Repaying Enmity with Kindness

Seeing Han Wu like this, Tian Wen could guess what Han Wu was thinking.

As Han Wu's teacher, Tian Wen offered him his advice.

"Han Wu, one billion divine power is far too much for you. At the Divine Being stage, you simply can't use that much. I suggest you keep a small portion for developing your divine realm and use the rest to buy a divine artifact that suits you."

"A divine artifact?" Han Wu repeated.

He knew that equipment in Divine Realm Civilization was divided into four types: Common Equipment, Faith Equipment, Divine Power Equipment, and Divinity Equipment.

Among them, Divinity Equipment was divine artifacts, something only gods were worthy of wielding.

"I'm still only a Divine Being, not even a demigod. Can I control a divine artifact?" Han Wu asked doubtfully.

"No problem. Choose a gentler divine artifact, and even a Divine Being can control it. Your teacher knows a shop that sells divine artifacts. They can definitely help you find one that suits you." Tian Wen patted his chest in assurance.

"Alright, then let's go now." Han Wu sounded somewhat impatient.

Just as they were about to set off, a figure suddenly rushed toward him, shouting, "Locust Plague, I finally found you!"

The moment Han Wu saw who it was, he hurriedly called to Tian Wen for help. "Teacher, save me!"

The newcomer was none other than the demigod Elephant Lord, whom he had defeated in the tournament.

Han Wu could think of only one reason Elephant Lord had come looking for him: to avenge the half of his kin that Han Wu had wiped out.

Seeing Elephant Lord, Tian Wen also assumed he had come for revenge. He immediately shielded Han Wu behind him and declared, "With me here, who dares harm my student!"

Elephant Lord wore an expression that said, "Thank you so much."

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not here to retaliate against you," Elephant Lord explained.

Seeing that Elephant Lord did not seem to be faking it, Han Wu let out a breath of relief and asked, "Then what are you looking for me for? There's no way I'm compensating you for your kin's losses."

At the mention of his kin's losses, Elephant Lord's face darkened.

He had thought being chosen to fight a Divine Being meant he had stumbled upon a bargain.

Who could have guessed that he had kicked an iron plate instead?

Not only had he lost face, half his kin had been wiped out.

Who the hell was he supposed to reason with over that?

Depressed, Elephant Lord stated plainly, "I came because I think you're quite strong and want to make friends with you. I'm a first-year student at Kyoto Academy. My real name is Xiang Meng."

As he spoke, Xiang Meng proactively extended his hand.

"A student of Kyoto Academy—my apologies for the disrespect." Han Wu also reached out and shook Xiang Meng's hand.

"You look pretty young. You probably haven't taken the college entrance exam yet, right? Which academy's Reserve student are you?" Xiang Meng asked.

Han Wu touched the mask on his face, unable to understand how Xiang Meng had determined his age.

"I'm not a Reserve student at any academy. I'm just an ordinary high school student," Han Wu replied.

"What?" Xiang Meng found it hard to believe. "Impossible, absolutely impossible. You're joking with me, right?"

"Why would I lie to you? The person beside me is my teacher. He can vouch for me." Han Wu pointed at Tian Wen.

Tian Wen said, "Han... ahem, Locust Plague indeed isn't a Reserve student. Although many academies have invited him, Locust Plague has lofty ambitions and only wishes to join Imperial Capital Academy. However, the teacher in charge of admissions at Imperial Capital Academy does not seem interested in him."

"I see." Xiang Meng suddenly understood, then laughed. "I couldn't tell, but you've got quite the eye. Imperial Capital Academy is the strongest of the three top academies."

"Just for your good judgment alone, I'll make you my junior. I'll report your situation to the academy, and the academy will most likely give you a test. When you return, invest as many resources as possible into improving your Core Kin. Perhaps you can seize this opportunity and enter Imperial Capital Academy's Reserve student roster."

Han Wu looked astonished and pressed, "You'll really help me?"

After all, by normal reasoning, Han Wu had wiped out half of Xiang Meng's kin. It was already a blessing from heaven that Xiang Meng had not come seeking revenge, much less repaying enmity with kindness.

Xiang Meng burst into laughter. "Don't misunderstand. The reason I'm willing to help you is not only because I see potential in you and want to befriend you. More than that, it's out of selfish interest."

"The road to godhood is long. Having a few companions to lean on is naturally easier than fighting alone. You qualify to be my friend."

"Besides, if I recommend you to the academy and you pass the test, the school will reward me with resources. It's a reward handed to me for free—why wouldn't I take it?"

"And only if you become my junior will I have a chance to recover the losses from having half my kin wiped out by you. If you go to another academy, I'm afraid I'll never get the chance to make you compensate me for that loss in this lifetime. Hahaha."

After hearing Xiang Meng's reasons, Han Wu immediately felt that this was reliable.

"Then I'll be troubling you, Brother Meng." Han Wu spoke gratefully.

"It's nothing. But iron must be hard before it can be forged. Recently, put a bit more resources into your Core Kin. It would be best if you could cultivate a Heroic Lifeform. Passing Imperial Capital Academy's test won't be easy," Xiang Meng reminded him.

From Xiang Meng's repeated mentions of Core Kin, Han Wu understood that his foremost priority from here on would be strengthening his Core Kin.

After bidding Xiang Meng farewell, Han Wu followed Tian Wen through a teleportation portal to a street called Wanbao Road.

Equipment shops lined both sides of the street.

From the lowest-grade Common Equipment to the highest-grade Divinity Equipment, everything was available.

Led by Tian Wen, the two arrived before a shop that looked rather antique.

Han Wu raised his head and glanced at the shop's signboard.

Treasure Pavilion.

Mm, the name was classic and carried the weight of years. It was just a little tacky.

"Come on, let's go in." Tian Wen pushed open the door and entered.

A beautiful female demigod receptionist warmly greeted them. She did not treat Han Wu differently just because he was only a Divine Being.

"Welcome to Treasure Pavilion. Are you two looking to buy equipment of a certain grade, or would you like to see a Forging Master?"

"Contact Master Tony for me. Tell him Old Tian is here," Tian Wen said with practiced ease.

Han Wu frowned at the side. Master Tony? Is he really professional at forging divine artifacts?

The female demigod contacted Master Tony through Treasure Pavilion's communications system.

Before long, a teleportation portal appeared.

Tian Wen called Han Wu over, and together they passed through the portal into Master Tony's forging room.

Han Wu saw a bald man, fat and brawny, his face covered in fierce flesh. He held Iron Hammer in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other as he turned around and asked, "Old Tian, is the fat sheep you brought this time fat enough?"

For a moment, a thought arose in Han Wu's heart: If I run now, is it still in time?