Early the next morning.
Gu Changyuan and Feng Jiuli stood at the very edge of the Fog Zone, staring into the churning expanse of dense white mist before them.
"Are you ready?" Feng Jiuli asked.
"I'm ready," Gu Changyuan nodded.
The two exchanged a brief look before stepping forward together into the mist.
The moment he entered the fog, Gu Changyuan felt an intense, suffocating pressure wash over him.
The mist was so unnaturally thick that he couldn't even see his own hand stretched out in front of him. Worse, it carried a bizarre energy that actively scrambled his spiritual perception. He couldn't sense anything beyond a ten-foot radius.
"There is something wrong with this mist," he frowned deeply.
"It is an array," Feng Jiuli's voice drifted from right beside him. "This entire Fog Zone is a massive array laid down by a Primordial Almighty. It actively disrupts a cultivator's perception, causing them to completely lose their sense of direction."
"Can you perceive anything through it?"
"Barely," Feng Jiuli replied. "The perception of the Divine Phoenix Bloodline can partially pierce through this mist, but the range is drastically reduced. I can only sense things within a three-mile radius."
Gu Changyuan nodded.
Although a three-mile radius was nothing compared to the ten miles in the Outer Woodlands, it was still more than enough to keep them alive.
"Stay close to me," Feng Jiuli said. "I will lead the way."
She reached out her slender hand and firmly grasped Gu Changyuan's wrist.
Gu Changyuan froze for a second, but he didn't pull away.
In this kind of treacherous environment, maintaining physical contact was the absolute safest approach. If they were to get separated, finding each other again in this mind-scrambling mist would be virtually impossible.
Hand in hand, the two slowly waded deeper into the fog.
The terrain of the Fog Zone was far more treacherous than the Outer Woodlands.
The ground was violently uneven, littered with jagged rocks and hidden, plunging ravines. Furthermore, the mist seemed to carry a faint, insidious toxin; inhaling it for extended periods caused severe dizziness and nausea.
Gu Changyuan continuously circulated the Heaven-Burning Art, manifesting a paper-thin barrier of golden-red flames around his body to completely incinerate the toxic mist before it could touch them.
Meanwhile, Feng Jiuli utilized the sacred power of the Divine Phoenix Bloodline to actively purify the air within the barrier, ensuring they could breathe normally.
"Five hundred yards ahead. Three Rank 2 Demonic Beasts," Feng Jiuli suddenly warned.
Gu Changyuan's footsteps halted abruptly.
"Three?!"
"Yes," Feng Jiuli nodded solemnly. "It appears to be a small pack."
Gu Changyuan's brows locked together tightly.
Three Rank 2 Demonic Beasts. With their current strength, taking them head-on would be a grueling, near-impossible battle.
"We detour," he decided immediately.
"We can't," Feng Jiuli shook her head. "They are moving directly toward us."
Gu Changyuan's heart sank.
Were we discovered?
"We weren't discovered," Feng Jiuli said, seemingly sensing his exact thought. "They are simply on a patrol route. But based on their current trajectory, we will inevitably collide with them very soon."
"Is there any other path?"
Feng Jiuli fell silent for a moment, her perception sweeping the area, before finally shaking her head.
"None. To our left is a sheer cliff, and to our right is a highly toxic swamp. The only viable path is straight ahead."
Gu Changyuan took a deep breath.
It seemed this battle was completely unavoidable.
"Then we fight," he declared coldly. "Against three Rank 2 Demonic Beasts, we might not necessarily lose."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, a strange light flashing in her phoenix eyes.
"Are you certain we can win?"
"I'm not," Gu Changyuan answered frankly. "But we have absolutely no retreat."
Feng Jiuli fell silent for a moment before giving a firm nod.
"Alright."
She slowly released Gu Changyuan's wrist, and the pale golden light around her body began to surge violently.
"I will draw their attention; you find the perfect opportunity to strike."
"No," Gu Changyuan shook his head decisively. "Your physical strength is currently weaker than mine. Drawing their aggro is far too dangerous for you. I will act as the vanguard; you provide the lethal strikes."
Feng Jiuli froze.
"You—"
"Don't argue," Gu Changyuan cut her off. "I have the Heaven-Burning Art protecting my body; my defense is infinitely higher than yours. Moreover, your perception is far sharper; you are much better suited to finding the absolute flaws in their defenses."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, her heart churning with incredibly complex emotions.
She could vividly perceive Gu Changyuan's emotional state through the Soul Pact—it was an immovable, unyielding desire to protect her.
He was actively trying to shield her from harm.
"Alright."
She nodded, choosing not to argue any further.
"But you must be extremely careful."
"Don't worry," the corners of Gu Changyuan's mouth turned up in a sharp, confident arc. "I won't let myself die."
A few moments later.
Three massive figures materialized from the churning white mist.
They were three towering Mist Wolves. Their fur was an ashen gray that blended flawlessly with the surrounding fog, making them nearly invisible. Their eyes glowed with a sickly, spectral green light, exuding a chilling, murderous aura.
ROAR—!
The alpha of the pack let out a low, guttural growl and lunged viciously at Gu Changyuan.
"Perfect timing!"
Gu Changyuan roared. Pushing the Heaven-Burning Art to its absolute limit, blinding golden-red flames violently erupted from his body.
"Heaven-Burning Palm!"
He struck out with a ferocious palm. The golden-red flames morphed into a roaring fire dragon that slammed ruthlessly into the alpha Mist Wolf.
Awoo—!
The wolf let out an agonizing howl as the searing flames ignited its ashen fur.
But the beast didn't retreat. Instead, infuriated by the searing pain, it lunged at Gu Changyuan with even greater ferocity.
At the exact same time, the other two Mist Wolves flanked him from the left and right, launching a coordinated, lethal pincer attack.
Surrounded on three sides, Gu Changyuan was plunged into absolute peril.
Gu Changyuan, on your left!
Feng Jiuli's voice echoed sharply in his mind.
Without a microsecond of hesitation, Gu Changyuan violently twisted his body, narrowly evading the lethal bite from the left.
BANG!
The Mist Wolf missed its target entirely and crashed headfirst into a jagged boulder.
Right side! Attack in three breaths!
Gu Changyuan understood her intention perfectly and immediately began counting down.
One breath... Two breaths... Three breaths!
He abruptly spun around and viciously slammed his palm toward the empty mist on his right.
"Heaven-Burning Palm!"
Just as the palm struck out, a Mist Wolf lunged perfectly into the trajectory of the attack. The golden-red flames slammed squarely into the wolf's skull, sending it violently flying backward.
Good!
Feng Jiuli's voice carried a distinct trace of admiration.
With her flawless perceptive guidance, Gu Changyuan's combat efficiency skyrocketed. He didn't need to split his focus to monitor his surroundings; he only needed to concentrate entirely on executing his attacks.
But the sheer physical prowess of three Rank 2 Demonic Beasts was no joke.
Even with Feng Jiuli's perfect guidance, Gu Changyuan was slowly being forced back. Several deep, bloody gashes appeared on his body, dyeing his gray uniform a dark crimson.
Gu Changyuan!
Sensing his mounting injuries, a heavy trace of anxiety leaked into Feng Jiuli's voice.
I'm fine! Gu Changyuan gritted his teeth. Keep going!
He knew he absolutely could not retreat.
The moment he took a step back, the three Mist Wolves would instantly swarm and tear him to pieces.
Feng Jiuli, prepare to strike!
Understood!
The pale golden light surrounding Feng Jiuli suddenly erupted, converging into a blinding pillar of sacred light that shot directly toward the alpha wolf.
Awoo—!
Struck by the pillar of light, the alpha wolf let out a pained howl, its movements violently stuttering to a halt.
Seizing this exact microsecond of vulnerability, Gu Changyuan unleashed absolutely everything he had.
"Heaven-Burning Art—Wrath of the Burning Heavens!"
This was the ultimate, absolute killing move of the Heaven-Burning Art's first layer. Its destructive power was apocalyptic, but the spiritual energy it consumed was equally astronomical.
A terrifying sea of golden-red flames erupted from Gu Changyuan's body, instantly transforming the surrounding area into a blazing inferno that entirely engulfed all three Mist Wolves.
Awoo—! Awoo—! Awoo—!
The three Mist Wolves let out bloodcurdling screams as they thrashed desperately within the sea of fire.
The Heaven-Burning Flames ruthlessly incinerated their demonic Qi, causing their strength to plummet drastically.
Now!
Seizing the perfect opening, Feng Jiuli's pale golden light erupted once more. This time, it condensed into three razor-sharp blades of light that shot flawlessly toward the vital points of the three weakened wolves.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
The three blades of light struck true simultaneously.
The frantic thrashing of the three Mist Wolves abruptly ceased.
They collapsed into the sea of flames, never to rise again.
The battle was over.
Gu Changyuan fell to one knee, panting heavily, his chest heaving like a bellows.
The spiritual toll of the 'Wrath of the Burning Heavens' was simply too massive. His spiritual energy was completely drained, and he didn't have a single ounce of strength left in his body.
"Gu Changyuan!"
Feng Jiuli quickly rushed over and knelt by his side, her cold face marred by genuine, deep concern.
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine..." Gu Changyuan forced a weak, exhausted smile. "Just... a bit tired..."
Feng Jiuli looked at the numerous bloody gashes covering his body, her brows locking tightly together.
"You took far too great a risk," she scolded softly. "The spiritual consumption of that ultimate move is astronomical. You shouldn't have used it."
"If I didn't use it, we would have both died here," Gu Changyuan shook his head slowly. "It was the only viable option."
Feng Jiuli fell silent.
She knew Gu Changyuan was absolutely right.
With their current strength, it was impossible to defeat three Rank 2 Demonic Beasts in a prolonged, head-on fight. Only by using an apocalyptic, area-of-effect attack like the 'Wrath of the Burning Heavens' could they eradicate all three in one fell swoop.
But the agonizing price was that Gu Changyuan had completely exhausted every last drop of his spiritual energy.
"Lie down," she ordered softly.
"What?"
"Lie down," Feng Jiuli repeated firmly. "I will heal your wounds."
Gu Changyuan froze for a second, but ultimately complied, lying back on the damp earth.
Feng Jiuli extended her hands and gently pressed them against his chest. A surge of pure, pale golden light flowed from her palms, pouring seamlessly into his meridians and rapidly knitting his torn flesh back together.
"This is the fundamental healing power of the Divine Phoenix Bloodline," she explained softly. "Although my true strength is sealed, healing external physical trauma is still within my capabilities."
Gu Changyuan felt a soothing, incredibly warm energy flow through his body. The stinging pain of his wounds rapidly faded, and his depleted spiritual energy began to slowly replenish.
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
"No need to thank me," Feng Jiuli said lightly. "You were heavily injured protecting me; it is only right that I heal you."
Gu Changyuan froze.
"I wasn't—"
"You were," Feng Jiuli cut him off immediately. "Throughout the entire battle, you deliberately monopolized the attention of the demonic beasts, keeping all the lethal danger focused entirely on yourself."
"I can perceive your emotions through the Soul Pact."
"You were actively trying to protect me."
Gu Changyuan fell silent.
He hadn't expected Feng Jiuli to see through his intentions so perfectly.
"We are companions," he finally said. "Isn't it perfectly normal for companions to protect each other?"
Feng Jiuli looked down at him, a highly complex emotion swirling in her beautiful phoenix eyes.
"Gu Changyuan."
"Mm?"
"Next time, do not shoulder everything alone."
Her voice was incredibly soft, yet it carried an indescribable, absolute seriousness.
"We are companions. If there is a burden to bear, we bear it together."
Gu Changyuan looked up at her, a profound warmth surging in his heart.
"Alright."
He nodded, the corners of his mouth turning up in a gentle smile.
"Next time, we bear it together."
The two rested at the site of the battle for four full hours.
Gu Changyuan's external wounds were completely healed, and his spiritual energy had recovered by more than half.
"Let's go," he stood up. "We must keep moving."
Feng Jiuli nodded.
The two continued their trek deeper into the Fog Zone.
This time, Feng Jiuli did not release Gu Changyuan's hand.
She held his wrist firmly, and the two walked forward, shoulder to shoulder.
The mist churned violently around them, and the road ahead remained dangerously unknown.
But they were no longer afraid.
Because they knew that no matter what terrifying dangers awaited them, there would always be someone standing firmly by their side.
This was the true, absolute meaning of a companion.
By dusk.
The two finally broke through the suffocating Fog Zone and arrived at the very edge of the Core Lake.
Before them lay a massive, incredibly expansive lake. The water was crystal clear, shimmering with a mesmerizing, faint blue light. Right in the dead center of the lake was a small island, and upon that island grew a single, towering spiritual tree that radiated a brilliant golden hue.
"The Core Lake," Feng Jiuli announced softly. "We've arrived."
Gu Changyuan stared at the breathtaking scene before him, a flash of absolute awe in his eyes.
The concentration of spiritual energy here was several times denser than even the Fog Zone. If he could cultivate in this exact spot, his chances of a flawless breakthrough to Foundation Establishment would skyrocket.
"What is that spiritual tree?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the island.
"A Golden Spirit Tree," Feng Jiuli replied. "An incredibly rare and precious spiritual plant. Its fruits are the primary ingredient used to refine Foundation Establishment Pills."
"If we can obtain it..."
"Do not rush," Feng Jiuli cut him off sharply. "The lake is guarded by a Rank 3 Demonic Beast. We must find a way to deal with it before we can even think about approaching the Golden Spirit Tree."
Gu Changyuan nodded solemnly.
He looked closely at the tranquil surface of the lake and could faintly sense a terrifying, overwhelmingly oppressive aura slumbering deep beneath the water.
A Rank 3 Demonic Beast.
Equivalent to a human Golden Core expert.
With their current, meager strength, they were absolutely no match for it.
"Do you have a plan?" he asked.
Feng Jiuli fell silent for a long moment, staring intensely at the lake, before finally giving a slow nod.
"I do."
She turned to look at Gu Changyuan, a flash of absolute seriousness in her eyes.
"But it will require flawless, absolute cooperation between us."
Gu Changyuan looked back at her, the corners of his mouth turning up in a sharp, confident smile.
"Then we cooperate flawlessly."
The two shared a knowing smile.
Tomorrow, they would challenge a terrifying Rank 3 Demonic Beast and fight for the ultimate prize of the Golden Spirit Tree.
This would undoubtedly be the greatest, most lethal challenge they had faced since entering the Secret Realm.
But they were no longer afraid.
Because they had already proven that as long as they fought together, absolutely nothing was impossible.