Mission End

Shen Che slowly walked to Lei Lie's corpse, bent down, and pulled out the Meteor Thunder Blade.

The blade was a deep, dark purple, crafted from an unknown material, and felt heavy in his hand.

He flicked his finger, and the blade let out a clear, resonant hum.

What a good blade.

He casually tucked the Meteor Thunder Blade behind his back.

The mundane weapons he used before were no longer keeping up with his strength.

This blade had come at just the right time.

After finishing all this, he turned and walked towards Elder Bai and Bai Fengling, who were still in a daze.

"This place is not safe to stay."

"Bai Huaying's backup might be more than just this wave."

"We'll travel through the night and aim to reach Dolin County by tomorrow morning."

Elder Bai jolted and snapped back to reality.

He nodded repeatedly, his voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, yes! Young Master Shen is right!"

If he encountered such a situation again, his old bones would surely fall apart.

The three wasted no more time. They led their horses and, under the cover of night, quickly left the inn, which had now become a ruin.

They traveled in silence, at full gallop.

When the dawn of the second day pierced the darkness and illuminated the land, the silhouette of a magnificent county city appeared at the horizon.

Elder Bai pointed at the giant city ahead, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement and relief.

"Young Master Shen, that's Dolin County ahead."

"The Prince's Mansion is within the city; we're safe now."

The White King's Mansion was one of the top powers in the Great Sun Kingdom, and Prince Bai was a renowned expert on the Heavenly Ranking.

In Dolin County, no one dared to disrespect the White King's Mansion.

The three rode into the city, heading straight for the most imposing mansion in the city center.

Guards in heavy armor stood rigidly at the mansion's entrance.

They revealed surprise upon seeing Elder Bai and Bai Fengling.

The leading guard captain quickly strode forward.

"Elder Bai, Young Master? You're finally back!"

"The Prince ordered us to wait here. Young Master, the Prince wishes to see you immediately!"

Elder Bai cupped his hands apologetically towards Shen Che.

"Young Master Shen, I will take Fengling to see the Prince first."

He turned and instructed the guard captain, "This is Young Master Shen, an honored guest of the Prince's Mansion. Arrange the best guest room for him to rest immediately, without any delay."

"Yes!"

The guard captain respectfully acknowledged.

Shen Che followed a guard through pavilions and towers, arriving at a secluded and elegant courtyard.

He closed the door and let out a long sigh of relief.

This month-long escort mission was finally coming to an end.

It was nearing noon.

The door was gently knocked.

Elder Bai and Bai Fengling walked in.

Bai Fengling had changed his clothes and was tidily dressed, though a hint of complexity remained in his expression.

He walked up to Shen Che, and without a word, he solemnly bowed deeply.

"Young Master Shen, your great kindness is beyond thanks."

"If not for you, my bones would have long been buried beneath the desert sands."

Shen Che accepted his bow with composure.

Bai Fengling straightened up, took a small, smooth white jade bottle from his bosom, and handed it over with both hands.

"This is the Marrow Cleansing Pill my father obtained for me, and it is also the reward I promised you."

Shen Che reached out and took the jade bottle.

It felt slightly cool in his hand and had an excellent texture.

He opened the stopper, and a strange, fresh fragrance wafted out.

It's done.

The hardships of this journey were not in vain.

Elder Bai's face was creased with wrinkles as he cupped his hands towards Shen Che.

"Young Master Shen, the Bai family will never forget this great kindness."

"Please, you must stay at the mansion for a few more days so we can fulfill our duties as hosts."

Shen Che nodded.

He happened to need an absolutely safe place to refine that Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Elder Bai and Bai Fengling exchanged a few more pleasantries before taking their leave.

Bai Fengling had many things to report to his father, the Prince Bai, now that he was back at the mansion.

Soon, Shen Che was the only one left in the spacious guest courtyard.

He closed the room door and slid the bolt shut.

He took out the small white jade bottle from his embrace, his emotions stirring slightly.

He removed the stopper.

An indescribably fresh fragrance instantly filled the entire room.

He poured the pill into his palm.

It was a pill the size of a longan, crystal clear all over, as if flowing light was swirling within. It looked less like a pill and more like a perfect work of art.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill from Heavenly Dragon Temple was indeed as renowned as its reputation.

Shen Che recalled his martial arts journey so far.

Whether it was the Vajra Zen Fist or the Black Tiger Saber Technique, they had only reached the embryonic stage of intent and had been unable to break through.

He knew it wasn't due to a lack of effort, but rather the limit of his innate talent.

He was just an ordinary person with a bit of talent, far from being a martial arts prodigy.

And this pill before him was his only chance to break through that ceiling.

Without further thought, Shen Che sat down cross-legged and tossed the Marrow Cleansing Pill into his mouth.

The pill dissolved upon contact with his tongue, transforming into a cool, warm current that flowed down his throat and into his abdomen.

The next moment.

An indescribable burning sensation erupted violently from his dantian.

This heat was like molten iron, instantly spreading through his limbs and bones, fiercely scorching every inch of his flesh and every single bone.

Intense pain washed over him, as if he had been thrown into an alchemy furnace and repeatedly forged.

Shen Che gritted his teeth, remaining silent.

He could feel certain impurities deep within his body being forcibly expelled by this potent force.

A foul-smelling, black, viscous liquid seeped from his pores.

Just as this burning sensation reached its peak, a completely opposite sense of ethereal clarity emerged from the depths of his spiritual platform.

His body was suffering, yet his mind was clearer and more comfortable than ever before.

It was like drinking a scoop of iced spring water after sweating profusely under a scorching sun.

These two extreme sensations intertwined, creating a marvelous balance.

Time trickled by.

It took a full two hours before the burning sensation slowly subsided.

Shen Che opened his eyes.

He looked down at his body; his skin was covered in a thick layer of black grime, emitting an unpleasant odor.

He stood up, feeling sticky and extremely uncomfortable all over.

He pushed open the door to the side room, where a large wooden tub filled with hot water had already been prepared.

Immersing himself completely in the warm water, Shen Che let out a long sigh of relief.

A feeling of transformation washed over him.

He carefully sensed the changes in his body.

His strength seemed unchanged.

His speed had not increased either.

But he could clearly feel that his body had become lighter, and his thoughts were more acute than ever before.

Previously obscure points in his cultivation of the Dragon's Roar Iron Shirt, which had been difficult to comprehend, now appeared as clear as looking at his own palm in his mind.

When one path opens, all paths open.

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