Chapter 517: Chapter 331 Continuously Friendly_2
Time passed slowly; an hour slipped by as Zhong Hui finally stood up, ready to return to his residence as he had mentioned. When Yan Xiaobao returned, not one of the girls had awakened. Yan Xiaobao himself was completely immersed in his cultivation, oblivious to Zhong Hui’s departure. As Zhong Hui stood at the doorway, he nodded slightly and cast a final glance at the white-haired boy. He smiled faintly at Deng Wu and Xu Biao before stepping out.
Xu Biao and Deng Wu were not slow to notice the shift in Zhong Hui’s behavior upon Hui Hui’s arrival to the room. Yet, neither of them understood why his demeanor had changed. Their puzzlement led them to surmise that Zhong Hui might be captivated by her unusual appearance or curious whether her veins carried the mystical blood of a rare beast.
After reaching the Dragon Core, Xu Biao and the others were immediately locked inside the residence. Once Yan Xiaobao completed what he had to do for Lan Feng, the group spent their time training and preparing to leave the Underworld.
All of Yan Xiaobao’s friends were keenly aware that he was planning something that could potentially put them at odds with the Dragon Army. Nevertheless, every single one of them resolved to stand by the white-haired youth, ready to assist him if needed.
Finally, Yan Xiaobao discovered the laws he had long sought after. What he saw shocked him to the core. The mistreatment he witnessed went far beyond his prior imagination.
Knowing that they were being used as a source of energy, Yan Xiaobao understood that these individuals would not die. Their bodies were brimming with astonishing energy. However, harvesting this energy and being able to wield it were entirely different matters.
This energy originated from the laws themselves. It was the power they created—the very same energy used to construct the tunnel system, the energy that forged the entirety of the world. This was known as the Ancestor World Power.
The Ancestor World Power was unfathomably mighty and indestructible. It was this force that ensured the perpetual shining of the sun and moon, cascading their light across the world. It was this energy that drove the changing seasons and the ebb and flow of the tides.
In this world, every aspect of existence—birth, life, and death—was governed by the Ancestor World Power. Even the essence of heaven and earth emanated from the Ancestor World Power.
Humankind could cultivate this through refining essence into Qi, further refining Qi into spiritual energy, and ultimately integrating it into martial power. For the Dragon Army to harvest it in this manner was utterly unprecedented, dangerous, and profoundly astonishing.
While devoting himself to cultivation, Yan Xiaobao became deeply contemplative. At present, he did not know where the energy was being used or its intended purpose. Neither he nor Lan Feng understood the ultimate function of this energy, as its power far exceeded the essence of heaven and earth. It closely resembled the abilities of the Upper Dantian expert Wu Wei.
Bearing this in mind, Yan Xiaobao decided to first figure out Wu Wei’s usage of the energy, but only after planning how to preserve all the laws being exploited. Once their bodies recovered and their accumulated Ancestor World Power was drained, they’d meet their demise without mercy.
Having reached this conclusion, Yan Xiaobao opened his eyes. Discovering that the handsome young man had disappeared, he felt both alarmed and relieved. His instincts warned him to stay away from this youth, who radiated danger. The most likely reason was his connection to the Dragon Army, but regardless of the cause, Yan Xiaobao decided that he didn’t need to befriend him. It was clear to him that the more allies he had, the more likely he would face betrayal again. His intuition urged him to keep his few trusted friends close and face numerous challenges ahead.
Yan Xiaobao sighed deeply, looking at each of his friends. Clearing his throat, he began to seriously recount what he had discovered. He vowed not to blame anyone who chose to leave the tunnels instead of assisting him and aiding the laws. What mattered was that they understood the true peril of their undertaking.
"What are you leading us into?" Deng Hui asked with an enraged voice as Yan Xiaobao explained the situation. "Do you think we’d abandon you and run from danger? When we were captured, you did everything in your power to save us. When our families faced trouble, you stepped in to help. You’ve always been there—supporting us, helping us grow in our cultivation," he said, his voice sharp with emotion. "Given everything we’ve been through, do you think we’d desert this mission just because it has become dangerous?"
Hearing Deng Hui’s words, though they were full of indignation, warmed Yan Xiaobao’s heart. He felt a surge of joy knowing his friends were ready to fight alongside him.
Though the two girls lacked the strength to battle the King-ranking experts, Xu Biao, Xie Lan, and Deng Wu were all capable of supporting Yan Xiaobao and Lan Feng. While Wang Julong and Sha Yun couldn’t directly participate in combat, they could assist with support roles or execute parts of the plan that didn’t require direct fighting. The determination etched onto their faces as they decided to stay filled Yan Xiaobao’s heart with gratitude and warmth.
Now certain of who would stand with him in his plans, Yan Xiaobao sat down to contemplate his next move. Fragments of plans swirled in his mind, but none of them came together cohesively. He lacked a complete strategy for the rescue and escape.
The ideal scenario was for Yan Xiaobao and his friends to escape from the tunnel system’s oppressive laws before the Dragon Clan’s commanders realized what was happening. However, if they failed to escape in time, he needed to devise a way for six people to elude the clutches of thousands. While Yan Xiaobao undertook the task of saving the laws, he had long ago resolved that ensuring the survival of his friends and himself was also a paramount priority. He still had goals he wished to achieve in this world.
As Yan Xiaobao busied himself with crafting various plans and timing his actions, Zhong Hui did not return to the neighboring residence but instead headed to the Dragon Clan’s main headquarters.
When the commander caught sight of the smiling youth entering his office, he immediately rose to his feet. Bowing as deeply as he could, his face drained of all color.
"My lord, General Frozen!" the commander said, slowly straightening up. "I never imagined you would come here alone. How may I serve you?"
Looking at the commander, Zhong Hui’s smile quickly vanished, replaced by a stern expression.
"I am here because someone who caught my eye is here. Assign me the residence next to his immediately and elevate my status among the young nobles of the Dragon Core," he demanded.
Without waiting for a response, Zhong Hui turned and began to walk away. He didn’t wait for the scrambling commander to find the keys to the residence General Frozen desired.
"Milord," the commander said in a subdued voice, "the youth you are interested in has shown curiosity about our energy supply. You are aware of whose energy we are harvesting. It’s crucial to understand that if he becomes a threat to our operation in any way, he must be eliminated from existence. Perhaps, if you act swiftly and recruit him into the Frozen Brigade, it would be for the best."
His tone was tactful as he expressed his hopes. He knew there was only one person above General Frozen, and no one, not even General Frozen, dared offend him.
The commander clearly disliked Yan Xiaobao. The young man’s demeanor lacked the deference the commander expected, particularly in relation to the Scar-faced Killer incident—that event lingered in his mind repeatedly. Coupled with the fact that Yan Xiaobao had killed several King-ranking experts, the commander found him profoundly unsettling. He neither knew Yan Xiaobao’s true capabilities nor his intentions. Therefore, ensuring that the youth did not become a liability to their plans was a safer route. It would also allow the commander to personally ensure that Yan Xiaobao could no longer make decisions for himself.
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