CHAPTER 172: TIDES OF CHANGE

Luna’s voice trembled as she rushed to the bedside.

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she hugged her tightly.

Melissa blinked slowly, eyes still hazy. Her lips parted again, and this time, a faint whisper came out.

"Weren’t we all in the dungeon? What happened?"

Jessi was the first to laugh through the tears. "That was a month ago, dummy."

Melissa’s head shifted slightly toward her. "A month! Really?!"

A smile flashed on Gideon’s hardened face.

Ronald couldn’t control his tears as well. "So much happened, Melissa... and look at you, just peacefully napping while the rest of us were stressing like crazy!"

Emily quietly stepped back as the group gathered closer, allowing them their moment. She watched in silence, a soft smile playing on her lips.

Raphael stood in the corner with his hands tucked in his coat pockets. His gaze was calm but observant. He hadn’t said anything yet.

Jessi suddenly turned to him. "Ah! Melissa, this is Raphael. He joined the party while you were asleep."

Raphael offered a polite nod. "Nice to meet you."

Melissa gave a weak smile. "You too... thanks for being here."

"No need to thank me. Just focus on healing," he replied with a light tone.

Melissa’s eyes scanned the group again, searching for someone. "Where’s... Aiden?"

The question landed like a stone in a still pond. For a moment, nobody said anything.

Gideon stepped forward. "He’s... away. Doing something important. Said he’d be back soon."

"I see..." Melissa murmured. "He saved me, didn’t he?"

"Yeah," Jessi answered in a low voice. "When you got hurt and we tried but failed to reach you, he stormed toward you, massacring every monster that tried to stop him. Then kept fighting while protecting you at the same time."

Melissa’s gaze softened as she closed her eyes briefly. "Tell him thanks... I really owe him a big one."

"We will," Luna whispered, nodding.

Then, all of them turned toward Emily. Gratitude surged through the room like an invisible wave.

"Mrs Starwind," Gideon said, bowing slightly. "We owe you... If not for you, then Melissa would still be unconscious. We can’t thank you enough."

Luna followed, bowing deeply. "Thank you so much. We really... we didn’t know if she’d ever..."

Emily raised a hand, stopping her. "No need for that. She’s strong. She held on all this time. I just gave a little push."

Even Raphael, who rarely showed emotion, nodded respectfully. "That was amazing to witness."

Emily gave a faint smile but said nothing more.

Noah finally stepped forward from where he stood at the door. "Emily, I’ll wait for you outside."

She nodded, understanding the signal.

As she walked past Gideon, he gave her another grateful nod.

Noah stayed behind for just a moment more and looked toward Gideon. "Can I have a word with you?"

"Of course." Gideon followed him out into the hallway.

They stepped a few paces away from the chamber. Noah finally asked. "Where is Aiden?" he was desperate to know if it was really Logan.

Gideon blinked. "I already told everyone inside, he said he had something important to do. I’ve been waiting for him myself."

Noah studied his face. It didn’t look like he was hiding anything.

"I see..." he muttered.

"Is something wrong?" Gideon asked, concerned.

"No. Just curious," Noah replied, after that he smiled politely and added. "Actually, I have a proposal."

Gideon nodded with respect. "Please go ahead."

"I want to place someone in your team."

"Huh?" Gideon looked confused for a moment, then his eyes widened. "Are you sure, Mr Starwind? You know my party’s present condition, don’t you? Still, you want to place someone? And who?"

"My daughter. Lilith. I know about your party’s condition but I still think it would be worth it."

Gideon was taken aback at first and then a wide grin crept onto his mouth. "That’s not a proposal, Mr Starwind... that’s a blessing!"

Noah chuckled faintly. "She’s strong. But she needs the right people around her. And I believe your team is one of the few where she’ll learn restraint, growth... and maybe even humility."

"I’ll gladly accept. My party will be delighted."

"Good." Noah extended a hand.

Gideon shook it firmly. "You have my word. I’ll treat her like one of our own."

Noah gave a faint smile and turned to leave.

Gideon stared at his back for a moment, then exhaled slowly. "Lilith Starwind, huh... things just got a lot more interesting."

His party needed more hunters. So this offer came as a great fortune. It would inspire others to join as well.

At the same time... inside a quiet inn room.

Logan sat cross-legged in the center of the floor, his eyes closed, his breath deep and steady. Inside his body, a silent comforting storm was brewing.

Qi coiled through his veins like glowing serpents, swirling in steady, rhythmic waves. The flow wasn’t chaotic...it was precise, refined, almost elegant. Each breath converted more spiritual energy.

Black, sticky grime began to seep from his pores. It smelled gross. It was good that nobody was beside him.

Impurities!

The byproduct of a body being cleansed from the inside out.

His skin glistened with sweat and filth, but he didn’t stop. He didn’t even flinch. His consciousness was deep within himself, navigating the web of energy now surging through his meridians.

Something else was happening too.

His body was changing.

Bit by bit, his bones cracked silently, realigning. Muscles grew leaner, denser. His limbs stretched slightly, unnoticed even by him.

In just one month, Logan had grown five centimeters taller. His shoulders were broader, his chest more defined.

And all of this... was happening naturally.

His tiny frame could no longer contain the increasing energy, so the energy started improving his body, making space for itself.

A single droplet of sweat slid down the side of his face and dropped to the wooden floor.

Then another.

He had refined only 12% of the total spiritual energy by now which he got from the Spirit Nectar. But even that was enough to push him beyond the limits of a Junior Grandmaster.

Even he didn’t know what level awaited. He just continued to train and cultivate. And the time ticked by.