Yu Huan thought to himself, realizing he had missed the most critical moment.

If he had made up his mind earlier and joined the battle, regardless of the outcome, there would have been certain benefits for him.

However, it was too late now.

The battle had started, and at this point, if he were to join, he would become an open target threatening both sides.

Of course, the threat might be greater to Wang Zhan, but his King wouldn't be foolish enough to believe him outright.

It would be better for him to retreat and carefully contemplate how to make the breakthrough to Martial King.

After all, he had learned a great deal this time.

「...」

The narrative returns to the moment just before the battle erupted.

Although Wang Zhan was simultaneously devising a plan against Yu Huan and using Yuan Shisan as a diversion, fundamentally, he, like Yu Huan, had not relaxed his vigilance towards his surroundings.

Therefore, guided by a strong spiritual intuition, he had identified several obscure auras in the battlefield quite early on.

It was impossible for him not to be nervous.

This was despite having faced much more dangerous situations; he had even almost died once under the shockwaves of a high-level Martial Emperor's self-detonation.

If it were not for the protection of the Spirit of the Shield, he would have been reduced to swirling dust long ago.

However, this situation was entirely different from the previous one.

Martial Kings... at least four of them, Wang Zhan assessed.

That time, the shockwaves from the high-level Martial Emperor had targeted low-level Martial Emperor experts and even Jing State City, the Federation's symbol of power and the center of all authority.

This was why Wang Zhan had luckily survived.

But this time, these individuals were all Martial Kings, and every single one of them was focused solely on him.

It made his breathing feel constricted, a heavy sense of oppression washing over him.

This is a bit dangerous... but luckily, I still have a trump card, Wang Zhan mused.

Wang Zhan continued to survey the devastated landscape with a faint, casual smile, while internally, he quietly began to circulate a long-dormant stream of Essence Energy and mental energy, his mind on high alert.

Finally, as a hidden energy within his body surged—like a seed germinating after a wildfire—Wang Zhan felt as resilient as the grassroots that survive such blazes, gaining a unique insight.

At that moment, his understanding of the clone technique also deepened considerably.

"Wildfires cannot burn it all; it grows again when the spring breeze blows..." he thought.

Whether *he* would survive, only he truly knew.

However, the middle-aged man in the distance, who was constantly looking for an opportunity to help Wang Zhan escape, nearly jumped in fright at the sudden, palpable tension in the surroundings.

He instantly regretted it. Damn it! Three Martial Kings... this kid is a magnet for trouble! Lin Hao, what the hell kind of mission did you send me on? If I dare to help him leave, I'll be skinned alive even if I don't die!

He deeply regretted getting involved with Lin Hao, that trouble-stirring bastard. Now, it wasn't just a matter of not finding peace; it was a complete nightmare, like living in perpetual darkness.

However, observing Wang Zhan's subtle, tense movements, he also understood.

This kid might look carefree on the surface, but he's actually meticulous and is probably already planning his escape.

For such a genius to emerge, one who could face a Half-Step Martial King without falling into a disadvantageous position right from his debut, is truly a blessing for the Federation.

But precisely because of this, if such a talent were to be lost needlessly, not only would the Federation lament this immense future loss, but he himself would be overwhelmed with guilt, unable to live with himself.

For now, he could only grit his teeth, his gaze hardening with resolve as he fiercely told himself.

Damn it, I'll risk it! If I can save this kid, then with the military merits I'll earn, my Star War Battlefield journey will finally be over. I can return to the Federation, get married, have children, live a carefree life, and dote on my grandchildren... I'll bet everything on this!

With that thought, he completely cast aside his fear.

He pulled out an iron chain, nearly two to three meters long, from his waist and began to twirl it slowly in his hand.

This was clearly his weapon!

「...」

On the battlefield, just as Wang Zhan seemed about to leisurely depart.

Suddenly, a Mental Storm, like a bolt from the blue, descended from the sky.

"Human whelp, since you're here, why the rush to leave? A talent like you is a supreme delicacy in our world... Hahaha!"

One voice, even more arrogant than Wang Zhan's, boomed out.

King-level!

Following this Mental Storm, the other three Martial Kings also made their move, each unleashing their own Mental Storm as if it were standard procedure, all descending almost simultaneously.

It was unclear whether they were worried about someone else snatching their "food" or afraid of having their credit stolen.

However, Wang Zhan merely raised his head and smiled faintly, his expression holding an enigmatic quality that puzzled everyone.

"Heh, the feeling is mutual. I also think that if your flesh and blood were available in the Federation, it would undoubtedly be a delicacy everyone would fight over. It's a pity, I haven't really tasted the meat of high-level beasts yet. How about each of you cuts off a piece for me to try?"

The three Martial Kings were instantly enraged, sneering malevolently.

"How audacious!"

Moments ago, in their eagerness to capture Wang Zhan, they had all attacked simultaneously, inadvertently hindering each other.

Yet Wang Zhan dared to use this brief opening to mock them so brazenly, not just disregarding them but practically treating them as mere slabs of meat.

Two of them immediately spoke in unison.

"All of you, stand aside and let me handle him! After I kill him, his flesh and blood will be divided equally!"

Neither had expected the other to be in such perfect accord; their words were identical.

The remaining Martial King then roared in fury.

"Out of my way! If you don't dare to kill him, then let me! The flesh and blood will be shared equally, and so will the credit! If you trust me, then get out of the way. If I go back on my word, I'll willingly offer up my territory!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the two Mental Storms instantly retracted.

Immediately, two mental messages were transmitted through the air.

"Since it's come to this, we'll trouble Brother Bao then!"

"Rest assured, Brother Bao, we are not shameless enough to go back on our word like that. If you were to break your promise, well, swallowing those six Half-Step Martial Kings under your command would be about enough compensation for us, hahaha..."

Wang Zhan's face twitched.

He wished he couldn't hear them. However, while these beasts' Mental Storms seemed powerful, their method of telepathic communication was incredibly crude.

It was like they had brought out a blackboard right in front of him, intending to write some cryptic and profound messages.

But unexpectedly, Wang Zhan, this "ignorant child" (as they might see him), looked and found it was just the common tongue everyone could understand.

However, an idea sparked in his mind.

These beasts appear formidable and unified on the surface, but internally, the undercurrents of intrigue and conspiracy are no less complex than those among humans.

Does this mean Yu Huan might actually have a chance of winning over there?

And, if I ever find myself in a desperate situation, perhaps I can use certain means to sow discord and break their alliance.

After all, as they say, if you swing the hoe well enough, there's no... treasure you can't dig up.

「...」

Immediately, Wang Zhan abruptly raised his head, a cold chuckle escaping him as he gazed at the lone Mental Storm surging towards him from the sky.

A low hum resonated from deep within him as his mental energy, all 43,200 points of it, instantly erupted.

"Supreme Clear Thunder Summary! Five Thunders Transform, manifest!"

Instantly, five small, dazzling orbs of light, each a different color, appeared around Wang Zhan's shoulders, chest, and above his forehead.

Among them, gold was Golden Lightning; green, Wood Thunder; yellow, Earth Thunder; azure, Water Thunder; and red, the embodiment of the Five Thunders.

The Five Thunders circled, forming a ring that seemed ordinary at first glance but held an endless, subtle profundity. It floated before Wang Zhan, then suddenly shot forward, expanding in an instant like a ring of fire to envelop the Mental Storm, with unpredictable lines of Virtual and Real Light flickering at its center.

Simultaneously, Wang Zhan, relying on his mental energy and intuition, had already pinpointed a specific location.

The next moment, unnoticed by anyone, a fiery blaze ignited around Wang Zhan's body.

His armor dissolved, his true body evaded, and his clone took the field. The Liyun Blade on its back unsheathed with a resolute CLANG.

"Clone, engage! Five Element Escape!"

At that instant, the five-colored ring in the sky forcefully trapped the Mental Storm within it and began to spin faster and faster.

In the blink of an eye, it burst apart, transforming into hundreds of dazzling, vibrant rings that spread across the city wall, then raced in all directions.

"Damn it! That's a Human Race escape technique! Stop him!"

Amidst the chaos, someone suddenly shouted this.

Instantly, the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of rings filling the sky completely entered the vision of all the... beasts.

"That's... that human's escape technique?"

"The Human Race actually possesses such a technique?"

"I sense the aura of the Five Elements! This is... the Five Element Escape!"

Before the last beast, who had immediately sensed something amiss, could even elaborate, the other beasts, completely oblivious to what had truly happened, acted.

All they knew was that Wang Zhan, also known as Yuan Shisan, had potentially transformed into one of those light rings and was attempting to flee, so they immediately gave chase.

However, back at Wang Zhan's original position, his figure had already shot forward. There was no wind or rain around him, only unprecedented speed as he advanced unabashedly and openly in a single direction.

After covering a certain distance, Wang Zhan let out a fierce shout, and a brilliant light erupted, enveloping a small area before him.

"Fatal—One Slash! Go!"

BOOM!

A massive beast that had been hiding underground instantly erupted in fury, bursting out from the earth. It glared at Wang Zhan, its colossal form moving with astonishing speed, as if intending to smash him to pieces.

"You! Die!"

Just as Wang Zhan seemed about to be killed by this King-level beast, the middle-aged man who had remained hidden finally couldn't hold back any longer.

The iron chain in his hand shot out.

"Courting death! How dare you target someone from my Human Race! Diamond Mountain Beast, I see you're tired of living!"

This furious roar naturally drew the attention of the beasts, who, despite the surrounding chaos, still retained their Divine Sense.

"That's... a Human Race Martial King?"

"Why would a Federation Martial King be here...?"

"Who cares why he's here? Kill him! A Federation Martial King is enough for our race to produce another King! Kill!"

Finally, Wang Zhan had a momentary chance to catch his breath.

All the beasts turned their attention, abandoning Wang Zhan and the rings in the sky.

Instead, they prepared to surround and attack the Human Race Martial King!

Even the three Martial Kings who had been craving Wang Zhan's tender flesh, along with the fourth, still-hidden Martial King, all felt that Wang Zhan was no longer an appealing target.

Wang Zhan looked at the Human Race Martial King who, in order to save him, had become the target of public criticism...

So much for being a genius! That's just bullshit!

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