Time since the Ancestor's Awakening: 3 days
The crimson mist had not yet lifted from the valley, but the land beneath the Zhou family's feet was already changing.
Once a desolate gravebed of forgotten beasts and buried heretics, the Bloodgrove Valley now pulsed with fresh spiritual energy — thick, corrupted, and loyal. At the center stood the awakened Ancestor, towering beneath a canopy of dying trees whose leaves bled scarlet sap.
Behind him stood his six most monstrous descendants — Zhou Ji, Zhou Heiyan, Zhou Fen, Zhou Ru, Zhou Ying, and Zhou Mo — each bearing unique, corrupted auras. The valley trembled beneath the weight of their gathering.
"The world cast us out," the Ancestor's voice echoed, "but the blood remembers."
He raised a single clawed finger.
[System Notification]
Zhou Family Territory: Bloodgrove Valley established.
Current Influence: Level 0
Expansion Rights: Locked
Resources: 0 Blood Stones, 0 Soul Crystals, 0 Slaves
➤ Objective Unlocked: "Reclaim the World in Blood"
➤ Side Objective: "Raise 1000 Blood Servants" (1/1000)
First Territory Quest:
Name: "The Foundations of Sin"
Goal: Build a Core Blood Hall
Reward: Unlock Zhou Family Cultivation Arts, Bloodstone Mine veins, +1 Territory Level
The Ancestor stepped forward, placing a palm against the cracked altar stone that had once sealed him for a thousand years. His energy surged.
"Begin construction."
Zhou Ji bowed, his eyes glowing with reverence. "As you command, Ancestor. I'll use the bones of the executed."
Zhou Fen licked her lips. "I've flayed the children cleanly. Their souls are perfect anchors for the formation glyphs."
Zhou Ying offered a vial. "Venom-soaked blood, refined over generations. It will bind the foundation together."
The valley groaned.
In a matter of hours, monstrous servants and temporary constructs formed from corpses and spiritual will were summoned. Under the Ancestor's gaze, they began erecting the Core Blood Hall — a jagged, towering structure shaped like a ribcage curled toward the heavens. Every stone bled, every beam wept, every carving screamed.
Mid-construction, a pulse of energy surged.
[System Notification]
Territory Quest Progress: 53%
Incoming Event: Enemy Cultivator Scouting Party Detected
Faction: Brightveil Temple
Rank: Core Formation (x3)
Arrival in: 10 minutes
The Ancestor's eyes narrowed. "Intruders?"
Zhou Heiyan cracked his knuckles. "Fresh meat."
Zhou Ru smiled lazily, running a hand through her hair. "Shall I seduce and skin them, or just skin them?"
But before any of the core family could act, the mist parted — revealing a lone man kneeling before the construction site.
His robes were tattered. His eyes wild. But his aura was twisted — corrupted — and loyal.
"Ji Yuan, First of the 1000 Blood Servants," he said. "Summoned by the Ancestor's call."
The Ancestor stared for a moment.
"Rise, Ji Yuan," he said. "You shall be my right hand."
[System Notification]
➤ Blood Servant #1 Recognized
Name: Ji Yuan
Class: Bloodbound Knight
Loyalty: 100%
Ability: Flesh Reweaving, Curse Storage
Ji Yuan has gained the title: Ancestor's Right Hand
The family nodded in approval. Zhou Ji sneered, not in jealousy, but in sadistic joy.
Zhou Mo leaned over, whispering to Zhou Ru, "We'll see how long he survives."
Ru chuckled, "As long as he bleeds well."
With the scouting party closing in, the Ancestor pointed toward the horizon.
"Let the world see our return."
⸻
Ten minutes later
The three Core Formation cultivators from Brightveil Temple hovered over the valley.
"Strange… I sense something ancient," one of them said.
Then a scream.
Then silence.
The valley devoured them.
[System Notification]
Enemy Cultivators Eliminated
Soul Crystals: +3
Reputation Gained: -500 (Brightveil Temple)
Territory Resources Updated:
→ Soul Crystals: 3
→ Bloodstones: 2
→ Slaves: 0
Construction Complete: Core Blood Hall
Territory Level Up: 1
Unlocks:
Cultivation Art: Eternal Sin Requiem (Zhou Family Core Manual) Resource Veins: Bloodstone Mines (Tier 1) Structure Slot: 1
New Structure Options:
Blood Servant Barracks – required to summon more Blood Servants Sin Market – exchange souls for demonic resources Flesh Garden – grow mutated beasts for battle
➤ Next Quest: "Expand the Lineage" – Summon 10 Blood Servants
➤ Bonus Objective: Establish Outer Zhou Clans for control of regional power
The Ancestor turned to Ji Yuan.
"Choose the next structure."
Ji Yuan's face remained cold. "The barracks. We need more blades."
"Good," the Ancestor whispered.