"That's right, Little Henry should be a fourth-grade talent!" Jack Johnson also laughed. As for an even higher top-three talent? He didn't dare to imagine it.

However, there was still a trace of regret in his eyes: "Vera, it's a pity that I'm not capable enough. Our child has such talent—if only he could receive the true blood of a demon king or the legendary sacred medicine baptism, he might directly become a martial master or even a martial grandmaster, and lay the most solid foundation for the future..."

"Jack, you've already done enough. With Little Henry's talent, even if his starting point is a bit low now, he will still achieve great things in the future." Vera Quinn grasped her husband's hand and said firmly.

...

As the last drop of essence blood merged into his body, Henry Johnson felt waves of intense pain assault his mind.

That true blood circulated through his meridians, and a large amount of heaven and earth energy also fused into his flesh, causing his physical qualities to improve rapidly. His skin became tougher, and his internal organs grew even stronger.

Next, strands of blood-colored threads gathered, forming a complex and sacred pattern beneath his skin. However, the pattern that appeared was faint and indistinct, never fully revealing itself—one could only vaguely make out the shape of a lotus flower.

But neither Henry Johnson nor anyone else could clearly see the full pattern of that martial mark.

"Blood and energy condense into a mark—once awakened, the path of martial cultivation begins. Truly worthy of a fifth-grade talent!" someone exclaimed.

The Martial Ancestor passing down the law, the battle dance offering, the condensation of blood and energy into a mark—this was the complete process of the true blood baptism.

Only when the blood and energy in the body condensed into a martial mark could one be said to have truly set foot on the path of cultivation.

Eighth- and ninth-grade talents found it difficult to cultivate precisely because their compatibility with heaven and earth energy was extremely low. Without external help, it was almost impossible for them to condense a martial mark on their own.

"The martial mark has condensed."

Finally, the heaven and earth energy surrounding his body completely dissipated, and the white lotus pattern gradually faded away.

Henry Johnson slowly opened his eyes, a strange sensation welling up in his heart. He felt a warm current flowing through his entire body—this feeling was both familiar and unfamiliar.

"Is this true qi?" Henry Johnson's heart was stirred, memories of his previous life flashing before his eyes: "In my past life, I cultivated bitterly for ten years before stepping into the warrior realm, but in this life, I've entered the warrior realm at the age of six?"

Henry Johnson sighed inwardly.

His whole body felt extremely comfortable, his spirit more vigorous than ever before—far stronger than before the true qi baptism.

Henry Johnson looked up and could easily see the tiny dust on the beam at the top of the main hall in the distance. He could even hear the faint sound of a small flying insect's wings. It was as if the entire world before his eyes had become clearer and more distinct.

Henry Johnson knew this was because his physical qualities had greatly improved, and his perception had become much stronger.

He raised his hand slightly. Even without testing, Henry Johnson could feel that his strength had increased significantly.

Physical strength, mental perception, explosive speed—all had improved tremendously.

"I've only just set foot on the path of cultivation, barely entered the warrior realm, and the changes are already this great," Henry Johnson thought to himself. "If I were a martial grandmaster, or even a higher innate expert or saint, how powerful would that be?"

Shaking his head, Henry Johnson dismissed the thought from his mind. You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk the path of cultivation step by step. Those legendary realms were still far beyond his reach.

Then, Henry Johnson turned and walked down the steps, smiling at his parents.

"Second brother, your sixth child is really amazing!"

"Fifth-grade talent, a six-year-old warrior—this... in the future, he will definitely become a martial grandmaster, maybe even a legendary innate expert."

...

The members of the Jiang clan all cheered. Henry Johnson was the last to be tested. As he walked down from the altar, it also marked the end of this year's ancestral worship ceremony at Jiang Family Village.

Everyone in the village was excited. Fifth-grade talent, a six-year-old warrior—either one was enough to make them proud. When Henry Johnson grew up, just how high would he reach?

Chapter 12: The Meeting

As the village chief Samuel Johnson waved his hand, the Martial Ancestor statue lost its luster, and then the large hole in the ground automatically closed.

Everything returned to calm. Henry Johnson turned around and slowly walked down from the altar.

"The sacrificial ceremony, the true blood baptism, is over!" Robert Johnson's voice echoed throughout the great hall, announcing the completion of the ancestral worship ritual.

The dozens of children resting below the altar also got up one after another and walked toward their waiting parents and relatives. Henry Johnson did the same.

"Father, Mother!" Henry Johnson looked at his parents and smiled gently.

"Little Henry, come here!" Vera Quinn showed a slight smile and pulled Henry Johnson into her arms. Even though her personality was rather cold, when it came to her son, she truly cherished him.

Her son was exceptionally gifted, with a bright future ahead—how could she not be happy?

As for Jack Johnson, he only smiled lightly as he looked at Henry Johnson. As a father, at this moment, he had to maintain a bit of composure.

A group of direct Jiang clan members all laughed, congratulating Henry Johnson, Jack Johnson, and Vera Quinn.

If an outsider in the village had a fifth-grade talent, they might not be so happy, since it could lead to a power struggle in the future. But for a direct Jiang clan member to have a fifth-grade talent, they were naturally very excited.