Chapter 33 – Through Pain, Breakthrough
A month passed.
The days blurred together in the depths of the Third Layer — days of quiet recovery, of cautious hunting, of whispered plans by firelight beneath the ancient trees. Liu Guan Yi and Zhou Fang moved like ghosts through the forest, honing their instincts, healing their bodies, learning the lay of the land. Each encounter with the savage beasts of this realm tempered their strength further.
Now, the two returned from another successful hunt, clothes torn, faces streaked with grime, but their spirits light. The sun hung low behind the mist, casting everything in a hazy silver glow.
At the mouth of the cave, Yan Qing'er waited. She rose as they approached, eyes soft with relief.
"You're late," she said, though there was no reproach in her voice.
Zhou Fang grinned. "Had to chase down a stubborn one."
Together, they entered the cave — their temporary refuge in this unforgiving land. The interior was crude but secure, with the faint glow of formation lines etched into the stone. Over the past month, with Zhou Fang's strange insights and Liu Guan Yi's precision, they had worked together to create a refinement path formation.
For the first time in what felt like ages, they felt like they had carved out a piece of safety for themselves.
"I'll start preparing the meat," Yan Qing'er offered.
But Zhou Fang shook his head. His gaze burned with a quiet intensity. "Not yet. I'm going to use the quicksand."
Liu Guan Yi frowned but didn't argue. He could see the determination in Zhou's eyes — and perhaps the hint of something darker. "Fine. We'll leave you to it."
He and Yan Qing'er stepped outside, giving him space.
Inside the cave, Zhou Fang set down the small vial of golden quicksand. He stripped off his outer robe and sat cross-legged, the chill of the stone floor seeping into his bones. He breathed out slowly, then began. The quicksand was poured into his palms, its grains shimmering as if each carried its own tiny sun.
The moment the substance touched his skin, pain crashed into him — immense, searing pain that seemed to tear through muscle and marrow alike. His body trembled violently.
A lesser man would have blacked out at once.
Zhou Fang bit down on his lip so hard he tasted blood. His vision blurred at the edges. His hands clawed at the stone, fingernails cracking. Every instinct screamed at him to stop — to yield, to fall unconscious and escape the agony.
No. If I lose consciousness now... I die.
His eyes burned red from strain, but he endured. He forced the quicksand's energy into his body, guided it with sheer will, letting it scour his meridians, temper his flesh, fortify his bones.
And then — a sudden brilliance.
From deep within, golden light surged. It filled him, flooded him, wrapped his broken body in its radiance. His blood roared like a river in flood. His bones sang with power.
His cultivation surged — past the threshold he'd fought so long to reach.
Rank 4.
He gasped for breath as the light faded, sweat dripping from his chin, mixing with the last grains of quicksand on the floor. His heart pounded with disbelief and relief.
One month… he thought, almost dazed. It should've taken a year to reach Rank 4. But now—
A grim smile tugged at his lips. Now, this is a true advance.
Steadying himself, Zhou Fang rose. His legs felt like iron, but he moved. The cave seemed lighter now, the world sharper.
Outside, Liu Guan Yi and Yan Qing'er turned as he emerged.
He didn't need to say anything. The fire in his eyes told them all they needed to know.