Demonic Blood.

Bai Xuebing had lost too much blood during the battle. His body, on the verge of collapse, couldn't endure much longer without immediate treatment. Xia Ruyen knew this. If they didn't act quickly, his life was hanging by a thread.

Among the members of the team accompanying her, only Xia could move him quickly, but even if she managed to bring him to the group and administer healing pills, the issue remained critical: the lost blood couldn't be easily replaced.

In this world, there were no blood transfusions or advanced methods to restore it. The only known solution was the use of specific elixirs, but these were so incredibly expensive and rare that even a seventh-realm cultivator couldn't easily access them. No one in the team had anything like that.

Bai Xuebing fully understood what that meant. He knew it even better than Xia. He would die from blood loss.

But as his mind sank into darkness, desperately seeking a way out, something caught his attention: the black, viscous blood flowing from the corpse of the demonic beast.

His eyes lit up at the sight of it.

A twisted and dangerous idea crossed his mind like lightning. His empty gaze filled with a spark of madness, and a faint murmur escaped his cracked lips:

—Let me go…

—Bai Xuebing!— Xia Ruyen exclaimed, holding onto him as she carried him on her back —We need to return to the group now. If we don't treat you quickly, you won't make it.

But Bai wasn't listening to her. His thoughts were a chaotic mix of desperation and survival.

—Blo… blood…— he stammered, his voice barely a whisper, as he began to twist. With the few remaining forces he had, he managed to free himself from Xia's grip and fell to the ground, crawling awkwardly toward the beast's corpse.

—What are you doing? Bai!— Xia shouted, desperate as she followed him.

Bai didn't respond. His body trembled as he extended a bloody hand toward the pool of black blood accumulating beneath the creature.

—I need… blood…— he murmured, his voice laden with a mixture of need and madness.

The demonic blood, thick and corrupted, seemed to shimmer under the dim light. It was a suicidal gamble, a risk that could consume what little humanity he had left. But for Bai Xuebing, at that moment, living was all that mattered, no matter the cost.

Before Bai Xuebing could do anything, the rest of the group, along with the clients, appeared at the scene. This was made possible by one of the men accompanying Xia Ruyen, who possessed a star fragment with a communication ability.

This type of fragment, commonly used by strategists, generals, or leaders, allowed messages to be transmitted over long distances, an invaluable tool in times of crisis.

When they arrived, the scene they found left them speechless.

The corpse of the demonic beast lay shattered, its head barely hanging on by a torn piece of flesh. And there, on the brink of collapse, was Bai Xuebing. His battered body, drenched in blood and acid, looked more like a corpse than a survivor.

The impact was evident on every face. Some were paralyzed, unable to process what they were seeing. How could someone who should be dead still be breathing? Others, however, felt a mix of relief and admiration, while a few couldn't hide their discomfort or annoyance.

—Leader! What's wrong with Bai Xuebing?— one of the men asked with concern, taking a step toward the injured young man.

—Quick! Bring medicine for Brother Bai!— another exclaimed, moving urgently toward his companion.

Among them, the Han brothers exchanged a look before smiling.

—Haha, Brother Bai is undoubtedly a strong man— said the first, with a nervous laugh trying to dispel the tension.

—Yes, you're right. That guy never ceases to amaze us— replied the other, though his eyes couldn't tear away from the wounds covering Bai's body.

However, not everyone shared the same sentiment. Liang Cheng, walking at the back of the group, gritted his teeth in obvious annoyance. One hand covered his face, trying to hide the bruise Xia Ruyen had left moments earlier.

—Xia Ruyen…— he growled, his voice laced with irritation as he looked around for the leader —Where is that woman?

His words were nothing more than an echo in the background of the group, as most were focused on Bai Xuebing. The figure of the young man, defeated but still breathing, stood as a tangible testament to his resilience… and the madness that had driven him to survive.

—Mmm… what's the matter now, Liang Cheng? — asked Xia Ruyen without bothering to look at him, her eyes still fixed on Bai.

—I…— Liang Cheng began to speak, but he was abruptly interrupted by Xia's hand, raised firmly in front of him.

—Sigh all you want later.— Xia said impatiently, turning briefly to face him —. What you have to say can wait. Right now, we're in a critical situation.

Liang Cheng gritted his teeth, swallowing his words. But his eyes soon shifted to Bai Xuebing, who remained motionless in front of the demonic beast's corpse.

Suddenly, something caught everyone's attention. Bai Xuebing's trembling hand slowly rose, reaching for the pool of black blood still oozing from the corpse. With visible effort, the young man began to absorb it, channeling the corrupted energy of the blood into his own body.

Whispers among the group began almost immediately.

—What is he doing…?

—That blood… isn't normal.

Liang Cheng stepped forward, a look of disdain on his face.

—Hmp— he let out with a bitter laugh —That boy is using demonic techniques, what kind of member do you have in your group, Xia Ruyen? He's a demonic cultivator.

His words fell like a stone within the group, sowing an uncomfortable silence. Some mercenaries looked at him with doubt, while others averted their gaze, as if unsure how to react.

Xia Ruyen, however, showed no surprise. Instead, she advanced toward Bai, completely ignoring Liang Cheng's words.

—Don't spout nonsense— she snapped without turning, her tone firm and leaving no room for discussion —That blood may be the only thing keeping him alive. If he has to absorb it, he will.

—You'll defend him even now? — Liang Cheng growled, his voice filled with incredulity, as his eyes locked onto Bai Xuebing's figure—. Don't you see what he's doing? He's using demonic techniques!

To anyone, it was easy to interpret what was happening. The crimson blood swirling around Bai, his dark and violent aura, all screamed "demonic cultivator." But the truth was much more complex.

Bai Xuebing wasn't a demonic cultivator, he was simply someone with a unique attribute, misunderstood, which inevitably dragged him into this kind of misunderstanding. However, this was not the time to look for culprits.

Bai Xuebing staggered, gasping heavily. When the contaminated blood, black as night, entered his body, an indescribable pain pierced through him. His body twisted involuntarily, and every breath became a titanic effort.

It was the first time he absorbed demonic blood, and the consequences were devastating.

In this world, natural energy was divided into two forms: pure and malignant. Cultivators who used pure energy couldn't switch to malignant energy without facing severe consequences: internal collapse, destruction of their core, or worse, death.

On the other hand, demonic cultivators fed exclusively on malignant energy, as it was easier to obtain and allowed for rapid progress, but at a high cost. It accelerated their cultivation, yes, but it also brought them closer to the abyss, slowly destroying their body and soul.

The pain Bai felt now surpassed even the torment of consuming an entire bottle of restorative pills at his worst moment. But he had no choice. As the demonic blood coursed through his veins, he couldn't refine it in his core; there was no time.

Instead, he was redirecting it directly into his body, desperately filling the empty parts with that corrupted power.

His veins began to darken, a shadowy pattern ascending like roots until reaching his head. For a brief moment, his eyes turned a deep red, with pupils reflecting the ferocity of a wild beast.

Bai Xuebing gritted his teeth, struggling to remain conscious as his body seemed on the verge of collapse. He barely managed to stabilize himself, and with a trembling hand, pulled out another bottle of restorative pills from his spatial ring. Without a second thought, he was ready to consume it all, repeating his previous madness.

It was clear he had no choice. Everything he had done so far had been out of necessity, out of sheer survival. But this time, before he could commit that recklessness, a familiar figure stepped forward.

—Give it to me!— Xia Ruyen exclaimed, snatching the bottle from his hands before he could react.

Bai, his gaze lost and his eyes still tinged with an unnatural crimson, tried to protest, but the pain caused him to fall to his knees, his trembling hands trying to hold on.

—Damn it, you can't keep this up! — Xia Ruyen shouted. Her eyes were fixed on Bai Xuebing, whose body continued to twist as the dark veins consumed him from within. The malignant energy spread like a plague, threatening to devour him completely.

Without wasting a second, Xia Ruyen pulled out a rank B healing pill from her ring. But before she could give it to him, Bai's body finally collapsed. His endurance had reached its limit, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

—No, not now!— Xia Ruyen whispered, her heart racing.

Holding him carefully, she took the pill to her mouth, quickly crushing it. Then, leaning over him, she passed it mouth-to-mouth. Bai was too weak to consume it himself, but Xia didn't hesitate. It was the only way to save him.

The bitter taste of the pill mixed with Bai's blood, and finally, he began to swallow it. Xia watched him nervously, waiting for it to take effect.

Slowly, the dark veins running across Bai's body began to fade, like ink dissipating. His skin, once pale and sickly, regained a bit of color. The pill had stopped the malignant energy's advance, stabilizing his condition and healing his most severe wounds.

Xia Ruyen let out a relieved sigh, but her hands still trembled as she cradled him on her lap. The battle was over for him, at least for now, but the aftermath of his recklessness still lingered in the air.

Little by little, Bai Xuebing began to open his eyes. His breathing was weak but steady. When his vision cleared, the first thing he saw was a pair of breasts shielding him from the sun, casting a shadow over his face.

—What…?— his voice came out hoarse, and it took his mind a few seconds to connect what he saw to reality.

Xia Ruyen, her face slightly flushed, looked at him with a mix of relief and reproach.

—For heaven's sake, Bai… don't you even know when to give up?— she said, though her voice was laden with concern.

Bai Xuebing blinked, still dazed. The heat of the blood in his veins was still present, but something inside him knew that, at least this time, he wouldn't have survived without her.

Bai Xuebing tried to stand, staggering, but nearly fell to the ground again if Xia hadn't firmly held him. His body was still weak, every movement causing searing pain, and his mind was still clouded by the effects of the demonic blood he had absorbed.

Around him, the group moved efficiently. Some dismantled the demonic beast's corpse, removing its scales and fangs as valuable materials, while others secured the area near the discovered lair.

Elsewhere, Liang Cheng argued heatedly with Ren Jihao, their voices barely audible amidst the group's commotion. And a little further away, Shen Mei sat calmly, her face hidden behind her veil. However, her eyes were fixed on Bai Xuebing, observing him with an intensity that seemed to pierce through any barrier.

Bai barely opened his eyes fully when he felt his body burn, as if something dark and corrosive crawled through his veins. A sense of revulsion overcame him, as if every fiber of his being rejected what he had done to survive.

—Are you okay?— Xia Ruyen asked, her voice laden with concern as she helped him stay upright.

Bai weakly pushed Xia's hands away, trying to speak.

—Why… why did you come back?

Xia frowned, though she let out a tired sigh.

—Look at the ungrateful one— she said in a light tone but with a touch of reproach —Besides saving your life, I spent two pretty expensive items on you, and you still complain.

Bai tried to reply, but Xia quickly interrupted him.

—I already said it before: you're one of my companions now, and I don't leave anyone behind.

—But… we've only known each other for a month.

Xia let out a soft laugh, leaning slightly toward him as she held him more firmly to prevent him from falling again.

—A month, one, two days… what does it matter?— she replied, pausing for a moment before pulling him closer to her chest. Bai's head bumped against her, and the rhythm of her heart, strong and steady, echoed in his ears.

—I wasn't going to let you die like that.

Bai tried to pull away, but his body was too weak, and Xia didn't let him go.

—But… you put the mission at risk, the clients… everything for…— Bai was interrupted again, this time by Xia Ruyen's firm gaze.

—For you. Is there a problem with that?

Bai Xuebing looked at her, bewildered. His exhausted mind couldn't process why she had gone to such extremes for someone like him.

—Why…?

Xia didn't immediately respond. Her expression softened, becoming more serious.

—Because I don't leave my own behind. No matter the cost.

Her words resonated deeply with Bai, who remained silent, unable to respond. He had survived death, but he hadn't expected someone to bet so much on him. And at that moment, he didn't know whether to feel grateful or overwhelmed.

—And besides, I wasn't going to leave behind a potential cultivation partner, hehe— she joked, breaking the tension, though there was some truth in her words.

But they were soon interrupted by a loud shout.

—It's a stellar core!