Chapter 429: Chapter 429: Break Through

Even though he still couldn’t fully understand her motives, one thing was clear…she was fixing his life.

Giving him opportunities he had never even dared to dream of.

A quiet resolve settled in his heart. ’Then I’ll accept it… shamelessly, if I have to. And when the time comes… I’ll repay everything.’

He took a slow breath and nodded.

“Alright,” he said, then calmly gave her his account number.

Within seconds, Lana completed the transfer.

A soft notification sound echoed from Sean’s phone, and when he glanced at the screen, his heart skipped a beat.

The amount was real. Not a dream.

Lana then turned toward Rosie again, her expression softening.

“I’ll come visit you again, little sister,” she said with a gentle smile.

Rosie nodded obediently, clutching her book a little tighter.

Then Lana looked at Sean and handed him a talisman.

“These are exorcism talismans,” she said. “Make sure Rosie keeps one with her at all times.”

Sean accepted it carefully, as if holding something sacred. “I understand,” he replied firmly.

Lana gave a small nod. “I’ll take my leave now.”

She turned to go, but Sean suddenly spoke. “Wait!”

She paused and looked back at him.

“I’m cooking tonight,” he said, a little awkwardly. “Homemade dishes… you can stay and eat if you want.”

For a moment… Lana’s eyes lit up.

If there was anyone whose cooking she loved, aside from Lucian and a few high-end restaurants, it was Sean’s.

His food carried something those luxurious places lacked. Warmth. A sense of home.

A feeling… that she mattered. “Alright,” she said without hesitation.

That night, the apartment was filled with the comforting aroma of freshly cooked food.

Lana sat at the table, her usual composed demeanor slipping away as a bright smile spread across her face.

She ate happily. Genuinely.

Sean, watching her from across the table, couldn’t help but smile as well.

For the first time, the tension in his shoulders eased, his guard lowering without him even realizing it.

The atmosphere felt… peaceful.

After dinner, Lana left.

Sean stood by the doorway, watching her retreating figure for a long time.

Even after she disappeared from sight, he remained there.

Silent.

’Even if I reach the peak of my life one day…I won’t forget this beginning. A stranger… with no obligation… who changed everything.’

And he did.

Meanwhile, after returning to her mansion, Lana quickly immersed herself in her work.

University matters, cultivation, talisman crafting, everything demanded her attention.

As days passed, a strange sensation began to build within her.

A threshold. ’I’m about to break through…’

Without hesitation, she began preparing.

Since her advancement resources were sponsored by the university, she didn’t need to spend anything. Rare herbs and materials were arranged swiftly.

Soon, she consumed them and lay down.

Pain. It came instantly. Sharp. Violent. Unforgiving.

It felt as if her bones were cracking from within. And this time… it wasn’t just a feeling.

A faint crackling sound echoed through the room.

Outside, the maids froze, their faces turning pale as they heard the disturbing noise.

Lucy’s hands trembled slightly as she hurriedly took out her phone.

“Something’s wrong…” she whispered, quickly sending a message.

Inside, Lana endured. Her teeth clenched tightly, her fingers digging into the floor beneath her.

’I’ve been through this before… Endure it.’

Time passed. The pain didn’t lessen. Instead…a bone-deep cold spread through her body.

Her entire being felt frozen, as if her blood had turned to ice.

Her teeth chattered uncontrollably. Yet the pain remained. Cold… and pain… intertwined.

Then, gradually warmth began to bloom. At first, it was faint. Then it grew.

Stronger… hotter… until it became unbearable in its own way.

Two days passed like this. An endless cycle of suffering.

Just when she felt like it would never end, it stopped. Abruptly.

Lana tried to move. But her body wouldn’t respond. Paralyzed.

Mr. Crow, who had been watching, immediately reacted. He gestured sharply toward Lucy, urgency clear in his movements.

Lucy didn’t fully understand his language…but she understood enough.

She rushed in. Carefully, she carried Lana and placed her into a tub filled with warm water.

The moment Lana’s body touched the water, something horrifying happened.

Black substances began seeping out from her pores. From her arms. Her legs. Even the corners of her mouth.

The water slowly turned dark. The smell…it was unbearable. Thick. Rotting. Almost suffocating.

Lucy’s face turned pale. ’What… is this…?’

For a moment, she wondered if it was some kind of bodily waste, but quickly dismissed the thought.

This was something else entirely. She stayed back, letting the process complete.

Half an hour later, when she checked again, the water had turned completely black.

Swallowing her discomfort, she carefully cleaned Lana’s body, making sure every trace of that substance was gone.

Only after she was certain did she carry Lana back to bed.

Lana slept. For two days straight. The mansion remained tense during that time.

Even Axel had come to check on her. He stayed nearby during her breakthrough, observing from a distance.

But when the black substance began pouring out, even he hesitated and was worried.

’I’ve never seen this in twenty years …’

Doubt crept into his mind. ’Is my understanding of mystic cultivation… incomplete?’

Beside him, Mr. Crow remained calm.

’This isn’t strange,’ he thought. ’This is perfection.’

’Only those who cultivate flawlessly expel all impurities at the Heaven Rank… instead of layer stages.’

Axel slowly nodded, deep in thought.

Finally, Lana’s eyes fluttered open.

The world felt… different. Clearer. Sharper.

The colors around her seemed more vibrant, almost alive.

Her senses had heightened.

Even the weight of her own body felt lighter, as if something heavy had been shed completely.

She took a slow breath. And a faint smile appeared on her lips.

’I’ve broken through …’

As Lana slowly pushed herself up, her muscles still trembling faintly from the aftermath of the breakthrough, she felt a slight heaviness in her limbs.

Mr. Crow, who had been sitting quietly beside her, immediately leaned forward.

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