Getting Stronger By Fighting

In the office, Lin Hao suddenly seemed to fall silent. His brows furrowed in deep thought.

No external wounds, no other anomalies, yet the kidneys are blooming with internal injuries. What kind of method is this?

Lin Hao had meticulously reviewed all previous test results, including data and charts, and had consequently ruled out those possibilities. However, the final report detailing the damage to the internal kidney structure left him unable to discern the underlying truth and circumstances.

A flash of understanding suddenly crossed his eyes; he had grasped a crucial point. If existing logic couldn't explain it, then these methods had to be beyond the Federation's capabilities. Yet... from the intelligence Lin Hao had received concerning Wang Zhan, he distinctly recalled.

"...entered a Small World, acquired some inheritances from Ancient times or remote antiquity. It is recommended to investigate. If it proves useful for the main front or the rear battlefield, negotiations can be opened with Wang Zhan. The Federation is willing to pay a price in exchange..."

This was the Federation's advice and recommendation, and also the operational guidelines for Lin Hao, who was managing Wang Zhan's affairs from behind the scenes.

Simply put, everyone knew Wang Zhan had entered a Small World and undoubtedly gained something significant. Otherwise, how could his power have surged past the threshold of the Grandmaster Realm after only a month's absence? This talent made him seem more like a demon than his father, Wang Yidao! Fortunately, Wang Zhan relied on external power, not his own inherent strength. Otherwise, most people would have long lost sleep over it. To be too much of a genius is to be a demon; to be too much of a demon is... to court death.

But this didn't mean the Federation would underestimate Wang Zhan. On the contrary, the Federation's assessment already positioned him as a truly pivotal genius. Even with their keen interest in the things he possessed, they never considered forcible seizure. Instead, they sought to exchange for them, to integrate them into the Federation's foundational strength. Who else could receive such generous treatment? Only the Federation's young hero.

Thus, an altered test report, filled with ulterior motives, immediately appeared in Lin Hao's hands and was then disseminated to those in Qian Shui City who were closely monitoring the situation.

「On the other side.」

A mysterious call, routed through a temporary, secure line, connected Qian Shui City to an undisclosed location.

"...It can be confirmed that the kid possesses some means that, while perhaps not astounding, are certainly effective. I believe if applied on the enemy's rear battlefield or within the Federation, they could yield some unexpected results..."

"...Haha, what bullshit! If anyone truly has such great abilities, tell them to step up themselves. My capabilities are limited, and I only follow orders. I won't be a party to anything exceeding my scope, nor will I be made a scapegoat!..."

"...Rest assured, Wang Zhan's assessment was successful, and the results he provided were satisfactory. The scapegoat has long been set in motion, employing the very methods you wished to see... As long as he doesn't court death by venturing into areas on the map marked as Martial King level or forbidden zones and above, my people can guarantee his survival..."

"...Then let's leave it at that. I'll signal you once the operation concludes. As for Wang Zhan, don't worry. Although we've only met a few times, I don't believe he'll be overly concerned with these machinations. After all, he understands we can't simply entrust such significant responsibilities to a greenhorn who just appeared on the scene..."

It was both a machination and a form of guardianship.

However, if Lin Hao knew that Wang Zhan, despite not provoking beasts above the Martial King level, was currently engaged in a solo battle against a top-tier leader-level beast comparable to a human Martial King, one wonders what his thoughts would be.

Wang Zhan was indifferent to whatever Lin Hao might be planning. Or rather, even if he did care, he wouldn't dwell on it. After all, at this moment, the most pressing crisis Wang Zhan faced on the Star War Battlefield wasn't the Federation at his back, but the giant wolf before him.

"HAHAHA... Bring it on!"

Wang Zhan laughed wildly, his clothes long reduced to tattered rags. His body was a mess, covered in bloodstains and lacerations. In some places, the marks of wolf claws were clearly visible. These wounds were the mementos left by the Blood Wolf King, Yu Huan. They also fueled his frenzy, driving him to relentlessly strike the spines or skulls of the wolves that surrounded him with their savage eyes, using the Cloth Stick in his hand.

Even though the common saying about wolves was 'bronze heads, iron bones, and tofu-soft waists,' it made little difference to the maddened Wang Zhan. Even after swallowing an unknown number of Pure Essence Pills from the three vials he carried, Wang Zhan paid it no mind. He seemed solely focused on a fight to the death; even if the Wolf King itself pursued him, he was determined to drag many giant wolves down with him.

A fight to the death, no retreat!

There was no other reason; the Wolf King was simply too strong! It was almost equivalent to a bona fide Human Race Martial King, possessing swift, unpredictable speed and unstoppable claws and fangs. Even though Wang Zhan could slay General-level or leader-level beasts with ease, he was still significantly outmatched by it.

"If you want to kill me, let's see what price you're willing to pay..."

"You're courting death!"

The Wolf King roared and immediately gave chase again, appearing strangely behind Wang Zhan, who had been pinned down by a squad of giant wolves. But Wang Zhan paid it no heed, simply channeling all his mental energy into the armor covering his body. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. He allowed the Wolf King to land a fierce kick on his back, while simultaneously swinging the True Wolf Fang Cloth Stick with all his might, roaring inwardly,

Bring it on!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...

Following several deafening booms, Wang Zhan was sent flying forward like a soccer ball kicked from behind. The difference was that a soccer ball is round and rolls, whereas Wang Zhan, in his current state, more closely resembled a wretched beggar, on the verge of face-planting and getting a mouthful of mud. But what made the Wolf King even more frantic was that, in this process, the velocity from its furious attack on Wang Zhan had instead lent incredible speed to the Cloth Stick in his hand. Thus, the Cloth Stick once again played a role that could nearly turn the tide of battle.

YELP!...

YELP!...

AWOOO!...

In an instant, nearly a dozen scattered giant wolves were struck squarely on their foreheads by Wang Zhan. They emitted chilling yelps like puppies, and not a single one was spared.

"HAHAHA..."

Wang Zhan laughed wildly, while the Blood Wolf King, Yu Huan, behind him, grew even more frantic. This kid was so deranged as to use its own attack to trade blow for blow, once again costing it more than ten of its pack members. It knew it had miscalculated!

Throughout this chase, Wang Zhan had exploited this tactic, inflicting heavy losses upon the Blood Wolf Corps. In what felt like the blink of an eye, hundreds of giant wolves had fallen, becoming spirits claimed by Wang Zhan—no, perhaps it should be said, spirits claimed by the True Wolf Fang Cloth Stick! That unfortunate leader-level beast, despite having lost its consciousness and life long ago, was still silently aiding Wang Zhan in annihilating its own kind, contributing its last measure of strength. What a 'kind' wolf, full of 'noble' ambition!

But could the Blood Wolf King still retreat? It had no path of retreat. This battle was destined to be the Blood Wolf Corps' greatest loss in years. However, if it could turn Wang Zhan, whose strength was comparable to its own, into prey and devour his flesh and blood... Then, perhaps it could seize this opportunity, using the spirit contained within Wang Zhan's flesh and blood, to break through its current limitation as a top leader-level beast and ascend to the ranks of King-level beasts. At that time, not only could it make up for all the losses caused by Wang Zhan, but the position of the Blood Wolf Clan could also be advanced rapidly.

Therefore, when the Blood Wolf King saw Wang Zhan slay another dozen or so of its pack members and then attempt to flee, only to be intercepted by more giant wolves, it roared and charged to the forefront,

"KILL!!"

"Come on, then! Let's see who dies today—you or me!"

A fierce expression crossed Wang Zhan's face. The Cloth Stick in his hand suddenly went limp, and he wrapped it around his waist. Then, he swung his fists, the wind from his blows surging as if to clash head-on with the wolf pack. He plunged directly among the wolves, disappearing from clear view within their ranks, ready to trade injuries once more. Then, a thunderous shout suddenly erupted from within the wolf pack, carrying an air of boundless dominance and awe,

"Eight Extremes—Military Killing Fist—Rising Dragon Elephant! Mount! Tai! Collapse!"

BOOM.

Accompanied by a fetid gust and a shower of blood, Wang Zhan's fist shot upwards powerfully, striking another leader-level beast squarely in the belly.

AWOO!...

'Extreme attributes +138'

Immediately, all of Wang Zhan's basic attributes and extreme attributes were maxed out once again. The extreme attribute points gained from slaying enemies began to convert into preparatory power for Wang Zhan's next limit breakthrough or realm advancement.

But at this moment, his already lean figure thinned further, not quite skeletal, but alarmingly close. Undoubtedly, he was on the verge of complete exhaustion. But he paid it no mind, his heart filled only with relentless killing intent. Without hesitation, he leaped out from the gaping hole in the unfortunate beast's body and plunged headfirst into the fray once more. Then, he suddenly spun around, roaring, swinging his fist, fighting to the death!

"Go to hell!"

Why didn't he care? Because that was not Wang Zhan's limit; it was merely a prelude to his next counterattack.

"Just you? You think you can kill me? Go to hell..." Wang Zhan roared. Even if the Blood Wolf King wanted to retreat now, it was too late.

Thus, before its astonished eyes, the fully prepared Wang Zhan finally crashed into it, igniting the true climax of his counterattack.

The battle raged on, growing ever more intense. Both sides were locked in a desperate struggle, pushing themselves to the absolute limit, a deadly stalemate. The thunderous sounds of the ongoing battle, the widespread devastation, the pervasive stench of blood, and the commotion that seemed to shake the entire jungle—naturally, all of this attracted the attention of many other beasts and humans passing through the vicinity.

"This is... the scent of high-grade flesh and blood!"

"This is... a member of the Federal Human Race?"

「At the same time.」

A person, who was rushing to the scene after a slight delay, finally caught sight of the scene. Their brow twitched involuntarily, and they stared at the battlefield with a solemn expression.

"Is this really just a Martial Master?"