And so, after nearly half an hour, the Underground City finally fell silent. Even though the situation seemed to have calmed down abruptly, the extreme scenario Cang Ying had predicted did not materialize. But the Military Department decided not to wait any longer. An Xi and Xu Hua, fully armed, took the lead, bravely positioning themselves at the very front.

"Charge!"

THUMP... THUMP!... THUMP!

The soldiers' footsteps seemed to trample on the very hearts of the great Families' lackeys who were stirring up trouble in the Underground City. Their steps were not only perfectly synchronized but also resounded with imposing might.

Their arrival, without a doubt, was a declaration of the Federation's Dignity to those Martial Artists who presumed the Federation would continue to remain neutral.

We can turn a blind eye to your affairs, but you must not go too far.

Thus, the Underground City, which had only just quieted down, was abruptly filled with an atmosphere of trepidation by the arrival of the Federation soldiers within a mere few minutes.

Someone had a sudden realization, "We've fallen into a trap!"

Regrettably, it was too late. They didn't even know who had laid such a snare, trapping them all within it.

But the moment these Martial Artists from the various great Families began to agonize over whether they could be the ones to escape from the lower level of the Ming State Underground City, their greed and ambition caused this force—which, though motley, still possessed the strength to fight back against the soldiers and was one no one dared to provoke—to completely disintegrate on the spot.

Because after the previous battle, aside from the local "rats," only two to three hundred powerful Martial Artists with Federation identities remained in the Mingdao City Underground City. They had been thoroughly winnowed out, like gold sifted from sand. One could only imagine how brutal the preceding battle must have been.

The only fortunate aspect was that the vast majority of Grandmasters among them had survived; those who perished were mostly Martial Generals. This was true even though those Martial Generals numbered in the hundreds. However, they still possessed the strength to fight. If they decided to resist to the bitter end, they could still choose to confront the unyielding Federation with the resolve of those burning their bridges.

However, what none of them knew was that Wang Zhan had actually foreseen the entire outcome far earlier than they had. Wang Zhan understood very well. He feared that those who had survived up to this point were unwilling to die so meaninglessly now. They had fought too hard, enduring countless hardships and dangers, to finally make it out alive.

Therefore, as long as the Federation wasn't unreasonable and maintained an attitude of offering amnesty, someone among them would inevitably be the first to step forward, oppose any notion of continued resistance against the Federation, and surrender. It was simple: they earned money and followed orders, but they weren't selling their lives.

Yet, this very hesitation on their part was the crucial factor for Wang Zhan to win this battle; the key to victory lay in their overwhelming desire to live.

Therefore, just as Wang Zhan had anticipated, it happened as expected. After these individuals had made painful sacrifices to survive and discovered that the Underground City was indeed completely sealed off by the Federation, they had no choice but to temporarily unite. As their various spokespeople gathered in a certain part of the Underground City to discuss countermeasures, someone among them stood up and declared, "What's so formidable about Federation soldiers? Aren't they just a few Martial Masters and Martial Generals? Everyone present here is an expert of the Grandmaster Realm! Surely we can defeat these nobodies?"

But immediately, countless pairs of eyes turned in unison to stare at the speaker.

It had to be understood that all the Martial Artists present had been forced back from the periphery when the Federation generals decided to enter the Underground City. They had managed to keep their lives entirely because the Federation soldiers, usually so decisive and ruthless in the wilderness, didn't mind displaying a modicum of "kindness" in the Underground City.

So, what was this person's agenda, constantly sowing discord and inciting everyone to fight the Federation to the death? Does he think we've lived too long?

Consequently, someone immediately retorted with sarcasm, "Since this esteemed sir is so bold, why don't you be the vanguard? We can follow right behind you!"

"Indeed! We will gladly follow your lead, esteemed sir! As long as you are truly resolved and the first to charge into battle, then we, even if it means sacrificing our lives, what's to stop us from accompanying you?"

These few words immediately made the Grandmaster Realm expert flush red with embarrassment and anger. He had never been ridiculed like this before! An uninformed observer might even mistake him for a Martial King. But even though he was mocked to such an extent, the people before him were no simpletons; it wasn't his place to lose his temper.

Therefore, despite the fury raging in his heart, he could only continue to suppress his impulses, clenching his fists so tightly that veins bulged on them. At the same time, he struggled to maintain a poker face, though his brows twitched uncontrollably.

"So, what do you propose?"

Someone immediately responded, "Peace! We are Federation people too! Surely those soldiers won't exterminate us all?"

"Peace! We only came out for the interests of our respective Families. Everyone, there's no need to stake our entire fortunes and lives on this, is there?"

"Peace!"

"Peace!"

"Peace!"

In an instant, all one could hear were calls for peace. Though each person was different, they all believed they were Federation people too! Therefore, no matter why the Federation had come down to the Underground City, they certainly wouldn't be exterminated; they still had a glimmer of hope.

As they were discussing peace negotiations, outside, on a dark and gloomy street in the Underground City, a pale young man staggered along. Even knowing that a squad of soldiers was searching in his direction from afar, he seemed to have lost his mind. He stood brazenly on a street in the Ming State Underground City, holding a pale, grotesque human head! Then, as if fearless, he directly blocked the path of those young soldiers.

This immediately made the young soldiers who saw him feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Panic surged in their hearts, and their eyes twitched.

Undoubtedly, this is too savage! This guy actually dares to flaunt a severed head in front of us Federation soldiers! What on earth is he thinking?

Therefore, regardless of which Family this young man hailed from, a single thought arose in the soldiers' minds: He absolutely cannot be allowed to live! He's too arrogant, too deranged—utterly villainous!

Thus, seeing that their platoon leader was about to give the order for his comrades to swarm forward, unexpectedly, at that very moment, the young man made another sudden, large movement.

Instantly, a series of CLICKS and RACKS echoed down the street! It turned out Wang Zhan's movement had startled the soldiers so much that they all chambered rounds in their firearms! Moreover, their muzzles were aimed straight at him.

However, what they didn't know was that the young man merely intended to raise the severed head and lift his hands to indicate his surrender.

Therefore, having made these gestures and luckily kept his life, Wang Zhan immediately explained to them in a weak and hoarse voice, "I am Wang Zhan! A student from the Federation's Top Four Academies! I demand to see your commanding officer!"

"I am Wang Zhan! A student from the Federation's Top Four Academies! I demand to see your commanding officer!"

Beyond that, Wang Zhan made no further provocative moves, simply allowing himself to be captured.

Undoubtedly, Wang Zhan had indeed alerted the soldiers' superiors: Xu Hua and An Xi, the two generals from the Martial Management Bureau and the Internal Affairs Department. And so, even though the two generals were elsewhere at that moment, they rushed over immediately upon receiving the news, leaving Old Cang Ying to watch over the surrounded Grandmasters. Yet, they were filled with doubt. A student from the Federation's Top Four Academies? How could one appear here? I don't know! This whole affair in the Ming State Underground City is too bizarre. Many things don't add up. We must be cautious...

「Soon after.」

They immediately saw a photograph transmitted by their subordinates. Their brows tightened instantly as they perceived that the Ming State Underground City situation was indeed bizarre. Because in the photograph, Wang Zhan was holding a head so pale it seemed drained of all blood, standing shockingly on a street in the Underground City. He looked just like a homicidal maniac!

Therefore, after urgent mobilization and extensive data searching, they finally arrived at the civilian housing unit where Wang Zhan was being held. Wang Zhan was already under control. The grotesque head had been temporarily confiscated by the soldiers and was being guarded outside.

Afterwards, Xu Hua and An Xi fixed their sharp gazes on the young man visible on the surveillance monitor; he looked utterly haggard. Meanwhile, they questioned a subordinate, "Has his identity been confirmed? And whose head is that, exactly?"

Although the head looked quite grotesque, for some reason, both generals were fairly certain it was human. They just didn't know why this person had died at Wang Zhan's hands.

As expected, a subordinate immediately handed over the files he was holding and replied softly, "...Wang Zhan's biometric data has been matched and confirmed! Through iris, pupil, fingerprint, and genetic determination, we are ninety-nine percent certain that he is the unified exchange student from the Federation's Top Four Academies and concurrently belongs to all four!"

The remaining one percent was left to fate; after all, despite humanity's current level of development, many unknowns still existed.

However, after hearing this, Xu Hua's gaze sharpened, and he said in a grave tone, "What do you mean, 'concurrently belongs to all four' of the Federation's Top Four Academies? Why haven't I ever heard of such a thing?"

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