The girl walked toward a nearby tree, searched for a clean, flat spot, then laid down on her back beneath the shade.
Her red hair fanned out like a silk curtain, her arms behind her head, and her expression completely blank — like a bored goddess watching clouds.
Gao Tian, meanwhile, waded into the lake.
He washed his body thoroughly, muttering to himself.
"Ugh… this stink... Cultivation is amazing, but the impurity release part really sucks."
After a few minutes, he emerged, dripping wet.
With a flick of spiritual energy, his pants and lower garments dried quickly — but his upper clothes had been burned to ash during his earlier breakthrough.
He sighed.
Guess I have to remake it.
He concentrated his spiritual energy and reshaped his burnt robe, weaving it together with spiritual threads until it looked exactly as it had before.
Moments later, Gao Tian stood dressed, clean, and refreshed — though his black hair was still slightly damp, adding to his handsome, wild charm.
He turned toward the girl, who was still lounging calmly.
"Alright. I'm ready to go."
The girl stood up from the ground, brushing off her clothes. Without saying much, she walked past Gao Tian.
"Alright. Now follow me."
She ran ahead swiftly, heading in the opposite direction from where Gao Tian had come.
Gao Tian blinked.
"H-Hey, wait up!"
He dashed after her, using both his physical strength and spiritual energy just to keep up. Her movements were fast—but it wasn't because of her cultivation. She was using pure physical strength.
She's only at the Body Tempering Sixth Layer, but her movement is insane... who the hell is she?
While running, Gao Tian tried to catch his breath and called out,
"Hey… by the way, what's your name?"
The girl turned her face slightly toward him, her expression as calm and unreadable as ever.
"Why do you want to know?"
Gao Tian smiled.
"Oh, just curious. We're allies for now, aren't we?"
The girl said nothing. She turned forward again—and sped up.
Gao Tian's eyes widened.
"Wha—hey! If you don't want to say, fine! But why're you speeding up like I said something wrong?!"
The chase continued.
After a while, they reached the edge of the jungle. The trees cleared, revealing a wide, open space—and something dangerous just ahead.
The girl stopped at the edge of a cliff. Gao Tian caught up to her, panting slightly.
"Ahh… I'm exhausted… how much farther are we going?!"
The girl didn't respond with words.
She simply raised her arm and pointed forward.
Gao Tian followed her gaze—and his face dropped.
"You've gotta be kidding me..."
In front of them stretched a massive cliff, its bottom shrouded in clouds. The only way across was an old rope bridge, swaying in the wind.
But the bridge was in rough shape—several sections were frayed, and parts of the wood were missing entirely.
"That's… not a bridge. That's a death trap!"
He leaned forward and looked down.
"If we fall… we're screwed. No flying, no teleportation... nothing at this level."
The girl stared at the bridge with her usual calm.
"We have to cross it. The Mystic Fire Herbs grow on the cliff's opposite side, in a cave."
Gao Tian scratched his head, visibly sweating.
"Can't we find an easier herb... like… Mystic Grass or something less suicidal?"
She didn't respond. Instead, she took a step forward—onto the broken bridge.
The girl took a step onto the old rope bridge.
Creak… creak…
The wooden planks groaned under her feet, swaying slightly in the breeze. Without hesitation, she continued walking, calm and steady, as if the thousand-meter drop below didn't exist.
Gao Tian stared, gulping.
"Is she insane or just fearless…? Either way, I have to go."
He carefully stepped onto the bridge after her. The wood flexed beneath his feet, and the ropes creaked louder.
"Okay, Gao Tian… you're a former Immortal Emperor. This is just a bridge. A few planks. A long fall. Certain death. No big deal..."
He moved slowly at first, arms out for balance, his body tense. But the girl ahead of him didn't even glance back. She kept moving like it was nothing.
Midway across, a gust of wind rushed through.
"W-Whoa!" Gao Tian wobbled and nearly slipped. His hand shot out, grabbing a nearby rope just in time. The bridge rocked violently.
The girl finally looked over her shoulder.
"Don't fall."
Her voice was as flat and calm as ever.
"Y-Yeah! Great advice! Very helpful!" Gao Tian muttered under his breath.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached the other side. He dropped to the ground and kissed the dirt dramatically.
"Ahh… sweet land… you're beautiful."
The girl didn't even stop walking.
"The cave is just ahead. Try not to die before we get there."
Gao Tian stood up quickly, brushing himself off.
"Tch. You're not even impressed I made it."
They continued walking through a narrow path carved into the rocky side of the mountain. The spiritual energy in the air gradually grew hotter—dense and fiery, like standing near the heart of a furnace.
Gao Tian's eyes narrowed.
"This heat… the Mystic Fire Herbs must be close."
Moments later, the rocky trail widened, opening up into a small cavern entrance glowing faintly with red light.
The girl stopped at the entrance.
"This is it. The Mystic Flame Cavern."
They stepped inside. The walls pulsed with fiery energy. Crimson light flickered across the smooth stone, and the air shimmered with heat.
Inside the cave, growing from cracks in the rock, were three glowing Mystic Fire Herbs—each with crimson leaves and a golden stem that sparkled faintly.
Gao Tian's eyes lit up.
"There they are… perfect!"
But just as he stepped forward to collect them, the girl held out her arm in front of him.
"Wait. There's a guardian."
A low growl echoed through the cave.
From deeper inside, two burning red eyes opened.
A massive Flame Wolf, made entirely of fire and spiritual energy, emerged from the shadows.
It bared its fangs.
Gao Tian smirked, stepping forward.
"Heh… finally, some fun."
Gao Tian turned to her with a relaxed grin.
"Hey, this is my fight. Please don't get involved."
The girl paused, then silently stepped back. Her crimson eyes gleamed faintly.
He's only at Qi Refining... and yet he dares to fight two mid-grade Rank spirit beasts alone. This might be entertaining.
Gao Tian stepped forward, casually cracking his knuckles.
In front of him stood two enormous Flame Wolves—burning red fur, eyes like molten lava, fangs sharp enough to tear steel.
He waved lazily.
"Hey you two, you look kinda cute. Why not become my pets?"
The beasts immediately roared in fury, fire flaring from their mouths and claws.
"Tch. No manners at all."
The first wolf charged straight at him.
Gao Tian's right fist began to glow—deep purple energy swirled around it, the mark of the Radiant Fist, one of the key techniques from the Demons and Gods Scripture.
Boom!
He slammed his fist into the beast's skull, and the entire creature smashed into the ground, stone cracking beneath the impact. Dust exploded outward, hiding him from view.
From above, the second Flame Wolf lunged into the air. Its claws shimmered with red spiritual energy, and it slashed downward.
A flaming spiritual slash burst forth from its claws, cutting straight through the dust cloud like a crescent blade.
The girl's eyes narrowed slightly. She unconsciously moved one step forward, ready to intervene.
But then—
"Too slow."
Gao Tian's voice whispered like a ghost behind the second beast.
The wolf froze, realizing something was wrong.
It turned just enough to catch a glimpse of glowing red eyes and a wicked grin.
"Radiant Fist—Second Impact."
Gao Tian's fist, cloaked in purple energy, slammed into the side of the beast's neck.
Crack—Boom!
The wolf collapsed mid-air, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Blood sprayed across the cavern floor.
Gao Tian landed lightly beside the fallen body, brushing the dust from his shoulder.
"I'm done."
The girl approached him, her expression still as calm and blank as ever.
But her gaze lingered on him a moment longer than before.
"You're strange," she said finally.
Gao Tian smirked.
"Strange and strong—don't forget the second part."
She turned away.
"Let's go get your herbs."
She stepped past the defeated beasts, heading toward the glowing Mystic Fire Herbs at the back of the cave.
Gao Tian followed, still smiling.
This body is way more fun than I expected. And that girl… she's not bad company.