[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ancient-tears-bloodline":3,"chapter-ancient-tears-bloodline-ancient-tears-bloodline-chapter-954":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ancient Tears BloodLine",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1256982,1684,"Chapter 954 - 954 News spreads","ancient-tears-bloodline-chapter-954",954,"\u003Cp>Chapter 954: News spreads Chapter 954: News spreads From MC’s Perspective: Without wasting time, I decided to take a cold bath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made my way to the bathroom, the pristine tiles and the faint scent of eucalyptus promising some comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let the water run, watching as it filled the tub, cool and inviting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I submerged myself, the cold water immediately sent a shock through my body, but it wasn’t unpleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was exactly what I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next twenty minutes, I let the chill seep into my skin, washing away not just the grime, but also the tension that had settled into my bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, I wrapped myself in a fresh towel, feeling the soft fabric against my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I changed into clean, comfortable clothes, appreciating how they felt after such a refreshing bath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room felt calmer now, more familiar, but I knew I couldn’t relax just yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was still so much to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sigh, I pulled out my device, scrolling through the information Elder Clinton had given me earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the text loaded on the screen, a heavy feeling settled in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I read, the more the reality of my situation began to sink in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart raced, a mixture of anxiety and unease creeping in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The competition here was cutthroat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just about skill or strength, but survival of the fittest in the most brutal sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those who had the privilege of being taken in by the warrior factions were not safe from the pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the warriors outside of those factions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t even begin to imagine the nightmare they must be facing every single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away as I continued reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-five minutes later, I finally allowed myself to collapse onto the massive sofa in the corner of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ceiling above me seemed to stretch endlessly as I stared at it, trying to process everything I had just read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The factions there were so many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only a select few mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I learned that only Elders at the Purple Mark Peak Stage were capable of forming a faction, and they had to pass a grueling test from the Dean of the University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those tests had to be difficult beyond imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Becoming a Faction Leader wasn’t just about raw power, it was about having the right inheritance, the right backing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from what I could tell, few were as formidable as Elder Clifford.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most shocking part?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the factions, there were ten that stood above the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the ones to watch, the ones that could pose a real threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thunderflame Faction, the one I was now tied to, was among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leaders of these powerful factions were half-step Red Mark Warriors an unimaginable level of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a hundred other factions, but they barely registered in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t the ones I had to worry about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew I had to memorize everything about these factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who their leaders were, what kind of warriors they attracted, and how they could threaten me or the Thunderflame Faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the factions, there was the matter of the university itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system here was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warriors were expected to do a lot of self-study, which wasn’t a problem in itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to get what they needed, they had to earn merit points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merit points could only be earned through completing tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, nothing too out of the ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when I delved deeper, I came across something unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two types of hunting tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first, monster hunting, was straightforward and familiar to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the second?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foreign Creatures Destroying Task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea sent a ripple of discomfort through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I furrowed my brow, the same confusion washing over me that I had felt when I first transitioned from the outer regions to the inner post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything felt foreign, confusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was so much I still didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d have to ask the elders tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the news of a new recruit joining the Thunderflame Faction spread through the university like wildfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispers and rumors circulated in every corner, from the training grounds to the study halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just any recruit, joining one of the top 10 Warrior Factions at Star University was a rare feat, and the mere mention of it stirred excitement and curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These elite factions were known for their stringent selection processes, recruiting only those who demonstrated exceptional talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To even be considered, a warrior had to possess the ability to fight across small ranks, a baseline requirement that most warriors could only dream of meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who couldn’t manage this feat were dismissed as moderate warriors, a label that marked them as unremarkable in the university’s fiercely competitive environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, when a new warrior managed to break into the ranks of a top-tier faction, it was a significant event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News like this didn’t just stay confined within the university walls; it rippled outwards, reaching the ears of powerful organizations across the entire Tier-4 Region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the name on everyone’s lips was Zack Lockwood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students across campus were buzzing about him, especially those in the medium-sized factions, who saw the top 10 factions as untouchable powerhouses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For them, a new recruit in the Thunderflame Faction wasn’t just an addition; it was a mystery to be unraveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was this Zack Lockwood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of warrior was he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the elders of these factions took note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunderflame wasn’t just any faction; it had a reputation for recruiting only the most gifted warriors, specifically those aligned with three elemental forces-Thunder, Fire, Healing, and their variants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This unique specialization made the faction highly selective, and it fueled the speculation about Zack’s abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he a thunder-wielder?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fire-manipulator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps he had some rare variant of healing power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long for the other top 10 factions to take notice either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rivalry among these elite groups was intense, and every new warrior added to a faction’s roster could potentially tip the balance of power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each faction kept a close eye on the others, and the arrival of a new recruit was seen as a strategic development, not just an addition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaders of the top factions began issuing quiet orders to their subordinates: find out everything there was to know about Zack Lockwood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a place where strength meant everything, intelligence was the most valuable currency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zack’s name continued to spread, so did the efforts to learn more about him-his skills, his background, and what he might bring to the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the warriors who lived by the sword, knowledge of an opponent, or even a potential ally, could be the difference between victory and defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And right now, everyone wanted to know who Zack Lockwood truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Elder Clinton couldn’t help but notice the growing buzz around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ripple effect of Zack Lockwood’s addition to the Thunderflame Faction was evident in the way people reacted, hushed conversations, sidelong glances, and the subtle curiosity lingering in every hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within the faction itself, the murmurs had begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the students talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elders from within the Thunderflame Faction were reaching out to Clinton, their inquiries thinly veiled behind casual conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinton, however, remained unflustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been in this game long enough to know when to stay silent, and the order from the faction leader was as clear as crystal: no one outside their inner circle was to know about Zack Lockwood, not even their own faction members for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reasoning was straightforward, but the execution was delicate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a place as politically charged as Star University, information was power, and discretion could make or break alliances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revealing Zack’s presence prematurely could bring unwanted attention or even spark dangerous rivalries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when the elders came to him, their questions laced with curiosity and thinly disguised concern, Clinton played his part perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know much about it,” he’d say with a nonchalant shrug, his tone giving nothing away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, though, he could sense the growing tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elders weren’t easily fooled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had spent years honing their instincts, and while they might not push too hard, Clinton knew they would be watching, waiting for any slip-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same went for Sally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one of the faction’s key figures, she too was privy to Zack’s arrival, but like Clinton, she understood the importance of keeping her lips sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever someone asked about Zack, whether casually or with a hint of intrigue Sally remained tight-lipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d perfected the art of deflection, offering vague responses or redirecting conversations skillfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People were naturally curious, especially in a place like Thunderflame where the recruitment of a new warrior was an event in itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sally could sense the whispers following her, the questions that loomed just out of reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was careful, knowing that any slip of information could unravel the delicate strategy set in place by the faction leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Aravind_S Creation is hard, cheer me up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>VOTE for me!\u003C\u002Fp>",1528,"2026-06-05T15:57:06.191Z",1,"novelbin.me","987d5234536c6c02246ed5a755800778ce7af442746ca9fc96a961d7d9ef146c","ancient-tears-bloodline-chapter-955","ancient-tears-bloodline-chapter-953",1498,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fancient-tears-bloodline-cover.jpg"]