The chamber was silent.
Kael stared at the broken sword in the old man's hand.
“You said I should stop running.”
The old man nodded.
“Then I need to become stronger.”
“Correct.”
“How?”
The old man pointed toward the stone platform.
“Start with your foundation.”
Kael frowned.
“I'm already at the Third Layer of Body Tempering.”
“That means nothing.”
The old man walked toward him.
“You broke through three times because your Human Flame forced your body forward.”
He tapped Kael's chest.
“But your body hasn't caught up.”
Kael looked down.
“So what should I do?”
“Build your foundation properly.”
The old man led Kael into a smaller chamber.
There were dozens of stone pillars arranged in a circle.
Each pillar had ancient markings carved into it.
Kael looked around.
“What is this?”
“Training ground.”
“For Body Tempering?”
“Yes.”
The old man pointed toward the first pillar.
“Your first task is simple.”
Kael waited.
“Strike it.”
Kael walked toward the pillar.
He gathered Qi into his fist.
BOOM!
The pillar didn't move.
Pain spread through his knuckles.
Kael shook his hand.
“Again.”
He punched.
BOOM!
Nothing.
The old man sat nearby.
“Again.”
Kael frowned.
“You're enjoying this.”
“Very much.”
Kael sighed.
He continued.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Hours passed.
His knuckles became red.
His arms became heavy.
His legs trembled.
But the pillar remained untouched.
Kael finally dropped to the floor.
“This is impossible.”
The old man looked at him.
“Good.”
Kael stared.
“What?”
“You've finally understood.”
“Understood what?”
“You've been relying on your Human Flame.”
Kael became silent.
The old man continued.
“Your power is a weapon. Your body is the person holding that weapon.”
He pointed toward Kael.
“If your body is weak, the weapon will eventually destroy you.”
Kael looked at his hands.
He understood.
His recent breakthroughs had made him stronger.
But they had also made him careless.
He had been chasing power instead of mastering it.
Kael slowly stood.
“I'll do it again.”
He punched the pillar.
BOOM!
Nothing.
Again.
BOOM!
Nothing.
Again.
His breathing became slower.
He stopped trying to overpower the stone.
Instead, he focused on his movement.
His feet.
His waist.
His shoulder.
His fist.
Everything moved together.
He struck.
BOOM!
A tiny crack appeared.
Kael froze.
The old man's eyes narrowed.
“Again.”
Kael smiled.
He punched the same place.
BOOM!
The crack grew.
Again.
BOOM!
The pillar finally broke.
Stone fragments fell across the floor.
Kael stared at his fist.
He hadn't used more power.
He had simply used it better.
The old man nodded.
“Now you are cultivating.”
For the next several days, Kael trained.
He didn't break through again.
He didn't gain some mysterious new ability.
Instead, he learned to control what he already had.
Every morning, he strengthened his body.
Every afternoon, he practiced Qi circulation.
Every evening, he trained his combat movements.
Slowly, the Human Flame became easier to control.
His punches became heavier.
His movements became sharper.
Most importantly—
His foundation became stable.
One night, Kael sat beneath the moon.
He looked at his palm.
The golden mark remained quiet.
He smiled.
“For once, you're not causing trouble.”
A voice came from behind him.
“Don't get comfortable.”
Kael turned.
The old man stood there.
“There is something you need to know.”
Kael stood.
“What?”
“Tomorrow, you leave.”
Kael was surprised.
“Leave?”
“You have been here long enough.”
“Where am I going?”
The old man looked toward the mountains.
“Lushan City.”
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“There is a cultivation tournament there.”
Kael frowned.
“A tournament?”
“Yes.”
“Why would I participate?”
“Because your enemies are looking for you.”
The old man looked directly at him.
“And the best way to hide…”
He paused.
“…is to walk into a place where everyone is watching.”
Kael understood.
Lushan City was crowded.
Cultivators from different sects would gather there.
Black Lotus wouldn't be able to attack openly.
But there was another reason.
The old man handed Kael a small wooden token.
Kael looked at it.
A crescent moon was carved into its surface.
“This belongs to your father.”
Kael's expression changed.
“What is it?”
“A sect token.”
“Was my father part of Ruined Moon Sect?”
The old man nodded.
“He wasn't just a disciple.”
Kael looked up.
“Then what was he?”
The old man didn't answer.
Instead, he said,
“Find the person who carries the other half.”
Kael looked at the token.
“Where?”
“Lushan City.”
Kael's grip tightened.
For the first time since leaving his village, he had a clear destination.
Lushan City.
He would find his father's past.
He would learn why Black Lotus wanted him.
And he would discover why his previous life had ended in blood.
But before he could leave—
A bell rang outside.
DONG!
Kael looked toward the entrance.
The old man's expression suddenly became serious.
“That isn't one of ours.”
Another bell rang.
DONG!
Then a third.
DONG!
The old man grabbed his sword.
“Someone has entered the sect.”
Kael stood.
“Black Lotus?”
The old man shook his head.
“No.”
He looked toward the darkness outside.
“This time…”
His voice became cold.
“…they came for the entire sect.”