An hour slipped by like a heartbeat in a graveyard. The tension was so thick it felt like it could be sliced with a blade. Captain Zhao Lucy finally broke the silence, her eyes scanning the dark canopy overhead.

  ?"That’s enough. We move now," she commanded, her voice low and sharp. "Staying here any longer is just begging for a death sentence."

  ?The Iron-Fist team didn't need a second warning. They were already on their feet, checking their gear with frantic efficiency. They knew they hadn't rested enough to recover their strength, but they also knew the reality of their situation.

  ?If the Shadow-Blade Sect's reinforcements arrived, there would be no explanations. No excuses. They were standing right over the cooling corpses of Liu Ba and his men.

  ?Even a blind man could see what had happened here. If they were caught, the Sect would burn them alive before asking a single question.

  ?Su Han sat leaning against a tree, his breath coming in shallow hitches. He had already swallowed a Yellow-Level High-Grade healing pill. In the past, such a pill would have fixed him up in seconds.

  ?But things were different now. He was a Level 7 Body Refining warrior. His physical structure was much denser, his muscles like coiled steel.

  ?The pill was powerful, but against his current cultivation, it was only enough to stitch the major wounds. About half of his internal injuries had settled, and he could finally move without feeling like his ribs were grinding into powder.

  ?He stood up slowly, testing his weight. He had regained about half of his original stamina, but the rest would have to wait.

  ?To fully recover, he would need to rely on natural healing and a few hours of deep rest. He checked his System Store points—110. He didn't want to waste a single one on another pill right now.

  ?He felt that he didn't really need it. Unless a Qi Refining beast or a master showed up, his Shadow Steps would be enough to keep him out of trouble.

  ?They were heading toward the outer edges of the Black Wolf Mountain Range. The further they got from the "Inner Zone," the lower the danger became.

  ?Chen Jian walked over, his face pale and covered in grime. He hesitated before offering Su Han a couple of Yellow-Level Middle-Grade pills.

  ?"Brother Han... I know it’s not much, but take these. It might help the ache."

  ?Su Han looked at the pills and then at Chen Jian’s sincere face. He gave a small, appreciative smile but shook his head.

  ?"Keep them, Jian. You’ve used most of your stock just getting this far. I’ve already taken a High-Grade pill; these won't do much for me now."

  ?Chen Jian looked a bit embarrassed, pulling his hand back. He knew Su Han was right. At Level 7, Low or Middle-grade pills were like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water. You could swallow a dozen, and they still wouldn't match the kick of a High-Grade one.

  ?The reality of the mercenary life was harsh. The Iron-Fist Group was famous, but they were still working for every coin. A mission might pay well, but after splitting the reward among ten people and covering the cost of lost weapons and healing pills, there wasn't much left.

  ?A Yellow-Level High-Grade pill was a treasure to them. Most of the men kept one hidden away as a "life-saving trump card," only to be used when death was staring them in the face.

  ?Even Chen Jian had used his only High-Grade pill during the peak of the battle, and his heart had practically bled at the loss. That pill was worth more than his entire share of the mission reward.

  ?The group moved like ghosts through the undergrowth. They were more alert than ever, their eyes darting toward every rustle of a leaf. They weren't looking for a fight; they were looking for an exit.

  ?Swish...

  ?Whenever they sensed a powerful presence or a lingering beast, they silently detoured. They had had enough blood for one day.

  ?Three hours later, the air finally changed. The suffocating, heavy pressure of the deep mountains began to lift. They had reached the outer perimeter—a safe zone they knew well.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  ?Being veterans of these woods, the Iron-Fist members knew every shortcut and hiding hole. They had maps burned into their brains.

  ?Throughout the trek, Captain Zhao Lucy kept glancing back at Su Han. Her gaze was tilted, her eyes filled with a complicated mix of thoughts.

  ?"This boy... he’s an enigma," she mused inwardly.

  ?It hadn't even been forty-eight hours since he joined them. At the start, he seemed like a weakling, someone who needed protection.

  ?But then he had survived the hunt of the Black Wolf pack. Then came the four-colored snake. And finally... Liu Ba. The way he had slaughtered a 9th-level warrior while being battered himself was nothing short of terrifying.

  ?Who was he? Where did he come from?

  ?A natural curiosity sparked in her heart—the kind that only a mysterious man can trigger. Her eyes held no malice, only deep respect and a burning desire to know his secrets.

  ?But then, her expression turned cold again. She remembered his rejection.

  ?She had offered him a place in the Iron-Fist Mercenary Group—a group respected across the Blue Sky Continent. Most people would have knelt in gratitude for such an invitation.

  ?But Su Han? He had made up some flimsy excuse and turned her down without a second thought.

  ?"Hmph," she muttered under her breath, turning her eyes back to the trail.

  ?She was a Captain, a woman of power and beauty. Being rejected by a Level 7 brat stung her pride more than she cared to admit.

  ?The moment they hit a safe zone, one of the senior warriors collapsed, his voice ragged with exhaustion. "Captain! We can't take another step. This spot is secure enough—if you agree, we should set up camp for the night."

  ?He gestured toward the encroaching darkness. "Pushing for the mercenary market now means several more hours of travel. We’ll be lucky to reach by dawn, and in our state, we’re just sitting ducks for any predator."

  ?Captain Zhao Lucy listened in silence. She was a veteran leader; she knew that forcing a march now was a recipe for a wipeout. Her gaze drifted to the sky, where the ink of night was already bleeding through the clouds.

  ?The tension in her brow finally eased. Pointing toward a relatively open clearing, she gave the order. "Fine. we camp here for the night."

  ?The spot was chosen carefully. Low brush and few trees meant no place for an enemy or a beast to sneak up. If anything moved toward them, it would be spotted long before it reached the firelight.

  ?Soon, the team and the two shell-shocked clients were huddled on the ground. A fire was coaxed into life, and a portion of the Four-Colored Snake’s meat was carved out and set to roast.

  ?Those who were still mobile moved with desperate speed, driven by starvation. As the aroma of searing meat and hot smoke wafted through the air, stomachs began to growl in a chorus of hunger.

  ?Su Han felt his mouth water instantly. These last few days of high-stakes, blood-soaked battles had drained his very soul. He needed a moment of peace, a moment to just be human again.

  ?He leaned back, his mind already calculating. "Should I head back now? There are still twenty-five days before the Su Clan's monthly meeting."

  ?He flicked his gaze toward the glowing blue interface of the Invincible Supreme Dragon System. His jaw tightened as he looked at the numbers.

  ?To reach Level 8 of the Body Refining Realm, he needed another 2,200 Experience Points. Currently, his hoard sat at 7,800 XP, and his silver coin count had exploded to over 30,000.

  ?His system storage was a treasure trove. It was packed with Black Wolf pelts, bones, teeth, and bottles of essence blood. He even had a collection of Yellow-Level Middle-Grade weapons and martial arts scrolls looted from his fallen enemies.

  ?Then, his eyes landed on the "Supreme Golden Dragon Sword"—or rather, the one-fifth fragment of it. He tried to mentally grasp it, but it remained unresponsive.

  ?"You piece of trash System!" Su Han cursed inwardly, grinding his teeth. "What’s the point of giving me a reward I can't even touch? It’s only twenty percent of a blade, and I can't even unsheathe it."

  ?Ding!

  ?The cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind. "Host can utilize the Supreme Golden Dragon Sword only after reaching Level 4 of the Qi Refining Realm."

  ?"Are you kidding me?" Su Han’s anger flared. "So what, I just keep it in a showcase until then?"

  ?Despite his irritation, a predatory glint lit up his eyes. If this sword required such a high cultivation level just to hold, its power must be world-shaking. When all five pieces were united, it would be a weapon of mass destruction.

  ?He also had the Sea-Splitting Sword Technique now, a Yellow-Level High-Grade skill. In a place like the Su Clan, such a technique was the absolute peak.

  ?Only the Clan Head, the Elders, or a Young Master at the Qi Refining level were allowed to touch such power. Su Han remembered that before his Dantian was shattered, he was almost there.

  ?"Twenty-five days is plenty of time," he vowed, his fists clenching until his knuckles turned white. "I won’t just return; I’ll show them that Su Han hasn't fallen. I'll drag those who looked down on me through the dirt."

  ?The faces of those who mocked him flashed in his mind. Especially the Grand Elder and his arrogant son. A cruel, sharp smile played on Su Han's lips.

  ?"Wait for me... I’m coming for you sooner than you think."

  ?Suddenly, Chen Jian approached, holding a skewer of sizzling, golden-brown snake meat. Seeing Su Han lost in thought, he gave the boy's shoulder a firm, friendly squeeze.

  ?"Brother Han! Try this," Chen Jian said with a wide grin. "I might not be the best fighter, but when it comes to the grill, I’m a god. I guarantee you won't find better meat in the whole Blue Sky Continent!"

  ?Nearby, the other Iron-Fist mercenaries rolled their eyes, scoffing at his bragging. Chen Jian just snorted back at them. "Don't be jealous! You lot would starve without me."

  ?Su Han smiled faintly and took a bite. His eyes widened—the man wasn't lying. The texture was perfect, the juices bursting with flavor.

  ?He gave a thumbs-up. "Impressive, Chen Jian. Truly."

  ?Chen Jian beamed, but then his expression turned curious. "So, Brother Han... what’s your next move? Where are you headed after this?"

  ?Su Han’s smile slowly faded as he stared into the flickering flames, lost in a deep, dark silence.