The Sword Goddess Killed Me, So I Came Back For Revenge

Chapter 4

In this world, not many people were able to open the Divine Martial Mark. At most, only one out of ten succeeded. That was why the status of every true martial artist was extremely high. Of course, for those who later became martial masters, the gap became even larger.

Bloodline also played an important role. The stronger the bloodline, the higher the chance of opening the Divine Martial Mark. The Clan Leader of the Vale Clan had a total of ten sons. Nine of them had already opened their marks. Only Adrian, who was already sixteen, still had not. 

That single fact had turned him into the laughing stock of the entire clan.

The snow continued to fall lightly. The cold wind swept across the open ground in front of the Ancestral Shrine. More and more people gathered. Young men and women who were about to step onto the altar looked nervous and hopeful at the same time.

 Parents held their children tightly. Some whispered prayers, while others simply stared at the sky, waiting for the moment when the bridge between heaven and earth would appear.

Adrian felt the white crystal hidden inside his clothes. It rested against his chest, still cool and pure. He did not know if it would help him today. 

Cora leaned closer and spoke in a low voice so only he could hear.

“Adrian, no matter what happens, Mother will stay with you. Do not listen to their words.”

Adrian gave her a small nod.

“I know, Mother. Do not worry.”

His voice was calm. Inside, his thoughts were clear. Today he would stand on that altar like everyone else. Whether the heavens granted him the Divine Martial Mark or not, he would not show weakness in front of these people. He had already decided that this weak body would not stay weak forever.

The Clan Leader finally appeared at the front of the crowd, surrounded by important elders. The atmosphere grew heavier as the time for the main sacrifice was drawing close.

The Seventh Young Master and the Eighth Young Master still stood not far away, occasionally glancing at Adrian with open contempt. They clearly believed that today would only confirm what everyone already thought, that the tenth young master was a complete waste who should never have been born into their clan.

Many people in the crowd laughed when they saw Adrian standing at the edge.

Some even whispered that he could not be the Clan Leader’s real son. Although it was only a rumor, it still brought shame to the main line of the Vale Clan. Most of the other young masters and young ladies treated Adrian like a complete disgrace. They looked at him as if he were trash and quietly wished he would die sooner.

The Clan Leader himself had grown distant from both Adrian and Cora. After last night, when they were finally kicked out of the Inner Courtyard and forced to move into the Outer Courtyard, that distance became even clearer.

Adrian simply stayed silent. He did not argue with the seventh Young Master or the Eighth Young Master. He knew that before he had real strength, any argument would only make people despise him more.

Cora stood not far from the other young masters. Her heart ached when she saw her son standing alone on the sidelines, but there was nothing she could do.

Then the ritual ceremony began.

The High Elder of the Vale Clan stood high above the ancient altar. He held a long scroll of began to recite the sacred words in a deep, steady voice. Solemn music rose into the air. Graceful female disciples in colorful robes played different instruments  and other ancient tools that filled the snowy ground with a heavy and sacred sound.

After the music, the animals were brought forward. One by one they were beheaded. Their blood spilled across the stone altar as an offering to the heavens. Thick Blood Qi rose from the sacrifices and formed a pillar of light. The pillar shot straight up into the sky, broke through the thick clouds, and rushed toward the heavens above.

The entire crowd fell silent and stared upward.

Suddenly, a beam of pure starlight flew down from the sky. It landed directly on a three-year-old boy standing near the front. The light entered his body without resistance and slowly transformed into a bright crimson Divine Martial Mark that appeared on his forehead.

Gasps of surprise spread through the crowd.

“It’s the youngest son of Elder Zou!”

“Only six years old and he already opened the Divine Martial Mark!”

“And it’s a crimson one… that is a fourth-grade mark!”

A fourth-grade Divine Martial Mark was considered very powerful. Most people who managed to open a mark only received lower grades. A crimson mark at such a young age meant the boy’s future was bright.

People began to clap and cheer. The boy’s parents cried with joy. Even the Clan Leader nodded with approval from his high seat.

Adrian watched everything quietly from the side. His face stayed calm, but inside he felt a small stir. In his previous life he had opened his own Divine Martial Mark before he was even born. Now he stood here at sixteen with nothing, while a three-year-old child had already succeeded.

Cora glanced at him with worry. She wanted to say something comforting, but the noise of the crowd made it hard to speak.

The High Elder raised his voice again and continued the ceremony. More people stepped forward one after another, hoping the heavens would also grant them a mark. Some received nothing, a few received faint, low-grade marks. The success of the three-year-old boy had raised everyone’s hopes, but the heavens remained strict.

Snow continued to fall lightly on the open ground. The cold wind carried the smell of blood and incense. The pillar of light still connected the altar to the sky, waiting for the next person the heavens might choose.

.

Divine Martial Marks were divided into ten grades. The first-grade mark was the weakest, while the tenth -grade mark was the most powerful. Everyone in the crowd kept staring at the six-year-old boy with open envy. 

Opening a fourth-grade Divine Martial Mark at only three years old was enough to call him a true genius of this generation. His future achievements would almost certainly stand far above most people in the Vale Clan.

A strong-looking man stepped forward, slapped his own chest, and laughed loudly in excitement.

“Good! Worthy of being my son!” he shouted. “Tonight the main hall of the clan is holding a banquet. All of you must come and celebrate with us!”

That man was Elder Zou, the boy’s father. His proud voice carried across the snowy ground and drew even more attention to the child who had just received the crimson mark.

Above the sky, more beams of starlight continued to fall. They landed on the foreheads of several teenagers and young girls, transforming into Divine Martial Marks of different grades. Most of them received only a first-grade mark. A small number managed to open a second-grade mark. So far, the strongest was still the fourth-grade mark belonging to Elder Zou’s young son.

Those who failed looked lost and broken. Some teenagers and young girls stood frozen in place. Others covered their faces and cried out in pain. For them, the door to becoming a real martial artist had closed. Their families stood nearby with heavy expressions, some trying to comfort them, others simply silent with disappointment.

The sacrificial ceremony was slowly coming to an end. The pillar of light that connected the altar to the heavens began to weaken. Fewer and fewer beams of starlight fell from the sky.

Adrian still had not opened any Divine Martial Mark.

The High Elder raised his voice one last time and continued the final prayers. A few more faint beams of starlight fell, granting low-grade marks to two or three more young people. After that, the sky grew quiet again. The great pillar of light slowly faded and disappeared.

The ceremony was almost over and Adrian still stood empty-handed.

Around him, successful families began to leave with bright faces while those who had failed slowly walked away with lowered heads. The seventh Young Master and the eighth Young Master could be seen in the distance, both of them wearing cold smiles as they glanced in Adrian’s direction. 

They clearly believed that today had only confirmed what everyone already thought, that the tenth young master of the Vale Clan would remain a useless waste forever.

Everyone ignored Adrian like a speck of dust in the corner, no one paid him any attention at all.

Cora wished that her child would somehow create a miracle and open the Divine Martial Mark. 

Even if he could not become a powerful martial artist, at least he would be able to strengthen his body and no longer suffer from constant illness.