The People's God: Sacrificing Trillions to Ascend

As Han Wu and Xu Hai entered the arena stage, Xiang Meng, Xia Tian, and Ye Ling settled onto the bleachers. They couldn’t help but feel a sense of worry and sympathy for Han Wu, and they silently offered prayers for his well-being.

The three seniors knew that Han Wu might have had a fighting chance if his opponent had been a Demigod. However, his current opponent was a Major God, a being two realms above a Demigod. A Major God possessed the power to effortlessly kill any Divine Being with a mere flick of their finger.

Xu Hai stated plainly, “Han Wu, let me be clear that I have no intention of bullying you. I will not use any of my special abilities, skills, or Divine Skills. I will only send out a million of my units to fight against you. Regardless of the outcome, I will consider the loss of my Secret Realm settled. Do we have an agreement?”

Han Wu smiled bitterly. Despite Xu Hai’s promise not to use his Divine Skills or abilities, a million units commanded by a Major God was more than enough to torment him, especially if those units had been enhanced by the Major God’s Sacred Objects.

The Core Level of a Major God was capped at Level 40. Even a Common life form could fight against a Heroic life form if they were empowered by a Rank 40 Sacred Object or something of equal power.

Xu Hai frowned slightly. “Is there a problem? Do you not agree to my terms?”

This is already the most lenient punishment I can offer. Other Major Gods with worse tempers would’ve simply ended your life outright.

“Yes, I agree to your terms,” Han Wu said quickly, hoping not to anger Xu Hai even more. “I will do my very best, and I promise not to disappoint you.”

Lina gave the signal, and the sparring match began. The two participants selected the random terrain option, and the arena shifted to a hilly terrain.

Xu Hai opened his divine realm, and his summoned units materialized. Han Wu felt a wave of despair wash over him at the sight of a million well-equipped Epistians. Epistians were not human, but were a subhuman race, considered even rarer than Xu Tie’s Iron Skins.

Epistians[1] were inherently Unique life forms, gifted with high intelligence and considerable potential. Once they reached maturity, they could effortlessly ascend to become Heroic life forms with a little hard work.

Although Xu Hai did not summon any Heroic Epistians to fight against Han Wu, the powerful aura radiating from them told Han Wu that they were just as powerful as Heroic life forms, especially when supported by Xu Hai’s Level 40 Core. Even a pig could become a T-rex when bolstered by a Level 40 Core, let alone Epistians who were inherently born as Unique life forms.

Xu Hai was secretly pleased to observe Han Wu staring at his army in a daze. It felt pretty good to show off in front of the students.

“Han Wu, are you not going to summon your units?”

“Yes, I will summon them now!” Han Wu quickly replied. He opened his divine realm, and suddenly a huge swarm of locusts appeared, so dense that they almost completely blocked out the entire sky.

Even Xu Hai was startled by the sheer number of locusts Han Wu had summoned. There are so many; there must be at least ten billion of them!

Upon examining their data, he found that they were born as Elite life forms but had been elevated to Unique life forms after being enhanced by Han Wu’s Core. Moreover, he could sense the presence of tens of Heroic Locustmen within the swarm.

Xu Hai’s jaw dropped when he spotted a Lord Locustman leading the locust swarm—a genuine Lord life form! Most Demigods didn’t even possess such a powerful unit! However, he was about to discover that his surprise had only just begun.

Following the massive swarm of locusts, Han Wu sent forth his remaining units. Xu Hai’s eyes fell upon the dwarves, and a flicker of curiosity arose as he noted that the color of their skin seemed unusual.

Upon closer inspection, he learned that they belonged to a rare race called the Scorching Dwarves. Leading them was Divine Hammer, who was also now a Lord life form. His presence was even more powerful than that of the Lord Dark Locust.

The minotaurs soon made their entrance after the dwarves. To Xu Hai’s utter astonishment, their leader, Sarman, was also a Lord! Xu Hai couldn’t believe his eyes, as this was the first time he had ever encountered a Divine Being possessing three Lord life forms.

Xu Hai felt his brain go numb as Steely appeared. The Swordwind race was Unique from birth and possessed even greater potential than the Epistians. The Swordwind before him was a Lord.

This can’t be right! Is this really the army of a Divine Being? Xu Hai thought in utter disbelief. Right at that moment, the skeletons materialized.

Right after Steely, the little skeleton and its underlings marched out of the gate. The little skeleton was seated on a throne carried by the Skeleton Knights, while the four other Heroic units—the Osteomancer, the Skeleton Reanimator, and the two Blood Skeletons—served as its attendants.

Wait a minute... just who is the real master of this divine realm? Han Wu thought as he observed the little skeleton’s impressive procession.

After absorbing the two units of Divine Essence given by Han Wu, the little skeleton had successfully removed two of the negative statuses. Despite still being affected by one more, its combat capabilities had already been restored to the level of a Lord life form.

Xu Hai’s mind went blank. Han Wu had five Lord life forms under his command, along with the most powerful Heroic unit, the Osteomancer! Even Demigods rarely possessed an army of such scale, and yet this Divine Being did!

Xu Hai began to suspect that Han Wu might be a direct descendant of a God King. Xiang Meng and the other two seniors were equally stunned at the sight of Han Wu’s army.

Ye Ling muttered in amazement, “With an army like that, I don’t think any of the other first-year students can stand a chance against him...”

Xia Tian replied to Ye Ling, “Come on, be more confident—none of the first-year students can compare to him! Xiang Meng, it makes perfect sense that you lost to him in the Blood Coliseum!”

Xiang Meng, still surprised, added, “I didn’t use my full strength in that fight, but after seeing this, I seriously doubt I would’ve won even if I did...”

Xia Tian stated with certainty, “If he manages to officially enroll in Imperial College, he will undoubtedly rise to unprecedented new heights!”

Inside the arena, the sparring match between Han Wu and Xu Hai finally began. Han Wu sent his locust swarm towards the Epistian forces. The Heavenly Demon Insects at the forefront raised their horns, preparing to pierce through the enemy ranks. However, before the Heavenly Demon Insects could reach their targets, the Epistians swiftly employed their military-class magic to erect a massive protective barrier.

The invisible barrier completely enveloped the entire Epistian army, effectively blocking all the locusts’ incoming attacks. Immediately after, the Epistians launched their magical attacks which passed through their own barrier to strike the advancing swarm.

The Epistians’ magical assault was devastatingly strong, as they were casting military-class magic spells. All one million Epistians focused their power together and launched a massive fireball, as large as a mountain, that instantly turned one billion locusts into ashes.

A wave of panic washed over Han Wu. They’re using a one-way barrier! he realized in alarm.

He desperately tried to come up with a plan to shatter the Epistian’s defensive formation. Sensing Han Wu’s growing panic, Divine Hammer charged forward, enduring the scorching heat of the dissipating fireball as he arrived before the barrier.

Divine Hammer raised his weapon, Hellforge, and with all his might, brought it crashing down upon the invisible barrier. Hellforge’s intense flames contorted and transformed into a Nine-headed Hellsnake, which then tore through the outer layer of the barrier. The barrier, despite its strength, could only withstand the impact for a brief instant before cracking and shattering.

The barrier erected by a million Epistians proved to be no match for Divine Hammer’s strike. Seeing their opportunity, the massive swarm of locusts immediately surged forward into the disrupted Epistian formation, engaging in a fierce, chaotic and barbaric melee. Leading the ferocious charge and commanding the battlefield was the Lord Dark Locust.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, the little skeleton, however, darted stealthily around the edges of the battlefield, patiently biding its time while the attention of both sides was completely consumed by the intense clash.

1. Named after Episteme, which is greek for knowledge ☜