Wang Ye stretched lazily after reaching the steps of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
The early morning sun spilled onto the ancient stone steps, and the paths flanking the mountain were already swarming with tourists who had come to witness the ceremony. Standing at the temple gate, he looked at the long queue at the ticket office and curled his lip slightly.
"One hundred and twenty yuan for a single ticket. Even more expensive than our Wudang Mountain."
Wang Ye strolled forward, his gaze casually sweeping the surroundings. Though he appeared nonchalant, he was secretly searching for Zhang Chulan.
At the same time, Zhuge Qing ascended the mountain with an elegant stride, his posture upright and his demeanor refined. A minor commotion immediately broke out in the crowd as several female outcasts lowered their voices and whispered, their eyes filled with obvious admiration.
"Isn't that our idol?"
"Not only is he strong, but he's also a scholar—proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
"Wow! He's really so handsome!"
Zhuge Qing acted as if he hadn't noticed the eyes on him and continued walking straight ahead, but a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his internal lack of calm.
Soon after, the people from the Omni-Alliance arrived.
Feng Shayan brought her younger brother, Feng Xingtong, representing their father Feng Zhenghao at the Grand Luo Heaven Sacrifice. Ever since being enlightened by Ian a month ago, Feng Shayan felt her space ability had undergone a qualitative leap. She could now more accurately perceive spatial fluctuations and even warp spatial structures within a certain range.
'If that man Ian doesn't participate, I might even have a shot at seizing the top spot,' Feng Shayan thought to herself, her eyes sparkling with confidence.
Suddenly, a massive stir erupted in the crowd. Screams from female outcasts and gasps from the males rose one after another.
"Who is that?"
"Oh my god, so handsome!"
"That aura... I'm in love!"
The crowd parted automatically, creating a path.
Zhang Chulan approached with a steady gait, each step seemingly treading on the heartstrings of those watching. The unique aura radiating from him made people involuntarily hold their breath.
In modern society, handsome people were common, and in the outcast world, strong bodies were everywhere. But someone like this—who perfectly blended wildness with elegance, exuding an aura as if he stood at the absolute top of the food chain—was something they had never seen before.
Faint sparks of electricity seemed to flicker in his pitch-black eyes as he strolled with his hands in his pockets, a difficult-to-describe field of energy fluctuating around him.
A group of young female outcasts immediately swarmed him.
"Hey handsome, can I add you on WeChat?"
"Which sect are you from? Why haven't I seen you before?"
"Can we take a photo together?"
Zhang Chulan gave a faint smile. "Sorry, I don't have a phone!"
His voice was deep and magnetic, yet he maintained a sense of detachment, as if he existed on a different plane than everyone else present. However, far from deterring the girls, this attitude only triggered a more fanatical pursuit. They were already filling their minds with legendary backstories for this mysterious man.
"Wow! So aloof! I love it!"
"He's so lonely, I just want to protect him and hold him in my arms!"
Zhang Chulan shook his head slightly upon hearing these remarks, bypassing the crowd to continue his way. He was no longer that university student who dreamed of ending his "single-since-birth" status. Now, he had higher pursuits.
Zhuge Qing and Wang Ye watched Zhang Chulan's figure, both of them sensing the powerful aura emanating from him.
"Is that Zhang Chulan?" Zhuge Qing narrowed his eyes, his voice filled with obvious shock.
Wang Ye nodded with a heavy expression. Because their perception was stronger, they could even feel the violent power brewing inside Zhang Chulan. It was a force Zhang Chulan didn't bother to suppress, letting it surge wildly within him.
"The energy fluctuations inside that kid are unusual; it's like he could explode at any second," Wang Ye whispered.
"According to the intel, he wasn't very strong a month ago. Now he's changed this much." Zhuge Qing's brow furrowed.
The two shared a look, seeing solemnity in each other's eyes. They recognized the man as Zhang Chulan, but how could someone undergo such a massive transformation in just one month?
As they were lost in thought, a subtle ripple suddenly passed through the air. From the shade of a tree by the mountain path, a figure slowly stepped out.
At first, the crowd could only see a blurry silhouette, but some mysterious force drew everyone's gaze. Every outcast expert simultaneously turned their eyes toward that spot, as if pulled by an invisible magnetic field they couldn't resist.
As the figure stepped into the sunlight, a soft golden glow emerged from his body, like an immortal stepping out of a myth.
Zhang Chulan narrowed his eyes, recognizing the newcomer as Ian. But strangely, he saw a kind, fatherly aura of all-encompassing tolerance around Ian. The feeling was so real it was as if Ian were his long-lost father, causing a strange sense of closeness to well up in his heart.
Zhuge Qing looked toward Ian, but his gaze froze. What he saw was not a common young man, but a peerless strategist holding a feather fan and wearing brocade robes, capable of obliterating an entire fleet with a laugh. This figure was the exact image of his ancestor, Zhuge Kongming, that he held in his mind.
Wang Ye's eyes became ethereal. He saw Ian as a transcendent seeker of the Way—pure, tranquil, and detached from the world, yet possessing a deep compassion for humanity and a desire to save all living beings. These two seemingly contradictory behaviors blended perfectly in Ian, giving Wang Ye an unprecedented sense of clarity.
Feng Shayan stared at Ian in shock. From her perspective, countless tiny spatial fragments floated around Ian, forming a magnificent map. Within those fragments flickered innumerable galaxies and dimensions, surpassing all her understanding of spatial abilities and making her heart race.
Feng Baobao, meanwhile, blinked her big eyes. She saw Ian holding a massive, golden-brown fried chicken leg, glistening with oil and radiating a rich aroma. Her stomach growled; she hadn't eaten anything since morning.
In that instant, everyone looking at Ian saw the thing or person they most desired to see at that moment. It was as if he were a mirror reflecting the deepest cravings of every person's heart.
Everyone was immersed in their own illusions, unable to pull themselves out.
Then, the sunlight flashed. Everyone blinked in unison, and when they looked again, they found only a normal young man standing there. The miraculous visions had vanished. But the shock of that moment continued to echo in their hearts, preventing them from snapping out of it immediately.
While everyone else was stunned, only Feng Baobao walked directly forward.
"Hello."
Ian smiled slightly. With a wave of his hand, a large bag appeared, which he handed to Feng Baobao.
"I knew you hadn't had breakfast, so I brought you something to eat."
Feng Baobao took the bag and opened it. Inside was indeed a large, golden, crispy chicken leg. Her eyes lit up, and she took it without hesitation, biting down hard.
"This is so relaxing, couldn't be better!" She had never eaten a chicken leg this delicious. Feng Baobao didn't know how to describe the flavor; she just felt it was the most "chicken leg" chicken leg she had ever eaten!
Zhang Chulan finally snapped out of it and hurried forward.
"Brother Ian! You're here for the Grand Luo Heaven Sacrifice too?"
Ian didn't answer directly. He just gave a faint smile, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding crowd. Wherever his gaze passed, regardless of who it was, they felt as if their deepest secrets were being seen through, and they involuntarily lowered their heads.
Zhuge Qing and Wang Ye finally recovered, sharing a look of shock. They couldn't see through the aura of this young man at all.
"Is that the legendary Ian who defeated the Four Madmen?" Zhuge Qing whispered.
Wang Ye nodded, his eyes solemn. "It looks like this year's Grand Luo Heaven Sacrifice won't be easy."
On Dragon-Tiger Mountain, the mists swirled as if adding color to the upcoming grand event. The Grand Luo Heaven Sacrifice, the grand festival of the outcast world, was about to begin.