The wind howled across the precipice.
Three masked cultivators remained—two at Foundation Establishment – First Layer, and one at Qi Refining – Ninth Layer. The air was thick with killing intent.
Gao Tian stood tall, golden and red energies swirling around him like twin storms. Behind him, the girl radiated flame, her crimson aura illuminating the cliff's edge.
"We end this now."
The two 14-mask cultivators exchanged glances.
"Focus on the girl. The boy won't last long."
In an instant, the Foundation Establishment cultivators charged forward, one aiming a flaming blade at Gao Tian, the other unleashing a barrage of spiritual slashes at the girl.
But Gao Tian's figure vanished.
Boom—!
He reappeared in front of the one targeting the girl, blocking the slashes with crossed arms infused with radiant energy.
"I said… I'll protect her."
His eyes blazed—red and gold. The Demon-God aura behind him surged with power.
Suddenly, his aura compressed, then exploded outward.
"Radiant Heaven Demon-God Strike!"
His fist struck the masked cultivator's chest, unleashing a violent burst of spiritual force that shattered the mask—revealing a pale, shocked face beneath it—before launching the man into the cliffside wall with a thunderous CRACK.
One enemy down.
The remaining 14-mask tried to slash at Gao Tian from behind, but the girl finally moved again. She extended two fingers forward.
"Flame Chain – Binding Coil."
Red-hot chains erupted from the air, wrapping around the attacker mid-swing.
He struggled, screaming as the flames scorched his flesh.
Gao Tian didn't hesitate. He surged forward, launching a spinning kick infused with divine energy straight into the man's stomach.
BOOM!
He crashed to the ground unconscious.
Now only the 15-mask Qi Refining cultivator remained, frozen in fear.
He looked at Gao Tian, then at the girl, and trembled.
Gao Tian stepped toward him slowly.
"You came to hunt her… but do you even know who she is?"
The man turned to flee—but a burning spear pinned his shadow.
The girl appeared in front of him in a blink.
"You're not leaving."
Crack!
She struck his neck with a single, precise chop, knocking him unconscious.
Silence fell.
Dust settled.
The enemies were either unconscious or half-buried in rock.
Gao Tian exhaled, dropping to one knee.
"Damn… this body isn't ready for all this yet..."
The girl walked up beside him, her voice still calm.
"You did well."
He blinked. "Was that… a compliment?"
She turned her gaze to the horizon.
"Don't let it go to your head. You're still weak."
He chuckled. "Thanks anyway."
They both stood on the edge of the cliff, the rising sun casting golden light across their figures.
And so, the pact of one year began—not just a promise, but the start of something far more powerful.
---
Outside Wai City – Main Gate
Gao Tian and the girl walked side by side, the early morning mist hanging low around the cobblestone road. Gao Tian had wrapped a black cloth over his lower face, concealing his features beneath the shadow of a hood.
The girl glanced at him sideways, her eyes calm and unreadable.
"Why are you hiding your face? Is there someone you're hiding from?"
Her voice was as emotionless as ever.
Gao Tian didn't look at her. He kept walking.
"Ah… I'll tell you later."
She didn't press. Silence returned, and they passed through the city gate with no further words.
---
Gao Residence – Outside Main Gate
The sun had risen fully by the time they arrived before the grand estate. The massive wood gate towered above them, engraved with golden patterns and guarded by armored cultivators standing at attention.
A large nameplate hung above the gate.
"Gao Clan."
The girl stopped walking. Her eyes slowly lifted to the nameplate. For a moment, a faint flicker of curiosity danced behind her crimson pupils.
Then she turned toward him.
"Oh… you live here."
Gao Tian scratched the back of his head, laughing dryly under his mask.
"Yeah… but we can't go in through the main gate."
She kept staring at him. Same calm, unreadable gaze.
"Why not?"
Gao Tian sighed.
"I'll tell you later."
She didn't question further.
He turned and motioned to follow him.
"Come on, I know a side path."
They circled around the estate, Gao Tian guiding her through a narrow alley and behind a row of trees.
As they moved along the hidden path, the girl finally spoke again, her tone still flat.
"You're a young master of this clan, aren't you?"
Gao Tian paused for a second.
Then he laughed bitterly.
"I was."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Did something happen?"
He looked ahead, his expression hard behind the cloth mask.
"Yeah… something like I'm dead for whole city."
They didn't speak again for a while.
The girl simply followed, her steps light and quiet.
But for the first time, she gave Gao Tian a second glance—not just with curiosity…
…but with a hint of understanding.
Inside the Gao Residence — Gao Tian's Room
The two quietly moved through the hidden paths of the residence, avoiding the main courtyards and patrolling servants. Soon, they reached a secluded part of the estate — an old, quiet wing near the rear gardens. Gao Tian paused before a door reinforced with faint glowing runes.
He looked around cautiously, making sure no one was nearby. Then, he turned to the girl beside him.
She narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at the shimmering ward over the door.
"Hey… why is there a barrier around this room?"
Gao Tian replied calmly, pressing a hand against the seal.
"I told you... I'm supposed to be dead, at least to the outside world. Only my parents know I'm alive. They set this barrier to protect me from any spies or assassins."
The girl gave a slow nod, her crimson eyes still surveying the barrier like she could unravel it with just a thought.
Gao Tian added, "Also… my body's meridians were destroyed. That's why I needed those three Mystic Fire Herbs."
The girl raised an eyebrow faintly.
"But I can sense your meridians now. They seem perfectly fine."
Gao Tian walked to the door.
"That's because the body I using now and when I met you wasn't my real body—it was a face body, an avatar, controlled by my soul. My true body is inside this room."
With a wave of his hand, the barrier shimmered and fell. Gao Tian pushed open the door.
Inside the dim, herb-scented room, a young man sat cross-legged on the bed—his features identical to the one beside the girl. His eyes opened slowly as they entered.
"So, you're back."
The voice was calm, practiced. Almost mechanical.
Gao Tian nodded.
"Yeah."
The real body spoke again.
"I did as you instructed. I acted as Gao Tian while you explored outside."
The girl, still with her expressionless face, stepped inside and glanced between the two.
"So… the one I was with all this time… was your false body?"
Gao Tian gestured politely.
"Yeah. Come in. You can sit over there."
He pointed toward a wooden chair in the corner.
The girl silently walked over and sat, folding her arms as if this strange revelation was nothing out of the ordinary.
Gao Tian then walked toward his real body.
"Alright. I'm going to start repairing your meridians now. Sit tight."
The real body, without a word, adjusted his posture and closed his eyes. Gao Tian sit on bed behind real body. Energy began to gather in the room as Gao Tian summoned his spiritual force, preparing to begin the delicate process of healing.
The girl observed them quietly, her red eyes watching the merging of soul and flesh with a flicker of intrigue.
Inside Gao Tian's Room
Gao Tian pressed his left palm firmly against the back of his real body. Gentle streams of spiritual energy began flowing from his palm into the dormant meridians. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and his breathing grew heavier.
"Real body, I'm about to infuse the Mystic Fire Herbs," he said in a low, tired voice. "You need to absorb the essence as if it's a part of you. Understand?"
The real body gave a small nod. Though its expression was blank, its body trembled slightly from the spiritual pressure.
Gao Tian lifted his right hand and summoned the three Mystic Fire Herbs from his spiritual ring. They floated above his palm, glowing faintly with fiery energy.
Then, carefully, he channeled spiritual flames through his fingers. The herbs began to burn — not chaotically, but in a precise, controlled manner. Sparks of fiery essence drifted up like glowing fireflies.
The girl watched silently from her seat, eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity.
"He's… refining medicinal essence directly through spiritual control? Without an alchemy furnace? That's not something an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator can do…"