By the time dawn's first pale light slid through the cracked dorm windows, the split left by Lu Hanshan's swing had already crawled across the floorboards beneath Jiang Muchen's feet—like a scar that refused to close.
Before the sun even cleared the horizon, the dormitory door blew open with a bone-rattling bang.
Lu Hanshan stood in the frame like a walking fortress, his coarse shirt soaked with morning dew, his firewood-cutting blade resting against his shoulder. The edge shimmered faintly gold in the dimness, not yet bright, but undeniably alive.
The ten-man bunk room went dead still.
A few lazy chore disciples burrowed deeper under their quilts. Everyone knew Lu Hanshan: quiet as a sealed gourd, but the moment anyone pushed him, he swung first and asked questions never.
From his corner bunk, Jiang Muchen rose. His expression was calm, almost peaceful. Three breaths before Lu Hanshan stepped into the courtyard, Jiang had already sensed the storm of emotions pressing off him—excitement, confusion, and something that felt like a desperate wager—all through the Ten Thousand Spirits Resonance Art.
"Jiang…" Lu Hanshan's throat bobbed, his voice rough as grinding stone. "Junior Brother Jiang."
He actually said Junior Brother.
Among杂役 chore disciples, no one bothered with honorifics. You yelled someone's name or just grunted at them. Calling someone "Senior" or "Junior" was for outer sect disciples and above.
Jiang stepped off the bed, bare feet meeting cold wood, and stopped at a calculated three-step distance from Lu Hanshan—close enough to talk, far enough not to provoke. He tilted his chin upward; Lu was half a head taller.
"Good morning, Senior Brother Lu."
Lu Hanshan sucked in a deep breath, then suddenly lifted his blade—hilt forward, offering it like a soldier offering a sword to a commander.
"Last night…" His voice wavered, as though each word cost him a rib. "I trained for three more hours. The way you told me. The blisters on my tiger's mouth… they hardened. When I pushed my spiritual power along the Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, it hit the Gate of Life like a flood breaking a dam."
He swallowed, eyes bloodshot.
"It's the first time in my life I felt… spiritual power move."
Jiang didn't take the blade. Instead, his gaze drifted to the faint golden sheen along the edge. He activated his insight technique and saw it—the thread of Metal Qi, steadier than yesterday, wrapped safely in thick Earth Qi rather than bouncing chaotically.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother," he said with an acknowledging nod. "Earth and Metal nourish each other. A fine set of roots—only buried until now."
Lu Hanshan's arm shook.
Buried brilliance.
Four simple words, but they drove straight into the ugliest, sorest wound in his chest.
Three years ago, when his dual Earth–Metal roots were tested and he was still thrown into杂役 servitude, everyone sneered:
"A chore boy with good roots is still wasted wood."
"Poor brats shouldn't dream."
He had nearly believed them.
But the feeling from last night—like strength rising straight from the earth and coiling up his spine like a waking dragon—was real.
"I…" Lu Hanshan suddenly dropped to one knee, blade raised above his head. "Please teach me, Junior Brother Jiang!"
Gasps rippled through the dormitory.
A杂役 disciple kneeling to another杂役 disciple—if word spread, Lu Hanshan would never lift his head again in Hongchen Pavilion.
But Jiang stepped aside, catching his elbow and helping him up.
"Senior Brother, you'll crush me with such formality," Jiang said lightly. "I only noticed a few signs by chance. I don't dare call it teaching."
Jiang wasn't physically strong, yet Lu still found himself standing again—because his own emotions were wrecking his balance more than anything else.
"What I said yesterday is enough," Jiang continued, steady and clear. "You've touched the threshold. From here, it's about rooting your Qi, turning strength, and aligning intent. At dawn and dusk, when earth-energy rises and falls, face east and breathe. See yourself as mountain and stone—your spiritual force as metal and iron. As for your blade—"
His eyes flicked to the firewood cutter.
"This blade has already sparked a seed of your natal Metal Qi. A stroke of fortune. But if you want to walk the path of a body-refiner and weapon cultivator… chopping firewood will only take you so far."
Lu blurted, "Then what should I do?!"
Jiang did not answer. Instead, he asked quietly:
"Does Senior Brother know which elder in the sect specializes in body reforging—or in Earth and Metal Qi?"
Lu blinked. Then shook his head. A杂役 disciple would never know something like that.
Jiang expected as much.
"I overheard something yesterday while cleaning near the Scripture Repository," Jiang said. "A senior on the third floor mentioned that the Golden Armor Holy Temple secret realm unearthed a fragment of the Indestructible Vajra Body. It tempers flesh with Earth and Metal. Perfect for you."
Lu's heart kicked against his ribs. Hunger sparked in his eyes.
Direction.
That was what the poor lacked most. A path they could see. Touch. Chase.
"But," Jiang added, voice turning matter-of-fact, "that fragment is stored on the third floor of the Repository. Only inner sect disciples or anyone with a thousand contribution points may borrow it. And it's incomplete—dangerous without guidance."
Lu's hope flickered.
Jiang lifted the bundle of Red Sun Wood he had prepared.
"I happen to be delivering firewood to Elder Huoyun's Earthfire Yard today," he said. "Though Elder Huoyun is most famous for forging, he once explored the Golden Armor Holy Temple. He may know about the fragment."
Lu's breath hitched.
Jiang continued, tone calm but meaningful:
"If Senior Brother trusts me, come along. The Earthfire Yard needs laborers to haul wood—two low-grade spirit stones a day and a chance to temper your body with earthfire. Whether we can meet Elder Huoyun or gain guidance…"
He smiled faintly.
"That depends on fate."
Lu's grip tightened around the blade. He understood clearly—Jiang was offering a ladder.
Climbing it was up to him.
"I'll go!"
The Earthfire Yard sprawled along the base of an active volcano in Hongchen Pavilion's southwest corner. Heat rolled off the lava vents long before they reached the gates, thick with the scent of sulfur and seared metal.
At the main gate, a long line of outer sect disciples queued to deliver forging materials. Jiang and Lu—two杂役 boys—looked painfully out of place.
"Oh? Chore hands wandering into the Earthfire Yard?" a richly dressed disciple sneered. "Delivery boys use the side gate. Don't block the line."
Jiang dipped his head. Lu's fingers twitched, but he kept still.
Yes—firewood deliveries were normally through the side gate. But that offered no chance of meeting Elder Huoyun.
The main line might.
So Jiang waited.
The line crawled forward. Jiang closed his eyes, letting his spiritual sense spread naturally—searching, sensing, training.
The female disciple to the left—hiding cracked Cold Iron Ore.
The male disciple on the right—breathing in the rhythm of the Cloud Sword Art. A Tianjian Sect spy, poorly disguised.
Jiang mentally recorded it all.
Then—he sensed something peculiar.
A small-statured youth ahead whispered with an Earthfire Yard attendant. On his sleeve, the "Treasure Pattern" of the Nine Provinces Merchant Guild. In their hushed exchange, Jiang caught fragments:
"Azuremist Herb Valley… opening early next month…"
"Nine-Turn Revival Pill… Soulreturn Grass… outer ring harvested already…"
"Flameheart Grass… Elder Huoyun urgently needs it…"
Jiang's pulse tightened.
Azuremist Herb Valley—that aligned perfectly with the first major secret realm in his destined path.
The Nine-Turn Revival Pill—critical to a lifesaving event in his future.
And Flameheart Grass… well, that was the reason he had come today.
He focused his insight on the merchant youth.
A low-level overseer. Greedy, calculating, eager for credit.
Qi Refining fifth layer—unsteady, boosted by pills.
Most valuables hidden close to the body.
And—faint purple soil stuck to the bottom of his boot.
Purpleglow Earth.
Found only near the boundary of the Illusory Blossom Sea secret realm.
In three breaths, Jiang had mapped the youth completely.
A thread of opportunity, dangling right there.
At that moment—Dawn Hour, Third Quarter.
The massive gate of the Earthfire Yard groaned open. A burst of blistering heat slammed outward. An old man with wild red hair strode out bare-chested, muscles knotted like forged iron, fire spiritual pressure crashing across the courtyard like a wave.
Elder Huoyun.
Everyone bowed sharply. He ignored them, scanning their materials with predatory sharpness.
"Today, I only accept Flameheart Grass, Earthfire Refined Gold, and Molten Cores! If you've got any, step up! If not—get lost!"
He inspected a few items, accepted fewer, and roasted the rest with thunderous curses.
Then the merchant youth stepped forward.
"Elder, I have news regarding Flameheart Grass," the youth began.
"Speak."
"Three days ago—northeast fissure—fully mature specimens—guarded by lava beasts—Foundation Establishment required—"
"Nonsense!" Huoyun barked. "Everyone knows the northeast fissure! I want details! Numbers! Ripeness! Give me something useful!"
The youth froze, sweating bullets.
Then—
"Elder," Jiang suddenly called out from the end of the line, voice crisp, "this junior may have something to add."
A wave of laughter washed over the courtyard. A杂役? Speaking?
But Elder Huoyun turned, eyes narrowing. His spiritual pressure dropped like a hammer.
"Oh? Then speak."
Jiang bowed.
"Yesterday, while cleaning the Scripture Repository, this junior glanced at a scroll on the Volcanic Geography of the Southern Wastelands. It recorded that lava beasts of the southeastern fissure gather at the Earthfire Eye during full moons to swallow moon essence. To bypass them, enter three hours before the full moon, when the fire tide recedes."
Another breath.
"And mature Flameheart Grass doesn't appear as higher heat—but as fire aura pulling inward within a three-meter circle, forming red frost on the ground. Seeking heat alone will cause one to miss it."
Silence fell like a guillotine.
Elder Huoyun stared for three breaths—then burst into booming laughter.
"Good! 'Fire Qi drawn inward, ground glazed red'—now that's someone who can read!"
He jabbed a finger at Jiang.
"You. Come here!"
Jiang stepped forward with the Red Sun Wood. Huoyun didn't even glance at the wood.
"What's your name? Which peak?"
"Jiang Muchen.杂役院 disciple."
"杂役院?" Huoyun blinked—then cackled. "And you know all this? Interesting. The wood's good—I'll take it. From today onward, deliver me a cart every three days. I'll pay in outer sect contribution points."
Gasps erupted.
Outer sect points were worth ten times杂役 wages.
Jiang bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Elder."
Huoyun's gaze moved to Lu Hanshan.
"That big one with you? Earth-Metal dual roots… solid foundation for body forging."
He tossed Lu a red iron token. "Take it. Follow him. Behind the Earthfire Yard is the Bone-Forging Pit. Half an hour soak at noon daily—it'll toughen you up."
Lu took the token with trembling fingers.
As Elder Huoyun turned away, he added:
"Jiang Muchen! Tomorrow, bring me a written 'Flameheart Grass Collection Strategy.' If it's good—I'll reward you!"
With that, he strode back inside.
The courtyard froze.
The merchant youth's face twisted, then darkened, and he stormed away in humiliation.
Jiang lowered his eyes to the bundle of Red Sun Wood.
Still the same firewood.
But to everyone else now… it had become a key.
Lu Hanshan stepped close, voice shaky.
"Junior Brother Jiang… I…"
Jiang gave him a small, warm smile.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother. Your path has opened."
He glanced toward the direction the merchant youth fled, a faint gold glimmer flashing in his eyes.
Merchant Guild…
Azuremist Herb Valley…
Purpleglow Earth from the Illusory Blossom Sea…
Pieces of the puzzle clicked together.
The next opportunity was coming.
Making someone need you is far more useful than trying to please them.