The shield was filled with despair, even kindling a few fond memories of Wei Daoming.

Yet, its actions showed no sign of slowing. With a BUZZ, a dim light suddenly emanated from the shield.

The next instant, it formed a circle that became a sphere, completely enveloping Wang Zhan.

Wang Zhan, still startled, quickly responded, "Would you believe me if I said I had nothing to do with this?"

He wasn't a mad man or a fool; he was a normal person. Any normal person knew that when a Martial Artist self-destructed, it was best to stay as far away as possible. Any Martial Artist who dared to self-detonate had to possess considerable strength; otherwise, the act would be inconsequential. Great power meant a high degree of destruction, making it impossible to defend against.

However, it no longer had time to listen to Wang Zhan's explanation and instead screamed, "Pour all your Essence Energy and mental energy into me right now! Maybe then I can save your life! Otherwise, I might survive in the end, but you will definitely die!"

Its primary mission had always been to protect Wang Zhan, so it was unwilling to give up so easily.

Wang Zhan, naturally decisive, didn't hesitate. All his internal Essence Energy and mental energy surged into the shield like a roaring tide. "Take it! Take it all! I have plenty of Essence Energy and mental energy to spare. If it's not enough, just drain me dry. I only need to be left with a breath of air! Also, whether you believe me or not, I really didn't cause any of this. I'm innocent..."

BOOM...

They had no more time to communicate.

A blood-red fog completely blocked their vision and muffled their sounds.

Then, a thunderous, ear-splitting rumble followed. It seemed both sudden and somehow expected, appearing in every corner around Wang Zhan and the shield, leaving no blind spots and completely robbing them of their last vestiges of consciousness.

Only the shield, though in a daze, continued to protect Wang Zhan's life. It endlessly drew upon Wang Zhan's reserves of Essence Energy and mental energy, causing him to visibly emaciate at an alarming rate.

What the shield failed to notice was an ethereal, bubble-transparent shadow, unseen by anyone, spreading out from Wang Zhan's body, much like the shield's own protective power. It occupied the shield's field of vision, filled the boundary of death, absorbed the frenzied powers and internal energy, and finally, with great difficulty, managed to preserve Wang Zhan's life.

「About half an hour later.」

Everything was over!

"COUGH... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

A frail, staggering figure stumbled out of the blood-red world. He looked as if the slightest breeze could knock him over, his face pale and devoid of spirit. Even his coughs sounded feeble. Behind him, a barrier of crimson fog made it seem as if he, having survived yet again, was truly standing on the threshold of Hell's open gates.

Wang Zhan looked up, but the first thing he saw wasn't the joy of having escaped death.

Instead, it was a pair of eyes, equally filled with shock and gloom, staring fixedly at him without a trace of goodwill.

"You're still not dead?"

It was him—the old-timer guarding this hidden, massive Pure Yuan Pool.

Wang Zhan had long known this old fellow was no gentle soul. Compared to him, the Old Man in the Book Collection Pavilion was at least upright in his conduct.

Yet what he hadn't expected was that the first sentence he heard after escaping death was such a venomous remark, filled with a wish for his immediate demise.

Immediately, an endless rage and malicious thoughts surged within him. Though the mad man's self-destruction had nearly thrown the Pure Yuan Pool into chaos—a responsibility this old fellow would undoubtedly bear—what did that have to do with him? He was a victim too!

With this thought, Wang Zhan's tone became equally cold and indifferent as he said, "It was just a mere Grandmaster self-destructing. I've seen it countless times. Why would it affect me?"

Watching and experiencing were obviously two different concepts. The problem was, Wang Zhan didn't hide his attitude at all. What did they mean, 'You're still not dead?' Had I dug up their ancestral graves, destroyed their Sect, or done something to offend them? From top to bottom, old to young, almost no one had shown him a kind face—He Miaomiao, Xu Yuyu, and the Old Man's lineage aside.

He was never one to endure humiliation silently, especially not as a vigorous young man. He couldn't be bothered with such sarcasm and, shaking off the euphoria of survival, launched a pointed counterattack.

Similarly, the old-timer understood Wang Zhan's intentions and recognized his attitude. He became so enraged that he laughed in fury, preparing to teach this young whelp, Wang Zhan, a profound lesson.

"Good, good, good! Truly a genius from the outside world, such high aspirations!"

Fortunately, just then, the Old Man, with whom Wang Zhan shared a life-saving karmic bond, quietly appeared.

Without wasting words, he pulled Wang Zhan behind him, then looked at the old-timer and said with a faint smile, "His skills were inferior, so he died. That's that. Can't we afford to lose? I told you before, if you could save him, it meant he wasn't fated to die. But if you couldn't, then no one is to blame!"

Hearing this, Wang Zhan's expression changed slightly as he instantly grasped the key point.

This Old Man... It seems he witnessed my fight with the mad man and even had some conflict with this old-timer because of it. But why?

He was just an insignificant genius; even in the outside world, perhaps only a decent one. The more Wang Zhan understood, the more he felt his own ignorance, and he no longer dared to be as complacent and self-assured as before. Yet, the more this was so, the less he could fathom the Old Man's intentions.

The only thing Wang Zhan could clearly understand, the only point truly relevant to him, was that he absolutely couldn't continue this trip to the Pure Yuan Pool. Like his visit to the Book Collection Pavilion, it was bound to end fruitlessly, a strong start with a weak finish.

Somehow, he felt an oppressive weight in his heart, filled with an indescribable darkness and violence. It was the fury of his own powerlessness in the face of change, and an ever-growing, urgent ambition.

The two old men were, after all, influential figures from the same Sect.

Even though conflict had arisen between them because of Wang Zhan or other matters, they didn't resort to blows, merely parting on bad terms after a long standoff.

Along the way, Wang Zhan remained silent, and the Old Man didn't speak either.

When they returned to the Great Hall where He Miaomiao resided, the Old Man sat on the high seat, his smile gone, his expression indifferent as he said, "You've collected the mad man's spirit, haven't you?"

Huh?

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Wang Zhan slowly raised his head, looking at the Old Man's inscrutable eyes that nonetheless held immense pressure, and felt a sense of gravity.

"Yes!"

But he made no attempt to hide it.

The Old Man knew about his domain and naturally understood its functions better than Wang Zhan did. Therefore, any clever trickery would merely be a foolish attempt that would seal his own doom.

The Old Man seemed to understand.

A domain possessing spirit? It seems that powerful entity in the manuscript invested heavily! The advancement of a domain was anything but simple. One could say that from this moment on, Wang Zhan had truly joined the ranks of the peak younger generation.

However, he didn't explain this to Wang Zhan, only glanced at him gently and said slowly, "I won't hold you accountable, but I must warn you: he was a disciple of our Sect, in life and in death. So, if anyone discovers he's in your possession, I'm afraid you'll never know peace. Moreover..."

Speaking of this, he seemed somewhat melancholic.

"Treat him well. He will be a great asset to you... Try to keep him alive."

Wang Zhan was baffled but could only nod.

He didn't even understand the function of the domain, so how could he treat 'him' well? All he could feel was that although the domain on his status panel showed no change, a hidden corner had appeared within his body, currently unexplorable.

Before he could ponder it further, a gentle breeze swept him into the air, as if carrying him towards some unknown, distant place.

"Go on, go on! Our fated connection has ended. It's time for you to leave!"

Wang Zhan was momentarily stunned, then a wave of ecstasy washed over him. But then he suddenly remembered something crucial and cried out, "Senior, my teammates..."

The Old Man murmured.

Teammates? Are they fellow disciples from the Federation? He had been away from the Federation for too long. Although he knew some things, when he truly considered it, he had been isolated from the world for a very long time.

What also surprised the Old Man was that, not long after he had sent Wang Zhan, Fang Fang, and the other Human Race warriors away, He Miaomiao brought Xu Yuyu directly to him.

"Martial Grand-uncle, the outside world is in constant flux. I have a premonition that my future lies out there! Please, Martial Grand-uncle, be accommodating and help me!"

Xu Yuyu said little, merely kneeling and kowtowing, her face filled with determination.

The Old Man said nothing more, quietly observing her, looking into those lively yet exceptionally resolute eyes. After a long moment, he smiled.

"Alright! I agree."

As for the future—life or death, people or events—did it truly matter?

「One day.」

Nearly a month had passed since the events at the Beast Nest Sky Curtain in the Jing State Wilderness Area.

The excitement surrounding the Federal Martial Arts Competition was also quietly subsiding. It was as if, after a great calamity, the Federation had once again returned to a state of undisturbed peace and stability.

Then, at around two o'clock that afternoon, a name that had been missing from the Beast Nest Sky Curtain for an unknown length of time finally reappeared outside Jinmen City, at least three hundred miles from Jing State.

Wang Zhan felt as if he were in a daze, gazing at the Blue Sky White Clouds before him, the green grass underfoot, the human city, the familiar scenes.

This is Earth; this is the Federation!

Wang Zhan could no longer contain his excitement. His face beaming, he roared, "HAHAHA! I, Wang Zhan, am back!"

Immediately, Yang Qi, Su Tao, Qing Shu, and a host of other Human Race warriors appeared behind Wang Zhan, their faces alight with rapture, their minds seemingly at peace.

"We've finally survived!"

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