Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!
Chapter 404: The Barrel, the Blade, and the Bluff

Chapter 404: The Barrel, the Blade, and the Bluff

[System Notification: Transformation: Ancient Demigod skill duration remaining: 1 second.]

Whoosh...

As the system notification faded, Ethan’s colossal form rapidly shrank.

"Ah—!" Ethan cried out in agony.

’Damn it... If you’re going to shrink, shrink downwards. Why are you shrinking upwards!?’

He plummeted from a height of over six hundred meters.

Thud!

A deafening crash echoed through the air as a massive, human-shaped crater split open the earth.

Spitting out dirt and debris, Ethan groaned and pushed himself up. But before he could get steady, a steel-armored foot landed right in front of his face.

A second later, a circle of gleaming blades pressed against his throat.

His whole body ached, and he couldn’t muster a single ounce of strength.

"It’s you..."

"It’s you?"

Two voices spoke in sync—Ethan’s and Julian’s.

Julian grinned. "Looks like it really is you."

He extended a hand. "Hand it over."

"Hand over what?" Ethan blinked, dazed.

"The Fire-Eyed Toad’s eggs, its Mutated Core, and... the big guy’s core from just now."

"You’ve got to be kidding... You’re robbing me?" Ethan stiffened his neck. "No way."

"Impudent... Kneel!" a voice barked.

A sudden kick slammed into the back of Ethan’s knee. His leg buckled, and he nearly dropped to the ground.

Fury flashed through him. A flicker of killing intent burned in his eyes.

Crack—!

Like a watermelon splitting open, the head of the man who kicked Ethan exploded with a sickening squelch. The headless corpse staggered before collapsing behind him.

"You dare!!" the others roared.

The blade at Ethan’s throat pressed deeper, drawing blood. Still, he didn’t flinch.

He looked Julian straight in the eye.

Julian’s gaze narrowed. "Stop!"

The tension in the air halted for a moment.

"You... Who exactly are you?" Julian asked.

Ethan smirked. "You must be Julian, right? You can call me Uncle. I was just up on the city gate tower with your father, Regis. He even called me his brother."

"Commander, this man is spouting nonsense and insulting the City Lord! Please, allow me to execute him on the spot!"

One of the soldiers stepped forward, his aura unmistakably Sovereign-rank.

Before Julian could speak, Ethan turned his head toward the man.

"If you want to die, come closer," he said coldly.

His body was battered and drained, but his Soul Sense was intact. That alone had killed the earlier Exalted-rank Central Dominion Guard in an instant, blasting his head open.

Of course, Soul Sense was best for surprise attacks. If the target was on guard, its power weakened significantly.

Still, seeing Ethan trembling and barely able to stand, yet speaking so boldly, the man faltered.

His gaze dropped to the headless corpse. Cold sweat formed on his brow.

He hesitated.

Julian noticed. "You just came from Beastfall City?"

The man stepped back with visible relief but shot Ethan a look filled with venomous hatred.

Ethan didn’t care. He turned back to Julian. "Go ask your father yourself—but you’d better hurry. Otherwise, the City Lord of Beastfall might be replaced."

With that, Ethan called out mentally: "Divine Teleportation... activate! Coordinates: Beastfall City, West Gate Tower!"

Buzz...

His body disintegrated into wisps of white smoke.

Whoosh!

He vanished from sight, leaving stunned silence in his wake.

Julian stared at the empty space for a long beat. Then, his expression hardened.

"Full speed—gather the troops! We’re heading to Beastfall City!"

---

Ethan reappeared in a flash of light on the West Gate Tower of Beastfall City. The wind was sharp and cold. No one was around.

"Damn... Where the hell is everyone?"

Grumbling, he sat down and pulled out a pile of food.

His body felt like it had been run over by a mountain, and his stomach growled like a beast. After wolfing down the food, he finally felt somewhat human again.

Standing, he made his way down the tower and onto the city wall.

"Stop right there!"

Again?

He found himself surrounded by guards, all unfamiliar faces. None recognized him.

All the Western City Guards and Defense Force members who’d known him had been vaporized during the monster’s earlier roar. These men were replacements—transferred from other units.

Ethan rubbed his temples, already annoyed. ’Great... here we go again.’

---

Meanwhile, at the heart of Beastfall City, on a towering platform that scraped the clouds, sat a palace—not lavish, but stately.

Five people sat around a round table like it was a family dinner.

Regis. Uncle Jed. Dana. And the Wind and Fire Priests—Quinn and Hank.

The two priests weren’t exactly talkative, sipping wine with blank expressions.

Regis and Uncle Jed, on the other hand, bickered like old friends. With no attendants, Dana had taken it upon herself to pour drinks.

As she moved to refill Uncle Jed’s glass, he waved her off. "I’m done drinking this sorry excuse for wine. It’s bland."

"You’re bluffing," Regis retorted. "This is Pear Blossom Brew from Clearspring City, aged in cellars! I usually don’t even open it. You think I’d waste it on you if it weren’t special?"

Clearly tipsy, Regis slammed the table and pointed at Jed’s nose.

"This? You call this wine? Please. You backwater bumpkins don’t know real liquor."

Uncle Jed smirked, then reached behind him and pulled out a large round barrel—the kind used for shipping bulk spirits.

He pried open the lid. Immediately, a powerful aroma filled the air.

The Fire Priest, Hank, twitched his nose twice, eyes lighting up. He stepped closer. "What kind of liquor is this?" he asked, transfixed by the clear liquid inside.

"No idea. Ethan gave it to me."

Uncle Jed pulled out a wine thief, drew some liquor, then grabbed the remaining jug of Pear Blossom Brew—and dumped it all on the floor.

Regis nearly cried.

But then... he smelled the stuff in the barrel.

"Priest Hank, heat this to forty degrees," he said.

Hank, curious, held the jug. His hand glowed red, and in moments, wisps of smoke rose from the liquor.

He poured himself a cup and inhaled deeply.

Dana followed suit, pouring for the others.

Regis watched Hank’s expression shift from blank to nearly blissful.

Could it really be that good?

Among them, only Hank truly lived for wine. Regis had never seen that look on his face before.

He sipped.

Across the table, Quinn did the same.

Pfft! Pfft!

Twin jets of liquor sprayed across the table—each soaked the other’s face.

"HAHAHA!" Uncle Jed nearly fell over laughing.

"Back then... I was just like that!" He slapped the table, wiping away tears of laughter. "Ethan mocked me for days!"

Now, watching the high and mighty suffer the same fate, he was thoroughly satisfied.

Meanwhile, Hank took a slow sip and sighed.

"Good wine... good wine..."

His already rosy nose deepened in color. His face turned red, then white, then green.

Qinn’s tongue lolled out as he wheezed. "What... the hell is this? You trying to poison us?"

Uncle Jed scoffed. "Poison? That’s wheat. Earth grains. You’ve never tasted anything like it."

A sip sent warmth coursing through his limbs, filling his body with energy. He and Hank continued drinking like brothers reunited.

Regis, meanwhile, tried to salvage his pride.

"Dana, bring out another jug of Pear Blossom Brew."

"No need." Uncle Jed waved him off and tossed him a ten-liter plastic jug—the kind you’d find on a grocery store shelf.

"This one’s yours. Ethan said anyone who can’t handle the real stuff should stick to this ten-dollar mix. Chill it first—it’s decent."

Regis looked at it like it was a cursed item.

But curiosity got the better of him. He poured a cup, took a sip—

His eyes widened.

"Dana, get some ice!"

But Just then...

BOOM!

A thunderous crash echoed from outside. And a voice rang out, clear as a bell:

"Lord Regis! Uncle Jed—!"