“Deep as the oceans, the path of divine core assimilation reaches once begun; from here on out, ascension is all but a stranger”—this saying was no joke.
The moment once one deified by assimilating a divine core, it was basically impossible for them to ever break through their current cultivation stage and ascend to a higher stage by their own efforts. Only by continuing to assimilate even higher-grade divine cores could they become more powerful.
This was exactly the situation that Puhaman and the others were currently in.
They had become lesser deities by assimilating lesser deity divine cores and subsequently became higher deities by assimilating higher deity divine cores. As a result, ascension had become merely an extravagant wish for them now.
If they wished to strengthen themselves further, then their only choice was to assimilate even higher-grade divine cores such as Great Perfection and Chief God divine cores. Only then would they go on to further success and move on to the next level.
For the sake of his subordinates’ Great Perfection divine cores and also to earn more Divinity Crystals at the same time, Meng Lei had developed a hunting plan…
Whoosh!
He got right down to work the moment the thought came to him. A crystal glittering with a ten-colored divine radiance suddenly flew out of the underground and reappeared in the sky. Its fearsome divine power and dazzling divine radiance immediately spread into the surroundings the moment it appeared, forming a great weather phenomenon.
“The Chief God divine core!”
“The Chief God divine core has reappeared!”
The sight naturally caught many experts’ attention. They had been searching for the Chief God divine core everywhere, so how could the Chief God divine core’s sudden reappearance possibly escape their notice?
“The Chief God divine core is over there!”
“Mine! The Chief God divine core is mine!”
“Don’t anyone dare fight with me for it!”
Whoosh!
Innumerable experts raced desperately toward the Chief God divine core with everything they got, wishing they had been born with an extra pair of legs in case others got there ahead of them.
If someone were to overlook the area from a high vantage point right now, they would realize that innumerable streaks of light were currently converging from all directions at terrifying speed. The situation was much like innumerable crocodiles swimming toward a zebra that had appeared in the center of a small stream upon detecting the smell of blood.
Soon, hundreds of high-level higher deities arrived within the vicinity of the Chief God divine core. Among them were also numerous super experts that were already infinitely close to becoming Great Perfection deities.
“It’s mine!”
The group of super experts became even more fervent at the sight of the Chief God divine core. Their speed spiked dramatically, and they grabbed brazenly at the divine core.
Boom!
A fearsome attack suddenly came from afar and struck them mercilessly.
Several shrill cries rang out as the hundreds of experts were sent flying.
The less severe cases suffered injuries and coughed up blood, while the severe ones were maimed and paralyzed.
One could say that they couldn’t get any unluckier than that!
“Hmph! How dare a bunch of weak, lowly ants harbor designs on the Chief God divine core, too! You overestimate yourselves!”
A contemptuous snort rang out, and then someone appeared out of nowhere and came right up to the Chief God divine core.
The man had a pair of horns on his head, a pair of wings on his back, a pair of tails on his bottom, and gave off vast, majestic dragon might.
“Armand Nidhogg!”
Initially, the masses had naturally been furious at being ambushed, but when they saw the person that had appeared out of nowhere, fear and alarm filled them at once, followed by despair.
The newcomer was actually Armand Nidhogg, a Great Perfection deity from the Nidhogg Colossal Dragon Gods!
“How are we supposed to even goddamn fight for the Chief God divine core when even a Great Perfection deity has come!?” shouted someone indignantly.
“A bunch of good-for-nothings!”
Armand Nidhogg cast a contemptuous glance at the masses. Then, he grabbed at the Chief God divine core and declared, “Mine! The Chief God divine core is mine now! Once I assimilate it, I shall becom—”
Boom!
A massive hand that blotted out the sky abruptly appeared right at this moment and grabbed at the Chief God divine core. It moved at an even higher speed and was even nearer in proximity to the divine core.
“How bold of you to actually set your sights on my Chief God divine core!”
Armand Nidhogg flew into a thundering rage at the sight. He opened his mouth and released a wave of silver dragon breath at the massive hand, evidently intending to burn and destroy it.
“Hmph!”
Another cold snort rang out as the massive hand hastily drew back and avoided the silver dragon breath. Then, it grabbed at the Chief God divine core floating in mid-air once more.
This time, before Armand Nidhogg could launch another attack, a dazzling red fireball appeared out of nowhere and shot straight toward the massive hand.
Bam!
Unable to avoid the attack in time, the massive hand clashed against the red fireball. Sparks flew everywhere as an earth-shattering explosion broke out.
Another figure then showed up in mid-air. He had a head of crimson red hair, crimson red brows, and even the robe he wore was crimson red in color. He was just like a ball of flames, ready to burn everything into ashes.
Armand Nidhogg’s expression immediately changed at the sight of the newcomer, and he let out a deep roar. “You’ve actually come as well, Miles!”
The newcomer was Miles Dougherty, a Great Perfection deity from Earth Divine Realm’s Dougherty Fire Phoenix Gods!
“Another Great Perfection deity!”
“Oh my god! That’s two Great Perfection deities now!”
“Do we even still have any hope of getting the Chief God divine core?”
The experts were filled with even more despair now.
“Why can’t I come when you’re already here?”
Miles Dougherty looked up, a hint of unconcealable greed and fervency flashing across the depths of his eyes as his gaze swept across the Chief God divine core above him. Then, he let out an icy snort and said, “Chester, aren’t you acting beneath your status if you continue to hide in the shadows when you’re already here?”
The air shifted slightly, and then a burly, muscular man dressed in golden armor appeared.
The many experts became even more filled with despair at the sight of the newcomer. A Great Perfection deity! Yet another Great Perfection deity!
Chester Dawson, a Great Perfection deity from Earth Divine Real’s Dawson Titan Gods!
That was three Great Perfection deities now!
How the hell were they supposed to do this now?
However, subsequent events proved to the many experts there that their imagination was still too lacking, after all, because more and more Great Perfection deities started to arrive as time went by.
A Great Perfection deity from the Angel Gods…
A Great Perfection deity from the Giant Elephant Gods…
A Great Perfection deity from the Nature Gods…
A Great Perfection deity from the Behemoth Gods…
A Great Perfection deity from the Scarab Gods…
The number of Great Perfection deities there had reached a shocking total of eight!
Eight Great Perfection deities! They represented the highest form of combat power apart from Earth Divine Realm’s Chief Gods.
Their presence filled the masses of experts that were constantly growing in numbers with fear and trepidation. It also completely robbed them of their courage in coveting the Chief God divine core, turning them into idle onlookers here to watch the show instead.
“That’s eight Great Perfection deities over there!”
“To think they’ve all shown up!”
“This is the allure of a Chief God divine core!”
“We’re just missing Great Perfection deities from the Frost Gods and the Eternal Gods now! If they show up, this will become a full assembly of Great Perfection deities from all ten major godly clans!”
The many experts surrounded the area, filling up every corner of the place. They watched the eight figures in the center of the battleground, their eyes filled with astoundment.
Great Perfection deities!
Elusive and mysterious Great Perfection deities!
They could hardly even find one usually, let alone eight?
The experts were watching the eight Great Perfection deities, but the eight deities’ gazes were on the Chief God divine core from start to finish—or rather, they kept their attention constantly on the Chief God divine core lest someone snatched it away.
“Everyone, what should we do with this Chief God divine core?”
Jager Raphael, the Great Perfection deity from the Raphael Angel Gods, broke the silence.
“The Chief God divine core is the key to us breaking through our current cultivation stage and moving on to the next level. None of us will leave the matter at that and allow someone else to take it!”
Armand Nidhogg, the Great Perfection deity from the Colossal Dragon Gods, said calmly, “How about this? We’ll let our skills speak for themselves after all and use our fists to decide who the Chief God divine core goes to.”
“That works.”
“I guess that’s the only way.”
The other Great Perfection deities naturally didn’t have any objections. With the Chief God divine core sitting right in front of them, none of them would ever give up. There was bound to be a great fight to the death—this was something undoubted.
“We need to clear out the battleground before the battle, though, lest a third party profits from the situation. Should that happen, we would end up thoroughly embarrassed!”
A hint of killing intent flitted across Armand Nidhogg’s eyes as his gaze swept across the experts in the surroundings.
By a stretch, he could somewhat accept the Chief God divine core falling into the seven other Great Perfection deities’ hands, but he absolutely would not allow that bunch of lowly ants to reap the benefits instead at the end of their battle.
The seven other Great Perfection deities were also on the same page. They unanimously looked in the direction of the onlooking experts in the distance.
“Damn!”
“They’re thinking of killing us!”
“Quickly! Run!”
