THE BLACK CULTIVATOR

INTO THE MOUNTAIN

The ground had turned into a slick, treacherous mire as the rain poured down in relentless sheets, hammering the earth with unyielding fury. Thunder cracked across the night sky like a nuclear explosion, illuminating the stormy darkness in brilliant, jagged flashes.

Elder Sung stood motionless amid the downpour, his piercing golden eyes fixed intently on the young man before him. Cold air escaped Chris's mouth in visible puffs, his breath ragged. His hands trembled slightly as the freezing rain soaked through his torn robe, seeping deep into his bones and chilling him to the core.

"Boy, who are you?" Elder Sung asked calmly, his hands clasped behind his back. "You wear the robe of the Lion Clan. Are you a failed disciple who was cast out?"

Chris dragged in a deep breath, wiping fresh blood from his lips with his stained sleeve. "My name na Chris. As for this robe, I made it myself. I had no idea a sect around here wore this color." (My name is Chris…)

"You lie so cheaply, Chris," Elder Sung replied, pointing accusingly at the roaring lion emblem emblazoned on the chest. "If you truly made it yourself, why does it carry our clan's crest?"

"Omo, this one get sharp eye oh," Chris grinned, revealing bloody teeth. "Even after I redesign am, you still recognize am. You get eye like Aba people." (Omo, this one has sharp eyes oh… You have eyes like Aba people.)

Elder Sung studied him carefully, his expression unreadable. "You speak strangely… Maybe I'm wrong. You may not be from the Lion Clan. It's possible you killed one of our disciples and took his robe. Either way, don't even think of escaping. You cannot outrun me."

Chris's eyes bulged in realization. *This guy is on a different level. A battle against him would be deadly.*

A smirk slowly spread across Elder Sung's face. "Tell me about this archway, boy. How did you discover it? Speak truthfully, and I won't press you about these dead beasts. I know it was your doing."

"Impossible! To kill this many beasts, he must be—" a nearby disciple whispered in disbelief.

"No, it cannot be," another interrupted, standing just a few feet away from Elder Sung.

The rest of the group stood stunned into silence.

"Twenty beasts at the perfect stage of Qi Condensation, and he killed them all," one muttered.

"Even an expert at the perfect stage of Foundation Building would struggle," another added.

"He who just stepped into the Foundation Realm did it," Lira mumbled, her grip tightening around her spear until her knuckles turned white.

"I know you all doubt it, but Elder Sung speaks the truth," Elder Hu spoke up, his eyes scanning the c*****e of dead beasts scattered across the muddy ground. "Their cores are gone—what a terrifying brat."

Chris chuckled softly, his voice carrying a defiant edge. "Why una dey talk rubbish there? Old man, this archway just opened for me after I killed those beasts." (Why are you people talking rubbish there?)

"Old man?!" Lira's eyes flared with anger. "You dare call my master 'old man'?!" She dashed forward without hesitation.

"Stop, Lira!"

She skidded to a halt halfway, veins standing out prominently on her forehead. "Master, he's too strange. Arrogant and clearly a fraud."

"He's weak and injured, Lira," Elder Sung said, staring steadily at Chris. "But he's still capable of killing you if you get too close."

"I beg to differ, Master," Lira replied, keeping her eyes downcast in reluctant obedience.

"Hahaha!" Elder Sung's laughter echoed through the stormy night. "Calm yourself, Lira. He has some strange techniques and speaks weirdly. Even I might have some issues if we fought seriously."

Elder Hu stepped forward, his blue eyes glowing with an intense golden light. "Elder Sung, we've wasted enough time. Let me and the disciples handle this brat while you and Elder Mia investigate the Void Mountain realm."

"Don't you find this young man interesting, Hu?" Sung asked, still smiling faintly.

"No," Hu replied, his jaw tightening. "A brat is a brat. His attitude reminds me too much of that other one… Li Yan."

Chris's eyes widened sharply.

*System, you hear that?*

[Yes, Host.]

[Elder Sung and Elder Hu were among those who caused Li Yan's death.]

Chris let out a sharp, ragged breath as fury ignited within him.

[Detecting Extremely Hot Signature Coming From Host.]

[Warning: Run Away Or Enter Into The Void Mountain And Try To Survive.]

"Since some of his killers are here," the Naija youth muttered, glaring fiercely at both Elders, "we might as well begin the bloodbath. Better to rid the world of these bastards."

"Boy!" Elder Sung's voice boomed like thunder. "I'll give you three options. First, join the Lion Clan. With your talent, you can rise far. Second, leave now and forget everything you saw today. Third… refuse, and die where you stand."

[Suggestion: Accept Option Two.]

"Psst!" Chris spat a thick glob of blood to the side. "I get better offer. Why don't all of una go f**k una selves?" (I have a better offer. Why don't all of you go f**k yourselves?)

Sweat formed on Chris's palms despite the cold rain.

"You fool!" Lira roared. The air cracked with tension as she charged forward before anyone could stop her.

"Lira!" Sung stretched out a hand.

"Leave her," Hu said, holding Sung back. "Let the girl teach him manners."

"A brat like you should be grateful to gaze upon my master!" Lira spun her spear with blinding speed and thrust it forward like a striking snake. The spear tip glowed with sharp, lethal Qi.

[Rhythmic Combat Intuition Activated.]

The Naija youth moved like the wind—dodging left, then right—the spear missing him by a hair's breadth. Before Lira could pull back—

"SHEPE!"

[Voice Of The Streets Engaged.]

A powerful sonic wave slammed into her chest at close range. Lira flew backward and crashed hard onto the wet earth, coughing up blood.

[Host Body Status: Weak, Flesh Tearing From Within, Death Approaching.]

Chris smiled grimly. "Relax guy, I no go die. Not today." (Relax guy, I will not die. Not today.)

He charged forward, his footprints marking deep impressions in the wet soil.

Lira stood up quickly, her eyes shaking with a mix of shock and determination. "He's badly injured, possibly near death—still he fights without a care for himself."

Chris closed the distance in an instant. Lira raised her spear defensively.

"Naija Heritage: Pressure Of Tinubu!"

The heavy, oppressive power pressed her down like an invisible mountain. Before she could move—

"Bam!" His right fist crashed into her ribs with devastating force.

Her eyes rolled back, air exploding from her lungs. She crashed violently into a huge boulder far away.

"Your talented boy. Too bad you must die!" The earth shook as Elder Sung marched forward, his golden eyes radiating overwhelming power. The storm grew even stronger around them.

[Warning: Death is close.]

[Recommended Action: Run! Please!]

"Naija no dey run! Naija no dey tire!" Chris's voice echoed defiantly through the chaos. "Elder Sung strong pass me, but I vow to kill him!" (Naija does not run! Naija does not tire! … Elder Sung is stronger than me…)

"BOM!" Thunder blasted overhead.

"Kill me? Do it then, boy, if you can," Sung's aura exploded outward. The entire mountain shook as rocks rolled down from the surrounding peaks.

Nearby beasts retreated in fear while the disciples took cover behind the other two Elders.

The Naija youth advanced boldly. The raindrops seemed to fall in slow motion around him.

Sung raced forward and threw a punch. A majestic golden lion formed mid-air.

"Arghhhh!" It charged at Chris with ferocious intensity.

"Naija Heritage: Shield Of Shege!"

"Boom!" The air shattered as the lion slammed into the shield.

The shield held for a tense moment, but the immense force sent Chris sliding backward, his feet carving deep lines in the mud.

"Naija Heritage: Pressure Of Tinubu!"

The heavy force drove Elder Sung into the ground, creating a small crater. Then a massive brown sword slowly materialized in the stormy sky, hanging above them like divine judgment.

The disciples froze mid-step, eyes bulging as the colossal brown sword descended.

"Magnificent..." Elder Mia whispered, fists clenched tightly.

"Boom!" The battlefield shattered in an explosion of power.

When the dust finally cleared, Sung stepped out of the crater, blood escaping from his lips.

"Hahahaha!" The Naija youth laughed wildly. "This old man strong oh! But I no go lose." He charged again. (This old man is strong, But I will not lose.)

[5x Recovery Maxed Out.]

[Warning: Host is pushing past his limits.]

[No Pain-No Gain Engaged.]

"Not bad," Sung observed, dusting off his robe. "But not enough."

He burst forward. The ground cracked under his powerful steps.

Both of them collided in the center like two wild beasts. Every punch shattered the earth beneath them. Every kick created shockwaves that cut through the pouring rain. They traded blows so fast that the disciples could barely follow the exchange.

"He's keeping up with Elder Sung… a Core Formation expert at the perfect stage," a disciple whispered, knees buckling in awe and fear.

Elder Hu and Mia stood motionless, their eyes fixed on the intense battle. Lira lay unconscious nearby.

Sung suddenly released a golden palm strike. Chris dodged one using pure street instinct, blocked another with his sword—but the third broke through.

CRACK!

His left arm snapped. Bones broke with a sickening sound.

"Ahhh! God!" Chris screamed in agony.

He fell but rolled away fast. Sung kept coming relentlessly. Another heavy blow hit Chris in the chest. Ribs cracked. Blood sprayed from his mouth.

[Host Body's Status: Critical.]

[5x Recovery Boosted, Repairing Body 10x Faster.]

[Host Is Losing Too Much Blood.]

"Blade Art: One Blade, Ten Thousand Cries!" he roared.

"Lion's Claw!" Sung countered.

The sky turned red as multiple golden claws tore through the air. The two attacks collided violently.

BOOM!

The entire Void Mountain shook violently.

Some disciples fell unconscious from the shockwave. Both Elders summoned protective treasures to shield themselves.

When the dust cleared, Chris was on both knees, his robe half-burnt and his upper body exposed. Blood soaked every inch of him.

He inhaled sharply. Pain shot through his entire body. His eyes blurred, and the world spun around him.

[Warning! Host Is Nearing Death.]

[10x Recovery Upgraded And Boosted.]

"You're strong, boy," Elder Sung said, walking through the air toward him. Blood dripped from a deep gash on his own chest. "Your talent is that of a genius. Unfortunately… you're just unlucky."

Sung raised his hand, infused with powerful Core Qi. A massive lion formed over his head.

"Heh," Chris chuckled weakly, blood spilling from his mouth.

"The fool still acts arrogantly in the face of death instead of pleading for forgiveness," Hu clenched his jaw.

"Die, boy!" Sung dropped his hand.

"Arghhh!" The mountain vibrated as the devastating attack dashed forward.

At the last possible moment, Chris raced desperately into the Void Mountain.

The attack smashed into the spot where he had stood just a second earlier.

"Interesting," Elder Sung said, stepping closer to the archway as it began to close. "He still had strength left. We'll go in after a full day. Let him suffer inside first."

The archway closed firmly behind Chris.

He collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving floor, his body finally giving out completely.

[Host Has Entered Critical Exhaustion State.]

[25x Recovery Engaged.]