One month later.

A transfer order with a somber hue, exuding an iron-blooded aura, lay quietly on the stone table inside Stone Hut Number Seven.

In the lower right corner of the order, the bright red seal belonging to the Merit Calculation Bureau appeared particularly glaring under the flickering candlelight.

"By Order: The term of Instructor Su Ming of Bing-7 Defense Zone has been completed. He is hereby relieved of his duties. Ordered to return to the sect in ten days aboard the 'Yi-3' supply cloud ship without delay."

Su Ming's fingers gently stroked the rough paper surface of the transfer order.

The trials of the Northern Border over this past year, the undercurrents beneath the surface, the late-night schemes, and the countless times he teetered on the edge of life and death flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

In the end, all these myriad thoughts dissolved into an extremely soft, long sigh.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, curling into a hint of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

Within his Consciousness Sea, Lin Yu's voice drifted leisurely, carrying a rare touch of emotion. "A year has passed, and everything has changed. Kid, compared to when you first arrived, your 'heart' has thickened by more than three inches."

Su Ming raised an eyebrow slightly. "Master, are you praising me for having a thick skin?"

"Not that. It's your state of mind, your foundation." Lin Yu pointed at his own chest.

Hearing this, Su Ming offered no rebuttal. He simply carefully tucked the transfer order into the innermost fold of his robes, close to his body.

"Master, without a thick heart, one cannot survive in this meat grinder."

...

The next morning, Su Ming deliberately changed into a neat set of blue robes and headed to the highest-level "Merit Secret Vault" within the pass.

This was his ultimate goal in coming to Iron Wall Pass—to exchange for the Earth Vein Spirit Milk.

Iron Wall Pass, inner city, Merit Calculation Bureau's Merit Secret Vault.

This was the most heavily guarded place in the entire pass, with sentries every three steps and patrols every five.

The heavy Mystic Iron gate was carved with intricate defensive formation lines. The faint spiritual pressure emanating from it made passing cultivators dare not even breathe loudly.

The secret vault was buried deep within the mountain's interior. The surrounding rock walls were covered with complex restrictive inscriptions, and even the air carried a stifling dryness and a murderous aura.

The one who received him was a Foundation Establishment steward with an expressionless face.

The steward took Su Ming's identity token, scanned it with his divine sense, and his originally unreadable eyes flickered slightly, clearly shaken for a moment by the enormous sum of over sixty-five thousand military merit points.

"I wish to exchange for a portion of 'Earth Vein Spirit Milk'," Su Ming stated directly, getting straight to the point.

The steward did not immediately fetch the item. Instead, he looked deeply at Su Ming and shook his head.

"Apprentice Nephew Su, your military merit is sufficient. But there is no 'Earth Vein Spirit Milk' here."

Su Ming's brow furrowed slightly. "What? Is the vault out of stock?"

"It's not a matter of being out of stock, but of not being able to give it to you." The steward's tone was indifferent, yet carried a sense of official rigor. "Earth Vein Spirit Milk is a rare treasure of heaven and earth. Once removed from the special Spirit-Sealing Jade Marrow vessel, its medicinal efficacy begins to dissipate. More importantly, consuming this substance requires channeling pure earth vein energy, combined with the grand formation of a meditation room, to achieve its full medicinal effect."

The steward pointed at his feet. "The murderous aura at Iron Wall Pass is too heavy. The earth veins underground have long been drained dry and thrown into chaos by the mountain-protecting grand formation. If you consume it here, not only would the success rate be less than thirty percent, but the violent murderous aura might instead trigger your old injuries. That would be a waste of a heavenly treasure, and also a sure way to get yourself killed."

A chill ran through Su Ming's heart, followed by a wave of understanding.

Indeed, a treasure of this level would naturally be safest to use at the sect's core location.

"Thank you for the guidance, Shishu." Su Ming cupped his hands in thanks. "In that case, I will exchange for the spirit milk at the Spirit Nurturing Hall upon returning to the sect."

Although he didn't obtain the spirit milk, this massive amount of military merit couldn't be left to gather dust.

Su Ming's eyes quickly scanned the exchange list, and his finger stopped at the entry for "Foundation Establishment Pills."

"Exchange for two Foundation Establishment Pills."

The steward raised an eyebrow. "Two? For your own use?"

"One for myself, one..." Su Ming paused, an image appearing in his mind of a figure always standing in the wind and snow, holding a sword. "To give to someone."

The steward asked no further questions. He turned and fetched two exquisite jade boxes.

Besides the Foundation Establishment Pills, Su Ming exchanged in one go for a full set of seclusion supplies: Meridian Protection Pills, Spirit-Concentrating Incense, high-grade fasting pills, and more.

These were the standard preparations for every Qi Refining Perfection cultivator before attempting Foundation Establishment.

As he walked out of the secret vault, Su Ming patted his storage pouch.

The pouch held hope for the future, and his mind held plans for after returning to the sect.

"Return to the sect, exchange for the spirit milk, with Master's guidance, and assisted by this full set of supplies..." Su Ming silently calculated the probability in his heart. "Within three months, I will definitely establish my foundation."

...

Over the next few days, Su Ming began a long and silent farewell.

On the wind-whipped sentry post atop the city wall, Chen Chuan still stood like a statue, his gaze fixed intently on the gray horizon to the north.

Su Ming walked over, stood shoulder to shoulder with him for a moment, then slid a jade box along the parapet toward him.

"Brother Chen, this is for you."

Chen Chuan's gaze lowered, landing on the jade box. He recognized the style of this box. It was something every Qi Refining cultivator dreamed of.

His hand trembled slightly. He didn't reach for it immediately. Instead, he raised his head, his gaze sharp as a sword, piercing straight into Su Ming's eyes.

"This is too valuable." Chen Chuan's voice was hoarse. "Although I, Chen Chuan, am poor, I do not accept charity."

"I don't need two."

Su Ming turned around, leaning his back against the icy city wall. His tone was as calm as if discussing the weather. "Besides, this isn't a free gift. The demon beast parts you've hunted over the past half year, plus that batch of 'Cold Iron Scorpion Tail Needles' you shared with me last time, added to the numerous times you've protected me... their combined value has long since surpassed that of a single Foundation Establishment Pill."

He glanced sideways at Chen Chuan, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "This isn't a gift. It's an exchange. Also, an investment."

Chen Chuan remained silent for a long time.

Snowflakes landed on his brow, turning into ice crystals.

Finally, he stretched out a calloused hand and pressed it down on the jade box. His fingertips exerted force, turning his knuckles white.

"Alright."

Just one word.

But within that single word lay too many unspoken promises between men.

It wasn't a worry about the immediate crisis, but a pact about the future—a pact to meet again in this world, after achieving Foundation Establishment.

...

Bing Battalion barracks, steaming with heat.

Even before entering, one could hear Zhao Tiji's trademark booming voice.

"All of you, tighten up! Don't think you can slack off just because Instructor Su is leaving! If there's any problem with the formations, I'll skin you alive!"

Seeing Su Ming enter, the noisy barracks quieted for an instant, then erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers.

"Half-City Su is returning home in glory!"

Zhao Tiji strode over and gave Su Ming's shoulder a solid slap that shook his body.

"Brother Su, if you didn't leave soon, you'd have scooped up all the military merit in Bing Battalion by yourself!" Zhao Tiji was smiling, but the rims of his eyes were slightly red.

Su Ming didn't say much. He simply took out ten jars of aged spirit wine from his storage pouch and lined them up neatly on the table.

"Brother Zhao, keep this wine."

Su Ming patted the clay seal on a wine jar. "Wait until I return after establishing my foundation. Then we'll drink together."

"Good!" Zhao Tiji didn't stand on ceremony either. He picked up a jar, broke the clay seal, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp. "I'll be waiting right here at Iron Wall Pass! When the time comes, we won't stop until we're drunk!"

The atmosphere in the barracks was warm and bold, diluting the sorrow of parting.

...

The final stop was the Mysterious Ice Platform.

This was still the coldest place in all of Iron Wall Pass, and also the quietest.

Old Liu, holding that notched battle blade, sat alone in the wind, like an unchanging, ancient boulder.

Su Ming walked up. He didn't speak, just silently placed a specially prepared warming medicinal wine beside Old Liu.

Old Liu didn't turn his head. He just slowly drew the battle blade and began meticulously wiping the frost and snow from its edge with a piece of tattered cloth.

"Leaving?"

"Mn. In ten days."

"Good." Old Liu stopped his movements. His cloudy, single eye looked at Su Ming, a rare hint of gentleness appearing in his gaze. "Being able to walk out is a skill in itself."

"Uncle Liu, take care."

"Go on."

Old Liu waved his hand and lowered his head again to wipe his blade.

Su Ming offered a deep bow to that hunched back, then turned and left.

In the wind and snow, only Old Liu's low mutterings remained, dissipating into the wind.