Chapter Forty-One: Testing the Waters

“Yes, Grandpa, in two more cycles I’ll undergo the Rite of Ge Li.”

Li Le’s tone was light and cheerful, her eyes curving as she spoke, making her youthful features appear even softer.

The old man nodded amiably, then asked with gentle concern, “So, what level of strength have you reached now? Are you ready for the Rite?”

Li Le thought to herself: Here come the questions about progress—just as she’d expected.

It seemed parents everywhere cared about the same things, no matter the world.

Fortunately, she had anticipated this and was well prepared.

She pressed her lips together, a little embarrassed, and looked at the old man with shyness, “Grandpa, I’ve already reached the second level. I’m almost at the third…”

A glint flickered in the old man’s eyes as he stroked his beard. “Almost to the third level?”

In this strange and eerie world, the cultivation stages Li Le knew of were: Tempered Skin, Refined Muscle, Shaped Bone, and Boiled Blood.

Each stage was divided into three levels.

Though there was no strict demarcation between stages, the general distinction lay in how long one could resist the corrosive death fog.

The Tempered Skin stage focused on toughening the outer layer of the body.

In this dangerous world, humanity had to adapt for their young to survive and ensure the continuation of their kind.

The tribe’s strongest would hunt in the death fog for bone powder, cultivate various herbs, and brew potent medicines so the children could temper their skin, laying a foundation to adapt and reducing their chances of dying young.

Thus, the Tempered Skin stage was the most critical and time-consuming. It required careful refinement and consumed vast resources.

Most children here spent years, from age thirteen until the Rite of Ge Li, lingering in the early levels of Tempered Skin, only breaking through to Refined Muscle after the ceremony.

Refined Muscle demanded even rarer materials for further tempering—a topic for another time.

Of course, these timelines and advancements only applied to the well-resourced, promising young of the Inner City.

Take Lie, for example. Or Li Le herself.

As for the Outer City’s fog dwellers and their frail offspring, lacking both resources and ancient formulas, many spent their entire lives unable to progress beyond Tempered Skin.

In a way, the time spent honing one’s foundation in Refined Muscle spoke volumes about one’s background and family.

Why is that?

Youngsters had no right to the spoils of the hunt; how could they possibly gather resources, brew medicines, and advance on their own?

Utter nonsense! Not even a drama would dare script it so simply.

If it were that easy to cross into Refined Muscle, what would that say about generations of strivers and sages who paved the way?

So, the old man’s question was both a gesture of care and a subtle test.

Everyone knew Li Le had only recently joined Brother Bai, with no time for significant improvement. The whole situation was clear to those around.

Thus, this was a probe into both her family background and her potential.

There’s a reason elders are so shrewd.

Time may steal one’s vigor, but it leaves wisdom and experience in its wake.

Especially in such a perilous world—these elders saw through everything at a glance.

There was no room for Li Le to be careless.

“It’s not that impressive,” Li Le said with a shy smile, lowering her eyes. “I could have reached the third level, but my big brother told me to take my time. He said it’s better for me…”

She had her reasons.

Her progress didn’t quite match the others. Every day, her strength grew a little with the rise of her faith value.

Just a few days ago, she’d beaten Lie in an arm-wrestling contest, leaving him so frustrated that he’d been training furiously at home ever since.

Li Le guessed her strength was about that of someone in the third level of Tempered Skin.

But as the saying goes, one shouldn’t show one’s full hand. Li Le certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to reveal everything.

That wouldn’t be naïveté—it would be pure foolishness.

Besides, being on the verge of breaking through to the third level was already considered fast among her peers, enough to make a statement without needing to specify further.

The old man’s expression softened, becoming even more kindly. He leaned on his cane, his tone warm and encouraging as he advised Li Le with a gentle laugh, “Your big brother is right. It’s good for a child to spend extra time tempering themselves in the Tempered Skin stage. If you reach the third level before your Rite, you’ll pass it with ease.”

With his gentle eyes and kindly smile, the old man’s words didn’t feel like a lecture at all. Instead, they carried the blessing unique to elders—one could sense he truly wanted her to succeed.

Even Li Le felt a genuine respect stir in her heart.

Looking at the kind, benevolent old man before her, she couldn’t help but think: No wonder the elders are so respected in this harsh world.

This spirit of loving one’s own young and caring for others’ as well was rare indeed.

“All right, Grandpa. I’ll listen to my big brother.”

Her faith value increased imperceptibly once more.

Li Le smiled sweetly, nodded obediently, and let go of some of her more dangerous thoughts, her gaze finally softening in genuine warmth.

The old man ceased his probing and began to share stories with Li Le, laughing gently.

“Here comes the food.”