Chapter 498 - 356: The Nations Tremble, A Notorious Reputation

Ian sat cross-legged in the cabin, his Spiritual Power delving into his Dimension Ring, where Source Crystals were piled up like a small mountain.

On this trip, he had obtained a total of over 5,500 Source Crystals, and that wasn’t even counting the World Origin feedback from his system panel.

Gaga squatted on the table, its little paws fiddling with a Source Crystal. "Ian, we’re rich."

"Yes, you can start absorbing Source Crystals freely now," Ian said, stroking the little guy’s head.

Gaga had been holding back for a long time, usually only getting to nibble on some fragments to satisfy its cravings.

"Really? Ian, you should try one. This is even tastier than Blood Essence!"

The corner of Ian’s mouth lifted slightly. ’Sometimes, a fearsome reputation is more useful than a benevolent one.’

"Aren’t we going anywhere else?" the little guy asked.

Ian looked out the window. The outline of Great Yan was faintly visible beneath the clouds.

"I have enough Source Crystals. Combined with what Wei Song has, it’s enough for my breakthrough."

「At the same time, in the nations of Southeast Asia.」

Wei Song stood by the airplane window, watching the city below grow smaller and smaller.

Unlike Ian’s title, "Red-Bladed Spear," the title "Ashbringer" was much gentler.

Therefore, the various nations’ attitudes toward him were also a bit more "gentle." Although they were still respectful, they weren’t as fearful.

"Mr. Wei, we have arrived in Siam." The pilot’s respectful voice came through the communicator.

Wei Song nodded and walked down the boarding stairs.

Beyond the tarmac, the King of Siam was there to greet him personally.

Behind him stood an old monk dressed in dark yellow robes. His aura was that of an Initial Stage Legend.

"Mr. Wei, welcome to Siam."

The King pressed his palms together and bowed. The old monk followed suit, his gaze calm and serene.

Wei Song returned the courtesy, his eyes falling on the old monk. "And this is...?"

"Greetings, Mr. Wei. This humble monk is Pala, the Guardian of Siam," the old monk said, his voice hoarse.

Wei Song nodded in acknowledgment and didn’t ask any more questions.

The banquet was held in the royal palace.

The hall was magnificent and dazzling, filled with dancers in traditional attire. A unique fragrance of sandalwood permeated the air.

Wei Song sat at the seat of honor, a spread of delicacies before him.

But he didn’t touch his chopsticks. He simply held his wine glass, sipping slowly.

"Mr. Wei," the old monk Pala began, his eyes flickering.

"I heard that your teacher, Mr. Yin, over in India..."

Wei Song set down his wine glass, the smile on his face gradually fading. "What are you trying to say?"

An immense pressure washed over the old monk, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"N-nothing... I just heard that the three Guardians of India committed a great taboo..."

Wei Song sighed. "The world is foolish and has misunderstood my esteemed teacher. He’s actually a good person."

"Siam wouldn’t make the same mistake, would it?"

The hall fell silent in an instant. The dancers stopped moving, and the musicians ceased their playing.

The King’s face turned pale, and the wine glass in his hand nearly slipped to the floor.

"We won’t! We won’t! The Source Crystals have long been prepared. There will be no delay whatsoever!"

Wei Song nodded and picked up his wine glass again.

"That’s good. After all, we risk our lives to help you. How could you delay our payment?"

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere never returned to how it was before.

Arriving in Mianma, Wei Song was greeted by a female Legend.

She was in her forties, still possessing a mature charm, and wore a gorgeous, traditional long skirt.

"Mr. Wei, my name is Madan, the Guardian of Mianma," she said, her voice soft and alluring, a smile in her eyes.

Wei Song nodded and followed her into the royal palace.

The banquet was even more extravagant than the one in Siam. Seven young women, each as beautiful as a flower and dressed in revealing clothing, sat on either side of Wei Song.

They took turns toasting him, their bodies pressing close, intentionally or not.

Wei Song maintained a polite smile the entire time, drinking only a little wine and not touching the food at all.

Late at night, there was a knock on his door. A woman stood outside, her curvaceous figure veiled by a thin layer of gauze.

"Mr. Wei, allow me to serve you..."

"Get out," Wei Song interrupted her, his face calm.

"I don’t require any service."

The woman bit her lip, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, then turned and left.

Wei Song closed the door and shook his head with a wry smile. ’If it were my original body, what would he do in this situation?’

He recalled Ian’s methods in India, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

After completing the Rift’s Purification, Wei Song proceeded to An Nan, the largest nation in the southeast.

The King was a shrewd old man with graying hair and sharp eyes.

He didn’t bother with any flashy little tricks and directly presented a Jade Box. Inside were the promised one hundred Source Crystals, plus an extra fifty as a "token of appreciation."

"Mr. Wei, you’ve worked hard on your journey. Please accept this small, humble gift as a token of our respect."

Wei Song accepted it and even stayed an extra day to take care of a few nearby Level Three Rifts—for which payment was, of course, not forgotten.

The King was so "moved" he nearly fell to his knees.

The plane flew northeast, where two more countries were waiting.

They were in a miserable state, not having even a single Legend between them. One of them, East Japan, had a Level Four Rift right next to a volcano.

’They must be getting anxious after waiting so long... It’s on the way home anyway. Might as well earn some snacks for Gaga.’

「Three days later.」

Wei Song left the last country and sat in the cabin, watching the city below grow smaller and smaller.

He thought back to the time of his Awakening with a feeling of deep emotion. This projection mission had been exceptionally smooth, and the rewards were immense.

Ten years had passed in a flash, and now he stood at the pinnacle of the current era.

He touched his Dimension Ring, which held two thousand six hundred whole Source Crystals, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

「At the plaza of the Jiangzhou City Superpower Management Bureau Headquarters.」

Two private jets landed simultaneously.

The cabin doors opened, and Ian and Wei Song emerged one after the other. One had a calm expression, the other a smile on his face.

Zhou Zhen stood in the plaza with all personnel. The moment they saw the two men, they snapped to attention and saluted in unison.

"Welcome, Advisor Yin! Welcome, General Wei!" The voices were loud and perfectly synchronized.

But everyone’s gazes were fixed primarily on Ian, their eyes filled with fervent admiration.

News of what Advisor Yin had done in India had already spread through every street and alley of Great Yan.

He had single-handedly killed three Legends, withstood a nuclear bomb with his physical body, and turned half of Delia to ruins.

This was a hero from Great Yan, the pride of all its people.

"Teacher, they’re giving you a warmer welcome," Wei Song said.

The usual coldness on Ian’s face was gone. A faint smile played on his lips as he looked toward the crowd, nodding frequently in response.

"See? The people of Great Yan are the ones who truly understand me."

The people of other nations feared him, revered him, and knelt before him, but the people of Great Yan... took pride in him.

「In a private Cultivation Room.」

Ian and Wei Song sat facing each other.

The table was piled high with golden Source Crystals, forming a small mountain. Between the two of them, they had a total of over eighty-three hundred whole Source Crystals.

And that wasn’t even counting the miscellaneous fragments.

"These Source Crystals are enough for me to push my Gravity and Thermal Energy to 100%, with some to spare."

Ian picked up a Source Crystal, twirling it gently between his fingertips.

Wei Song nodded. "And the rest is for Gaga’s advancement?"

"Yes." Ian glanced toward a shadowy corner. "It’s been with me for so long; I can’t let it fall too far behind me."

The shadows stirred, and Gaga suddenly shot out, leaping onto the table. It stared at the Source Crystals, a green light glowing in its eyes.

"Ian, I get all the rest?"

"Yes." Ian rubbed its little head and then looked at Wei Song.

"I’m going to prepare for my breakthrough to Morning Star."

Wei Song was taken aback. "Morning Star? Going from Level Three to Morning Star isn’t that easy..."

"I know." Ian’s gaze was profound. "But I’ve already planned it out."

"I’m going to walk a unique path of evolution."