The People's God: Sacrificing Trillions to Ascend

After merging the corresponding fragments, Han Wu acquired 2,940 complete Divine Aspects. His collection included 2,300 Rank 1,500 Rank 2, 100 Rank 3, 30 Rank 4, and 10 Rank 5 Divine Aspects. Han Wu’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he took in the vast number before him.

I’m rich! he thought. This was a fortune even for Gods, let alone Demigods like themselves.

“There are still many powerful Divine Souls in this space, but we don’t have many Divine Points left. Let’s find a way back to our tent first,” Han Wu suggested.

Tian Wen and Qin Shuang nodded in agreement. The three of them searched the city and came across a large hole beneath the altar. It opened into a cave, the lair of the King Scorpion.

Long ago, the King Scorpion had been a member of the Divine Civilization who accidentally passed through the golden gates and gained the powers of the Divine Souls. Deep within the cave, Han Wu and the others discovered a mirror. It pulsed with Space Energy and was supposed to be the key to leaving the space.

Han Wu decided to test the mirror first. He sent a Locustman Lord through it and waited. After half an hour passed without the Faith thread breaking, Han Wu confirmed it was safe and entered next. He emerged in a long corridor and followed it for quite a while before reaching the exit. When he stepped outside, he tumbled into a desert. There were no landmarks around, but he was certain he had returned to the Ancient Battleground.

Soon, Tian Wen, Qin Shuang, and the remaining units followed him out. They flew back the way they came, repelling several attacks along the journey, and successfully reached their camp. Once inside, the three sat together and emptied the pouch full of Divine Aspects.

Under their watchful eyes, Han Wu spent a vast amount of Divine Points and ten full days merging every Divine Aspect into Rank 5 ones. He now held a total of 124 Rank 5 Divine Aspects. This staggering fortune would astonish anyone. Many Demigods endured great hardship just to acquire a single Rank 5 Divine Aspect, yet Han Wu had gained so many after only one adventure.

If the other Demigods knew, they would have been green with envy. But both Tian Wen and Qin Shuang understood that their windfall was possible only because of Han Wu’s merging efforts. Without him merging so many low-ranking Divine Aspects into high-ranking ones, their profit would’ve been reduced by 60-70%.

That was why neither of them argued over the final split. Tian Wen chose ten common Rank 5 Divine Aspects. Qin Shuang selected ten as well, but she picked two that suited her needs. She planned to absorb those two and sell the rest to gain more Divine Essence.

Han Wu would take the remaining 104 Rank 5 Divine Aspects. He estimated they would sell for at least 10,000 Divine Essence. With that kind of wealth, he wouldn’t need to lift a finger and could still ascend into a God eventually. Once again, he faced the unusual problem of having too much money to spend. Soon, however, he found a way to use it.

He could invest the money into upgrading his tent. According to the guide, if he spent enough money and resources, the tent could be permanently linked to his divine realm. Though it would only occupy five square meters within his realm, its actual interior covered several thousand square kilometers. It was an exceptionally efficient way to expand his divine realm’s space. The prospect thrilled him, and he knew it was a worthwhile investment.

After asking Tian Wen to relinquish his share, Han Wu obtained full ownership of the tent and poured his Divine Aspects into it. As the Rank 5 Divine Aspects flooded the tent, the arena inside slowly expanded. Han Wu invested all of the fairly common Divine Aspects, growing the arena to 30,000 square kilometers—three times larger than his divine realm.

He could have made it even larger, but there was already more than enough space for his needs. He set aside the remaining special Rank 5 Divine Aspects to trade for Divine Essence. At the same time, he relocated some of his races from his divine realm into the tent. With that much room, he could nurture even more units.

The three of them returned to the Divine Civilization in good spirits after claiming their rewards. Back home, Tian Wen bid farewell and chose to enter closed-door training for a while. He needed time to increase the population and strength of his race and work toward his own ascension into a God.

Naturally, Han Wu and Qin Shuang had no objections. After bidding Tian Wen goodbye, they returned to Imperial College.

Lina sensed their arrival and sent a message asking Han Wu to visit her office briefly. Han Wu said goodbye to Qin Shuang and headed to Lina’s office, where she awaited him dressed in her usual purple work attire.

“Han Wu, regarding your abduction by Hu Hai... The college completed its investigation during your absence. The True Martial God King has personally apologized and sent compensation,” she explained.

Han Wu frowned in confusion. “Who is that?”

“The True Martial God King is one of the God Kings battling in a distant civilization on behalf of the Divine Civilization. He is also the one behind Hu Hai,” Lina answered.

Han Wu’s eyes widened. That meant the True Martial God King was the so-called bankrupt God King who had poured hundreds of billions of Divine Points into the failed mutated beast farm. He couldn’t help wondering what kind of compensation someone like that would offer.

“I’m eager to see what it is,” he said.

Lina smiled and handed him two cards. They were the promised compensation. Han Wu examined them carefully and froze when he saw that the first card contained the complete corpse of a God, including that God’s Divine Aspects and Divine Authority. Han Wu’s scalp tingled as he looked closer. It was Hu Hai!

Hu Hai had served the God King loyally for at least half his life, only to become part of the God King’s compensation in the end. Han Wu found the irony bitter. The second card held an entire divine realm marked with signs of early civilization. Through the card, Han Wu could tell it had belonged to Hu Hai as well.

He shook his head and sighed, yet he accepted without hesitation. Lina gave him a knowing look. “Han Wu, a complete corpse of a God holds immense value. Don’t waste it.”

Han Wu understood her meaning and asked, “Professor, is there a way to ensure I don’t waste it?”

As he spoke, he handed her a Rank 5 Divine Aspect. Lina accepted it, though she was secretly surprised that Han Wu would offer such a precious gift. Since he had shown such generosity, she wouldn’t hold back either.

“I do know a method,” she said. “You can refine the corpse into a clone. Once it’s done, the clone will retain the strength and rank it held in life. If you’re willing to invest the resources, it can even ascend further. Do you want to learn how?”

“Of course!” Han Wu replied without hesitation. He was still only a Demigod. If he could create a clone with the power of a God, he would surpass all his peers. And since the clone could continue to grow, it wouldn’t be a wasted effort.

Lina nodded in approval at his eagerness and drew out a scroll from her bosom.

Han Wu took the scroll, noticing it was still warm and carried a faint, lingering fragrance. “Thank you, Professor.”

Lina smiled, but her expression soon turned serious. “With the God King’s apology, the matter of your abduction ends here. However, the college’s leadership has yet to decide on your enrollment. Some lecturers remain dissatisfied. After all, you caused trouble even before joining.”

Her voice held a trace of sympathy beneath its sternness. Without the abduction, Han Wu’s enrollment would have been simple and smooth. Unfortunately, the unexpected event had thrown everything into disarray.

“Professor, I will prove with my own strength that those who are dissatisfied with me are wrong. Just wait and see.” Han Wu, now stronger, felt hope rising for the future.