Chapter 836 - Your Face Stopped Hurting?

With the bandit threat resolved, Han Wu returned to the palace aboard the ship and reported the situation.

When Zhan Fanyin saw him return unharmed, a flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes. He had genuinely hoped Han Wu would die in the battle. That way, he could pursue Qin Shuang without interference.

Zhan Fanyin scoffed. “

Hmph

! You’re harder to kill than I thought.”

Han Wu chuckled. “Not me. You’re the hard one to kill.”

He then turned to He Xu, “I’ve confirmed it. The Ghost Bear Bandits were robbers in name only. Their real mission was to assassinate Zhan Fanyin.”

He Xu nodded. He had already expected the journey to be filled with incidents. They were already past the halfway point of the route, and this was only the first assassination attempt. Overall, things were progressing relatively smoothly.

“Good work, Junior Brother Han Wu. Did you discover who sent the bandits to carry out the assassination?” He Xu asked.

Han Wu shook his head. “No. Ghost Bear, the one leading them, didn’t know who was behind it either.”

Zhan Fanyin snorted with laughter. “I don't think you failed to find out who ordered it. You’re just pretending to create a sense of danger, so I’ll think I need your protection.”

Han Wu and He Xu looked at Zhan Fanyin simultaneously, both wearing the same faintly pitying expression. They were Major Gods in the Divine Civilization. While neither stood at the absolute peak, they were still far above ordinary people, as distant as the sky from the earth. They had no time to play such pointless games with Zhan Fanyin.

“Prince Fanyin, I trust Han Wu’s character. He would never joke about something like this. I ask that you show proper respect to the people protecting your safety,” He Xu said.

Zhan Fanyin didn’t take it to heart, though he at least refrained from arguing further while in He Xu’s presence.

Han Wu continued, “I also learned something else from Ghost Bear. The person who hired them wore a mask, but they had a clove flower tattoo on their face—”

“You’re lying!” Zhan Fanyin cried, rushing forward to seize Han Wu by the collar while glaring into his eyes.

From his reaction alone, Zhan Fanyin clearly recognised that person.

“Whether I’m lying or not, you already know the truth. Let go of me,” Han Wu said calmly.

He had no interest in involving himself in disputes over tattooed strangers. Anyone who dared to interfere with his mission would be dealt with accordingly. Once they reached the Battleborn Civilization and delivered their escort target to the palace, he would gather the Titan Stone and push his Duel Jurisdiction to its absolute peak.

“Apologize to my brother, Yuwen, for slandering him!” Zhan Fanyin said, each word deliberate. His expression suggested that he would bite Han Wu if the apology didn’t come.

Han Wu turned to He Xu. “He brought this on himself. You saw it.”

He Xu covered his face helplessly.

Han Wu took that as permission and slapped Zhan Fanyin hard across the face. He kept slapping him as he said, “I think you’ve forgotten your place. You want me to apologize? Sounds like you want to be the one apologizing.

“Your brother wants you dead, and you refuse to accept that. That’s your problem, not mine. Don’t think your good looks will stop me from hitting you. What’s this? Your face stopped hurting already? Let me fix that for you.”

After seven consecutive slaps, Zhan Fanyin’s handsome face became swollen and red again.

He Xu finally coughed. “Junior Brother Han Wu, that’s enough. Keep going, and you’ll kill him.”

Han Wu stopped. “Develop some judgment and stop provoking people you can’t handle. Your strength is what it is. I’m already holding back. One real hit from me would finish you.”

Zhan Fanyin covered his face, humiliation and helplessness written across his expression. He had assumed that He Xu would step in and stop Han Wu. Instead, he had sided with Han Wu. Not a single person on the ship was on his side.

He Xu sighed and tried to console him as well. “Han Wu has a sharp temper, so stop provoking him. As for that brother of yours... keep your guard up. We’re from the Divine Civilization, so we don’t understand the Battleborn Civilization’s internal affairs. Still, the intel Junior Brother Han Wu gathered leaves little room for error. Whether it’s true or not is for you to judge.”

His advice never reached Zhan Fanyin. The only thing on his mind now was how to get away from He Xu’s group as quickly as possible. He genuinely feared that Han Wu would one day beat his handsome face beyond repair.

The ship continued onward. Han Wu’s impressive performance against the bandits had earned him the respect of every Demigod on board. In any era, the strong were revered.

During his spare time, Han Wu continued refining his Divine Authority weapons. Divine Authority 1 had been fully forged. His next target was Divine Authority 2.

Divine Authority 2 carried the essence of life, light, creation, and peace. It was clearly ill-suited for use as a weapon. An unsuitable form would only diminish the Divine Authority weapon’s effectiveness and introduce weak traits.

Han Wu couldn’t allow that. For several days, he repeatedly turned the problem over in his mind, searching for the right approach to shaping Divine Authority 2.

Five days later, the ship entered the Battleborn Civilization’s territory.

As outsiders entering the civilization, they were subject to restrictions imposed by its Will. Demigods who entered would have their strength reduced to the level of ordinary people, so He Xu didn’t bring the Demigod crew inside. He left them behind to guard the ship and wait. The only ones entering the Battleborn Civilization were He Xu, Han Wu, Qin Shuang, and their escort target, Prince Zhan Fanyin.

Once they confirmed their entry point, the four entered together. The moment they crossed the Battleborn Civilization’s boundary, He Xu, Han Wu, and Qin Shuang all felt an immediate change. Their connection to their divine realms had been sealed.

Han Wu, a World powerhouse, could still summon his Microcosm despite the suppression, but he could no longer call out any units from within it.

Their individual abilities, Divine Aspects, Divine Authorities, and Divine Jurisdictions weren’t restricted, which came as an unexpected bonus. Their personal combat strength stayed largely intact, so they remained powerful.

Unlike the other three, Zhan Fanyin was returning to his home civilization, so his strength surged dramatically as a result. A magnificent totem appeared on his back: an iron throne forged from countless swords. It looked savage and imposing at the same time.

This was the power wielded by the Battlecraze Empire’s royal family, the Iron Throne Totem. With it, Zhan Fanyin’s strength leapt from the Sage rank straight to the Heavenrender rank.

The surge of power filled him with confidence. Once again, he felt unstoppable and turned to Han Wu. “I challenge you. If you lose, you’ll leave Qin Shuang forever.”

Huh

? Han Wu stared at him in confusion.

Did his brain break the moment he stepped back onto his home soil?

“Your face stopped hurting?”

That single remark made Zhan Fanyin explode with rage. “That was then. This is now. I’ll defeat you with my noble Iron Throne Totem and make you lose without complaint.”

Han Wu understood now.

He truly believes he can win.

“Fine. Come on. I’ll fight you with only one arm. Otherwise, I’ll feel like I’m bullying you,” Han Wu said confidently. He was curious to see just how strong the Battleborn Civilization’s core power actually was.

“You’ll pay for your arrogance.” Zhan Fanyin growled. Behind him, the Iron Throne Totem solidified into physical form.