PAINFUL ASCENSION
987 Words
Chris stepped out of the second trial pagoda, his body still buzzing with residual golden healing light. The glowing bridge stretched endlessly ahead, leading toward the massive floating mountain range that loomed imposingly in the distance.
Halfway across the bridge, he paused, staring down into the endless, bottomless void beneath the floating cities. The sheer drop sent a slight chill through him despite his growing power.
"System, how much time do I have before those Lion Clan people come after me?"
[Host has approximately 2 months and 4 weeks inside the Void before the main Lion Expedition Force arrives.]
Chris rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I have to get stronger before they arrive. Now no be the time to dey rush like mumu." (Now is not the time to rush like a fool.)
"Time to grind. Time to push beyond," Chris muttered, looking at his open palm with a soft, determined smile.
He pressed onward into the heart of the new city. This one was strikingly different from the previous floating islands — fewer ruined houses and more structures that clearly weren't built by human hands. Greenish trees with glowing leaves and patches of vibrant red grass dotted the landscape, while ancient statues stood sentinel at nearly every turn. Some resembled mighty mythical beasts, others depicted long-forgotten gods. Faint, pure Qi surged gently through their forms, giving the entire area an almost sacred atmosphere.
After hours of steady trekking, he discovered a quiet floating platform nestled near a breathtaking waterfall of radiant pure Qi. The energy cascaded endlessly into the nothingness below, creating a mesmerizing and peaceful sight.
Chris sat cross-legged in the center of the platform, removed his torn, dusty, and blood-stained robe, and allowed the dense, revitalizing Qi to wash over his naked upper body like a soothing yet powerful tide.
"Help me, Lord. Help me, Mama. Your son will never again be weak," Chris exhaled deeply, centering his mind.
He popped three healing pills into his mouth, swallowed the random cultivation pill, and activated the advanced body refinement scroll. Closing his eyes, he began circulating his Qi according to the basic techniques he had absorbed so far.
His meridians burned intensely, as if someone had poured boiling hot pepper chili straight into them. Every passing hour, the overwhelming pressure from the dense Qi threatened to tear his body apart from the inside.
"Ahhh!" He growled through clenched teeth. Sweat dripped steadily down his chin as fresh blood slowly spilled from the corners of his mouth.
[25x Recovery Engaged.]
[Host's Body Status: Several Cracked Bones, Flesh Tearing From Within.]
Bones broke and reformed stronger than before. Blood vessels burst and healed denser and more resilient. His white hair grew slightly longer, glowing faintly with newfound power.
[Foundation Building Late Stage: 89%.]
[Qi Sense Improved to Intermediate.]
By the end of the second week, the Naija youth was floating slightly off the platform, surrounded by a powerful swirling vortex of Qi. His muscles had become more defined and sculpted, with veins glowing subtly with inner light.
"Ahhhh!" He roared, smashing his fists repeatedly into the stone platform in a cathartic release of energy.
"I'm getting overheated, God! This thing sweet and dey painful at the same time!" (I'm getting overheated, God! This thing is sweet and painful at the same time!)
[Foundation Building - Late Stage → Perfect Stage.]
Days continued to blur together.
[Foundation Building - Perfect Stage: 50%.]
The Naija youth pressed on relentlessly into the third week. Blood and sweat now circled around him along with the swirling vortex of Qi.
[Pure and Violent Qi Entering Host's Body Rapidly.]
[Foundation Building - Perfect Stage: 100%.]
[Breaking Through to the Core Formation Realm >>>>]
On the 25th day, massive tribulation clouds formed even within the Void Realm. Black lightning cracked menacingly across the sky above the platform. Chris opened his eyes, which now glowed with a faint golden light.
"Bring it! I stand ready!"
**Screesh!**
The first bolt struck his body with devastating force.
[25x Recovery Still Active.]
[Lightning Bolt Absorbed, Converting Destructive Energy Into Host's Own.]
Blood leaked from his eyes, nose, and ears. A soft, pained laugh escaped through gritted teeth.
"Is this all? My village people back at home can do better than you!" Chris roared, rising another ten feet into the air with sheer willpower.
**Screesh! Screesh!**
Bolt after bolt rained down mercilessly. On the ninth strike, his dantian exploded with overwhelming power. A false golden core the size of a marble formed in his lower abdomen, spinning rapidly and sucking in endless streams of Qi from the surroundings.
[Core Formation Realm - Early Stage Achieved.]
[All Stats Increased x25.]
[New Ability Unlocked: Core Qi Blast.]
[New Passive Unlocked: Core Protection (Reduces Physical Damage by 40%).]
[Qi Shockwave Evolved into Core Shockwave Lv.1.]
Chris opened his eyes and exhaled slowly. A visible wave of power rippled outward, cracking the floating platform beneath him. His white hair floated wildly around his face as he clenched his fists. The very air around him distorted from the pressure.
"Incredible... Now I feel like I fit do anything," he exclaimed, a huge, satisfied grin spreading across his face. (Incredible... Now I feel like I can do anything.)
"So this is Core Formation. It's a different beast entirely. Now I see why that old man had the advantage even after I gave my all." Chris said, observing the sparkling power dancing across his palm.
He spent the remaining week carefully stabilizing his new realm, practicing his Core Qi Blast on floating boulders and pushing his body refinement even further.
A full month had finally passed inside the Void.
Chris emerged taller and more imposing than before, with sharp, confident eyes and a body covered in faint glowing runes from the constant Qi bathing.
[Core Formation Early Stage: 20% Progress.]
[Host has spent 44 days inside the Void.]
[1 day and a few hours have passed outside.]
- Writer
