Chapter 339

Chapter 339: The Overbearing Beauty

"Please take us in!"

These four words struck everyone present like a thunderclap. Their ears rang, their minds went blank.

They turned to look at Tiger Howl Wind and the thirty-two others kneeling on one knee, and the sight left Lu Hengkong, Marquis Xia Houzun, Tong Lieyang, and Jin Liuli utterly stunned.

Just moments ago, they had all been offering olive branches like peacocks fanning their feathers, trying to win over Tiger Howl Wind. Each had invested considerable thought into crafting their offers.

One offered to take him as a disciple;

Another promised him marriage to the little palace master;

And one more was even prepared to marry him herself, bringing the mighty Hunters’ Guild as a dowry, a subject so weighty that few dared even mention it in the Western Desert.

And yet now, Tiger Howl Wind wasn’t just rejecting all of them—he was kneeling to join someone else entirely. Wasn’t that the ultimate slap in the face?

They had been pleading for him to join them, yet here he was, begging someone else?

The contrast was devastating. It was enough to make one doubt reality itself.

Had they fallen into someone else’s trap?

Impossible!

Everyone knew from Zhang Yang’s solitary presence and recent actions that he had no reason, nor the means, to set up such a trap. Until today, it was doubtful he had even heard of Tiger Howl Wind.

So why was this happening?

It was too shocking to accept.

Lu Hengkong’s handsome face twisted slightly in disbelief. He was the son of the Naturally Born Son, a top-tier figure in the Western Desert, yet he had just suffered this crushing defeat.

Marquis Xia Houzun’s expression darkened. Even offering the little princess hadn’t worked? And she was second only to the legendary grand princess in beauty. That couldn’t compare to someone who hadn’t even made an effort?

The one hit hardest was Jin Liuli.

With her pride, her domineering aura, and her ferocity, she looked ready to explode.

“What’s the meaning of this? Tiger Howl Wind, you’d better explain yourself!”

“I, Jin Liuli, am not someone who can’t accept defeat. But I demand a clear reason!”

“Who does he think he is? The Vast Forest? I’ve never even heard of it! You received no conditions, and yet you’re kneeling and begging to join them? I, Jin Liuli—the Liuli Princess of the Taixu Dynasty, was willing to marry you and offer the Hunters’ Guild as dowry! Tell me why!”

“If you don’t give me an explanation, don’t blame me for being rude!”

She stood like a furious storm, her nobility stripped away in her outrage.

Tiger Howl Wind didn’t look at her. His gaze remained locked on Zhang Yang, filled with burning intent—like a wolf eyeing its prey. The intensity made Zhang Yang visibly uncomfortable.

Tiger Howl Wind spoke with sincere conviction: “Because the Vast Forest values uniqueness in nurturing talent. Because they forge bonds of friendship rather than pursue pure profit. Because of their ideals, their attitude, and their care for ordinary people.”

“Tiger Howl Wind once again requests to join!”

His voice rang with unshakable resolve.

And the most remarkable part? His understanding of the Vast Forest’s core ideals was completely accurate.

This was a place where interests overlapped, but not in the conventional, selfish way. It wasn’t like the cutthroat hierarchies of the Southern Region or the rest of the vast world. It was sacred ground, where hierarchy was fluid, and hope was evenly distributed.

For wandering warriors like them—rootless and drifting, it was a beacon.

And more importantly, some among them had already visited the Vast Forest and returned with firsthand praise.

Jin Liuli listened, her teeth clenched. It felt like she had been slapped—hard.

What camaraderie? What nonsense about not pursuing profit?

To her, profit had always been the most reliable measure. The bloody history of the vast world had taught her that only interests could be trusted. Emotions? They were just convenient packaging for power and gain.

Thus, she had no genuine feelings for Tiger Howl Wind; she merely acknowledged his talent and potential.

“Stop giving me those disgusting excuses,” Jin Liuli said coldly. “I only know that what I want, I must have. If I can’t get it, I will destroy him!”

She was fierce, domineering, ruthless, and malicious.

She didn’t care how others viewed her.

Even if it sounded like a threat, so what? She only cared about the result.

Her savagery made Lu Hengkong and Marquis Xia Houzun hold their tongues, silently observing the unfolding situation. They wanted to see how this man, who had cost them face and damaged their sacred treasures, would handle things.

In the Western Desert, everyone knew Jin Liuli was the most troublesome, most domineering, most fierce, most cunning, and most shameless, also the most despicable.

Despite her stunning beauty, people avoided her like a venomous snake.

Tiger Howl Wind gave no response; his attention remained locked on Zhang Yang.

From the moment the competition began, Zhang Yang had remained calm. He now spoke slowly, “Since you sincerely wish to join, I accept. From this moment on, you are part of the Vast Forest.”

Tiger Howl Wind, Chasing Wind, Mu Shan, and the other thirty-two geniuses were overjoyed.

But Jin Liuli was livid.

She slammed her palm on the table and shouted, “Boy, did you not hear what I said? Do you want to experience the wrath of the Hunters’ Guild?”

Zhang Yang glanced at her briefly but ignored her. Instead, he gestured to the stunned Demon Sword Yi, it was time to collect the spoils.

For the first time, Demon Sword Yi felt at ease following orders, eagerly gathering the treasures placed before Lu Hengkong, Marquis Xia Houzun, and Jin Liuli.

He was genuinely shocked by Zhang Yang’s performance.

In Mo City, he had once looked down on Zhang Yang’s con artist tricks. But now, watching him in action, he saw him in a new light. Whether a con or not, those sacred treasures and holy weapons were undeniably real.

Jin Liuli instinctively reached for the golden booklet, which recorded a list of personnel secretly controlled by the Hunters’ Guild within the Cold Moon Dynasty.

But Demon Sword Yi remained unfazed by her glare and simply took it from her.

Before Zhang Yang, pairs of holy treasures and weapons were piling up like discarded goods. He casually picked them up and toyed with them as though they were worthless.

Zhang Yang stored the holy treasures, including three specific types taken from Lu Hengkong and Marquis Xia Houzun. He then uncorked the holy bottle containing the Saint’s Spirit Casting Liquid and poured it directly onto his Crimson Sun Divine Rod.

Under Shui Lianyi’s expert guidance, the Crimson Sun Divine Rod had already been transformed into something extraordinary on the verge of becoming a true holy weapon. Once successful, it would far surpass ordinary sacred artifacts.

Now, with the addition of the Saint’s Spirit Casting Liquid, it radiated a terrifying holy aura, akin to that of a divine sword.

Of course, it would still require time to fully evolve into a holy weapon, but the process had been greatly accelerated. It already displayed a measure of a holy weapon’s might.

Zhang Yang looked pleased. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”

He stored the Crimson Sun Divine Rod and casually tossed the empty holy bottle to Demon Sword Yi. “For you.”

Although the tone of his words was irritating, the bottle was indeed a valuable item. The residual Saint’s Spirit Casting Liquid inside still held nourishing power for Demon Sword Yi’s demonic soul sword, and the bottle itself was also a sacred treasure.

To his own surprise, Demon Sword Yi accepted it happily.

Zhang Yang’s gaze then turned toward the remaining three major holy treasures and the golden booklet.

He reached out to touch them.

Instantly, all eyes locked onto him. Everyone knew the most thrilling moment had arrived.

Lu Hengkong sneered, “I think Zhang Yang is too afraid to hand these things over to the Moon-Returning Dragon Prince. Doing so would be a direct provocation against the Taixu Dynasty.”

Marquis Xia Houzun laughed coldly. “Indeed, that would mean opposing the Taixu Dynasty. I wonder if the sacred place behind him will allow that. Even if he is the Son, he could lose his position over this. Is that sacred place truly worth Tiger Howl Wind and the others joining?”

They weren’t just being sarcastic—they were baiting Zhang Yang, trying to drive a wedge between him and Tiger Howl Wind while also stirring conflict between him and Jin Liuli.

The key was that Jin Liuli understood all of this, yet still chose to act overbearingly. She believed her identity as the leader of the Hunters’ Guild and princess of the Taixu Dynasty was enough to crush anyone.

So what would Zhang Yang do next?