Wang Zhan gently pacified Yao Yao and chuckled. "It's alright. This is the important person we came to meet. Don't be fooled by his sneaky appearance; he's a second-level Martial King, a tough and decisive warrior with battle experience that far surpasses ours… Speaking of which, Senior, there's no need to hide anymore. I've already seen you. If I have to point you out later, don't blame me for embarrassing you. Besides, peeping from the shadows is quite despicable, wouldn't you agree, Senior?"

Immediately, a man slowly emerged from a dark corner of the Underground City, his brow slightly furrowed as he glanced at Wang Zhan. "Impressive, to be able to direct your gaze to me. Young man, you're the first such demon I've encountered in all these years."

Wang Zhan smiled faintly.

However, the man paid him no further attention, nor did he show any surprise that his presence had been exposed. Instead, with an indifferent expression, he looked at Boss Chen, who stood beside Wang Zhan. For a moment, their gazes, sharp as daggers, met. They remained silent, no words exchanged!

Only then did Yao Yao notice. The faces of these two middle-aged men were, to some extent, strikingly similar—so similar that even with distinctly different facial features, their eyes alone could confirm their relationship.

Soon after, "My brother, you finally decided to come back!" the middle-aged man, who had suddenly appeared, sighed.

Wang Zhan watched from the side, fully respecting this reunion between the two brothers and giving them ample personal space.

A hint of guilt touched Boss Chen's face as he stared at the man who, though considerably younger than himself, already had eyes filled with worldly weariness. "I'm sorry…"

The man cut him off abruptly, his gaze landing on Wang Zhan. "You returned for him?" His eyes held a scrutinizing, somewhat condescending look. "Indeed, he's a capable young man. But it baffles me that for his sake, you dared to dig up those old fellows you misled and burdened for a lifetime! So, young man, can you tell me how you did it? Or is this fellow your father?"

No one knew their relationship. But undoubtedly, at this moment, the middle-aged man's demeanor was clearly interrogating Wang Zhan. "If he were merely an illegitimate son, I should feel relieved. But you dared to unilaterally use the Family's power for your own benefit. Brother, is this how you repay our decades of brotherhood?"

Those forces, one should know, were destined to be buried. However, after Boss Chen had made his decision, the middle-aged man no longer wished to see them, nor did he want to concern himself with what damn thing his elder brother was dragging them out for, to squeeze out their remaining usefulness. The man didn't want to see any of it.

Of course, he was actually well aware, especially that this kid, Wang Zhan, was a young man who had come specifically with designs on his elder brother. This made him even more dismissive. Young people, after all, were best provoked. It would allow him to probe Wang Zhan's actual capabilities. Especially the fake medicine business! This was practically going against the Federation; who knew how many powerful, high-ranking people it would offend? On what grounds should Wang Zhan dare to let the Chen Family retainers scout the dangers for a brat like him, a path that would surely lead to irrevocable doom?

So, the middle-aged man's demeanor was utterly discourteous.

But if he was going to be discourteous, someone else was prepared to be even more so!

While Wang Zhan remained composed, a trace of hostility appeared on Yao Yao's face, especially after seeing the man's expression. This man! How dare he use her future husband to make accusations? What did that make her then?! Someone else's future daughter-in-law?

"That's absolute nonsense! Your stinking mouth clearly hasn't been taught a lesson!" Yao Yao scolded angrily, her eyes glinting with a cold light.

Even though she knew her recent experiences had left some loopholes in her state of mind, and even knew the middle-aged man was difficult to deal with and had malicious intentions.

So what? If she didn't teach him a proper lesson today, he probably wouldn't know who Yao Yao was!

And so, under the middle-aged man's suddenly freezing gaze, Yao Yao, the first person in all these years who dared to point at his nose and curse him, instantly underwent a dramatic change in aura. This beautiful girl, who had condensed all her power within her bloodline and vital energy, erupted in but an instant with terrifying might comparable in strength to the Martial King rank, making the middle-aged man's expression turn cold. "No wonder you're so sharp-tongued; so you're a Genetic Warrior!"

Genetic Warriors, one should know, rely on genetic mutation to acquire power. Thus, they usually appear no different from ordinary people, only revealing themselves when they utilize their energy in a way others can perceive. But the middle-aged man certainly hadn't expected Yao Yao, this young girl, now so well-nourished that her complexion was fair and radiant, would also be such a powerful 'King'!

The next moment, just as Yao Yao prepared to step forward, from the surrounding city blocks, countless pairs of eyes suddenly emerged.

WHOOSH.

Among them, at least three or four pairs of gazes capable of posing a lethal threat to Yao Yao locked onto her. It caused her entire vital energy to seize up; her expression turned solemn, and her steps were instantly halted.

Threat!

Threat!

Powerful threats were everywhere.

Only then did the middle-aged man snort coldly, "Little girl, don't think that because this isn't the Federation, prodigies like you can act recklessly without anyone to stop you. I can forgive your earlier offense, but if you dare to be presumptuous again, I will make you regret it profoundly!"

Afterwards, suddenly, all the gazes secretly observing were about to focus on Yao Yao. And it was clear they carried ill-intentioned, intimidating mental energy techniques. If these landed on her, she would inevitably suffer a hidden loss. After all, she was not a traditional Martial Artist; her strength lay in her bloodline and vital energy. In terms of Essence Energy and mental energy, against any Martial King, she couldn't possibly gain an advantage and would most likely be suppressed. This was Yao Yao's Achilles' heel.

"Humph!" Yao Yao huffed coldly. Even though the outcome was already inevitable, she had never been one to concede defeat easily; if worse came to worst, she was prepared to trade injury for injury!

But at this critical moment, HUM.

Without any warning, Wang Zhan, wreathed in brilliant blue light, stepped forward, positioning himself directly in front of everyone. He then chuckled softly at Yao Yao, his voice full of affection, "Let me handle this! They're just a bunch of riffraff. You just watch; don't dirty your hands."

Immediately, the coercive mental energy fluctuations coming from all directions instantly dispersed as if encountering their natural enemy against the azure light screen surrounding Wang Zhan. Though it happened silently, it sent a sudden chill through the hearts of the onlookers.

From the moment Wang Zhan had pointed out the middle-aged man's location, they knew he wasn't simple. But for some random prodigy to casually nullify the mental energy fluctuations of Martial Kings without so much as a ripple—Was that even possible? Of course, whether it was truly possible, they didn't know.

Moreover, Wang Zhan was too arrogant. If they were riffraff, then what did that make Wang Zhan? He was simply outrageous! Therefore, regardless of what trump card Wang Zhan truly held, these gazes, filled with simmering anger, were ready to make Wang Zhan pay.

However, when they, feigning nonchalance yet clearly intending to overwhelm him with force, prepared to crush Wang Zhan again with their mental energy, their hearts jolted once more. They discovered that their own mental energy was as fragile as eggs striking a stone before Wang Zhan's defense, shattering on impact.

This is real!

Who on earth is this young man? How could he possess such abilities?

Has the Federation already developed to this extent? If so, what meaning is there in us toiling so hard to cultivate to this realm?

At this moment, a maelstrom of doubt, confusion, and their previous disdain for Wang Zhan began to thoroughly unsettle their minds. Although none of them wished to believe it, what Wang Zhan demonstrated today presented them with an undeniable fact: even if Wang Zhan was no longer considered an up-and-coming talent, for someone of his age to achieve this was enough to completely overturn their worldview. If a mere youngster was already so formidable, to what heights had the Federation of today soared?

However, Wang Zhan glanced at the middle-aged man, then chuckled softly. "You can let bygones be bygones, but I can't. Since you've dragged me into this, how can you expect to get away without paying a price?"

As for the others, Wang Zhan treated them with open contempt. It was merely a psychological tactic. Had any of these people possessed genuine connections with the true upper echelons of the Federation, they would have known that Wang Zhan could only be Wang Zhan. Unfortunately for them, they didn't. Thus, Wang Zhan's psychological ploy naturally succeeded.

It should be known that Wang Zhan never possessed any extraordinary background. His sole advantage was his courage—a courage far exceeding that of anyone else. Just like in high school, despite knowing that those individuals came from families far more powerful than his own, he still dared to provoke them all the same. Similarly, when he first arrived in Jing State, every person he encountered hailed from powerful noble families, yet Wang Zhan still dared to raise his blade and cut them down.

Why? Because he understood far better than anyone else, thanks to his mother's teachings by word and example, and his elder sister's earnest guidance. If you want something, find a way to earn it. If you suffer a loss, you must stand your ground, fight for it, seize it. So from a young age, Wang Zhan understood a principle: if you don't want others to stare you down, then you must stare back at them, stare until terror fills their hearts. Even if you possess nothing, you must project more audacity than others to cow them.

Consequently, this little rascal, who had nothing to lose, could naturally act more ruthlessly than anyone else—so ruthless that even if his opponents were resentful, they would never dare to take a risk against him without the prospect of a sufficient reward! This was how Wang Zhan had reached his current position and why he could even come to the Ming State Underground City.

However, the surrounding people were infuriated by Wang Zhan's arrogance, their hearts seething, desperate to curse him aloud. They only refrained due to their preoccupation with their own status.

Just a minor figure, yet he dares demand an explanation from a Martial King? Fine, fine, fine! You certainly have guts!…

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