43: The growth of leeks, a hero saving the beauty?

Time, in Lin Tian's almost harsh, day-after-day, devoted Cultivation, slipped away like sand through his fingers.

In a flash, another half a year passed.

It had been a full year and a half since the world-shaking Martial Dao Grand Assembly.

During this year and a half, the external world's tumultuous changes never ceased. Although Lin Tian lived a secluded life, his invincible reputation of "one man suppressing an entire generation" hung over the heads of all young Prodigies like the Sword of Damocles, preventing them from the slightest slackening. The entire world's Martial Dao atmosphere became unprecedentedly "competitive" because of his sole existence.

As the center of the storm, Lin Tian himself completely isolated himself from all external disturbances, immersing all his mind and spirit in refining and mastering his own power.

In Dragon Perch Residence, within a private Cultivation room one hundred meters underground.

Lin Tian slowly opened his eyes from a deep state of seclusion.

The moment he opened his eyes, two terrifying Sword Intent, solid as substance, as if capable of severing Karma and slaying gods and demons, flashed from his deep eyes! On the indestructible walls of the Cultivation room, forged from S-grade memory alloy, thousands of deep, mirror-smooth, fine Sword Marks appeared out of thin air!

Just a trace of Sword Intent inadvertently leaked possessed such terrifying power!

He slowly rose, and with a thought, he made a precise summary of his half-year seclusion achievements in an extremely clear internal monologue, like a data checklist.

【Strength Checklist】

【Realm: Has steadily advanced from Martial Emperor Rank Middle Stage to… Martial Emperor Rank Peak. Internal Energy accumulation has reached the theoretical limit of the current Realm, and is only one step away from drawing the power of the Nine Heavens stars into the body to condense a Natal Star, entering the S-grade 'Star Realm'. Can attempt a Breakthrough at any time.】

【New Skill: SSS-grade Forbidden Art [God Slaying Sword Canon], First Form 'Star Splitter', has reached Major Achievement. Now, with a single thought, I can unleash Supreme Sword Qi containing a trace of 'space-cutting' Law. Its power has increased by more than ten times compared to half a year ago. It is sufficient to pose a fatal threat to ordinary S-grade 'Star Realm' powerhouses.】

【New Equipment: The [life source core] of the S-grade mutated beast 'Nine-Headed Snake' has been initially refined. The vast life energy it contains has increased my Physical Body strength by another 50% on top of the original! Cell activity and recovery speed have increased by a full three times! Now, even limb regeneration can be completed in just a few breaths.】

【Divine Soul: After devouring the residual Divine Soul of the 'Medicine Saint' and continuously tempering it with the "Mind Furnace", my Divine Soul strength far exceeds that of a Martial Emperor of the same rank, and is comparable to a Peak S-grade 'Star Realm' powerhouse.】

After the inventory, Lin Tian nodded with satisfaction.

This half-year of seclusion had once again brought a qualitative leap in his strength. Now, if he were to face an opponent like Kyle again, he probably wouldn't even need to use the [Heart of God]; the Sword Intent of the [God Slaying Sword Canon] alone would be enough to instantly kill him.

He slowly walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze seemingly penetrating endless space, looking towards the Kunlun Mountains in western Huaxia, a place full of mystery and taboos.

A playful curve, like a farmer about to inspect his fields, appeared at the corner of his mouth as he muttered:

"Preparations are almost complete."

"It's time to go to that so-called 'War Emperor's Mausoleum' and complete the check-in."

"And by the way… it's also time to go see."

"How is Ye Fan, that 'leek' I personally planted, carrying the hope of the 'Human Emperor', growing after such a long period of 'wild growth' in the fertile soil of Kunlun Mountain?"

…At the same time.

Beyond the borders of Huaxia, in the Chaotic Delta, a place known as "Lawless Land" and "Mercenary Paradise."

Here, there was no Law, no order, only the most primitive and bloody Law of the jungle.

On a desolate Gobi Desert contaminated by radiation dust, where no grass grew, a bloody hunt, full of primitive violent aesthetics, was unfolding.

"Roar—!!!"

An A+-grade mutated giant beast, the "Three-Headed Demonic Wolf," whose body was comparable to a heavy truck, with three ferocious wolf heads and scales as hard as black metal covering its entire body, let out a roar filled with pain and anger!

In each of its three heads, an ancient spear, condensed from pure energy and shimmering with golden light, was impaled, pinning it firmly to the ground!

And in front of it, a young man, covered in blood, ragged, but with an aura as sharp as a drawn divine sword, slowly rose from the ground.

It was Ye Fan!

After obtaining the Human Emperor Legacy, he did not immediately go to Kunlun, but chose to undergo the most brutal, hellish tempering in this most chaotic and bloody lawless land!

In the past six months, he had faced death countless times, battling mutated beasts and clashing with mercenaries, hovering on the brink of life and death numerous times. Finally, he had Cultivated the profound Human Emperor Suppressing World Art to the Minor Achievement Realm!

Now, his strength had recovered to the A-grade Martial Ancestor Realm!

"Beast, die!"

Ye Fan's eyes were cold, and he formed abstruse hand seals. The three energy spears impaled in the Demonic Wolf's heads instantly burst forth with dazzling golden light!

Boom!

The Three-Headed Demonic Wolf's indestructible heads exploded in response! Red and white splattered everywhere.

After suffering several deep, bone-visible wounds, Ye Fan finally succeeded in transcending his Realm to kill this terrifying mutated beast, which could have wiped out an elite mercenary squad!

Panting, he walked to the Demonic Wolf's corpse, preparing to extract the priceless A+-grade energy core from its body, when his keen senses, honed by countless life-and-death battles like a wild beast, suddenly detected an extremely faint… life aura nearby.

He frowned and followed the aura to the wreckage of a caravan camp not far away, which had been destroyed by the Demonic Wolf's battle aftermath and was still emitting black smoke.

Among the ruins of several torn armored vehicles, he found a stunningly beautiful girl, covered in blood and already unconscious.

The girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old, wore a luxurious long dress whose original color was indistinguishable, stained by blood and mud. Her delicate face, as exquisite as an elf's, was now filled with pain and paleness. Even severely wounded and unconscious, she could not conceal the innate nobility and purity that seemed not to belong to this mundane world.

"Still alive?"

Ye Fan's heart stirred, and he immediately stepped forward, placing his hand on the girl's wrist. A pure Human Emperor Suppressing World Art Internal Energy, full of life aura, slowly flowed into her body, keeping her last breath alive.

It was at this moment—

"Hahahaha! Boss! Look what we found? A wounded, barely alive, top-grade little leek!"

A burst of arrogant laughter, full of lust and greed, came from not far away.

A well-equipped mercenary group, exuding a bloody Evil Qi, had somehow surrounded the area.

Leading them was a burly, bald man with a ferocious saber scar on his face. He looked at the unconscious, stunningly beautiful girl in Ye Fan's arms, his eyes burning with undisguised, beast-like desire.

He was Blood Wolf, the leader of the notorious "Hungry Wolf" mercenary group, infamous for their pleasure in torture and plunder in this Chaotic Delta!

"Kid, leave the woman in your arms and the corpse of that Three-Headed Demonic Wolf."

Blood Wolf pointed his laser battle-axe at Ye Fan, grinning menacingly, and said in an unquestionable tone.

"Then, get out yourself!"

"Otherwise, die!"

Facing this sudden encirclement, full of death threats, Ye Fan slowly and carefully shielded the unconscious girl behind him.

He slowly straightened his body.

He looked at the mercenaries before him, who in his eyes were already dead men, and a cold smile, full of "protagonist-like" confidence and arrogance, appeared on his resolute face.

A classic "hero saving the beauty" scenario, enough to make any Son of Destiny's blood boil, was about to unfold!