The Blood Of The Lord

Chapter 06: Blood test

The next day, Chen Wu woke up earlier than usual. The sun had just penetrated the eastern sky, giving the valley below the Tianlong Clan a golden color. He stood in the training yard, staring silently at the stone circle that students used to practice martial arts and energy control.

“Chen Wu,” Elder Yuan's voice broke the silence.

Chen Wu turned his head. Elder Yuan stood behind him, accompanied by Mei Lin. The old man's face was serious, but there was a flash of determination in his eyes.

“Your training will begin now,” said Elder Yuan. “But this is no ordinary training. You will have a blood test."

"Blood test?" Chen Wu repeated, his brows furrowed.

Elder Yuan nodded. “To control the power within you, you must understand the blood that flows in your veins. But understanding it is not an easy thing. This test will take you to your physical, mental and spiritual limits. Many fail, even die.”

Mei Lin was shocked. “Elder Yuan, isn't that too dangerous? he just found out about his powers!”

Elder Yuan looked at Mei Lin calmly. “The longer that power goes unchecked, the greater the risk of Chen Wu losing himself. This test is not just about mastery, but about survival.”

Chen Wu looked at Elder Yuan. “I'm ready,” he said without hesitation.

Elder Yuan smiled faintly. "Okay. Follow me."

Chen Wu followed Elder Yuan to an underground chamber hidden behind the main hall. The walls were covered in ancient symbols that glowed faintly, giving the passage a faint blue light. At the end of the hall, they arrived at a large room in the middle of which was a circular altar.

“Stand in the middle,” Elder Yuan ordered.

Chen Wu obeyed without hesitation, stepping into the center of the altar. The symbols on the floor began to shine brightly as soon as he stood there, and the air around him turned heavy.

“This test will bring your awareness into your own blood,” Elder Yuan explained. “There, you will face the manifestation of your powers—and your deepest shadows. if you lose, your body will be destroyed from the inside.”

Mei Lin clasped her hands uneasily. "Elder, isn't there any other way?"

Elder Yuan shook his head. "This is the only way."

Chen Wu took a deep breath, then closed his eyes. "Do."

Elder Yuan started chanting an ancient spell, and the symbols on the floor lit up with red light. The altar began to shake, and powerful winds swirled around Chen Wu. His body felt light, then suddenly everything went dark.

When Chen Wu opened his eyes, he was in a different place. The sky above was dark with red clouds that swirled like a giant vortex. Beneath him, the ground cracked and was smeared with pitch black liquid that reflected his own face.

"Where am I?" he muttered.

“You are in your blood,” a familiar voice said from behind him.

Chen Wu turned around and found the black scaled creature he had encountered in the cave standing there, bigger and more terrifying than before.

“You,” Chen Wu said, clenching his fists.

The creature smiled coldly. “I am a part of you. I am the strength you seek, but also the curse that will destroy you if you are not careful.”

Chen Wu stepped forward, looking at the creature with determination. "What should I do?"

the creature raised one paw, pointing at another shadow emerging from the darkness. The shadow was shaped like Chen Wu himself, but its eyes glowed bright red and its body was suffused with a terrifying dark aura.

“You must defeat him,” said the creature. “It is your shadow, the manifestation of all the doubts, fears, and hatred that exist within you. If you lose, your body will be his.”

The shadow stepped forward, and Chen Wu could feel a tremendous power flowing from him.

“You are nothing but trash,” said the shadow in a cold voice. “No matter how hard you fight, you will always be the object of their ridicule.”

Chen Wu clenched his fists, trying to suppress the fear that was starting to creep up.

“Shut up,” he said quietly. “I am no longer the child you insulted.”

the shadow smiled mockingly. "Prove it."

Without warning, the shadow attacked. Chen Wu barely had time to dodge when the heavy punch hit the ground nearby, creating a huge crack.

Chen Wu attacked back with all the strength he had, but every attack seemed to be reflected back by the shadow. Frustration started to get the best of him.

"Why?" he muttered. "Why can't I hurt him?"

The black scaled creature's voice echoed around him. “Because you haven't accepted yourself. That shadow is you, Chen Wu. You can't beat him with force. You have to face it with heart.”

Chen Wu stopped, taking a deep breath. He stared at the reflection, this time not with hatred, but with understanding.

“You're right,” he said quietly. “You are a part of me. But I won't let you control my life."

The shadow stopped attacking, its eyes glowing red began to dim.

“You have understood,” said the black-scaled creature. “By accepting your shadow, you have controlled the power that is in your blood.”

The shadow slowly disappeared, and Chen Wu felt a huge power flowing through his body.

When Chen Wu opened his eyes again, he was back on the altar. Mei Lin and Elder Yuan looked at him with a mixture of worry and relief.

“I did it,” he said in a determined voice.

Elder Yuan nodded slowly. “You have passed the blood test. But your journey has only just begun, Chen Wu. This power would attract the attention of major enemies, both from inside and outside the clan. You have to be prepared for everything.”

Chen Wu stood up, his eyes glowing bright red for a moment before returning to normal. “I will face anything. Nothing can stop me anymore.”

In the distance, dark clouds began to gather above the Tianlong Clan's territory, as if it was a sign that a great storm was about to come.