Huang Pi pounced with his claw outstretched.

Han Wu couldn’t avoid the blow, and since the Small Locust Blade couldn’t defend against it, he was forced to tank it head-on.

The claw hit him solidly. He prepared for pain, but was surprised to find that none came.

Huang Pi couldn’t tell whether Han Wu felt anything, so he struck several more times. Each blow landed cleanly, yet none had any effect.

Han Wu examined himself and understood what had happened after he saw his Abyss Armor. The Invulnerable effect had nullified every strike. Since his blows couldn’t pierce Han Wu’s defenses, they were all negated. None of his physical blows worked!

Han Wu had to admit that Invulnerable lived up to its God-grade status.

Huang Pi landed several more blows but still failed to injure him.

Han Wu flicked his Explosive Locust Blade and blasted Huang Pi away. The searing flame scorched his fur and revealed the golden sheen across his frame.

Qin Shuang seized the opening and attacked. Her Sparrow Bow released lightning arrows without mercy. Even though the arrows couldn’t pierce his defenses, the electricity coursed through him and attacked him from within.

After several hits, Huang Pi started to feel paralyzed and slowed down.

Han Wu summoned the three souls within his Locust Soul Orb before transforming it into the Calamitous Ghost Tiger, pinning Huang Pi to the ground.

At the same time, Qin Shuang gathered energy into her coin, charging her Railgun. At the last moment, Han Wu recalled the souls just as she fired. Powerful lightning erupted and tore through the area, dispersing the surrounding white mist.

The scent of charred flesh filled the air. Huang Pi lay unrecognizable, killed by the Railgun. He dropped four Divine Weapons.

The first was Mist Bottle, a 2-Star God-grade Divine Weapon. It was the same jade bottle that had been spreading the mist across the area. Naturally, its effect allowed the user to release dense mist to obscure vision. Han Wu had experienced it firsthand and knew its value.

The second was Adamantium Armor, also a 2-Star God-grade Divine Weapon. It functioned like a second skin that covered the user and rendered their body as impervious as an iron wall. It was compatible with Han Wu’s Abyss Armor, so the latter could absorb it.

After the absorption, the Abyss Armor obtained a new skill, Adamantine, which enhanced its defensive properties for a short period. It paired well with Invulnerable.

The third was a pair of claws called Hooked Needles, a 1-Star God-grade Divine Weapon. Its quality was average, but it was compatible with Qin Shuang’s Feather Dart. She absorbed it and pushed Feather Dart to its maximum rank. With additional materials, she could upgrade it into a God-grade Divine Weapon.

The fourth was a bronze mirror, a 3-Star God-grade Divine Weapon. The user could observe everything within a fifty-kilometer radius. It was an excellent scouting tool, but its Armament Spirit was temperamental and refused to serve Han Wu.

With no better option, Han Wu fed it to his Locust Soul Orb. It obtained a new skill that allowed it to scout within a ten-kilometer radius. It could also send any soul it controlled to a designated location within that range. This skill made ambushes easier to set up.

Han Wu felt satisfied with the loot.

With the two weasels dead, the mist around them dissipated.

Sun Qingnian and Jin Tuantuan hurried over. “Are you two alright? I heard the sound of fighting from your direction.”

Han Wu scoffed. “Do we look alright?”

Sun Qingnian gave him a quick once-over. “You look fine on the outside. Do you feel hollowed out? You should let Qin Shuang test it out once you get back.”

Han Wu rolled his eyes. Even now, Sun Qingnian couldn’t resist dirty jokes. Still, the ambush had taught Han Wu something important. The natives possessed a wide range of methods due to their diverse Divine Weapons. One wrong mistake could lead to elimination.

“It seems that just increasing our raw power isn’t enough. Starting today, we’ll conduct special training scenarios to prevent this from happening again. Yes, let’s do so. We’ll increase the intensity for those young masters tomorrow,” Han Wu said.

Sun Qingnian was at a loss for words. He could only pity the young masters, who had no idea what awaited them.

***

Within Divine Weapon City, Lady Huang sensed that her two guards’ life force had been severed. She remained calm rather than angry. Using a special method, she located her compass and caught a glimpse of the person holding it.

She gritted her teeth when she saw Han Wu. “You puny humans. How dare you kill the elite of my Huang family? If not for the legendary Armament Spirit’s imminent appearance, which I cannot leave, I would’ve flayed you alive and tormented your soul!”

Someone then called from outside, “Lady Huang, General Liu sent someone to request an audience.”

Lady Huang scoffed, “What does that old dog want with me? The legendary Armament Spirit will appear soon. Is it one of his little tricky plans again? Tell them that I am in closed-door cultivation. Unless the legendary Armament Spirit appears, I won’t meet anyone!”

“Understood.”

Lady Huang continued forging her Divine Weapon in the room. Her 9-Star God-grade Divine Weapon, the Celestial Shackles, grew stronger with each refinement.

Outside of her residence, General Liu listened as his subordinate relayed the message. Rage surged through him, and he hurled his wine glass to the ground. “That stupid old grandma. How dare she insult my honor!”

His advisor stepped in to calm him. “Sir, please be at ease. Even if Lady Huang refuses to cooperate, your strength still gives you the advantage in the upcoming contest for the legendary Armament Spirit.”

General Liu sighed. “Have you prepared the tributes?”

“The bandits spread across several regions have confirmed that everything is in order. A million living sacrifices. They can have everything ready by tomorrow. They have also prepared extra, just in case.”

General Liu nodded in approval. “I will make everyone in the Divine Weapon Civilization kneel before me, Liu Changqing! Once I obtain the legendary Armament Spirit, I will show them all.”

The advisor knelt. “General Liu, you will succeed!”

***

In a land beyond Divine Weapon City, the blacksmith Master Ou cracked open his master’s bones and revealed lines of text engraved within them. It was a special refining method that his master had spent half his life researching. It allowed the user to refine a Divine Weapon with their own flesh and blood, greatly improving its strength and affinity.

Master Ou committed those lines to memory and sighed. “The legendary Armament Spirit will be born soon. I must use it to grow stronger and avenge my master! General Liu, Lady Huang, and Baili Changhe. Just wait. I will avenge him!”

Excitement surged through him as he merged his Divine Weapon, the forging hammer, into his body. His flesh suddenly shrank, and his skin loosened. Throughout the entire process, his Divine Weapon advanced to 8 Stars.