, don't worry. Sister Orange isn't a bad person!" Kiara dodged Ethan's attempt to block her, backing toward Dominic step by step while speaking to him.