Not long after, Xu Yuyu returned with Wang Zhan's belongings: a perfectly preserved blade, a small vial of medicinal powder, and a tiny shield, riddled with holes and looking as flimsy as a toy.

He held the shield; it was barely larger than his palm.

It was covered in scratches and perforations. Whose masterpiece could this be? he wondered.

"What is this thing? Did I really have this piece of junk on me?"

He was dumbfounded. Never in his life had he seen a shield so… COUGH, COUGH… unconventionally striking and utterly unforgettable.

Just then, a hoarse, dry, and halting female voice suddenly echoed in Wang Zhan's mind.

"Do… not… reveal… this… This is… a Sect's… Small World… If you… can quickly… repair my damage… I can… take you out…"

Wang Zhan's eyes narrowed, fixated on the shield in his hand.

Is this for real?

Or is there some ancient entity hidden inside, waiting for a chance to possess me?

And then, Wang Zhan saw.

He witnessed the events that transpired after he lost consciousness.

「...」

Energy seethed, and tidal forces surged.

A colossal, ring-shaped wave, towering into the clouds, swept over everything visible.

Flowers, grass, mud, Fresh Blood, and corpses.

In that instant, the land of the Wilderness region seemed to be devoured by a ravenous beast, bitten away along the horizon.

The halo above was its head, the roiling energy its teeth; behind the ring-shaped wave lay its monstrous maw and the most terrifying truth.

Occasionally, rifts appeared in mid-air, through which Wang Zhan could faintly glimpse familiar, verdant landscapes, vanishing in an instant.

Countless corpses were pulverized, though many fortunate individuals were swept into these rifts.

Upon closer inspection, Wang Zhan realized that most of the Human Race warriors who had followed him, aside from one or two unlucky souls who perished instantly, had mostly been blown into those rifts leading to what appeared to be green worlds.

Finally, Wang Zhan saw himself.

Amidst a gigantic skeletal frame lay a handsome young man, utterly unconscious. Before him, a shield—neither too large nor too small, yet covered in cracks and holes—steadfastly supported him, as if cradling an infant.

His leg was shattered, his hand a bloody mess of flesh, his clothes in tatters. He looked as pathetic as a fleeing cur, yet in a flash of spiritual light, his skin healed, becoming smooth and fair once more.

Then, he was pulled into one of the rifts, his bones crushed by its edges as he passed through, and the shield fell into his lap. If his memory served him right, many people had fallen into this particular rift, including Su Tao and Yang Qi, who both owed him a great deal.

「Seven days later, a familiar figure appeared.」

「...」

Wang Zhan snapped back to reality, his expression excited.

"You saved me?"

I'm still alive, and I'm still the same Wang Zhan.

Similarly, those two unlucky fellows, Yang Qi and Su Tao, along with many others, also fell into this rift. There's a high chance they didn't die either.

At this thought, his mood instantly brightened, and he felt a renewed hope for life.

Ten billion! Ten billion! That should be enough resources for me to advance to the Martial King Realm, right?

The shield remained silent; the hoarse, dry, halting voice did not return.

Wang Zhan understood. Based on what he had just witnessed, if not for this shield, facing the self-detonation of a level 9 Martial Emperor—an explosion comparable to that of an even higher-level expert—he would undoubtedly have been blasted to smithereens.

I overestimated my own strength. In this world where Spiritual Energy is re-emerging and personal might reigns supreme, a single misstep means death.

Therefore, even though the shield offered no response, a hint of a smile, a touch of goodwill, finally graced Wang Zhan's face.

"Although I don't know how much it will cost to repair you, since you saved my life, I will do my utmost…"

Even though he didn't know whose weapon it was, and it seemed Wang Zhan was getting the short end of the stick.

But since the shield had been sincere, clarifying his situation with just a few words, Wang Zhan was not one to be stingy. He immediately decided to help restore the shield to its original state.

It's my savior, after all.

Besides, even if it's fully restored, its original owner might not find out for a while. Perhaps I can use it for a bit, let it serve as a proper shield for me.

At the very least, it's a trump card.

However, a Sect's Small World? Does that mean this place isn't the same world as the Federation? Are they independent, not interfering with each other?

Doubts arose in his heart, now filled with boundless curiosity.

I've never even heard this term before; many in the Federation probably haven't either. Does this mean I'm about to encounter the true, hidden face of the Federation?

Is this the modern era, Ancient times, or even remote antiquity?

「Inside an even more majestic, truly resplendent and magnificent palace.」

A middle-aged man in green robes, carrying a small medicine basket, walked slowly. No one obstructed him, nor did anyone greet him.

He continued until he reached a study room and stood before a particular painting.

Only then did Xu Liang slowly lower his head, saying respectfully, "Your son pays his respects, Mother!"

After about three breaths, a voice suddenly emanated from the painting. It was gentle and serene, carrying a natural, leisurely charm.

"What is it?"

"Mother, some days ago, your son found a severely injured genius Martial Artist. After treating him, I initially thought there were no major issues. However, I've now discovered that he often gets distracted. My medical skills are still lacking, so I hope Mother can offer guidance and see what the problem is with him."

The gentle female voice replied softly, "Very good. Medical knowledge can only advance step by step through practical application—experimenting and healing. Liang'er, it seems you have gained your own insights. Tell me about his current condition. His speech, thoughts, movements, gaze, the flow of qi within his body—are there any issues in these areas?"

"Mm, his speech is a bit peculiar, rather disjointed. I can't tell which prominent family nurtured such a 'favored son of heaven.' He also seems to have a poor grasp of medical fundamentals, as he tends to confuse True Essence with Essence Energy. Furthermore, the qi flow within his body is very strange. It doesn't follow the meridians as ours does; it's quite erratic, seemingly flowing wherever it can be strongest. Although he had many injuries, his robust physique allowed him to recover from most of them directly…"

Xu Liang was unaware that as he spoke, his mother—who had entered a painted world for secluded cultivation for nearly twenty years—emerged.

A graceful woman in a simple yet elegant, light-colored long dress appeared unhurriedly in the study room, walking up to Xu Liang.

"Let's go. Take me to see him…"

Hearing the voice seem much closer than it should be, Xu Liang immediately looked up. He saw his mother standing before him, his face a mask of astonishment.

"Mo-Mother, you've personally come out?"

The woman spoke calmly, her expression unreadable. "I've been sitting for a long time and felt like moving. When you arrived, my heart was already stirred to action. It might be better to go for a walk and then return to secluded meditation; perhaps the results will be even better."

A trace of shame appeared on Xu Liang's face. Those in seclusion usually avoid leaving it prematurely. It seems my visit was ill-timed.

What he didn't know, however, was that his mother's emergence from seclusion this time was the true key to unraveling the mystery of his own origins.

...

What Xu Liang didn't know was that as he and his mother left the Great Hall, the cultivators remaining behind them all wore expressions of cold mockery.

"He's simply one of the losers. He neglects the proper cultivation path and insists on learning the healing arts to save others, yet his skills are dubious. Forget his mother's abilities; he's not even as good as some quack from the mortal world."

"If it weren't for his capable mother, he would have been expelled long ago. What right would he have to stay here? Still, why did he come today? Did something happen? Or is that girl, Xu Yuyu, about to embark on the cultivation path?"

For a moment, various speculations and discussions erupted.

Everyone knew Elder He possessed profound medical skills and immense cultivation, yet, unexpectedly, neither of her two descendants was qualified for the cultivation path. They constantly struggled at the lowest rungs of the mortal world, a fact that served as a source of amusement within the Sect.

Someone seemed more informed. "I heard that the supposedly dead man he picked up a few days ago came back to life and even entered the Martial Master Realm. But it seems there's something wrong with his body now, and this boy can't handle it. That's probably why he came to trouble Elder He."

"TSK! Calling him a loser is spot on. To reach the Martial Master Realm, one might not have exceptional Talent, but there's still some foundation. Now, if his body has problems, his future is likely ruined. I say this kid had ill intentions, deliberately ruining someone else's prospects out of sheer jealousy!"

"HAHAHAHA…"

...

"Hello, you are?" Wang Zhan asked, looking at the woman in the plain dress before him. This was the second time today he had been left stunned by a woman's appearance.

My heart feels so weary. Suddenly, the Federation seems to have lost all its flavor.

Why is it? Why do the most beautiful women in this world prefer to remain hidden, like a solitary flower appreciating its own beauty? She has a simple, unadorned face, yet she could rival all the beauties of the imperial harem. Why don't they willingly show themselves to the world and bless mankind?

The woman, simply dressed yet possessing a mature allure, didn't speak. She gestured for Xu Liang to leave, then waved her hand. A Nameless barrier materialized around them, shimmering faintly with light.

Wang Zhan was curious. What does this woman want? This feels very strange.

Fortunately, after patting the Liyun Blade and Essence Creating Pills on his person, Wang Zhan's heart settled.

Hmph, mere red stretch of skeletons. If she thinks she can make me cry, even if I die, I'll make her cry first!

Of course, Wang Zhan didn't think he possessed anything valuable enough for someone to kill him for. The most expensive items had been the Pure Essence Pills, but those were already crushed, even if the vial itself was still intact.

Little did he know…

"Are you one of the Federation's people?" the woman asked.

Huh?

Wang Zhan's heart leaped with vigilance. His gaze sharpened like a blade as he stared directly at the woman.

Knowing about the Federation means this place isn't truly isolated from the world. This is undoubtedly a great boon for my chances of escaping and returning to the Federation.

However, that wasn't the immediate issue.

"Who are you?" he asked.

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