Gu Chen left the resource hall with the list still in his hand.
The elder's words remained in his mind.
Some of these materials are rare.
He looked down at the list again.
There were twelve materials written on it.
He recognized only five.
The remaining seven were completely unfamiliar.
Gu Chen wasn't surprised.
The Ember Scripture was clearly not an ordinary inheritance.
Even its first chapter demanded resources that the current Gu Clan couldn't easily provide.
He folded the list and placed it inside his storage pouch.
"One step at a time."
He wasn't in a hurry.
He had only just reached Rank 1 Level 5 — Cell Tempering.
There was still a long way to go before Rank 2.
And he had already learned an important lesson.
Strength wasn't something that could be obtained overnight.
Gu Chen returned to his courtyard.
He sat beneath the old tree and entered meditation.
The Ember Scripture appeared in his mind.
This time, the three previously sealed sections were completely visible.
Ember-Sundering Sword Art.
Flame Demon Physique.
Flame Phantom Step.
Gu Chen examined them one by one.
The Flame Demon Physique immediately caught his attention.
The technique required several fire-attributed materials before he could begin its true cultivation.
Without those materials, he could only study the method.
He couldn't actually cultivate it.
The same was true for Flame Phantom Step.
His body had reached the fifth level of Body Tempering, but that didn't mean it was strong enough to withstand the deeper stages of the movement technique.
Gu Chen finally turned his attention to the Ember-Sundering Sword Art.
This was different.
It required a suitable sword, but he could begin learning the foundation immediately.
And he already had a sword.
The one the clan had given him was ordinary, but it was enough for basic practice.
Gu Chen opened his eyes.
He stood.
Then drew his sword.
The first movement appeared in his mind.
There was no complicated name.
No grand description.
Only a single principle.
Concentrate.
Gu Chen slowly raised his sword.
World Energy flowed toward his arm.
He guided it into the blade.
The moment the energy touched the sword—
Buzz!
The blade trembled.
Gu Chen's expression changed.
He immediately stopped the circulation.
Too much.
He understood the problem.
His control was still poor.
The Ember-Sundering Sword Art didn't require him to release his fire energy recklessly.
It demanded precise control.
A small amount of energy had to be compressed into the sword.
Then released at the exact moment of the strike.
Gu Chen tried again.
This time, he used less energy.
The faint warmth entered the blade.
He swung.
Whoosh!
A thin red arc flashed across the air.
It disappeared almost immediately.
Gu Chen stared at the sword.
That was his first successful attempt.
He didn't celebrate.
Instead, he repeated the movement.
Again.
Again.
Again.
By sunset, Gu Chen's arms were aching.
His World Energy was almost completely exhausted.
Yet he continued practicing.
The same movement.
The same principle.
Hundreds of repetitions.
Slowly, his control improved.
The red glow around the sword became more stable.
The movement became smoother.
But Gu Chen knew that he had only reached the most basic level.
Entry.
He had merely learned how to perform the technique.
He hadn't reached Minor Success.
He hadn't even touched the deeper sword principles.
Gu Chen lowered his sword.
He suddenly understood why the Ember Scripture didn't tell him its grade.
How could he determine its grade?
Even this first technique was already far more profound than the ordinary sword techniques he had practiced before.
Perhaps it was a Mortal-Grade technique.
Perhaps Earth Grade.
Perhaps something much higher.
He simply didn't know.
And the Ember Scripture itself gave him no answer.
It only gave him the technique.
The rest was up to him.
A knock came from outside the courtyard.
Gu Chen turned.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Gu Qing walked inside.
He looked at Gu Chen, then at the sword in his hand.
"You've been practicing all day?"
Gu Chen nodded.
"Yes."
Gu Qing smiled.
"You really are serious about becoming a sword cultivator."
Gu Chen glanced at his sword.
"I've decided."
"Then you'll need a better sword eventually."
"I know."
Gu Qing sat down.
"What about the other techniques?"
"I can see them now."
Gu Qing's eyes widened slightly.
"All three?"
"Yes."
"What are they?"
Gu Chen hesitated.
Then answered.
"One sword technique. One body technique. One movement technique."
He didn't mention the full details.
The Ember Scripture was his greatest secret.
Even within the Gu Clan, he had no intention of revealing everything.
Gu Qing nodded.
"Are they powerful?"
Gu Chen smiled.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"The inheritance doesn't tell me."
Gu Qing laughed.
"Then you'll have to find out yourself."
Gu Chen nodded.
"That's what I'm planning to do."
The two continued talking for a while.
Eventually, Gu Qing mentioned the clan's upcoming gathering.
"Tomorrow, the younger generation will gather at the training grounds."
Gu Chen raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"The clan is going to test everyone's progress."
Gu Chen thought for a moment.
"Will Gu Feng be there?"
"Of course."
Gu Chen's expression remained calm.
The previous battle between them had already made him understand the importance of minor levels.
Gu Feng had been one level above him.
That difference had mattered.
Now Gu Chen had reached Level 5.
But Gu Feng's cultivation had not stopped simply because Gu Chen caught up.
If he wanted to know how much he had improved, he needed to fight stronger opponents.
Gu Chen stood.
"Then I'll go."
Gu Qing smiled.
"I knew you would."
That night, Gu Chen sat alone beneath the old tree.
The moon illuminated the courtyard.
He placed the sword beside him.
Then he looked inward.
The first chapter of the Ember Scripture remained quietly within his consciousness.
The other four chapters were still completely sealed.
He couldn't even sense what was inside them.
Especially Chapter Two.
It felt as though an enormous distance separated him from it.
Gu Chen didn't know what cultivation level was required to open it.
He didn't know what techniques waited beyond it.
He didn't know how powerful the complete Ember Scripture truly was.
For now, none of that mattered.
He had only taken the first step.
His current goal was simple.
Strengthen his foundation.
Master the Ember-Sundering Sword Art.
Gather the resources required for the Flame Demon Physique and Flame Phantom Step.
And eventually—
reach Rank 2.
Gu Chen closed his eyes.
The faint ember inside his body flickered.
He began cultivating once more.
The night passed silently.
Tomorrow would be his first real test since reaching the fifth level.
And Gu Chen intended to discover exactly how much stronger he had become.