THE BLACK CULTIVATOR

THE FIRST TRIAL

The hall's golden flames flared brighter, casting dramatic shadows as the five powerful beasts fully materialized. A deafening "ARRRGHHH!" shook the ancient chamber, causing dust to rain down from the towering pillars like forgotten memories.

Chris cracked his neck from side to side, a wild, confident grin splitting his face.

"Oya na! No pain, no gain. Make una come!" he shouted, staring each beast down without fear. (Alright! No pain, no gain. Come on!)

A massive black wolf with glowing red eyes and Qi-infused fur as sharp as blades stepped forward first. Beside it, a two-headed serpent hissed menacingly, corrosive venom dripping from its fangs and sizzling on the stone floor. A hulking stone golem the size of a truck slammed its boulder-sized fists together with a thunderous boom. Above them, a sleek hawk circled overhead, screeching shrilly. Finally, a lightning panther prowled gracefully, electric arcs dancing along its sleek spine.

[Void Trial 1: Commence.]

[Time Remaining: 59 Minutes 57 Seconds.]

"Five against one? This trial no dey play at all," Chris muttered, dropping into a low, ready fighting stance. Powerful Qi erupted from his body like a surging storm. His meridians hummed intensely, pushed to their limits as raw energy flooded every muscle and fiber of his being. (This trial is not playing at all.)

The black wolf lunged first, cracks spiderwebbing across the floor beneath its powerful paws.

The Naija youth exploded forward to meet it head-on. His fist, wrapped in dense Qi, slammed into the wolf's jaw with a sickening crack. The beast flew sideways, crashing heavily into a massive pillar. It rolled back to its feet snarling, dust swirling in the air around it.

Chris's eyes widened slightly. "Damn! You're a strong one!"

The serpent struck suddenly from his blind side, spitting a stream of venom. Chris twisted through the air with agile grace, but a single drop still grazed his shoulder. It burned like molten acid.

"Shit! Wetin be this? E dey hot! This snake, your mind go touch ground." (Shit! What is this? It's burning! This snake, your mind will touch the ground. / You'll be humbled.)

The pungent smell of burning flesh filled the air.

[25x Recovery Engaged.]

[Rhythmic Combat Intuition Activated.]

Chris dashed forward without hesitation. He slipped under a whipping tail strike, closed the distance in a powerful leap, and grabbed the serpent by one of its throats. Using its own momentum against it, he swung the massive creature like a living flail and smashed both heads brutally into the stone golem's chest.

The golem staggered backward. The hawk dove instantly from above, razor-sharp talons aimed straight for his eyes.

Chris rolled forward, snatched a large chunk of broken pillar, and hurled it like a javelin. The rock smashed into the hawk mid-dive, sending it crashing to the ground.

"Idiot! Of everything to aim for, na only my eye you saw — so that I no go fit see ass again, abi!" (Idiot! Of everything to aim for, it's only my eyes you saw — so I won't be able to see ass again, right?)

The air crackled with electricity. The lightning panther blurred behind him in a burst of blinding speed. Claws raked viciously across his back before he could fully turn.

"Gahhh!" He bit down hard on his lip as blood sprayed from the deep wounds. His body felt like it was on fire.

[Host Body Status: Cracked Bones, Torn Flesh.]

[Blood Loss: 10%.]

"Ahhhh!" Chris roared and spun around, driving a devastating elbow into the panther's skull. The impact sent powerful shockwaves rippling through the hall. The panther yelped in pain and retreated, limping heavily.

He dropped low as the wolf and golem attacked in tandem. The serpent coiled tightly around his leg, squeezing with crushing force.

"You guys are very annoying!" Chris's eyes glowed bright gold with rising fury. He slammed his palms together.

A crude but devastating Qi shockwave erupted outward from his body.

The serpent's grip loosened. He stomped down savagely, crushing both heads into the shattered tiles.

The golem's massive fist came down like divine judgment.

"Naija Heritage: Shield of Shege!"

**BOOM!**

The shockwave blasted the golem backward several meters. Chris was also sent flying, crashing hard into the ground. Blood trickled from his mouth as he bounced back to his feet with sheer determination.

The golem closed the distance instantly. Its enormous fist pinned Chris's leg to the floor with crushing pressure.

"Fuck!" He clenched his jaw, crossed his arms, and took the next blow head-on. His bones screamed in protest. His feet sank deep into the stone floor. Dust choked half the hall.

"You think you have power? I will show you real Power!"

With a primal yell, he grabbed the golem's arm, pivoted smoothly, and used its own immense weight to flip it onto its back. Then he leaped high into the air.

"You're finished!" He drove both knees into its chest with explosive force. Stone shattered violently.

[Daily Quest: 1/5 Foundation Building Beast Killed.]

[+100 Points Added To All Stats.]

[+200 System Points.]

The hawk dove again. The wolf followed close behind. The panther joined the fray, lightning trailing in its wake. The serpent, still bleeding from its crushed heads, crawled toward the Naija youth's leg from behind.

Chris's sharp eyes observed everything at once.

He drew his katana in one fluid motion, the blade humming with power.

"Blade Art: One Blade, Ten Thousand Cries!"

The ground shattered outward as thick dust filled the hall.

He charged straight into the heart of the chaos.

A blurred left hook cracked the wolf's ribs. A spinning kick shattered the serpent's spine. An uppercut sent the hawk crashing into the ceiling.

The lightning panther came next — Chris sidestepped its blinding speed, grabbed its tail, and slammed it repeatedly into the floor with savage fury.

"Die! Die! Die! Die!"

The snake advanced from behind. He tossed the panther aside, snatched the golem's broken arm as a makeshift club, and smashed the serpent's head into a bloody paste.

One by one, they fell.

The wolf lunged desperately. Chris met it mid-air, tightened his fingers around its jaw, and ripped it apart with raw strength. Blood and Qi exploded outward in a gruesome spray.

Chris fell to one knee, breathing heavily. His robe was drenched in blood—some his, most theirs. Sweat dripped from his chin as his chest heaved.

Blood, sweat, and Qi mixed thickly in the air.

[Void Trial 1: Cleared.]

[Time Remaining: 39 Minutes 20 Seconds.]

[Daily Quest Completion Rate: 100%.]

[Daily Quest: 5/5 Foundation Building Beasts Killed.]

[Daily Quest Completed.]

[+400 Points Added To All Stats.]

[Rewards Distributed: +10 Healing Pills, +800 System Points, +1 Advanced Body Refinement Scroll.]

"Bastards! No be me una for kill." He laughed weakly. "System, you see that finishing move? I be proper Naija boy now." (Bastards! You people cannot kill me. … I am a proper Naija boy now.)

[Host Performance Rated: Above Average For The First Trial.]

[Foundation Building Realm Mid Stage — Late Stage.]

[New Skill Unlocked: Qi Shockwave Lv1.]

"Nice, I'm getting stronger," he whispered, steadily rising to his feet.

The giant door reappeared at the far end of the hall. It rumbled open with a deep groan, revealing a glowing bridge that led to another floating city in the distance. This one was far larger and more imposing than any he had seen before.