After the awakening of the Heaven-Burning Art, although Gu Changyuan's meridians had been reconstructed, they still needed time to stabilize.
For the next two days, he remained in the cave, continuously cultivating to consolidate his realm.
The Heaven-Burning Art was an incredibly overbearing technique. During cultivation, golden-red flames would swirl around his body, and his absorption rate of spiritual energy was several times that of ordinary techniques. But at the same time, every single circulation brought with it a faint, searing agony.
This was the lingering aftershock of the Heaven-Burning Agony.
Gu Changyuan knew that this pain would accompany him for the rest of his life. With every major breakthrough, he would have to endure an even more intense Heaven-Burning Agony. This was the inescapable price of the technique.
But he didn't care.
Compared to three years of utter humiliation and despair, what was this little bit of pain?
"Your cultivation technique is very unique."
Feng Jiuli's voice drifted over from the side.
She leaned against the cold stone wall. Her face was still pale, but she looked slightly better than she had the previous two days. The spread of the forbidden curse seemed to have temporarily halted, likely because her body was instinctively fighting back.
Moreover, her aura was quietly shifting.
Gu Changyuan noticed a faint golden light swirling around Feng Jiuli. That was the aura of the Divine Phoenix Bloodline. Although the vast majority of it was sealed, through these past few days of rest and meditation, she had recovered a fraction of her strength.
From the absolute brink of death when she first crashed, to now... she was roughly at the level of the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation.
Compared to her true strength as the Goddess of the Divine Realm, this bit of cultivation was not even worth mentioning. But at the very least, she was no longer that heavily injured person completely incapable of defending herself.
"The Heaven-Burning Art," Gu Changyuan opened his eyes. "Left to me by my master."
"I know." Feng Jiuli nodded. "I am talking about its uniqueness."
A trace of deep thought flashed through her phoenix eyes. "The aura of this technique has some sort of resonance with my Divine Phoenix Bloodline."
"Resonance?"
"Yes," Feng Jiuli said. "The Divine Phoenix Bloodline originates from the Primordial Phoenix Clan, and your Heaven-Burning Art... seems to be connected to the Primordial Era as well."
"There is an indescribable affinity between the two powers."
Gu Changyuan fell silent.
His master had never told him the origins of the Heaven-Burning Art, only saying it was his life's work. But judging from Feng Jiuli's words, the origins of this technique were likely far from simple.
"We can talk about that later." He stood up. "How is your forbidden curse?"
"Temporarily stabilized," Feng Jiuli replied. "But I can hold on for five days at most."
"Five days..." Gu Changyuan frowned. "What are the exact requirements for a Soul Pact?"
"It requires both parties to possess sufficient soul power," Feng Jiuli explained. "You are currently at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation, so your soul power is barely enough. But just to be safe, it is best if you consolidate your realm for a few more days."
"Furthermore, forming a Soul Pact requires a specific location."
"What kind of location?"
"A place teeming with dense spiritual energy, where the Origin Energy of Heaven and Earth naturally converges," Feng Jiuli said. "This way, we can borrow the power of heaven and earth to mitigate the risks during the formation."
Gu Changyuan thought for a moment. "Deep in the back mountain, there is a cliff overlooking a sea of clouds. The spiritual energy there is much denser than it is here."
"Will that work?"
Feng Jiuli nodded. "It should."
"Then we'll set it for five days from now," Gu Changyuan said. "For these five days, I will continue to consolidate my realm, and you should focus on resting."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
"Gu Changyuan."
"Mm?"
"Why... are you helping me?"
She had asked this question many times. But every time, Gu Changyuan's answer had been either "I don't know" or "I don't want to watch someone die right in front of me."
This time, Gu Changyuan remained silent for a long moment.
"Because we are the same kind of people," he finally said.
"The same?"
"Yes." Gu Changyuan looked directly into her eyes. "Both framed by those we trusted, both violently cast down from the peak, both completely isolated and helpless."
"Three years ago, I was just as desperate as you. I wished so badly for someone to pull me out of the abyss, but no one did."
"Now, I have the power to pull someone else."
"So, I am helping you."
Feng Jiuli fell utterly silent.
Looking into Gu Changyuan's eyes, she saw sincerity, she saw profound understanding, and she saw a warmth born of mutual suffering.
"Thank you."
She said softly.
This was the first time she had ever thanked him.
Gu Changyuan was slightly taken aback, then shook his head. "There is no need to thank me. Once the Soul Pact is formed and you help me completely repair my meridians, we will be even."
"No," Feng Jiuli shook her head. "The Soul Pact is a transaction, but you saving my life is not."
"I, Feng Jiuli, never owe anyone."
"I will remember this favor."
Gu Changyuan looked at her serious expression and said nothing more.
He turned around and resumed his cultivation.
Over the next few days, the two cultivated independently within the cave.
Gu Changyuan practiced the Heaven-Burning Art, continuously solidifying his Ninth Level Qi Condensation realm. Meanwhile, Feng Jiuli sat nearby regulating her breathing, doing everything she could to suppress the erosion of the forbidden curse.
Although they didn't speak much, the atmosphere in the cave gradually thawed, no longer feeling so distant and guarded.
Sometimes, when Gu Changyuan grew tired from cultivating, he would head out to the nearby stream to fetch fresh water. Although Feng Jiuli was weak, she would actively stand guard for him while he cultivated, making sure no wild beasts or sect members intruded.
This was the first time she had ever done something for him.
Although it was a minor gesture, Gu Changyuan was still somewhat surprised.
He had initially assumed Feng Jiuli was the kind of high-and-mighty goddess who would never lift a finger for anyone else. But now it seemed she simply wasn't used to expressing her gratitude.
"Your technique is progressing very quickly."
On the night of the fourth day, Feng Jiuli suddenly broke the silence.
Gu Changyuan opened his eyes to find her watching him.
"The cultivation speed of the Heaven-Burning Art is indeed incredibly fast," he said. "But the price is equally heavy."
"The Heaven-Burning Agony?"
"Yes," Gu Changyuan nodded. "Every single circulation brings a burning pain. Although it's not as violent as when breaking through, accumulating day after day, it is still a form of torture."
Feng Jiuli fell silent for a moment.
"I can help you."
"What?"
"The Divine Phoenix Bloodline possesses the innate ability to purify fire toxins," Feng Jiuli said. "Even though I am heavily sealed right now, that basic purification ability remains."
"If you are willing, I can help you dissolve the fire toxins left behind by the Heaven-Burning Agony."
Gu Changyuan froze.
He hadn't expected Feng Jiuli to volunteer to help him.
"Didn't you say the Soul Pact is a transaction?" he asked. "This is not part of our deal."
"I said, you saving my life is not a transaction," Feng Jiuli replied calmly. "This is me repaying you."
Gu Changyuan looked at her, remaining silent for a moment.
"Alright."
He gave a slight nod.
Feng Jiuli stepped forward, reached out her slender hand, and gently pressed it against Gu Changyuan's back.
A burst of warm energy poured from her palm, flowing seamlessly along Gu Changyuan's meridians. The power was extraordinarily gentle and pure; wherever it passed, the residual scorching heat left by the Heaven-Burning Agony gradually melted away.
"This is..."
Gu Changyuan felt an unprecedented sense of deep comfort.
It felt exactly like walking under a blistering sun for hours, only to suddenly step into the cool, refreshing shade of an ancient tree.
"The purifying power of the Divine Phoenix Bloodline," Feng Jiuli said softly. "Although I am sealed, I still have this little bit of ability."
"From now on, after every cultivation session, I can help you purify the fire toxins."
Gu Changyuan turned his head and looked at her.
Her face was still deathly pale, but her eyes were remarkably serious.
"You can barely take care of yourself, yet you are expending energy to help me?"
"I told you, I never owe anyone," Feng Jiuli said lightly. "Besides, helping you purify these fire toxins doesn't take much effort for me."
Gu Changyuan fell silent.
A moment later, he gave a gentle nod.
"Thank you."
Feng Jiuli was slightly startled, and then, a faint, almost imperceptible arc appeared at the corner of her lips.
It was the very first time she had smiled since crash-landing in this world.
Although it was only for a fleeting second, Gu Changyuan still caught it.
He realized that when Feng Jiuli smiled, she was actually breathtakingly beautiful.
The fifth day.
Gu Changyuan's realm had completely stabilized at the absolute peak of the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation; he could attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment at any time. But he wasn't in a rush. Instead, he focused all his energy and mental fortitude on the impending Soul Pact.
"Are you ready?"
Feng Jiuli stood at the cave entrance, gazing up at the night sky.
Tonight was the night of the full moon. The Origin Energy of Heaven and Earth was at its absolute peak, making it the optimal time to form a Soul Pact.
"I'm ready." Gu Changyuan walked up beside her. "Let's go."
The two left the cave and headed deep into the back mountain.
Moonlight cascaded like silver water, spilling onto the narrow, winding mountain path. The night breeze brushed past, bringing with it the crisp, fresh scent of grass and trees.
Gu Changyuan walked in front, with Feng Jiuli following close behind. Neither spoke, but the silence wasn't the least bit awkward.
After walking for about an hour, they finally reached their destination.
It was a jagged cliff located in the deepest, most isolated part of the back mountain.
At the very edge of the cliff, a sea of clouds churned wildly. The moonlight showered down, illuminating the entire peak and making it look like an immortal wonderland.
"This is the place," Gu Changyuan said.
Feng Jiuli looked around and nodded. "The spiritual energy is very dense. This will work perfectly."
She walked to the edge of the cliff, turned around, and faced Gu Changyuan.
The moonlight draped over her, outlining her silhouette like a fairy stepping out of a divine painting. Even with a pale face, even bearing catastrophic injuries, nothing could mask her innate nobility and otherworldly grace.
"Gu Changyuan."
Her voice was cold and clear, yet it carried an undeniable solemnity.
"Once the Soul Pact is formed, it is a matter of a lifetime."
"Are you... absolutely certain?"
Gu Changyuan looked deeply into her eyes.
Those phoenix eyes shimmered faintly in the moonlight. Within her usual coldness lay a hint of anticipation, and within that anticipation lay a deep, hidden trace of unease.
He knew she was afraid.
Afraid of being rejected, afraid of being betrayed once again, afraid of placing her destiny into the hands of another.
But she came anyway.
Because she had no other choice.
"I am certain."
Gu Changyuan's voice was perfectly calm and totally unwavering.
"I, Gu Changyuan, always keep my word."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
A moment later, she nodded gently.
"Alright."
"Then... let's begin."
The moonlight flowed like silver water; the sea of clouds churned beneath their feet.
Two people, two distinct destinies, were about to completely intertwine at this very moment.
But the formation of the Soul Pact still required waiting for the absolute perfect moment.
Tonight was merely the eve.
The true formation would take place tomorrow, when the moon reached its absolute zenith.