Han Wu’s eyes widened when he read what Primalize could do. A Deeptrench Frogman had recorded the details in a book, describing a method to revert their bloodline back to their ancestors, the Deeptrench Megafrogs. By doing this, they would gain powerful physical bodies, inherit the skills tied to their ancestral bloodline, and still manage to retain their intelligence.
This skill held immense value for species or subspecies with strong ancestral bloodlines running through their veins, like the half-dragons, which were the offspring of humans and Great Dragons. Although they inherited powers from both lineages, they also carried their weaknesses. They were strong, but their strength paled compared to the Great Dragons themselves.
What if he gave the book to the half-dragons to cultivate? His heart pounded at the thought. It could allow him to build an entire army of Great Dragons!
Great Dragons stood at the top of many civilizations’ food chains. Even the weakest among them were Heroics life forms, and their true potential remained a mystery, even to him. Yet to use Primalize, Han Wu needed to gather vast resources. The cost was so steep that even the Deeptrench Frogmen could only produce a handful of Deeptrench Megafrogs.
“Cultivating an army of Great Dragons. Looks like I just dug a bottomless pit for myself and my wallet,” he muttered, shaking his head.
Han Wu chuckled at his own fortune just as the ruins sent him out. The others were waiting at the same spot, their eyes full of anticipation.
He smiled and said, “I did it.”
All five of them erupted in cheers. Now bound by an alliance, anything benefiting Han Wu would benefit them as well. It was far better than receiving nothing at all.
Back at his shelter, Han Wu emptied the skeletons and tokens from the bottom of the water pool inside his Deeptrench Frogmen Training Ground. He used the bones to grow his skeletons and the tokens to enhance his altars.
With so many tokens, Han Wu easily transformed the two most difficult altars to level up—the Light Cavalry and Heavy Cavalry—into Eternal Altars.
[Light Cavalry: Frost Metallions. Unique life form. Skills: Icicle, Frost Breath, Metallion Charge, Frost Domain. The strongest ice-attribute light cavalry.]
After transforming an altar into an Eternal Altar, he could summon 10,000 Frost Metallions daily with a single Heroic Frost Metallion General.
[Heavy Cavalry: Deeptide Whales. Heroic life form. Skills: Huge Body, Ambush, Water Burst, Giga Water Cannon, Deeptide Whirlpool, Deeptide Maelstrom. Beloved children of the ocean, kings of naval warfare, overlords of the four seas.]
Once turned into an Eternal Altar, he could summon ten Deeptide Whales daily and one Deeptide Whale Lord, a Lord life form.
Han Wu felt satisfied as he read the descriptions of the Eternal Altars. He sensed his own strength rising alongside the growth of his altars. If he managed to transform all nine altars into Eternal Altars, he believed he could become a King life form in the Warring Kingdom Civilization if he turned all nine altars into Eternal Altars. Yet, he knew the journey ahead remained long and arduous.
After dealing with the upgrades, he prepared the Deeptrench Frogmen Training Ground and started selling its tickets. The remaining students quickly snapped up the brand-new tickets circulating in the market, drawn by Han Wu’s low prices. In exchange, he gained a steady supply of corpses to summon skeletons. Though the process was convoluted, it proved highly profitable.
The five students in his region benefited by gaining free access to any of Han Wu’s training grounds, which they could use to redeem various rewards.
Two days later, the familiar system voice chimed in everyone’s minds. “Outsiders, your intrusion has angered the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization. This time it will destroy all of you. Enjoy what remaining time you have.”
Han Wu frowned. Why did it sound like the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization had no intention of playing fair this time?
Duan Meng rushed over and knocked on his shelter’s door. When he opened it, she quickly explained, “The information my brother gave me about the third calamity was different. I think something changed, and it angered the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization. Now it wants to destroy all of us using the third calamity.”
Others were saying the same thing about the notification.
“Is the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization a child? Don’t start a fight if you can’t afford to lose.”
“Why is it angry? Isn’t that just narrow-minded?”
“Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization, my ass. The Warring Kingdom Civilization is so weak it’ll serve our Divine Civilization forever.”
“Hey, do you think it will actually kill all of us?”
“Are you stupid? We come from the Divine Civilization. Our own Will of the Civilization protects us. What do you have to fear?”
They kept discussing this when a stream of notifications echoed in their minds.
[Emergency Extraction: Students of Imperial College, please pay attention. An unknown civilization has attacked the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization. It’s going haywire. The danger rating is rising steadily, and your chances of death increase if you stay.
[Considering this, Imperial College has opened a safe passage for retreat. You may return early, but you must leave everything obtained here behind to prevent the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization from tracking you.
[Additionally, those who have obtained the powers of the Nine Martial Castes cannot leave. You must complete the trials set by the Warring Kingdom Civilization before departure.]
Han Wu and the five remaining students froze. They never expected Imperial College to order a return to the Divine Civilization. It meant their chances of survival here were dangerously low.
However, the final message blocked the escape route for Han Wu and Qin Shuang. Both had already gained the powers of the Nine Martial Castes and had to remain to face the trials set by the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization.
The other students received the same message, and the group chat exploded with frantic messages.
[The Warring Kingdom Civilization is under invasion. They are killing everyone—friend or foe alike!]
[Time to run. Our lives are worth more than this.]
[Ah, damn it. I don’t want to leave. I just upgraded my shelter to Level 8 and still have plenty of resources. I can’t even bring any of them with me.]
[Shit, I just acquired the Nine Martial Castes, and now it’s stopping me from returning. I don’t want it anymore! Can someone remove it from my body?]
[I’m a student from Greenflight College. They never sent me any notification or opened a safe passage for me to return home! I have to survive here alone? Can someone or another college send me back? I want to transfer once I get home.]
[I’m from New East College, facing the same trouble. Can someone send me back?]
More and more students left until only a few thousand remained. Most had already returned.
In the small region where Han Wu was staying, the six of them gathered to discuss their next move.
Wu Fang spoke first. “I’m sorry, but the chances of dying here are too high. I don’t want to stay any longer. I’m heading back. Please don’t hate me for this.”
Liu Chuan followed. “I want to go back too. I have some resources I’m willing to part with for five Divine Essence. Anyone interested?”
Qin Shuang and Han Wu were irritated. They didn’t mind that Liu Chuan wanted to leave. After all, preserving one’s life was natural. Their relationship was purely cooperative; no one owed their life for another. However, Liu Chuan trying to sell resources he couldn’t bring along was infuriating.
Han Wu and Qin Shuang ignored him.
Liu Chuan pressed on, “I know what you’re thinking. You could just take the resources once I’m gone since I can’t bring them. Let me be clear. I won’t let anyone profit from my hard work. If you don’t pay, I’ll toss everything into the sea. No one gets a thing.”
Sun Qingnian snapped, “Liu Chuan, are you insane? You’ve been enjoying the free training grounds Han Wu provided. Why not pay your dues now? Most of those resources were gathered by Han Wu’s skeletons anyway!”
“Don’t start a fight with me. That’s a different matter. If you’re so noble, why don’t you stay here with them to die? Guilt trips don’t work on me. Last offer. Five Divine Essence for all the resources. Take it or I dump them into the ocean.”
Han Wu spoke for the first time. “Three, take it or leave it. We’ll sign an agreement stating that I will pay you once I leave here alive.”
Liu Chuan hesitated but finally agreed. He couldn’t take the resources with him, so getting three Divine Essence for nothing was a fair trade. Even if Han Wu failed to return, he wouldn’t suffer any loss.
Wu Fang decided to follow Liu Chuan’s lead. “I have plenty of resources too. I can sell them off for three Divine Essence.”
Han Wu, unwilling to continue the discussion, scoffed. “Sign the agreement.”
The two signed and departed, leaving only Sun Qingnian and Duan Meng behind.
Han Wu spoke softly. “It’s time for you two to leave as well.”
Sun Qingnian glanced at them and laughed. “Leave? Why? Why should I leave when you two are still here?”
Qin Shuang tried to persuade him. “Qingnian, your situation is different from ours. Leave while you still can.”
“No, I won’t. I may live off a woman, but I am not spineless. If you keep trying to persuade me, I will start the lightning tribulation right now!” Sun Qingnian threatened.
Han Wu sensed his determination and stopped pressing him. He and Qin Shuang turned their attention to Duan Meng.
Duan Meng lowered her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stay here. My brother is still waiting for me. Here are the resources I’ve gathered. You can have them all. I don’t want any payment. Consider it compensation for leaving you behind.”
Han Wu said gently, “Don’t worry. Go back first. Your brother must be worried.”
“Goodbye. I pray for your safe return.” Her voice was soft as she approached the safe passage back to the Divine Civilization. She glanced once more at the three left in the Warring Kingdom Civilization and shuddered, sensing she had lost something forever.
Han Wu sighed as he watched Duan Meng leave. Now only three remained in this entire region, yet he felt a strength and certainty he had never experienced before.