One should know, Wang Zhan's assessment of Yun Tianyi, though exceedingly simple, was incisive and deadly.

That man was none other than a sly old black fox named Yun Tianyi.

Although Yun Tianyi treated him decently, in the eyes of consummate experts in the Martial Emperor Realm, Wang Zhan was worth little more than a passing glance.

Hadn't the Yang family some association with Wang Zhan, and the Tang Family harbored grievances against him? Yet, the venerable ancestors of these two families treated Wang Zhan no differently than a stranger on the street.

Their relationships merely varied by degrees of closeness or distance.

If Yun Tianyi was calculating even when dealing with a young genius, what chance did little Yuan Mengru have of escaping his grasp?

Of course, to say Yuan Mengru truly adored him would be false.

She was merely experiencing the first stirrings of love, and it had unfortunately been dedicated to a man destined for a tragic end.

Ultimately, it was the stubborn pride of her youthful heart that had led her astray, causing her to get stuck in her own narrow perspective, unable to see the broader picture.

...

The affairs of the outside world currently held no relevance for Wang Zhan. Even if he knew of them, he would be powerless to intervene.

At this moment, the only thing he needed to do was enrich his foundation within the Book Collection Pavilion of this Small World.

"...The Saber, king of weapons... The art of killing; once drawn, it takes a life..."

"...The Fist, the bow of the physical body... Like a bow, like an arrow; tensed when extended, hidden when retracted... The fist's wind may seem gentle, but the body is firm as iron..."

"The Sword, elegance among weapons across generations!... Ascend to immortality, or fish by the abyss... Vast as heavenly waters descending, majestic as a high mountain standing still..."

"...The Staff, a blend of softness and tenacity, seeking curves within straightness... An art of taking life, the clash of club and staff..."

"...The Halberd... Sweeping movements, like a shadow following the form... When power and speed combine, it shatters all; invincible under heaven..."

Time continued to pass.

Sabers, dagger-axes, swords, halberds, staves, clubs, fists, and kicks—arts of killing, arts of taking life. The styles were myriad and strange, yet all stemmed from the same core principles.

For Wang Zhan, this signified a transformation, a complete metamorphosis in his martial arts journey. It even seemed to push his original martial skill, Lean Against the Mountain—derived from his Eight Extremes Fist and Military Killing Fist—towards a miraculous preparatory stage for its own evolution.

When the moon is full, it waxes; when water fills to the brim, it overflows.

What was lacking was merely sufficient time and progress.

However, aside from these martial arts manuals, there were also some leisurely anecdotes that Wang Zhan found delightful.

"Three hundred miles to the east, there is a bird named the Wuzi Bird, with no sharp beak or claws. It keeps company with the sea during the day and sleeps under the cool water at night... Inside its body, there is an object called spirit aura."

"If even a tiny speck of it is added when forging a weapon, it makes the weapon sharper, allows it to draw blood, and can even give birth to spiritual wisdom. It is listed as one of the items on the Nine States Divine Treasures List..."

It simply meant that a bird named the Wuzi Bird, with an unimposing beak and claws, usually roamed the icy sea under the blue sky but slept in the sea at night. Yet, the marvel lay in the fact that this seemingly 'chicken ribs' of a bird—of some value, yet not critically so—produced something called spirit aura within its body. Adding just a bit of it during weapon forging could make the weapon sharper, kill without shedding blood, and even give birth to spiritual wisdom, making it utterly divine.

If such a thing truly exists, the Nine States Divine Treasures List is indeed well-deserved.

But did this thing really exist in this world?

Wang Zhan had some slight understanding of the Nine States. It was said that in remote antiquity, many long-dead people on Earth called the place where they lived the Nine States.

However, he could never believe that such Divine Objects existed on Earth in remote antiquity. If they truly did, why would the Human Race still be retreating in the current confrontation with the Beast Clan?

...

At this moment, the spirit of the shield that had barely managed to save Wang Zhan before plunging into a deep sleep finally awoke.

A soft, intermittent, and warm voice replied weakly.

"It's true. The reason my siblings and I could come into existence is because of the spirit aura."

A glint flashed through Wang Zhan's eyes.

"You're awake?"

"Yes! I just wanted to tell you... never underestimate the Nine States Divine Treasures List! If possible, gather more information about it. Although Earth is now stripped of everything, with not a drop remaining."

"But on the Star War Battlefield, these things, though rare, still appear from time to time. They incite conflict and pitched battles between the Human Race and the Beast Clan... all for the sake of increasing their own faction's foundation..."

Wang Zhan understood.

The shield's intentions were very simple.

When such Divine Objects appeared, how could they not cause both sides to fight for them? Of course, often their appearance meant they had escaped their master's bonds and temporarily become ownerless items.

But if Wang Zhan couldn't even recognize their existence, he might enter a mountain of treasures only to return empty-handed.

"You seem to have been to the Star War Battlefield many times. Can you tell me, whose weapon are you?" Wang Zhan asked abruptly.

Once he clarified this point, he could figure out who wanted to save him and what intentions they had for him.

Otherwise, he would always be in a state of confusion, and Wang Zhan would need to be cautious about being plotted against. He was no longer the Wang Zhan of old; he clearly knew that while the Beast Clan was terrible, the internal strife and conspiracy plots within the Human Race itself caused losses no less severe, if not more so.

Perhaps this was just human nature, often fond of infighting.

The shield chuckled, its voice a bit hoarse, like a helpless woman sighing in resignation.

"I don't mind telling you. I belong to Wei Daoming. He's the weakest among the heads of the four major Martial Arts Academies, but do you know why he could sit on equal footing with them?"

A flash of insight struck Wang Zhan.

"Because of you?"

It seemed so simple, almost like a pointless question.

As expected, the shield scoffed.

"Many people in the Federation believe that if they just obtain a good weapon, they can soar to the heavens. I didn't expect you to be no different."

Wang Zhan felt resentful. So what if it wasn't? How dare a battered, 'faded flower' of a weapon like you laugh at me? Believe it or not, I could melt you down!

A fine display of self-consolation, that was.

The shield explained, "It's undeniable that I was a factor. But the main reason is that he always believed that the vast majority of the Human Race genuinely want to kill the enemy; they are merely powerless to turn the tide."

"So, he could give you a pound of ancient tree tea the very first time he met you. Have you ever thought about it? Ancient tree tea is priceless and in high demand in the Federation. Why would he give it to you? What merits do you possess that he would directly gift you a whole pound?"

Wang Zhan felt a swirl of complicated emotions and was speechless for a moment.

Yes, what have I done to deserve this! If I absolutely had to find a reason, the only thing I could say is—Wang Zhan is a man of the Federation, and he loves the Federation deeply!

But the problem is, can one truly believe the things one uses to deceive oneself?

Inexplicably, his thoughts became agitated and unsettled.

What the hell is this Federation? Even if it's about protecting the Human Race, to be honest, I don't have much interest in it.

I'm just a minor Martial Master. The only thing I want is for my family to be reunited, to be able to take good care of Mom and Wang Qi. That would be enough!

...

Subsequently, Wang Zhan understood why Wei Daoming, despite not being strong enough, could stand on equal footing with the others.

Firstly, it was because Wei Daoming, being on a just path, received much assistance. His diligence and selfless dedication after becoming the dean earned him a great deal of support.

Secondly, although Wei Daoming might have appeared weak, he was a god of slaughter who had fought on the battlefield for nearly ten years. His 'weakness' was only in comparison to old foxes like Yun Tianyi.

In fact, if it weren't for him coming into the line of sight of the Beast Clan and being forcibly interfered with by their higher-ups, who declared:

"As long as Wei Daoming continues to appear on the Star War Battlefield, then the Beast Clan will disregard everything, risk all they have, to ensure this future mainstay of the Federation is eliminated on the Star War Battlefield."

That was why Wei Daoming had stepped down.

Of course, it was more accurate to say he had been banished by the Beast Clan rather than having willingly stepped down. This was not only Wei Daoming's shame but a disgrace for the entire Human Race.

Even though Wei Daoming had obtained a shield—a trump card that could double his strength and completely compensate for his defensive vulnerabilities—he was rendered incapable of even making a move when faced with the will of the Beast Clan.

Such was the reality.

Fall behind, and you will be beaten!

A timeless truth, whether in remote antiquity, ancient times, the middle ages, or more recent ancient times—it was an adage, an ironclad fact throughout all eras.

But Wang Zhan said nothing.

He didn't reply, nor did he delve too deeply. He merely skimmed the surface; just understanding the gist was enough.

The shield seemed to sense Wang Zhan's mood. After sneering to express its disdain, it decisively rolled back into his body to rest, recuperate, and conserve its strength.

...

"Huh? What's wrong? You look terrible."

Perhaps the Book Collection Pavilion was too small, or perhaps the attraction between two solitary peers was too strong.

As Wang Zhan walked, he found himself once again in front of Xu Yuyu.

Xu Yuyu waved the book in her hand, looking curiously at Wang Zhan.

He seemed to be in a good mood just now. How did he end up looking like this in the blink of an eye?

Wang Zhan forced a smile. "Nothing. By the way, did you find your book?"

"Not yet!" Xu Yuyu was a bit frustrated; she was already thinking of leaving. The place felt a bit stuffy, the air damp and cold despite being very dry.

"Shall we look together?" Wang Zhan suddenly invited, glancing around. "There are only two of us here, and the place feels too big. Besides, we can walk and read, so it won't be so boring."

Xu Yuyu's face reddened slightly; she felt Wang Zhan might have some ulterior motive.

But after a moment's thought, she nodded eagerly, looking quite thrilled.

"Okay! You're my senior, after all. If you find any book you think would be useful for me, you can recommend it, okay?"

She smiled sweetly, her eyes crinkling into two small crescents.

Little did Wang Zhan know that what she was really after was the 'Volume on Transforming Illusion into Reality'. He wondered if she would be scared into retreating if he actually told her the truth...

HAHAHAHA...

Xu Yuyu glanced at him, her large eyes blinking, as if looking at a fool.

"You're acting strange today!"