Back at the first floor of the shop.
"We'll need all of these materials," Asier said, handing a detailed list to the clerk.
The clerk nodded briskly and began collecting the items.
"We also want to see all the books you have on formations, artifact refining, and alchemy," Nika added.
"Of course. I'll bring them right away," the clerk replied and disappeared behind a shelf of glowing scrolls.
Moments later, he returned with a stack of carefully bound books and the requested materials. The siblings spread the texts across a table, poring over them with intensity.
After a while, Asier pointed to three.
"We'll take these."
"The Moon Blades are 370 Elemental Stones, the Sunlight Axe is 380, and the Farseeing Bow with its quiver is 520. The materials and books total 400," the clerk tallied. "That brings the total to 1,670 Elemental Stones."
Nika held up the sleek purple token Bong Song had given them.
"Sir Bong Song said this earns us a discount."
The clerk's eyes widened.
"Ah, yes. With this token, you receive a 20% discount. That brings the total to one thousand three hundred and thirty six Elemental Stones."
After paying, the siblings left the shop and ascended back to their camp on the peak of Slash Mountain.
After returning to Slash Mountain
The three stood in a circle around their newest treasures, a quiet fire crackling beside them.
"Now that we have suitable weapons, our battle strength has increased significantly," Ilargia said, spinning her Moon Blades in fluid arcs. "It's time to finish muscle training and prepare for the Bone Melting Formation."
"According to the Oier Clan Manual, the formation is a Middle-Grade Origin Formation," Nika said, flipping through the worn book. "To set it up, one of us has to become a certified Middle-Grade Formation Master. That could take a month—if we're training muscles on the side."
Asier crossed his arms, thoughtful.
"Most cultivators focus on one combat path and one support path—alchemy, formations, artifact refinement. We should each pick a different support specialization so we complement each other."
"That makes sense," Nika agreed. "Triplets, three paths. No one works better together than us."
"I'll take formations," Asier decided. "I fight from a distance. Precision and planning suit my role—and my ability helps with pattern recognition."
"Alchemy for me," Nika said. "I'm on the front lines. I'll need healing pills—might as well craft my own."
"I've always been drawn to artifact refining," Ilargia added. "Speed and stealth weapons require customization. Who better to forge mine than me?"
"Then it's settled," Asier concluded. "Half the day, we train our muscles. The other half, we study."
One month later…
"I finally did it!" Asier gasped, exhaustion plain in his expression. "First successful Middle-Grade Formation. Thank goodness we bought enough materials."
He called for his siblings, but only Nika appeared.
"Ilargia's refining a High-Grade Origin Artifact," Nika explained. "Let's not disturb her."
Asier's eyes widened. "Already?! I just finished my first working formation!"
"She's a prodigy," Nika said with a grin. "I also managed to craft my first Middle-Grade pill yesterday."
None of them realized how rare their pace truly was. What took elite cultivators six months, they had accomplished in one.
"Let's begin bone training," Asier said. "Our muscles are now at Godly Muscle. That'll help us endure what's coming."
"I've prepared healing pills," Nika said, stepping into the center of the formation. "I'll go first."
"Sit cross-legged. Don't resist. I'm activating the Bone Melting Formation now."
Asier triggered the formation. The air trembled with ancient power, and Nika's screams tore through the mountain wind as his bones began to liquefy.
Discovered by the barbarian scholar Ian McGregor in the ruins of an ancient war tribe, the Bone Melting Formation served two purposes: to dissolve and reconstruct a cultivator's bones—reinforcing them on a cellular level. But the cost was steep.
The process lasted two full days, requiring immense willpower. Should one fail to endure the full pain cycle, their body would collapse... and death was guaranteed.
Some time later…
Ilargia entered the hut, her robes faintly glowing from residual heat.
"How long has he been inside?"
"Half a day," Asier replied calmly. "He hasn't stopped screaming. But he's holding on."
Ilargia handed him a short sword.
"I finished your close-range weapon. A High-Grade Origin Artifact. I call it Luna."
Asier smiled as he took it, the blade pulsing with soft light.
"Thank you. I'll carry it with pride."
"Next, I'm making a shield for Nika," Ilargia said, walking out. "He'll need it."
Another half-day passed. Nika's screams subsided. Asier tossed in several of the pills Nika had prepared himself. Slowly, the screaming turned to gasps… then silence.
"These new bones…" Nika muttered, feeling his limbs. "Titanium. Definitely Titanium Level."
Twenty hours later, Nika emerged, limping but grinning.
"That was hell. But the result is worth it."
"Next round will be worse," Asier warned. "You'll need three more to reach Godly Bones."
"I'm not stopping halfway," Nika laughed.
Over the next month, each sibling underwent three more rounds of bone melting. They rotated between formation, alchemy, and refinement practice while their bodies were healing.
Ilargia completed her masterpiece: a golden shield for Nika—one that could expand and contract like flowing light.
"I'll call it Sol," Nika declared.