Chapter 89 - Unavoidable Calamity

Demigod Zhang Gang[1] was escorted to a very luxurious-looking palace. However, his astonishment quickly turned to shock and unease as he realized that all the attendants within the palace were also Demigods. This discovery intensified his anxiety regarding the information he possessed, and he grew increasingly fearful of the consequences should his host deem the information he brought false or inaccurate.

Sadly, escape was no longer an option as he was already deep within the God King’s palace. He could only endure the anxious wait for his audience with the God King. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until a God assistant finally approached and gestured for him to follow.

Zhang Gang followed the God assistant and soon found himself in a vast hall. At the far end of the hall stood a massive throne, and seated upon it was the bankrupt God King. The aura and sheer weight of his authority radiated like an intensely blazing sun, and Zhang Gang instinctively bowed his head in submission.

The God assistant announced respectfully, “My Lord, I have brought the individual you requested.”

The God King’s gaze fell upon Zhang Gang, its intensity felt like a burning ray, making Zhang Gang feel as though his very being was on fire.

“Demigod, are you the one who claimed to possess news regarding what happened in the Divine River Ruins?”

Though his mind was still reeling from the sheer presence and voice of the God King, Zhang Gang managed to stammer out a quick reply. “Y-yes, G-God King! I do have some clues about what might have happened.”

With trembling hands, he then presented several locust carcasses that he had collected from the Divine River Ruins.

The God assistant placed the locust carcasses on a platinum plate and presented it to the God King. The God King picked up one of the insect remains and frowned deeply.

Sensing the God King’s growing skepticism and displeasure, Zhang Gang quickly explained, “Esteemed God King, the locust carcass was discovered within the Divine River Ruins, and I believe it is related to the one who trespassed into the ruins.”

The God King nodded slowly, considering those words. He then asked, a hint of expectation in his voice, “If this is the case, does this mean you have apprehended the suspect?”

“I am not entirely sure...”

Zhang Gang barely managed to utter before the God King erupted in a furious howl. “Demigod! Who gave you the audacity to come into my presence and try to deceive me? Do you honestly expect my exalted self to personally search for someone with lowly locusts as their race?”

Zhang Gang quickly fell to his knees and answered hastily, his anxiety palpable. “Please forgive me, My Lord! I do in fact have a suspect. His name is Han Wu, and his core race is indeed the locust!”

“Han Wu? What exactly do you know about him?”

Still on his knees, Zhang Gang began to explain, his voice getting quieter and quieter. “He’s a highschooler... and an orphan. He’s currently a student on Imperial College’s reserve list... and... he is a Divine Being...”

The God King’s anger flared, his voice filled with disbelief. “Are you seriously suggesting that an insignificant Divine Being could have entered the Divine River Ruins and overpowered the six Demigods that I personally sent there?”

“Wait, please remain calm, God King! I myself didn’t initially believe that Han Wu had entered the Divine River Ruins, but I did some investigating and found some clues that suggest he was definitely there,” Zhang Gang said, gripped by the fear that the God King would execute him on the spot if he didn’t produce the evidence to support his claims quickly enough.

The God King’s growl echoes through the hall. “Speak!”

Zhang Gang blurted out everything he had discovered in his investigation in one go. “I managed to capture an image of Han Wu and then showed it to the local town guides. One of them confirmed that he had seen someone who matched the photograph.

“Moreover, there is a merchant in the area who deals with radioactive minerals, and he confirmed that Han Wu had purchased a batch from him. This merchant, Mr. Black, was gracious enough to give me solid proof of their transaction.

“Even more importantly, I’ve managed to obtain a record from a landing pod in a nearby hotel, and it clearly shows that Han Wu had used it at least once.

“So you see, my Lord, this proves that Han Wu was truly present at the Divine River Ruins,” Zhang Gang added quickly. “Moreover, if we examine the timestamps on these records, they precisely match the estimated time of the incident within the Ruins.”

Having examined the information, the God King’s fury subsided slightly. “Demigod, I sincerely hope for your sake that the information you have provided is accurate and truthful, because if it is not, you will never again see the light of day!”

With a dismissive wave of his hand, a magnificent treasure chest materialized in front of Zhang Gang; it was his payment for the information he had provided.

Zhang Gang quickly grabbed the chest, bowed profusely to express his gratitude to the God King, and hastily departed from the palace under the escort of the God assistant.

The God King called out for another God assistant. “Take this transponder and find that person called Han Wu. I need to know for certain if he has indeed stolen my treasure!”

The God assistant kneeled respectfully. “Yes, my Lord, I will not disappoint you,” he vowed before disappearing without a trace.

At Imperial College, Major God Xu Hai had just emerged from a period of intense secluded training. Upon awakening, he was met with a barrage of news, but one piece seized his attention. The Basic Secret Realm known as Zombie Town, which he himself had generously donated to the college, was now lost forever, its spatial coordinates having been destroyed.

A sigh of mild regret escaped Xu Hai’s lips. The Zombie Town Secret Realm was something he had stumbled upon randomly when he was still a God. It had been a significant source of resources for him back then. However, after the Wisdom Tree within the realm decided to devote itself to the Death God, the number of units he had left within the Secret Realm had steadily decreased over time.

Xu Hai had been unwilling to risk angering the Death God, so he had refrained from sending any more of his units into the Zombie Town Secret Realm. He had known that the permanent destruction of the coordinates was simply a matter of time, and he had already resigned himself to this outcome.

While he was still lost in thought, a message suddenly appeared. He quickly read it, and a surge of anger washed over him as he discovered that his units hadn’t been killed as he had assumed; they had been transported away!

With no one left to guard the place, the Wisdom Tree managed to breach the church and destroy the coordinates hidden within. This was the infuriating reason the Secret Realm of Zombie Town was now permanently lost.

“Can you believe the nerve of these students this year? To think they would be so bold as to transport my units away without even seeking my permission!”

He immediately contacted Lina, who explained the situation to him. Her explanation helped Xu Hai understand Han Wu’s actions. Nevertheless, he still found it hard to accept that the student had destroyed something he had been operating for millennia.

Xu Hai suggested to Lina that he be granted the authority to punish Han Wu personally. His intention was to make Han Wu understand that his actions had been wrong, and therefore he needed to face the consequences.

For several hours, Lina tried her best to convince Xu Hai to change his mind. In the end, the only concession he made was that he would not take Han Wu’s life. Left with no other choice, she could only deliver the message to Han Wu.

Han Wu was stunned by the message. He had been aware that his arrangement with the Wisdom Tree would likely lead to some form of trouble, but he hadn’t expected the calamity to arrive so soon.

Caught in such a difficult situation, Han Wu decided to agree without delay. He reasoned that the sooner Xu Hai vented his anger, the sooner the pressure on him would go away.

The two agreed to spar within Imperial College’s arena number 3. Lina would serve as their referee, although her real goal was to make sure Han Wu survived the sparring match. Han Wu, concerned Xu Hai might go back on his word, reached out for Xiang Meng and the other two seniors, asking them to spectate.

He was hoping that with the presence of a crowd of youngsters, Xu Hai, compelled to preserve his dignity, would be less likely to kill him. With everything settled, Han Wu spent the entire night strengthening his locusts, knowing that even the slightest improvement in their strength represented a better chance of surviving the match.

It was soon daybreak. Han Wu and the others arrived at arena number 3 and saw Lina speaking with a middle-aged man. Han Wu had a strong feeling that the man was none other than Major God Xu Hai.

Xu Hai’s gaze held a hint of curiosity as he observed Han Wu. He wanted to see just how strong the students this year were.

1. The guy who chased Han Wu throughout the Divine Ruins. His son was the first cabbage Han Wu defeated. ☜