The next morning, the Gu Clan's training grounds were unusually crowded.
Dozens of young disciples had gathered around the large stone platform in the center.
Today was the clan's regular assessment.
It wasn't a competition for life and death.
The purpose was simple.
To determine the progress of the younger generation and identify those worthy of receiving greater resources.
Gu Chen arrived quietly.
Several gazes immediately turned toward him.
"That's Gu Chen."
"He really reached Level 5?"
"I heard he broke through yesterday."
"That fast?"
Gu Chen ignored the whispers.
He walked toward the assessment area.
His eyes swept across the crowd.
Then he saw Gu Feng.
Gu Feng was standing among several members of the younger generation.
His cultivation aura was steady.
Rank 1, Level 5 — Cell Tempering.
Gu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
As expected.
Gu Feng had also reached Level 5.
The difference between them had disappeared.
But that didn't mean their strength was equal.
Cultivation level was only one part of a cultivator's strength.
Technique.
Comprehension.
Physique.
Combat experience.
Weapons.
All of these mattered.
Gu Feng noticed Gu Chen.
Their eyes met.
A faint smile appeared on Gu Feng's face.
"You caught up."
Gu Chen nodded.
"I did."
Gu Feng looked at the sword hanging from Gu Chen's waist.
"You really decided to cultivate the sword?"
"Yes."
Gu Feng laughed.
"Then I'll be interested to see how much you've improved."
Before Gu Chen could answer, an elder stepped onto the stone platform.
The conversations immediately stopped.
The elder looked across the younger generation.
"Today's assessment has three parts."
"First, cultivation."
"Second, physical strength."
"Third, combat."
Several disciples became excited.
The combat assessment was always the most anticipated.
The elder continued.
"The first two assessments determine your basic foundation."
"The third determines how much of that foundation you can actually use."
The cultivation assessment began.
One disciple after another stepped forward.
A stone pillar stood at the edge of the platform.
When a disciple placed his hand against it, the pillar would reveal his cultivation level.
"Gu Ming."
A young man stepped forward.
He placed his palm against the stone.
The pillar lit up.
Rank 1, Level 3 — Bone Tempering.
The elder nodded.
"Pass."
Another disciple stepped forward.
Rank 1, Level 4 — Organ Tempering.
Then another.
Rank 1, Level 5 — Cell Tempering.
The surrounding disciples began whispering.
Reaching the fifth level before adulthood was considered an excellent achievement among the younger generation.
Then the elder called:
"Gu Feng."
Gu Feng walked forward.
He placed his hand on the pillar.
A brilliant light appeared.
Rank 1, Level 5 — Cell Tempering.
The crowd immediately reacted.
"Gu Feng is still ahead!"
"He reached Level 5 before Gu Chen."
"His foundation is extremely stable."
Gu Feng calmly returned to the crowd.
Then—
"Gu Chen."
The voices became quieter.
Gu Chen stepped onto the platform.
He placed his hand against the stone pillar.
The light appeared.
Rank 1, Level 5 — Cell Tempering.
The elder looked at the result.
Then nodded.
"Stable."
Gu Chen stepped down.
He wasn't surprised.
The assessment had confirmed what he already knew.
His cultivation was stable.
But the next test would be more interesting.
The physical strength assessment began.
A huge black stone was brought forward.
It was called the Iron Mountain Stone.
The stone measured physical strength rather than cultivation.
Each disciple struck it once.
The stone displayed the force of the attack.
"Gu Feng."
Gu Feng stepped forward.
He clenched his fist.
Then punched.
Boom!
The Iron Mountain Stone trembled.
A number appeared.
Eight hundred kilograms.
The crowd became excited.
"That's strong!"
"His body is already approaching the limit of Rank 1!"
Gu Feng stepped aside.
The elder called the next disciple.
One after another, the disciples attacked.
Then—
"Gu Chen."
Gu Chen approached the stone.
He remembered that his body had only recently reached Level 5.
He hadn't begun cultivating the Flame Demon Physique.
The technique had only just become available.
And he lacked the resources required to begin its true cultivation.
Therefore, he didn't expect his physical strength to suddenly become extraordinary.
He simply clenched his fist.
Then punched.
BOOM!
The stone shook.
The number appeared.
Seven hundred and thirty kilograms.
There was a brief silence.
Then several disciples began whispering.
"That's lower than Gu Feng."
"Of course. Gu Feng has always had a stronger physique."
Gu Chen didn't care.
He had expected the result.
The assessment had actually taught him something useful.
His cultivation had reached the fifth level.
But his physical foundation was still ordinary for someone at that level.
The Flame Demon Physique could eventually change that.
But not yet.
Without the required resources, he couldn't even begin the true transformation.
Finally came the combat assessment.
The elder looked toward the younger generation.
"Those selected will fight one another."
"No lethal attacks."
"Victory is determined by surrender, inability to continue, or leaving the designated area."
The disciples became excited.
Gu Chen's eyes sharpened.
This was the test he had been waiting for.
His name was called first.
"Gu Chen."
He stepped onto the platform.
His opponent followed.
A young man named Gu Lin.
Rank 1, Level 5.
Gu Lin held a saber.
He looked at Gu Chen's sword.
"You're using a sword?"
Gu Chen nodded.
Gu Lin smiled.
"Then let's see whether your sword is as impressive as everyone says."
The elder raised his hand.
"Begin."
Boom!
Gu Lin immediately charged.
His saber descended.
Gu Chen stepped sideways.
The blade passed beside him.
Gu Chen didn't counterattack.
Instead, he observed.
Gu Lin attacked again.
And again.
Each strike was powerful.
But his movements were predictable.
Gu Chen remembered the old instructor's words.
Control the sword.
He waited.
Then—
Gu Lin swung horizontally.
Gu Chen stepped forward instead of backward.
The saber passed behind him.
At the same moment, Gu Chen drew his sword.
Shing!
A faint red glow appeared along the blade.
The Ember-Sundering Sword Art.
Only the first movement.
Only Entry Mastery.
But it was enough.
Gu Chen struck the flat of his sword against Gu Lin's wrist.
Gu Lin's saber fell.
Before he could react, the tip of Gu Chen's sword stopped before his chest.
The entire training ground became quiet.
Gu Lin stared at the sword.
Then sighed.
"I surrender."
The elder announced:
"Gu Chen wins."
Gu Chen lowered his sword.
His expression remained calm.
The battle hadn't been difficult.
But that wasn't what mattered.
For the first time, he had used the Ember-Sundering Sword Art against another cultivator.
And he understood its greatest weakness.
The technique was powerful.
But his mastery was still extremely low.
His sword had only gained a faint flame.
His energy consumption was still inefficient.
If he wanted to truly rely on the Ember-Sundering Sword Art in serious battles—
he needed to improve.
Gu Feng watched from below.
His expression had become serious.
He had noticed something.
Gu Chen's sword strike hadn't been particularly powerful.
But the timing had been excellent.
Gu Feng smiled.
"Interesting."
The elder looked toward the remaining disciples.
"Next."
The assessment continued.
But Gu Chen had already stepped off the platform.
He looked at the sword in his hand.
His eyes were calm.
Today had confirmed something.
His cultivation had caught up.
His sword had begun its true journey.
But he still had a long way to go.
And somewhere inside his storage pouch—
the list of materials required for the Flame Demon Physique and Flame Phantom Step was waiting.
Gu Chen silently made a decision.
After the assessment—
he would begin gathering the resources needed for the Ember Scripture.
His journey had only just begun.