The hidden cave in the back mountain.
The campfire danced, casting their flickering shadows against the rugged stone walls.
Gu Changyuan sat cross-legged, circulating the Heaven-Burning Art. Golden-red flames swirled around his body as spiritual energy surged into his meridians like a rushing tide.
Feng Jiuli sat quietly to the side, watching him cultivate.
She could clearly sense the subtle shifts in Gu Changyuan's aura.
His cultivation had already reached the absolute peak of the Qi Condensation Realm; he could attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment at any given moment.
"Your progress is astonishingly fast," she remarked.
Gu Changyuan opened his eyes and slowly withdrew the blazing flames surrounding him.
"The cultivation speed of the Heaven-Burning Art is indeed incredibly fast," he said. "In a few more days, I should be ready to attempt the breakthrough."
"Do not rush," Feng Jiuli advised. "Foundation Establishment is a major threshold. You must be fully and absolutely prepared."
"I know." Gu Changyuan nodded.
He stood up, walked to the cave entrance, and looked out at the vast night sky.
The moonlight flowed like silver water, spilling over the dense forests of the back mountain. In the distance, the Profound Heaven Sect was brightly lit, and the faint sounds of disciples cultivating echoed through the night.
"Feng Jiuli."
"Mm?"
"Do you want to know exactly why I have chosen to endure for so long?"
Feng Jiuli froze for a second.
"You are willing to tell me?"
"I am." Gu Changyuan turned around and looked directly at her. "We are companions. There are some things you have the right to know."
Feng Jiuli nodded slightly and waited quietly.
Gu Changyuan fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking:
"Three years ago, I was framed, and my meridians were utterly destroyed."
"At that time, I wanted nothing more than to butcher every single person involved. But I knew I couldn't do it."
"Because the person who framed me... was not acting alone."
Feng Jiuli's brows furrowed slightly.
"Not acting alone?"
"No," Gu Changyuan nodded. "On that night three years ago, the person who ambushed me had a cultivation base of at least the Golden Core Realm."
"And at that time, I was only at the peak of Qi Condensation, just preparing to break through to Foundation Establishment."
"Why would a supreme Golden Core expert personally launch a sneak attack against a mere Qi Condensation disciple?"
Feng Jiuli fell silent.
She immediately understood Gu Changyuan's implication.
A Golden Core expert had absolutely no reason to personally ambush a Qi Condensation disciple. Unless...
"Unless someone ordered them to," she concluded softly.
"Exactly," Gu Changyuan nodded. "The person who ambushed me was merely an executioner. The true mastermind behind the scenes is someone else entirely."
"Do you know who it is?"
"I don't have concrete proof," Gu Changyuan shook his head. "But I have a primary suspect."
"Who?"
"Elder Zhou."
Feng Jiuli's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Elder Zhou? An Elder of the Profound Heaven Sect?"
"Yes," Gu Changyuan confirmed. "Three years ago, I had a severe conflict with Elder Zhou's direct disciple. His name is Zhou Mingyuan."
"I utterly defeated him during the Grand Sect Tournament, causing him to lose all face in front of the entire sect."
"Ever since that day, Zhou Mingyuan has desperately wanted revenge."
"And the cultivation technique used by the person who ambushed me that night... was terrifyingly similar to Elder Zhou's signature art."
Feng Jiuli fell entirely silent.
She now completely understood the true depth of Gu Changyuan's endurance.
If the mastermind behind the scenes was truly Elder Zhou, then the current Gu Changyuan had absolutely no ability to fight back.
Elder Zhou was a high-ranking Elder of the Profound Heaven Sect; his cultivation was at least at the Nascent Soul Realm. Meanwhile, Gu Changyuan was currently only at the peak of Qi Condensation—he hadn't even reached the Golden Core Realm yet.
Recklessly exposing his restored strength now would only draw an even more catastrophic disaster.
"So, you have been forcing yourself to endure," she said softly.
"Yes," Gu Changyuan nodded heavily. "I am waiting for an opportunity."
"Waiting until my strength is formidable enough—formidable enough to uncover the absolute truth, and formidable enough to avenge my master's death."
"Until that day comes, I have no choice but to endure."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, her heart churning with complex emotions.
She hadn't realized that Gu Changyuan's predicament was even more treacherous than she had imagined.
Not only did he have to deal with petty, vindictive scum like Chen Xuanfeng, but he also had to guard against a terrifying mastermind like Elder Zhou lurking in the shadows.
"Gu Changyuan."
"Mm?"
"I will help you," Feng Jiuli said with absolute seriousness. "We will uncover the truth, and we will avenge your master."
Gu Changyuan looked at her, a flash of genuine surprise in his eyes.
"You are willing to help me?"
"We are companions," Feng Jiuli stated simply. "Your enemies are my enemies."
"Besides..." She paused for a second. "You have helped me so much; it is only right that I help you in return."
Gu Changyuan fell silent.
A moment later, he gave a gentle nod.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me," Feng Jiuli said lightly. "It is what I should do."
The two shared a knowing smile.
Although it was just a simple conversation, the foundation of trust between them was quietly, but solidly, deepening.
"What is our next step?" Feng Jiuli asked.
"We proceed according to plan," Gu Changyuan replied. "The Grand Sect Tournament is in three months. I will stun the entire world at the tournament."
"Stun the world?"
"Yes." A razor-sharp, predatory glint flashed through Gu Changyuan's eyes. "I will make absolutely everyone realize that Gu Changyuan has returned."
"The number one genius from three years ago is not dead."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, a strange light shimmering in her eyes.
"Are you certain you can do it?"
"I am," Gu Changyuan nodded firmly. "The destructive power of the Heaven-Burning Art far exceeds any ordinary cultivation technique. As long as I break through to Foundation Establishment, I have absolute absolute confidence I can obliterate Chen Xuanfeng."
"Moreover..." He looked deeply at Feng Jiuli. "I have you."
Feng Jiuli froze for a second.
"Me?"
"Yes," Gu Changyuan said seriously. "Your knowledge and insight far surpass anyone in this realm. Your guidance has given me a profoundly deeper understanding of the Heaven-Burning Art."
"With you by my side, my chances of absolute victory are much higher."
Feng Jiuli fell silent.
She hadn't expected Gu Changyuan to say something like that.
"You... certainly know how to speak well," she whispered.
"I am merely speaking the truth," Gu Changyuan said lightly. "Since the Soul Pact was formed, we are incapable of lying to one another."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, her feelings incredibly complex.
She knew Gu Changyuan was telling the absolute truth.
With the Soul Pact in place, neither of them could utter a single lie to the other.
Every single word he spoke came straight from the absolute depths of his heart.
"Alright," she finally said. "Then we will proceed according to plan."
"You focus entirely on your cultivation and strive to break through to Foundation Establishment before the tournament."
"I will continue to stay hidden in the Outer Sect, gather intelligence, and provide you with whatever support you need."
"When the Grand Sect Tournament arrives, we will make our move together."
Gu Changyuan nodded.
"It's a promise."
The two shared a knowing smile.
Outside the cave, the moonlight flowed like silver water. Inside the cave, the atmosphere was profoundly warm.
Although the road ahead was endlessly long and surrounded by terrifying enemies, they were no longer afraid.
Because they knew that no matter what happened, there would always be someone standing firmly by their side.
This was the true meaning of a companion.
Over the following days, Gu Changyuan devoted everything he had to his cultivation, relentlessly charging toward the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Meanwhile, Feng Jiuli remained undercover in the Outer Sect, quietly gathering intelligence on Elder Zhou and Zhou Mingyuan.
During the day, they moved independently. At night, they met in the hidden cave to exchange information and seamlessly coordinate their next steps.
As the days passed, Gu Changyuan's cultivation grew increasingly terrifying.
Finally, on the night of a full moon, he sensed the perfect opportunity for his breakthrough.
"Feng Jiuli."
"Mm?"
"I am going to break through."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, a flash of absolute solemnity in her eyes.
"I will stand guard for you."
Gu Changyuan nodded, sat cross-legged on the ground, and began to violently circulate the Heaven-Burning Art.
Golden-red flames erupted from his body, illuminating the entire cave in a brilliant, terrifying glow.
The Tribulation of Foundation Establishment was about to begin.