Han Wu had researched the totems while in the Battleborn Civilization. In doing so, he learned that a totem was created by choosing a particular being or object as a target of worship and imprinting its image.

The resulting image was the totem. Holders of a totem could borrow a portion of the totem’s power for combat or support.

Their nature bore similarities to the Divine Civilization’s divine realm. The aspect of units worshiping their Gods was similar to the Battleborn Civilization’s humans revering their totems.

The Battleborn Civilization’s Will was essentially a blank canvas with no totem imprinted on it. After some contemplation, Han Wu decided to imprint his own image onto the Will and fuse it into the Laws of his Origin Microcosm.

As the Law took effect, every living being within the Origin Microcosm felt a resonance. Their totems awakened. In an instant, a totem bearing Han Wu’s likeness appeared behind every living creature in the Origin Microcosm, allowing them to receive various forms of assistance from Han Wu.

Some were enhanced with Divine Skills, while others were granted partial usage rights to certain Divine Weapons. They could even summon a clone infused with Han Wu’s power to deliver a devastating strike. The stronger the summoner, the stronger the clone.

With the power of the totem, every unit in the Origin Microcosm received a significant boost. Pleased, Han Wu considered his remaining resources. He needed to convert them into strength as quickly as possible.

***

Over ninety percent of the Divine Civilization’s war fanatics were gathered at the Divine Civilization’s War Camp, the headquarters of the War Faction. The God King of War, Zhong Heng, had just summoned all members of the Major God rank and above for a meeting.

“So, the Butcher killed himself?” the God King of War asked in a low voice.

Several Major Gods below him nodded vigorously as they frantically defended themselves.

“Chief, this really wasn’t our fault. That kid Han Wu was too powerful. We couldn’t stop him!”

“Chief, it’s not that we’re too weak. The enemy was just too strong.”

“The Butcher couldn’t kill Xu Hai. That’s his own failure.”

A thunderous slam cut them off. The table splintered into pieces from Zhong Heng’s strike. The Major Gods immediately shut their mouths. Nobody dared provoke him.

“A group of soldiers, and you couldn’t beat one teacher leading a bunch of students? You’ve brought dishonor to the War Faction!” Zhong Heng snarled.

None of the Major Gods below dared to speak.

“Just looking at you lot makes me sick.” The God King of War sneered. “Leave. I don’t care whether it’s to pioneer new territories in foreign civilizations or to fight for resources in the Heaven Stair Civilization. Either way, I don’t want to see your faces for the next three years.”

“Thank you for your mercy, Chief.” The Major Gods hastily bowed in gratitude before scurrying out, ready to depart for foreign civilizations.

In their view, the God King of War was already being generous in not killing them. After all, their failure had cost the War Faction a God King!

Zhong Heng’s mood improved slightly after the Major Gods previously under the Butcher left.

“Get me a full report on Han Wu and send it to my tent,” he ordered the remaining Major Gods at the meeting. “The Butcher’s death will not go unanswered! His death means his War Family has no successor, but the Three Armies cannot have a vacancy. Which family is stepping up to fill it?”

The remaining Major Gods at the meeting grew excited. The War Faction controlled the Three Armies and the Thirteen War Families.

The Thirteen War Families were thirteen clans devoted to cultivating the War Aspect. They formed the War Faction’s foundation, with over sixty percent of the faction’s members coming from these families.

The Three Armies were the three most powerful and wealthy forces within the War Faction. Previously, the Butcher, Pious, and Evilspawn led the Three Armies, with the Butcher being both the strongest and also the first among them to ascend into a God King.

Zhong Heng felt it a genuine shame that he had not been able to grow further, but the War Faction would not decline because of one man’s death. His position needed to be filled.

“Chief, let’s fight for it! Open the Grand War Games. Whoever comes out on top earns the Three Armies seat.”

“Fight! Fight!”

“My battle-axe is thirsting for blood!”

A smile crossed the God King of War’s face at the fervent fighting spirit of those below. “Very well. Let’s fight. The Three Armies seat isn’t won with words, but through warfare.”

Thus began the War Faction’s grand event, the Grand War Games.

Wanting to select the strongest candidate, Zhong Heng expanded the selection pool beyond the War Faction to the entire Divine Civilization. The War Faction viewed anyone with the War Aspect as practically half a member already.

News of the Grand War Games quickly became the hottest news across the Divine Civilization’s media outlets, second only to the results of the divine war between the Slaughter God King and the Wisdom God King.

Many of those with a War Aspect signed up, regardless of whether they held positions in other factions. The chance to lead one of the Three Armies was simply too lucrative to pass up. The War Faction’s resources were split in half, with the Three Armies taking the first half and the rest being distributed among all other members.

Moreover, the War Faction didn’t care about one’s background. As long as you could fight, you were a brother. There were no downsides either, as while other factions never publicly endorsed their members holding concurrent positions in the War Faction, they had never forbidden it either.

Han Wu was in closed cultivation when his best friend Sun Qingnian came knocking with this news.

Sun Qingnian held up a poster and waved it in front of Han Wu’s face. “Han Wu, I think you should enter the Grand War Games!”

Han Wu frowned the moment he spotted the bold “War Faction” text on the poster. He had just fought a battle against the War Faction not long ago. Entering their tournament seemed a bit rash.

“Forget it. I’ve got plenty of enemies in the War Faction. Going there would just invite trouble.”

“Han Wu, you’re wrong. The rules of the Grand War Games don’t allow War Faction members to gang up on you. If you win the Three Armies title, you’ll not only gain massive resources but also resolve your conflict with the War Faction from the root. The God King of War can’t exactly watch his own people fight each other.”

Though tempted, Han Wu remained hesitant. “I’m already the Holy Son of the Death Faction and the Wisdom Faction. Joining a third faction doesn’t seem right.”

“Listen to me,” Sun Qingnian urged. “You have to enter the Grand War Games. Xu Hai won’t criticize you if you win the Three Armies title. In fact, he’ll probably praise you for being both brave and clever! The God King of Death might even create a whole new branch on the Death Faction’s roster just for you! Just trust me. I’m studying journalism now. Would I lie to you?”[1]

Han Wu couldn’t help but believe Sun Qingnian’s earnestness.

1. First girls, now guys, next up, xenos ☜