Chapter 555 - 330: Heart Sword Slaying the Ape, Laying the Foundation for the Divine Path

"General! Advisor Han is back!"

Before the words could fade, a piercing sonic boom tore through the air, approaching from the distance.

Everyone rushed out of the command center and looked up.

A silver meteor streaked across the sky, executed a graceful mid-air hover, and landed steadily on the helipad.

The Void Ghost Crab’s eight compound eyes lit up, and the heavy weight on its mind was finally lifted.

’He’s back! He actually made it back while being hunted by a monster like Qing Shan! The gamble paid off!’

Han Feng retracted his Spirit Armor and walked slowly into the command center. His expression was normal, though his face was a little pale.

"It’s handled."

Han Feng walked into the command center, his face a little pale, but his tone was calm.

"I ’reasoned’ with their leader. It thought I had a point, so it took its people and left."

The entire command center instantly fell dead silent.

Gu Jian and the others stared at Han Feng with their mouths agape, looking at him as if he were an Immortal.

Ye Jinghong’s pupils, however, suddenly contracted. He wasn’t fooled by the casual "reasoned."

Instead, he strode forward, his sharp gaze locked on Han Feng’s eyes, and asked in a low voice:

"Are you injured? Was the cost high?"

His question cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"My Divine Soul is a bit drained, and I’ve used up all my trump cards. I’ll be fine after some rest," Han Feng admitted openly, not hiding anything.

Turbulent waves crashed in Ye Jinghong’s heart. He knew better than anyone the weight behind the words "Divine Soul is drained."

That meant Han Feng had directly confronted a Tier Four Peak Divine in its own area of expertise—and won!

He looked at Han Feng, his expression complex.

He had originally thought Han Feng was just a "Surprise Troop" with exceptional technical skills and decent personal combat strength.

But now, it seemed he had gravely underestimated this person.

Single-handedly forcing the retreat of an elite legion led by a Tier Four Peak Divine.

Such a battle record could no longer be described as merely "decent."

"Good. Well done!"

Ye Jinghong clapped Han Feng heavily on the shoulder, his admiration unconcealed.

"Advisor Han, you’ve saved us once again."

"It’s part of the job," Han Feng said with a wave of his hand.

But Ye Jinghong shook his head, his expression incredibly solemn.

"No, this is not just ’part of the job.’"

He pointed to Gu Jian and the others in the tent, then to himself. "We are soldiers. It is our sworn duty to protect our home and country."

"But you are not. You’re an external advisor. You can leave the battlefield at any time."

"Yet you have chosen to share these risks with us time and time again. This is a debt I, Ye Jinghong, will remember."

"Advisor Han, please get some rest." Ye Jinghong gestured for Han Feng to sit, then turned his gaze to the Void Ghost Crab.

"Crab God, can the ritual to convert the prisoners begin?"

"Of course, anytime, Lord Military God," the Void Ghost Crab answered humbly.

With the crisis temporarily averted, the gloom in Ye Jinghong’s eyes vanished, replaced by a burning ambition and will to fight.

He turned and issued an order to all the officers in the tent.

"The retreat plan is canceled! Relay my command: begin the ’Divine Grace Festival’ immediately!"

"Before nightfall, I want all twenty thousand of these Snake Lizard People to become my most devout believers!"

Soon, the square in the center of the base was cleared.

More than twenty thousand Snake Lizard People prisoners were herded into the middle of the square, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

Ye Jinghong, clad in his Red Gold Battle Armor, stepped onto a high platform.

"Your old god has abandoned you! From this day forward, I will be your one and only master!"

He wasted no more words and, following the Technique taught by the Void Ghost Crab, began to perform a miracle.

He raised a hand and pointed, and strands of golden Divine Power fell like a fine drizzle.

The wounds of the Snake Lizard People who had been injured in battle began to heal at a visible rate.

Even some severed limbs slowly regenerated amidst the golden light.

"A miracle! It’s a miracle!"

Incredulous gasps erupted from the prisoners, their fearful gazes gradually turning to reverence and fanaticism.

Ye Jinghong’s gaze swept across the entire assembly, his voice booming like a great bell.

"Believe in me, and you shall have long life! Serve me, and you shall have power!"

As he spoke, he channeled his Divine Power again, selected a few of the strongest Snake Lizard People leaders, and cast "Military Decree."

The chosen leaders felt a vast power surge into their bodies, and their strength instantly skyrocketed.

Feeling the unprecedented power within them, they fell to their knees without hesitation, crying out the name "Military God."

The power of an example is limitless.

Awed by the miracle and spurred on by their comrades, more and more Snake Lizard People knelt and offered up their faith.

Above the square, a massive amount of Power of Faith converged into a golden river, flowing endlessly into the Divine Crystal within Ye Jinghong’s body.

Han Feng stood in the distance, activated his [Eye of Insight], and watched the scene with great interest.

Above Ye Jinghong’s head, the pillar of golden light representing his Destiny was, under the torrent of the Power of Faith, visibly growing thicker and more solid.

Meanwhile, the [Borrowed Path Sword Seed] that Han Feng had personally planted within him was also frantically absorbing nutrients, its progress bar shooting up.

’Not bad. A qualified worker,’ Han Feng thought with a satisfied nod.

The festival lasted for a full two hours.

When the last wisp of the Power of Faith merged into his body, Ye Jinghong’s aura suddenly surged.

He had successfully used the festival to solidify his Divine Format from a "Military God Proto" to the Tier Four Middle Stage!

He felt the surging Divine Power within him, but there was no trace of joy on his face. Instead, he quickly walked over to Han Feng.

"Advisor Han, your contribution this time was immense, yet I have little to repay you with."

"Things like Contribution Points are of little meaning to those at our level."

Ye Jinghong’s expression was serious. "I learned a unique method from the Crab God, one exclusive to the Divine."

"It won’t set you on the Divine Dao, but it’s a pure blessing that can significantly strengthen the recipient’s physical foundation."

"Oh?" Han Feng’s interest was piqued.

Although he possessed the Innate Sword Body, its progress was slow.

’If this thing can upgrade my Sword Body to a High Level, my future cultivation speed will increase even further.’

"This technique is called [Divine Blood War Body]. It requires me to burn the origin of my own Divinity to perform a baptism for you."

"The process will be extremely painful, but if you succeed, your physical body’s strength will undergo a qualitative leap. You may even gain some of the recovery abilities of a Divine creature."

Ye Jinghong’s gaze was incredibly sincere. "This technique is extremely draining for me, and I can only perform it once in a short period of time."

"But the debt I owe you is worth it."

"Are you willing to accept?"