Wang Zhan's problem wasn't that he didn't want the ten billion; he thought it was too little.

"He's quite a clever lad, understanding how to tie us to his ship, making it impossible for us to disembark," Wei Daoming chuckled.

Edward, however, remained expressionless. "The fear is always that the act might go awry, burying all of us at sea."

Wei Daoming was noncommittal. "Who knows? If such a day truly comes, perhaps he won't even need our backing. Besides, who arranged for that reporter? Don't they know outsiders aren't allowed in here? Can't they be a bit more discreet?"

The others exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"Certainly not any of us old fellows. If I knew the reporters and media were all of this caliber, I'd immediately send them to the battlefield as a suicide squad."

Too attention-grabbing.

However, the journalists were never the main characters; Wang Zhan was.

"Alright, let's talk about it. We definitely have to give something, but how to give it, and how much, that's the question," Yun Tianyi said with an enigmatic smile, quietly observing the cunning old and young foxes before him.

"I'll give half. If he doesn't survive, don't blame me for being heartless," Edward stated indifferently, as if tens of billions were mere pocket change.

Yun Tianyi curled his lip. This old man just can't bear to let go. Otherwise, with a talent for acting like this, he really would have taken him back directly.

Investments require returns. Otherwise, after offending several Martial Emperors, does Wang Zhan think he can just walk away? What a joke.

But this kid, Wang Zhan... has he decided to completely let himself go because he can't return home, can't acknowledge his family, and can't take the money? Yun Tianyi pondered. It seemed that as long as one could become stronger, anyone would be willing to put on an act.

Of course, if the act fell apart, they couldn't be blamed.

After all, Wang Zhan was just a boy from a single-parent family, a rat from the slums, whose only option was to scavenge for food to survive the winter.

Wei Daoming and Mu Dongjun looked at each other and smiled. "Then we'll also contribute half. The three Martial Arts Academies will gather the resources Wang Zhan needs until he advances to Martial Emperor. The question is, Elder Yun, how much are you prepared to offer?"

If Wang Zhan didn't die, with his Talent, becoming a Martial Emperor was indeed a possibility. Even if he didn't reach that, Martial King was a certainty. If he couldn't even manage that, then they couldn't be blamed for not supporting him.

However, this arrangement certainly put Yanjing Martial Arts Academy on the spot. They weren't ignorant of Yun Tianyi's wolfish ambitions to bring Wang Zhan into his fold; why would they make it easy for him?

Yun Tianyi laughed heartily. "This is excellent news! Others worry about lacking resources, yet this young man Wang Zhan has secured everything in one go. Since you're all being so generous, Yanjing Martial Arts Academy can't be stingy. Very well, if he truly breaks through, Yanjing Martial Arts Academy will directly grant him an independent Expeditionary Army quota."

The three men were stunned. Yun Tianyi was actually willing to give up a quota, something even Martial Emperors would covet. On the Star War Battlefield, a quota represented limitless benefits.

If the quota Edward had Wang Zhan replace was essentially a death sentence, then Yun Tianyi's quota was meant to truly let him soar.

However, on second thought, they couldn't help but laugh bitterly. This old fox! He contributed nothing, made them responsible for the training, and then planned to swoop in and snatch the prize! But could they really afford to give up a genuinely unassigned quota?

It was difficult. Even with Edward's backing from the Royal Family, it would be hard to free up a quota; they were all earmarked. The spot Wang Zhan was to fill was, at best, a way to appease the Li Family and the Federation; it wasn't truly going to be his.

「 」

BANG!

Finally, Wang Zhan continued his performance.

As the last devious blow landed, every member of that team became a sacrifice for his ascent.

He roared, feigning madness.

"Humans! Never slaves!"

"Humans! Never slaves!..."

The shouts rose, wave upon wave. Even though Wang Zhan was alone, it didn't feel awkward at all; it was like an army of thousands.

Of course, he wasn't fighting alone.

The entire battle-viewing platform erupted once more, with Wang Ping from Yu State Military Martial Academy among the excited crowd. The whole team from Yu State Military Martial Academy was shouting, their faces filled with indignation and satisfaction; it was clear they held no fondness for those pampered heirs.

Yun Tianyi appeared at the right moment, his voice solemn. "Those who dare not fight, die! Those who show cowardice in battle, die! Those who hesitate upon entering the arena, die!..."

Those who feared to fight, those who hesitated to fight, those who dared not fight, those who dared not fight to the death—all of them must die, die, die!

This cowardly team, possessing strength yet too afraid to even resist, had finally met their doom. They would be the shame of the Human Race.

Gazing over everyone present, Yun Tianyi spoke gravely, his voice echoing throughout the stadium. "Nine people are already dead!

This is a Federal Martial Arts Competition the likes of which the Federation has never witnessed, and it's the first time the Federation has implemented life-or-death duels in such a competition.

We didn't force you to join. If you want to leave, you can leave now. But let me remind you: this is not a game, nor is it an act.

This is battle! A battle that claims lives!

Not only could you die, but Wang Zhan, who stands on this stage ready to meet your challenges, could also die! If you die, you can't blame anyone—not us, not the Federation!

If you don't want to die, then survive. Live well. No one but yourselves can ensure your survival; no one else can keep you alive indefinitely.

So, do you want first place? Do you want the Martial King Equipment? Do you want to show the Federation that you have what it takes? Then fight, fight, fight! Fight to the end of your lives, fight until you fall, fight until humanity stands eternal upon the Earth!"

He passionately cheered everyone on, yet he had no choice but to do so. They were merely seventeen, eighteen, at most nineteen-year-old kids; how many had ever seen a real dead person? Those like Wang Zhan, who had witnessed such things, were already developing psychological issues, whimpering after the Federation like infants crying for milk.

Therefore, Yun Tianyi had to make them understand the truth about the Federation, and also allow them to maintain hope in it.

Only through fighting could they hope to live. Only through a desperate struggle could they possibly gain anything. Those who dared to step onto the stage but still treated it like a game were destined only for death—using the price of their lives to awaken the entire Federation.

"Now, anyone who still dares not fight, anyone who is afraid to fight, please withdraw immediately! Otherwise, on this stage of life and death, your fate is your own, and fortune is in the hands of heaven!"

「 」

"I'm out!"

"I'm out!"

"I'm out too!..."

Not long after Yun Tianyi finished speaking, nearly ten teams from the top hundred Martial Arts Academies immediately withdrew, fear striking every heart.

They had clearly realized there was no pretense, no mercy; for those who feared to fight, who dared not fight to the death, only one outcome awaited if they remained:

To die at Wang Zhan's hands!

The Federation had gone mad, and Wang Zhan had gone mad. Not even money could buy their lives now.

So, after careful consideration, it suddenly dawned on them: it was just a student spot, not worth risking their lives for. Even if they always stayed in the rear, they were still privileged young people from wealthy families with inexhaustible funds, accustomed to having every whim catered to.

Why should they engage in a life-or-death struggle with some cheap kind from the slums?!

Therefore, they were done playing. They wanted to leave, even if leaving this time meant being branded deserters. But they didn't care! The Federation wasn't just theirs; their relatives and friends had also fought and died on the battlefield. What's wrong with being a pampered heir? Were they mooching off you?

Yun Tianyi watched impassively as these people stood up, a few of whom had previously accused Wang Zhan of brutality.

"Very good! Then please leave now. The Federal Martial Arts Competition will not be suspended or terminated because of any single individual. But I must tell you this: not only are you changing, but we are also changing, the Federation is changing, and the beasts are changing every single day.

So, don't blame us for being ruthless! If you must blame someone, blame yourselves for being too weak—so weak that you can only cower behind truly brave warriors, merely prolonging your pitiful existence. Now, let the battles continue!"

He said no more and calmly walked down from the high platform.

Wang Zhan looked up, the blood congealing on his body, exuding a metallic stench. Yun Tianyi's words once again echoed in his ears, sending a chill down his spine.

"You brat, even when you're acting, know your limits. If there's a next time, I'll skin you alive!"

Wang Zhan continued to stand in the arena as if nothing had happened, the corner of his mouth twitching. This old bastard is too direct! he thought. Why skin me? I'm a fine, upstanding young man; my hide wouldn't even fetch a good price for a lampshade!

Yun Tianyi hadn't explained the plan regarding the resources, fearing this kid would go off-script again. You want resources, don't you? Yun Tianyi mused. Let's see how long you can hold out before asking. They'll be given, eventually. It all depends on whether Wang Zhan plays his cards right.

Unexpectedly, as Wang Zhan looked at him and the other three old men, he felt their gazes sharpen, and a shiver ran down his spine.

Damn it! Wang Zhan fumed internally. It's not enough for them to use me for free; they want to silence me by killing me too! Are all these old geezers this treacherous? I guess I really am too naive. If I'd known, wouldn't taking those tens of billions have been far more satisfying?

Of course, Wang Zhan didn't really care whether they gave him anything or not.

He loved the Federation. Deeply.

「 」

KILL!!

In the blink of an eye, his face contorted with savagery, he cornered a young girl on the verge of tears. Voice hoarse, teeth bared, he looked every bit a demon king presiding over Hell.

"WAAAH! Don't kill me! Please don't kill me! WAAAH WAAAH WAAAH..."

As she spoke, the little girl flailed wildly with the sword in her hand, trying to swat Wang Zhan away like a pesky fly.

"Go on! Kill him!"

After witnessing the previous team's annihilation, the current Martial Arts Academy teams finally understood one thing: if you want to die, then cower in the back. If you don't want to die, then confront Wang Zhan! As long as you're not dead, fight him with everything you've got!

Wang Zhan gave a wicked smile, the corner of his mouth curling into a strange arc. His hand shot out silently and grabbed the little girl's head.

"Nobody move! If you want to save her, bring money for ransom!"

He loved the Federation. So, if Yun Tianyi really didn't provide, he would just have to get stronger on his own.

Isn't that right?

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