He was vulnerable. That's why he was brought to tears by his brother's death.

He was strong. That's why he could become cold and calculating for the hope within his grasp.

However, it was precisely this complex personality.

Thus, Wang Zhan saw a living, struggling person trying to move forward from the dregs of the Federation.

Even if he was just a child.

Even if this child was only nine years old.

Therefore, with a soft sound, Wang Zhan quietly produced a small bottle of genuine big coal balls.

This almost magical process, however, made the kid's eyes light up immediately, filled with endless longing.

Is that the power of a high-level Warrior?

Although this so-called middle-high rank seemed like a joke to Wang Zhan, it made him agree more and more with one assertion: The Martial Arts Path of the Federation may have truly gone astray!

Otherwise, how else could the powerful Wang Zhan, who seemed simply illogical and untraceably powerful, have appeared before him? It was as if he were a glitch in the system.

Of course, to Wang Zhan, the brat in front of him might be excited and eager for this small bottle of elixir, but it was the worst elixir Wang Zhan possessed.

At the same time, it was what Wang Zhan aimed for: not only could it help those who had not yet stepped onto the Martial Arts Path, but it was also a kind of low-level elixir that could restore the strength of low-level Martial Artists in the Federation.

Essentially, it directly benchmarked against the Federation's existing lowest quality, lowest priced, and least effective Essence Pills—the same kind as the little blue bottles Wang Zhan used to use.

Of course, although this elixir was benchmarked against the little blue bottles, it didn't mean it was bad.

Because of the source of the herbs and Wang Zhan's pursuit of and vision for this elixir, in fact, the cost and value of the big mud ball were actually higher than the little blue bottle's.

It was just that Wang Zhan had forcibly dragged it down to this level, intending for it to first have a life-and-death battle with the little blue bottles!

As for the story of the big coal ball and the small mud pellet... Although Wang Zhan already knew it, it was better left unsaid.

It was a story of a destiny that was drifting further and further away from Wang Zhan, though it had once intersected with his.

It only remained to be seen who would ultimately become the protagonist of this story.

So, Wang Zhan gently placed the bottle—filled with elixirs called big coal balls, though each pill was only the size of a Mung bean—on the table.

Then, meeting the boy's transfixed gaze, he smiled faintly. "Very good. This is your reward. You can check if it's real or fake!"

Looking at the small medicine bottle, which had an unremarkable surface and lacked any pattern, appearing exceptionally plain, Three Seven's mind tightened instantly, his eyes filled with an intense craving!

Thus, he walked resolutely up to Wang Zhan, not relaxing his guard in the slightest, still wary of a sneak attack.

Then, WHOOSH! He snatched the small medicine bottle placed on the table and quickly distanced himself from Wang Zhan, fearing he might go back on his word.

It was clear that a cautious and vigilant demeanor had long been ingrained in him, as if it were instinct.

Wang Zhan, however, just smiled faintly, sitting calmly where he was.

Although he was currently only eighteen years old, he had somehow already developed an aura of being as steadfast as a mountain.

Meanwhile, the kid, with a soft CLICK, gently yet eagerly opened the small medicine bottle.

Instantly, he froze.

His nostrils twitched, taking in the faint, ethereal fragrance that seemed almost illusory.

Then, a wave of ecstasy washed over his face, and he immediately snapped the bottle shut!

It's real! This bottle of elixir is real!

The kid had never dreamed that a few casual words could earn him something so valuable.

Especially the elixirs inside; a quick glance revealed no fewer than ten, making clear what a great fortune this was!

If converted into federal currency, a genuine big coal ball cost at least thirty thousand, meaning the bottle in the kid's hand was worth at least three hundred thousand!

This was almost equivalent to the annual income of a lower-middle-class family.

It was also a sum of money that the pitiful people living at the bottom of the Federation would likely never encounter in their entire lives.

But now, this seemingly light, yet immensely valuable fortune was held in the hand of this boy, not yet ten years old.

Instantly, it gave him a visceral understanding of true, profound weight!

As for identifying its authenticity, the method was actually quite simple.

Although no one knew where the big coal ball originated, everyone knew one thing: it possessed a smell entirely different from all other elixirs in the Federation.

Precisely this faint, ethereal fragrance!

In fact, the kid, under his elder brother's protection, had only ever eaten a few small mud pellets before.

Although he had never seen a genuine big coal ball, and naturally didn't know what it was really like, he still remembered the distinct character of that ethereal fragrance!

It was a fragrance that quietly emerged within the body when swallowing the elixir, so subtle that if one wasn't paying attention, it would be completely missed!

Therefore, his perception was undoubtedly correct: these elixirs were real, given to him by the 'big brother' before him.

And, naturally, from this moment on, they were his!

As for how the kid knew such a method to identify elixirs, that was another story entirely.

But right in front of him lay a treasure worth a full three hundred thousand.

So, what kind of person was Wang Zhan, to be able to act as he just had, carelessly tossing aside something more precious than gold, right in front of him?

Therefore, the kid clutched the elixir tightly in his hand, his eyes suddenly fixing on Wang Zhan. "Your elixir is genuine! So, are you really going to give it to me? You won't regret it?"

Hearing this, Wang Zhan naturally understood.

This youngster might be cunning, but he wasn't malicious enough to decisively pocket the elixir without a second thought.

Simply put, he was overcome with anxiety about potential loss after this unexpected gain!

After all, for anyone not exceptionally unconcerned, this was a completely normal and natural reaction to such a situation.

Therefore, Wang Zhan chuckled silently, a greater degree of appreciation for the boy's choice and character appearing in his eyes!

This wasn't to say he would feel disgust for a boy with a malicious heart; rather, he felt that if the boy's nature were indeed so, perhaps he himself would be the only one who could discipline him in the future!

He couldn't easily entrust him to anyone else, lest they not only fail to discipline him well but also cause the boy to harbor resentment, leading to irreversible enmity.

But looking at him now, at least there was hope; he was destined to be a promising youth in the Federation's future.

So, Wang Zhan asked with a smile, "Of course, it's for you. But because of what you said earlier, how about this: I'll add another question to my previous ones? To prove my sincerity, I think you can start by securing your elixir now!"

The boy looked at him. Although the wariness in his eyes hadn't faded in the slightest, at least for this moment, the malice that had been in his gaze had unknowingly receded somewhat.

Then, after a moment's thought, he nodded decisively. "Agreed! You said I have to tell you everything I know. So, whether it's one question or many, as long as you want to know, I'll definitely tell you!"

Then, the boy immediately opened the small medicine bottle. After pouring one pill into his palm, GULP! Without a second thought, he swallowed it.

From the subtle changes in his expression, anyone observant standing opposite him could tell that whether it contained an elixir or poison, the kid likely wouldn't have hesitated at all!

Because he undoubtedly knew, deep down, that living in the current, precarious Federation, constantly ravaged by rampaging beasts, unless one became a Martial Artist, death was ultimately inescapable!

Since that's the case, what's there to fear? Better to risk everything for a slim chance of survival...

Thus, when he swallowed the elixir and his face filled with joy, Wang Zhan didn't need to ask to know that the boy was on the verge of breaking through to the Martial Student Realm!

And certain aspects about him truly aligned with Wang Zhan's conjectures.

This child's Talent was, indeed, quite average.

So average that even a big coal ball, which surpassed an Essence Pill by at least half in efficacy, was not enough on its own to cause a breakthrough. It had merely rapidly shortened a long part of his journey!

At the same time, this child's Talent also truly shone in that, although his constitution was ordinary, it possessed sufficient purity!

That was how, with the help of the big coal ball, he had quickly reached this stage, until he was only a step away from the Martial Student Realm on his Martial Arts Path!

Of course, if Wang Zhan hadn't been there, and had he not been so generous, giving away an entire bottle of elixir at once, this boy probably wouldn't have dared to be so extravagant. Instead, he would have had to endure countless trials to eventually succeed.

And those endless, seemingly futile efforts destined to be made on this path were not, in essence, meaningless. Rather, after reaching a certain point, they would nurture the host in return and lend him a hand.

Of course, this outcome wasn't guaranteed; there was a certain probability of failure. The price of failure was complete stagnation.

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