Btth heavenly flame system

**Chapter 4: The Abyss of Despair**

The Inferno Abyss was far from forgiving. After defeating the Inferno Golem, Xiao Yan had only scratched the surface of the true challenges the chasm held. The heat had not waned. Instead, it seemed to intensify with every step deeper into the fiery labyrinth. The rocks beneath his feet grew hotter, and the oppressive, suffocating air seemed to press against his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Sweat soaked through his clothes, and his throat felt dry despite the unbearable heat. Every breath felt like inhaling molten lava, burning its way down to his lungs. But Xiao Yan had no time to rest. The clock was ticking. The Heavenly Flame—his power, his salvation—was drawing nearer, and he could feel it now, stronger than before, calling out to him with an undeniable pull.

The system's voice suddenly echoed in his mind again.

**"Ding! Trial progress: 30%. Current objective: Survive the Abyss and reach the Flame's Core."**

The path before him was narrow and treacherous, jagged rocks jutting out from the walls like twisted teeth. Rivers of molten lava coursed along the cavern floor, and the occasional explosion of steam from fissures in the walls added to the terrifying atmosphere. The deeper he went, the more the environment seemed to fight back against his intrusion. The Inferno Abyss was alive, and it was determined to crush him.

*I can't fail now,* Xiao Yan thought, his resolve hardening.

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Hours passed as Xiao Yan traversed the Inferno Abyss. The air seemed to grow more oppressive as time went on, and he found himself having to constantly use his wits to avoid traps—lava geysers erupting from the ground, walls that shifted unexpectedly, and sudden bursts of flame shooting from hidden vents. Every step forward felt like a battle for survival. But Xiao Yan was no stranger to hardship.

Just when he thought the worst was behind him, a deep rumbling shook the ground, and a chilling, echoing voice reached his ears, carried by the very flames themselves.

**"You are not worthy to claim the Heavenly Flame."**

Xiao Yan froze. The voice was both disembodied and ancient, a cold whisper that seemed to come from the deepest parts of the Abyss itself.

From the shadows ahead, something began to take form—a dark silhouette rising from the lava. At first, it was just a shadow, but as it grew closer, its shape became clearer. A massive, winged creature emerged from the molten river, its body composed of blackened stone and flame. It was like a demon forged from the heart of the abyss, its wings crackling with infernal energy, its eyes glowing with an unnatural, crimson light.

The creature let out a deafening screech that shook the very walls of the Abyss.

**"I am the Guardian of the Flame's Core. Only those who prove their worth can pass. You, Xiao Yan, are not worthy."**

The system's voice responded immediately, its tone stern.

**"Ding! New challenge: Guardian of the Flame's Core. Level 50. Defeat to proceed."**

Xiao Yan's heart raced. Level 50? This creature was far beyond anything he had faced before. He had to summon everything he had to stand a chance.

He drew in a deep breath, pushing the exhaustion and pain to the back of his mind. His body, still sore from the battle with the Inferno Golem, trembled from the overwhelming heat, but he couldn't afford to hesitate.

The creature's wings flared wide, sending torrents of fiery energy crashing toward Xiao Yan. He barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side just as the heat from the attack scorched the ground where he had been standing. The Guardian moved with terrifying speed, its clawed hands swiping toward him, leaving trails of fire in the air.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and dodged again. He could feel his energy draining, and his vision was beginning to blur from the heat and exhaustion. His body wasn't prepared to face such a powerful foe, not without fully unlocking the Heavenly Flame's potential.

But then, as he stumbled back, a surge of power rushed through him—unexpected but welcome. The fragment of the Heavenly Flame deep within him pulsed, and Xiao Yan felt the familiar heat surge through his veins. He could feel his Dou Qi responding, slowly unlocking itself, like an ancient door creaking open.

*This is it,* Xiao Yan thought, his determination flaring.

The Guardian lunged at him, claws aimed to tear him apart, but Xiao Yan was faster this time. He summoned the Heavenly Flame Surge again—this time, with even more power than before. The flames roared to life around him, wrapping his body in a fiery cocoon, protecting him from the Guardian's attack. Xiao Yan shot forward, his body glowing with flame and energy, and with a roar, he struck.

His fist collided with the Guardian's chest, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. The flames around Xiao Yan exploded outward, consuming the Guardian in an inferno. The creature howled in pain, its wings disintegrating into ash as the flames engulfed it. But even as the flames tore through its body, the Guardian fought back, its claws scraping at Xiao Yan's chest.

The heat was unbearable, and the pain was excruciating, but Xiao Yan pushed through it, determined to finish the fight. He slammed his palm into the Guardian's core, where its fiery heart pulsed, and a final surge of Heavenly Flame erupted from his body, incinerating the creature entirely.

The Guardian's screeching cry faded as its body was consumed by the flames, leaving only a pile of smoldering ashes in the center of the cavern.

**"Ding! Guardian of the Flame's Core defeated. Trial progress: 80%."**

Xiao Yan stood amidst the ruins, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body was battered, bruised, and burnt from the battle, but the Heavenly Flame was now fully awakened within him. The power surged through him like a flood, burning away the last remnants of weakness, filling him with strength he had never imagined possible.

*I've done it. The Heavenly Flame is mine.*

But Xiao Yan knew the trial was far from over. He could feel the pull of the Flame's Core ahead, a faint but powerful force beckoning him to come closer. The last challenge awaited.

With renewed strength and a heart full of resolve, Xiao Yan continued deeper into the Abyss, ready to face whatever final trial lay in his path.

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*To be continued...*

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