The courtyard was unusually quiet, a stark contrast to Xu Ming's internal storm.
Today was not an ordinary training day. Today, Xu Ming intended to attempt his first true major breakthrough—moving beyond his early Qi Condensation and solidifying his Chaos Physique in a way that could survive actual combat.
Li Chen observed him from a distance, seated beneath the familiar pine tree, arms folded. He didn't interfere—yet. He knew Xu Ming needed this to be his own.
"You sure you're ready?" Li Chen asked, voice calm but carrying weight.
Xu Ming puffed out his chest, eyes gleaming. "Of course! I've been practicing for months! I've balanced the five elements, controlled the Chaos Qi… it's time to take the next step!"
Li Chen raised an eyebrow. "Chaos Qi is not something you take steps in. It's something that takes you if you're careless."
Xu Ming waved him off. "Minor details!"
He began the ritual carefully—or at least, as carefully as Xu Ming could manage.
Qi circulated through his five elements, glowing faintly with a multi-colored aura. Water, fire, earth, wood, and metal intertwined, flowing like rivers weaving through mountains. His dantian hummed, responding to the alignment with a soft vibration that made the hairs on Li Chen's arms stand up.
Then, Xu Ming's Chaos Qi hesitated.
The aura flickered erratically, unstable in spots. A small jet of fire shot up from the ground near his foot. He flinched. "Whoa! That was… not supposed to happen!"
Li Chen groaned, stepping forward slightly. "Control it, Xu Ming. Do not let it react independently! Breathe, focus, listen—do not force it!"
Xu Ming inhaled sharply. Qi swirled around him, weaving like a tempest restrained by invisible hands. The air shimmered, the temperature fluctuating as the five elements pulsed against one another.
He gritted his teeth. "I… I can do this!"
And he surged.
The courtyard erupted.
A wave of multi-element Chaos Qi shot outward in all directions, toppling training dummies, sending talismans spinning like pinwheels, and even causing a nearby tree branch to snap and fall. Xu Ming held his ground, but beads of sweat rolled down his face.
Li Chen stood calmly within the protective formation he had silently erected around the perimeter. "I said don't explode everything," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head, though the faintest smirk tugged at his lips.
The Chaos Qi contracted suddenly, forming a dense, sparkling sphere around Xu Ming. The elements fought, pulling at one another, seeking dominance. The young disciple's knees buckled, and for a heart-stopping moment, it looked as if he would collapse under the pressure of his own body.
"Focus!" Li Chen barked, projecting a small thread of sword intent to anchor the chaotic energy.
Xu Ming roared, voice cracking with effort. Qi surged inwards, controlled this time. One by one, the five elements settled, each layer locking into the others like a perfectly interwoven tapestry. The unstable arcs of power ceased their writhing. The courtyard, though slightly worse for wear, remained intact.
Xu Ming fell to his knees, gasping, eyes wide and shining. "I… I did it… Senior Brother Li… I did it!"
Li Chen, suppressing both relief and amusement, simply nodded. "You did. But don't start celebrating yet. Stability is only part of the breakthrough. You still have to integrate the energy fully, or your Chaos Qi will… eventually betray you."
Xu Ming's grin stretched from ear to ear. "I can handle it! I… I feel stronger! The Chaos Qi… it's part of me now!"
Li Chen shook his head slightly. "It's still part of you. That's the difference. Your ego has not absorbed it—it lives with you, not under you. Remember that."
Xu Ming nodded seriously, though his eyes betrayed a faint twinkle of mischief. "Got it. Chaos lives with me. And someday, I'll make it do exactly what I want."
Li Chen allowed himself a small smile, though he said nothing. He had seen this spark before—the fire that could drive someone to heights few would dare to reach. And Xu Ming, in all his chaotic brilliance, had that fire in spades.
By the time breakfast arrived, Xu Ming was still radiating residual Chaos Qi, accidentally causing his tea to levitate slightly. Li Chen merely shook his head, muttering, "And now begins the long phase of surviving yourself."
Xu Ming laughed, not caring. "Senior Brother Li… I think this year might actually be fun."
Li Chen raised an eyebrow, finally allowing himself a laugh. "Fun is relative, Xu Ming. Just… try not to blow up the kitchen next time."
At that moment, beneath the morning sun, mentor and disciple walked together across the courtyard. The Chaos Physique was no longer just a challenge—it was a foundation.
And Li Chen knew, quietly: this was only the beginning.
Chaos had been tamed, just a little. And the bond between them? That was already stronger than any sword intent could measure.