Getting Stronger By Fighting

It was as if a ripple had been cast upon the tranquil lake of this woman's heart, leaving ripples of unrest that lingered long after. However, she probably didn't know that if everything went smoothly, Wang Zhan might not need to return to Quan State City for a very long time. In other words, their reunion seemed a distant prospect. But for a transient figure like Wang Zhan, these matters were like wisps of mist, easily dismissed with a wave of his hand.

「Then.」

「Three days passed in a hurry.」

Everyone who had gathered around Wang Zhan had already departed for their respective destinations. Even Ku Zhu, temporarily stripped of the privilege of staying by Wang Zhan's side, was dispatched to various locations to act as a troubleshooter. As the sole Martial King combatant by Wang Zhan's side, he naturally shouldered many responsibilities.

「Meanwhile.」

Wang Zhan and Yao Yao accompanied Boss Chen. After witnessing the Federation's varied landscapes—some flourishing, others in decline—on several occasions, they arrived once again at another desolate-looking city. They were about to venture underground once more.

Boss Chen had been watching the departing figure of the young nobleman Wang Zhan had enlisted for surface operations. Now, he turned to Wang Zhan, his voice heavy as he asked, "Sir, will Tian Qi survive?"

At this moment, his gaze was both silent and sharp.

He knew he had become a fish on Wang Zhan's hook, and Tian Qi was the bait. Wang Zhan held Tian Qi firmly in his grasp, making it clear he intended to use Tian Qi to his utmost potential, thereby drawing the attention of the various factions within the Quan State Underground City. He certainly wouldn't let such an asset go. He was useful to Wang Zhan, but this utility didn't grant him the right to an equal dialogue.

Thus, despite his concerns, Boss Chen felt powerless, like a clay Buddha crossing a river—barely able to save himself, let alone others. Only now, at this critical juncture where he was to fire the first metaphorical shot, did he dare to leverage his own importance to pose this question to Wang Zhan. He knew that if he retreated without a fight, Wang Zhan would suffer a great loss, but he himself would undoubtedly fall into the young man's hands, his own carefully constructed facade torn away.

For Boss Chen, this was not just an attitude; it was a declaration of resolve.

If Wang Zhan refused, or if Boss Chen sensed that Tian Qi had no chance of survival, he would, under no circumstances, allow Wang Zhan to have his way. He would not allow Wang Zhan to continue treating him as a mere puppet, even if many of his prior actions had been of his own volition.

Naturally, as the orchestrator, Wang Zhan was acutely aware of this nuance. If Boss Chen, supposedly the reincarnation of some great figure from the past, possessed such a simple and rigid mind, he wouldn't be worth Wang Zhan's considerable effort.

Of course, indeed, if not for Wang Zhan, Boss Chen might have peacefully enjoyed his twilight years. Instead, despite having choices, he was now thrust back into a precarious existence. Freedom is alluring, but the price it demands can be crushing.

Therefore, Wang Zhan simply met his gaze and said softly, his eyes profound, "Of course. I, Wang Zhan, am a man of my word. As long as my objective is achieved, I will do everything possible to ensure Tian Qi emerges from that quagmire unharmed. However, don't expect me to swear an oath. In fact, I've already arranged for three Grandmaster Realm experts to guard him in secret. If, despite these precautions, he still perishes, it only proves he was fated for such a calamity. You cannot blame me for that! The only concession I can make is to forget your current challenge and allow our relationship to revert to its previous state. I hope you remember that stepping onto this path was your decision, not mine…"

Boss Chen regarded Wang Zhan with silent gravity, then his expression softened slightly. "Good. I believe you."

Whether Wang Zhan was an insidious person or not no longer mattered to him. One thing was certain: Wang Zhan was the catalyst, the bait dangled by the restless demon in his own heart, that had drawn him back to this place. Resentment wasn't entirely reasonable, but it was expected.

「Afterwards.」

Boss Chen flicked his sleeve and turned, stepping across the threshold that separated the Underground City from the Federation lands above. "Let's go!"

「The next moment.」

A small corner of a vast, ancient Underground City was revealed, starkly appearing before Wang Zhan.

Wang Zhan understood. This was Ming State! It was once one of the Federation's key military fortresses before unification, boasting a vast territory and abundant talent. Unfortunately, due to the devastation wrought by the Beast Clan and the cataclysmic resurgence of Spiritual Energy, Ming State had fallen into utter decline. Now, only a sparsely populated inner city remained on the surface, along with its extensive underground counterpart.

However, in reality, precisely because of this decline, while Ming State appeared exceptionally weak on the surface, lacking experts, its vast, empty subterranean network, blessed by unique geographical and lax regulatory conditions, had gradually become a haven for countless criminals from other regions. This was all due to the meager strength of Ming State's surface-dwelling Martial Artists.

Of course, if these criminals were to overreach and attempt to seize Federation territory on the surface, they would undoubtedly face a rude awakening at the hands of the Federation. Those who had never entered the Federation's core or witnessed the grand, devastating battles of the Star War Battlefield could never truly comprehend the depths of the Federation's power!

So, long ago, the more astute among them recognized this. They spontaneously formed an organization to temporarily govern the Underground City, establishing a defence at its entrances and assuming some of the managerial duties previously handled by the Federal Internal Affairs Department. Furthermore, entry was largely a one-way street; unless one was a Federation citizen or a criminal whose identity the Federal Internal Affairs Department couldn't verify, no one was permitted to leave. This drastically reduced the threat posed to the Federation.

Consequently, the Ming State Underground City grew progressively stronger, its discipline stricter, its population larger, and its overall power more formidable. Anyone who had ever been to the Ming State Underground City knew it was no longer just any settlement of the Human Race; it had become one of the few subterranean kingdoms possessing a will of its own!

Therefore, from the outset, this powerful and renowned Underground City, formidable even by Federation standards, was undeniably Wang Zhan's primary target. And Boss Chen was Wang Zhan's greatest asset in conquering this Underground City, the most crucial piece of his plan.

「Finally.」

With Boss Chen leading the way, the trio officially passed through the screening channel established by the Federal Internal Affairs Department within the Quan State Underground City's jurisdiction, thus formally stepping into the greater Underground City network.

And at that moment, Wang Zhan beheld the scene as they entered the world of the Ming State Underground City.

At first glance, it looked like an immense air-raid shelter, as if the entire subterranean world here had been hollowed out. Mottled stains and old blood marked its surfaces, silent testaments to its history. Clearly, the current inhabitants didn't dwell on it. Instead, one could only see an endless stream of people moving through the passages that connected this vast shelter to other areas—some were guards inspecting passersby, others were simply travelers or tourists.

Wang Zhan's gaze was profound. He had yet to see a city of the Beast Clan, but the scars of battle on human cities were so profound, so intense, that almost every nook and cranny bore wounds from past cruelties.

As for Boss Chen, he gazed at the scene quietly, an endless wave of melancholy and emotion suddenly welling up within him. "Brother Wang, if it weren't for you, I never would have imagined I'd see this place again in my lifetime!"

He had sworn never to return when he departed, but fate, it seemed, was inescapable. Ultimately, under Wang Zhan's escort, he had set foot once more upon this land, so laden with history and desolation.

Yao Yao, meanwhile, curiously observed her surroundings. She discovered that life in these Underground Cities, aside from the lack of a blazing Sun overhead and the presence of gentle, artificial light, wasn't drastically different from the Federation. In fact, this city before her evoked a sense of closeness and connection that felt even stronger, more profound, than what she felt in the Federation. It was like a shared understanding, a recognition of similar destinies.

Of course, such sentiments were superfluous to the ruthless and decisive Wang Zhan. Nor did they hold much sway for Boss Chen, who, despite being born here, had once steeled his heart to leave it all behind.

Therefore, Wang Zhan merely chuckled, glancing at Yao Yao, whose expression had softened considerably. Only after Yao Yao signaled to Wang Zhan that she was alright did he turn his meaningful gaze back to Boss Chen. "Old brother, you have a way with words. But it's merely that you didn't *want* to return. If you truly wished to, who could have stopped you?"

Clearly, Wang Zhan saw through Boss Chen completely. Yet, it was precisely because of this blunt remark, that even Boss Chen, despite his current guise as an ordinary person, simply smiled freely. A wave of helplessness washed over him, followed by a newfound calm on his face. He didn't deny it, instead laughing as he retorted to Wang Zhan, "Whether I could return or not is my business! If I had known back when you first arrived in Quan State that you harbored ill intentions and were specifically targeting me, do you think I would have had anything to do with you?"

Wang Zhan roared with laughter.

Boss Chen laughed heartily as well.

At this point, both men understood each other perfectly. Their intentions were no secret to one another; all that remained was the underlying contest of wills and power.

What was extremely unfavorable for Boss Chen, however, was that he had long understood: this world was no longer the world of ancient times. It belonged to the Federation, to Martial Artists! But alas, he had long since abandoned everything, leaving him utterly alone.

Therefore, if anyone wished to halt Wang Zhan's advance, they would need power far exceeding his own—the power of a Martial King, or perhaps even greater.