The Xu family’s God cast his gaze upon Qin Shuang, clearly pleased by her delicate beauty. He was convinced a girl like her would bear exceptional children for their lineage.
“Young lady,” he said, voice calm but firm, “if you want me to stop, you must marry my grandson. I swear we will treat you well.”
Qin Shuang shot back, “Who wants to marry your grandson? You must be dreaming.”
The Xu’s family God frowned, insulted that such a young girl would shame him so openly.
Qin Jiang quickly motioned for Qin Hai to pull Qin Shuang back and hastened to explain. “Esteemed God, please don’t take offense. She is young and untrained in proper manners. I will definitely educate her properly once our ancestor returns.”
The Xu’s family God scoffed and turned to Han Wu. “So this is the benefactor the Qin family spoke of? Brat, after ruining the marriage between our families, don’t think you can leave this place alive without an explanation.”
In truth, the Xu family already knew a lot about Han Wu from Xu Tie. A lonely orphan was an easy target, but killing him posed a problem. Imperial College would likely demand answers, but since Han Wu was not yet a student there, the Xu family’s God would only receive a reprimand at worst. He doubted Imperial College would bother him too much for killing an orphan.
Even though a God was questioning him, Han Wu stood his ground. “I’m here to help my friend. I don’t owe you any explanation. Is there a law that forbids me from doing so?”
“Han Wu, how dare you be so disrespectful to my grandfather!” Xu Tie snapped, asserting authority.
Han Wu scoffed. “What? Is telling the truth to your grandfather disrespectful? Is your family really that petty?”
“You!” Xu Tie’s fury sputtered, but he knew better than to say more and verify his words.
However, Xu Gang showed no such restraint. “Han Wu, I presume? It was a mistake for you to show up here today. Leave now, and we’ll spare you. Stay, and I’ll take it as a direct challenge to the Xu family.”
He dismissed Han Wu outright, issuing a blunt ultimatum. If Han Wu stayed, it would be considered a direct affront to the Xu family.
Han Wu smiled, unfazed. He knew what it meant to be bullied—not just once, but many times over. Even if he left now, the Xu family wouldn’t let it go.
Han Wu sensed that if he left now, Xu Gang would soon start picking fights with him again. To stand firm next time, he had to be resolute in the present. “I’m not leaving.”
“You’re incredibly impudent. Fine then! I’ll kill you today!” He laughed darkly as he drew an Invasion Card. “I’m about your age, so no one can accuse me of bullying if I finish you off now.”
The Qin family wanted to stop him, but the Xu family’s God suppressed them. “My grandson initiated this fight to uphold the Xu family’s honor. Are you sure you want to interfere?”
The Qin family fell silent, intimidated into inaction. Without hesitation, Xu Gang activated the card and pulled Han Wu forcefully into his divine realm.
Han Wu blinked, finding himself at the edge of that realm, a solitary door standing before him. The ground trembled as an army of armored enemies poured out from the gate. Han Wu quickly used Inspect Eye to discern their race.
[Race: Steel Soldier]
[Talent: Armored, Mighty]
[Skill: Steel Manipulation: Can manipulate the armor on the body freely]
Han Wu’s breath quickened the moment he saw the data. The Unique Steel Soldiers were terrifyingly powerful. Born encased in heavy armor, they could reshape it at will to strike and defend simultaneously. They far outmatched Xu Tie’s Iron Skins. They were essentially an enhanced, elite version of them.
Millions of Steel Soldiers surged into Han Wu’s divine realm. Xu Gang’s face materialized in the sky, his cold gaze sweeping over the terrain. He sneered at the sprawling wilderness below, but his eyes soon settled on the city Han Wu’s Epistians had built.
“You have Epistians in your divine realm?” Xu Gang’s voice held a note of surprise. Epistians were also Unique life forms, and Xu Gang was familiar with them. Nevertheless, relief washed over him when he realized Han Wu had no Heroic Epistians.
“You command Epistians, and yet there’s not a single Heroic among them? Pathetic,” Xu Gang spat.
Han Wu had no good answer. The Epistians had only recently arrived in his divine realm, so it was natural they hadn’t produced a Heroic one yet. Still, he didn’t bother explaining—he was going to fight Xu Gang either way.
With a wave of his hand, Han Wu commanded his army to drive out the invading Steel Soldiers. At his call, his locust swarm surged forward, darkening the sky and blotting out the sun.
Nonetheless, the sight didn’t intimidate Xu Gang. He commanded, “Steel Soldiers, destroy everything you see!”
Millions of Steel Soldiers launched devastating assaults against the locusts, but the insects refused to yield. They used their overwhelming numbers to strike back. Han Wu deployed 10,000 locusts against every Steel Soldier.
Undeterred, Xu Gang summoned more of his units into the divine realm. Another 500,000 Steel Soldiers marched into the divine realm, joined by 30 Heroic Steel Majors and 2 Steel Soldier Lords that immediately took command of the battlefield.
With higher-ranking units directing them, the Steel Soldiers fought with ruthless precision. Han Wu responded by unleashing tens of thousands of Locustmen, along with his three Locustman Lords, led by the imposing Dark Locust. The three Locustman Lords quickly isolated one of the Steel Soldier Lords from the rest.
Xu Gang frowned, frustration darkening his features. The battle was slipping from his control. It was one thing to field a massive army; it was another for those troops to be genuinely strong. Not only did the weaker locusts hold their ground against his Steel Soldiers, but even the Heroic- and Lord-ranked locusts were capable of holding their ground too.
Xu Gang grudgingly admitted he had underestimated Han Wu, but he assumed this was the best his opponent could muster. Without hesitation, he unleashed his trump card, ordering his strongest unit to advance into Han Wu’s divine realm.
A terrible presence descended on Han Wu’s divine realm as Xu Gang’s five-meter-tall Divine Steel Soldier joined the battle.