The People's God: Sacrificing Trillions to Ascend

Within his shelter, Han Wu stood surrounded by altars he had collected from outside. He carefully sorted them to upgrade his existing altars.

He noted that most of the altars came from the Infantry caste and used them to upgrade his Skeletons Altar first. It gained a large amount of experience points and leveled up three times, reaching Level 7. Now, he faced three opportunities to select improvements from a list of nine options.

[Option 1: Double the amount of summoned skeletons.]

[Option 2: Double the amount of summoned skeletons.]

[Option 3: Double the amount of summoned skeletons.]

[Option 4 (Rare): Summoned skeletons may be equipped with bone weapons.]

[Option 5: Summon an additional 10,000 Common skeletons daily.]

[Option 6 (Rare): Summon an additional 20,000 Common skeletons daily.]

[Option 7 (Rare): Summon an additional 2,000 Iron Skeletons daily.]

[Option 8: Summon an additional 50 Unique Skeleton Knights daily.]

[Option 9 (Precious): Summon an additional Heroic Crystal Lich daily.]

Han Wu weighed his options carefully, aware of how much power a single strong entity could offer, and chose Option 9 first.

[Crystal Lich. Heroic life form. Skills: Summon Skeleton Knights, Crystal Bones, King Aura. The highest-ranking skeleton and their absolute king.]

Han Wu knew he’d made the right decision the moment he saw Summon Skeleton Knights listed among the Crystal Lich’s Skills. This was one of the skeletons’ core abilities, crucial for overwhelming their enemies. A relentless siege of countless skeletons was nearly unbeatable. Still, achieving that was difficult with only a single Crystal Lich at his command.

Han Wu needed many lower-ranking skeletons to serve as cannon fodder, so he selected Option 6 and Option 7 next. Instantly, 20,000 Common skeletons and 2,000 Iron Skeletons crawled from the altar. Their numbers were so vast that they were automatically transferred out of his estate.

Han Wu watched the skeletons align in neat rows across the forest, resembling a field of white tombstones. He was satisfied with the scene because it matched the image of his original skeleton army.

The Skeletons Altar wasn’t the only one to receive an upgrade. The other altars had also advanced. The Technician Altar: Scorching Dwarves leveled up once, offering him three rewards to choose from.

[Option 1: Double the amount of summoned Scorching Dwarves.]

[Option 2 (Rare): Grants a chance to summon a Unique Scorching Dwarf.]

[Option 3 (Rare): Increases the chance of forging equipment one tier higher than the materials used.]

Han Wu regarded the Scorching Dwarves as his dedicated blacksmiths, tasked solely with crafting equipment. He chose Option 3 to improve the quality of their work. The reward manifested as a blessing, infusing every Scorching Dwarf with exceptional forging prowess.

The Lancer Altar: Half-Dragons also leveled up once and offered him three options.

[Option 1: Double the amount of summoned half-dragons.]

[Option 2 (Rare): Grant a chance to summon a Fulgur Half-Dragon.]

[Option 3 (Rare): Transform the lances of the Half-Dragons into the powerful Faith Weapon: Thunder Lance.]

Han Wu viewed the half-dragons as his elite forces, where strength mattered above all. He had no desire to increase their numbers unless their power matched his expectations, so he dismissed Option 1.

His gaze flickered between the remaining two. Both were potent but served different purposes: Option 2 offered a chance to summon a single powerful entity, while Option 3 upgraded every current and future half-dragon’s weapon.

With his skeleton army as his main force, Han Wu only lacked strong personal guards. After careful thought, he chose Option 2, which increased the chance of summoning a formidable Fulgur Half-Dragons.

His Archer Altar: Dark Cursed Bugs had undergone two upgrades. As his core race, Han Wu decided that the Dark Cursed Bugs’ primary role would be scouts. He ignored all other options and chose to double his summoned Dark Cursed Bugs twice. At first, he could summon only 500 per day, but after three upgrades, that number rose to 4,000. He eagerly anticipated further upgrades to summon even more.

Next, he turned to the newly acquired Worker Altar: Grovekins. Since he lacked the necessary materials, it remained unchanged.

Han Wu’s overall strength had soared after upgrading all his altars. He felt confident he could face the next calamity with ease

As he celebrated his progress, some Dark Cursed Bugs returned with a report. They had spotted a group of Azure Demons, Rotten Wights, and other high-ranking units advancing toward Han Wu’s shelter. He focused on the vision shared through the scouts’ eyes and spotted Li Chunming among them!

Han Wu laughed aloud with delight. He never expected Li Chunming to come to his doorstep willingly. He decided it was time to settle their grudge. Li Chunming, I admire your boldness, but you won’t leave this place alive today.

He recalled all units hunting outside through the Dark Cursed Bugs and stationed them around his estate, ready to ambush Li Chunming.

Meanwhile, Li Chunming hugged the two female students inside the palanquin that his Azure Demons were carrying. He already pictured Han Wu’s defeat. “Should I let the Azure Demon tear you to pieces or turn you into one of the wights? I don’t mind seeing one of the Styx Maidens torturing and making you its plaything, either. Hahaha.”

A Dark Cursed Bug landed near his army. Li Chunming glanced at it, and his Heroic Azure Demon immediately threw a small orb of Underworld Flare, incinerating the bug. He snickered as it burned. “Han Wu, killing you will be as easy as squashing a bug. I hope you struggle more, or this will be too boring.”

Li Chunming’s army soon reached Han Wu’s shelter. He seethed with envy when he saw Han Wu’s Level 5 shelter while his own remained Level 4. How did Han Wu get a Level 5 so quickly?

“Han Wu, surrender within one minute, or I will lead my army to tear your shelter down,” Li Chunming threatened.

Han Wu emerged slowly from the shelter with a crooked smile. “Li Chunming, I’ve never wronged you. Why are you harassing me?”

Li Chunming ignored the question. “Harassing you? Who do you think you are? You have two choices: fight me and suffer torture little by little, or hand over everything in your shelter and become my slave. If you do, I’ll let you live. Which one will it be?”

The two female students chuckled as they taunted Han Wu at the same time.

“Han Wu, you have Qin Shuang and Sun Qingnian protecting you in the classroom, so no one can touch you. But now we’re in the Warring Kingdom Civilization, where you have to rely on your own strength. Surrender now, or you’ll fail the class.”

“Han Wu, stop embarrassing yourself with those weak locusts. We don’t want to bully you, hahaha...”

Han Wu laughed without a hint of intimidation. “You’re lucky you didn’t make the reserve list last time.”

Li Chunming scoffed. “Reserve list? Only those useless bastards without confidence end up there. A true genius like me depends on pure skill and hard work to enter Imperial College!”

“You misunderstand. I meant you’re lucky you weren’t on the reserve list last time,” Han Wu said. “Otherwise, you’d know I’m not famous for my locusts. I’m famous for my skeletons.”

Only then did the two female students realize they were surrounded by countless embers of spiritual fire, each one glowing with a bright blue hue. Skeletons encircled them on all sides.

The two female students panicked, and one shouted, “Chunming, we’ve fallen into his trap! We’re surrounded by skeletons!”

Li Chunming’s heart raced as he took in the sheer number of skeletons, but he forced a brave expression. “They’re just skeletons. What’s there to fear? My Azure Demons will burn them to ashes.”

Hundreds of Azure Demons unleashed Underworld Flares in every direction and scorched the skeletons with ease.

Watching the skeletons crumble so easily, the two female students let out relieved sighs.

“Han Wu is as useless as his skeletons,” one said.

“Chunming is far stronger! I really admire you!” the other added.

Li Chunming basked in their praise and replied with a haughty smile, “Han Wu, don’t blame me if I tear down your little pigsty. This is the best you can do?”

Han Wu remained calm as he spoke. “You gave me two choices, and I refuse to accept either. I choose a third—your destruction.”

Suddenly, the bone shards scattered across the ground started to vibrate, then converged into a single corner. Li Chunming’s eyes widened as the Osteomancer completed the giant skeleton of a giant bear.

The Black Skeletons, Golden Skeleton, Holy Skeleton, and Crystal Lich appeared simultaneously. Following the Crystal Lich’s command, the skeletons launched deadly attacks, each infused with the chilling energy of the undead.

The remaining bone shards on the ground resonated and reassembled into a skeleton that lunged at Li Chunming, who staggered under the shocking sight. Yet, as a genius, he quickly adapted to the unexpected threat. He ordered his army to concentrate their efforts on breaking through a specific section of the encirclement. His plan was to escape first and regroup for a counterattack.

Han Wu, however, had no intention of letting him slip away. The giant bone bear surged forward and swept through the Azure Demons with a single, devastating swipe. Every movement of its towering ten-meter frame wreaked havoc. Even the tough Rotten Wights fell after two brutal blows.

The Azure Demons, Styx Maidens, and Abyss Moths were crushed in a single strike. Underworld Flare, Corrosive Fluid, and Bloody Powder proved useless against the giant bone bear’s relentless assault. Meanwhile, the skeletons multiplied steadily, growing stronger with every fallen unit from Li Chunming’s army.

Victory was no longer possible. Accepting this, Li Chunming abandoned his army and ordered his Heroic Azure Demon to protect him and the two female students as they fled.

Han Wu noticed it and intercepted them. From the shadows, thousands of Dark Cursed Bugs swarmed forward and launched a barrage of Shadow Nails that pinned Li Chunming and the others in place.

Han Wu approached them slowly with his Heroic half-dragon. Li Chunming realized he had utterly lost.

“Let me go, and I’ll give you everything. This is the Nemesis Map, and this is the recipe to forge the Underworld Metallion...” He carefully withdrew all his treasures and offered them to Han Wu.

“This won’t be enough,” Han Wu spat.

Li Chunming glanced at the two female students and made a choice. “Fine. They’re yours. I just want to pass this class.”

The two students stared in shock. They had obeyed every command, giving him their all. They never expected Li Chunming to abandon them so readily.

Han Wu shook his head. “It’s still not enough.”

Angered by Han Wu’s greed, Li Chunming demanded, “What else do you want to let me go?”

Han Wu said nothing. Without warning, his Heroic half-dragon lunged forward and drove its lance into Li Chunming’s heart. The explosive force of lightning tore through his chest and extinguished all of his Life Energy.

“I will let you go once you’ve died.” Han Wu finally said.

Unfortunately, Li Chunming was fated to die without ever understanding why.