Just like after reaching the peak of an Apprentice Warrior, Level 10, you either needed to work hard to cultivate your Source Core for quite some time in order to break through to the Class Rank and reach Level 11, or you could take a potion made from items suitable for your core to instantly break through to the Class Rank. (I had explained this in chap—113) Similarly, after reaching Level 25, you could either cultivate your Source Core on your own or take the specially prepared potion to break through to the Epic Rank in an instant. Currently, both Luo Bingqing and Elyara had already reached Level 25, and the energy of the blood bead was helping them advance towards the Epic Rank. ’This is seriously insane. I know my core is way stronger than others and needs a lot more energy to advance, but this... this is just absurd.’ Azrael was genuinely baffled by the situation, finding it far too strange. Even if the blood bead did not allow him to reach Level 25 like Luo Bingqing and Elyara, it should have at least pushed him to the limit of Level 24. However, all it did was bring him to the halfway mark of Level 23. "Seriously, just what the hell is going on?" As Azrael stormed his mind trying to figure out the cause behind this strange situation, several notifications suddenly flashed before his eyes. (You have leveled up and reached Level 22) (Because of the effect of your bloodline, you have received 3 free stat points) (You have leveled up and reached Level 23) (Because of the effect of your bloodline, you have received 3 free stat points) "This..." Azrael was taken aback when he saw the notification about free stat points, his eyes widening in shock. "My bloodline..." He muttered in a stunned voice. "Isn’t it still unawakened? How can I receive any benefit from it even though it’s unawakened?" Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, Azrael quickly opened his status window. Ignoring the changes in his stats after reaching Level 23, he focused directly on the bloodline section. ---) Bloodline: ??? (Eternal Grade) (Unawakened) As he concentrated on the question marks displayed on his status window, a new information panel appeared before him. ---) ???: Effect: Grants you a set amount of free stat points each time you level up. The number of free stat points you receive depends on your rank. For each level up while being an Apprentice Warrior, you will receive one free stat point. For each level up in Class Rank, you will receive three free stat points. For each level up in Epic Rank, you will receive five free stat points - - - Azrael read the new information carefully, and his eyes widened in astonishment. "This... this is seriously insane." Azrael had read plenty of information about bloodlines. There were many kinds of them, ranging from low grade to high, each providing different benefits. However, among everything he had read, one thing was consistent across all bloodlines: bloodlines only provided benefits after they were awakened. An unawakened bloodline could not provide any sort of benefits. It was similar to the Source Core. Even after awakening using the Awakening Stone at the age of sixteen, one still needed to complete the Eonrift Trial and acquire a Source Item to activate their powers before they could use them. Azrael himself had only been able to use the power of wind after obtaining and using the Heart of Wind to activate it. Before that, even though he had awakened the power of wind, he could not utilize it. Similarly, the benefits of a bloodline only manifested after its awakening. On his status window, it clearly stated that his bloodline was still unawakened, which should have meant it could not provide him with any benefits at all. Yet, not only was it providing him a benefit, but the benefit itself was anything but weak. Azrael’s gaze shifted, and he noticed a new section displayed on his status window. ---) Free Stat Points: 49 "Damn..." He couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath when he saw he had a total of 49 free stat points. In other words, his bloodline had granted him free stat points even for his previous level-ups. Currently, he was at Level 23. From Level 1 to 10, he should have received one free stat point each, totaling 10 points. From Level 11 to 23, as a Class Rank warrior, he had gained three points per level, totaling 39 points. "My stat points are already off the charts compared to people of the same level, but with this..." Azrael muttered while taking a deep breath and without hesitation, he tossed another blood bead into his mouth. As the energy of the blood bead coursed through his body, Azrael noticed the effect was considerably weaker than last time. He wasn’t surprised by this as the details of the blood beads specifically stated their effects decreased with each consumption. A few minutes later, Azrael successfully absorbed the energy of the blood bead and leveled up once more, reaching Level 24 and receiving another 3 free stat points. ’Maybe I am wrong, but I think the reason my leveling speed slowed down is because of my bloodline...’ Azrael thought inwardly as he tossed a third blood bead into his mouth. This time, the effect of the blood bead decreased even more, but Azrael paid it no mind. He kept his eyes fixed on the status window, watching his stat points steadily rise as his core inched closer to Level 25. ’This bloodline has increased my potential even further. Because of this increase in potential, the energy I need to level up has risen dramatically. But at the same time, it means I can absorb more energy and will always have the upper hand against people of the same level.’ For instance, Elyara and Luo Bingqing had each reached Level 25, the peak of the Class Rank by consuming just a single blood bead. As a result, they could no longer increase their powers, such as their stat points, until they broke through to the Epic Rank. On the other hand, even though Azrael had also absorbed the energy of a blood bead and gained the same benefit, he had only reached Level 23 at that time. He was still far from the peak of the Class Rank, which meant he could continue to increase his stat points even further before reaching Epic Rank, while they could not. ’Although it will increase the time I need to level up, it’s worth it, since it will ultimately make me far stronger than anyone else of the same level.’ As Azrael thought this through, he successfully absorbed the energy of the third blood bead as well and finally reached Level 25, the peak of class level. Azrael took a deep breath, and his eyes gleamed with a hint of excitement. Dıscover more novels at 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝕟𝕖𝕥 ’Epic Rank is just around the corner.’ He thought to himself, and as his gaze fell upon his current stat points, even he couldn’t help but feel a sense of disbelief at his own absurdity