Next came the time to divide the spoils, ahem... to share the fruits of victory.
Lin Fan toyed with the golden sphere, quickly growing bored. Finding it utterly uninteresting, he tossed it to One-Eyed Man.
One-Eyed Man cradled the golden sphere in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure.
Such rich energy!
This was a true treasure.
"As agreed, we'll divide it into seven portions. Does anyone have any objections?" One-Eyed Man asked.
Wu Sheng replied, "None."
Tiger Boss and Giant Eagle nodded. "We have no objections either."
Wu Sheng felt quite clever. Cooperating with them had been the right choice. If he had tried to seize it by force like others might have, he probably wouldn't have gotten a single hair in the end.
With Lin Fan present, few could take advantage of the situation.
Lin Fan and Old Zhang were completely indifferent to these things. Coupled with One-Eyed Man's insistence on safeguarding their shares, he naturally ended up managing their portions as well.
When One-Eyed Man looked at Little Bao, the child clutched his share protectively, scooting closer to Lin Fan and eyeing One-Eyed Man warily.
He knew One-Eyed Man wanted to take his portion. He also knew this was something good, though he didn't understand why Lin Fan and Old Zhang didn't treat it as a treasure.
Then he saw the two beasts directly swallow their shares.
He waited, quickly realizing there was no danger, and even some benefit.
Little Bao's eyes darted around, an idea forming. He placed his share in Lin Fan's hand. "Here, you eat this."
"Can this be eaten?" Lin Fan asked.
It didn't look like something edible.
Little Bao said, "I saw them eat it, and it seemed pretty good. You should try it too."
He always gave good things to Lin Fan. He saw right through One-Eyed Man's attempt to monopolize Lin Fan and Old Zhang's shares, but since they were already in his possession, getting them back would be difficult.
Therefore, he had to give his share to Lin Fan.
One-Eyed Man said, "Little Bao, how about you sell this to me?"
"Do I look like someone who needs money?" Little Bao retorted, his head held high. He wouldn't fall for One-Eyed Man's tricks. He knew he just wanted to hoard the good stuff, so he wouldn't let him succeed no matter what.
One-Eyed Man felt helpless. This kid was too shrewd.
Seeing Lin Fan hadn't eaten it yet, Little Bao became anxious. "This is for you, eat it quickly. If you don't eat it, I'll be very sad."
Lin Fan affectionately stroked Little Bao's head. "Alright, alright, I'll eat it, okay?"
With that, he consumed the golden sphere in front of Little Bao.
After swallowing it, he felt a faint energy surge through his body.
"It doesn't have much taste," Lin Fan commented.
Little Bao smiled happily. As long as he ate it, that was all that mattered. He didn't want Lin Fan to be taken advantage of; that One-Eyed Man was the worst, always trying to exploit him.
At that moment, the two beast brothers, having swallowed the Dragon Vein Crystals, circulated the transformation technique Wu Sheng had given them, their bodies beginning to change.
"They're transforming!"
Wu Sheng watched them. He hadn't expected the two beast brothers to have cultivated to such a realm, breaking through with the help of the Dragon Vein Crystals. It was a joyous occasion. Without further ado, he swallowed his own crystal. Although it seemed like only one portion, this was a Dragon Vein Crystal, containing centuries of condensed energy, not to be underestimated.
"How amazing," Lin Fan said.
Little Bao watched intently. He had never seen animals transform into humans before. It was a huge shock to his young mind. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would have been hard to believe.
Tiger Boss's true form was a tiger, the king of the mountains, with a fierce and imposing aura. As he transformed, his physique became incredibly robust. A normal height of 1.78 meters would be considered tall, but Tiger Boss reached nearly two meters, standing naked, his skin marked with stripes as if they were naturally grown.
"So big!"
Wu Sheng stared at Tiger Boss's crotch, suddenly feeling a pang of self-consciousness. A man's worth wasn't measured by his strength, but by his true… assets.
"What's big?"
One-Eyed Man was curious, not understanding what Wu Sheng meant. But he quickly followed Wu Sheng's gaze and noticed what he was staring at. He was taken aback.
Damn, that's lethal.
Giant Eagle also transformed.
He lacked Tiger Boss's domineering presence. His features were sharp, like blades, incredibly keen.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
Giant Eagle was a natural-born king of the sky.
However, after their transformation, they were naked, which was quite embarrassing.
"I didn't expect the Dragon Vein Crystals to be so effective."
Tiger Boss clenched his fists, his body brimming with power, far stronger than before. This feeling was truly wonderful. He even wondered what the effect would be if he could consume the entire Dragon Vein Crystal.
Actually, what shocked Wu Sheng the most was Lin Fan. Despite consuming the Dragon Vein Crystal, Lin Fan showed no reaction whatsoever, as if they had consumed different things entirely.
After he consumed his share, a tremendous force rampaged within him, as if it would burst his body apart.
Of course, the process was ultimately safe, though his complexion did change.
"Just how strong is he?"
Wu Sheng muttered.
Unfathomable, impenetrable.
He originally thought that even if Lin Fan was strong, he wouldn't be beyond the Three Radiances realm. Even if slightly higher, it wouldn't be too outrageous. After all, the world's cultivation ceiling was set, and the gap couldn't be too large, right?
But now, he knew he was wrong.
This cultivation gap was probably immense, frighteningly so.
After a long while, everyone recovered from consuming the Dragon Vein Crystals.
One-Eyed Man didn't consume his. He wanted to take it back and analyze the dragon vein situation to see if they could develop something even better.
He cared deeply for the people of the Dragon Kingdom and wouldn't forget Lin Daoming and the others. He believed that protecting the Dragon Kingdom wasn't the responsibility of one person, but a collaborative effort. Only by facing challenges together could they protect what they cherished most.
The group departed.
"I say, you two beast brothers, aren't you going to find some clothes to wear?" Wu Sheng asked.
They had reached the outside, taking a deep breath of fresh air. The process of searching for the Dragon Vein Crystals had been surprisingly safe, and the results were excellent.
He was overthinking it.
If it weren't for Lin Fan suppressing the Golden Dragon, they would have all been annihilated back there.
Tiger Boss said, "Clothes? What clothes? We are naturally covered in fur…"
As he spoke, Tiger Boss realized something was amiss.
His fur was gone.
This naked feeling was indeed quite uncomfortable.
Little Bao summoned his bodyguards, instructing them to fetch some clothes. Naturally, they brought back bodyguard suits. The two beast brothers, donned in the suits, were a sight to behold.
Handsome.
Dominating!
Definitely the cream of the crop among bodyguards.
"If only they could be my bodyguards," Little Bao daydreamed. With such bodyguards, he wouldn't have to fear anything, anywhere.
Tiger Boss said, "The Changbai Mountain dragon vein is gone now. Our cooperation has been quite pleasant. I hope we have the opportunity to work together again."
He knew that if it weren't for Lin Fan, even if they had reached the dragon vein's location, they would have met a gruesome end, perhaps not even leaving a trace behind.
One-Eyed Man said, "We each got what we needed. Is there anything else in Changbai Mountain?"
They were outsiders, nowhere near as familiar with the area as the two local beast brothers. Asking them was definitely the right move.
Tiger Boss said, "There's certainly more. Changbai Mountain is a famous ancient place. Countless people have come here throughout history. Besides, we've already obtained the most important thing, the dragon vein. We're not too interested in anything else."
He might not be interested, but One-Eyed Man and the others were immensely intrigued by Changbai Mountain.
Just then, someone appeared.
"Wu Sheng, you're quite daring, running so far, but we still found you." Zhuang Xiao and others emerged from the forest, their hearts filled with glee at finding Wu Sheng.
Honestly, he hadn't expected Mu Hao's divination abilities to be so impressive, actually pinpointing their location.
If Mu Hao knew what Zhuang Xiao was thinking, he would surely puff up his chest with pride. As if! Who was Mu Hao? He was the divination master, knowing the past five hundred years and the future five hundred years. Calculating someone's location was a simple matter.
Once successful in one thing, the bragging rights would reach the heavens.
Wu Sheng looked at the newcomers, momentarily speechless. What were these guys doing? They had already consumed what they wanted from the dragon vein. Showing up now seemed pointless.
Perhaps if they had come earlier, they could have witnessed their joyous expressions as they swallowed the Dragon Vein Crystals.
"What are you doing here now? It's all over. We've consumed everything we wanted. Are you here to see how powerful we've become?" Wu Sheng said with a smile.
Zhuang Xiao and Mu Hao exchanged puzzled looks.
At first glance, they didn't sense anything unusual.
But soon, they realized something was wrong. Wu Sheng's power had indeed increased. The aura he exuded was unmistakable.
"You…" Mu Hao's face darkened. He hated being left behind, but Wu Sheng had perfectly achieved this. How long had he been on this planet? Yet he had improved so rapidly. Even drugs couldn't achieve this, could they?
Zhuang Xiao asked gravely, "Wu Sheng, what did you find here? Can you tell me? I'm very curious."
"Secrets. How can I just tell you?" Wu Sheng smiled. He could easily tell them what they had found, but he didn't want to. He wanted to see what they would do.
Zhuang Xiao frowned, displeased, but he managed to restrain himself and didn't immediately turn hostile.
"Haha, a secret, is it? But judging by your condition, your harvest wasn't small. Your aura is much stronger than before. Congratulations."
He was certainly envious.
Coming to Changbai Mountain, who wouldn't want to obtain treasures and increase their power? But sometimes, it really depended on luck. With bad luck, one could come for days and get nothing. With good luck, like Wu Sheng, the rewards were plentiful.
Wu Sheng said, "You should work hard too. Changbai Mountain has many good things. But judging by your situation, it seems you haven't gained anything yet. That's a pity. You need to step up your game."
Damn.
How excessive.
Mu Hao and Zhuang Xiao's faces darkened. They didn't expect Wu Sheng to be so arrogant. They were so angry they didn't know what to say.
One-Eyed Man and the others exchanged glances, not wanting to get involved in their dispute.
"Let's go."
Having obtained what they wanted, there was no need to stir up trouble. This was a matter between the Starry Sky powerhouses and had nothing to do with them. Before their strength grew, it was best to avoid conflict.
That was his intention.
But reality was often harsh.
"Wait."
The speaker wasn't Zhuang Xiao or Mu Hao, but someone from afar.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the voice.
Zhuang Xiao's face lit up when he saw the newcomer. An elderly man approached from the distance, his aura steady. He looked like an ordinary old man, but his every move gave off a sense of undeniable power.
"Elder, when did you arrive?" Zhuang Xiao hadn't expected the arrival of an elder from his clan.
"Not long ago."
Elder Zhuang Yun replied calmly. Even though Zhuang Xiao was the young master of the Zhuang Clan, the elder's status was still much higher, so there was no need to be overly polite.
"Greetings, Elder." Zhuang Ming bowed respectfully.
"Hmm…"
Zhuang Yun's gaze swept over Mu Hao, then towards Wu Sheng and the others, finally settling on One-Eyed Man.
"You can leave, but leave behind what you're holding in your arms."
Others might not be able to tell, but how could he not see it? In his eyes, One-Eyed Man's chest was like a radiant sun, brimming with energy. It was definitely a valuable treasure, something ordinary items couldn't compare to.
Hearing his words, One-Eyed Man felt a twinge of nervousness, but his expression remained unchanged. He wasn't like others who would nervously clutch their chests when someone mentioned a hidden treasure, as if afraid others wouldn't know they were right.
Wu Sheng knew who this elder was: Zhuang Yun, an elder of the Zhuang Clan. In the past, he wouldn't have bothered being overly respectful to him. He wasn't an elder of his own clan, so why should he care?
However, he understood one thing.
If these people had a major conflict with the Zhuang Clan, such as the death of a high-ranking member, it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar, potentially leading to a bloody battle, which he wanted to avoid.
Moreover, to put it bluntly, even if Zhuang Yun was an elder, so what? If a fight broke out, he might be killed. The waters on this planet weren't deep, but the hidden experts were surprising.
Look…
Such an expert was standing there calmly, chatting and laughing with those around him, pointing at the newcomers, showing no fear at all. He even seemed curious.
"Elder Zhuang, I am Wu Sheng, a disciple of the Wu family. These are my friends, and we have a partnership. I hope we can leave it at this. Could you give me some face?" Wu Sheng cupped his hands.
Zhuang Yun glanced at Wu Sheng. "So it's a Wu family disciple. Since you mentioned 'saving face,' naturally, I can't oblige."
What the hell!
Honestly, Wu Sheng was furious. He had kindly advised him not to court death, but he insisted on jumping out. Fine… Let's see what happens to him later.
Wu Sheng looked at Lin Fan, his eyes conveying a clear message.
Please, make a move and kill this old fool.