This slash directly caused Wang Zhan's figure to shrink, becoming as thin as a bamboo pole. He seemed to contract suddenly, as if only a skeleton remained. His legs instantly gave out, and he nearly collapsed. After his clone supported him, it turned, leaving him with an ethereal yet solid receding figure as it began to buy him precious time.

"Eight Extremes Fist—Sky Collapse!"

The Sky Collapse, the ultimate move of the ancient Eight Extremes Fist, was unleashed by the clone for the first time. It was as if all roads led to Rome. The Sky Collapse of Eight Extremes Fist was another self-destructive technique in Wang Zhan's arsenal. However, its execution focused on overwhelming the opponent with swift and ferocious power, making it less bizarre than the Fatal One Slash.

However, at this moment, Wang Zhan had no time to observe the battle's outcome. The Pure Essence Pills in the clone were completely consumed, and those in his original body had also been drained by that Fatal One Slash. Under this double drain, even though Wang Zhan was incredibly tough and resilient, he lacked the foundation to sustain such an outburst. Luckily, he still had plenty of Pure Essence Pills, at least enough for him to take dozens, even hundreds, of leader-level beasts down with him.

I just don't know if you have that many leader-level beasts comparable to Grandmasters. Otherwise, I won't have enough fun killing you all!

Then, he stuffed a Pure Essence Pill into his mouth, swallowed it with a gulp, and roared, "All Humans! Gather around me immediately! As long as the green mountains stand, we'll never lack firewood. For the Federation, if you only manage to take one or two beasts down with you, it's a losing proposition! So, you cannot die! Now, immediately, gather around me! I will lead you to carve a bloody path in and out!"

Just then, Yun Tianyi's voice reached Wang Zhan's ears—a mental transmission. "...Be careful, the Beast Nest has noticed you..."

It was clear that Yun Tianyi hadn't been observing the battlefield situation; even Elder Yang hadn't informed Wang Zhan in advance. This only proved they were completely pinned down by the Beast Nest, with no ability to retaliate and no room to maneuver freely.

Thinking of this, Wang Zhan's expression grew colder. He ignored Yun Tianyi's alarmed warning and paid no heed to his own body, which had yet to recover. He took a step forward, just as another Human Race warrior self-destructed, attempting to take a beast down with him.

A towering rage began to burn in Wang Zhan's heart. It gradually ignited into flames on his Liyun Blade, making him exceptionally conspicuous on the chaotic battlefield teeming with humans and beasts.

"Fatal One Slash!"

"Fatal One Slash!"

"Fatal One Slash!..."

This technique, inherently one of mutual destruction, was wielded by Wang Zhan as casually as a gambler tossing dice. It seemed effortless, yet every strike was breathtakingly perilous. He was truly beginning to approach his limits!

The Pure Essence Pills Yun Tianyi had given him ensured the power of his outbursts, but they also became an obstacle hindering him from reaching his true limits. But what no one could have foreseen was that amidst this intertwining of vibrant life and boundless desolation, the True Essence within Wang Zhan's body began a massive collision and fusion.

His skeletal frame was still apparent, but deep within his bones, the medicinal power began to transform them, making them increasingly hard and robust.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

...

"Everyone, rally to Wang Zhan immediately!"

"Rally, rally, rally! Rally to Wang Zhan immediately!"

Everyone on the field was a battle-hardened veteran. Even Shu Qile, who usually came across as a salesman, and Li Danqing, a woman, were utterly ferocious and fearless when it came to killing—to say nothing of the members of the Military Department, Federation employees, or those from influential families and sects, all accustomed to slaughtering beasts as if cutting grass.

All those gathered around Wang Zhan were acting almost identically to the Chen Mengshu in Wang Zhan's memory. It was unclear whether the resurgence of Spiritual Energy or the beasts themselves had driven humanity mad. In any case, as more and more upper-class General-level beasts, including an increasing number of leader-level beasts, launched coordinated pincer attacks, the Human Race had truly gone mad!

Those closest to Wang Zhan adamantly refused to fall back, instead trading injuries to buy time for their comrades. Those furthest away desperately pushed inward to regroup with their teammates, then broke out again. A small number of them, finding their paths intercepted and knowing they would implicate their clan members, decisively self-destructed, taking a beast with them.

"Senior, I can't keep up with your pace anymore! Please, kill a few more for me! Let me... EXPLODE!"

"Hahahaha! We depart with no merits to our names, ashamed to face our ancestors. Senior, if you get the chance, please send word of our deeds, so our ancestors may rest in peace! Explode! Explode! Explode!"

"You all talk too much! If you're going to die, then die! You brats, remember this! I wounded this beast! You must kill it and make it accompany me in death! If you can't... then burn some beast pelts to send me a message in the afterlife. Brothers, I'm coming!!"

Long time... no see!

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...

A symphony of death, a series of heavy detonations, a wave of mournful howls.

On this day, more Humans fought fearlessly, slaughtering their enemies, seeking death rather than endangering their clan members.

Wang Zhan's tear ducts had long gone numb, but now his eyes grew moist. He stared fixedly at the leader-level beast before him, his heart growing numb as well, and roared in grief and fury.

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!"

All these accursed beasts deserve to die! Every last one of them must perish! Why couldn't you wait a little longer? Maybe I could have joined you on your journey.

"Go to hell!"

Fatal One Slash!

Wang Zhan held nothing back, allowing the Qi in his body to fluctuate constantly between depletion and replenishment, without even taking the time to restore his emaciated form. He no longer looked human. His eyes bulged, his face was ferocious, his complexion deathly pale, and his body was as gaunt as a skeleton.

Only his ancient blade and iron fists remained. He moved unhindered, his attacks broad and powerful, determined to fight the endless beasts to the death and carve out a bloody path!

"Kill!"

Everyone roared in unison. Any beast that dared to block their path of retreat was immediately met with a desperate, life-or-death counterattack. As the ancient texts say, "When adversaries meet on a narrow path, the brave one prevails." At this moment, if you didn't retreat, you died!

Thus, although the crowd surrounding Wang Zhan rapidly dwindled to just over three hundred, the beasts—even if they lacked complex thought—possessed a basic consciousness. They knew fear, they knew how to retreat, and thus, they came to understand the taste of defeat.

"ROAR!"

"SCREECH!..."

They truly couldn't comprehend it. Why are the enemies we face always such madmen? The memories bestowed by the Beast Nest contained similar scenes, but what unfolded before them now was far more ferocious. The humans' utter fearlessness in the face of death was enough to strike terror into any observer's heart.

Are all humans madmen? Is there not a single one who fears death?

Alas, they did not understand. Just like... Humans would never be slaves.

「In the distance.」

Because of the commotion where Wang Zhan and the others were fighting, no one paid any attention to two insignificant ants like Yang Qi and Su Tao, even when Yang Qi openly carried the loser Su Tao into mid-air.

Yang Qi, holding Su Tao, stared intently at the brutal battlefield, his fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged on his hands. "If Wang Zhan hadn't ordered me to protect you, just for making me miss this spectacle of fine human men achieving glory, I'd definitely kill you!"

Su Tao, clutching the recording device, didn't respond. His expression was stern, his eyes moist, a storm of emotions brewing within them.

This is the Human Race! The fearless Human Race!

In truth, he had severely underestimated Wang Zhan. At least at this critical juncture, Wang Zhan's performance was countless times better than his own. Even though everyone who could have rushed to their aid had already perished on the battlefield, destining them to fight alone, Wang Zhan still hadn't retreated. He never retreated, holding firm at the very front line.

Su Tao understood. As long as this news got out, Wang Zhan would be hailed as a true young hero by the people of the Federation. Even if he were merely a pig, even if he had slaughtered humans before, he would still be placed upon a pedestal.

But why does my heart ache so much? he wondered. Suddenly, it seemed he understood what Wang Zhan had implied. It's just ten billion, right? I don't think I care about that anymore!

Indeed. The Human Race was in peril, besieged from all sides, everyone on edge and suspicious. If the Human Race truly perished, even if Wang Zhan survived, what good would hundreds of billions be if he ended up all alone?

So, only by joining the fray, vowing to protect the Human Race from annihilation, and averting the danger of enslavement, could one truly achieve ultimate freedom and ease.

"A man should be like this!" Su Tao muttered, completely unaware that his thoughts were, in a way, aligning with Wang Zhan's. He also never considered that Wang Zhan was, ultimately, still the same Wang Zhan—not the selfless hero Su Tao imagined, one who sought grand freedom and ease for all. In Wang Zhan's heart, there was only one family: his mother, Yang Cui, and his sister, Wang Qi. That was enough.

"To think that I, Su Tao, after thirty years in the Federation, would be so thoroughly humbled by a young whelp like you. Only now do I see the path ahead of me. Alas, Wang Zhan, I am not your equal!"

Since he was not his equal, then he would fight with all his might!

"Take me a little closer! I want the people of the Federation to see! These warriors are fighting to the death for the Federation's safety, while behind them, someone is scheming, weakening their strength! This is treason! This is a conspiracy! This is a tragedy for the Human Race, a capital crime!" he told Yang Qi.

Yang Qi turned his head. Seeing the solemnity on Su Tao's face and the light in his eyes, in that instant, he too seemed to be stirred by Su Tao's fervor.

"Alright! If you die, don't blame me..."

"I won't. If I die, you won't last much longer either. Sooner or later, you'll be joining me..."

「Meanwhile, unseen by anyone, thousands of kilometers away from the Beast Nest, a medium-sized Beast Tide had settled in a suburban pasture.」

A gentle, steady white light flickered continuously on its surface. It wasn't producing beasts, nor was it invading human settlements. It just lay there quietly, like a meteorite fallen from the sky—pitch-black and indistinct.

Then, after about ten breaths, a dazzling light completely obliterated the entire pasture, making it seem like an accident caused by beasts.

"Target achieved. All subunits, disperse when opportune..."

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