Stellar Core.

Cores were relics of power, remnants of the origin core of spiritual beasts after their death. These crystals, formed by condensed energy, were more than mere treasures: they were the legacy of a being that had cultivated and survived the world's challenges.

There were two main types:

Natural Cores. Filled with pure natural energy, their attribute depended on the element the beast dominated in life. They were common among natural beasts, although their quality varied drastically between demonic, natural, or divine beasts.

Stellar Cores. Much rarer and more coveted, they contained traces of the stellar connections the beast had linked during its life. Although these connections usually vanished after death, a stellar core still offered immeasurable potential: the possibility of connecting with a star.

And at the heart of the demon serpent's corpse, surrounded by its shattered scales and broken fangs, one shone.

The stellar core pulsed with a reddish-golden glow, as if a star trapped inside was trying to break free. Its brilliance was hypnotizing, and the air filled with palpable tension. Everyone knew what it meant: an object that could change lives, an opportunity many cultivators would never see.

—A stellar core!

—This… this is a treasure...

Liang Cheng was the first to break the silence. His expression, a mix of greed and desperation, darkened as he took firm steps toward the core.

—This core...—he pointed with a finger, looking at the group with authority.

—This core belongs to me.

The rest looked at him in surprise, but he did not stop.

—It was my turtle that protected everyone! My beast died because of this disaster! And the damage I suffered is incalculable. This core will be my compensation.

Liang Cheng's argument was weak, but the group exchanged nervous glances. No one wanted to openly confront him due to his role as the contractor. No one, except Xia Ruyen.

She stepped forward, standing between Liang Cheng and the core, her figure radiating a dangerous calm.

—That's not going to happen.

He frowned, irritated.

—And what are you going to do to stop me, Xia?—he asked with a bitter laugh—Do you think you can decide who deserves the core?

—It's not me who decides.

She pointed at Bai Xuebing, who was standing with difficulty behind her.

—It was Bai Xuebing who killed the beast. If anyone deserves that core, it's him.

The group fell silent. Her words were irrefutable, but the tension lingered in the air. Liang Cheng gritted his teeth, unable to accept the truth.

—Bai Xuebing?

He spat his name as if it were poison.

—That brat is the cause of all this! My turtle died because of him!

—Your turtle died because you couldn't control it?

Xia retorted with cutting calmness.

Liang Cheng's face turned red with rage.

—Don't speak to me like that, Xia Ruyen!—he roared, pointing a trembling finger at her—That boy is a demonic bastard. He absorbed the blood of a demonic beast! What kind of being does that?

—And what does it matter?—Xia Ruyen interrupted, her voice as cold as ice—If he's a monster, he's the monster that saved our lives. Without him, how many casualties do you think we would have suffered?

Liang Cheng tried to advance, but the Han brothers stepped in, trying to calm him.

—Calm down, Liang—said one, raising a hand—The leader is right. Bai killed the beast. That core belongs to him.

Liang Cheng snorted, turning to Bai Xuebing, who, leaning on his spear, could barely stand.

—Is this what you want, demon?—he spoke with venom in his words—To take that core after everything you caused?

Bai slowly lifted his head, his eyes now tinted with an unnatural red that faded back to blue as they locked onto Liang Cheng.

—Did I cause it?—he whispered, his voice calm but loaded with tension—Perhaps...

—Bai, don't say anything…—Xia tried to interrupt, but Bai ignored her.

—But it's also true that I killed the beast, though it was thanks to the leader that I could do it. Even with her help, I faced it.

"Liang Cheng, you truly are greedy. Do you think I'll let you have the stellar core?"

The group watched silently as Bai continued:

—However, I understand your complaints. That's why, after keeping the core, I'll leave you the beast's corpse. Its scales, fangs, and meat are worth enough to cover any damages caused.

Bai Xuebing bowed his head before Liang Cheng, speaking in a humble tone.

"With this, it should be enough."

Although Bai Xuebing had no direct fault in what happened, the weight of responsibility crushed him like a mountain. He had awakened the demon, he knew it. He had made risky decisions that pushed the group to the brink of disaster.

But was it really his fault? No one had expected this to happen; they'd just been unlucky. Still, guilt only exists for those who feel it.

No matter how justified his actions were, deep down, he felt that every wound, every loss, was a reflection of his actions.

But the stellar core… He wasn't going to abandon it. It was too valuable a treasure, a prize that could define and help him. However, he couldn't afford to openly antagonize his contractors either.

Shen Mei, the one financing the mission, was the real client. Liang Cheng is a problem. He was volatile, vindictive, and his greed could turn an ally into a dangerous enemy at any moment.

Bai couldn't risk losing what he had already gained, but he couldn't destroy his relationship with Shen Mei and Liang Cheng either. This mission wasn't just about income; it also represented an opportunity to ascend in the cultivation world.

Therefore, as the core burned with its golden and crimson glow, Bai made a calculated decision.

It was a practical solution. The parts of the demonic beast, while valuable, did not compare to the stellar core.

However, to Liang Cheng and the others, the corpse represented a fortune, a consolation that could soothe their greed and calm the tension.

It was a strategic sacrifice, a price he was willing to pay to keep the core and avoid a confrontation he couldn't afford.

Deep down, Bai knew this concession wouldn't resolve everything. Liang Cheng would always be hostile toward him, and this gesture would barely be enough to maintain peace.

But in that moment, with exhaustion clouding his mind and the core pulsing among the beast's remains, Bai decided it was the best he could do.

Bai's logic was impeccable. The corpse could pay all the damages, but even so, it represented a fortune.

Liang Cheng opened his mouth to protest, but Shen Mei, who had remained silent until that moment, raised a hand to stop him.

—Ha, do you really think, kid, that with this I...

Liang Cheng was interrupted by a beautiful voice.

—That's enough, Liang Cheng—she said with a calm yet firm voice.

—But, my lady...

—Silence. Obey. With the corpse, we have enough; we can buy another mount in the next city.

Her sweet voice, though filled with firmness and authority, still carried a soft melody.

Liang Cheng looked at her incredulously but said nothing more. Bai Xuebing, for his part, staggered slightly, exhausted, while Xia Ruyen held him with a worried look.

Bai Xuebing stored the stellar core in his ring with trembling hands. He didn't have time to think about its value or the connection it still harbored. He knew he had seven days before the core lost its link to the star. But for now, that didn't matter.

The group hurriedly left the forest. The place had become too dangerous; the energies unleashed in the battle would attract predators or cultivators seeking to loot the remains. Bai, gravely injured, was carried by one of the Han brothers, while Shen Mei, weakened, rested on the shoulders of the other.

After hours of walking, they found a small, hidden cave. Empty, with no signs of occupation, it was enough to offer respite. Without exchanging words, they began improvising a camp. Some set up tents, while others deployed a concealment formation that, though weak, would suffice for now.

Inside the main tent, Shen Mei, Xia Ruyen, and Liang Cheng discussed in silence. Outside, the rest remained alert, their faces tense and eyes watchful. No one spoke, but everyone knew they were at their limit.

Bai, lying in a corner of the cave, breathed with difficulty. His body trembled slightly, still feeling the aftereffects of overexertion. But despite the pain, his mind clung to one thought: they had survived.

"I was lucky… it was really luck."

He clenched his fists tightly, remembering the helplessness he had felt when facing the demonic beast. The gap between them was overwhelming, a chasm that seemed impossible to cross. No matter how hard he tried, he was still weak.

"If not for the leader and the others… I..." His thoughts abruptly stopped, recalling the moment Xia Ruyen had defended him, the words she had said still echoing in his mind.

—Companion, huh?—he whispered, letting out a faint laugh. A small, almost imperceptible smile formed on his face.

—I like that word… having someone who helps and cares for you…

He closed his eyes as exhaustion finally overtook him.

For the first time in a long while, Bai Xuebing felt a warmth different from that of blood or battle.