After hearing this, Qing Shu didn't know whether it was true or false and immediately asked his companions.

Many of those with firm minds responded immediately, their faces filled with determination.

"Let's go! If we die, we die! What are we afraid of!"

"That's right! Wang Zhan has saved us more than once. Can't we even take one risk for him? If we shirk this, I won't have the face to meet anyone when I return to the Federation..."

Amid the complex and indescribable gazes of Elder He and Xu Yuyu, these warriors, who had just returned from the battlefield with uncertain futures, decided everything in just a few words. Among them, some hesitated, while others yielded to peer pressure. However, most were resolute. Once they made a decision, they acted promptly and forcefully.

Therefore, under the scrutinizing gaze of many Sect members, a group of fierce warriors, bristling with murderous aura and their weapons glinting coldly, boldly embarked on their journey to the Book Collection Pavilion.

Even if dozens of them didn't say a word, their unified advance alone could stir up a storm, especially with the sensitive Sect disciples watching them at this moment.

...

On the road, some disciples were discussing among themselves.

"What's Elder He thinking? Is she trying to seize the Book Collection Pavilion?"

"I've known all along that woman is up to no good. Sure enough, she's finally showing her true colors! Does she think the Sect is her family's property? She's being utterly brazen and domineering!"

"I actually hope she really does it. Women in charge? What a mess! Even though she's just an Elder, she's still considered a master. How can we let these powerless women take over? The Sect Leader must be confused..."

...

Behind the scenes, the other Elders were also hesitant.

"What is she doing? A Grandmaster and dozens of Masters—is she leading them to their deaths?"

"No, no, I'm not interested in that. I just want to know where these people came from. They are definitely not from our Sect. Such a force couldn't appear out of thin air without us noticing."

"Should we follow them and see? It seems like things over there have calmed down. No matter where she recruited these people, if she takes all the credit, won't we suffer a huge loss?"

...

On the road, Elder He and Xu Yuyu walked in silence, somewhat pensive.

Within their minds, they inexplicably wondered. What ability does an ordinary-looking man like Wang Zhan possess to make these people willing to die for him? These warriors, though seemingly an uneven bunch, possess a fierce aura and disciplined movements; they're undoubtedly battle elites, a first-rate force anywhere.

Elder He's thoughts were even more complex. If I could cultivate such a force, could I escape the current crisis of being targeted and undermined by numerous Elders?

Unfortunately, she knew this was just wishful thinking.

Finally, they arrived. Outside the Book Collection Pavilion, all was calm. The two previously restless, powerful auras had simultaneously chosen to quiet down.

"Disciple He Miaomiao greets Master Uncle! Due to special circumstances, I have brought forty-eight warriors under Wang Zhan's command to protect Master Uncle!"

...

"What? They're Wang Zhan's men?"

Around them, those who were about to confront He Miaomiao froze, their expressions stunned.

"Isn't he just an ordinary person from the outside world? At most, he's a distant relative of He Miaomiao. Where did he get such a powerful force?"

Someone scrutinized the warriors' bearing. Despite their silence, the atmosphere was clearly oppressive. They stood ramrod straight behind He Miaomiao, like a troop of fiercely loyal guards.

That person then announced in a solemn voice, "Except for one Internal Energy Martial Artist, all the others are bona fide indomitable warriors!"

Indomitable warriors: warriors who had been tempered on the battlefield, slain enemies, and tenaciously survived.

This discovery instantly made the atmosphere palpably tense.

This force, if it had a strong, unifying core, could even encircle and annihilate us.

Even if they could only take down one of us at most, they couldn't be underestimated.

The problem was, they hadn't identified a true core among them. Perhaps it hadn't emerged yet, or perhaps...

"Could it really be Wang Zhan?"

If it was Wang Zhan, with that one saber strike of his alone, he could become the de facto core. As long as his stamina held up, he'd be a mobile cannon platform.

Everyone's expression turned grim.

With just He Miaomiao, they already felt the world was unfair. Now there was Wang Zhan too. Did being born into a prominent family mean they were inherently superior, destined to always stand at the pinnacle?

"If it's really him, we'd best be prepared to strike the moment he separates from this group..." someone said with a sinister glint in their eyes.

That was the only solution. Otherwise, if they confronted him, even as Martial Kings, they would be severely wounded even if they weren't killed. It absolutely wouldn't be an easy fight.

But even after wracking their brains, they couldn't find an opportunity.

...

"PFF... HAHA, good kid. You've got some skills."

Old Master Zao's aura was somewhat diminished, a result of his mental clash with the entity in Wang Zhan's mind.

Although Old Master Zao valued Wang Zhan, when he struck ruthlessly, he truly wished he could shatter Wang Zhan's brain—after all, it wouldn't be his own death. This had forced the entity in Wang Zhan's mind to focus solely on defense, offering no response.

Of course, this wasn't without complications. After all, he had a physical body, while his opponent was, in a sense, 'barefoot' and had less to lose. Even if both sides had their concerns, his opponent's were fewer. At least his opponent didn't have to worry about the frailty of an aging body that might cause him to spit blood at any moment.

It was shortly after that confrontation.

Elder He arrived at the Book Collection Pavilion with the dozens of warriors under Wang Zhan's command.

The considerable stir they caused along the way had shown Old Master Zao the extent of Wang Zhan's influence.

In the eyes of those privy to the situation, while they were equally astounded by the power Wang Zhan could mobilize, their understanding was more direct than the Old Master's.

This didn't seem like a genius, but rather a hidden heavyweight.

However, none of this concerned Old Master Zao. All he could do for Wang Zhan was save his life; nothing more.

He whispered, and a voice transmission reached Elder He's ear, "Just let one person come in. He's stable now. As long as no further accidents occur, he might even turn this misfortune into a blessing."

He wasn't wrong.

As long as Wang Zhan didn't die, he was, at the very least, an existence Old Master Zao had fiercely contended with. Regardless of Wang Zhan's ultimate intentions, he would be the one to reap the benefits.

Yang Qi went in, took a look, and quickly left.

...

Unbeknownst to anyone, although Wang Zhan appeared unconscious, his consciousness within his mind remained lucid.

Even though he felt his body had numbed to the point of non-existence, and the clash between the two entities felt like it was tearing him apart, he still hadn't given up. He continued to scream silently.

Damn it! Sooner or later, I'll make you feel this pain too! This is the first time in my life I've suffered such a huge loss! Whoever you are, daring to scheme against me, I'll dig you out from your coffin and leave your corpse to rot in the wilderness! System, System, damn it all! Hurry up and show yourself! If you don't come out soon, I'm really going to die!

The madman in his mind didn't hear his cries, only occasionally glancing around and cackling.

"Why resist! Look, look at this beautiful vista! Your brain, your cerebrospinal fluid, your entirety, will become the most impregnable fortress, and it will all be thanks to me!"

"So, surrender! Let me transform your body, transform your everything, transform all that you are! Then, you shall inherit my will, uphold my consciousness, and carry forth my unprecedented, unparalleled vision to sweep away all filth from this world..."

Madman, damn it!

Although Wang Zhan didn't want to see it, this madman actually projected the scene into every conceivable corner of Wang Zhan's body where his last vestiges of consciousness might be hiding.

Indeed, a tenacious old freak!

He had even turned the very center of Wang Zhan's brain into a void.

Within it, a brilliant nebula swirled slowly, as if suspended in time.

However, the more exquisitely beautiful something appeared, even as just a consciousness, Wang Zhan felt a chill.

Without a doubt, if he were put on an operating table at this moment, the only conclusion would be that his brain might not be dead, but it had definitely been consumed by something sinister and eerie, leaving it completely empty!

With the completion of the nebula's final segment, the resplendent sea of stars in his mind was finally formed.

That mysterious, arrogant, insane consciousness, amidst endless, wild laughter, quietly dispersed into the air like a phantom.

"HAHAHA, a flower a world, a tree enlightenment..."

With the movement of the nebula, Wang Zhan gradually felt the sensation in his body and his consciousness slowly reawakening, as if he were about to break free from this nightmarish cycle.

What a load of crap about 'every flower a world, every tree enlightenment.'

Wang Zhan gave a bitter smile. If the System doesn't show up soon, I might really be done for.

...

Just as Wang Zhan was about to be completely overwhelmed.

'Host, you are getting weaker and weaker!'

If he still had facial expressions, Wang Zhan was sure his mouth would probably twitch in helpless annoyance, definitely not shed tears of joy.

"What's with all the chatter? I'm about to die, can't you see?"

He was on the verge of death, and what happens?

The first thing the System said when it appeared wasn't comforting, making Wang Zhan feel as if he'd returned to his past. A year ago, if he remembered correctly, the System had been just like this when it first awakened in him.

The System didn't respond, merely blooming a dazzling, brilliant light in the darkness.

Looking at the familiar data before him, Wang Zhan immediately felt relieved. His despair vanished.

It's said that struggling against the heavens is joyful, struggling against the earth is joyful, and struggling against people is joyful. But he was weak and, for the time being, couldn't manage without the System.

Host: Wang Zhan

Domain: 1

Limit: 0

Strength: 4,530

Agility: 4,600

Physique: 4,480

Charm: 240

Wisdom: 300

Mental Power: 14,400

That familiar feeling, that familiar sensation. The System... it's back!

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