Han Wu opened his eyes. He had returned to the Divine Civilization, along with nearly 100 students from Imperial College and Demonic Imperial College. Although they retained their Divine Weapon Atlases, they had forfeited their scores for the major class because they returned before the contest for the legendary Armament Spirit had concluded.

The lecturers from both colleges were furious. Neither college had been performing well to begin with, and students dropping out mid-competition only worsened matters. It was an embarrassment that would reach the College Alliance’s ears.

Xu Hai spotted Han Wu among those who had returned and immediately asked for an explanation. Han Wu laid out the situation and made it clear that everyone who returned had done so at his call.

Xu Hai's expression turned grave. He agreed with Han Wu’s decision. When faced with something one couldn’t beat and no reason to fight, retreat was a perfectly sound choice. The real problem lay in explaining to the colleges why so many students had followed Han Wu out. The College Alliance would likely demand a full written report before they would be satisfied.

While Xu Hai was still considering this, the Demonic Imperial College representative rushed over. “Who is Han Wu? What right do you have to call Demonic Imperial College students back with you?”

The accusation made both Han Wu and Xu Hai frown. Han Wu had suggested returning, but each student had chosen whether to follow. The representative’s wording placed all responsibility on Han Wu.

Neither Han Wu nor Xu Hai would accept that.

“Know your place. Han Wu is an Imperial College student. Who are you to reprimand him?” Xu Hai demanded coldly.

His God King authority bore down on the representative, and he could barely stand straight. Only then did he realize how badly he had misjudged the situation. In his anger, he had forgotten that the person accompanying Imperial College was the Wisdom God King Xu Hai, Han Wu's teacher.

The realization sent a cold sweat down his back. Of all the times to lose his temper, he had chosen the worst possible moment. Offending a God King was not something one could easily walk away from.

He quickly adjusted his tone. “Wisdom God King, please forgive my rudeness.”

Xu Hai had no desire to damage relations between the two colleges and withdrew his pressure.

The representative straightened and took a steady breath. He looked at Han Wu, standing behind Xu Hai, and let out a long sigh.

“Forty-four students returned. That is eleven percent of our total. Many of them are among our best. Losing their scores in this major class is actually the lesser concern. What matters more is how the College Alliance will evaluate us going forward, and what this means for our standing as a top-tier college.” He paused. “Wisdom God King, I believe that you understand this better than anyone.”

Xu Hai understood all too well. Even more students from Imperial College had returned. He was still considering how to explain it to his own college.

“The situation in the Divine Weapon Civilization was more complicated than you realize. Leaving early wasn’t the wrong call,” Han Wu said, making his position clear.

A trace of contempt crossed the representative's face. “Young Han Wu, you are gifted beyond your years, but your approach to things is rather extreme at times. If you don't work on that, it will have serious consequences for your future.”

Han Wu understood the implication. The man was calling him all brawn and no brains. As a student, he had no intention of arguing with a lecturer, nor any interest in continuing the exchange. He glanced at the representative, then turned to Xu Hai. “Sir, I have matters to attend to. I'll head back to my divine realm first.”

Xu Hai didn’t want Han Wu drawn into the politics between colleges. He nodded and sent him off to handle his affairs.

After Han Wu was transported away, the representative spoke quietly to Xu Hai. “Wisdom God King, if I may, don't you think you're too lenient with this student? Your leniency will only encourage his arrogance. I would suggest—”

He stopped mid-sentence as Xu Hai glared at him. “How I teach my students is none of your concern. Our most pressing issue is how to report this to the College Alliance.”

“Of course, of course. You are absolutely right. The college's position is...”

***

Back in his own divine realm, Han Wu stood within his territory. He opened his Divine Weapon Atlas and released his ten Divine Weapons. They aligned in sequence. The Explosive Locust Blade, Locust Soul Orb, Abyss Armor, Locust Dragon Seal, and Locust-V manifested their Armament Spirit forms.

Locust-V took on the king's visage. The moment he appeared, he tried to break free of Han Wu's divine realm and return to save the secret realm and suppress the Dark King.

Han Wu refused and used his World strength to pin him down. The king, visibly surprised by Han Wu's strength, calmed down.

“Forget about the secret realm. Unless something unexpected happens, the unexpected has already happened. [1]

“You can't return there now. Answer my questions instead. I never understood why you became one of my Armament Spirits. And where did that little brat go?” Han Wu asked.

Locust-V answered honestly, “While you had me sealed away, I pieced together my memories. I can answer your questions now.

“The Armament Spirit you knew before was also me, but only a part of me. Specifically, the part of my brain that I left behind in Carefree Valley. The long years of purification had contaminated my mind and started to corrupt me.

“To avoid disrupting the purification process and to clear my mind, I had a powerful blacksmith, one who knew the secret realm’s history, place my brain in Carefree Valley. The magnetic fields of the special life forms there could cleanse the corruption. By pure accident, it ended up becoming your Armament Spirit.”

Han Wu listened and nodded slowly as the pieces fell into place. The king had simply left his brain in Carefree Valley, and Han Wu had stumbled upon it. Now that the king had reclaimed it, he had assumed the brain’s job and become Locust-V’s Armament Spirit.

The logic held. Once Han Wu worked it through, he was genuinely astonished at himself. He had somehow gained the king as a free Armament Spirit for his Divine Weapon.

He looked at the king excitedly. “Between you and the legendary Armament Spirit, who is stronger?”

The king thought for a moment, then answered, “What you call the legendary Armament Spirit is nothing more than the positive energy I condensed over ten years of purification. Its consciousness is at the level of a confused child. Compared to me, who has lived for tens of thousands of years, it is nothing.”

Han Wu clapped his hands with glee. Even after escaping from the Divine Weapon Civilization, he had still managed to obtain a monumental treasure. Aside from losing his major class scores, he had no regrets.

1. Pun. Unexpected and accident share the same term 意外 ☜