Asgard.
Adam Thor, grandson of the Asgardian King, lay in a hot spring made of energy crystals, a look of enjoyment on his face.
Five beautiful and charming maids attended him.
One maid fed Adam a peeled grape, saying, "Your Highness, news has arrived from Hua Xia today, stating that someone will be visiting."
Adam opened his eyes and said, "Oh, aren't the Human Emperors Liu Che and Liu Xiu from Hua Xia stationed in Asgard? Why are they sending someone else?"
After rescuing the Liu family ancestor from the mouth of a polar bear on the Siberian ice field, Lin Zhan had appointed Liu Che and Liu Xiu, the newly promoted Human Emperors, to serve as ambassadors in Asgard.
The maid shook her head and said, "Your servant doesn't know. The Hua Xia office said they have new business to discuss with Asgard, which is why they're sending someone."
As she spoke, the maid presented a formal letter of invitation to Adam.
"We must take Hua Xia's affairs seriously. Since we acquired shares in their Ten Thousand Worlds Merchant Fleet, Asgard's financial situation has doubled. And this is with us holding less than half a percent of the shares."
"Those formidable people in Hua Xia own 80% of the shares. Can you imagine how much they earn? So, from now on, anything concerning Hua Xia is like my father's business; I must pay close attention."
Thus, the young Taoist Zhang Hao Ming unknowingly gained a godson.
Adam said, opening the invitation, "Damn, this is bad! Bandits are coming to our doorstep."
A month had passed since the young Taoist's promotion.
During this month, Lin Zhan had been tempering his body in the Shennong tribe, while the "Five Little Ones" were being fed a steady diet of fierce beasts at the Emperor level by the elders of Da Shang.
Observing the changes in the "Five Little Ones," Elder Yan Di nodded and remarked, "These five little brats are pure gluttons. If they keep eating like this, they might reach the Quasi-King level in another month."
He then said to Chang Ruo, "Go and find an Emperor-level fierce beast. Perhaps that will speed things up."
Hearing Yan Di's words, Xiao Jin quickly said, "Ancestor, don't you have an Emperor-level wild boar in your backyard? If you kill it for us brothers..."
Before Xiao Jin could finish, Yan Di grabbed him by the tail and tossed him out.
"This little brat truly lives up to his serpentine origins, always finding a way to climb higher."
While Lin Zhan focused on his cultivation, the young Taoist, protected by Tie Lao San, roamed freely throughout the myriad worlds.
All sorts of resources were sold without restriction in exchange for war materials. It could be said that the young Taoist's efforts this past month were enough for humanity to fight in the Ten Thousand Races War for three to five years.
As for the two Frost Bone Dragon Emperors who were meant to kill Lin Zhan and the young Taoist,
Before they could even appear, they were annihilated the next day by Elder Di Yao, accompanied by Tie Dashan and the other three troublemakers.
Even the bones of the Frost Bone Dragons were taken to the arsenal and refined into special alloys of King level.
Upon hearing the news, Lin Zhan and the young Taoist cheered loudly, "Our own ancestors are truly reliable. When there's trouble, they truly step up!"
The two brothers not only spent no money but also acquired a warehouse full of King-level alloys, making them so happy that they dreamt of having struck a great bargain.
Two days after Adam received the invitation.
Lin Zhan, accompanied by the young Taoist and protected by Tie Lao San and the four brothers Lie Shan Yu, arrived in Asgard.
The young Taoist, muttering incoherently, pulled out a brick from somewhere and said:
"Brother, wait until I catch that little blond brat. I'll break his nose first, then kick him in the back, and then kick his tailbone until it breaks. That bastard is always eyeing my wife."
The young Taoist was referring to Loki Thor, the son of Odin Thor, the King of Asgard.
He was the same little blond brat who had nearly been beaten to death by the young Taoist when Asgard had attempted to form a marital alliance with the Lin family.
"Brother-in-law, please calm down. You've been muttering for so long; aren't you tired? If you're truly annoyed with Asgard, just tell your third brother Tie, and he'll have his brothers, along with the Iron-Eating Beast Legion, exterminate Asgard."
"Besides, Asgard still holds a stake in our Ten Thousand Worlds Merchant Fleet, which brings in millions daily. If we eliminate them, we can earn even more."
Tie Lao San quickly nodded and said, "That's right, little fatty. Your brother-in-law is right. As long as you give the word, third brother will immediately blow the whistle, and your fourth brother will bring his men. We can finish the job in half a day."
The young Taoist quickly shook his head and said, "No, third brother. Asgard cannot be destroyed. Asgard is currently the main transit port for our Ten Thousand Worlds Merchant Fleet's goods. I handle a lot of illicit items here."
"If Asgard is destroyed, first, we will lose our transit port, and second, if something happens in the future, we won't have anyone to take the blame."
"For example, the 'Dream Kingdom' being dumped by the Beastman race. After the Strong Beastman incident, I've been selling the medicine under Asgard's name, so no one suspects us."
"After all, besides being at odds with the gods, Asgard is a neutral race. Many shady dealings need to be laundered here. We have too many races that are at odds with our human race."
Upon hearing the young Taoist's words, everyone was stunned.
Tie Lao San asked, "You scoundrel, you make others do dirty work and then go after their grandson. Aren't you afraid that old Odin will throw a tantrum and refuse to cooperate?"
The young Taoist curled his lips and said, "What are we afraid of? Asgard has earned more from my smuggling operations in the past few months than in the previous two years. No offense to that little blond brat, but how much is one grandson worth?"
"If he refuses to cooperate, does that old man Odin have the strength? Asgard only has three Emperor-level powerhouses. Do they have the nerve to glare at us? Do they really think it's that easy to get off my pirate ship?"
Lin Zhan chuckled and said, "Brother-in-law, you know Asgard's entire situation like the back of your hand."
"Of course. My old profession is intelligence! Asgard only has three Emperor-level powerhouses, twenty foundational-level powerhouses, and about thirty ordinary Emperor-level beings. However, I feel that their foundational-level powerhouses are quite weak, not comparable to our ancestors in Hua Xia."
"That Adam's father, Thor, was beaten like a dog by our Grandpa Ye Fan. Now he's a King-level protector of the clan, and it's said he can still spar with their ordinary Emperor-level beings. Such a fighter, among us, is no better than trash."