The mountain was silent.
Nothing remained.
No body.
No trace.
Only cracked jade.
And dried gold.
Han Chandu sat.
Still.
Because now—
The fight was over.
But the cost—
Remained.
His body was damaged.
Deep wounds.
Torn flesh.
Strained bones.
He closed his eyes.
Breathing steady.
Controlled.
Time passed.
Five days.
Ten days.
Fifteen days.
No movement.
No hunting.
Only recovery.
Jade Skin held everything together.
Repairing.
Stabilizing.
Dongxuan Sutra remained calm.
Focused inward.
Fifteen days—
Gone.
Han Chandu opened his eyes.
Stood.
Tested movement.
Stable.
Recovered.
He summoned it.
The Golden Jade Lion appeared.
Massive.
Dominant.
Super.
He stepped forward.
Mounted.
The lion moved.
Fast.
Silent.
Three days—
Passed.
Without stopping.
Forest.
Distance.
Shelter.
Near the shelter—
Han Chandu stopped.
He dismissed it.
The golden lion dissolved.
Returned to the soul sea.
Low-key.
Always.
He entered the shelter.
Calm.
Unnoticed.
Voices echoed.
Hunters moved.
Then—
A conversation.
"…did you hear?"
"…Dollar…"
"…Ashura…"
"…dead…"
Han Chandu paused.
Only for a moment.
Because he understood.
Killed Ashura.
No reaction.
Only confirmation.
He moved forward.
Then—
Called.
"…come back."
Far away—
received it.
Time passed.
Han Sen returned.
They met.
Silent.
"…you called?" Han Sen asked.
Han Chandu turned.
"…come."
No explanation.
No detail.
Han Sen followed.
They entered a private room.
Closed.
Silent.
Han Chandu placed something down.
Carefully.
The Golden Lion Life Geno Essence.
Han Sen's eyes narrowed.
"…what is this?"
Han Chandu replied.
Calm.
"…consume it."
Silence.
Han Sen could feel it.
The pressure.
The density.
The difference.
"…this isn't normal," he said.
A pause.
Then—
"…lion."
Silence.
Han Sen understood.
Enough.
He picked it up.
Looked at it.
Then—
Consumed it.
Han Chandu turned.
Walking toward the door.
Han Sen spoke.
"…you're changing."
Han Chandu stopped.
For a moment.
Then—
"…so are you."
He left.
The door closed.
Outside—
Nothing had changed.
But inside—
Everything had.