Two months passed like drifting clouds.
For Li Chen, they were two months of absolute restraint.
He did not cultivate.
He did not circulate qi.
He did not even think about breakthroughs.
Every morning, he woke up, drank plain spirit tea, read low-grade manuals, and acted exactly like what the Azure Leaf Sect believed him to be—
A quiet, slightly talented, but ultimately unremarkable core disciple.
Behind closed doors, however, all of his effort went into Xu Ming.
"Again," Li Chen said calmly, seated beneath the eaves of their residence. "Slow the circulation when earth transitions to metal. You're forcing it."
Xu Ming gritted his teeth and adjusted.
His body shuddered.
Then—
BOOM.
A deep, resonant sound echoed from his bones, like tempered steel being struck.
Xu Ming's entire body glowed faintly bronze before the light receded. His breathing steadied, powerful and deep.
Li Chen opened one eye.
"…Bone Forging," he said.
Xu Ming exhaled shakily, disbelief written across his face.
"I—I did it."
In just two months, Xu Ming had passed through Viscera Training, Altering Muscle, and now reached the fifth stage—Bone Forging.
Such speed was unheard of in the lower realm.
Li Chen nodded, unsurprised.
"Your foundation is complete. From now on, stagnation will kill you faster than enemies."
Xu Ming's excitement dimmed slightly.
"I know," he said quietly.
Li Chen stood and handed him a plain-looking sword—unremarkable, dull, and chipped at the edge.
Xu Ming stared.
"…This is?"
"A real sword," Li Chen replied. "Training ends today."
Xu Ming's heart pounded.
In the Azure Leaf Sect, Bone Forging marked the limit of safe isolated cultivation. From here on, one needed battle—pressure, danger, and real killing intent—to temper the body and spirit further.
"You're sending me to the sect training grounds," Xu Ming said.
Li Chen nodded.
"The Outer Battlefield. Demon beasts. Sparring platforms. Sect missions."
Xu Ming tightened his grip on the sword.
"And if I die?"
Li Chen met his gaze evenly.
"Then your hatred wasn't sharp enough."
Xu Ming laughed softly.
"I won't die."
Li Chen's lips curved faintly.
Good.
They walked together through the sect toward the training grounds. The air grew heavier with blood, sweat, and spiritual residue. Shouts echoed. Blades clashed. Cultivators bled.
Xu Ming felt it instantly.
This was different from manuals.
This was reality.
At the edge of the battlefield, Li Chen stopped.
"I won't intervene," he said. "Not unless you're truly about to die."
Xu Ming bowed deeply.
"Thank you… for trusting me."
Li Chen turned away.
"Don't make me regret it."
Xu Ming stepped forward onto the training grounds.
The moment he did, several eyes locked onto him.
A new bone-forging cultivator.
No backing.
Carrying a plain sword.
Easy prey.
Xu Ming breathed in.
Five elements circulated as one.
His bones hummed like tempered steel.
As the first challenger approached, Xu Ming's gaze sharpened.
This time, he thought, I won't hide.
Behind him, Li Chen watched quietly, hands tucked into his sleeves.
If anyone looked closely, they would notice—
Every sword in the training grounds subtly angled itself toward Li Chen.
Waiting.