"The day of ascension has finally arrived!"
Do you think I'll break through and become Level Nine Martial Artist this time?
"Go to sleep, you can dream about anything."
"That's hard to say. The clan leader said the Demon Suppression Hall is already at the divine artifact level. Didn't you see the live broadcast last month? Several ordinary Intermediate Martial Artist went in for only a few days, and came out as Advanced Martial Artist, and even gained innate abilities."
"I heard that war is about to engulf our Barbarian Tribe, which is why the chieftain chose today for the collective ascension breakthrough, and at a great cost."
"Supplies must be replenished before a major battle!"
"That's not bad either. I'd rather die a cowardly death than die on the front lines."
"..."
Tens of thousands of martial artists stood bustling about in the vast square.
Everyone's face was beaming with excitement, clearly eagerly anticipating what was to come.
Qin Ze murmured, "A collective ascension... this is the white lie the old fox was telling us."
The excuse of needing to prepare for the impending cataclysmic disaster and enhance the strength of all warriors in the clan is not entirely unreasonable.
The tribespeople trusted the chief and the higher-ups too much and had no other intentions.
Of course, even if there were doubts, no one would have imagined that the clan leader wanted to sacrifice all the warriors to create a god.
The old fox appeared in the Demon Suppression Hall, his voice echoing across the square.
" The Barbarian Tribe are now facing a life-or-death crisis."
"After this ascension, you will dedicate all your strength to the Barbarian Tribe and step onto an unknown battlefield."
"This is for your family, for your friends, for the continuation of the Barbarian Tribe race."
" Barbarian Tribe, never surrender!"
The warriors in the square raised their arms and shouted, "For the Barbarian Tribe!"
The fox elder nodded slightly. "Now I announce that the first ascension of all Barbarian Tribe warriors has begun."
After saying this, the fox elder disappeared in the Demon Suppression Hall.
Buzz--
An invisible wave of power emanated from the Demon Suppression Hall, instantly sweeping across the entire world.
Upon seeing this, Qin Ze couldn't help but exclaim, "This is... the power of the World Will!"
He's very familiar with this; he just used it not long ago.
Those participating in the ascension were not just the tens of thousands of warriors present, but all of the Barbarian Tribe's hundreds of millions of warriors.
They are scattered in every corner of the world, and only through the power of the world can they be simultaneously transported to the Demon Suppression Hall.
Beams of light shot up from the ground, and the warriors opened their arms to welcome the Demon Suppression Hall.
In just a few breaths, the once bustling square became deserted.
Qin Ze muttered to himself, "The ascension has begun."
The surrounding scenery shifted to the interior of the main hall.
The old fox and a young man sat facing each other.
When Joan saw the young man, she instantly became agitated.
"Is he Jiuyou?"
Qin Ze looked at the other person carefully; they didn't resemble each other at all. He really didn't know what the crazy woman thought they looked alike.
Jiuyou asked, "Clan leader, has the ascension begun?"
The old fox, his expression complex, said, "It has begun."
Jiuyou looked around but didn't feel anything.
The old fox said earnestly, " Jiuyou, you are the most talented person in our clan. You became Level Nine Martial Artist before you were even thirty. If the Star Gate were still around, you could have truly become a god."
Jiuyou didn't understand why the clan leader would say such things when he ascended to immortality.
He does have some regrets, but he is satisfied with his current life.
The fox elder said, " Jiuyou, I hope you will remember what I am about to say."
Jiuyou was still puzzled, but nodded nonetheless. "Clan leader, please speak."
The old fox continued, "At all times, you must prioritize the survival of the Barbarian Tribe."
"You are a great tree, meant to shelter the remaining Barbarian Tribe from the wind and rain, until they take root and grow into a vast forest."
" Jiuyou, these are all I ask of you."
"If you were still here then... leave the Barbarian Tribe and seek the vast lands of the Land of the Gods, no longer confined to the small Barbarian Tribe."
Jiuyou frowned, increasingly uneasy as he listened. What did he mean by "protecting the remaining people"?
It was clearly a collective ascension, but it was acted like a life-or-death separation.
"Clan leader, is the purpose of gathering everyone in the Demon Suppression Hall not for ascension?"
The old fox chuckled, "Of course it's ascension, but it's for your sake alone."
Jiuyou stood there, stunned.
The old fox rose into the air, and the surrounding halls vanished, replaced by an endless void.
Hundreds of millions of martial artists were separated into individual spaces the size of matchboxes, scattered in all directions.
Upon seeing the clan leader, the unease in everyone's hearts temporarily subsided.
"Clan leader, has the ascension begun?"
The old fox, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful, revealed his true purpose for coming here to the crowd.
When they heard that everyone was to be sacrificed to help the Jiuyou become gods, they couldn't believe it.
Some people were relieved, believing it was the best option that would allow the Barbarian Tribe to continue to survive.
But many more people were angry; they were angry that they had been made fools of and kept in the dark.
Why did the one who became a god have to be Jiuyou, and not himself?
At the same time, Jiuyou's body became extremely stiff.
The news struck him like a bolt from the blue.
All the warriors of the Barbarian Tribe must die, all for the sake of his achievement.
Jiuyou was in a daze, feeling that he had become the sinner who killed everyone.
" Jiuyou, you are the only hope for the future of the Barbarian Tribe; you will be the Barbarian Tribe ' own god."
"From now on, we will no longer have to live in fear of Preacher, nor will we have to fear the tide of Strange God, nor will we have to act according to the whims of the Star God."
Then, the fox elder addressed the warriors, "Gentlemen, the Barbarian Tribe have no other choice now."
"Martial artists should serve the people; this is our responsibility as martial artists."
"I am guilty. I have deceived everyone. I am a sinner of the Barbarian Tribe and will forever be nailed to the pillar of shame in the history of the Barbarian Tribe."
"But you are heroes who ushered in a golden age for the Barbarian Tribe, and your descendants will remember you forever."
Your achievements will be remembered for generations to come and will live on forever!
The martial artists looked at the fox-like old man and each said:
"You old fool, you think I'm afraid of death? I'm angry because you deceived us!"
"Exactly, what's wrong with just saying it directly?"
"So, does that mean we're considered gods among the Barbarian Tribe?"
"Of course, for the Barbarian Tribe!"
"For the Barbarian Tribe!"
"..."
The old fox smiled at Jiuyou and said, "You are a kind child, but sometimes, kindness can be a sign of weakness."
" Jiuyou, the Barbarian Tribe... I'm leaving them to you."
Jiuyou's lips trembled, and his throat went dry, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Rumble--
The Demon Suppression Hall activated its smelting mode, instantly reducing hundreds of millions of martial artists to ashes.
Countless blue streaks of light flew towards the old fox from all directions, weaving a magnificent blue net in the void.
The fox elder activated his Fusion ability, attempting to incorporate so many things into Jiuyou's body; the price he had to pay was bound to be enormous.
He transformed into a beam of light, engulfing everything of the martial artists and engulfing the Jiuyou.