Three years had passed since the grand unveiling of Kairos Voss.
In that time, the Voss Clan had transformed in ways both visible and veiled.
The Crimson Veil, once a modest continent with limited influence, now pulsed with renewed vitality. New blood crystal veins had been "discovered" in previously untapped border regions—quietly secured through strategic alliances and subtle shows of strength. Essence flows through the land ran richer, nourishing Bloodheart Trees that grew taller and bore fruits more potent in vitality. The ancestral estate expanded cautiously: additional wings built under the guise of family quarters, hidden training halls carved deeper into the mountain, and layered walls reinforced with resources painstakingly converted to Blood Dao nature.
Conversion of foreign resources had become a clan priority. Treasures from trade—fire essence jades, wind spirit herbs, metal Qi stones—were first coated in Blood Dao essence of matching quality, then sealed in formation arrays for weeks or months until their nature shifted without losing potency. Neutral Qi stones, abundant and adaptable, converted within a day, fueling rapid growth. This painstaking process sparked quiet conflicts at borders, as rivals coveted the Voss's growing stockpile and sought to interrupt supplies.
Disciples swelled in number and strength, drawn by whispers of a glorious future and the promise of strength. Training grounds echoed with the clash of blood techniques, and loyal branch families contributed more resources, binding closer through shared prosperity. The annual festivals strengthened ties with common folk—free essence distributions and public hunts fostering gratitude and vigilance.
At the center of it all was Kairos.
Now three years old, the heaven-born child moved through the estate with the grace of someone twice his age. He walked steadily, exploring gardens and halls with boundless curiosity, his small hands reaching for swirling crimson mist that responded playfully to his touch. He spoke in clear, thoughtful sentences—asking about the "red wind" that danced around him, why the blood crystals hummed when he neared, or what the stars whispered in his dreams.
His understanding surpassed his years. Elders tested him gently: reciting basic Qi circulation at two, sensing meridian flows at three. His violet-crimson eyes held depth, as if hiding ancient memories. Faint golden veins pulsed beneath his fair almost transparent skin during excitement, and ambient Qi gathered unconsciously, nourishing him. The Dao of Blood resonated strongly within him, but elders sensed hints of something deeper—destructive, primal—flickering in moments of intense emotions such as during extreme childish excitements.
Small events marked his growth, each leaving the clan in quiet awe.
At two, during a minor tantrum over a broken toy, the surrounding blood mist had suddenly compressed into a sharp, fleeting spike that pierced a nearby training dummy clean through—leaving elders exchanging worried glances at the raw, destructive edge.
At two and a half, while playing in the gardens, Kairos had absentmindedly gathered ambient Qi into a tiny orb in his palm, compressing it until it glowed with golden intensity before releasing it as a gentle burst that made flowers bloom instantly around him.
Just last month, during a family gathering, he had stared at a neutral Qi stone in Arcturus's hand, and the stone had shifted nature to pure Blood essence in moments—far faster than any elder could achieve.
In the private gardens one afternoon, Kairos sat cross-legged on soft crimson grass, tiny hands pressed to the earth. Blood mist coiled around him like loyal serpents.
"Mama, the ground sings to me," he said, looking up at Seraphina with wide eyes. "It wants to be stronger."
Seraphina knelt, heart swelling with pride and caution. "It senses your blood, my light. One day, you'll make it sing louder."
Arcturus watched from nearby, his stern face softening. "He's ready for formal guidance soon. The rise of our clan lies with him."
Beyond the Veil, the situation on Lunara was getting worse by the day, things were escalating quite fast.The world shifted at an unnaturally fast pace, unrest spreading like an invisible poison in water.
Merchants—once independent opportunists—now moved with coordinated malice. Prices fluctuated wildly overnight: defensive talismans tripled in prices, then crashed in false shortages; Dao comprehension materials vanished from open markets, reappearing at black-market premiums. Rumors multiplied exponentially: a heaven-born in the frozen north, an ancient ruin awakening in the south seas, supreme artifacts unearthed in the east. Supply lines faced "accidental" raids, caravans delayed by fabricated beast tides, ports clogged with bogus inspections.
This orchestrated turmoil traced to a shadow alliance of powerful empires, sects, and clans—the whole world is effected by this except for Luna clan as they have their own market and none dared to create trouble there for fear of Luna Clan's wrath, but united in fear of a true prodigy rising unchecked. They funded rumor networks, bribed guild masters, staged minor conflicts to test rivals, all to muddy waters and prevent any single force from consolidating around a potential supreme. False leads buried truth; confusion bred hesitation.
The Luna Clan remained uninvolved—serene observers from their floating palace. No silver scouts joined the fray; no directives issued. They gathered pure intelligence amid the noise, waiting with eternal patience.
In the Voss estate's main hall, Arcturus reviewed reports with Harlan and Valeria.
"The merchants are accelerating the chaos," Harlan growled. "Three false 'heaven-born' sightings this month—all traced to small tier forces or independent forces"
Valeria's sphere swirled darkly. "A shadow of an alliance—great powers fearing the rise of a prodigy. They muddy waters so as to not give them time for growth."
Mira added, "Resource conversion are slo across borders—so they target neutral Qi stones, forcefully hoarding."
Arcturus's gaze turned to the garden, where Kairos laughed as mist formed tiny beasts around him.
"Let them scheme," he said quietly. "We will try to keep distance from it and buy as much time for Kairos as possible without involving ourselves. And distribute the relics for blood comprehension on the basis of merit or in exchange with different resources. Focus on the survivors of that day, give them subsidies resources and relics for comprehension under lucrative reasons, but these should be done subtly to not create differences among our members. As any form of dissatisfaction among our members will give others the chance to muddy waters on our continent. And do not lax on punishments as this may give rise to greed and other dark thoughts."
On the Crimson Veil's tension were increasing, as if sensing approaching storms.
Three quiet years had forged strength.
The true tests loomed.