Li Hao's mind was somewhat blank.
To explore the Beimang Forbidden Land, he first cleared the battlefield in Luo City, then deduced through clues that there was a precious Spiritual Object within the Beimang Forbidden Land.
Following that, he blocked information, formed alliances with various forces in Luo City, and ultimately risked exploring the Forbidden Land solely for this invaluable Spiritual Object.
But judging from Lu Yan's words and his disdainful attitude, what Li Hao pursued barely caught the attention of these big figures, being deemed worthless and discarded like refuse.
After a brief moment of distraction, Li Hao took a deep breath, the fragrant scent from the Red Blood Treasure Ginseng immediately bringing him back to focus.
No matter what, obtaining this Red Blood Treasure Ginseng already counts as achieving the initial goal set.
Turning his head to look around, everyone in the temporary camp stared in shock at the Red Blood Treasure Ginseng in Li Hao's hand, their attitudes swiftly shifting from scorn and contempt to awe.
Vice Chairman Geng couldn't help but feel envious; if kneeling could get him such a Spirit Medicine, he'd be willing to kneel indefinitely.
In the presence of genuine Spiritual Objects, even the so-called chairman's dignity was worthless.
"All robotic dogs, drones cease exploration and return to camp.
If exploration is completed, bring back the Spiritual Objects without delay!"
This order from Li Hao caused everyone to furrow their brows.
The exploration of Beimang Forbidden Land had initially shown some success, with traces of Spiritual Objects detected, envisioning the vast amount of Spiritual Objects achievable upon complete exploration.
Yet, due to Li Hao's command to abandon exploration, Vice Chairman Geng and the other two council members felt unwilling.
Just as they were about to voice opposition, considering the anomaly with Li Hao and the spontaneous flight of the Red Blood Treasure Ginseng, they could only abandon the idea and acquiesce to Li Hao's orders.
The robotic dogs began orderly withdrawal from the Beimang Forbidden Land, those that found Spiritual Objects continued picking, planning to leave once gathering was complete.
Lu Yan remarked casually, tossing aside the camera and turning to walk deeper into the mist without a hint of nostalgia.
Li Hao himself remained conflicted, but once he saw Lu Yan leaving, finally resolved to speak loudly:
Lu Yan's footsteps halted, then he appeared near the camera like a phantom, his deep gaze fixed upon it, with a flicker of sword brilliance seemingly passing through his eyes.
Even separated by the entire Beimang Forbidden Land, Li Hao still sensed a whiff of death, as if a gleaming sharp sword had already fallen upon his neck, his heartbeat almost stopped momentarily.
"Mortal, my tolerance for you is limited!"
Lu Yan rebuked coldly.
"You'd better have a reasonable explanation."
Li Hao instinctively swallowed his saliva, his mind racing furiously.
His original plan was to obtain Spiritual Objects from the Beimang Forbidden Land and send them to the lab for analysis, mastering Spiritual Qi rapidly to compete with various major forces.
But when he truly encountered the horror behind the Forbidden Land and heard Lu Yan casually saying "collecting garbage," he realized that what he pursued was mere garbage in the eyes of true big figures.
Acquiring the Spiritual Objects and researching Spiritual Qi might help him stand firm in the tide of Spiritual Energy Revival, potentially allowing future competition with conglomerates and magnates.
But Li Hao knew he desired far more!
Witnessing the oblivious lost souls, witnessing Lu Yan with a singular sword strike obliterate giant ghosts, laughter resonating with the mountains, Li Hao profoundly understood his true purpose.
What he wanted was to observe the changes of the ages with serene longevity, power to dominate all post-Spiritual Energy Revival!
Relying on mere Spiritual Objects, relying on ordinary labs constructed by mortals is far from sufficient for exploring Extraordinary Power, pursuing eternal life.
To achieve his aims, Li Hao must seize any available opportunity.
Brief contact with Lu Yan made Li Hao realize this might be an opportunity.
In Li Hao's view, Lu Yan very likely survived from the previous Spiritual Qi era and could elevate him with mere crumbs.
Of course, achieving this required risk; any displeasure from Lu Yan could result in instantaneous death.
Clenching his teeth, Li Hao knelt solemnly and said:
"Since Lord is within the Beimang Forbidden Land, there must be pressing matters at hand.
I am willing to serve and relieve Lord's burdens!"
Kneeling, Li Hao couldn't see; upon uttering this, a fleeting arc graced Lu Yan's lips.
In truth, from the peach pit discarded amidst warfare, to Lu Yan masquerading as Blood God intentionally appearing before Li Hao, and mentioning Li Hao as "collecting garbage," all paved the way for this moment's fruition.
Lu Yan weakened Urban Celestial Dao, already grasping the version's trend, promoting Spiritual Qi's dissemination to stabilize Spiritual Energy Revival's trend.
However, before Spiritual Energy Revival, Lu Yan recognized another issue: when Spiritual Energy Revival arrives, major forces in the urban version will inevitably shuffle.
In the existing system, if a force suddenly rises, suppression from others is certain.
But Spiritual Energy Revival marks the collapse of old systems and the emergence of new ones; inevitably, someone will rise amid chaos.
No matter what, forces will profit from it, so why shouldn't Lu Yan preemptively control this emerging force?
Lu Yan lacked the accouterments; crossing the version gap, he was unqualified to face giants like Qingwu Group or Archaeological Association.
But against new forces, he felt somewhat confident.
Thus, Lu Yan left peach pits on the Luo City battlefield, seeking a destined force to take the bait, ultimately encountering Li Hao. Chapters fırst released on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
Regarding Li Hao, Lu Yan indeed held some impression.
The Southern Border Territory is largely occupied by Cyan Simurgh Sect, yet they provide space for other small sects.
Under Cyan Simurgh Sect, exist seven medium-sized sects, dozens of cultivation families.
According to Lu Yan, Li Hao is the Patriarch of the White Furnace Li Family, a Foundation Establishment cultivation family.
Lu Yan remembers so vividly because Li Hao once united eleven cultivation families to establish Wushan Square, a bona fide second-tier Cultivation Marketplace.
Li Hao's Peak Foundation Establishment cultivation is renowned in Wushan's surrounding territory.
"Cultivation family? Peak Foundation Establishment?
Such power isn't noteworthy in the Southern Border Territory; if not for Li Hao's alliances forming Wushan Square, he'd be one among many inconspicuous cultivation families.
But if he catches the wave of Spiritual Energy Revival, where can Li Hao eventually reach?"
In Lu Yan's heart, a shadow of anticipation lingered.