Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

"Your God Title can exist in two states, one that acts as a confirmation to yourself and the other that acts as a confirmation to the world."

"Before the Dao Lord Realm, the gap between individuals who stand on either side wasn't enormous. However, upon reaching the Dao Lord Realm, the difference between those that have voiced their God Titles and those that had not become as vast as an endless chasm. One would assume them to be of two different God Realms."

Ryu raised an eyebrow. This, he didn't know.

"In addition, at this point, the grade of your Title becomes of invaluable importance."

Ryu frowned. The grade of your Title? Honestly, he had never thought about it. That was because he always felt that a God Title was inextricably linked to your Dao. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if most had a God Title and a Dao Title that were one and the same.

Dividing Heaven was his Dao Title, a worthy name for a Founding Dao.

"Aww, don't be confused lil bro, big bro still has much more to explain," Ianjor chuckled. "The Grade of your God Title is linked to the Grade of your Dao, but there is a range. In addition, the Grade only really matters if you become a Dao Lord."

"Those that become Dao Lords, their weakest Dao Level is that of a Dominion Dao. Though, most would have Hegemonic Daos."

"You need at least a Hegemonic Dao to gain a Lord Grade Title, though there's a small possibility of gaining a Sovereign Title that would boost your chances of entering the Dao Sovereign Realm in the future. Likewise, there's a very small chance that someone with a Dominion Dao might be able to snatch a Lord Grade Title as well."

"The same is true continuing onward."

"You have the best chance at a Sovereign Grade Title if you have an Ancient Dao, and an extremely small shot at a Deity Grade Title."

"Finally, with a Founding Dao, you have the best chance at a Deity Grade Title, and since there's been so few with such a level... normally, anyway."

Ryu sighed. He knew that the other shoe was going to drop at some point. When could things ever be simple and easy for him?

Ianjor grinned. "I knew it. Just look at the snotty look on your face, you have a Founding Dao, don't you? This is just perfect."

He laughed so hard Ryu thought he might piss his pants.

At this point, Ryu was speechless. Where was the clamor? Where was the shock? Where was the adoration?

This is not the reaction you should have when you find out someone has a Foundation Dao.

How many years had it been since the last one was formed? You probably couldn't even count it normally, you had to group the years up into generations and count on a scale that only Founding Clans would comprehend.

And yet here this man was, laughing it up and having the time of his life.

"Woo," Ianjor wiped tears from his eyes. "Normally, you really might have calm sailing ahead. Unfortunately, you're a ba-asshole who's accumulated far too much bad Karma. I just want you to know that you deserve this.

"In a century from now, the Title Steele will appear in the Abyssal Plane. It's an opportunity for people to change their Fate and it's said to be the one treasure capable of birthing a Founding Dao-"

Ianjor burst into a fit of laughter again. This time, he could only hold his stomach, keeling over. And because he had an arm around Ryu, he brought the latter down with him.

By this point, Ryu was very much not amused, but Ianjor's grip was too strong for him to pull out of despite the fact his body had undergone the equivalent of over 80 Life Destructions.

Finally, Ianjor stopped laughing and wiped away more tears.

"It's said the the Title Steele can not only help with Voicing your Title and increasing the chances of you picking up a Title beyond your Dao Grade, but if you pick appropriately and it resonates with your Dao, it can likewise give you a path toward improving your Dao.

"This is because rather than fighting against yourself, the Title Steele pits you against those of your own generation. So long as you stand at the top, regardless of whether you've met the standards on your own or not, the Heavens will give you a path-

"-Shit, I can't stop laughing. You're so pitiful. I can tell with one glance that your talents haven't fused down a single path yet. Your only advantage is probably your Dao, and now that Heavens are conveniently opening a path up for everyone else.

"Go on and cry if you have to, lil bro. Big bro's shoulder is already here for you."

Ryu was truly a little pissed off, but in the end, he shrugged.

"Isn't that easy, then?" Ryu grinned.

Ianjor stopped laughed, suddenly feeling annoyed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, they have to beat those of their generation to gain the right for their title."

"And?" Ianjor's eyes narrowed.

"That means if they don't beat those of their generation, they're out of luck then, no?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Ianjor's gaze turned dangerous, but Ryu's grin only became wider.

"If I kill them all, what chance would they stand?"

Ianjor fell into silence. "Do you even understand what doing that would entail? Forget whether you would do it, do you have any idea what the fallout would be?"

"A lot of angry old bastards with a foot in the grave," Ryu nodded as though it was only a matter of course.

"I thought you wanted to avoid trouble? Also, you sound dangerously close to the Martial Gods right now."

"Avoid trouble? I'm not scared of trouble, I just don't like unnecessary inconveniences for little to not worthy rewards. But this... This is a worthy reward.

"What would the gaze on their faces be? After all these years of suppressing everyone else, of deciding who would possess which Daos, of which level, of robbing babies in their cradles and stealing their Fates from them...

"How would the Martial Gods and the other Nine Powers react to their own children being stripped of everything they've ever worked for?"

Ryu's grin turned from lively, light and radiant, to a dark, fiendish grin.

Rage he had buried within him bubbled forth.

"The day I Voice my God Moniker is the day I'll crush all of their futures."

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Erdiul's Note: Will be busy the coming days, delayed chapters will be the result.