Connection.

Stars were entities of will and consciousness. Forging a bond with one was not merely an act of desire but a struggle against a living force—jealous and relentless. The first star always chose the cultivator, an honor that came with a burden: the stronger the initial connection, the harder it was to obtain a second one. Stars did not share their space easily.

To subdue the will of a new star, a cultivator had to reach high levels of cultivation and endure a process that could shatter their core or mind. Even then, there was no guarantee of success; a star could reject the cultivator outright. That was why stellar cores were so coveted.

A stellar core contained a pre-established connection with a star. It did not remove all risks but significantly reduced the challenge. It allowed the cultivator to absorb the connection without having to dominate the star's will from scratch. It was a unique opportunity to gain power—something many cultivators would never see in their lifetime.

But nothing was ever that simple.

The absorption process required fusing the stellar core with the cultivator's origin core, slowly integrating the connection into their inner domain. Synchronization was dangerous. One mistake, and the star could fracture their core or cause irreparable chaos in their cultivation.

Bai Xuebing sat on a rock far from the camp, holding the stellar core in his hand. The sphere glowed faintly, pulsing like a living heart. His sky-blue eyes, cold and calculating, were fixed on the golden and crimson light that seemed to breathe within the crystal.

A few steps away, Xia Ruyen watched him with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Although she had agreed to protect him during the process, she couldn't shake a growing tension.

—Are you sure about this?—she asked calmly, though her tone betrayed a slight trace of concern.

Bai did not take his eyes off the core.

—I have no choice. If I wait any longer, the connection will disappear.

Xia sighed, sitting in front of him with controlled movements.

—Absorbing a stellar core isn't like taking a healing pill, and even less so one from a demonic beast. If you fail...

—I already know.

Xia watched him for a moment longer, silently assessing him. Then she stood up, adjusting her robe.

—Fine. I'll do my part. I'll keep everyone away.

Without waiting for a response, she vanished into the shadows, returning to the camp. Using her voice transmission technique, Xia gave clear orders: no one was to approach under any circumstances.

Wei Lan's disciples were the only ones who didn't hear the command, but they couldn't approach either.

Now alone, Bai Xuebing let out a long sigh. His hands trembled slightly as he held the core close to his chest.

—Absorb it whole... guide it into the core... synchronize it with the inner domain.

The core began to glow more intensely. Releasing his blood energy, Bai surrounded the sphere with a crimson mist. The core's surface vibrated before it began to crumble, unleashing a surge of pure energy that swirled around his body.

The pain was immediate.

The energy poured into his origin core like an unstoppable torrent, burning through every fiber of his being. Bai clenched his teeth, veins protruding in his neck as his core violently resisted the intrusion.

Inside his inner domain, the stellar core released its connection: a golden thread that slithered like a living creature, seeking to establish itself. But his original star—the one that had been his companion from the beginning—was not willing to yield.

—Will... consciousness...—Bai murmured, his voice strained from the effort.—You won't give in so easily, will you?

The pressure increased. Each second felt as if the star was trying to crush him from within. He fell to his knees, his breathing heavy, as beads of sweat and blood dripped onto the ground.

—I won't lose...—he whispered, his eyes shining with a crimson glow.

Back at the camp, Xia Ruyen remained on guard. Wei Lan, seated by the fire, lifted his gaze slightly in Bai's direction.

—What's happening over there?—one of the disciples asked, noticing Wei Lan's expression.

The elder smiled faintly, not responding immediately.

—Nothing in particular...

Internally, his thoughts wandered.

"Looks like someone has found an opportunity... I should go check... No, Wei Lan, stop meddling. Let the seedlings bloom on their own."

Wei Lan was an instructor in his sect, a rank above elite disciples but still below that of an elder. Despite his advanced age, his cultivation had stagnated in the seventh realm. He had accepted, with resignation, that he would never ascend beyond it.

He knew his fate was not to become an elder of the sect. His path was now different—to guide the new generations. If he could no longer advance, then he would prepare those who could. His only remaining ambition was to see one of his disciples surpass their limits and reach the greatness he had never been able to touch.

That was the path he had chosen, but how strong was his desire to reach his goal? He would take what he wanted and do whatever it took to get there.

Inside Bai's inner domain, the golden thread continued to resist, writhing like a snake trying to break free. Bai focused all his will on the connection, forcing his dominance over it.

The pain intensified. Invisible cracks began to spread through his origin core. For an instant, Bai felt as if all his effort was about to collapse.

"Am I going to fail...?" he thought, as chaos grew inside him.—I can't... I won't!

With a desperate roar, he released the last drop of his blood energy into his core. The crimson mist swirled around the golden thread, suffocating its resistance. Finally, the bond was established.

Within his inner domain, a new star shone—golden and vibrant, contrasting against the crimson atmosphere surrounding it. Bai collapsed forward, catching himself on both hands as his body trembled with exhaustion.

—I did it...

But his relief was short-lived.

The stellar core had left behind residual energy that began seeping into his origin core. The mixture of energies triggered internal chaos, tearing his body apart from within.

Wei Lan abruptly stood up, his eyes narrowing.

—Malignant energy...—he murmured.

One of his disciples looked at him, confused.

—Elder Wei?

—Stay here. Do not approach.

Without another word, Wei Lan moved quickly. Xia Ruyen intercepted him on the path, blocking his way.

—Where do you think you're going?

—That energy is dangerous. If I don't act, it will kill him—he responded calmly but urgently.

Xia hesitated, but the intensity of the malignant energy made her step aside.

—If anything happens to him, I'll hold you responsible—she warned, moving out of the way.

Wei Lan advanced swiftly, the air around him charged with growing tension. When he arrived, he found Bai Xuebing kneeling, surrounded by a chaotic mix of malignant energy and blood.

Sweat drenched his forehead, and his breathing was irregular, as if each breath was a battle. His body trembled, struggling desperately to contain the chaos consuming him from within.

—Foolish boy... This is beyond what you can handle alone.

He raised a hand, channeling his natural energy with precision. Forming a seal with his fingers, his palm glowed with a faint light. He placed the seal on Bai's chest, allowing natural energy to flow slowly into his body.

The malignant energy responded instantly, resisting, but Wei Lan remained focused, guiding every dark fragment away from Bai's origin core and sealing it in a small container.

Finally, the malignant energy began to dissipate. Bai let out a ragged breath and collapsed to the ground, exhausted but alive. Wei Lan leaned closer, ensuring he was still breathing.

—Reckless, but resilient...—he murmured to himself.

Shortly after, Xia Ruyen arrived at the scene. Her gaze quickly swept over it, first focusing on Bai and then on Wei Lan. 

—Is he… okay? 

Wei Lan slowly stood up, tucking the small dark seal into his sleeve. 

—He'll be fine. But if I had taken any longer, it would have been too late. 

Xia knelt beside Bai, her expression softening as she saw that, although weak, his breathing was steady. 

—Thank you—she said, bowing her head slightly toward Wei Lan. 

The elder looked at her seriously. 

—Now, explain to me what happened. Why did that young man have malignant energy in his body? I overlooked it before, but this… this is different. It's a level of corruption that shouldn't be possible for someone who uses pure energy. 

A growing bloodlust began to radiate from the old Wei Lan, though he still didn't know Bai Xuebing's true condition. The presence of malignant energy—an energy used by those on the demonic path—made him hesitate. 

Xia, somewhat tense, began recounting the events. She explained the battle against the demonic beast, how Bai Xuebing had absorbed its blood to replace what he had lost, and how he had decided to use the stellar core. 

Wei Lan listened in silence, his expression gradually shifting from disbelief to understanding. 

—You're saying he absorbed blood directly? 

He knew that the blood of spiritual beasts was used in the creation of pills, artifacts, and other items, but consuming it directly without refining it was something no ordinary cultivator could do. 

Xia nodded, noticing his confusion. 

—Bai Xuebing has a unique attribute. His base star is linked to blood. He can manipulate it, absorb it, and use it as energy—even without refining it. 

Wei Lan's eyes gleamed with a spark of interest. 

—A blood attribute…?—he murmured, as if confirming something he had suspected—That explains his ability… and his recklessness. 

The interest on Wei Lan's face replaced the murderous intent that had filled him moments before. Xia Ruyen noticed and relaxed slightly, though she remained on guard. 

—Even so…—Wei Lan sighed, crossing his arms—How reckless. Absorbing malignant energy with a pure-energy core is suicidal. A mistake like that could have completely destroyed him. 

Xia Ruyen pressed her lips together, nodding slowly. 

—He's impulsive, but… that attribute is also the reason he's alive right now. 

Wei Lan remained silent, assessing the situation. Finally, he spoke in a calculated tone. 

—That young man is interesting, but he is also a risk. If he ever loses control of that energy, he won't just be a danger to himself—he'll be a danger to everyone around him. 

Xia met his gaze directly, her expression firm. 

—I'll make sure that doesn't happen. 

Wei Lan held her stare for a moment before slowly nodding. 

—I hope so. Because if you can't control him… 

His words, spoken with calmness, carried a chilling weight that Xia couldn't ignore. 

Wei Lan paused before pulling out a small dark vial from his sleeve, which emitted a faint reddish glow. 

—I have sealed the residual energy from the stellar core here. Give it to him when he wakes up, but warn him that he must purify it before attempting to use it. If he doesn't, he could destroy himself before fully assimilating the star. 

Xia took the vial carefully, inclining her head slightly in a sign of respect. 

—Thank you, Elder Wei. 

The old man turned and began walking back toward the camp. However, halfway there, he stopped. Without turning around, he spoke in a cold, calculating voice.

—It's nothing. As an elder, it is my duty to guide the younger generations… even though this young man does not belong to my sect.

Without waiting for a response, he continued on his way. His figure, calm on the outside, concealed something much deeper.

Turning away, Wei Lan's mind swirled with thoughts.

"A blood attribute... rare. This boy can be molded. If he joins the White Owl Sect, he could be useful. For someone his age to obtain a second star in the third realm is unique... perhaps he could..."

Wei Lan smirked to himself, a dark glint flickering in his eyes.

"No matter. I will make him belong to my sect. No matter the cost."