Waking up, Kael opened his eyes to just be greeted with more darkness. He freaked out for a moment thinking he was blind before his eyes began to adjust. Peering up into the darkness, the ceiling of the cavern could not be seen. Stalactites piercing out from the inky gloom like enormous teeth was all that greeted his view.

Looking around all he could tell was that he was resting up against the wall of a giant cavern. All he could see in front of him was dark open air broken up by a stalagmite here and there. Every few seconds the sounds of a water drop splashing on the ground would break the silence. Looking at the ground, it was all rock, worn smooth over innumerable years.

Gently lifting his arms, he rotated his shoulders and moved his forearms around to work out his elbows. He clearly remembered the pain of having them ripped from the sockets, but he was apparently ok now. Putting his hands down to stand, his right hand smashed something soft and wet. Looking at what he had just smashed he was relieved to find it was just the core of some fruit.

Standing up, he walked along the cavern, keeping his left side to the wall to be sure he did not get lost in the open underground. After a few steps, he stopped to give himself a closer inspection. The constant weight of the pack on his back was gone, so he had already subconsciously written that off. Patting his hip he was happy to find his waist pack. Opening it up he found a broken wood knife, a shattered pot, and some ruined powders. The only left intact was one potion of minor phoenix flight.

Taking it the potion out, he removed his belt to get his pack off. Once he loosened his belt he felt one of his boar tusk knives fall to the ground. In the strangely quiet cavern, the knife made an odd ringing sound that echoed out into nothingness as the knife hit the ground. Looking down at it he was really surprised that it made it with him to wherever here was, but his pack was lost. Finishing the task of taking off his belt, he took the pack off and upturned it. Smacking it on the ground a few times to get most of the caked on powders out of it.

Putting everything back on and storing the potion in the waist pack, he bent down to retrieve his dagger. Tucking it back under his belt was apparently the best place for it, so that is where it went.

Sighing for his lost hammer he took a moment to clear his thoughts before continuing to follow the wall. After walking for what he guessed was a few hours he came to pile of clumped up powder and a broken wooden knife. Fuck, I went in a circle!

Kicking the pile of garbage out of frustration, he slowly let out a long breath. Calm down man, it could be worse, you could be dead. He thought while looking out into the darkness. Wait, is that light? Staring out into the darkness, he could see a deep blue in the sky. That definitely was not there before. I am totally in a hole. Heading towards the light, he walked out into the darkness.

Carefully moving through the dark cavern, he skirted the stalagmites while on the lookout for whatever nasties might live down here. The further in he went, the more stalagmites and stalactites he encountered. The longer he spent moving the more the center of the cavern changed. He was sure of it now, he was in a hole and it was dawn. Excited with the thoughts of both light and getting the hell out this place he picked up his pace.

After 30 minutes of a fast walk, he came to a point where 5 stalagmites formed in a circle. Looking up he could see a 20-foot diameter round hole in the cavern ceiling. Guessing the stalagmites formed from water running down from above he thought he came to the end of this brief, but freaky journey. The only problem was that the stalagmites were only around 100 feet tall, which was only halfway to the top of the cavern.

Deciding to cross the issue of getting out of this place once he had a better idea of what the cavern was like, he began to climb the stalagmite to get a better view. Although it was made of rock, it was slippery from some kind of gross moss. Struggling his way up, he climbed about 50 feet before getting a shock. In the dead center of the 5 stalagmites, there was an open, circular shape. The middle of the space had a large circle engraved with a complex design he assumed was an array. Sitting on the array was a gigantic ape.

Looking more closely at the ape, it was strange, the thing was sitting in a lotus position. Apparently, it was quite old, as the black hair on its head had become salt and pepper white, while the golden hair on it chest was about 80% white. Its size was ridiculous to Kael. He thought a bear who could stand at 20 feet tall was huge, but this monkey was at least 35 feet tall while in a sitting position.

After staring at it for over a minute, the old ape suddenly opened its mouth and said, “Human child, did no one tell you it is rude to stare?” Hearing the ape’s sudden speech, Kael tumbled down the stalagmite backwards. Landing on the ground with a grunt he thought, I HAVE to stop falling.

“What’s wrong child, never heard an ape speak before?”

“Uhm sir, I guess the technical truth is yes. Let's hope Koko counts. It was more of a normal beast that was trained to communicate simple things with a hand language though.”

“Good child you did not lie. It would have been a shame to kill you after saving you from your fall.”

“Thanks for that. Sir, I did not mean to intrude, you wouldn’t have happened to see a backpack and hammer, would you? If I can locate them I will stop bothering you and be on my way.”

“The pack is ruined, in fact, if it were not for the powders in it being soaked, then seeping through into your skin, you probably would not have made it to here. As for a hammer, it did not accompany you.”

“Thank you, sir, if you could tell me how to exit now, I will let you get back to quietly sitting there.”

Laughing loudly the ape replied, “Child, no need to be anxious if I wanted to kill you I wouldn’t have saved you. You have the same bloodline as someone who I once was very close to. As you are of his lineage, not only will I not kill you, but I will assist you with your training. Come, child, climb of those stones, let us speak face to face.”

With some trepidation, Kael climbed up the stalagmites, crossed over to the other side, and slid back down it into the interior of the stone ring.

“Good child, you have guts. Tell me, what are you called?”

“My name is Kael sir, um, how should I call you?”

“My name is Bantan. Child, there is no reason to be so polite.”

Kael took a seat cross-legged in front of the giant ape and asked, “Well you said you would help me with training, I don’t seem to have a legitimate dantian, so how is that going to work?”

“No need to worry small one. Let me ask you, how did you cultivate until now?”

“I built up and held energy in my meridians until they were full, then pushed them into my muscles, bones, etc..”

“Good, do you know what else cultivates like that?”

“Uh, no, or I wouldn’t have been stuck at my current cultivation for so long.”

Laughing, the ape said, “So long? Child, I have not had a breakthrough in over 2,000 years. Your current life has been shorter than my last cultivation session.”

Surprised at how old the ape was, Kael asked, “Well sir, err, Bantan, could you tell me what else cultivates like me?”

“Beasts of course. Unlike most humanoid races, beasts do not form a dantian. We simply are born with the knowledge of how to strengthen our bodies. Over time the residual energy slowly builds a core. For us, it is like having a grain of sand that we slowly build up into a stone over innumerable years.”

“Shit, I don’t have that long, I’ll be in the grave long before that happens!”

“No need to be agitated. When you reach the Xiantian realm, your body will naturally form a dantian, you have it much easier then beasts.”

“What do I need to do then?”

“It’s simple, you will train like a beast, just in a more focused way. First, you need to be able to fill your meridians completely, but instead of releasing or using that energy, just keep cycling it. Once you have reached that point we can talk again. If you can’t accomplish that you are hopeless.”

“I will do my best, but I have a concern. Currently, my Qi becomes unstable as soon as it is full and then dissipates.”

Hearing that, the old ape opened its eyes for the first time. Looking into Bantan’s eyes, Kael felt like his soul was being swallowed up by a vast black hole. Closing its eyes again, Bantan said, “Child your bloodlines are out of balance. If fortune is with you, I have something that may help.” After speaking he made a grasping motion in the air. Turning his palm face down he opened his hand. Kael saw a small copper ring fall from the ape’s hand. Catching it, he wondered how this old beaten ring would help him.

Soul has received a spatial item.

Initiating lucky chance of 15%.

Soul’s luck has been approved.

Merging items purchased with Karma into spatial ring

Congratulations, make persistent efforts!

While Kael was staring dumbly at the ring, Bantan began speaking again.

“Originally, I was only going to give this to you if you could prove yourself. It is the last relic my good friend left behind before leaving me forever. Although it is damaged, it still has accessible space in it. If fortune favours you, perhaps it will have something to assist you. It may only be bound if the previous owner is dead. You are lucky that I do not seek worldly positions at my age, or I would have already bound it. Drop three drops of your blood upon it and it will be yours.”

Excited, Kael bit his thumb until he could taste blood. Squeezing our three drops of blood onto the ring, he watched as it absorbed them. Creepy. After the ring was done drinking his blood, he slipped it onto his thumb. Watching in amazement, the ring resized itself to fit his thumb perfectly. When it was done shrinking, it changed its shape into a black and white set of yin-yang fish surrounding his thumb. Finally, he felt a burning pain as the ring sunk into his flesh, leaving behind only a tattoo of its shape. Well shit, I went from fashion sense into a terrible tattoo.

“Focus your mind on it and you will be presented with a black image that represents its space in your mind. Anything inside will be represented. Will the item you want out and it will appear in your hand. If you do not wish to hold the item, you can face your palm the direction you want it to appear. When it is willed out, it will appear in front of your palm.”

Super excited, Kael willed his mind into it. Seeing a hazy of darkness with a few items, he held his palm out and willed it all to appear. As things popped into existence in front of him he excitedly shouted, “Thanks Bantan!”

Looking at the pile of items he saw 2 talismans, 4 fruits, 2 books, a ring, a pouch, and a pair of boots. Examining them he began to receive notifications.

Life-saving talisman (2), a drop of blood to attune it. When the owner receives a damage that would exceed his/her life by no more than twice their total health, the talisman will shatter. The owner will take no damage.

Wildberry fruit of the golden fish, +1 luck. Blessing of lesser wealth.

Firebranded Apple, increases control over fire by 20%

Titan’s Wrath, +2 strength. A delectable fruit grown on the grounds where a titan fell. Devouring it will transform 10% of the bloodline to that of a Titan.

Saint’s Heart, +1 talent. A refreshing pear, Devouring it will have a 10% chance to increase talent by 1 point.

How to refine for idiots, an artisan saints guide to refining ores.

Hammering of Myriad Things, a forging technique created by an artisan saint, signed N.D.

A nameless ring, forged of the bones of a Fu Dog, +2 luck.

A spatial pouch, interspatial space holds 50 cubic feet.

Nocturne’s Firewalking Treads, Tier 7 Heaven Ranked boots. Protects the wearer against heat by reducing the effects of overall heat by 95%. Heaven ranked flames and effects are not affected.

“Holy shit!” Kael exclaimed at his bonus items. These are nice, but someone is seriously bad at naming things.

Bantan, smiling at the excited child said, “It looks like fortune favoured you. Those fruits are old, I suggest you immediately consume them.”

Nodding, Kael reached out and began to consume them one after another. As he ate each on he could feel different types of mysterious energies rushing through his body. The wildberry fruit applied the bonus he had saw earlier, but when eating the Firebranded Apple the first of the strange events started.

Soul’s bloodline has a similar effect, merging effects.

+10% Might removed.

-10% Consumption removed.

+20% Control removed.

+30% to control over all aspects of fire granted.

Jumping up in excitement, he paused when he remembered he was not alone. Scratching the back of his head, he swallowed his excitement and sat back down. Eating the Titan’s Wrath fruit, he gained the expected +2 strength and +10% bloodline, but what he did not expect came next.

Soul’s bloodline has become more powerful. Updating effect.

Effect doubled, soul granted an additional +2 strength, +1 Body, +1 Stamina.

Control over metal has increased to 20%.

Forcing himself to remain seated and calm he gave himself an imaginary hi-five and a Fuck yeah! Looking at the details to the last fruit he decided to wear the Fu Dog ring first. A bit bummed a karma item only had a 10% chance to work he felt a little robbed. At least my other fruit was twice as cool. Dripping his blood on the Fu Ring and then wearing it, he took the last fruit and quickly ate it.

Soul’s talent has increased by 1.

10% chance to increase talent initiated.

Applying souls luck to the consumables lucky chance.

Lucky chance of 10%, (Increased by 30% due to luck =40%) initiated.

Soul’s luck has been approved.

Soul’s talent increased by 1.

Laughing wildly for a moment, Kael regained his composure and apologized, “Sorry Bantan, I just couldn’t control my excitement for a moment.”

“No problem, childhood is meant for such moments. You gained some nice things, I would suggest you bind the boots before storing the books for later as they will not help you as of yet.”

Heading the ape’s suggestion, he dripped his blood onto the boots.

Soul has attuned to an ancestral item, checking bloodlines.

Darksteel bloodline accepted.

Ancestral item created by Nocturne Darksteel, Soul accepted as the primary host.

Additional functionality locked until Soul’s strength is powerful enough to remove seals.

Jumping up again, Kael looked at the old ape and said. “Bantan, These boots have an inheritance for my bloodline, was your friend named Nocturne? In my mind, I felt the boots accept me a direct line descendant.”

The old ape burst into laughter of excitement, “Fate, it’s fate child. Yes, Nocturne was my friend and partner. We explored the majority of this world as he insanely searched for the rarest materials that could be found. I suppose this means I should use my remaining time to train you with full effort and not just point you in the correct direction.”

“If he is my ancestor, what can you tell me of him? My family was destroyed and I know nothing about them.”

“Kael, you are far too weak to know about your ancestor. He would be very sad to know his family has fallen though. You should work hard to bring your family back to the heights they should exist at. All you need to know is that your ancestor was only one step away from the Great Ascension stage, what humans call the emperor rank now. He was also hailed as one of the greatest smiths of his time. Child, he died long ago. His lifespan came to its end before he could break through. Before his death, he created this array for me in hopes that it could stimulate my bloodline. Although my bloodlines have never awakened, it has helped my cultivation greatly. Unfortunately, it appears I will follow in his footsteps soon.”

Not sure exactly how to comfort a millenniums-old monster, Kael just said, “Sorry to hear that, Bantan.”

“It’s fine child of my friend, but go now, practice holding Qi in your meridians. I need time to pull my mind back to the present.”

Hearing the instructions, Kael got up and began climbing the stalagmites again. When he reached the top he said, “Bantan, uh, you got anything to eat?”

Smiling, the old ape looked up to the hole in the roof of the cave. Making another grasping motion a huge scaled rhino looked like it was sucked in. Catching the rhino, the old ape broke its neck, then tossed it over the gap by the stalagmite Kael was climbing. “Go, I will send you a new beast each morning.”

Tracking down the rhino, Kael realized he had no way to cook it. Shuddering, he took out his knife and activated the internal forging technique.