For a moment, aside from Tao Zhu, Lin Hao and Yu Lan were both looking at Wang Zhan with solemn eyes. However, their attention was soon diverted by another piece of news in Wang Zhan's words.

A top Lord-level beast?

Lin Hao looked solemnly at Wang Zhan and spoke in a deep voice, "I need to warn you: don't underestimate the Beast Clan just because you think they aren't formidable! Even if what appears before you now is top-level, it's merely an inferior specimen that has been eliminated. The problem is, you're just a Martial Master. Where do you get the audacity to underestimate them? Do you think that as long as your so-called Master is here, you can strut around regardless of whether they are leader-level or King-level?"

Perhaps feeling the atmosphere growing somewhat heavy, Tao Zhu hurriedly interjected, "Of course! If I couldn't catch them or hit them, I'd strut around too…"

"Shut up!" Yu Lan snapped, feeling a bit irritated.

Has he been brainwashed by that so-called senior expert? she wondered. The thing is, our family's Old Ancestor is still alive, and Tao Zhu isn't even *this* respectful to him!

Of course, these minor trifles couldn't affect the tense stare-down between Wang Zhan and Lin Hao, which was filled with a peculiar atmosphere.

Wang Zhan smiled, looking at Lin Hao with an air that was neither humble nor arrogant, knowing Lin Hao was deliberately changing the subject. Lin Hao seemed to disregard the information Wang Zhan provided, but in reality, he had already taken it to heart. He was merely waiting for the right time to investigate so as not to implicate Tao Zhu and Yu Lan.

However, that was no longer within Wang Zhan's considerations. What he needed to prove was merely his resolve to join this grand event.

For instance…

"Of course… not," Wang Zhan began.

As soon as Wang Zhan's words fell, the two spectators finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Wang Zhan wasn't foolish enough to challenge Lin Hao out of youthful arrogance.

However, they didn't know that Wang Zhan's next sentence would stir up a tempest. Even as he spoke, he merely smiled faintly, as if casually uttering an insignificant phrase.

"I am a member of the Human Race; how could I strut around? But walking casually should be no problem. They are just a few second-rate, third-rate top-level beasts; I don't even deign to acknowledge them. Besides, you'd better hurry; time is short."

The surroundings fell into utter silence!

Yu Lan was stunned for a moment, then completely dumbfounded.

Did Wang Zhan... eat something foul? Does he actually know what he's talking about? she thought. If he dismisses second-rate and third-rate top-level beasts so easily, then what about her? She's, at best, only a Grandmaster. Is she worse than a common weed, to be trampled by anyone?

Such arrogance!

Then, Wang Zhan continued, "What do you think, respected… Martial Emperor!"

Instantly, the atmosphere in the area solidified like jelly, and the temperature plummeted.

Lin Hao quietly stared at Wang Zhan, his gaze sharp and glinting. "You seem to know a lot?"

At the same time, Yu Lan and Tao Zhu were also shocked.

Martial Emperor?

They had been following a Martial Emperor all along?

They previously only knew that Lin Hao held the trump card for their mountain journey, but they would never have imagined they were accompanying a Martial Emperor!

With such a powerful existence among them, who would dare to provoke them?

Weren't *they* the ones who could strut around as members of the Human Race?

The two of them couldn't even comprehend it. Wasn't Lin Hao just Lin Hao? When had he become a Martial Emperor? Tao Zhu, especially, felt like screaming to find out what on earth he had missed…

…

In the end, Wang Zhan said nothing further, just laughed heartily, greatly enjoying himself.

Actually, his guess that Lin Hao was a Martial Emperor was just a shot in the dark, a random bluff.

After all, for an ordinary person to dare venture such vast distances deep into the jungles, with the underlying truth becoming increasingly bizarre—to the point where even a Martial King could only act as an errand boy—the conjecture about a Martial Emperor naturally surfaced.

However, he hadn't expected Lin Hao to lose his composure so easily; that certainly wasn't Wang Zhan's fault.

He simply handed the little wolf cub to Yu Lan and casually asked, "Why are you here?"

Yu Lan felt as if an eternity had passed since she last saw Wang Zhan; he seemed so different. She even sensed a strong pressure emanating from him, so she had to lower her head for the moment and replied, "Qin Ying worries about you, and my family wants to meet you... Of course, this isn't because of you, but because of Ying Ying. Without her, you're nothing."

"Also, the barter platform is being built, and it will be open soon after I return. But to be honest, I'm not very optimistic about your start-up project. Undoubtedly, in your outlook, the degree of dependence on appraisal experts has already determined your platform's limitations…"

Wang Zhan remained noncommittal.

Yu Lan couldn't see clearly because she was just an employee, not the one in charge, Wang Zhan thought. Actually, he had already made his decision. Any shortcomings, any lack of talent—those would be resolved by sheer strength and capability. He just had to wait for his next advancement to Martial General. Then he'd see if he could pose a threat to a Martial King. At that point, a single call from him would naturally draw countless supporters, flocking to him like clouds. Riding this wave of momentum, he could even establish high-end cooperation with that small shop in the Chu State Black Market.

So, Wang Zhan said directly, "Alright, I won't blame you for being short-sighted. But you were introduced by Qin Ying; can't your mind be a bit more flexible? You're not the boss, so why get so hung up on details…"

"You!" Yu Lan was thwarted once again.

This was the first time Tao Zhu had seen his niece so powerless before a man, and he… was very happy about it.

He laughed heartily in his heart.

"This is great! Wang Zhan, you've got this! Keep it up…"

「On the way back.」

After Wang Zhan managed to free himself from the clinging little wolf cub, he kept deliberating.

"Now that there's another Human Race Martial Emperor, many things can be done. For example, that Three-headed Snake. If it's killed, even just taking its beast core and precious parts would be worth hundreds of billions, and it's practically priceless due to its rarity. At worst, I can share some of the profits with this Martial Emperor. After all, I have Wei Daoming backing me..."

Lin Hao is likely on the same side as Wei Daoming. Otherwise, why would he abandon his post guarding Qian Shui City and venture deep into the jungles just for my sake? It must be because of their connection.

Of course, having never witnessed the true power, methods, and level of existence of a Martial Emperor, Wang Zhan could only rely on such wild speculation to gauge Lin Hao's strength. But one thing was certain: if that Three-headed Snake truly appeared, it definitely wouldn't be able to escape.

"Also, since there's free labor available here, that Ta Qing must also be eliminated covertly; it can't be allowed to develop further. This little beast is rather insidious and utterly shameless. Its very existence is a threat to the Human Race..."

Wang Zhan found himself feeling rather resentful.

Soon, a few courses of action became clear to him.

First, see if he could get Lin Hao, the Martial Emperor, to help deal with the Three-headed Snake and make a fortune.

Secondly, devise a plan for Ta Qing: lure it out, deliver a fatal blow, and then unleash the Martial Emperor to ensure it never returned.

Lastly, strive to seize the opportunity for himself or for other members of the Human Race. Any existence attempting to lay claim to this fortune must die at the hands of the Human Race's Martial Emperor.

Presumably, once Lin Hao learned of all the 'benefits' Wang Zhan had arranged for him, he would be moved beyond words.

As for the little wolf cub…

Hmph, did they really think Yu Huan was some innocent little lotus, a paragon of virtue for nine lifetimes?

First, I'll get it back to Earth and raise it as a pet for a while, then decide.

…

「Finally, another three days passed.」

「Within the hidden base of the Blood Wolf Clan.」

A short Blood Wolf whooshed through the underground tunnels, quickly arriving before Yu Huan, and said respectfully, "King, the flower has bloomed!"

The flower has bloomed!

The flower has bloomed!

The flower has bloomed!

The soft echoes caused Yu Huan, who was deep in thought, to lift his head. A small smile touched the corners of his mouth as he looked at the seemingly mutated Blood Wolf before him.

"Which petal is it now?"

"The third petal!"

No one knew what this miraculous entity was, but it seemed to undergo a slow, gradual process of unfurling.

Yu Huan stood up, straightened his back, and said in a deep voice, "Since it's blooming, let's begin! Send a message to that human. Tell him there's an anomaly and ask him to check it out. Remember, do not tell him it's our ancestral land!"

Beneath him, a dozen or so white wolves, similar in size to Yu Huan but with patchy coloration, exclaimed, "King, the Blood Sea Flower is a blessing from our ancestors! Are we really going to give it to that human?"

"King, the Blood Sea Flower is of great importance! It even embodies the will of the wolf ancestor. We absolutely cannot hand it over!"

"King, please consume it yourself! Our clan has been dormant for too long; it is time for a true King-level beast to emerge and lead us to greater heights…"

The sounds of rejection and mournful requests filled the air. It was evident that the Blood Wolf Clan was reluctant to hand over their Blood Sea Flower.

But how could they know all that Yu Huan had done to reach this day, even sending away one of his own most powerful direct descendants?

His eyes turned cold, glowing with a greenish hue, and he said, "All of you, shut up! Since when did the Blood Wolf Clan need the Blood Sea Flower to advance to the Martial King Realm? Have you forgotten that the best use of the Blood Sea Flower is to lay a solid foundation for our descendants, preparing them for the legendary ascension to realms beyond the royal level?

"I know my talent and strength are limited, so I have already entrusted my bloodline talent to the guidance of fate. I have also long since passed on the hope of the Blood Wolf Clan; Wang Zhan is the Dao Protector I have chosen for this inheritance!

"Rest assured, all of you. Even if the Blood Wolf Flower falls into his hands, the powerful allure of the Blood Wolf King will surely make him wary, and he will miss his opportunity. But as long as our hope remains, even if he only glimpses it, the torrent of fate cannot stop its fruition…"

At this moment, the momentous event that could cause the entire beast-filled jungle to erupt finally manifested.

It was unknown, however, that the shadowy figure from the darkness, standing behind this event, had already pulled the strings for all involved.

Even Wang Zhan!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.