The training grounds were unusually quiet that morning—quiet in a way that made even Li Chen uneasy. Xu Ming, of course, found this unbearable.
"Senior Brother Li!" he shouted, bounding across the courtyard with more energy than a lightning storm. "We should train! The sun is up, the birds are awake, and I—"
"Stop," Li Chen interrupted, raising a hand. "Stop everything. Today is the last day of your formal Chaos Qi consolidation. No distractions. No talismans. No explosions. No accidental levitation of breakfast."
Xu Ming blinked, then grinned. "No promises."
Li Chen pinched the bridge of his nose. Some things never change.
The morning began quietly enough. Xu Ming focused on breathing, letting the Chaos Qi flow naturally through his five elements. Water cooled, fire burned gently, wood strengthened, metal sharpened, and earth grounded him. Li Chen observed, silently adjusting the protective formations around the courtyard.
"You've come far," Li Chen finally said. "Not just in raw power, but in control. You can feel it, right?"
Xu Ming nodded. "It's… like a river now. Each element has its place. They don't fight. They… talk to each other."
Li Chen allowed himself a rare smile. "Good. That harmony is key. Chaos is not about destruction. It's about balance within disorder. You've finally understood that. Most cultivators take decades to reach this insight."
Xu Ming puffed up proudly, then accidentally launched a tiny burst of fire qi into the air. Li Chen sighed. "And yet you'll still try to burn down the courtyard tomorrow."
By mid-morning, the elders arrived to observe. Mo Yun, Shen Yue, and even Elder Qin—now contained and neutralized—stood silently, watching Xu Ming's demonstration.
Xu Ming knelt in the center, the five elements of his Chaos Qi now perfectly intertwined. He surged his qi outward, letting it ripple over the courtyard. No sparks flew. No objects trembled. Birds perched in the trees as if nothing unusual was happening, though the faint glow of multicolored qi caused a few to blink curiously.
Elder Qin's eyes widened slightly. "Remarkable… he's not just stabilized the Chaos Physique. He's integrated it."
Shen Yue nodded slowly. "I never thought he'd manage this so quickly. The Lower Realm hasn't seen anything like it in decades."
Mo Yun's gaze shifted to Li Chen. "It seems the senior disciple was right in his guidance."
Li Chen merely inclined his head, his usual stoic expression softening just a fraction.
After the demonstration, Xu Ming collapsed on the ground, panting, utterly drained but radiant. Li Chen extended a hand, helping him to his feet.
"You've earned a day off," Li Chen said quietly. "Tomorrow, we return to normal training. But today… enjoy this. You've done well."
Xu Ming grinned widely, throwing himself at Li Chen in a playful hug. "Thank you, Senior Brother! I couldn't have done it without you!"
Li Chen froze for half a heartbeat, then gently patted the younger boy on the back. "Don't let this go to your head. Growth is only useful if tempered with humility… and caution."
Xu Ming laughed, rolling his eyes. "I'll try. But… chaos is fun, Senior Brother Li!"
Li Chen allowed himself a small chuckle. "Yes… chaos can be fun. In moderation."
That afternoon, the two walked along the outer wall of the sect, the sun warming their backs. Xu Ming carried a bag of training tools, humming a tune he had made up during his earlier exercises. Li Chen, quiet as always, watched him with a sense of rare contentment.
This is what preparation looks like, he thought. Not just power, but trust. Not just skill, but companionship. Xu Ming was ready for the next stage—not just as a cultivator, but as someone who could survive the Lower Realm, and perhaps, someday, the Upper Realm.
"Senior Brother Li," Xu Ming said suddenly, looking up at him, "do you think… someday we might fight alongside each other for real?"
Li Chen considered the question. "Perhaps. But even if we do, remember this: the strongest weapon is not just power. It's understanding. Patience. And knowing when not to strike."
Xu Ming nodded, understanding more than words could express.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the courtyard quieted. Birds settled, shadows lengthened, and a soft breeze stirred the leaves of the ancient trees.
Li Chen finally allowed himself to feel it: a sense of closure. The timeskip year of chaos, laughter, breakthroughs, and lessons was complete. The Lower Realm had grown stronger, Xu Ming had grown stronger, and their bond—mentor and disciple, master and chaos apprentice—had grown into something solid, reliable, and enduring.
Tomorrow, they would return to ordinary training, but today was a day to savor the peace.
And somewhere in the quiet, Li Chen allowed himself to think… maybe, just maybe, chaos could be controlled—and joy could exist alongside it.
The Timeskip Arc had ended.
The next adventure, whatever it might be, would begin at sunrise.