So, quite suddenly, he could only be heard transmitting his voice to Wang Zhan, completely oblivious to the latter's condition.

"Kid, since we're here, shall we go down for a rest and gather some information?"

Indeed, if Wang Zhan himself had any strength left, he would definitely not have agreed with the Old Man. He might even have taunted him with a few sarcastic remarks.

I've told you, you're old, sir! Why won't you listen to advice? Do you think you're still young like us?!

However, only Wang Zhan knew he had been in a state of blood loss for a long time. Now, after three days and nights, his physical condition had deteriorated to an even more uncontrollable extent.

Thus, he was actually enduring this through sheer willpower.

Coupled with his already pale face, which looked even more sinister under the shadow of his deep-set eyes, he had to agree, no matter what.

After all, the technique was powerful, but his body couldn't take it.

Therefore, Wang Zhan didn't refuse and replied directly, "Alright!"

Moreover, for Wang Zhan, they were already here, and there was no rush.

Furthermore, Regardless of Quan State's trajectory or how they deceived themselves, the end has already been foreseen!

After all, although the Federation's Intelligence Department had failed in this operation due to traitors, they were no pushovers.

If they said Quan State was finished, then Quan State was absolutely finished. There was no falsehood in it.

Therefore, with the outcome already decided, even the now enraged Federation never considered rescuing Quan State, but rather how to retaliate.

Anyone who offends our Federation shall be pursued and punished, no matter how far they flee!

Not to mention, Wang Zhan and Old Master Zao had been rushing, and their physical conditions had unknowingly deteriorated significantly.

Therefore, if they didn't want to immediately face a situation where any random beast they encountered could send them fleeing for their lives, they had better rest first and adjust their state to better face the upcoming changes!

Consequently, after the two had reached an agreement, they immediately, as if by unspoken consensus, chose to rein in their auras and conceal their speed.

Then, upon reaching a moderately sized city, they plunged straight down.

Their speed was uncanny, silent, and traceless.

Compared to their previous commotion, which was so loud it was as if they were trying to startle snakes from the grass, this was the polar opposite. Worlds apart. One approach was swift and decisive, the other secretive and stealthy.

So silent that no one could detect their presence!

「Then」

Finally, the two landed quietly on a rooftop, standing within the railings.

They immediately exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and contemplation, and smiled with tacit understanding.

Heavens! We're both Old Cunning Men!

For a moment, these two individuals, their minds full of ill-intent, almost voiced the same thought.

It couldn't be helped. Just by observing the other's actions and their control over the Essence Energy within their bodies, their keen eyes allowed them to quickly deduce it.

This definitely isn't the first or second time they've done something like this!

Wang Zhan's case was somewhat understandable.

Whether in the Earth Federation or on the Star War Battlefield, his relative weakness often forced him into situations where he had no choice but to resort to underhanded tactics.

But how to explain the Old Master Zao before him?

One should know, this fellow was a genuine, dignified Martial Emperor, powerful in his time, with few rivals. I'm afraid he's done quite a few of these shady things behind the scenes too, right?

However, both were well aware of this and didn't expose each other. They just laughed heartily, like old friends meeting, completely at ease.

"Hahahaha, kid, you've certainly got some skills!"

"Ah, now that you mention it, Grand-uncle, your abilities are quite remarkable too!"

Then, both feeling a bit hypocritical, they quickly composed themselves.

After all, when facing someone they both knew so well, they could afford to be a bit more sincere.

So, after a moment of stagnation between them, the silence was finally broken by the Old Man's words, his face once again revealing an unruffled smile.

"Alright. Since we're here, I, this Old Man, will go see how these state cities are faring and gather some information along the way."

Wang Zhan also smiled and replied, "That sounds good. Why don't we part ways here for now and regroup back here in an hour? What do you think, Old Man?"

Unexpectedly, the Old Man's face froze for an instant, a thought involuntarily crossing his mind.

One hour? Is that enough for this kid to recover? How can he be such a demon?

However, seeing the doubt in the Old Man's eyes, Wang Zhan merely chuckled without speaking!

How could this fellow possibly know my true depths! Talent? What's that? Recovery rate? What's that? To me, these things are hardly worth mentioning!

However, if he could ascertain the recovery rate of this old fellow, a Martial Emperor Realm expert, it would be immensely useful to Wang Zhan.

At least, in future confrontations on the Star War Battlefield or within the Earth Federation against Martial Emperor Realm experts, Wang Zhan could use the Old Man's recovery ability and rate as a benchmark to plan his own tactics.

That would be far, far better than recklessly charging ahead with a one-track mind!

Of course, Wang Zhan wasn't truly that much of a demon, nor was he some Deity-like existence completely unconcerned with recovery rates.

However, who else but him possessed the System, this so-called unprecedented Martial Arts Path—a veritable plug-in cheat!

So, the present Wang Zhan possessed a virtually inexhaustible supply of essence energy.

And this essence energy was far more useful to Wang Zhan than just increasing his combat power.

It could allow Wang Zhan's completely depleted Essence Energy to recover swiftly, in the blink of an eye!

Even expending just a minuscule fraction of it would allow Wang Zhan to recover quickly, effortlessly.

The effect was comparable to divine medicine and immortal elixirs.

Therefore, it could be said without exaggeration that perhaps Wang Zhan still couldn't compare to those senior figures who had long stood at the pinnacle of martial arts, possessing boundless power and myriad transformations.

But at the very least, in the currently rather fledgling Federation, Wang Zhan's recovery ability could now rank among the top three!

Thus, one could imagine that if he truly went berserk, it would be far more than a simple matter of charging in and out seven times. Even if he fought day and night for a year or half a year, Wang Zhan would likely still be the one left standing in the end.

However, to outsiders, and even to those closest to Wang Zhan, although they were deeply suspicious as to how Wang Zhan had become such a powerful dark horse, advancing so rapidly, they could only attribute it to some miraculous, almost divinely created, bloodline talent.

That was why Wang Zhan could achieve such a feat: seemingly consuming numerous elixirs, letting them accumulate in his system, yet suffering no complications whatsoever.

It was also what enabled Wang Zhan to truly become renowned among the younger generation in the Federation, his name striking fear into their hearts.

Thus, not much attention was paid to this particular aspect.

Yet, little did they know that this very point they had overlooked was the true wellspring and beginning of Wang Zhan's meteoric rise.

However, after the Old Man departed, Wang Zhan, though his gaze remained profound, didn't linger. He just gave a faint smile and left as well!

Drifting to his ears were various snippets of conversation:

"...Sigh, when will these kinds of days ever end! Those damned beasts come to harass us from time to time. I wonder how my cousin and his family are doing in Quan State now..."

"...Stop playing games! Those beasts are right at our doorstep, my little treasure! Please, pay some attention, see if this small mud pellet is useful, at least try to cultivate into a Martial Artist! Otherwise, when we're both dead, who will protect you..."

"...My dear, are we really not going to run? It's chaos everywhere! Today I heard that gossip say her husband claimed Quan State is doomed, absolutely no one will be left alive. I just wonder if we'll have the same luck..."

Unconsciously, Wang Zhan found himself near the basement of a residential building, various voices filling his ears.

Undoubtedly, at this critical moment, although this small city appeared peaceful and solemn on the surface, how could the vast majority of ordinary people understand so much? For them, grasping just one thing was enough:

"In this Beast Tide, will we pitiful souls be able to survive?!"

And this was the thought that inevitably arose in all ordinary people, and even Martial Artists.

The world outside was too chaotic.

Those man-eating beasts would bare their fangs and claws before them from time to time, then wait for an opportunity to strike.

Their kinsmen, those strong and powerful warriors, many of them still met their end under such attacks, with no surprises, killed decisively and swiftly.

Thus, in the end, all that was left were cold corpses, with no time for burial. They could only be dragged away and thrown into incinerators, a grim effort to leave some trace of these poor souls!

As for these ordinary people, because this small city could only struggle to resist, they were helplessly forced by the orders of those in power to send their able-bodied men to the front. This was to relieve their exhausted warriors. Although, in the end, the number of dead and injured would undoubtedly be far greater than usual.

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