Star.

The silence was broken by a jubilant cry.

—We won!

The mercenaries erupted in cheers, celebrating Bai Xuebing's victory as if it were their own, some laughing, others enthusiastically patting his back. Meanwhile, Wei Lan's disciples clenched their teeth. Not only had they lost, but now they would have to face their master's wrath. A chill ran down their spines at the thought.

Wei Lan, without a word, was already tending to his fallen disciple's wounds. His expression remained relaxed, but his eyes shone with a cold and inscrutable glint.

Xia Ruyen, on the other hand, pushed through the crowd toward Bai Xuebing.

Liang Cheng, who had been watching from a distance, clicked his tongue in annoyance before standing up sluggishly.

—Damn it! In the end, that brat Bai ended up winning… —he sighed, brushing the dust off his clothes.

Bai Xuebing, who had distanced himself from the group, soon lay down openly.

When he looked down, he noticed his hand was stained with blood.

—Tch… what a nuisance.

At that moment, Bai Xuebing coughed violently, spitting out a dark liquid. His body trembled as the fatigue of battle consumed him, but what truly worried him was the scorching sensation coursing through his veins.

A suffocating heat, an uncontrollable pressure.

He looked at his arm and saw the black lines spreading under his skin again, as if something inside him had awakened once more. He recognized it instantly: the demonic beast's blood that Wei Lan had sealed… was beginning to break free again.

Inside his inner domain, the chaos was no less intense.

His second star, the one he had yet to fully assimilate, was beginning to integrate with his domain. For any other cultivator, this would be a reason for celebration, the first step toward a new level of power.

For Bai Xuebing, it was the opposite.

The assimilation of a star had to be done with natural energy compatible with its attribute. But in his case, the star was absorbing his own vital energy as a substitute. He wasn't assimilating it… it was assimilating him.

Bai gritted his teeth.

"Shit."

His body wouldn't hold out for long.

Xia Ruyen found him quickly. Bai Xuebing writhed on the ground, his face pale and his breathing ragged. It was the same scene as before… when he had absorbed the demonic beast's blood.

"He's collapsing again."

Without wasting time, Xia Ruyen acted. Gathering her natural energy, she wrapped it around Bai Xuebing's body, guiding it precisely to suppress the demonic blood devouring him from within.

The blackened veins slowly began to fade. His erratic and painful breathing gradually stabilized.

—Thank you, leader… —Bai whispered, his voice still weak.

But Xia Ruyen didn't take it lightly.

—Damn it… that blood again. Bai, you…

—I know —he responded with difficulty—. I lost control in the battle. I don't know how it happened, but that blood… it definitely had something to do with it. I should remove it from my body. Even though I'm not in immediate danger anymore, I feel like it will keep being a problem.

Xia Ruyen frowned.

—Remove that blood? That's insane!

Even though Bai Xuebing had stabilized, extracting the demonic blood wasn't an option. His body was still recovering, and losing more blood could kill him.

—Without that blood, you'd be just as screwed. You can't do it.

—Then what do you suggest?

Xia Ruyen recalled Wei Lan's words from the night before.

—You can't live with that blood… but you can't get rid of it either. We need to purify and refine it.

Bai Xuebing looked at her doubtfully.

—Refine… I've never done that before. I haven't even tried with my own blood. Even if I manage to refine it, how do I purify it?

Xia Ruyen took a deep breath before answering.

—Pure energy can be corrupted and turned evil, but the opposite can also happen. There are methods to purify malignant energy, cleansing it until it returns to its natural state.

—And what's the problem?

—Those methods only work with natural energy, not contaminated substances like blood.

Bai Xuebing narrowed his eyes.

—So, it's impossible?

—For any other cultivator, yes. —Xia Ruyen stared at him—. But you… you're different.

Bai Xuebing's attribute was blood. He didn't just control it; he absorbed it and transformed it into energy for his cultivation.

The demonic blood within him had been tainted with malignant energy, which would normally make purification impossible. However, the moment his body absorbed it, it ceased to be merely contaminated blood.

It became blood energy.

And blood energy was something Bai Xuebing could control.

—If you manage to refine it completely, the malignant energy will dissipate —Xia Ruyen said seriously—. The blood will no longer be a burden and will become a part of you.

Bai Xuebing closed his eyes, feeling the demonic blood still pulsing inside his body.

"Refine, huh? I've never done it… but I don't have another choice."

If he didn't master it, it would consume him.

He couldn't let that happen.

—Teach me how to do it.

Although Xia Ruyen, like any cultivator, had to refine the energy inside her core before being able to use it, Bai Xuebing was different.

He didn't refine the energy he absorbed.

He didn't convert it, he didn't filter it. He simply took it and made it his own.

It was a unique phenomenon, something that only happened in those with special attributes, who, by using the Soul Technique with their base star, broke the traditional limitations of cultivation.

But before she could say or do anything about it, a voice interrupted them.

—Let me help with that…

Bai Xuebing and Xia Ruyen turned their heads in unison.

Wei Lan, with his ever-calm smile, watched them with his hands crossed behind his back, his sharp gaze hidden behind an apparent tranquility.

—Senior Wei Lan.

"The old man… what does he want now?"

Wei Lan let out a slight chuckle.

—I figured this might happen, considering young Bai's situation.

His words were soft, but his eyes gleamed with a calculating light. With years of experience, Wei Lan understood perfectly what was happening. From the moment Xia Ruyen herself mentioned that Bai Xuebing had used the Soul Technique, he knew this young man didn't refine energy like the others.

The Soul Method was a double-edged sword.

If executed correctly, it granted unique attributes, allowing the cultivator to absorb energy without needing to refine it. But if it failed, it became a curse that could turn a cultivator into a useless failure with a trash attribute.

Bai Xuebing belonged to the first case.

That meant he had never refined energy in his life.

Wei Lan had already anticipated this problem. He knew that sooner or later, Bai would be forced to refine the demonic blood, but without prior experience, he would inevitably seek help. That's why, the night before, he had instructed Xia Ruyen to order Bai to purify and refine the blood as soon as he woke up.

He knew she wouldn't be able to teach him.

He knew Bai wouldn't know how to do it.

He knew that sooner or later, they would come looking for him.

And now, the opportunity was right before him.

—I appreciate it, Senior Wei —Xia Ruyen said cautiously—, but… are you sure you can help him with his refinement?

Wei Lan chuckled.

—Heh… do you think this old man's years have been in vain?

Bai Xuebing observed him in silence. He didn't trust Wei Lan, didn't like his attitude or his interest in him. But he had no other options.

Wei Lan began explaining the refinement process, guiding him step by step. Bai Xuebing absorbed the information quickly, assimilating each instruction without hesitation.

—Well… this young man learns fast —Wei Lan commented with a smile.

But the truth was different.

Bai wasn't learning at this moment.

He already knew all of this.

The book that contained his mother's inheritance detailed refinement methods far superior to anything Wei Lan could imagine. But Bai had never developed that part of his cultivation.

When he absorbed the blood for the first time, he tried refining it using the book's teachings, only to realize it wasn't necessary.

Every time he absorbed blood, he could use it freely without needing to process it like other cultivators.

That's why he had never practiced refinement.

Now, he was simply applying what he already knew.

Wei Lan believed he was teaching him something new.

Bai Xuebing knew he was only using the old man to buy time.

Bai Xuebing closed his eyes.

Inside his body, the demonic blood still pulsed, spreading like venom, waiting for the right moment to claim him as its own. But this time was different.

This time, he wasn't suppressing it.

This time, he was refining it.

His breathing became steady. Concentrating, he channeled his blood energy and guided it precisely through his core. The demonic blood vibrated in response, resisting for an instant before slowly yielding to his control.

"It's different from pure energy… denser, more chaotic."

But it didn't matter.

He dominated it.

He shaped it.

He made it his own.

Within his inner domain, the sea of blood churned. The second star, still in the process of assimilation, continued to absorb his vital energy without stopping, like a ravenous beast. But while it had previously seemed wild and uncontrollable, now its glow began to stabilize.

It hadn't fully integrated yet.

It was still draining him.

But the pressure it exerted on his core was lessening.

It was only a matter of time.

Bai Xuebing felt the difference in his body. His blood, which once felt foreign, like something imposed upon him, now flowed without resistance. There were no more traces of corruption, no more blackened veins.

For the first time, he had absolute control over his own blood.

He opened his eyes.

Wei Lan observed him with a calm smile, but in his eyes shone a glimmer of surprise.

—Heh… you did it faster than I expected.

Xia Ruyen noticed it too. The last time, Bai Xuebing had been on the verge of collapse. Now, although still exhausted, his body was stable.

But Bai Xuebing didn't deceive himself.

One problem had been solved.

Another remained.

His second star was still assimilating on its own, and as long as it did, it would continue consuming his vital energy.

He couldn't stop the process.

But before he could think of a solution, Wei Lan spoke calmly.

—Yes, but your second star is another problem.

Xia Ruyen frowned.

—What do you mean?

Wei Lan smiled slightly and looked at Xia Ruyen.

—Young lady, haven't you given him the residual energy I sealed yet?

—When Bai collapsed, I had to extract the residual energy he absorbed from the star core —Wei Lan explained—. It was malignant energy, the same one that was devouring him from within. But there's a problem…

Xia Ruyen pressed her lips together, realizing immediately.

—The star…

Wei Lan nodded.

—Without that residual energy, which belongs to the same nature as his second star, the assimilation won't complete safely and correctly.

Xia Ruyen reacted instantly, pulling out the small bottle from her ring.

—Bai, take this.

Bai Xuebing didn't hesitate. He took the vial, opened it, and began refining the energy inside.

Unlike the demonic blood, this was malignant natural energy, though of a type completely foreign to his body.

He couldn't absorb it immediately.

First, he had to purify it.

Although he had no prior experience refining energy, his control over blood had indirectly prepared him. Refinement and purification were different processes, but the principle remained the same: taking something chaotic and giving it structure.

He took a deep breath and focused his will.

The process was easier than expected. The amount of energy was limited, allowing him to purify it without much difficulty.

Once stabilized, he directed the energy to his origin core.

The change was immediate.

The second star, which had previously clung to his vital energy like a parasite, paused for an instant. Then, as if it had finally found what it sought, it began absorbing the residual energy.

Bai felt the pressure within his core decrease.

The star was finally assimilating correctly.

But one last step remained.

Once assimilated, the cultivator had to divide the space within their core to allow the absorption of two types of natural energy.

Only then could he use both stars independently.

Bai Xuebing closed his eyes and delved into his inner domain.

It was time to complete the integration.

Inside his inner domain, the second star began to move. Its light trembled for an instant and then, as if it had finally found its place, it started the assimilation process correctly.

The change was immediate.

Bai Xuebing's inner domain, which until now had been just a sea of blood beneath a gray sky, began to transform.

From the depths of the crimson sea, something emerged. Not one, but two colossal pillars that, as they rose, revealed their true form. They weren't mere columns… they were statues.

Two imposing figures, sculpted in the likeness of the demonic beast he had slain.

Their crimson eyes gleamed with an ominous glow, their maws open in a perpetual expression of hunger and fury. And between them, suspended over the void, the second star floated at the center, emanating a spectral radiance.

A demonic landscape.

A sea of blood, a gray sky, and two beasts that seemed to guard his new star.

Bai Xuebing felt his connection with the star solidify.

The assimilation was complete.

Now… he could use it.

Shēnyuān Shéxīng Star (Serpentine Abyss Star).