Xu Ming had never believed in fate.
Before meeting Li Chen, he believed only in effort, pain, and revenge. Power was something to be seized with bloodied hands, or not seized at all.
But now—
As he sat cross-legged in the small courtyard assigned to Li Chen's residence, Xu Ming realized fate might simply arrive wearing the face of a timid man who feared death more than dishonor.
He glanced at Li Chen, who was seated a short distance away, pretending to read a mundane cultivation manual while secretly monitoring Xu Ming's breathing rhythm.
"Again," Li Chen said calmly. "Slow. Circular. Don't force it."
Xu Ming nodded and adjusted his breathing.
In the lower realm, body cultivation was crude and linear. Most cultivators trained brute strength first, smashing rocks and lifting weights infused with spiritual energy.
Li Chen's guidance was different.
"Strength without harmony destroys the body," Li Chen explained. "Your Chaos Physique doesn't reject force—it requires balance."
Xu Ming followed the Chaos Breathing Technique, cycling his breath through five paths at once. Metal sharpened his sinews, wood nourished them, water cooled them, fire tempered them, and earth stabilized everything.
At first, it was painful.
Then it became intoxicating.
So this is cultivation, Xu Ming thought in awe. Not suffering… but understanding.
Hours passed unnoticed.
Suddenly—
CRACK.
A muffled sound echoed from Xu Ming's body.
His muscles tightened, skin glowing faintly as impurities were forced out in wisps of gray smoke. His aura surged—then stabilized at a higher level.
Li Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You broke through."
Xu Ming opened his eyes, shock flashing across his face.
"I—I skipped a level," he said breathlessly.
Indeed.
He had leapt directly from Strength Training – First Level
to Flesh Training – Second Level.
Li Chen exhaled quietly.
As expected.
Chaos physiques did not advance step by step like ordinary cultivators. Once harmony was achieved, progress came in leaps.
"The body cultivation path has six stages," Li Chen said evenly, to ground Xu Ming's excitement.
"Strength Training. Flesh Training. Viscera Training. Altering Muscle. Bone Forging. Pulse Condensing."
Xu Ming clenched his fists, feeling the dense, resilient power beneath his skin.
"And after that?" he asked.
Li Chen's gaze drifted upward, distant.
"Then comes true cultivation."
He spoke slowly, deliberately, as if reciting an ancient truth.
"Qi Condensation."
"Foundation Building."
"Core Formation—only preparation, not a true realm."
"Golden Core."
"Nascent Soul."
"Spirit Transformation."
"Deity Transformation."
Xu Ming's breath caught.
"And beyond?"
Li Chen's lips curved faintly.
"Spacial Tempering."
"Body Integration."
"Grand Ascension."
"Transcendent."
Xu Ming felt his blood burn.
Such heights were myths in the lower realm. Names spoken only in broken scriptures and mad legends.
Yet Li Chen spoke of them casually—as if discussing weather.
Xu Ming stood and bowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground.
"I swear," he said, voice steady and sincere, "as long as I draw breath, I will protect you. If enemies come, they will step over my corpse first."
Li Chen stiffened.
"…Don't say things like that," he muttered. "I don't like corpses near me."
Xu Ming laughed, a clear, genuine sound he hadn't made in months.
"I mean it," he said. "You gave me more than resources. You gave me a path."
Li Chen turned away, ears slightly red.
"Just cultivate properly," he said. "Strong sword carriers reduce mortality risk."
That night, as Xu Ming resumed cultivation, the five elements within him rotated smoothly, perfectly aligned.
And for the first time—
The lower realm unknowingly nurtured two existences it could not contain.
One feared death enough to defy the Dao.
The other embraced power enough to chase it relentlessly.
Together, they advanced—
quietly, steadily, and far beyond what anyone watching them could imagine.