ตอน 36: Chapter 36: Mark of Humiliation
"Man, what a mess," Ethan sighed heavily, reflecting on the whole debacle with Lucas and Karen. Lucas had once confessed at the Forebearer's shrine, regretting his youthful ignorance in choosing a partner like Karen and lamenting his poor judgment.
Every family has its own set of challenges, and no one can predict how the people they cherish might change over time. However, Lucas handled the situation pretty well, considering the circumstances. Human ambition knows no bounds, and had Lucas allowed the Brown family to run wild, it could have led to unbearable losses.
Unfortunately, the ones who really got the short end of the stick were Marcus and Daniel, the kids caught in the middle of this mess. In the game interface late at night, Marcus, who had been holding back tears all day, was seen cradling Daniel in his arms, weeping under the candlelight before Ethan's Forebearer shrine.
"Forebearer, my mother... is a traitor!" he cried out. "From now on, everyone in our family and all our friends in Gratitude Village will know that my brother and I are the children of a traitor."
No one knows the deep psychological scars a failed parent can leave on their children. The actions of Karen and the Brown family might very well become a shameful mark, forever branded on Marcus and Daniel.
Bearing immense pain, Marcus acquired a new trait: the Mark of Humiliation. This would make him more self-conscious, reducing his mental state by 10%. To escape this humiliation, he would work harder than anyone else, using his inner shame as a baseline to boost his psychic power cultivation speed by 20%!
Ethan watched as Marcus acquired these traits and shook his head, unsure of how to comfort him. All he could do was cast a warm light using the 'Forebearer's Love' to soothe Marcus. Sensing Ethan's intentions, the Purple Thunder Python extended its tongue from the darkness. It licked Marcus's face, offering him a small comfort..
"Thank you, Forebearer," Marcus whispered.
In the dark of the night, the fragile soul nestled against the Purple Thunder Python and fell asleep. In the days that followed, Ethan made sure the Blackwood members took extra care of Lucas's two children.
As the year passed, the 31st year of Blackwood marked the end of a long drought, with a heavy rain that rejuvenated the earth. "Has this twenty-year drought finally ended?" Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. He had never experienced such a disaster on Earth, only hearing tales of extreme hardship from the refugees of Gratitude Village.
After the rain, all the villagers ran out of their houses, soaking in the long-awaited rain as if thanking the heavens for finally forgiving their sins, celebrating the much-needed downpour.
After three years of intense focus, Nathan had an epiphany and successfully unlocked his Emerging Ability, becoming an early-stage Psychic!
"Ha ha ha, it's done, Forebearer, your foolish descendant Nathan has finally made it!"
In the secluded room, Nathan, now 51 and previously showing signs of aging with streaks of white in his hair, had undergone a transformation. Post-breakthrough, his hair turned black again, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out, making him look like a determined man in his thirties, much more youthful and vibrant than before.
Even standing next to Lucas, one might mistake them for brothers!
[Nathan]
[Stage: Early Emerging Ability]
[Techniques: Qi Intake Technique, Basic Swordsmanship, Dragon Step]
[Traits: Determined, Boar Slayer, Forest Hunter]
The breakthrough to the Emerging Ability stage was truly a metamorphosis, a process known as the 'Hundred Days of Emerging Ability,' where they cleanse their bodies of impurities to create better conditions for cultivating psychic powers.
Every limb, every organ, purified. The Iron Will ability resides in the governing and conception vessels, while the Emerging Ability stage works through the meridian pathways!
Even the Psychic Constitution strengthens during this phase!
After three years of Emerging Ability cultivation, Nathan's Psychic Constitution now comprised only the metal, fire, and earth elements, each quality exceeding 60.
The strength of the Emerging Ability also comes from breaking the physical human limitations.
They possess more diverse abilities, including 'Insight,' which allows them to see others' energy flows and roughly gauge the strength of their abilities. They can also gather 'Spiritual Sense,' not just sensing their surroundings through their senses but feeling everything in a 360-degree radius without blind spots.
They can even 'Perceive the Minute,' seeing the smallest details. Their bodies harbor a 'Pill Fire,' essential for condensing their psychic energy into a pill, a crucial step for breaking through to the D-level!
This is why the Hu and Wang families' Psychics, upon entering Blackwood territory, looked down on these Iron Will Psychics.
Because these two were practically from different dimensions.
It's also why they didn't hesitate to flee when they encountered the Purple Thunder Solar Python and the War AI Bionic Robot, sensing the formidable power of these beings.
"We finally have a true Emerging Ability Psychic in Blackwood," Ethan declared, sending Nathan a 'Forebearer's Love' without hesitation.
The reason Nathan is considered a true Emerging Ability Psychic in Blackwood, unlike Luna—who doesn't count since she's a Beast Master, having bonded with the Heavenly Moon Fox—is that she's more akin to a demonic cultivator.
As Nathan broke through, the people of Blackwood gathered once again to celebrate him!
However, their celebration was not open to outsiders; only they knew about it.
After all, only hidden strength is the real trump card.
"Thanks to the Forebearer for all the help, otherwise, silly me could never have broken through to Emerging Ability. The Divine Gift from the Forebearer has always been aiding me."
More expressions of deep gratitude followed.
After the ceremony, Luna looked at her husband joyfully. As time passed, Luna, who had bonded with the Heavenly Moon Fox, seemed to grow more beautiful and even noble, making it hard to believe she was once just an ordinary farmer's daughter. "Honey, this is great! With your breakthrough, our Blackwood family will be even stronger."
"Honey, your..." Nathan looked bewilderedly at his wife, "Your strength..."
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