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

Ethan's eyes narrowed. The Central Dominion Guard—once disgraced by corruption—had somehow turned their misfortune into a blessing.

His gaze fell again on their mounts: Illusionary Qilin Beasts, radiant with otherworldly light.

In that instant, a powerful aura surged outward. Rose-colored radiance shimmered across the battlefield as the aura of each Qilin merged seamlessly with its rider. The fusion was complete, and the entire Dominion Guard now carried the strength pressure of War God–ranked experts.

Ethan's lips twitched as he turned toward Bongo. This woman had somehow forced the bond between man and mount into something deeper, almost sacred. With that connection, their strength skyrocketed.

"i heard Legends that the Southern Beast Spirit is a master of fire," Ethan muttered under his breath, "skilled at sealing techniques, unyielding in group battles. Looks like the old stories were right."

His thoughts were interrupted by the murmurs of the crowd.

"That's a Beast Spirit! They're said to be the guardians of the entire Umbral Star!"

"I never understood why they were sealed here in the Sea of Death. Long ago, the Four Beasts fought endlessly, plunging the world into chaos. Only under their protection did humanity find a place to survive…"

The words came from an elderly man with a thin frame and a voice roughened by age. His strength was modest, only at the Elysium rank, yet the lines on his face spoke of more than a century lived.

"Master Warg? Why are you here?" someone cried in surprise.

Faces lit with recognition. This was no ordinary elder. He was the Master of Clearspring City—the most learned man in the city, respected by all.

"I'm old," Wen said with quiet resolve. "But I can still do my part."

A hush followed his words. Everyone knew the truth. The City Lord's conscription had forced every household to send a representative. Families with no warriors had no choice but to sacrifice whomever they could.

Warg's family had produced scholars for generations. Not a single warrior stood among them. Warg himself, frail yet noble, was the strongest of his bloodline. And beyond his wisdom, he was remembered as Clearspring's most generous benefactor. Many here owed him kindness.

"Master, you shouldn't be at the front!"

"That's right, please stay back!"

"Then tell us more about the Four Beast Spirits, Master Warg!"

He paused, listening, before his gaze lifted toward the battlefield. The question stirred his memory, and after a long breath he began to speak.

"I've only ever read fragments in old texts. The Southern Beast Spirit, the Dragon-Phoenix, wields fire and sealing arts, unmatched in group combat. The Eastern Beast Spirit is the Blue Dragon, lord of water and master of spatial magic, fearless even when surrounded. The Northern Beast Spirit is the Serpent-Turtle, guardian of earth, strongest in physical body and blood essence. Its body is immune to decay, the oldest of all four.

"As for the Western Beast Spirit, the records only said to be a White Tiger—lord of wind, master of slaughter."

"Master Warg, why does it only say 'said to be'?" someone asked.

"Because the White Tiger's nature was savage beyond compare," Warg replied gravely. "In its early appearance it massacred all indiscriminately, so much that the other three spirits—Dragon-Phoenix, Blue Dragon, and Serpent-Turtle—were forced to suppress it together. Perhaps for that reason, the texts never fully acknowledge the White Tiger's role.

"Afterward, the three spirits each took domains, which became Beastfall City, Clearspring City, and Forgotten City. Hurricane City came later, born from a storm that rose suddenly from the plains. No one could pierce that hurricane, until the Windspirit Faction emerged within. Only then did the other cities recognize it as a fourth power. Eventually, the Windspirit Faction claimed the Trial Sanctum, the only place in the Sea of Death where spiritual flowers and rare herbs still grow."

Warg's tone deepened as he continued. "Later, the Blue Dragon and Dragon-Phoenix both vanished. The far north was once a swamp of lethal poison that threatened Forgotten City. The Serpent-Turtle suppressed it, lying down to sleep. Its blood cooled, freezing the swamp, and over countless years the Extreme North Ice Fields were formed."

When Warg fell silent, the crowd stirred, whispering among themselves. For the first time, they fully understood the origins of the four great cities and the spirits that shaped the Sea of Death.

Ethan, listening from a distance, weighed the words carefully. Uncle Jed had once told him the Ice Fields were created by a mighty spellcaster who froze the swamp. Yet Warg's account suggested it was the Serpent-Turtle's slumber that birthed the frozen north. Somehow, this version rang truer.

Micah had said the Blood Clan sought to use the blood essence beneath their feet to open a portal to their main base. Perhaps everything was linked.

"You cover me," Ethan murmured to Dragon Child, leaning close. He whispered further instructions, and she nodded without hesitation.

In the next heartbeat his figure blurred and shot skyward.

"Tree Form."

The Battle Embodiment system shifted, his body reshaping into another form as he sped through the air. He had unlocked this Form long ago at level sixty but had never truly tested its power. Now was the time.

"Wild Blessing."

The air vibrated. Ten thousand beams of violet light burst outward, bathing the battlefield.

[Wild Blessing: Greatly increases defense. Greatly increases all attributes.]

The blessing enveloped his allies. In his past life, healers relied on this buff in every dungeon raid. Though slow to heal, the sheer empowerment of Wild Blessing made entire parties unbreakable. Even now, the boost was at least ten percent across the board.

"What are they thinking? Ten thousand warriors charging headlong into an army of monsters?" someone muttered in disbelief.

Many expected Beastfall City's Guard to arrange their Illusionary Qilin Beasts into an Illusionary Array, to stall the Blood Clan until reinforcements arrived. With nearly twenty thousand mounts, it should have been the obvious choice. Instead, the Guard had chosen to charge outright.

"They must be insane…"

"You know nothing, cowards!" Bongo's voice cut through the doubt like a blade.

The gathered warriors fell silent, fear tightening their throats. None dared argue. They had seen Bongo's strength firsthand.

Then the earth shook.

The Dominion Guard surged forward in unison, long blades flashing as they crashed into the Blood Clan ranks. The sound of steel and screams erupted in an instant.

And the war began.