The People's God: Sacrificing Trillions to Ascend

The Grovekin’s visage entered Han Wu’s body, transforming him into a towering treant. The treant’s incredible vitality mended his wounds within moments. He barely had time to savor the recovery before the second lightning bolt struck.

This second strike hit harder than the first, splitting his bark and causing his entire form to dissolve. He was forced back into his human form, wounded once again by the fierce lightning. Without hesitation, he tapped into his third choice, the Sanctumbranch, just before the third lightning bolt descended.

This transformation didn’t alter his appearance much, but it flooded his mind with an overwhelming stream of medical knowledge. He quickly absorbed the information and channeled his Divine Points to shape acupuncture needles. With swift precision, he drove the needles into key meridian points, awakening his dormant vitality. His cells pulsed with energy, repairing themselves with a speed and vigor that seemed almost ecstatic.

Then the third bolt struck. It tore through him with terrifying force, stripping away nearly all his vitality. Only a small reserve remained, just enough to keep his body knitting itself back together.

Han Wu’s confidence grew as his body repaired itself after enduring the third strike. He next chose the Scorching Dwarf. Though each lightning bolt ravaged and wounded him, his body simultaneously grew stronger with every strike.

Below, Qin Shuang and the others watched with deep worry. Thankfully, Han Wu’s chosen castes all boasted incredible strength or exceptional vitality. He endured the onslaught until the eighth lightning strike.

Now, only two choices remained: his skeletons and the Deeptide Whales. Dragging his battered form upright, he chose the Deeptide Whale as his eighth transformation. The visage entered him, and he expanded until he became a massive whale. He swam through the sea and leapt above the surface, sending huge waves crashing around him.

The eighth lightning carried far more destructive power than all the previous seven combined. It split the sea and cut through the towering waves before striking Han Wu directly.

Fortunately, the Deeptide Whale’s massive, resilient form withstood the strike. Han Wu had survived the eighth lightning blast!

Up in the sky, the thunderclouds gradually dispersed after unleashing eight lightning strikes. Everyone assumed the final lightning would be weaker, when suddenly the remaining thunderclouds condensed into a single point. The thundercloud, once 10,000 kilometers in diameter, had shrunk to just 5,000. It had become a super-condensed thundercloud.

Qin Shuang nearly fainted at the sight. The cloud had compressed over 1,000 times. The ninth lightning strike promised to eclipse the previous eight. Could Han Wu withstand it?

She glanced at Han Wu with growing apprehension. He had already fused with the skeleton, transforming into a towering hundred-meter crystal giant. This was the union of the Crystal Lich and the Giga Osteomancer, the two strongest undead life forms in his army.

At the same time, the black Skull Guillotine appeared above Han Wu’s head. Its deathly chill froze the air, making everyone’s hearts momentarily stop. The Skull Guillotine represented Han Wu’s comprehension of the concept of destruction and the Destruction Aspect itself. Its presence signaled that Han Wu had significantly deepened his understanding of the Divine Aspect.

A deafening boom echoed from the heavens as the bolt tore through the sky. The sky flared with intense light as the bolt struck the Skull Guillotine. The raw power of the lightning and the destruction it carried resonated with the Skull Guillotine, which absorbed the entire lightning tribulation. The Destruction Aspect had fully consumed the lightning’s power.

Han Wu’s comprehension and understanding of the concept of destruction improved a lot, which in turn enhanced his Skull Guillotine. The probability of killing an enemy instantly had been raised to 10% or at least 10,000 enemies without fail. The remaining 90% would be affected by the powers of the lightning tribulation and would be temporarily paralyzed. The duration of the paralysis was dependent on each individual’s body constitution.

The thunderclouds vanished without a trace, and Han Wu returned to his humanoid form. He stared at his Skull Guillotine with excitement. Judging by its power, he could tell he had reached a basic comprehension of the concept of destruction. With more effort, he could achieve advanced comprehension.

Han Wu floated down slowly and barely touched the ground when a shower of healing and support techniques rained over him. They aimed to restore his weakened state as quickly as possible.

He felt a surge of warmth knowing how much they cared. “I’ve done it.”

Qin Shuang rushed up to him, eyes shining with excitement. “I knew you could!”

Sun Qingnian looked worried. “Do I have to face a lightning tribulation like that? That thundercloud was enormous!”

Duan Meng rolled her eyes. “Do you really think you’re as strong as Han Wu? Do you really believe you could summon a thundercloud that massive with your talent?”

Sun Qingnian exhaled in relief. “You’re right. I haven’t done anything wrong, so I doubt the heavens would send me such a powerful lightning tribulation.”

Qin Shuang shot him a sharp glare. “If you’re that dense, just stay quiet. I don’t understand how those rich ladies fell for you.”

Sun Qingnian chuckled. “They love me because of my handsome face and powerful little motor. Your Han Wu is pretty good too.”

Qin Shuang blushed and ignored Sun Qingnian completely.

Han Wu chuckled and stepped in to ease the tension. “I fused myself with the nine castes and feel much stronger now. I think I’m as powerful as a High Lord. Each caste has its own unique traits... It’s fascinating. Sun Qingnian, Mengmeng, both of you need to work harder and collect all nine castes as soon as possible.”

Sun Qingnian’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “I wonder how many tails I’ll grow after transforming into my Foxmen form. Maybe I could become the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox.”

Duan Meng’s expression turned anxious. “I don’t have enough resources to buy the powerful recipes needed to complete my nine castes. Hang on, I really do have to collect them all quickly. The third calamity is coming soon. Everyone, we have to stay alert.”

Uncertainty crept in as she recalled the looming threat of the third calamity. Her brother was exceptionally talented, yet he had failed to overcome it. She wasn’t sure if they could survive it either. All she could hope for now was that she would or that Han Wu would protect her until they made it through.

After the warning, everyone returned to their shelter to strengthen themselves.

Outside the city, Han Wu found an open space and tested the powers of the Nine Martial Castes. The fusion allowed him to transform into any of the nine castes and wield their distinct abilities.

He started with the one he knew best: the Dark Cursed Bug. In an instant, he shrank into a fist-sized Dark Cursed Bug. Though it ranked as the weakest of the nine castes, it remained indispensable. Its mastery of Shadow Meld allowed it to disappear into darkness and gather intelligence unnoticed. Its small size often caused others to overlook it during covert missions.

It was not powerless either; its Shadow Nail could immobilize targets with a nail forged from shadows. When wielded skillfully, that tiny nail could turn the tide of battle.

Once in this form, Han Wu started researching for ways to improve Shadow Nail. His superior intelligence gave him an edge over ordinary Dark Cursed Bugs. After three days of effort, he succeeded in modifying Shadow Nail.