My eyes closed and I focused on the intention to bestow the Eternal Flame to the boys. After my experience with the being back at the Vamp City in the Valley, I learned that my genuine intention was enough of a catalyst to communicate with the Eternal Flame.

I didn't need to be taught any special words, nor did I need anyone to teach me.

Elder Zal was right in the sense that this was something I would learn on my own.

That was the last stray thought I had as I continued to focus my intention on bestowing the Eternal Flame.

And as my intention and focus deepened, so too did my connection with my own flames.

It was then I realized I didn't need to call upon the being for this.

The act of a Patriarch like myself imparting the flame was something beholden to me. This was my right.

I could feel it.

My flames began to manifest around me and before long the entire office was covered in flames.

After a few moments, I could feel the flames leaving the confines of the office and spreading to the rest of the City Lord Mansion, and then beyond even that.

I could feel it all.

It started with me at the center, then slowly but surely they spread from the mansion to the rest of the City, and eventually the entire City was being bathed in Eternal Flames.

The flames continued to grow for only a few seconds longer before it all came rushing back towards me like a tornado with a target in mind.

As the flames rushed toward me, mighty winds were generated from the speed of the flames and they billowed around the City as the flames crashed back into my body, and I knew right then and there I touched on something that my body wasn't ready for.

I couldn't tell what it was, but it felt… powerful.

It was a different type of power though—it was weak, strong, scared, brave, flexible, rigid, and so many more opposites of each other that it got confusing to think about.

I had no clue what it was, but if there was one feeling that persisted above all the others, it was the fact that I now felt some faint connection to… something.

It wasn't the being. That's something I would never be in doubt of. Instead, it felt like… the world itself… yeah, the faintest of connections to the world itself… I don't know if this connection I felt was accurate, but that's how I could describe it.

Though none of that was important at the moment, because that connection was killing me.

My skin cracked and tore in various places, and blood immediately began to fill the floor I sat on, but I couldn't stop. Not now.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I had no doubt in my mind that this was integral in bestowing the Eternal Flame to the boys.

The connection I felt pooled with the flames in my body and formed two black ethereal tendrils inside the pit of my stomach.

I felt unimaginable pain as I instinctively forced the tendrils to separate from each other and slowly follow the path I willed them towards.

One to my left hand, the other to my right hand.

Once I painfully completed that process, I forced the tendrils to exit through my palms, and as if sensing something that the tendrils hungered for, they latched on the backs of the boys and dove in without warning.

I faintly heard the boys tense and let out a groan of pain, but by this point my eyes were barely being held open and the grip of unconsciousness once again took hold of me.

The last thing I saw before it all went dark was a shroud of flames covering both boys.

…

When I came to, I found myself in my own bed.

I hate the fact that I fell unconscious again so quickly after waking up, but I'm at least glad I got to wake up in my own bed.

I sat up and realized I was fine for the most part. A bit of an ache, but nothing crazy.

Seeing that no one randomly teleported in my room, I got up and took a shower, then once I was dressed, I headed outside to see both Frian and Lirian standing outside my door.

"Good morning Patriarch!"

Both of them said at once, but I almost didn't respond as I was focused on something else… they felt stronger.

"Good morning boys… both of you broke through?"

I could see them barely stopping themselves from grinning.

"Yes Patriarch!"

Heh, good for them.

"That's good. How long have I been out and what happened after I fell unconscious?"

Lirian spoke up.

"You were only asleep for one night, Patriarch. And last night after the ritual, both myself and my brother received… received the Eternal Flame…"

He practically trembled with excitement as he said that last part.

"…We received the Eternal Flame, and then shortly after our breakthroughs were triggered and we managed to form our Cores. After that, we quickly rushed to your side, but Elder Zal appeared in the room and told us you were fine, just needed rest."

"Well then… show me your flames."

The boys couldn't stop themselves from grinning this time, and they focused a bit, and then small flames gathered around their hands before sputtering out.

Huh.

I guess they can't use it as naturally as I can? That's interesting to know.

But they looked a bit embarrassed.

"Keep practicing. We will spar later."

"Yes Patriarch!"

"For now, one of you tell Richard to stop by when he has time, and someone go tell Lidaz I want to see him now."

The boys quickly acknowledged my orders and ran off.

And the speed of someone in the Core Formation Realm came to light quickly, as I barely had a second to sit down behind my desk before a knock was heard at my office door and Frian was asking for permission to enter.

"Enter."

He opened the door and Lidaz stepped in and stood in front of my desk.

"I greet the Eternal Flame."

Hm.

Something about that bothered me. The boys are the highest-ranking members of my Clan, and they are now Core Formation Cultivators. I don't think I want them being door handlers and errand boys anymore.

I looked towards Lidaz.

"What's your answer and that of the rest of the camp?"

Lidaz kneeled right then and there without a single mark of hesitation.

"My Spear is your Spear, and your Will is my Will. So long as I breathe, I vow to deliver death and destruction to your enemies. May your Flames burn Eternally and your Spear ever swift!"

A vow I once heard from the boys came out of his mouth.

I guess it's standard then.

"I accept your vow. Welcome to my Clan, Lidaz."

"It is my pleasure, Patriarch!"

"The rest of the camp—what are their answers?"

"Every single one of them is ready to deliver the exact same vow, Patriarch."

"Good. I will be there shortly. In the meantime, I need you to pick out 100 of your brightest Qi Refinement Infernals. Fifty of them will be assigned to Frian and Lirian each. Understood?"

"Yes, Patriarch."

"Good. Dismissed."

He departed from the room after rising and delivering a final bow.

I think I'm getting pretty good at this Patriarch thing.

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