After exiting the Smith, Joshua and other True Disciples headed to the Tri Body Hall to tell Master Hu Bin about Joshua next phase.

  Master Bin looked at him and nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

  "Your dedication to both your martial and blacksmithing training has not gone unnoticed, young Joshua," he said, his eyes gleaming with approval.

  Master Bin held out a small porcelain bowl containing a set of pills, each one a different color but emanating a powerful aura.

  "These are the Pills of Innate Awakening," he explained, his voice low and solemn. "When consumed with the proper mindset and environment, they will help you unlock the next stage of your Qi."

  Master Bin gestured to a small, candlelit room adjoining the training hall.

  "You will take these pills in solitude," he instructed, his tone serious. "The process can be intense. Focus on your breathing and let the Qi flow through you as follow the training manual. When you feel the pills' power, it will help you transform your Blood Qi."

  Joshua took the bowl with both hands, feeling the weight of the pills and the significance of the moment. He nodded solemnly.

  "I will not disappoint you, Master," he vowed, and with that, he retreated to the quiet room.

  Inside, the air was thick with the scent of incense, and the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls.

  Joshua took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the room and the anticipation of what was to come.

  He placed the first pill on his tongue, the bitter taste spreading through his mouth and down his throat.

  Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and focused on his Blood Qi, feeling it pulse through his veins like a living current.

  As the first pill dissolved, the pain began. It started as a dull throb, but quickly grew to an intense ache that seemed to consume his entire body. His muscles spasmed, and he felt his very bones groan under the strain. The room spun around him, the candlelight becoming a kaleidoscope of colors that danced before his eyes.

  "Did I got drug?"

  Joshua's thoughts were a jumbled mess as the pain intensified. It felt like molten lava was coursing through his veins, burning away his very essence.

  Yet, amidst the agony, he could feel his body changing, his Qi evolving. He gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain, refusing to give in.

  The second pill followed the first, and with it, the room grew hotter. Sweat beaded on his forehead and ran down his back as his body began to shake violently.

  His breathing grew ragged, and his vision blurred as he clung to consciousness. The pain grew so intense it was as if he was being torn apart from the inside out.

  He could feel his blood boiling, his Qi screaming in protest as it was pushed to its limits.

  The sound of his own heart was a thunderous drum in his ears, a reminder of the life-altering process occurring within him.

  The pills were not just aiding in the transformation; they were forcing it, pushing him through the gauntlet of agony that was the path to Innate Qi.

  As the third pill melted on his tongue, the pain reached a crescendo. It was a symphony of agony that resonated through every cell of his being.

  Yet, somewhere in the maelstrom, he felt a change. The fiery torrent of his Blood Qi began to cool, giving way to a new, more profound energy. It was like a river of molten steel, forging new pathways in his body. The walls of his veins stretched and reshaped, accommodating the more potent energy that surged through them.

  With each breath, the pain grew less intense. It was replaced by a sensation of purification, as if his very essence was being scrubbed clean.

  The hidden illnesses that had been festering within him, the remnants of old injuries and ailments, were being purged from his system.

  He could feel them bubbling to the surface, only to be burned away by the intense heat of his transformed Qi.

  It was a rebirth, a shedding of his old self to make way for something stronger, something more powerful.

  Finally, the storm subsided, and the room grew quiet.

  The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the walls, and the incense burned low, filling the air with a faint scent of sandalwood and jasmine.

  Joshua opened his eyes, his vision clear and sharp.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The colors in the room were more vivid than ever before, as if he was seeing the world through new eyes.

  He could feel the energy of the Qi pulsing through him, a steady, powerful force that seemed to hum in his very bones.

  Standing up, he found his legs steady and his movements fluid.

  The pain was gone, replaced by a sense of invigoration that made him feel as if he could leap across rooftops.

  He took a deep breath, feeling the cool, crisp air filling his lungs and the Qi within him responding to his will.

  His heartbeat was strong and even, a testament to the transformation that had taken place.

  With newfound confidence, Joshua stepped out of the room and into the training hall.

  The faces of his martial siblings turned to him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

  He raised his fist and shouted, "I have transformed my Blood Qi into Innate Qi!"

  A chorus of gasps and cheers erupted from his martial siblings.

  They had all undergone the same process at various times in their lives, but none had done so as swiftly as he.

  Lo Kenshi stepped forward, a proud smile on his face.

  "Joshua, your progress is truly remarkable," he said, clapping him on the back.

  "To achieve this in such a short time speaks volumes of your potential."

  Hu Tao, her muscles rippling, offered a firm handshake.

  "Welcome to the next level," she said with a wink.

  Bi Lan gave a respectful nod, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

  "Your foundation is strong. I look forward to our future spars."

  Wu Rei clapped him on the back. "I knew you had it in you," he said with a broad smile.

  "Now, let's see what you can do with that newfound power."

  Che Mio, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, offered a rare smile.

  "You're one of us now," she said softly.

  "Welcome to the true path of power."

  Master Hu Bin stepped forward, his eyes shining with pride.

  "Joshua, your progress is astonishing," he said, his voice booming through the hall.

  "To go from a mere mortal to a master of Innate Qi in such a short time, it's a feat that hasn't been seen in decades! Now choose which weapon you will specialize."

  The disciples of the Tri Body Hall gathered around him, eager to see what the young prodigy would choose as his weapon of choice.

  Each one of them had their own preferred weapon, a reflection of their unique fighting style and personality.

  Joshua took a deep breath, feeling the newfound power coursing through his veins. He knew that the choice he made now would shape his martial path for years to come.

  Lo Kenshi stepped forward, presenting a set of ancient, yet well-maintained, weapons. "Choose wisely, young one," he said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Your weapon will be an extension of your soul."

  Joshua scanned the weapons before him, feeling the energy emanating from each. His eyes fell upon a sleek double-edged sword, its blade gleaming in the candlelight.

  Master Bin nodded approvingly. "A fine choice," he said. "The straight sword is a versatile weapon, requiring both strength and finesse."

  Che Mio stepped forward, her eyes glinting with excitement. "I'll start your training," she declared.

  "You've got the basics of Qi flow down, but wielding a sword is a different beast entirely."

  ---

  The next few weeks passed in a whirlwind of activity as Joshua's siblings took turns sparring with him in their individual specialties.

  Lo Kenshi, the scholarly figure who wielded a spear with surprising grace, taught him the art of piercing through defenses, his sharp words and even sharper strikes pushing Joshua to think two steps ahead.

  Each clash of steel against steel was a lesson in precision and strategy.

  Hu Tao, with her single edge curved sword, danced around him like a whirlwind, her movements fluid and deadly.

  Her training focused on speed and agility, pushing Joshua to move with the grace of a panther.

  "Follow the flow of the blade," she instructed, her blade leaving a trail of silver in the air. "Let your Qi lead the way, and the sword will follow."

  Hu Tao's words echoed in the training hall as she demonstrated the graceful dance of the single edge curve sword. The weapon was a blend of speed and power, a ballet of destruction.

  Bi Lan, the stoic halberd user, approached next. His weapon was a blend of a spear and an axe, a symbol of versatility and brute strength.

  "Junior brother," he said, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "it's time to learn the power of the halberd."

  Bi Lan's training was different from the others. Where Lo Kenshi taught strategy and Hu Tao emphasized grace, Bi Lan's approach was raw and brutal strength.

  Both Wu Rei and Che Mio uses polearm, they only taught him how to adapt, even though you are facing the same weapon they are wielded by different people with different level of skills.

  The reason why most of Tri Body Hall disciples uses spear or staff weapons is because Master Hu Bin uses a Polearm. He is also known or called as The dragon Polearm user as he achieved a level of intent in weapon skill.

  Between training he also practice smithing new stuff.

  Selling those he made and what he bought online to the Wu Flying Sparrow Shop by his senior brother Wu Rei who happen to be the son of Wu Teng the owner of the shop.

  Wu Rei knows he had sold a sword to the shop before and ask his junior if he can supply the shop with high quality products.

  Joshua agreed but on the condition that 7-3 with 7 being for him and half of the payment is special ores and the rest are gold.

  Wu Rei agreed with the conditions, believing that he can still profit and also gain renown for the shop.

  It's a win win situation for the both of them.

  After training he got called over by Ye Tie.

  Entering the smith he saw his master Ye Tie readying a bag, putting away essentials for a long journey.

  "Master Ye, where are you going?" he asked with a hint of concern.

  The old blacksmith looked at him, a twinkle in his eye. "Ah, young one, it is time for me to take a journey," he said, his voice filled with a sense of adventure that belied his age.

  "I have business in the northern lands, and I will be gone for quite some time."

  Joshua felt a pang of loss.

  Despite the short time he had known Master Ye Tie, he had come to respect and admire the old man's wisdom and skill.

  "There's still so much to learn though."

  Master Ye Tie chuckled, patting him on the back.

  "You've learned more than enough from this old man," he said, his eyes twinkling with pride.

  "Your Qi resonates with the metal in a way I haven't seen in decades. You are ready to forge your own path."

  As Ye Tie walk out of the smith.

  "Goodbye kid, I feel the next time we would meet you will reach something this world had never reach. I can feel it!" Said Ye Tie as he look back.

  Joshua looked around the smith, the heat of the forge and the scent of burning coal a familiar comfort.

  He had spent countless hours here, his body aching and his mind stretched thin toiling amidst the fire and metal, but he had never felt more alive knowing he had grown so much.

  It seem I too need to journey, staying here for so long I almost forgot what my goal was.