133: Chapter 133 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Chapter 81)

However, most of them were Inner Sect Disciples in the Stone Skin Realm.

Nourished by the Iron Essence Qi, most of them successfully broke through to the Iron Skin Realm.

But their bodies, having just broken through, had not yet fully stabilized.

They were simply unable to withstand the excessively high concentration of Iron Essence Qi within the Iron Melting Cave.

Staying any longer would not only fail to provide further improvement but would instead cause damage to their bodies.

Unfortunately, Li Hao did not last long either; his high-grade root bone ultimately held him back.

After breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm, he held on for another three days, reaching an Iron Sequencing progress of 8%.

Later, unable to persist any longer, he could only leave the Iron Melting Cave with great reluctance.

The twentieth day. Another group of disciples left.

Those who left this time were mostly Core Disciples who had originally been in the Stone Skin Realm. Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and Princess Xiao Xiao were among them.

Their Iron Sequencing progress had generally increased to around 30% - 40%, which was already the progress for the middle stage of the Iron Skin Realm.

Although they had not yet reached 100%, their bodies had reached their endurance limit.

Even with a Top-grade Root Bone, due to the gap in their original cultivation levels, they could only persist up to this point. Staying any longer would only do more harm than good.

The forty-fifth day. Among the new batch of disciples in the Great Sun Holy Land, Ling Chen, the only one remaining besides Chu Shi, also retreated.

He withdrew along with the majority of the Iron Skin Realm disciples, having now reached 70% Iron Sequencing. The late stage of the Iron Skin Realm was in sight.

At this point, the gap in root bones was vividly demonstrated. With these people leaving, the Iron Melting Cave had become empty.

Only six silver-badge disciples remained. Chu Shi, Zhou Xuan, Han Bing, and three Core Disciples from previous batches.

Their physical foundations were much better than others, and their endurance far exceeded that of ordinary people.

At this moment, under the immersion of the dense Iron Essence Qi granted by the silver badge authority, Chu Shi's Iron Sequencing progress had reached a staggering 78%.

He could feel that his skin membrane had become exceptionally tough. Ordinary magical weapons, swords, and blades could no longer easily leave a mark on his skin.

But the further one progressed, the slower the speed of Iron Sequencing improvement became. This was because the remaining cells that had not yet undergone Iron Sequencing were the most stubborn and difficult to transform.

Chu Shi did not become impatient. He continued to follow his own rhythm, bit by bit guiding the fusion of Iron Essence Qi, Gold Qi, and blood energy.

The sixty-third day. The first silver-badge disciple left.

His Iron Sequencing progress had reached 96%, just one final step away from perfection. However, his body had reached its limit; staying any longer would result in him being backlashed by the Iron Essence Qi.

The sixty-fifth day. The second silver-badge disciple left, with an Iron Sequencing progress of 97%.

The sixty-eighth day. The third silver-badge disciple left, with an Iron Sequencing progress of 98%. In the Iron Melting Cave, only Chu Shi, Zhou Xuan, and Han Bing remained.

The seventieth day, at noon. With a humming sound representing perfection, Bing Hao slowly opened his eyes.

A cold and rigid aura emanated from his body. His Iron Sequencing progress had finally reached 100%.

Bing Hao pushed the door open and stepped out, glanced at the rooms of Chu Shi and Zhou Xuan not far away, and turned to leave.

The seventy-second day, at dusk. Zhou Xuan also completed his final Iron Sequencing. He stretched, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"Brother Chu, I shall take my leave first." Looking at room number "36," the only one where the formation was still glowing, Zhou Xuan smiled and cupped his hands in a salute, then strode out of the Iron Melting Cave.

Inside the Iron Melting Cave, only Chu Shi remained. At this moment, Chu Shi's Iron Sequencing progress had also reached the final critical juncture. 99.9%, just a tiny bit left.

Yet this last tiny bit was exceptionally difficult. He could clearly feel that within his skin membrane, only one last cell had yet to complete the Iron Sequencing transformation.

This cell was located directly above his heart. It was the most core and most stubborn cell in his entire body.

Chu Shi took a deep breath, gathered his spirits, and adjusted his state to its absolute peak.

He grasped the last piece of low-grade Yuan stone in his hand and frantically mobilized all his Gold Qi. At the same time, he circulated all his blood energy, which roared like a giant dragon, rushing toward that final cell.

Iron Essence Qi, Gold Qi, and blood energy—the three fused together perfectly at this moment. "Boom!" A deafening roar, as if from the void, exploded within his body.

This last stubborn cell had finally completed its transformation. In an instant, his entire skin membrane shimmered with a dazzling metallic luster.

A powerful aura erupted from his body. Peak Iron Skin Realm, 100% Iron Sequencing, perfection!

A moment later, the metallic luster receded. Chu Shi slowly opened his eyes, a flash of keen light darting through them. He stood up slowly and stretched his muscles and bones; immediately, his bones emitted a series of crisp cracking sounds.

He could clearly feel that his body was brimming with power and had undergone a qualitative change.

Now, he reckoned that even without using True Qi for protection or activating the Great Sun Vajra Body, he could withstand a full-strength strike from a high-grade magical weapon with just his basic physical body.

He glanced at the wall opposite him; the silver badge had become dim and lusterless. Clearly, the Iron Melting Cave was about to close.

Chu Shi hurriedly pulled out the silver badge, turned, walked out of the stone room, and headed toward the exit of the Iron Melting Cave.

When he stepped out of the Iron Melting Cave, the setting sun was hanging over the western mountains, and the horizon was crimson red. The golden afterglow spilled onto him, stretching his shadow long.

Seeing this, Chu Shi sighed softly: "Two and a half months of training, only today do I know who I am."

The Guardian Elder of Rongtie Cave standing to the side immediately had black lines on his face at Chu Shi's actions. He quickly reached out to push Chu Shi away from the entrance and then rapidly sealed the Iron Melting Cave.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo! What are you muttering about, you kid who cuts it so close? Hurry up and leave, don't disturb my peace."

Chu Shi, who was in the middle of acting cool, was pushed by the elder and immediately lost his composure. He stumbled and nearly fell to the ground; after steadying himself, he offered a sheepish laugh and explained to the elder.

"It's not acting cool, it's a spontaneous expression of a breakthrough in my state of mind; and it's not cutting it close, that last bit was just too stubborn."

The air was immediately filled with a cheerful atmosphere. However, the Guardian Elder of Rongtie Cave was hard-hearted; he only wanted to get off work and ignored him.

Helpless, Chu Shi had to bow to him, then turned and headed toward the Tingyang Courtyard.

As he walked, he grumbled in his heart, "This old geezer really has no eye for talent. Don't I look like a peerless prodigy? Sigh, cultivating in the Iron Melting Cave is fun for a moment, but my wallet is cremated upon coming out. I'm bankrupt!"

On the other side, the Guardian Elder of Rongtie Cave, having finished his work and slowly returning to his own residence, was also complaining.

"What a shameless little brat, just as much of a scoundrel as his master was when he was young. Hmph, trying to use old tricks to swindle this old man's coffin money? Dream on."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Not knowing what he had thought of, he subsequently began grumbling as well.

Time flows like sand, passing in the blink of an eye. In the blink of an eye, the end of the second year since Chu Shi joined the sect arrived.