Inside VIP Chamber No. 3, Luo Lie was examining the polluted Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant in the small porcelain bottle, ignoring the questioning glances Xue Bingning occasionally cast his way.

In truth, Luo Lie felt indifferent towards Lan Cailing and couldn't be bothered to deal with her. However, considering he had assumed the identity of the former Young Prince and was using his resources—like the two million gold coins just spent—he felt he should make some gesture. So, he sent Lan Cailing away, as a way to vent on behalf of the Young Prince.

And that was all there was to it.

Luo Lie's thoughts were already absorbed in a sudden fragment of memory that had appeared.

This memory, though brief, was immensely helpful to him.

The Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant could aid in cultivation, provided one was in the Body Refining Realm and practiced the Celestial Dragon-Elephant Scripture.

Who wouldn't want to become stronger?

"Sister Bingning, can you purify this blood with your magic?"

Luo Lie asked.

Xue Bingning thought for a moment and shook her head, "I can't. Although I don't know what has polluted this Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant, I know it's something formidable. With my current strength, purification is impossible."

Luo Lie said, "Then help me extract the part that hasn't been completely polluted."

"Sure."

Xue Bingning took out the Divine Master's Brush and cast a spell.

Her lips moved slightly as she chanted incantations, and the Divine Master's Brush moved, causing the Qi flow in the VIP Chamber to converge on the brush, which then pointed sharply at the mouth of the small porcelain bottle.

The Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant inside the bottle churned violently, and then a hair-thin line of blood shot out, guided by the Divine Master's Brush, and Xue Bingning collected it into a brand-new small porcelain bottle.

A moment later, Xue Bingning stopped.

Looking again at the remaining Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant, most of it was left, but it had a grayish tint and emitted a feeling of inexplicable depression, annoyance, and nausea.

The part Xue Bingning extracted was very different, a pure blood color. Although it was just a drop, it faintly carried an aura, as if it contained a real Starhorn Battle Elephant.

"So little."

Luo Lie looked at it, somewhat disappointed.

It was called a drop of blood, but it wasn't even the size of a soybean, more like a sesame seed.

"Otherwise, why do you think no one else bought it? Although the Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant is extremely precious, the truly unpolluted part is too scarce. Three million gold coins are not worth it. Only the Carefree Pavilion dares to sell it at such a high price; they're just looking for suckers."

Xue Bingning said, "You're the sucker who got conned."

Luo Lie laughed, "Not necessarily."

Though it was little, it was still the Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant at the Shattering Stage, and he was only at Body Refining Level Five. Even if it was scarce, it should still be of some help.

He immediately poured the sesame-sized blood drop into his hand.

With hands clasped together, he used the method from the memory fragment in his mind, channeling his internal Qi to refine it in his palms, and in an instant, it transformed from liquid to gas.

This gas was completely absorbed, without any impurities left behind.

Immediately, Luo Lie felt his Qi swell significantly, quickly circulating it until it settled in his dantian, calming down.

He felt as if he was on the verge of reaching Body Refining Level Six.

"Too bad there's so little."

"If there was a bit more, I could definitely break through."

"If I were to cultivate normally, it might take another two or three months to break through, but now it's shortened to within ten days."

"This money was well spent, haha, especially since it was left by that former Young Prince, not mine, so why not use it? Keeping it would be a waste."

Naturally, this made Luo Lie extremely excited.

He seemed to see Body Refining Level Six beckoning to him.

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No one had ever cultivated the Celestial Dragon-Elephant Scripture to Body Refining Level Six before.

Xue Bingning was unaware that, unknowingly, Luo Lie's strength had increased again. Seeing that Luo Lie was fine, she said, "We should head back."

"Yeah."

Luo Lie casually put away the bottle of polluted Blood of the Starhorn Battle Elephant.

The two left the VIP Chamber.

Naturally, an attendant respectfully escorted them out.

Upon exiting the inner area, in the outer trading area, the attendants did not recognize the Carefree Silver Dragon Token and did not show any special reverence.

As they stepped out of the Carefree Pavilion and were about to descend the steps, figures flickered.

Someone blocked their path.

At the forefront was an old man with graying hair.

Behind the old man were more than twenty uniformly dressed guards, all carrying long knives and wearing expressions of cold arrogance.

"Second Elder of the Sect!" Upon seeing the old man, Xue Bingning's expression changed slightly, and she exclaimed.

Luo Lie raised an eyebrow, coldly eyeing the Second Elder.

The so-called Second Elder was the Second Elder of the Council of Elders, which was composed of the older generation of the royal family and relatives of the Northern Waters Kingdom, with the power to restrain the king.

The position of Head of the Elder Council had recently been obtained by Liu Hongyan, but it had been meticulously managed by Chong Houhu before, making it watertight. Gaining control in a short time was unrealistic. It could be said that the current Council of Elders was still primarily under Chong Houhu's influence.

"Miss Bingning is here too, that's even better, saves me the trouble of notifying the Monarch."

The Second Elder said coldly.

"What message does the Second Elder want Bingning to convey?"

Xue Bingning asked.

The Second Elder pointed at Luo Lie and said, "This scoundrel raped and murdered a young woman from our Council of Elders half a day ago. This is a provocation to the Council of Elders. I have personally come to hold him accountable."

So they were here to cause trouble.

Luo Lie wasn't surprised. Knowing these were people from the Council of Elders, he guessed that Chong Houhu was finally making a move against him. After all, he had thwarted Chong Houhu's plans before, leading to a series of setbacks by Liu Hongyan. It would be strange if Chong Houhu could swallow that bitter fruit. He just didn't expect Chong Houhu to endure for two months.

He didn't know that the real mastermind targeting him was Chong Zhanyuan.

It could be said that the two strongest youths of the Northern Waters Kingdom were officially clashing.

"The Second Elder must be mistaken. Half a day ago, Luo Lie and I were both inside the Carefree Pavilion and couldn't have committed such a heinous act."

Xue Bingning said angrily.

The Second Elder glared, "Insolent! Who do you think you are to shout at me?"

Xue Bingning was furious.

The Second Elder said arrogantly, "You just need to inform the Monarch. I don't need to explain to you, nor do you have the right to question me."

"What if the Monarch asks?"

Xue Bingning said.

"Just say that I have witnesses and evidence proving Luo Lie is the culprit. If the Monarch doesn't believe it, then he can come to the Council of Elders to discuss it."

The Second Elder waved his hand, "Seize the criminal Luo Lie!"

Immediately, two guards rushed forward to apprehend Luo Lie.

Luo Lie coldly glanced at them, and the aura he emitted scared the two guards into not daring to make a move. He took out the Carefree Silver Dragon Token from his Qiankun Bag, "Sister Bingning, take this token and ask the Carefree Pavilion if they care about someone being falsely accused of a crime while buying things in their pavilion. If they don't care, ask them if I can request protection for three years."

Xue Bingning's heart leaped with joy; indeed, the Carefree Silver Dragon Token had significant uses.

"How bold! Committing a serious crime and still trying to scare people with a mere token from the Carefree Pavilion. Do you even regard our Council of Elders?"

The Second Elder was furious, stepping forward to snatch the Carefree Silver Dragon Token and smashing it to the ground.

Crack! The Carefree Silver Dragon Token cracked.

The Second Elder, still unsatisfied, lifted his foot and stomped on it, crushing it completely. In the end, he arrogantly said, "Let me tell you, in the Northern Waters Kingdom, if the Council of Elders says you're guilty, then you're guilty. No one can save you."