C10 The Request from the Family Head

A dazzling light descended from the heavens, and a massive beast thudded to the ground.

Simultaneously, Zhou Yi, drenched in blood, collapsed onto the sandy earth.

"Jiang Hao, this time I've finally bested you!"

Despite being completely drained of strength, a peculiar smile played on Zhou Yi's lips.

Since Jiang Hao had displayed his astonishing Wanderer abilities and produced a Nine Stars homemade staff, Zhou Yi's prestige had plummeted to rock bottom.

Those who once looked to him for guidance were now singing a different tune.

They began to shower Jiang Hao with flattery.

Even Lin Zhiyuan treated Zhou Yi with a dismissive air.

Driven to reclaim his honor and to remind everyone that a true genius always remains a genius, Zhou Yi embarked on a reckless endeavor.

Upon entering the second choice gate, he used the tools he had brought along to track down an isolated elite monster.

Zhou Yi intended to slay this behemoth to cement his untouchable status.

However, the elite monster's power was vastly greater than Zhou Yi had anticipated.

He had nearly exhausted all his tools and potions before he could finally defeat the creature.

"Young Master..."

A trusted subordinate's voice came through Zhou Yi's communicator.

With little energy, Zhou Yi responded, "What's the matter?"

"The Jiang Family Patriarch has just issued an order. The next round of supplies will be prioritized for Jiang Hao, and he will also be in charge of distributing the remaining supplies."

"Furthermore, the Jiang Family Patriarch publicly declared that they will not reclaim the black magic staff in Jiang Hao's possession; he will continue to wield it himself."

Zhou Yi's face contorted with shock upon hearing this.

He hastily retrieved a Blood Replenishing Fruit from his bag and swallowed it.

Moments later, the bloodstains vanished from Zhou Yi's body, and his vitality began to return.

"When did this happen?"

"Just moments ago."

The subordinate glanced at the recorded public announcement and added, "The order was jointly issued by the Jiang Family Patriarch, alongside the patriarchs of the Lu and our Zhou Families."

"Enough!" Zhou Yi snapped, his teeth clenched in anger. "How dare that insect Jiang Hao!"

"Please, Young Master, try to contain your anger. Jiang Hao's recent achievements have been incredibly impressive."

"You may not be aware, but Jiang Hao has slain a multitude of mutated monsters on his journey, including nearly a dozen elite beasts, amassing an immense haul of resources."

Zhou Yi listened intently as his subordinate relayed the conversation between Jiang Hao and the Jiang Family patriarch. Jiang Hao had not only secured a vast trove of resources but had also done something utterly astonishing. Due to the limitations of his storage space, he selectively chose only the high-quality items, discarding the rest in the dungeon.

The infuriating news left Zhou Yi reeling with rage, the thrill of slaying elite monsters completely evaporated. Meanwhile, Jiang Hao's onslaught persisted. Like a relentless human tank, he left a trail of monster limbs in his wake. His success was due to a combination of the system's skills and his own sharp judgment and insight. An impressive count of over fifteen elite monsters had perished by his hand.

Eventually, Jiang Hao ceased his advance and sat down cross-legged. His backpack had reached its capacity, and further kills would yield nothing but experience points. He decided it was wiser to conserve his energy and await the exit.

Over at Blue Star, in the Jiang Family plaza, the patriarch was utterly bewildered, a sentiment shared by the elders and numerous direct descendants, all struck speechless. The scenes playing out on the high-resolution projection shattered their preconceived notions. The once overlooked and undervalued Jiang Hao had transformed into a veritable death deity, unstoppable by gods or demons. No creature within the exit could hinder his path.

"My goodness, if Jiang Hao survives this ordeal, he's likely to become a formidable contender for the next family patriarch," someone exclaimed in awe.

"Becoming patriarch is just the beginning. With Jiang Hao's prowess, he's bound to reach the fabled 50th floor," another chimed in.

"And from there, he could break through the Magic Building and carve out a legacy that will stand the test of time," added another disciple, brimming with excitement. "For over a millennium, no one has set foot on the 50th floor."

"Should Jiang Hao achieve this monumental feat, our Blue Star—no, our Jiang Family—will become the center of everyone's attention," they speculated with pride.

The sentiment was widespread, and at this point, no one questioned Jiang Hao's ability to work wonders once more. The burning question on their minds was how Jiang Hao, clearly a Wanderer, possessed such formidable power. Was it possible that all this time, Jiang Hao had been playing the long game, feigning weakness while biding his time to strike with full force?

"Master, Jiang Hao's ascent is inevitable. The next move is yours."

A senior member of the Jiang family approached and whispered a reminder to the patriarch.

The patriarch of the Jiang family nodded and addressed Jiang Hao on the screen, "Jiang Hao, can you hear me speaking?"

Jiang Hao, seated in meditation, opened his eyes and responded, "Relative, I'm at your service. What do you need?"

"Excellent."

The Jiang family patriarch breathed easier upon hearing Jiang Hao's courteous response, devoid of any defiant tone.

Geniuses often have a streak of arrogance.

Jiang Hao had demonstrated the potential of a genius, and the patriarch would have been concerned if he had shown the same haughtiness typical of other prodigies.

"Jiang Hao, I've had the highest quality backpack crafted for you, and I'm prioritizing the best supplies for you."

Jiang Hao replied calmly, "Master, are you telling me this because there's a mission you need me to undertake?"

"You are truly a scion of the Jiang family, sharp and astute."

At these words, Jiang Hao inwardly sneered.

Before the system's arrival, Jiang Hao was an insignificant nobody, easily trampled upon by others.

Once, after being bullied, his cousin Jiang Lulu reported the incident to the patriarch.

The patriarch had simply advocated for harmony, neither defending Jiang Hao nor punishing his tormentors.

Now, Jiang Hao had shown formidable strength akin to a fiend.

The Jiang family patriarch, along with everyone else, had done an about-face in their attitude toward him.

"Not everyone can safely navigate the Gate of Choice as you have," the patriarch said with concern. "I'm counting on you to do everything in your power to ensure the safety of our people from Blue Star."

"I will," Jiang Hao assured. "As the captain, it's my duty to safeguard them. I'll prevent any unnecessary deaths whenever possible."

Hearing this, the patriarch felt reassured.

Just over an hour ago, the patriarchs of the Jiang, Zhou, and other families convened an emergency meeting.

They unanimously agreed to grant Jiang Hao the utmost autonomy, hoping he would shield their descendants while fearlessly pressing on.

The disciples dispatched to the Magic Building for this trial were the cream of the crop, handpicked by their respective families. The loss of any one of them would be a significant blow. The Gate of Choice, which was expected to emerge later, made an unexpected appearance on the 20th floor. Given the caliber of these individuals, it was anyone's guess how many would emerge after 30 entered.

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