Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Chapter 2180  Only One

Ryu obviously wasn't the only one there. In fact, considering how he had taken his sweet time, it wouldn't be a surprise if he was the very last one to get there.

It was just that he didn't care.

Staring at the Title Stele ahead of him, he and it might as well have been the only things present in the world. Until, that is, he sensed his wife, and he looked over toward Sarriel with a grin.

The Fey beauty rolled her eyes and looked away. It seemed that she had been there for a while as well, and she was quite speechless that it had actually taken Ryu so long to make it. But it was also easy for her to guess exactly why that was.

Of course that guy was messing around.

Ryu chuckled. This time he really was innocent. It wasn't his fault that he was targeted by so many. Who would have thought that so many of the strongest Clans and Sects in existence would be so cowardly?

'Not even surprised,' Ryu thought to himself, stretching out his back. A crackle and pop filled the region as he exhaled a breath.

He looked high into the skies, a bright smile on his face, his fingers twitching as though they weren't yet satisfied with how much he had killed.

Maybe he wouldn't be satisfied until his name was at the very top of that list.

He looked up toward the Title Stele, but even now, he couldn't see the very top.

"Those arrogant bastards," he said through grinning teeth.

To not even allow his eyes to see their names. They were going to regret that, very soon.

Ryu stood there for a while, and then he yawned. He reclined onto his pillar and closed his eyes before directly falling asleep.

It had been a while since he had had a good sleep. Even during these last several decades, he had to spend so much effort suppressing his excitement that he couldn't quite rest properly.

But now that he was beneath the shadow of the Title Stele, he was so relaxed that sleep came with absolute ease.

Many might have thought he was just showboating, until his rhythmic breathing became light snoring and his chest moved to a smooth cadence. He forgot about the world to the point even Sarriel found herself rolling her eyes again.

This guy was really too much.

Slowly, more individuals began to make their presence known.

The number continued to increase, and from the first few dozen, there came over a hundred more, and then over 500.

The numbers began to slow considerably when they got to over 900… and then 950… then 970… then 990…

Until the very last 999th pillar was filled months later.

All the while, there were many focused gazes on Ryu, many filled with murderous intent that would have probably disturbed the sleep of almost anyone else.

But why would it bother Ryu? As far as he was concerned, the only reason so many "great" geniuses made it so far was because someone tweaked his path. If not, he would have taken out at least half of them already.

They were lucky they had gotten more time to strut around like they did.

Ryu's eyes suddenly opened. He didn't move from his position, but he seemed to have naturally sensed when the last person had arrived.

What no one expected was that he would speak first.

"Silent Quibus," he said slowly. "I know you're here somewhere. I went out of my way to not look for you, you see. That isn't because I fear you. It's more so because since I've already come all this way, I might as well do things at everyone else's pace.

"I know you have a fondness for gathering Corpse Poison. But you see, when it comes to people I hate… I also don't have a bottom line. I wonder what kind of expression you'll make when it's your turn?"

There was a chill that pervaded the air when Corpse Poison was mentioned. The words were laced with such a taboo that even the Title Stele rumbled as though in warning.

But Ryu continued to speak as though he hadn't felt a single thing was wrong.

"Ruin Master… I was wondering who it was that they would send. I'm glad that it wasn't their so-called number one ranked. Overion, I think his name was? It hardly matters. It was smart of you all to send a Dao God after me. Well, foolish for your already damaged Fate. But this is probably your best chance. Maybe you'll make it entertaining this time. What I didn't expect was that it would be an old friend, but you've already suffered a loss to me twice already… maybe third time's the charm, hm, Iam?"

"Also, it's true. Fire Dragon Blood runs through my veins. So does Lightning Qilin Blood. So does Fire, Ice, Dark, and Emperor Phoenix Blood. Quite frankly, my body is still a bit thirsty for more."

There was another rumble, this one originating from a completely different space, but Ryu still didn't seem to be finished.

"Also, it's true. Fire Dragon Blood runs through my veins. So does Lightning Qilin Blood. So does Fire, Ice, Dark, and Emperor Phoenix Blood. Quite frankly, my body is still a bit thirsty for more."

Ryu clasped his fingers behind his head, crossing one leg over another as he looked into the stars. He seemed to still half be in dreamland, his words coming out in a calm, lulling sort of cadence.

"Ah, Martial Gods… Martial Gods… Martial Gods… There are a few of you I can't kill. My wife's snotty-nosed little brother… you see, that wouldn't be a good look on my part. Her mother, yikes—maybe a few spanks. Her father… that man's already dead as far as I'm concerned."

Ryu suddenly grinned.

"The rest of you, however… not a single one of you is making it out alive."

Ryu finished speaking and smiled up to the skies, only for infuriated laughter to echo soon after.

"A fool who doesn't even understand how the Title Stele works. The ignorant truly say whatever they please." Young Master Bright's words cut through Ryu's momentum, his golden hair flapping wildly beneath his building momentum.

As though on cue, the Title Stele rumbled.

The clouds around it shook, and the bottom of the Title Stele trembled awake.

A pair of characters floated out from the Stele.

Blade Disciple.

The Title caught the attention of several people, but the glow of it was dim. It was clear that it wasn't the best of the best in Titles.

There were actually three phases of the Title Stele. The first was to make it here, fighting it out from the 999th spot that would allow one to make it to this point.

But then there was a second phase, a phase where the Title wasn't yet forged by the user, but instead granted by the Title Stele.

Not everyone had the right to even attempt to claim their own Title, and it was said that the Title Stele itself had stopped granting unique Titles casually long ago.

If you wanted such a chance… you would have to earn it.

However, that didn't change the fact that these Named Titles were already of great value. Earning one would already make you a pinnacle expert.

Just being here already made you among the 999 best geniuses in all of existence. To claim such a Title… guaranteed you such a halo even into the Dao God Realm.

Yet, as though he hadn't heard Young Master Bright's words at all, Ryu yawned, and his legs flipped up. He palmed the ground and jumped to his feet in a fluid motion.

By the time he did this, three existences had already rushed out toward the Title with the fastest speeds they could muster.

Ryu stretched and then tapped his foot. In an instant, he had shot by them all.

Several eyes widened all at once as Ryu stepped before the Title, staring it down. There was a strong suction and repulsion force all at once, as though the Title wanted Ryu to take it, but the Title Stele was saying it wasn't for him.

"A lot of nerve you have. I take what I please."

Ryu plucked it out of the air.

The three figures froze, not a single one of them having expected such a result.

But then their eyes went red.

They pulled out their sabers one after another, each one attacking Ryu viciously.

Ryu overturned a palm, a spark of blue lightning shaping and then solidifying into a curved, steel-blue saber.

He angled a pierce toward his back, gliding it up the shaft of one and then severing all his tendons and ligaments with a single blow.

He took a step to the side, dodging the second, and then pivoted in a half turn, half-facing the last and lopping their head into the skies.

The third and final froze, realizing the trouble that they were in a step too late. But it all happened so fast. In one moment, they were all fighting over the Title, and in the next…

A blue steel saber ran through his chest. He looked down, his eyes colored in despair.

Even in his final moments, he didn't understand…

Why was such a monster fighting for such a small Title… didn't he know… that he could only fight for one…?