THE BLACK CULTIVATOR

THE TWELVE FLAMES LAST STAND

Both warriors stood a few feet away from each other. One held a massive hammer resting on his shoulder, while the other relied on his bare fists. Their auras flared wildly, raising dust to waist level as small pebbles floated into the air.

“ARRRGH!”

The Guardian roared, his voice thundering through the hall. The entire structure shook, causing dust to rain down from above. He grew larger and taller, his Core Qi swelling by the second.

Chris stood unshaken, unmoved. The golden flames around him intensified.

The air itself seemed to shatter and evaporate like steam as the hammer came crashing down on Chris like divine judgment.

“AHHHHHHHH!”

Chris’s voice boomed as he met the hammer head-on with both palms.

The impact crushed his knee joints. Veins bulged thick like ropes across his arms, neck, forehead, and legs. Blood slipped from the corner of his lips as he bit down hard on his insides and pushed back with everything he had left.

“Do you think I’m going to let you survive now that I have the upper hand, boy?!” the Golden Flame’s voice thundered. His hammer forced the Naija youth (Nigerian youth) down to one knee, cracking the earth beneath him.

“Ah!” Chris grunted through gritted teeth.

Give me strength, Lord… I’ve lost all of mine.

[Title: Saint Activated]

[All Damage Is Nullified]

Still praying inwardly, Chris pushed back with renewed power, forcing his broken knee back into its socket with a sickening pop.

“No! No! How?!”

The Golden Flame pushed harder, but nothing happened. Cracks began spreading across the hammer like fragile glass. The fractures rapidly spread across its entire body until the weapon shattered completely.

The Guardian’s eyes widened in disbelief. Impossible…

In that instant, Chris drew his blade from his inventory and drove it straight into the Golden Flame’s chest, splitting the core into two halves.

“Heh… heh…” the Guardian chuckled weakly. Golden blood sprayed from his chest as he coughed violently, some of it splattering onto Chris’s face and robe.

“I like your fire, brat. In the end, that burning flame in your heart was enough to keep you alive… Grow even stronger, you bastard. This world is far more dangerous than you think.”

Thud!

The Guardian’s body collapsed to the ground.

“I know, brute,” Chris muttered. “I’m going to get stronger. One day, I will ascend beyond the realm of the gods.”

His vision began to darken. A deep silence followed as he fell to the ground. Though to him, it felt like he was falling for minutes before impact.

Before his pupils completely dimmed, he stared at the burning flame flickering on the ceiling. He raised his left hand weakly, closing his fingers as if trying to grasp it.

Then everything faded to black.

If I’m dying, I hope I wake up in that green paradise again. I don miss that lady and that beautiful body (I miss that lady and that beautiful body).

[Void Trial 4: Cleared]

[Time Remaining: 9 Minutes 32 Seconds]

[Daily Quest Completed]

[Rewards Distributed: +40 Healing Pills, +12000 System Points, +1 High Grade Core Formation Technique, +1 Flame Essence Core]

[All Stats Increased x300]

[All Skills Have Leveled Up]

[All Traits Have Leveled Up]

[All Talents Have Leveled Up]

[Time Until Host Is Fully Healed]

[Absorbing Surrounding Qi To Strengthen Host’s Body And Restore Blood]

[Vitality At 15%]

[Boosting Vitality: 15% → 18%]

[Core Formation Mid Stage: 100%]

[Late Core Formation Achieved]

[New Technique Unlocked: Flame Infused Core Shockwave]

[Void Step Upgraded To Intermediate]

Golden light poured into him stronger than ever. Combined with the system’s healing mechanism, his wounds closed at a rapid rate. Bones reformed—denser and stronger than before. His cultivation stage stabilized and broke through even further.

[Absorbing The Flame Essence Core]

[Absorption Completed]

[Results: Flame Essence Core Has Successfully Fused With Host’s Own. False Golden Core Has Been Infused With Faint Fiery Runes]

Chris’s eyes twitched. Suddenly, they snapped open. He grunted as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, leaning his back against a broken pillar while inhaling deeply.

I'm still alive. That’s nice. A small smile crossed his face. But I would have loved to see that lady again.

Oya oh (Come on / Alright), no time to regret. Time to finish up the last hall, then I’ll handle the Lion Clan and finally get some long-awaited sleep. I’m so tired.

The massive doors rumbled open ahead of him.