Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

When the Sky Gods and Peak World Sea Realm experts of the Armament Guild realized just who it was that had broken through, their expressions couldn't help but change. 

The powerhouses of the Seire, Virga and part of the Hastam Clan all had glowing expressions while those of the Ferum, Arcus, Lorum, Gladio, Gione and Securis Clan all had a wide range of reactions from complicated to ugly. 

"Little Abe? Is that really you?"

The one who spoke was an old man with a hunched back. Even as he walked through the air, his walking stick struck down to form qi paths along his way. He really seemed like every bit of a frail old man, but it was this very old man who had been the backbone of the Hastam Clan for so long, Sky God Hastam. 

When he saw that it was actually his own descendant who had not only become a Sky God, but a True Sky God at that, he was at a loss for words. 

He had been among the first to make it here because unlike those other Sky Gods who spent all day, everyday in deep meditation, he had already accepted that he had reached his limit. Truthfully, it was because he was so lay back and old that the Hastam Clan ended up as fragmented as it was currently. 

Though even as old as he was, living for several more million years wouldn't be a problem, to the rest of the martial world, this was simply too short of a time frame. It wasn't even enough time for a newborn to grow into an expert capable of holding some weight in the family. At best, even if they were a great genius, they would still be in the Dao Pedestal Realm when old man Hastam passed away. 

Due to this, the old man wasn't really part of the family's decisions. The only thing he could do was protect the life of Godefride and Aberardus and stop the internal conflict from reaching the point of fratricide.

For a long time, old man Hastam thought that he would just have to hold on for as long as he could, hoping that the built up animosity between his family members would be dealt with before he died, knowing full well that this was nothing more than wishful thinking…

To think that the Heavens would actually give him such a surprise today. 

"Ancestor!"

Aberardus immediately stopped laughing, falling to his knees in the skies. He respectfully kowtowed to this old man who had always looked after him and his son. If not for old man Hastam, many his family line would have already been wiped out. 

The old man was stunned for a moment before a smile bloomed on his wizened features. 

"Come, come. Little Abe, you're a Sky God now. No, a True Sky God. These aren't bows that I deserve."

Aberardus stubbornly shook his head before kowtowing once more. This had nothing to do with power, he respected this man to the depths of his heart. 

Old man Hastam reached forward and helped his descendant up, a gratified smile on his face. Though his blood ties with Aberardus could be considered thin at best and there were dozens of generations separating the two of them, he still felt a happiness that only a grandparent could feel right this moment. 

Aberardus allowed his Ancestor to help him up, straightening his back with a glowing gaze as he looked around. Many couldn't meet his gaze. Some turned away after trying while many more avoided it all together. 

The birth of a Sky God in the Armament Guild was meant to be an exciting occasion, but right now… Most were uncertain of how to react. 

At that moment, two powerful, all encompassing auras descended, causing Aberardus' gaze to narrow. He didn't need to look to know that these two were the only two True Sky Gods of the Armament Guild… At least before his own breakthrough. 

Both of these individuals were the reason why so many of the nine families had already defected to the side of the Martial Gods. 

On the left, there was a young man with brows as sharp as swords and a gaze as piercing as a hawks. Despite the amiable smile on his face, it was difficult to see him as a nice person, his eyes were simply too piercing. 

This 'young man' was anything but young and was actually True Sky God Arcus, the Ancestor of the Arcus Clan and well known to be the strongest bowman in the whole of the martial world. 

On the right, there was a middle aged woman. She had clearly broken through earlier than True Sky God Arcus had and as a result, seemed much older as well. However, that did nothing to mar her beauty. Other than a few lines of age, just her elegant posture and graceful gait stole the souls of all men who saw her. 

She had flowing crystalline blue hair that almost looked like gem-like filaments, and a waist so tiny and hips so wide it made one fantasize about what her backview would look like just from a glance at the front. 

She was True Sky God Ferum… Also known as Wynhorn Ferum, the Supreme Blacksmith of the swords faction! 

As for why she carried the name Wynhorn and many even deigned to call her by her first name in such a way, this was because she had spent the majority of her life masquerading as a man as women could not inherit the Ferum Clan. It was only after she became a True Sky God did she sweep away competition in a single step and reveal her true feminine charms… 

Still, she never changed her name back to what it once had been, nor did she seem bothered to have such a bulky and aggressive name…

The appearance of these two, although they were very obviously avatars in Aberardus' eyes, caused a frightening silence to take hold. 

Who knew, though, that someone would actually break it? 

"Congratulations, old man." 

Ryu smiled lightly from Ryza's side, causing the latter to go as pale as a sheet of paper. 

Suddenly, she felt like she had just made the worst mistake of her life.