Chapter 74: Absorbed the blood essence Ethan logged out of the virtual universe. He rubbed his temples, still digesting everything he’d seen. Then he turned to Po, who had been quietly waiting nearby. "Po, what do you think of this visit? Are all Earthlings going to log in to Solaris?" Ethan asked. Po had been granted permission to access the virtual universe as well. He tilted his head thoughtfully. "Boss, I’ve never heard about this X-rank contract before. But I can come to one conclusion. You people... you’re not ordinary humans anymore. You’ve become core members of the Primordial Humans. Once you take that blood evolution fluid, you will fully become their rank. You won’t be under their command. You are them—containing the same blood and gene as they do." Ethan nodded slowly. "I was thinking about this too." He glanced out the window, his expression distant. "So probably everyone will have to log in there, right? I should let them know." Without hesitation, Ethan spread his mental domain across the entire planet. A gentle pressure sank into the minds of every single person. "This is your president, Ethan Hunt," he said calmly, his voice echoing inside billions of thoughts at once. "I have something important to tell you." He explained everything he had discovered—the existence of Solaris, the virtual world’s tiers, the coming gift. Then he added, "Everyone should take the blood evolution fluid before entering the virtual universe. It will be essential." When his message ended, a wave of commotion swept the planet. People stood frozen wherever they were: in homes, in offices, on training grounds. They had always known the new president was extraordinary, but hearing his voice directly inside their minds shattered any lingering doubts. Reverence for Ethan rose to a whole new level. Five minutes later, Dragon came to see him. His eyes were sharp with curiosity. "What did you see in the virtual world? I’m very interested in knowing that," Dragon said. Ethan didn’t hold anything back. He told him everything—about the city of Solaris, the levels, and the potential. Dragon listened intently, arms folded, absorbing each detail. "You should take the blood evolution fluid, then go there," Ethan advised. "When you arrive, you can tell them you come from an X-level contracted civilization. If you prefer, this is someone I met—his contact information." He handed over Genos’s credentials. "You can reach out to him. He seemed pretty good." Dragon nodded. "All right. The gift should arrive in about five minutes. After I take the fluid, I’ll visit the virtual world myself." "Oh one more thing, try to build up fame, like battle in the arena. We need fame and connection. Though we are now the part of them,we need to prove ourselves to be recognized by them." "Okay", Dragon left. Ethan watched him go, feeling a flicker of relief that someone else shared the burden of understanding this new reality. Then he leaned back in his chair and exhaled. Five minutes passed in restless anticipation. He was more than a little curious about how the so-called gift would be delivered. Finally, a familiar voice resounded, soft but commanding, directly inside every mind on Earth: "Children of Earth, your gift will now be distributed now. Be ready." Queen Freya’s tone was calm, as if she were announcing the weather. But what followed was anything but ordinary. Ethan felt a shift in the air near him,a jagged tear opened silently in the space. From the darkness beyond, a sleek, high-tech box dropped down and fell to his hand. Then the rift closed, and the air stitched itself back together as if nothing had happened. Damn, Ethan thought, a thrill running down his spine. That was...awesome. He wasn’t alone. All across the world, the same scene unfolded: shimmering tears in the sky, boxes descending into outstretched hands or landing softly in waiting rooms. Even the Hunt family estate was no exception. Ethan had already instructed everyone in his family not to touch the fluid until he arrived. So Rose, her family, and the entire Hunt clan sat waiting, every eye turned toward the sealed boxes. Ethan approached his own. He placed a hand on the smooth surface and flipped the latch open. Inside, nestled in black velvet, lay an elegant glass bottle the size of his palm. The red, blood-colored liquid shimmered, pulsing faintly with power even through the glass. He didn’t hesitate. He unsealed the bottle, raised it to his lips, and swallowed every drop. Instantly, a cold sensation spread through his body. He closed his eyes and followed the liquid’s path with his mental energy. It slipped into his stomach, then dispersed into his bloodstream, flowing like a tide through every artery and vein. He sensed that it was searching—probing for something hidden deep within him. Moments later, he found it: tiny droplets of golden blood floating inside his body. As soon as the red liquid reached them, it surged forward and merged. Boom! It felt like a big bang exploding inside his cells. Ethan’s entire body shuddered. His vision went white. But before he could react, a crisp system notification appeared in his mind. [A lesser cosmic bloodline wants to occupy your body. Want to absorb the blood essence ?] He stood frozen, heart pounding. "What? Blood essence? Why? I can’t gain the power of the Primordial Bloodline? Is it not allowed?" The system replied with unhurried certainty: [This bloodline contains a mixture of law and an ability: "Eye of Destruction." Also, it has a complete supreme law: "Destruction." Do you wish to extract them? As for your question—yes, your body cannot be tinted with any lesser bloodline. That tiny portion was tolerated because it would have been swallowed anyway after six hours.] Ethan stared blankly at nothing. So without this primordial human blood, I can’t truly become one of them? Won’t they be able to tell I don’t carry their lineage? [No one can check your body condition unless you allow them.] The confident tone somehow made it worse. Ethan sighed heavily. What can I even say? He took a steadying breath. Fine. Extract the essence. [Ding! You have awakened the ability: Eye of Destruction.] Eye of Destruction: You can destroy anything within your mental domain, simply by looking and thinking about it. Of course, the target must be within your current capabilities. Ethan’s pulse calmed a little. So that was it. This ability probably relied on the law of destruction without requiring true comprehension. What a frightening power. Although he couldn’t absorb the Primordial Human bloodline itself, he felt something change in his veins. When he looked inward, his own blood shone with a faint golden hue. So my blood can absorb the strength of other bloodlines to become more powerful, but it can’t truly contain them? [Correct.] All right, Ethan thought. A few boosts mean nothing. I only need time. In a few days, I’ll reach their level anyway. He glanced at his status panel out of habit: [Master: Ethan Hunt Physique: 200 billion Spirit: 200 billion Talent: Infinite Comprehension (41 days remaining)] He blinked in disbelief. Wait. Wasn’t my attribute around 93 billion? How the hell did it become more than double? Are you kidding me? Ethan was probably the first person to ever curse at gaining power. Each breakthrough cost him precious time. He was now one step closer to death. No. No. I have to break through, he thought fiercely. I don’t know how long it will take to comprehend a law—let alone eleven. He peered inward to study his core. It had expanded massively, now ten meters across. Only days ago, it had been barely 2.3 meters. All the potential of that bloodline had been fully consumed. Ethan exhaled, his resolve hardening. There was no time to waste. He vanished from the room in a ripple of air, reappearing directly inside the Hunt estate’s drawing room. Everyone was gathered there—martial artists, non-awakened family members, all waiting. Rows of boxes sat unopened on polished tables. As Ethan stepped in, every person except Rose, his parents, uncles, and grandparents stood quickly in respect. He nodded once. "Everyone sit cross-legged. Swallow the fluid." They obeyed at once, the room filling with tense, synchronized movements. Ethan extended his mental energy over them all, wrapping each mind in steady focus. One by one, they unsealed their bottles and drank the shimmering red liquid. The effect was instant. A muffled boom rolled through the room as their auras destabilized, surging wildly. Even the non-awakened were caught in the tide of power. Their bodies convulsed. Inside their veins, the liquid spread, weaving through each cell. It strengthened tissue, rebuilt decaying DNA, and erased years of accumulated damage. In the smallest capillaries, the liquid sought out hidden traces of weakness. When it found them, it infused them with the golden potential of the primordial human race. Muscles tightened and swelled. Bones hardened. Hearts pumped with new force. All across the room, skin smoothed and brightened as age melted away. Even the oldest among them looked as though decades had reversed in seconds. Their blood began to glow—at first faintly, then steadily—shifting from dull red to a rich, luminous half-golden hue. This was the mark of the transformation: the signature of the primordial human bloodline. Slowly, one by one, they opened their eyes. First, they looked down at their own hands, turning them over as if unsure they were real. Then they glanced around the room. Each face mirrored the same astonishment. They were young again. The normal lifespan of a primordial human exceeded five hundred years. Now, even the oldest among them had become vigorous, renewed, ready for centuries more. And for martial artists, the potential lifespan stretched into thousands of years. Ethan then relaxed. Everything looked normal. Everyone had made it through the transformation safely. He turned to Rose. She looked more radiant than ever, her features sharper, her presence calm and strong. Not only Rose—every woman in the family had been refined in the same way. Vitality and power radiated from them all. Same goes for the male too. Their body becomes like a sculpture, perfect. Ethan allowed himself a small smile. This was how it should be. He took a final look around the room. They were ready. More capable than ever. And he had already given Alexander the instructions to lead them into the virtual universe when the time came. There was nothing more he could do for them right now. Ethan said goodbye, his voice low but steady, and slipped away into seclusion. He was a Level 1 King. This time he would break through straight to the Emperor Realm—and to the very peak of the realm. He didn’t have much time left. Too many things still needed to be done.