"They say my third brother doesn't want to be too close to you; the reputation of your Great Shang is too bad."
Hearing the system's words, Lin Dashao sighed to the sky, "Alas, this is a consequence of eating melon with the ancestors."
Lin Zhan took out a jade talisman, and within moments, the Eight-Headed Serpent broke through the void and emerged.
"What's up, old uncle? Who are we going to fight next? No need to say, the vanguard must be me."
Then he turned and saw the system arguing with the five little ones.
"Old uncle, where did you tie up another cripple? He doesn't look like he's from a prominent family either."
Hearing the Eight-Headed Serpent looking down on him, the system stopped arguing with the five little ones and turned to curse,
"You little long-worm brat, who are you calling names? Do you know I became like this trying to find medicinal ingredients for you? Even your old uncle has to call me 'Uncle System'."
The Eight-Headed Serpent was stunned, then looked at Lin Zhan with suspicion.
Lin Zhan nodded and said, "Eight-Headed, you really need to thank the system. To get that pill that could make you grow a head, this guy fought for over ten days and ended up like this."
Xiao Jin, who was also of the serpent race and actually a generation older than the Eight-Headed Serpent, said,
"Nephew, what my boss said is true. This brat 'System' was almost beaten to death. If it hadn't been for timely rescue, he would have been finished. To save him, his boss used seven soul pearls of the foundation level alone."
Having followed Lin Zhan for so long, the Eight-Headed Serpent had become quite shameless. He quickly bowed to the system,
"Uncle System, it was Eight-Headed's lack of foresight that offended you. You are magnanimous, please don't hold it against me. When you recover, Eight-Headed will definitely host a banquet for you according to custom."
The system pretended to nod deeply and said to Lin Zhan,
"Master Zhan, I've just discussed it with Xiao Jin and the others. If you want to advance, you should return to the ancestral court of Great Shang, preferably near Old Ancestor Zi Qi. Otherwise, there are too many unexpected events for you."
Then he pointed to the Eight-Headed Serpent and said,
"It's just in time to let this little long-worm brat also recuperate in the ancestral court of Great Shang. Otherwise, when that head grows back, he'll have a period of weakness. Wandering around outside, he might get killed."
"I'll be going back now. This time, advancing to Diamond should be no problem. When you brothers are ready to advance, I'll come back."
After speaking, the system disappeared from its spot without a ripple.
The Eight-Headed Serpent looked at the spot where the system had disappeared in astonishment, and said to Lin Zhan with a trembling voice,
"Old uncle, what level of person is this master? How did he leave without any fluctuation? It's too terrifying."
Lin Zhan shook his head and said, "Never mind, Eight-Headed. You don't need to worry about him."
As he spoke, he handed him the Dragon Rejuvenation Pill, "This is the Dragon Rejuvenation Pill. Let alone the head you lost, as long as you're not dead, anything you've lost can grow back."
Seeing the Eight-Headed Serpent about to express his thanks, Lin Zhan waved his hand,
"We don't need such formalities between us. I'll brief this head, and then you'll take me back to the ancestral court of Great Shang. We'll recuperate and level up there, and no one will dare to cause trouble."
Lin Zhan took out his communicator and called the young Taoist Zhang Haoming, instructing him to ensure logistical support for the army and to focus on harvesting resources once the necromancer plane was invaded.
He also emphasized minimizing casualties while training troops.
All military operations would be handled by Jiang Zheng, Zhang Cong, Leng Shan, Wang Er Zhuang, and Bai Zhan Long.
In the American Special Zone, all matters, including conflicts between the two peoples and the suppression of rebel forces, would be handled by He Da Zhuang and Xiao Han Yi.
The treatment and suppression of damage from the necromancer race's magic would be entrusted to your four senior brothers.
The young Taoist listened blankly as Lin Zhan finished his instructions, then asked,
"Brother, what do you mean by this? Are you planning to write your will? If so, can you reduce the bride price for my marriage to Ya'er?"
Lin Dashao said sternly, "Stop messing around. I'm planning to go back and level up."
The young Taoist blinked, then realized and shouted,
"Holy crap, how can you level up? Brother, listen to me, don't level up."
Lin Zhan shook his head and said to the young Taoist,
"That's it. Eight-Headed and I are returning to the ancestral court of Great Shang to level up. With the protection of the old ancestors, nothing will happen."
"I'll transfer the Great Shang Ancestral Guard and the Executioner Elite Guard to you. You handle the rest."
After speaking, Lin Zhan hung up the communicator, briefed Dian Wei and the other two, recalled the five little ones, and then broke through the void with the Eight-Headed Serpent.
The young Taoist put down the communicator and quickly began sticking talismans on himself.
Then, he formed hand seals and his short legs churned like fiery wheels as he ran out.
"Old Ancestor, bad news! Someone's going to die! My elder brother is going to the ancestral court to level up!"
Wu Ding, who was in the great tent arranging the next steps with everyone, heard the young Taoist's words and immediately slipped off his chair in shock.
"Xiao Ming, speak slowly. Who did you say is going to level up?"
The young Taoist cried, "Old Ancestor, my elder brother has gone back to the ancestral court of Great Shang to level up. Based on normal deductions, my elder brother is as good as dead this time. Please think of a solution!"
Wu Ding's entire being went numb, and he then said to the Tie brothers and the five heads,
"Fourth Master, I'll leave this place to you. I'll take Di Xin and Xuan Shang back to take a look."
Tie Lao Si also widened his bear eyes and shouted, "Wu Ding, take those two lucky bastards from the Liu family with you. Those two have maxed-out luck values."
The Great Shang contingent's eyes lit up. Xuan Qing immediately picked up Liu Che and Liu Xiu, and they broke through the void with the Great Shang contingent.
Tie Lao Si scanned the great tent and then spotted the four Old Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Master's Mansion.
He led his four brothers to the side of the four Old Heavenly Masters and said,
"You little bull-noses, hurry up and perform a ritual of prayer to bless this kid Lin Zhan."
The Sixth Generation Old Heavenly Master said blankly, "Holy crap, what does this mean? You want to play fancy? That'll cost extra."
Tie Lao Si raised his bear paw and slapped him, "I'll add your sister! Just do it quickly, and stop spouting nonsense. No wonder those Great Shang kids always want to beat you up."
After speaking, he led his brothers, each carrying an Old Heavenly Master, and walked out. Midway through, he said to Tie Lao Ba, who was carrying the Ninth Generation Heavenly Master,
"Old Ba, put down the one you're holding. This kid doesn't look like a good person. He's either refining corpses or raising ghosts. He's hardly qualified for a prayer. Don't you go and curse Lin kid, that would be hilarious."
Tie Lao Ba casually dropped the bewildered Ninth Generation Old Heavenly Master, who fell into the great tent behind them.
The Ninth Generation Old Heavenly Master stood up groggily and said,
"What are you bear-like creatures looking down on? Who says I can't perform prayers? Back then, I performed a prayer ceremony for Old Ancestor Yu's son, and look at him now, he's still alive and well."
The Iron-eating Beast Emperors of the Tie family all stopped in their tracks upon hearing this. Tie Lao Si said with a sense of relief,
"It's a good thing we didn't let him participate in the prayer. Yu Ge's son was only slightly injured. After your prayer, he got better, but now he's in a wheelchair! Just wait until Brother Yu returns and finds you."