Success.

The assimilation was complete, and within Bai Xuebing's inner domain, a new star floated with a strange glow, like a freshly opened eye in the vastness of his internal domain.

—Congratulations, kid! Hahaha —Wei Lan burst into laughter, giving him strong pats on the shoulders.

Bai Xuebing calmly bowed his head, his sharp gaze hidden behind a serene expression.

—Thank you, senior. Your refinement technique was quite useful.

—Hahaha, don't worry about that. That technique was nothing special. If you were from my sect, I would've taught you a better one. Hahaha.

"If you were from my sect, huh... Old fox, so that's why you helped me. You're still trying to drag me into your sect."

—Bai, are you alright? Do you feel anything strange? —Xia Ruyen did not hide her concern. She knew that this second star did not come from a serene sky but from the entrails of a demonic beast.

—Everything is fine, leader, but...

Bai Xuebing suddenly stood up.

His breathing was steady, but his body felt different. Instinctively, he scanned his state, focusing on the new natural energy he had absorbed.

"What kind of energy is this...?"

It didn't take long for him to discover it.

The energy went directly to his second star within his core, activating it immediately.

A subtle but profound change ran through his body.

His eyes, still sky-blue, took on a cold and inhuman glow. His pupils narrowed into thin vertical slits, like those of a snake lurking. His skin, once smooth, was covered with a fine layer of barely visible scales, the same pale white as his flesh. They were neither heavy nor thick but flexible, like a second skin.

His fingernails darkened, turning black and sharp, transforming into something more akin to claws.

And then, his body moved.

Without thinking, without planning, his posture changed naturally. His movements became fluid, undulating, like a snake slithering across the ground. He propelled himself forward, and his body reacted instinctively, zigzagging from left to right with unsettling speed.

He was faster. More agile.

His vision had also sharpened, perceiving details around him with greater clarity.

And his strength...

He clenched his fist and felt his energy flow with an intensity he had never had before.

The assimilation was complete.

Bai Xuebing had just obtained his first power from his second star.

—A full-body star... Heh, heh, heh... what a lucky kid —Wei Lan murmured to himself, watching Bai Xuebing's transformation with interest.

Among all the stars, each possessed a different attribute. Some granted control over the elements, others enhanced perception, some changed the cultivator's form, and others had unique abilities.

However, among all, body-attribute stars were the most peculiar.

These stars did not grant external abilities or advanced techniques. Instead, they modified the cultivator's body, merging it with the characteristics of a beast or living being.

Bai Xuebing's star was precisely one of them.

A full-body attribute.

And not from just any creature, but from the very demonic beast he had just slain.

Stars of this type were extremely rare, born exclusively from pure stars, those that had no attribute. If a pure star remained inactive for too long, it would begin to absorb the essence of the being with which it had formed a connection.

The process was similar to the Soul Method, but with one key difference:

It was not about creating something new, but an imitation.

It was like copying and pasting the creature's essence into the star, transforming it into a replica of its host.

When this happened, the star was no longer an external source of power.

It became an extension of the cultivator's body.

In Bai Xuebing's case, his new star had taken the essence of the demonic snake, granting him access to its instincts, mobility, resilience, and physical characteristics.

But this type of star did not grant something completely new.

It only enhanced what the body already possessed.

His speed, his agility, his reaction capability... everything was based on his own talent and strength. The star did not gift him power.

It simply refined it.

Wei Lan narrowed his eyes, evaluating him with a mix of envy and curiosity.

"A star like this... is not only rare, it's quite useful for any cultivator who practices close combat martial arts. With his talent, it shouldn't be wasted."

And, of course, he intended to ensure that it wasn't.

Soon, Bai Xuebing's transformation began to fade.

The scales covering his skin retracted, his nails returned to their original form, and his pupils, once sharp like a snake's, regained their human shape. Without bestial energy, he could not maintain the activated state.

It was a clear limitation.

As long as he had enough bestial energy, he could maintain that form. But without it... he was as useless as anyone else.

Bestial energy could be obtained in various ways, from beast cores to the beasts themselves.

Bai Xuebing exhaled calmly and returned to Wei Lan and Xia Ruyen, who were watching him with interest.

Xia Ruyen was the first to speak, crossing her arms with a mocking smile.

—Heh, heh, now you'll be more useful to the team. With that speed and those reflexes... I'll send you as a scout, get ready to be exploited by me hahaha.

Bai Xuebing let out a slight laugh and shrugged.

—Sure, sure. Send me wherever you want... as long as there's enough bestial energy. But if there's none... I'm as useless as anyone else.

As he said this, his gaze slid towards Xia Ruyen with a spark of complicity.

She narrowed her eyes, catching his insinuation instantly.

Wei Lan, who did not miss the exchange, smiled slightly but said nothing.

Bai Xuebing had already understood his new star. Now, the real question was... how to ensure he never lacked bestial energy?

Wei Lan was about to make another move to get closer to Bai Xuebing when a voice interrupted his attempt.

—Leader, come quickly! You have to see this.

One of Xia Ruyen's men had arrived running, with a mocking smile on his face.

Xia Ruyen raised an eyebrow, curious, and without any hurry, began walking toward the area where the duel had taken place earlier. Bai Xuebing followed her, while Wei Lan, without changing his expression, accompanied them in silence.

Upon arrival, the scene was worthy of a painting.

All of Wei Lan's disciples were sprawled on the ground in embarrassing positions. Some collapsed on themselves, others with their clothes stained with dirt, one even trapped between two rocks, unable to move.

Xia Ruyen's team watched them from the sidelines with satisfied smiles, enjoying the spectacle.

Xia Ruyen burst into laughter.

—Hahaha... well, well! Look at these young juniors.

Bai Xuebing, though he did not laugh openly, could not help but let a slight smile creep onto the corner of his lips.

Wei Lan, on the other hand, remained expressionless. His gaze slowly passed over each of his disciples, evaluating the situation with cold detachment.

Xia Ruyen looked at him with a mocking smile.

—No hard feelings, right? Senior Wei?

Wei Lan hesitated and shook his head.

—A bet is a bet. My word... is my pride.

Xia Ruyen patted him on the shoulder in a carefree manner.

—That's the spirit. A man of his word.

After the spectacle, the group reorganized and resumed their journey toward Qinghe.

On the way…

Wei Lan's disciples marched in silence. The shame of their defeat still consumed them, and none dared to exchange words. Wei Lan, though serene, had neither defended them nor tried to minimize their humiliation.

But in his mind… he was already scheming something.

Meanwhile, Xia Ruyen's team was a complete contrast.

Amid laughter and teasing comments, they celebrated their victory, and the central topic of conversation was none other than Bai Xuebing.

—Haha, I still can't believe the look on their faces when Bai crushed him like an ant!

—And when he moved like a beast? He looked like a demon.

—With that speed, you could take out enemy scouts before they even notice us.

Bai Xuebing, though as distant as ever, couldn't help but notice the difference in how they treated him.

Before, they simply saw him as a companion. To them, he was just another mercenary.

But now…

They spoke to him naturally, with a camaraderie that was much more open compared to when they first met him.

He wasn't used to it.

But he didn't reject it either.

At least, with Xia Ruyen, the difference was even more noticeable.

Not only did she trust him in battle, but she treated him with the same ease as the others. Not as a stranger… but as someone she could rely on.

For some reason, that thought unsettled him more than any wound he had received in combat.

Bai Xuebing looked at the horizon. Qinghe was getting closer and closer.

But something told him that his real problem wasn't the city.

It was what would come afterward. With Wei Lan's gaze fixed on Bai Xuebing.

But for now, he could only wait.

One Day Before Qinghe

The sun was slowly descending on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of red.

The group decided to stop and set up camp.

They could have continued traveling through the night, but without visibility, any confrontation or escape attempt would be an unnecessary risk. Moreover, Shen Mei's condition was still a priority; forcing the march would only weaken her further.

With the camp ready, both groups began organizing the watch shifts. However, they were interrupted by the voice of Liang Cheng, who spoke with unusual confidence.

—Tonight, rest. I will take care of security.

His words caught everyone's attention.

Wei Lan narrowed his eyes with curiosity.

"Where does that confidence come from? With his level of cultivation… what can he really do?"

—Mr. Liang Cheng, what do you mean? —Wei Lan asked in a relaxed tone, but with a glint of interest in his gaze.

Liang Cheng smirked arrogantly.

—There's no need to worry tonight. Rest easy, I will handle it.

Without waiting for a response, he raised a hand, and from his ring emerged an artifact.

It was a lantern, but not an ordinary one.

Inside, a green flame burned, and the edges of the artifact shimmered with a faint silver glow.

Over the past few days, the artifact had recovered enough energy to be used again.

Wei Lan immediately recognized its function.

—Heh, heh… this artifact…

—A Green Flame Lantern, a formation artifact. —Wei Lan let out a light chuckle before looking at Liang Cheng with a glint of amusement in his eyes— Mr. Liang Cheng, you must have paid a fortune for this.

The elder's praise only inflated Liang Cheng's pride even more, and he began to brag shamelessly about his acquisition.

Many in the group rolled their eyes at his attitude, but Wei Lan, far from being annoyed, maintained his calm and friendly expression.

The artifact activated, and with its green light dancing in the night, the formation was established.

With security ensured, both groups separated and prepared to rest.

The night advanced under the light of the Green Flame Lantern.

The camp was divided into two starkly contrasting atmospheres.

On one side, Wei Lan's group remained silent. The disciples, still ashamed of their defeat in the duel, neither spoke nor dared to lift their gazes. Wei Lan, on the other hand, was calm, with a slight smile on his face, though his mind was lost in thoughts known only to him.

On the other side, Xia Ruyen's group was the complete opposite.

Surrounded by the warmth of the campfire, they shared an animated dinner. Laughter, stories, and jokes filled the air, creating a relaxed and familiar atmosphere.

Bai Xuebing, who had gone to collect his food ration, planned to eat alone as he always did. However, as soon as he grabbed his plate, he felt several gazes on him.

—Where do you think you're going? —one of the mercenaries asked with a teasing smile.

—I'm going to eat.

—And why not here?

—I don't like noise.

—Bah! It's not like we're that loud!

—You are.

—Well, now we'll be even louder!

Before he could react, several of them surrounded him and, with "friendly" pushes, forced him to sit with them. Bai sighed in resignation but didn't protest further.

He remained silent, eating while the others continued their conversation.

Soon, the topic shifted to him.

—I still can't believe the fight you had with that disciple of Wei Lan.

—Yeah, it was brutal… you looked like a damn animal.

—Honestly, for a moment, I thought you had lost your mind.

The words lingered in the air, but it was the next sentence that made everything stop.

—Well, it's not surprising. After all, it was when that guy mentioned your family…

Silence fell immediately.

Everyone froze.

One of the mercenaries, with a tense expression, lightly nudged the one who had spoken, placing a hand on his shoulder.

—It's not very appropriate to mention that. Anyone would have been offended.

—Y-Yeah, I know, it's just that…

—Don't pry into other people's lives.

The atmosphere had become uncomfortable.

The truth was that everyone was curious about Bai Xuebing's background.

He had joined the guild recently, had joined their group without much fuss, and though they considered him a comrade, they still felt they didn't really know who he was.

Everyone in the team had known each other for years. They came from the same city, had shared histories. But Bai… Bai was a mystery.

To break the silence, someone spoke with a carefree tone.

—Mmm… I wish I had some liquor. When we finish this mission, I think I'll buy an entire warehouse.

Laughter returned.

—Yeah, yeah, good idea!

—I'll buy a house; I'm sick of sleeping on the ground every night.

—Pfft, how boring. I'll spend it all on food and pleasure.

Little by little, the conversation shifted to what they would do with their mission rewards. To them, this was a great opportunity. The amount of money they would receive wasn't small, at least for mercenaries like them.

The Han brothers were the next to speak.

—We... have younger siblings, and our uncles are sick. With the money we earn, we will be able to pay for their treatment and send our siblings to a good academy. Maybe we can even buy a house... and have a more peaceful life.

—Yes... —said the other brother— Maybe after this, we'll retire.

Some nodded in understanding.

Then, it was the vice leader's turn.

—I... well, I'll pay off my debts and then go live somewhere quiet. —He smiled, but his expression seemed somewhat forced— For me, this mission is my salvation.

Bai Xuebing noticed a slight change in his tone, a subtlety in his body language.

His words seemed correct... but there was something in the way he said them that didn't quite fit.

However, no one commented on it.

Finally, it was Xia Ruyen who spoke.

—I... am tired.

The others looked at her with curiosity.

—Yes, living as a mercenary is exciting, but it's also exhausting. After this mission, I want to find a good place to settle down... maybe even start a family.

As she said this, her eyes subtly drifted toward Bai Xuebing.

The moment passed in seconds, but he noticed it.

He did not react, simply continued eating in silence.

Once everyone had shared their plans, there was a pause in the conversation.

Until someone spoke.

—Well... and you, Bai?

Everyone turned to look at him.

Bai Xuebing, who had remained silent all this time, felt the weight of their gazes upon him.

He let out a tired sigh.

And then, he answered.