Morning sunlight entered Gu Chen's courtyard.
He sat beneath the old tree, his eyes closed.
His breathing was slow and steady.
Inside his body, World Energy followed a strange circulation path.
It was no longer the cultivation method he had practiced for years.
This was the Ember Scripture.
Since discovering it, Gu Chen had spent several days carefully studying its first section.
The deeper portions remained completely inaccessible.
He had tried several times to examine them.
Each attempt ended the same way.
A faint barrier would appear within his consciousness, preventing him from going any further.
At first, Gu Chen thought he simply wasn't strong enough to understand the technique.
But yesterday, something had changed.
When he once again tried to examine the sealed sections, four ancient characters appeared.
Gu Chen stared at them.
The first was related to cultivation.
The second—
was shaped like a sword.
The third represented the body.
The fourth represented movement.
Then a message appeared within his consciousness.
Cultivation Art — Unlocked
Sword Scripture — Locked
Body Scripture — Locked
Movement Scripture — Locked
Requirement: Rank 1, Level 5.
Gu Chen had been stunned.
The Ember Scripture wasn't merely a Cultivation Art.
It was an entire inheritance.
But he wasn't strong enough to access most of it.
"Rank 1 Level 5..."
Gu Chen opened his eyes.
He looked down at his hands.
He was currently at Rank 1 Level 4 — Organ Tempering.
Only one level separated him from the requirement.
Yet he didn't feel impatient.
Instead, he became more cautious.
The Ember Scripture had already shown him that power wasn't obtained simply by wanting it.
Every step required a foundation.
Every technique required understanding.
And the stronger the technique—
the greater the requirements.
Gu Chen returned his attention to his cultivation.
World Energy entered his body.
It flowed toward his organs.
His heart began beating more powerfully.
His lungs expanded.
His internal organs were slowly being tempered.
A faint warmth spread through his body.
Gu Chen carefully controlled the energy.
He couldn't rush.
Organ Tempering was the fourth stage of Body Tempering.
His organs were considerably stronger than before, but they were still vulnerable.
If he pushed too hard, he could injure himself.
So he continued slowly.
One circulation.
Then another.
Hours passed.
Eventually, Gu Chen opened his eyes.
He could feel that his body had become slightly stronger.
But the fourth level remained incomplete.
He wasn't yet ready for Level 5.
Gu Chen wasn't disappointed.
He understood that cultivation wasn't a race.
The faster he built his foundation now, the more problems he might face later.
He would rather spend several extra days strengthening himself than force a breakthrough and damage his foundation.
Later that morning, Gu Qing arrived.
He stopped outside the courtyard.
"Gu Chen."
"I'm here."
Gu Qing entered and looked at him.
"Still cultivating?"
Gu Chen nodded.
"What else would I be doing?"
Gu Qing laughed.
"You've been like this since the Ancient Flame Hall."
He then threw something toward Gu Chen.
Gu Chen caught it.
A small storage pouch.
He looked inside.
Several ordinary spiritual stones were stored within.
Gu Chen raised his head.
"What is this?"
"Resources."
"I can't take these."
"You can."
Gu Qing waved his hand.
"My father gave them to me. I don't need all of them."
Gu Chen hesitated.
Spiritual resources were valuable.
Especially to someone at his current level.
Gu Qing smiled.
"Take them."
After a moment, Gu Chen nodded.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Gu Qing sat beneath the tree.
Then he looked at Gu Chen curiously.
"So, have you decided what kind of weapon you want to use?"
Gu Chen looked at him.
"A sword."
Gu Qing wasn't surprised.
"I thought so."
Gu Chen had always preferred swords.
Even before his cultivation talent became noticeable, he had spent time practicing basic sword movements whenever he had the opportunity.
There was something about the sword that attracted him.
Simple.
Direct.
Yet endlessly profound.
Gu Qing smiled.
"Then you should visit the clan's weapon hall."
"I will."
"There's also a sword instructor there."
Gu Chen nodded.
He had been practicing alone for too long.
If he wanted to become a true sword cultivator, he needed to understand the basics properly.
Not just swing a sword.
Not just memorize movements.
He needed to understand what a sword actually was.
The Gu Clan's weapon hall was located on the eastern side of the clan territory.
When Gu Chen arrived, several younger disciples were practicing.
Some used swords.
Others used sabers, spears, and other weapons.
Gu Chen's attention immediately settled on the swords.
There were dozens arranged along the walls.
Most were ordinary weapons.
A few were spiritual weapons.
Gu Chen didn't approach the expensive ones.
Instead, he selected a simple iron sword.
He held it in his hand.
It wasn't particularly sharp.
It wasn't particularly beautiful.
But it was balanced.
Gu Chen moved to an empty training area.
He raised the sword.
Then swung.
One strike.
Another.
Another.
His movements were basic.
Almost embarrassingly basic compared to the techniques practiced by the more talented disciples.
A few people nearby glanced at him.
Then ignored him.
Gu Chen didn't care.
He continued.
Thrust.
Slash.
Cut.
Block.
Step.
Repeat.
He practiced until his arms became tired.
Then he started again.
He wasn't trying to master some powerful Sword Technique.
He didn't even have one yet.
He was simply building the foundation.
An hour later, an elderly instructor walked past.
He stopped.
His eyes fell upon Gu Chen.
The old man watched silently for several moments.
Then said:
"Your sword is too stiff."
Gu Chen immediately stopped.
He turned.
"Elder."
The old man walked closer.
"Why are you forcing every movement?"
Gu Chen looked at his sword.
"I thought sword techniques required strength."
"Strength?"
The elder laughed.
"A sword is not a hammer."
He took another sword from the rack.
"Watch."
The elder moved.
There was no enormous burst of World Energy.
No brilliant technique.
Just one simple slash.
Yet Gu Chen's eyes narrowed.
The movement was incredibly smooth.
The sword seemed to follow the man's body naturally.
The elder lowered the sword.
"The first thing a swordsman must learn isn't how to kill."
"Then what?"
"How to control the sword."
Gu Chen looked thoughtful.
The elder returned the sword to the rack.
"You have talent."
He paused.
"But talent without fundamentals is wasted."
Gu Chen bowed.
"Thank you for the lesson."
The elder nodded.
"Come back tomorrow."
Then he walked away.
Gu Chen looked at the sword in his hand.
Control.
He remembered the Ember Scripture.
He remembered the sealed Sword Scripture.
Perhaps the inheritance wasn't unlocking yet for a reason.
Before he could use a powerful Sword Art—
he needed to become worthy of wielding it.
That evening, Gu Chen returned to his courtyard.
He sat beneath the old tree.
The tiny ember within him flickered.
He closed his eyes.
The Ember Scripture appeared again.
The cultivation section was bright.
The other three sections remained sealed.
Sword Scripture — Locked.
Body Scripture — Locked.
Movement Scripture — Locked.
Gu Chen looked at them for a long time.
He didn't know what kind of sword technique waited behind that seal.
He didn't know what the Body Scripture would do to his physique.
He didn't know how powerful the Movement Scripture would become.
But he knew one thing.
None of it would matter if he couldn't reach Level 5.
Gu Chen took a deep breath.
Then began cultivating.
World Energy entered his body.
It slowly circulated through his organs.
The faint ember burned quietly.
Outside, the moon rose over the Gu Clan.
And inside a small courtyard—
Gu Chen began his long journey toward the fifth level of Body Tempering.
He had no powerful Sword Technique.
No extraordinary Body Technique.
No inherited Movement Technique.
Not yet.
But soon—
if he could take the final step—
the first true secrets of the Ember Scripture would finally open to him.