It was night.
Rong Lie’s trade caravan, along with Bai Shang, hurried back to Xiqi overnight.
Han Zhan, having completed the initial plan, stayed in Quanrong and was warmly received by the Quanrong.
Due to the duel with Rong Ao, where Han Zhan instantly defeated all the Molten Giants, everyone was shocked.
He also successfully won the reverence of the Quanrong Warriors.
Now, upon learning of Han Zhan’s performance at the altar and that the two cultivators from the Xiqi Ancestral Temple may very likely solve the Quanrong’s divine punishment issue, these Quanrong people were even more fervent.
Even the usually stern-faced Rong Ao had a much more cheerful expression.
"Come, have a taste!"
Sitting roughly by the bonfire, Rong Ao handed Han Zhan a cup of scalding hot molten liquid.
Yes, molten liquid.
After killing the Molten Giants, the one thing the Quanrong had in abundance was pools of molten liquid.
Each pool was brimming with molten liquid.
Han Zhan looked at the bubbling, hot molten liquid in Rong Ao’s hand.
He shook his head resolutely, declining Rong Ao’s gracious offer.
Rong Ao regretfully withdrew the molten liquid in his hand, then tilted his head back, gulping it down in one go.
Han Zhan could even see the orange-red hot molten liquid swallowed through Rong Ao’s throat, glowing through the skin.
Then the glow moved from the throat to the esophagus, from the esophagus to the chest, from the chest...
Burp!
Rong Ao burped, satisfied, patting his belly heartily, and handed the empty cup to the side, saying:
"Another cup!"
It wasn’t just Han Zhan who refused; in fact, among the Quanrong Race, those who could swallow molten liquid like Rong Ao were few and far between.
Fortunately, this time, Rong Lie had traded for a lot of food from Xiqi,
at least tonight, they could have a full meal.
With food and wine in their bellies, Rong Ao’s words gradually increased; things he would not have spoken of typically found a listener today.
Han Zhan’s ability and talent were recognized by Rong Ao.
"Do you know who was the strongest warrior in Quanrong before me?" Rong Ao asked, gently shaking the wine cup with one hand.
"Your grandfather, Emperor Rong."
This answer was not hard to guess.
Especially after seeing Old Emperor Rong in action, even the dullest person could figure it out.
"That’s right, it’s my grandfather. But Ji Fa, you see, I am different from my grandfather."
"He was truly a once-in-a-millennium genius for the Quanrong, a legend from birth. At the age of ten, he had already claimed the title of the strongest warrior in Quanrong, leading them to conquer the lands."
"During his century-long reign, the Quanrong’s influence multiplied several times, and even the Celestial God’s wrath couldn’t hurt him."
It’s logical to think so.
Anyone who could rival Jiang Ziya, equally matched, wouldn’t be weak either.
At this moment, Rong Ao downed the wine in his cup and then shifted the topic.
"But I am different."
"My only advantage is that I have a good grandfather."
Hearing this, Han Zhan leaned back tactically, somewhat surprised.
Is this still the haughty Rong Ao? Perhaps, pride was just his façade to the world.
Under Han Zhan’s surprised gaze, Rong Ao continued:
"The reason I could become the strongest warrior of the new Quanrong generation is because of this."
As he spoke, he opened his right hand.
In the palm of Rong Ao’s right hand was a mark.
The mark was a distinct emerald green, contrasting sharply with the surrounding environment, looking complex and sacred.
As this mark appeared, Han Zhan’s internal Magic Gate and Skill Gate reacted immediately.
"This is..."
"It’s the Life Mark," Rong Ao explained.
"Was this granted to you by your grandfather when he became Emperor of the Quanrong Race?"
Seeing Rong Ao nod slightly without denying it, Han Zhan had an enlightenment.
Sure enough, Rong Ao’s next words confirmed his guess.
"Upon becoming Emperor Rong, one possesses the two Supreme Treasures of the Quanrong, one of which is the Life Mark."
"The ability of the Life Mark is to allow the integrator to recover quickly, making it an ideal special ability for body tempering cultivation."
"When I was born, my grandfather integrated it into my body, then day and night soaked me in molten liquid, made me drink molten liquid, and eat lava hearts."
"Endless body tempering combined with the quick recovery of the Life Mark gave me the physical prowess I have today."
"However, even with my current physique, it is far less than my grandfather’s at the same age, far less."
Rong Ao said this, exhaling a long sour breath.
Old Emperor Rong was like an insurmountable mountain, forever beyond Rong Ao’s reach, forever unsurpassable.
His strength came from the Life Mark, which led him to where he was today.
Without his grandfather Emperor Rong, without the Life Mark, his pride would be as ephemeral as a flower in the mirror or moon in the water, a mere illusion, destroyed at a touch.
"Sorry, I’ve had a lot to drink, and told you many strange things."
Rong Ao half-leaned against the giant rock behind him, smell of wine in his breath, speaking slowly.
These words had been bottled up inside for many years.
If it weren’t for Han Zhan’s appearance, defeating him, shattering his facade of pride, these thoughts might have stayed bottled even longer.
However, Han Zhan’s focus was not on this matter.
In fact, in his view, those with privilege often use it to help their descendants in hopes of gaining more privileges, which is quite common.
What he truly cared about was a piece of information revealed in Rong Ao’s words:
Emperor Rong is someone who dotes on his descendants,
otherwise, he wouldn’t have bestowed one of the two Supreme Treasures, the Life Mark, on Rong Ao right after he was born.
So, the other Supreme Treasure should still be with Emperor Rong.
This, then, involves an important question.
It’s also the issue Han Zhan is most concerned about.
—How will Emperor Rong uphold his promise?
As per the agreement, Han Zhan is responsible for resolving the Quanrong’s divine punishment, and in return, the Quanrong will pay a treasure that matches the renown of the Ancestral Temple’s Four Supreme Treasures.
Currently, the Life Mark is with Rong Ao, the other Supreme Treasure with Emperor Rong.
Which one will he receive?
Or possibly, he might not receive any at all!
Just as Han Zhan thought of this, he suddenly felt his pores stand on end.
A massive sense of crisis enveloped him.
Han Zhan hastily stood, only to find that a massive force was suppressing him, making it almost impossible for him to move!
"You’re very sharp, and very smart, with unparalleled talent."
"Jiang Ziya is lucky to have a disciple like you."
From the distant darkness, a silhouette slowly emerged.
Old Emperor Rong, his right hand dragging a heavy, long black blade, its friction with the ground making a shuffling sound.
Shuffle shuffle shuffle.
Kill kill kill!
"Are you going to, break your promise?" Han Zhan gritted his teeth, speaking against the oppressive aura.
Opposite, Old Emperor Rong’s gaze locked onto Han Zhan, as if looking at a dead object.
"Yes."
"I am going to break my promise."
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