When Qian Renxue entered the Angel Temple, Bai Jin was in another building checking the outer crates of two Medicine Cases.
She did not ask him to stop, nor did she arrange another trial where they would guard the imprint together. After seven months of cultivation, the gold-and-silver imprint on her left leg had stabilized. Her rank ninety-three soul power could sustain the outline of the thin armor continuously, and neither Silverwing Skystep nor Rift-Splitting Feather Blades was hindered. A complete Divine Outfit remained far off, but at least she no longer had to ask her own bones whether they would stay with every step she took.
Qian Daoliu placed the Golden Fragment for her right arm on the stone platform and first told her to grip the sword she normally used.
"There is no old Soul Bone here to contend with it. If all you want today is a stronger bone, the Golden Fragment will attach itself to you anyway."
"And the price?"
"It will wield your sword for your hand. The next time you want to sheathe it, you may not be able to."
Qian Renxue looked toward the Holy Statue. The true Angel Holy Sword remained above; what she held was merely her personal sword. She returned it to its sheath, then pressed her right palm against the Golden Fragment without pouring all her soul power into it at once.
Golden light entered along her wrist bones and extended up her forearm toward her shoulder. The temple's stone walls faded little by little, and her grandfather's figure receded beyond the light. She knew the trial had begun and did not chase that figure in search of the real stone platform.
A familiar city gate appeared before her.
The flag of the Spirit Hall Empire hung over the