131: Chapter 131 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Seventy-Nine)

"All the Iron Essence Qi dissipated by the disciples and elders within the peak while refining weapons and smithing gathers there.

Accumulated over decades, the Iron Essence Qi inside has become so dense that it is practically solidified.

This is the time to open it."

After saying this, he paused, his gaze falling upon Chu Shi as he continued.

"You should be clear that the key to cultivation in the Iron Skin Realm lies in Iron Ordering, in the word 'iron' itself.

And Iron Ordering can never be completed solely by absorbing Metal Qi and refining True Qi.

It also requires one's own blood and Qi along with iron elemental substances, or in other words, Iron Essence Qi, to serve as building materials.

All three are indispensable; only when they are unified can one truly complete the Iron Ordering transformation of their skin membranes.

This is a slow, grinding process.

Under normal circumstances, even a genius will be stuck at this realm for three to five years.

The Iron Essence Qi in the Iron Melting Cave is not only dense but also gentle and pure.

Cultivating inside, the speed at which the progress of Iron Ordering increases is at least dozens of times faster than outside."

Chu Shi's eyes lit up.

Dozens of times the speed!

This was simply a massive opportunity.

"There is more," Peak Master Lieyang looked at him with a meaningful tone.

"You must remember that the weapon refining heritage is the foundation of our Lieyang Peak.

When smithing, as the hammer strikes the iron material, the Iron Essence Qi, Metal Qi, and blood and Qi will naturally fuse. This is the fastest way to improve Iron Ordering."

The smile on Chu Shi's face stiffened.

It was coming.

As expected.

He knew this old geezer had no good intentions.

After beating around the bush for so long, he just wanted to trick him into smithing in the end.

Chu Shi had black lines running down his face, but with his back against the wall, he had no choice but to bow his head.

He had no choice but to bow respectfully and say: "Disciple will keep Master's teachings in mind."

Yet, in his heart, he was complaining wildly:

Bah!

You old geezer, how dare you say weapon refining is the foundation of Lieyang Peak?

Why don't you walk the path of body refining and go smithing yourself?

Flying around all day, relying on techniques to fight enemies, when have I ever seen you refine weapons or smith?

So, you take all the benefits, and we disciples have to do all the dirty, tiring work, is that it?

One day when my strength surpasses yours, I'll definitely throw you into the Iron Melting Cave and make you smith day and night!

Li Hao was standing to the side, his shoulders shaking as he held back from laughing out loud.

Peak Master Lieyang seemed not to notice Chu Shi's expression, nodded, and said:

"Alright, you may go.

The Iron Melting Cave is at the back of the mountain. Just follow the widest mountain path, and you will see it."

"Yes, Master."

"Yes, Great-Granduncle Li."

Chu Shi and Li Hao both bowed, then turned and exited the great hall.

After exiting the great hall, Li Hao finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Chu Shi, I saw your face turn black just now!"

He patted Chu Shi's shoulder, laughing so hard he couldn't straighten his back.

"It's a good thing I didn't join the Great Sun Holy Land, otherwise, I feel like I would have been dragged here by Great-Granduncle Li to smith as well.

I think being a carefree swordsman is pretty good; you're on your own."

Chu Shi shot him an annoyed glance: "You still have the nerve to laugh?

You haven't been forced by him to smith much these past three days, have you?"

Li Hao's smile instantly froze, and a look of lingering fear appeared on his face.

"Don't mention it," he said with a bitter face.

"These past three days, in order to push up my level, I consumed quite a few blood and Qi tonics and forged three hundred iron swords!

My hands are almost broken!

But to be honest, it really is effective.

Furthermore, I feel that my control over blood and Qi has also strengthened quite a bit."

Chu Shi: "Hmm, that's good…"

As expected.

The two chatted as they walked toward the back of the mountain.

It was probably around eight or nine in the morning; the sunlight was perfect, and the air in the mountains was fresh and pleasant.

From afar, they could already see quite a few people standing in an open space at the back of the mountain.

Chu Shi spotted Wang Teng at a glance.

He was wearing a black martial outfit, standing under a pine tree with his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a spear.

Chu Shi could feel that the aura on Wang Teng had also reached the peak of the Stone Skin Realm.

"Wang Teng." Chu Shi walked over and greeted him.

Wang Teng turned his head, saw Chu Shi, and a trace of a smile appeared on his face: "Brother Chu."

"You came as well." Chu Shi looked him up and down. "It seems you have also broken through to the peak of the Stone Skin Realm?"

Wang Teng nodded: "I gained some insights after the ceremony ended, went into seclusion for two days, and fortunately broke through."

He paused, looked at Chu Shi, and said: "You must also be here for the Iron Melting Cave, right?"

"Yeah." Chu Shi nodded.

"Do you know what exactly this Iron Melting Cave is about? It's my first time hearing of it."

"I only heard about it from Master yesterday," Wang Teng explained.

"The Iron Melting Cave is not only useful for martial artists at the Iron Skin Realm, but it is even more useful for martial artists at the Stone Skin Realm.

After all, you know.

The breakthrough from the Stone Skin Realm to the Iron Skin Realm is the evolution from a mortal carbon-based life form to a carbon-metal composite life form.

It is a leap in the essence of life.

This process usually requires a long time to hone the body.

But in the Iron Melting Cave, the dense and gentle Iron Essence Qi can penetrate every cell of the body, accelerating this evolutionary process.

Many people who have been stuck at the peak of the Stone Skin Realm for several years can successfully break through to the Iron Skin Realm after staying in the Iron Melting Cave for a few days."

Chu Shi suddenly realized.

It seems the opening of the Iron Melting Cave is not a secret within the Great Sun Holy Land.

No wonder Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and Princess Xiao Xiao went into seclusion immediately after the ceremony ended.

They were likely all preparing to enter the Iron Melting Cave.

Just then, footsteps came from the distance.

Chu Shi looked up.

He saw Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and Princess Xiao Xiao walking over side by side.

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan was still the picture of a dashing noble young master, his eyes sharp and full of spirit.

He saw Chu Shi from afar, his eyes lit up, and he called out loudly: "Brother Chu."

Beside him, Princess Xiao Xiao was wearing a pale green long dress, with a faint smile on her face.

After meeting, the group exchanged pleasantries.

Soon after, more and more people arrived.

There were Core Disciples from their generation, as well as Core Disciples and elite Inner Sect Disciples from previous generations.

There were even some young people wearing the official uniforms of the Tianwu Dynasty, clearly young masters from influential families.

Chu Shi also saw the exchange disciples from the Four Seasons Holy Land and the Ice and Snow Holy Land.

Zhou Xuan was still dressed in white, holding a folding fan, with a gentle smile on his face.

He was followed by a few disciples from the Four Seasons Holy Land, including Chen Lingxi, who was particularly familiar with Chu Shi.

When she saw Chu Shi, her eyes also lit up, but she restrained herself and did not come over.

On the other side, Bing Hao stood in a corner with the disciples from the Ice and Snow Holy Land.

Each of them was expressionless, radiating a cold aura that kept others at a distance.

Chu Shi's gaze swept across the crowd, and he understood.

No wonder Master arranged the disciple acceptance ceremony at this time.

It seemed that having the Four Seasons Holy Land and the Ice and Snow Holy Land come to observe and exchange was one aspect, but on the other hand, it was even more about wanting to utilize the Iron Melting Cave to improve the new disciples.

It seemed like something big was about to happen soon.