Fight.

In his weakened state, Alex attempted to reason with Grand Elder Li, feigning innocence and lostness. "Hello, Senior Elder. I seem to be lost here, Sect. Could you kindly provide directions to the exit?" Despite his brave front, Alex's body quivered with suppressed fear, even without Aura his body was shaking hard just by from suppression of the cultivation realms., knowing that facing this elder head-on was futile.

His attempt at a casual conversation was met with a sinister chuckle. "You think you can escape that easily, little ant?" Grand Elder Li's entrance was accompanied by a violent shaking of the room, as if he were playing with the very fabric of the space.

Alex immediately understood he was using some kind of Technique to Suppress him with his Aura, he was shocked "(HOW IS HE SO STRONG)".

"(I can't let him know I can't sense his aura...)" Alex thought, pretending he could feel the elder's overwhelming presence. "(Just keep talking, distract him.)"

"Gahahahahaha... I'm just surprised you're not bowing before me. I'm curious how you managed to—" The elder's words halted abruptly as he felt danger from behind.

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

A deafening explosion erupted, and Grand Elder Li was forced to retreat, narrowly avoiding the impact. The room quaked as the shockwave radiated through it. Grand Elder Li was feeling unimaginable fear now, he felt if he didn't doge he would die instantly.

"(What was that?!)" Grand Elder Li's thoughts raced as he looked around for the source of the disturbance. "(I need to finish this quickly.)"

In the chaos, Alex seized the opportunity to gather his energy and launch himself toward the exit at breakneck speed. Yet, Grand Elder Li's ominous voice echoed behind him. "Gahaha, where do you think you're going, little ant? [Golden Viper]!"

Instantly, Grand Elder Li reappeared before Alex, delivering a bone-shattering punch aimed at his fleeing form.

"(No... not yet!)" Alex mustered his strength and unleashed his most potent technique, hoping to fend off the elder's assault.

"[Mountain Shatter Fist (10 Mountains) Max]!"

The collision was explosive, the shockwave reverberating through the space and causing cracks to form in the ceiling.

"AAGHHGYYYYHHH!!!"

But as the dust settled, the sight that greeted him was not what Alex hoped for. He was battered and bloodied, his body barely holding on.

--

[Congratulations! You have taken 10,080 points of damage.

+35,000 Years of Lifespan]

--

Alex's focus was on survival. Struggling to his feet, he clung to the wall for support. "(I have to endure this, no matter what...)" His body ached, his arm broken, but he was determined to press on.

As Grand Elder Li advanced, relishing in Alex's suffering, a realization dawned on him. "(This pain... I've been through worse... I can endure this.)" He had faced horrors during his time in the military, he had to take training to make sure he was not going to falter under Torture, over the years he became absolute Master at this technique, but now here he had endured. He could endure now.

"GOOOD!!! GOOOD GOOOD, WITH YOUR RESILLIENCE YOU WILL HELP ME FEED MY LITTLE FRIEND HERE [Golden Viper]" Grand Elder Li used a technique as a Golden Viper Appeared in his fingers biting Alex that was lying on the broken wall with bloodied robe.

Alex clenched his teeth, refusing to give his tormentor the satisfaction of hearing him scream. With each blow, he suppressed his pain, refusing to let it show.

"(More! He wants more pain!)" Alex could sense the elder's twisted enjoyment and decided to push his own limit. He endured the agony, each blow an excruciating test of his willpower. the blows was getting more and more powerful as they broke more of his entire body.

"GAHAHAHA! WHERE'S THAT WILLPOWER NOW, LITTLE ANT? SCREAM LOUDER!" Grand Elder Li's frustration was palpable, he punched Alex in the face.

BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!

his strikes growing more vicious.

Alex's body was battered, his face covered in blood, but he persisted, his resolve unyielding. As the elder crushed his arm, Alex refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing his cries.

His mind drifted to his family—his reason for surviving. Memories of their smiles, their warmth, their love. He thought of their healing presence, their unwavering support through his darkest times.

When he came back from the military he remembered their support, only thing that kept hom from despairing was their support at that time, when he had nightmares when he could hear screams of soldiers, they are the ones that healed him... they are the ones he was thankful for that... they are the ones he continued to live.

"(I won't let despair take me. I won't let him break me. Not now.)" Alex clenched his fist, his determination reforged. "(I have to fight back, for them. Even if it costs me everything.)"

With a final, herculean effort, Alex's energy surged. The pain was overwhelming, but he embraced it, channeling it into one desperate act.

"(System,)" he mentally invoked.

--

[You have found a divine treasure. Do you wish to make it your foundation?]

--

With his body battered and his voice hoarse, Alex mustered his remaining strength. A single word emerged from his bloodied lips.

"Yes..."

The room vibrated with an ominous energy as Alex's decision resonated with the universe itself.

"What did you say, ant?" Grand Elder Li, his crazed smile faltering, was met with a blinding radiance from Alex's direction.

The atmosphere shifted, and a profound energy surged, engulfing Alex entirely.

"(I won't let this be the end. I will go back to them, to their warmth and smiles. I'll do anything to return to them.)"

The divine treasure shone brighter, a beacon of determination in the face of despair.

"(No matter the odds, I won't give up. For my family, I'll fight.)"

Grand Elder Li looked at Alex in shock.

He felt his Golden Viper getting destroyed "AGHGG" He felt air compressing into one shrouding.

And protecting Alex.

And finally... he felt it...

End Of Chapter.