Wang Zhan was momentarily lost for words, feeling quite frustrated. It felt like whether he was alive or dead, the outcome would be pretty much the same. He wanted to change the subject, but there didn't seem to be any topic he could smoothly transition to. Especially since he didn't even know if he was playing the role of this voice's father.

"Mmm, better to be alive then."

What was unimportant could stay unimportant. Wang Zhan only wanted to know one thing.

"I want to ask, um..."

He lifted his head and saw an incredibly exquisite face, seemingly carved to perfection. Willow eyebrows, red lips, phoenix eyes, paired with bright, intelligent eyes that were quirky and elfin, yet held a profound clarity in their gaze—the very picture of a girl at the peak of her beauty, around sixteen or seventeen.

Wang Zhan was instantly stunned. Unbelievable. How could such a beautiful woman exist in this world?

Especially with the addition of a full, prominent chest, Wang Zhan felt his heart give a violent thump.

"What question?"

The girl looked at him curiously, her gaze falling on his eyes, which were full of surprise but held no hint of lecherous thoughts. This puzzled her somewhat. She had heard her maternal grandmother say that men from the outside world were terrible. They'd try to woo every girl they met, each one was full of ill-intent, and they'd lose all composure around a pretty girl, like lecherous, starved wolves. But the young man before her, about her own age, seemed to show nothing but a little surprise.

Wang Zhan composed himself slightly and chuckled softly.

"Can you tell me, who am I?"

Am I your father, your grandfather, or some other close relative?

It was no wonder he thought so. A moment ago, he was in the year 2257, an era of electronic networks and towering high-tech structures. Now, however, this place looked like something from the Ancient Times of the Federation. There wasn't even electricity; they still relied on candlesticks for light—antiques so old they belonged in history books. The backwardness was unimaginable.

He didn't realize that his innocent question would make the girl's expression become even more peculiar.

Has this person been scared witless? Why else would he act like he has amnesia?

Just then, a middle-aged man in a green robe, his long hair tied up, entered slowly, carrying a medicine basket.

"Has he woken up? Are there any serious problems?"

The girl immediately pointed to her own head and said to her father, "Father, there seems to be something wrong with his head. He can't remember who he is."

Wang Zhan understood and felt a little embarrassed. So, I didn't die but was saved by someone... I didn't die, right?

The middle-aged man gently placed the medicine basket on the table, sat beside Wang Zhan, and extended a hand, smiling faintly.

"Do you mind if I take your pulse again?"

It's not like I'm pregnant, so what's there to mind?

"Mmm... Doctor... Uncle... please, go ahead."

He really didn't know how to address him, his face beaded with sweat from embarrassment. Thankfully, he was thick-skinned enough that the awkwardness seemed to shift to others instead.

"If you don't mind, just call me Xu Liang," the man said. "As for formalities like seniority, those of our generation needn't be so particular."

Without waiting for Wang Zhan's reaction, his fingers gently descended. With a soft touch, Xu Liang's expression turned somewhat solemn.

"Father, what's wrong? Is he going to die?" the girl cautiously observed her father's face and whispered to him.

Xu Liang rapped her sharply on the forehead, causing her to let out a small cry. He then said disapprovingly, "Saving a life is better than building a seven-level pagoda. In life, one should strive to help others, follow the natural way of the Tao, and be prudent with one's words. How can you make such wild guesses and speak so carelessly?"

"Oh..."

"Besides, your father... I mean, though my skills are lacking," Xu Liang continued, his voice seeming to drop a few notches, "I probably wouldn't treat someone to death..."

...

Wang Zhan was completely silent now. This father-daughter duo is rather strange. Don't they know my senses are sharp and I can hear everything? And what the hell is this place? What era is this? Why does everything look so bizarre? Can I even go back?

That scoundrel Su Tao still owes me eleven billion, and Yang Qi owes me a Sky-grade Elixir. Aren't they going to pay up? And Qin Ying is waiting for me, Yao Yao too... I'm still a virgin! A status that's particularly galling considering what happened today... He suddenly recalled that time seemed to have slowed down drastically for him recently. It was clearly just yesterday that he had left Qin Ying's place after thoroughly enjoying her... generous charms, yet it felt like half a year had passed, and he had already reached the point where he could slay a Grandmaster. And another thing, where on earth did that madwoman Wang Qi go? How has Mom been lately? She wouldn't give me a caning when she sees me, would she... Hiss, that's a terrifying thought...

But he still desperately wanted to go back.

With a mountain of problems waiting for him to deal with, how could he possibly be at ease?

Xu Liang released Wang Zhan's wrist and said with a smile, "Young Master, you are truly a dragon among men. Although you were on the brink of a desperate situation, your foundation is profound. It seems you've been tempering yourself day and night; now your foundation has reached completion, and you've broken through to the Martial Master Realm in one fell swoop. You must be a genius, right?"

Wang Zhan quickly returned the pleasantries and, regardless of Xu Liang's actual realm, tried to gather some information. "Not at all, not at all. I'm just fumbling my way through. It's mostly been rotten luck that's gotten me this far. How could I compare to a senior like yourself..."

Undoubtedly, the System was also a product of rotten luck. Otherwise, why would I be stuck with this useless piece of crap that, instead of helping, dares to focus on its own upgrade?

"'Speaking ill of others behind their back is not a good idea, you know!'"

Damn it! Wang Zhan nearly jumped out of his skin, almost dumbfounded. So this 'rotten luck' can actually spew bullshit now? What a rarity!

"'Warning! Warning! This is the third offense. If the System upgrade fails as a result, the Host shall bear all consequences.'"

Tch, as if you'd bear the consequences for me if it really failed. Of course, though he wasn't actually scared in his heart, his outward demeanor was utterly subservient.

"Ah, sure thing! System Daddy, go ahead and do your thing. Your dear Host-son eagerly awaits your good news."

...

"Young Master?" Xu Liang waved his hand, trying to get Wang Zhan's attention. He had been talking to me just a moment ago, and then he suddenly zoned out. Could my diagnosis have been wrong, leaving him with complications? How embarrassing. To think that he, who had learned the divine art of healing—a skill to aid the world—from his mother, could make such an error. His face burned with shame, especially with his daughter watching. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into. Do I really have to ask Mother for help? She won't spank me, will she? I'm already in my forties or fifties. If Mother still spanks me like a child... Ugh... He was truly conflicted.

After Wang Zhan finished his explanations to the System, incidentally gaining a 'System Daddy' in the process, he quickly responded to Xu Liang, "Ah... yes, what is it? Something just occurred to me, and I might have zoned out for a moment."

The girl quietly turned away, her face burning with vicarious embarrassment. She didn't dare look at Wang Zhan. She was increasingly certain that her father's unreliable medical skills had left Wang Zhan with complications. It made her feel ashamed too; her own confidence was shaken. Father's medical skills were really getting worse with age. No wonder Grandma scolded him daily, saying he hadn't learned even a tenth of what he should have. This was just an ordinary Martial Master rescued from a tiger's jaws, yet Father managed to cause complications. How mortifying...

Xu Liang thought seriously for a moment, deciding he'd first try to salvage the situation himself; if that failed, then he'd trouble his mother. "Young Master... before your breakthrough today, did your True Essence flow through your brain region?"

Wang Zhan was slightly taken aback. True Essence? Shouldn't it be Essence Energy? But he still shook his head.

"No. Besides, I was unconscious. I'm not sure what happened to me."

Suddenly, a thought struck him. Can Essence Energy be used like that, flowing through the brain? Could this be the main difference between those at or above the Martial King Realm and those below it? How else could one explain the formidable power of a Martial Emperor Expert? The more Wang Zhan considered it, the more plausible it seemed. Oh, how he wished he could try it! His current mental energy of 14,400 was mostly wasted, aside from sensing his surroundings and integrating techniques. If he could utilize it, would that mean that, as a current Martial Master, he could at least match the strength of a Martial General? How thrilling!

However, he didn't consider that most ordinary people's mental energy couldn't keep pace with their Essence Energy, leaving them with far too little. It was only he, who had practiced both the "Five Thunder Deity Refinement Method" and the "General Outline of the Supreme Clear Thunder", who could achieve the strength, tenacity, and volume of a middle-high rank Martial Artist while still a low-rank Martial Artist. It was enough to drive anyone mad with envy.

...

But Wang Zhan really wanted to know certain things. "Senior, I want to ask, what was I like when you brought me back that day? Also, are you sure there wasn't anything else on me?"

Like the Liyun Blade, for instance, or the Pure Essence Pills! Those were life-or-death items! They absolutely couldn't be lost. Even if Wang Zhan himself were to... no, no, perish the thought! If those items were lost, he'd rather die.

Xu Liang understood then. "That day, when I found you, I did rescue you from a tiger's maw. Your injuries were severe; at least a dozen bones were visible. However, you have a strong constitution, and your wounds healed on their own in just three days..."

"Three... three days?" Wang Zhan was aghast. For crying out loud! All I did was hide inside a beast's stomach and shield someone else from disaster, how did I end up unconscious for three days?

"However, you remained unconscious. After your injuries healed, you were still comatose for another twelve days before finally waking up just now."

Wang Zhan understood. His heart sank; despair washed over him, leaving him numb.

Damn that eleven billion! If Su Tao didn't abscond with the funds, I, Wang Zhan, would lose all respect for that bastard! Waaah, fifteen days! Fifteen whole days! If I could return to the Federation, would I ever see my lovely money again?

Xu Liang found it a bit strange. This young master seemed very distressed, his face even looked numb. Then he recalled the items the young master had on him. He doesn't think they were lost, does he?

"Yu Yu, go and bring the young master's belongings."

The girl, Yu Yu, gave Wang Zhan a puzzled look, her slender waist and hips swaying gracefully as she turned. Could he be a madman?

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