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

After disengaging from combat, Ethan stealthily circled back. He noticed something unusual—the monsters here didn't return to their original positions after combat ended. Instead, they lingered, wandering within a certain range.

This observation reignited his confidence. If they didn't reset, he could take his time to lure and scatter them before picking them off one by one.

Ding…

[System Notification: Ethereal will enter its rest phase in five minutes. Please prepare to log off.]

Ethan decided not to waste any more time. He found a safe spot and prepared to log off.

Ding…

[Global Announcement: Player 'FadingPetals' from the Southern Frontier Region of Dragonspire has obtained [Divine Ability Scroll: Fatal Strike (Divine)] at coordinates: 15648.36897.15985.]

Ding…

[Global Announcement: The holder of [Divine Ability Scroll: Fatal Strike (Divine)], 'FadingPetals,' is currently at coordinates: 15648.36897.15985. Ownership will be granted after holding the scroll for twelve hours.]

Ding…

[System Notification: A Divine Ability Scroll has appeared. Ethereal has entered a Contest Period. The rest phase will be postponed until the scroll's ownership is determined.]

Ethan, who had been ready to log off, froze at the flood of system notifications. A [Divine Ability Scroll: Fatal Strike (Divine)] had appeared. Unfortunately, it was in the Southern Frontier Region, and with the regional borders still closed, there was no way for him to get there.

He recalled that in his past life, around this same time, the Southern Frontier Region had produced the first Divine Ability in the game—Fatal Strike. From what he remembered, it was eventually claimed by LittleHorn. That player had gone on to become a legend, the only one in Ethereal to possess four Divine Abilities simultaneously.

Ethan wondered if history would repeat itself this time. While he couldn't compete for the scroll, its appearance bought him more time to level up. With the rest phase delayed, he could make the most of this opportunity.

He canceled his log-off timer and rushed back to the Soulrender spawn point. He began luring the monsters, scattering them as he went. While doing so, he kept an eye on the ongoing battle for the Divine Ability.

The players in the Southern Frontier Region were relatively evenly matched, with no standout powerhouses or major guilds investing heavily in Ethereal yet. As a result, the contest period for the scroll would likely drag on for hours.

Ten hours later, Ethan finally defeated fifty Soulrenders, collecting a pile of skill books in the process. Among them were several advanced skill enhancement books. Meanwhile, the Divine Ability in the Southern Frontier Region had changed hands multiple times, with the current holder having possessed it for less than half an hour.

Ethan's skill set was further bolstered by a new group skill for his Panther Form: [Primal Fury]. This skill allowed him to apply a bleeding effect to all enemies within a 1.5-meter radius. With Cleaving Tempest and Primal Fury, he could now efficiently farm mobs in the Life Greenhouse without relying on magic inscriptions.

Even if the quest failed, this trip had already been worth it. His inventory was filled with over a dozen skill books for various classes. Each skill book was worth around 100 gold, and the enhancement skills could fetch up to two or three thousand gold.

This Prismatic Stone truly was his lucky charm. Thinking of it, Ethan couldn't help but wonder about Lyla. How was she doing now?

…

Somewhere in the Ironvale Mountains, atop a mist-shrouded peak, at the end of a chain of cliffs, lay the hidden territory of the Silverwood Family.

It was a paradise—birds sang, flowers bloomed, and crystal-clear streams flowed through ancient architectural style buildings. The air was filled with the rich scent of flowers, and the entire place felt like a scene from a fairy tale. The guest quarters were nearly full, bustling with early arrivals for the upcoming event.

In the center of the training grounds stood a towering statue of a kind-faced old man, his hands clasped behind his back as if he had the weight of the world under his control. Legend had it that this was the first patriarch of the Silverwood Family. In front of the statue, a massive arena was being prepared, with workers scurrying about.

The atmosphere was lively, filled with excitement and chatter.

"I wonder who'll win the tournament this time!"

"I heard the second son of the Lancaster family, Gabriel Lancaster has advanced to the mid-tier of Energy Manipulation!"

"That's old news! The young master of the House of Zane has already reached the Peak-tier of Energy Manipulation. I bet he'll take the crown."

"No way! If that's true, our young lady is in trouble. I heard Dominic's a prodigy, but he suffered an injury during training as a child, and… well, let's just say he's not exactly 'functional'…"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! The Zane's have brought a lot of people this time. If they hear you, you're dead!"

The loudmouth shrunk back, glancing nervously around.

Meanwhile, deep within the forbidden grounds of the Silverwood Family's estate, a woman in ornate traditional robes stood outside a frost-covered cave, its entrance billowing with icy mist.

"Let's see if you can endure Frostveil's bite, Lyla. How dare you defy me!"

A weak, mocking laugh echoed from within the cave. If Ethan had been there, he would have recognized it instantly—it was Lyla's voice. Her words trembled, her teeth chattering from the cold. "Luna, if it weren't for Liam stepping in, you'd be a corpse right now."

Luna's hand instinctively went to her neck, where a bandage covered a wound near her carotid artery. A faint trickle of blood seeped through. "Hmph… you little brat. How dare you address me so disrespectfully? Is this how your parents raised you?"

"Oh, please. You're trying to sell me off for your own gain, and you expect me to call you 'Aunt'? Don't make me laugh. My upbringing is none of your concern. You can forget about using me as a bargaining chip for some political marriage!"

Despite her weakened state, Lyla's defiance was unwavering.

Luna sneered. "Such a sharp tongue. You're as stubborn as they come. Do you really think your father, the family head, would give up his position just to free you? Or that your little protective artifact will keep you safe forever?

Let me tell you something, Lyla. As a woman of the Silverwood Family, this is your fate. I fought against it too, but it's pointless. Hand over the artifact, submit to the family's arrangements, and maybe your father will suffer less for your disobedience."

Without waiting for a response, Luna turned and walked away.

Inside the cave, Lyla sat huddled in a black cloak, her body trembling from the cold. The entire cavern was encased in ice, with only the spot where she sat remaining dry. Before her lay a dark, icy pool, its surface constantly emitting a bone-chilling mist.

Her hand rested on her chest, where the Pendant Ethan had retrieved from the Gates of the Underworld was embedded. It glowed faintly, a warm, milky white light emanating from it, providing her with some relief from the cold.

Her face pale, Lyla stared blankly at the pool, her thoughts drifting far away.

'Ethan… are you doing okay?'