Zhao Xuan wasn't shocked because a wild boar could awaken Armament Haki.
What truly stunned him was that this boar was only Tier Three.
In truth, in this world, beasts capable of wielding Haki were countless.
There were even rumors—some beasts had awakened Devil Fruit–like powers!
Across the internet, news about Haki-awakened beasts appeared almost daily.
However, every single one of those creatures—those "subjects" of the reports—were at least Tier-4 or higher.
Those beings were known to mankind as Land Kings.
Zhao Xuan had never heard of any creature other than humans awakening Haki before Tier-4.
"Something's not right! There's definitely something wrong with this boar!"
His eyes flickered sharply.
Suddenly, an audacious thought surged into his mind.
"Could it be... there's an undiscovered natural ruin here?"
As the idea took shape, Zhao Xuan's eyes gleamed even brighter.
"Even for us humans, awakening Armament Haki requires powerful auxiliary methods. It's by no means easy."
"A ruin! This Ironhide Boar must have accidentally stumbled into a natural ruin—that's the only way it could've awakened Armament Haki!"
"Yes, that must be it! There's no other explanation!"
"Otherwise, how could an ordinary Tier Three Ironhide Boar possibly awaken Armament Haki?"
"But where exactly is this natural ruin? If it's somewhere within this forest, that'd be manageable. I could comb through the entire place if I had to. But if it's elsewhere, things could get complicated."
His brows furrowed tightly.
At that very moment, the Ironhide Boar—taking advantage of Zhao Xuan's momentary distraction—staggered to its feet and squealed as it fled deeper into the forest.
By the time Zhao Xuan snapped back to his senses, the boar's figure had almost vanished.
"Wait!"
A spark flashed in his eyes.
"I've got it! That boar is badly wounded—if there really is a natural ruin, it'll definitely head back there! After all, ruins are full of treasures and healing resources!"
With that, Zhao Xuan formulated a plan.
He chased after the Ironhide Boar in the direction it had fled.
However—he didn't go all out.
Instead, he kept a careful distance, always lingering just close enough for the boar to feel it could still escape.
And so—
Man and boar—one chasing, one fleeing—raced through the forest.
Deeper and deeper they went.
Ten minutes later, Zhao Xuan found himself in a place untouched by human presence.
At first, he would occasionally spot low-tier beasts—Tier One or Tier Two.
But now, Tier Two creatures appeared frequently along the way.
In this world, humanity was indeed powerful.
But—
The beasts were not much weaker.
Most powerful beasts simply preferred to dwell in places far from human civilization.
In the depths of untamed mountains and ancient forests, mid- and high-tier Land Kings were everywhere.
And across the vast, boundless oceans, the same was true for Sea Kings.
"This isn't looking good…"
Watching the Ironhide Boar charge deeper into the woods, Zhao Xuan's brow tightened further.
If he continued, he suspected he'd soon step into territory belonging to Tier Three beasts.
Although Zhao Xuan was confident in his strength—
he wasn't arrogant enough to think he was invincible among Tier Threes.
As the saying went—
The world is vast, and full of the unexpected.
Just as he hesitated, wondering whether to continue his pursuit—
Suddenly—
The Ironhide Boar vanished.
Completely.
Gone without a trace.
Zhao Xuan's eyes widened—not in fear, but in delight.
"I knew it! A natural ruin really does exist here!"
Ecstasy surged through him.
He rushed forward, boots pounding against the forest floor.
"Tap, tap!"
Moments later, he arrived at the spot where the boar had disappeared.
He searched carefully—
and before long, he discovered several stone tablets, half-buried in the dirt, barely peeking out from the ground.
"So it's here!"
Zhao Xuan looked up—his gaze locking onto a towering ancient tree.
At the base of the tree was a massive hollow.
Through the faint light filtering in, Zhao Xuan could just make out a sphere within the darkness.
"Found it—the entrance to the ruin!"
A grin crept across his face.
"If even a Tier Three Ironhide Boar gained something from this ruin, that means it's a low-tier ruin. For me, it shouldn't pose much danger."
With that thought, Zhao Xuan didn't hesitate.
He crouched down and reached into the hollow, touching the sphere.
The next instant—
He vanished.
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