The scene unfolding before their eyes left everyone utterly astonished, for this Scale-Armored Golden Lion was a fearsome Demon Beast on the Trial Road, Innate Fifth Rank or above, and due to being a mutant, it was far more terrifying than an ordinary Fifth Rank beast.
Even the Top 100 Trial Participants wouldn’t confront it unless absolutely necessary, preferring to give it a wide berth.
Yet here was this terrible Mutant Demon Beast, as docile as a kitten in front of Ye Chen, striking everyone with awe.
However, when they thought back to the absolute monstrous strength of this young Martial God before them, they had to admit he had the capability to tame the Scale-Armored Golden Lion.
The Scale-Armored Golden Lion opened its mouth to spit out several bundles, all of which were Identity Tokens, totaling over a hundred. They were now on par with Hann Fei and included the tokens of the thirty-some eliminated participants. Now, Ye Chen had over three hundred and fifty Identity Tokens on him, which was enough to secure a rich reward, a fact as sure as nails in a board.
This made many swallow hard.
However, Ye Chen said to Hai Qingxue and the others, "Sister Qingxue, you guys can divide these Identity Tokens among yourselves."
Hearing this, everyone was stunned, including the eliminated Hann Fei and others, who gaped at the lad. To casually give away more than three hundred Identity Tokens seemed excessively generous.
The first to recover was Hai Qingxue who hurriedly shook her head, "No, Ye Chen, these are the Identity Tokens you’ve worked hard for. We really can’t accept them."
"Yes, Brother Ye Chen, we appreciate the gesture, but we cannot accept these. We can earn them on our own."
The others also declined politely. Though distributing the tokens would significantly hasten their progress, allowing a serious leap towards passing the trial with just a few more tokens, these were won by Ye Chen, not related to them, and they couldn’t accept such a favor.
Moreover, since Ye Chen had saved them from elimination, it was all the more reason they shouldn’t accept.
But then Ye Chen smiled slightly, a confident tone in his voice, "Don’t worry, I’ll gain even more Identity Tokens in the future."
The group was taken aback. Only someone with immense confidence could make such a claim. Over three hundred Identity Tokens were already a considerable amount, yet this youth dared to say he would get more. But after thinking it over, they realized it was indeed possible for him.
A Martial God could easily sweep through the entire Trial Road.
If he wished, three hundred-plus Identity Tokens were indeed not a big deal.
Ultimately, moved by Ye Chen’s earnest insistence, Hai Qingxue and the others accepted this kindness, their hearts filled with gratitude.
The bonfire was rekindled, illuminating the dark forest. Yet with Ye Chen there, everyone relaxed their guard, indulging in the pleasure of eating Demon Beast roast meat, because Ye Chen unexpectedly knew how to roast meat. Moreover, he somehow seasoned it to make the ordinarily rough meat irresistibly delicious, causing everyone’s mouth to water.
During this time, Hann Fei approached them. He had already been eliminated, so he posed no threat to anyone. The records at Tiandu Academy would reflect this, and he was merely waiting to be transported away.
No longer an enemy, Hann Fei appeared much more amiable and even generously shared the meat of the Demon Beasts he had hunted, which was of much higher quality than what the others had caught.
Ye Chen was the only one without the meat of hunted Demon Beasts, having just arrived and not yet had the chance to hunt before finding Hai Qingxue and the others.
Suddenly, Hann Fei turned to Ye Chen and, with a fist salute, asked, "Fellow Daoist Ye Chen, you are very strong, the strongest Trialist I’ve encountered thus far. But dare I ask, are you a Martial God?"
"Are you a Martial God?"
The question wasn’t just on Hann Fei’s mind. Hai Qingxue and the others also couldn’t help but glance at Ye Chen, keenly interested in the answer.
Because being a Martial God meant a lot. A Martial God’s presence on the Trial Road could dominate the arena.
"A Martial God..." Ye Chen shook his head slightly, "I am not yet one."
The group was astounded—an individual of such unmatched strength, who could easily overpower top Trial Participants like Hann Fei, was not a Martial God?
"But why are you so strong?" Hann Fei swallowed hard and continued to ask, his eyes filled with fervent curiosity.
"Not being a Martial God doesn’t mean one can’t be strong. As long as you are powerful enough, even without being a Martial God, you can still battle one!" Ye Chen replied with a light smile. Stretching out his fist, he casually threw a punch, without any energy fluctuations. But when his fist hit the empty air, it caused a resounding boom; the air exploded, and the vacuum trembled, a display of terrifying might.
The group couldn’t help but swallow hard again, shocked at Ye Chen’s formidable strength. Was he really not a Martial God?
Ye Chen just smiled, offering no further explanation. Only he could truly understand that statement. Although he wasn’t a Martial God, his body was incredibly strong, possessing the Immortal Golden Body, enabling him to fight beings in the Martial God Realm.
This was the true meaning of his words: as long as you are strong enough, you can battle a Martial God, even if you’re not one.
"Ye Chen, what are your plans for the future?" Hai Qingxue pondered for a moment before asking. Ye Chen’s next steps drew attention. Such a super expert wasn’t likely to stay with their group forever; he was bound to leave.
Though it would be a disappointing parting, it was to be expected.
"Rescue mission," Ye Chen responded simply.
"Rescue mission?" The group was surprised, not quite understanding. But it was the astute Hai Qingxue who grasped it and said, "You’re planning to rescue those from Xiafeng Country. If I’m not wrong, you are Ye Chen, the same one whose Dantian was crippled and Cultivation was lost. The genius who achieved Innate status at thirteen years old."