The blazing aura around Kris intimidated the beasts that found him as the grass below him also incinerated to ash.
"What the hell is happening? Is the Golden Flame Pill really this potent?" Kris did not know what was happening.
His brows creased with sweat dripping from his forehead evaporating due to the intensity of the energy.
Why was his energy surging like crazy?
His already depleted energy seemed to be exploding and multiplying in quantity until his Spirit Core was filled with Golden Flame Energy from the pill.
This scenario was what Brandon exactly expected what would happen to Kris when he ate the Golden Flame Pill.
However, there was a small miscalculation on his part as he did not expect that Kris would encounter another type of breakthrough!
Although, it was normal to think that Kris would use the accumulation method since it was the orthodox way of cultivating your Innate Energy.
But, Brandon would not have thought that his scheme would lead to the creation of a monstrous talent!
As far as Kris knew, there are only three ways in which you can achieve a breakthrough.
One, the accumulation of Innate Energy until you reach the certain threshold for the next stage.
Two, the exhaustion of Innate Energy causes the body to have an energy exigency or extreme demand for energy to achieve the sublimation of Innate Energy.
Three, the occurrence of enlightenment!
Among the three methods, the first is the most common method to use because it is the method with the least risk factors.
The second method is a rare method because it is rare for the body to reach the condition of energy exigency. This method also causes Innate Energy deficiency which causes physiological functions to weaken which lowers combat ability and overall health of the cultivator.
The last method which is enlightenment is a happenstance that may occur once in a blue moon. It is said that enlightenment is achieved when an individual has already accumulated both experience and Innate energy needed. However, another condition must also be met.
This is the sublimation of the soul. It is said that this can be caused by techniques, weapons, events or even a person as long as the object causes the cultivator to conceive an entirely new idea by himself. There are scarce accounts of enlightenment breakthroughs actually happening within their country.
It has already been fifteen minutes since the rapid production of energy happened. His previously depleted energy reserves has now been filled to the brink. There were even small amounts that were being pumped into his Spirit Veins and were being emitted from his body causing the burning like aura around his body at this moment.
"What should I do?" Kris did not know what to do with the excess energy. What he didn't know was if he did use his usual way of advancement then he would have already burst into flames.
Kris was running out of options as the energy he accumulated continued to balloon every passing second. Then, he realized something, "I have read that the Golden Flame Pill is useful for the formation of the Origin Pillars of the Origin Palace! That's right! I should redirect all the energy into my Origin Pillars!"
The moment that Kris did this, his Origin Pillars was slowly absorbing the Golden Flame Energy from the Golden Flame Pill.
Within his spirit core, there was a spacious square platform with eight pillars, all of which were contributing to the absorption of the energy.
"I should use this opportunity to advance to the next step!" Kris used the Golden Flame Energy and created another Origin Pillar. Due to the abundance of energy, he was able to quickly create two pillars! This led to the advancement of his aura!
"Yes, I have finally advanced to the peak stage of Palace Formation."
With ten Origin Pillars, the rate of absorption improved dramatically!
With the continuous absorption of energy, the Pillars were starting to emit golden light and formed flame-like engravings.
However, this was still not enough to match the rate of energy production from the reaction of the powder and the pill.
"What the hell is this? How could a pill constantly produce such large amounts of volatile energy? From the records, the Golden Flame Pill should only be able to provide energy enough to advance a single level and at most form three pillars. This would have made me explode if I did the accumulation method. Wait, explode?" Kris suddenly realized something.
Kris remembered, "The only known item that can make this sort of reaction is the Energy Burst Powder, a doping drug that should have been banned from the city due to its dangerous nature! It's used as a last resort for warriors since it allows them to refill their depleted energy and could support them for thirty minutes. But it would also lead to the destruction of their Spirit Core and Spirit Veins due to usage of foreign volatile energy!"
"If it was sprinkled on the Golden Flame Pill, it would make sense why this insane production happened. It seems like someone wanted me to die during advancement..." Kris gritted his teeth. He has a number of people in mind but thinking about them would only lead to distraction and his eventual demise.
"I need to use the excess energy for something! I can't use it without converting it into my Innate Energy or else its circulation would destroy my cultivation." Kris decisively said.
He read that the active circulation of the Golden Flame energy would leave your spirit veins and spirit core scorched to the point of ruin. Thus, he decided not to expend it using attacks.
"For now, let's heal my injuries." Using Golden Flame Energy to heal would not be recommended since it is not a healing type of energy, instead it is a volatile energy that is converted into an individual's Innate Energy for advancement.
But Kris still did this because he had no other choice.
"Grrr..." Along with the burning sensation, Kris felt his injuries were being healed almost instantaneously. It would leave doctors and herbalists in shock if they saw how quickly Kris' wounds healed.
His bruises and cuts have healed in a matter of two minutes.
But, there was still a lot of energy left and there was still around ten minutes before the Energy Bursting Powder expires.
With determination, he said, "I have to take risks if I want to become the strongest!"
Kris recklessly used all of the energy that was being produced into the creation of his Origin Pillars!
As he endured the burning sensation all over his body, he furiously gathered the Golden Flame Energy forming one one Origin Pillar after another. "I won't die here!"
Twelve pillars... Fifteen Pillars... Twenty Pillars... Twenty-five Pillars! Kris once again advanced to another stage!
"Finally! I was able to create twenty-five pillars. Now, it's time to create my Origin Palace! Huh?" Kris was joyous having advanced to another stage today.
It was rare for a person to advance two stages in a single day!
However, as he peered through his Spirit Core, he noticed that the Golden Flame Energy was forming an Origin Pillar of their own!
The Origin Palace Realm is divided into four sub-realms: Origin Transmutation, Origin Foundation, Palace Formation, and Palace Establishment.
All of which are divided into five stages: Early, Mid, High, Peak and Extreme!
Origin Transmutation is the realm wherein the cultivator compresses his Spirit Realm Innate Energy and transmutes it to Origin Energy.
Origin Foundation is the creation of the foothold of the Origin Palace. The bigger it is, the larger energy reserves you can store.
Palace Formation is the stage where you create Origin Pillars.
In order to proceed to the Palace Establishment Stage, one must create twenty five Origin Pillars. After the creation of twenty-five Pillars, the Origin Palace of the cultivator will be born!
Or so it was originally thought to be...
Kris was witnessing an unbelievable change in his Spirit Core! An additional Origin Pillar was being created! No, it was not only one! There were four other vortices of auras that were producing an Origin Pillar each! "What's happening to my body?"
As Kris was left dumbfounded, the newly formed Origin Pillars attached themselves to the platform!
Upon successful attachment, the Origin Foundation expanded by itself in order to accommodate the thirty pillars on it!
The Origin Pillars resonated with each other as strands of energy connected one pillar after the other. Then, a blinding golden light illuminated Kris' Spirit Core!
"What?!"
Then, after some time, the light subsided and clarity returned in his Spirit Core.
What replaced his Origin Pillars attached on his Origin Foundation was a large Golden Palace with blazing hot energy!
A thought entered Kris ' mind and he uttered, "The Golden Flame Palace..."
His consciousness returned to his body. Kris had a delayed reaction but he scanned his body and felt a new and refreshing feeling.
He felt mildly warm and bursting with strength!
His senses were sharper. His energy was more condensed and it even had a burning vibe to it.
"I have reached the High Stage of Palace Establishment?!"
"To think that I would have a variant Origin Palace!!" Kris was in bliss as he jumped!
"I am one more step to achieving my dream!"
Suddenly, he felt an explosion of energy.
Not long after, another energy enhanced its pressure that he could even feel its intensity!
"The fight between the two parties must have already reached its final stage!" Kris remembered that the Malevolent Magnate and the two experts were in the main road fighting.
This also made him recall his goal, why he traveled this far and why he underwent such a dangerous situation, "Oh no, I wasted too much time! I got caught up with my advancement! I have to evacuate Leila! Shit!"
======
Back in the flower field, Leila remained sitting on the ground like how she was when Dylan left her.
His words were still replaying in her mind. Her heart was beating faster than usual and she could not help but miss his presence.
With a blush, she shook her head as she tried to wipe her tears, "What am I thinking?"
Her tears were still flowing which looked like crystals as it reflected the moonlight.
The flower field seemed to be comforting her with soft winds, telling her "it is okay to cry".
Some of the flowers emitted pollen which glittered like stardust as it passed through the field. Some of the shiny pollen gathered atop the graves of Kristopher and Sheila.
It mysteriously formed faint outlines of the two who were already deceased.
Leila was stunned with her eyes wide open. She did not expect that such a thing would occur in front of her. The two opened their mouths and their voices were carried by the wind as it drifted towards the sitting Leila.
"Thank you for growing up so well. We love you and your brother forever and always..." Those were the words that they said to Leila.
Her tears flowed even more now that he has heard her parent's voices for more than a decade!
"Mother... Father..." Leila desperately tried to call out.
However, they were not supposed to stay in this world for too long. They were gradually dissipating and even in their last moments.
They smiled lovingly at Leila like they always have.
Suddenly, another presence came as it spoke disbelievingly, "Mother...? Father...?"
Leila turned his attention to the person who just arrived, "Brother, why are you..."
It was Kris who rushed with all his might to make sure that her sister was safe. He never would have expected that such a mystical phenomenon would happen before he arrived. He said while lost in thought, "Am I dreaming...?"
But their parents had already become fainter than they already were. But, they looked at Kris with love and care.
Their mouths opened once more as they said, "You have become strong, son. It must have been hard on you... But, please continue to look out for your sister..."
Kris could no longer hold his tears back because he was certain that the voices he heard just now were their parent's. Even if it was more than 11 years ago since they passed, he who was 11 years old at that time could still remember it well.
"Mother! Father!" Kris ran towards them but they already became part of the wind and faded away. Kris knelt on the ground as he cried. "WAAAAH!!!"
Leila, who had already stood up, could only tap his back gently.
It was the back of the person who carried the burden of his parents and pressured himself to become stronger. This back always seemed to be robust and strong but now, it was quivering and fragile.
'Brother was also going through a tough time...' Leila thought as she comforted him. He always put up a brave front so that she would always feel assured. 'Now, it's my time to support him!'
After a minute, Kris had finally calmed down and said, "Thank you..."
"We're siblings. Whose shoulder do we cry on if not for each other?" Leila smiled gently.
"What a great sister I have..." Kris felt thankful and he looked around, "This place still looks the same as it was 11 years ago. Have you taken care of the entire field since then?"
"Ever since my brother started training day in and day out, I also started learning gardening so that I would be able to take care of this field that mother and father loved so much." Leila spoke as he recalled what happened for the past 11 years.
"Thank you..." Kris once again thanked his sister.
"It's the least I can do for our parents..." Leila said.
"So you made them a grave too...?" Kris noticed the clumsily made grave stones.
"They're empty though..."
"It was unfortunate that we were unable to retrieve their bodies from that incident..."
"..."
"..."
The two were silent for a short while before Kris stood up and said, "We need to leave now."
"Why?" Leila was shocked that her brother would ask to leave immediately. Shouldn't they spend the time respecting the graves of their parents first? She felt a bit displeased?
"There's a huge conflict of experts nearby. We have to live now!" Kris briefly explained.
"If that's the case, I can't leave the field! It is our family's treasure! I would rather die protecting it than leaving it to be destroyed!" Leila strongly argued.
"That's impossible! You don't even have the strength to defend yourself! How can you defend the field when you're that weak?" Kris denied such a reckless action.
"Humph, I have already reached Origin Transmutation. I think I'm plenty strong as is!" Leila defended herself.
"That's impossible! Last week when I visited the village, you were only at... Huh?" Kris noticed that her sister's aura has already advanced to the Origin Transmutation Realm!
She even has some success with regards to converting her Spirit Energy to Origin Energy.
"That's still not enough!"
"What? You're just convincing me to go back home, aren't you?" Leila pouted.
"No, I am serious! The flower field can be cultivated but a dead person cannot be revived! What's more is that if the opponents were that weak, I would have stayed in this place and defended it with you! But, the opponent is far stronger than me, that's why I'm asking you to evacuate! They're Mortal Severing Experts!!"
"What?! How could that be? Why would-" Before Leila could finish, Kris grabbed her hand and tried to urge her to run away.
"Damn, there's no time left! The fight is happening at the main road uphill! If those experts sense us, we might die!"
"The main road? That's the direction he was headed..." Leila remembered Dylan's leaving figure and she could not help but blush for some unknown reason.
Hearing her words, Kris stopped and interrogated Leila quickly. "Wait, he?! You met a man?! How many do I have to tell you-"
*Shoooo* *BOOM!*
A large projectile crashed on the hill near the siblings. Once the fog cleared out, they saw three armored men stacked on each other as they were bloodily embedded into the creator.
Kris recognized the armor that the man was wearing was the standard armor of the Soaring Cloud Army's Purging Army! He arrived near them and "A Purging Army soldier? What happened?!"
With difficulty, the last surviving man who was at the outermost of the stacked soldiers said, "Necromancer... and Evil cultivator fighting... Undead beasts appeared... A fierce fight is ongoing... Run away...."
After which, he died...
Leila was in a state of shock. She never expected that a person would die in front of her, "AHHHh!"
"Can't you see the severity of the matter? We need to escape now!" Kris knew how grave the situation was just from those words.
But, reality did not favor them as they heard a loud roar!
"KYAAAAAAAWRGH!!!"
Kris and Leila saw a large boar-like creature. It was over twenty meters tall and towered over the trees making him easily visible. The very beast was heading towards them!
They could also see armored men running away for their lives and asking for help! They were also part of the Purging Army who came to put pressure on Yumi!
"A Mount Boar?!" Kris recognized the beast!