After resolving the matters of the Cang Lan Sword Sect, Zhang Menglong had lost interest in the Iron Sword Dynasty. This wave of cred points earned him two small targets, and he had virtually no expenses, so he'd hit the jackpot.

Kong Lan followed Zhang Menglong obediently like a little brother. His original dream was to join the Cang Lan Sword Sect, but now that goal had changed. He joined Zhang Menglong's Sun Heaven Sect, and although this so-called Sun Heaven Sect was just a fledgling sect, he saw terrifying potential in it.

"Brother Zhang, where are you planning to go now?" Kong Lan couldn't help but ask. Even now, he had no idea where Zhang Menglong came from or what his future plans were.

"I'm planning to see where I can show off. I see you also have some potential for showing off. How about following me around as a show-off novice? I'll give you half of whatever benefits we gain." Zhang Menglong felt a bit bored being alone, and although Kong Lan was also quite dull, at least he'd have someone to chat with.

"Brother Zhang, what does 'showing off' mean?" Kong Lan repeatedly heard this term from Zhang Menglong's mouth, but he hadn't grasped the true meaning of these words yet.

"It's a profound subject that can't be expressed in words," Zhang Menglong said, putting on a deep and mysterious air. "You learn as long as you live. You must learn a lot and observe a lot. All my skills and knowledge were acquired by showing off."

"Is that so?" Kong Lan had always wondered why Zhang Menglong was so powerful at such a young age and why those invaluable martial arts techniques were handed out by him as if they were street stall goods. It turns out all of this was due to showing off.

Could showing off be a profound cultivation technique from which infinite truths can be deduced, leading Zhang Menglong to create so many powerful martial arts techniques?

Considering it carefully, the possibility was indeed very high! If he could grasp the true essence of showing off, maybe he could one day roam the Haotian Continent like Zhang Menglong.

"Think about it. Is there any place that is very dangerous, but if you can go there once, you would astonish the world, or is there something you can accomplish that would make the entire Haotian Continent worship you?"

"Brother Zhang, I get it!" Kong Lan's eyes lit up. "The 'showing off' you mentioned is about turning the impossible into possible, challenging the limits of life and death, and at such critical moments, comprehending the deepest aspects of this world!"

"You got it wrong!" Zhang Menglong shook his head. Kong Lan is really quite naive, isn't he? "Forget it. The way of showing off can only be understood, not explained. Take your time to comprehend it."

Kong Lan looked aggrieved; did he really misunderstand?

But he didn't lose heart. "Brother Zhang, there should be many places like that on the Haotian Continent. The entire continent has countless forbidden zones, where legends say there are the most precious treasures. No one who enters ever comes out. If you go to those places and manage to come out unharmed, it will surely create a huge sensation."

"Oh?" Zhang Menglong became interested. "Tell me more."

"I'm just from a small dynasty, without much insider information, but I heard an old man from the Royal Family's Scripture Pavilion say that in the north, there's a Life Forbidden Zone, one of the seven great forbidden zones of the Haotian Continent."

Kong Lan continued, "That place is very peculiar. The Life Forbidden Zone is in a valley, marked by a tree that's been there for millions of years. Once you cross that line, there's a force that crazily devours your life force. Even many martial artists at the peak of the God-breaking Realm couldn't take more than ten steps before depleting their life and dying."

"Are they out of their minds? Going there is asking for death. Is there some treasure there?"

"If there wasn't something fatally attractive, of course, no one would go!" Kong Lan remarked. "It is because of the life-force-draining characteristics of that place that every flower and grass in the Life Forbidden Zone contains extremely terrifying life force, even capable of extending a martial artist's lifespan!"

"That sounds quite interesting!" Zhang Menglong nodded. Due to the Laws of the Haotian Continent, this world lacks immortality. Even martial artists in the God-breaking Realm only have lifespans of a few thousand years. Without breaking into higher levels, regardless of their status or position, they would all turn to dust in the end.

"Many great powerhouses who have reached life's end try to extend their lives and continue breaking through to higher levels by seeking chances in the Land of Life. If they succeed, they can live longer. If they fail, it just becomes a burial place."

"That sounds quite heroic." Zhang Menglong sighed.

"It's said that in the Land of Life, one grass can extend life by ten years, one flower by fifty years, and one tree fruit by a hundred years!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, a tree fruit can extend life by a hundred years?" Zhang Menglong clicked his tongue. The average lifespan on Earth is not even a hundred years; this is almost like living another lifetime. No wonder those people would gamble their lives when they are about to run out.

"Let's go there!" Zhang Menglong suggested, "I want to see just how mysterious that place is!"

"Brother Zhang, that place is a bit far," Kong Lan pointed out. "We first need to cross hundreds of dynasties, and then pass through a very special place."

"What kind of place?"

"The Dynasty of Demon Beasts!" Kong Lan said seriously. "Humans and demon beasts have always been incompatible, so they've occupied the two sides of the Haotian Continent. Many sub-humans discriminated against by humans have joined the demon beast territories. The high echelons of demon beasts welcome them, so the place is very complex. Due to their hostility towards humans, it's extremely dangerous for humans to enter or pass through."

"What's there to be afraid of, just a bunch of demon beasts and man-beasts?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the pouty Kong Lan. "I'm not scolding you. People are born from their moms, demons are born from their moms, and man-beasts are born from humans and demons together. I've never discriminated against man-beasts in my heart."

"But you're right; going straight through is indeed troublesome." Zhang Menglong instantly began modifying his powerful genes, activating the Saiyan part within him.

Suddenly, a tail appeared at the back of Zhang Menglong, but the rest of his body remained human, and his aura became a blend of human and demon beast.

"You..." It was the first time Kong Lan had seen such a method. "Brother Zhang, are you also a sub-human?"

However, Zhang Menglong retracted his tail, and his aura reverted to human.

"My gosh, Brother Zhang, you're just too formidable!" Kong Lan's lips trembled, but despite wanting to say something, he couldn't get it out.

"Just speak your mind like a man; don't dawdle."

"Brother Zhang, I have a favor to ask," Kong Lan said. "I've only known my mother since birth, and from a young age, I've lived with various insults and discrimination. I want to go to the Demon Beast Dynasty to find my father."

"You're basically opening a blind box!" Zhang Menglong remarked, looking at Kong Lan's features, unable to imagine what kind of demon beast could be his dad. Besides, isn't there reproductive isolation in this world?