Gabriel stepped out of his Master tent and let the flaps fall closed behind him. The afternoon light had softened into the golden haze of early evening, painting the sect camp in long shadows and warm amber. He stood still for a moment, feeling the lingering warmth of her concern where she had checked his pulse.
He started walking, his boots soft against the packed earth paths between tents. Disciples moved around him in the familiar rhythm of a camp recovering from battle. Some carried trays of medicinal broth, while others hauled crates of spirit stones or bandages. A few nodded to him in quiet respect; word of what had happened against Mad Viper was already spreading. Gabriel returned the nods without slowing. His path was decided.
The medical tent came into view sooner than expected. Hesitating only a second, he pushed the flap aside and stepped in.
The air inside was thick with the sharp scent of healing salves and the low murmur of recovery.
Most beds were occupied by disciples with lesser injuries, but Gabriel's eyes went straight to a familiar corner. Ivan sat upright against a stack of pillows, his torso wrapped in fresh bandages, though the tension in his posture had eased since morning.
Eleanor sat on a low stool to his right, methodically folding clean cloths. Wren perched on the edge of the next bed, swinging her leg and looking far too lively for someone who had taken a direct hit to the face only days ago.
Ivan noticed him first, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Back already? Did Master Alana scold you into the next realm or just feed you tea?"
Gabriel walked over, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Both, actually. She's thorough."
Eleanor looked up, her expression softening. "You look better than this morning. Less like a ghost who forgot to stay dead."
Wren snorted and hopped off the bed, bouncing once on her heels. "See? I told you he'd show up before nightfall. You owe me three spirit stones, Ivan."
"I never agreed to that bet," Ivan muttered without heat. He shifted carefully, wincing as his bandages pulled. Foundation Establishment Level 5 gave him a sturdy constitution, but broken ribs and a damaged lung still demanded respect.
Gabriel pulled a spare stool closer and sat. For a moment, the four of them simply existed in the quiet bubble they had carved out of the medical tent. The weight of what they had survived hung between them, unspoken but understood.
"How's the recovery really going?" Gabriel asked.
Ivan tapped his bandages lightly. "Ribs are knitting. Lung's clear. I'll be sparring again in a week if the healers stop hovering. Foundation Establishment helps—my body doesn't stay broken like it used to."
Eleanor folded another cloth with precise movements. "I'm fine. Minor meridian strain from overdrawing during the fight, but nothing that won't settle in a few days. Still Qi Condensation Level 11, same as before." She met Gabriel's eyes briefly. "You, on the other hand… your aura feels denser. Sharper."
Wren leaned in, studying him with open curiosity.
"Yeah. You were already at the peak of Qi Condensation before everything went to hell. Level twelve, right? You're pushing right up against the wall."
Gabriel gave a small nod. "Master Alana confirmed it. The technique I used burned through a lot of reserves, but it refined what was left. The impurities are gone, and my dantian is stable." He paused, adding quietly, "I'm going to attempt the breakthrough tonight."
The words landed with soft finality.
Ivan raised an eyebrow. "Tonight? You're still half-empty."
"I'll recover enough by midnight. Waiting longer won't change my foundation's readiness—it'll just let the exhaustion settle into habit."
Eleanor set the cloth aside, her voice calm despite a faint undercurrent of concern. "Foundation Establishment isn't a small step. If something goes wrong—"
"It won't," Gabriel said gently. "I've prepared for this longer than that fight lasted. And my master will be nearby."
Wren crossed her arms, rosy cheeks still faintly visible through her healing injuries. "Well, don't expect us to sit around praying. We're coming to check on you after. Or at least I am—Ivan's bed-bound, and Eleanor will pretend she's not worried while definitely being worried."
"I am capable of expressing concern without theatrics," Eleanor replied dryly.
Ivan chuckled, then winced, pressing a hand to his side. "Just don't explode your tent. I like that one—it's close to the mess hall."
A small laugh escaped Gabriel, easing the tension in his shoulders. These three—scarred, stubborn, and still standing—made the weight of the coming breakthrough feel less solitary.
He stayed a little longer, chatting about minor things: the terrible evening porridge, Wren's exaggerated retelling of how she "almost" lost an eye, and Ivan's quiet admission that Mad Viper's kick had terrified him more than he let on. Eleanor mostly listened, occasionally offering a dry observation that cut through the banter with perfect timing.
When the light outside dimmed further, Gabriel stood. "I should go get ready."
Ivan raised a hand in a salute. "Go, we'll see you later."
Gabriel nodded and and returned the salute then left the medical ward.
His own tent sat tucked near the outer edge of the disciples' quarter. Ducking inside, he sealed the entrance with a formation to mute the outside world. The interior was sparse: a thin bedroll, a low table, a storage chest, and his cultivation mat.
Moving with deliberate calm, Gabriel sat and inspected his internal state. His spiritual sense swept through his meridians. Though his reserves were still roughly sixty percent empty from that mysterious energy, the remaining energy was refined to a near-crystalline quality. His dantian pulsed steadily at the peak of Level 12 with no remaining impurities. The barrier between him and Foundation Establishment was paper-thin.
He pulled out the jade slip Master Alana had given him months ago to review the process one last time: (accumulate spiritual energy by creating a mini vortex to condence qi sea into liquid and awaken the 9 chakras root, sacral, solar, heart, throat, third eye, crown, earth, and heaven. These chakras correlate with foundation building level 1- 9.)
Success meant a qualitative leap in lifespan, physical strength, and technique refinement—while failure risked ruptured meridians or a shattered dantian.
Setting the slip aside, Gabriel arranged his resources: three mid-grade spirit stones for emergency replenishment, a recovery pill, and an array disk to stabilize the ambient spiritual energy and alert Alana if his vital signs fluctuated. He activated the disk, and a soft hum filled the room as the surrounding spiritual energy grew dense and responsive.
Night had fully fallen. Outside, camp lanterns flickered to life. Gabriel extinguished his lamp, leaving only the soft glow of the formation disk.
He sat cross-legged on the mat, hands resting loosely on his knees. For a long moment he simply breathed, letting the last traces of conversation and concern settle into stillness.