Chapter 59: Activation – The Trap of the Deification Altar (Part Two)

Ever since the appearance of the Lunar Priestess, who took the initiative to chant the incantation and send the magical artifact, One Finger Moon, soaring into the air, Xius knew that the opposition would not back down easily. Moreover, relying on himself alone, he could not possibly stop both adversaries, and even his own life was at risk should they join forces against him.

Yet his resolute gaze revealed an unwavering determination not to retreat. “Little Feng, you must leave now. This place is about to become extremely dangerous.”

Everyone present had witnessed the power unleashed by the Five Champions, but none had expected that even a slight difference would force Gu Feng to use spatial teleportation magic to escape. The might of the Five Champions was beyond what mortals should possess.

However, Gu Feng had no intention of leaving. He stood proudly and declared, “What are you saying? How can you handle two people alone? I’ll stay and help you!”

“Hmph, what’s the point of you staying alone? We’ll all join in!” The speaker was Wood, who had just fed the miraculous bean to Mu Siyu, saving her life at last. The bean truly lived up to its reputation; her grievous wounds healed instantly upon consuming it. Yet, Mu Siyu had suffered those injuries for Wood’s sake, and rage burned in his heart, his eyes blazing as he stared fiercely at the Demon Emperor.

“Master, the disparity in strength is too great—I advise against taking action,” Fearless One warned.

“There are some things that must be done, even when one knows they cannot be accomplished.”

“Well said! Let’s fight together!” Baldhead called out boisterously.

Zigui spoke helplessly, “Damn it, Lu Daoxuan, we really can’t just stand by. If anything happens to them, we’ll be in trouble too!” He referred to the contract they all signed, marked by the seal of the covenant. If any member died, the seal would fail and the skills of all team members would permanently lose twenty percent of their power.

Yet before Lu Daoxuan could respond, a melodious voice drifted down from the mountaintop: “Xius, since they wish to ascend, let them come.”

Xius hesitated, “But—”

“Hmph, since when do experts of our level need to take orders? Xius, you’re really growing backward!” The Lunar Celestial Maiden mocked.

Ignoring her taunts, Xius replied calmly, “I know what I’m doing. But do you truly understand your own intentions?”

“Hehe… How could I not know what I want?” She pointed at the summit. “Once we step up there, we will be among the first after the ancient magical civilization to be bestowed with divinity. Aren’t you tempted? I simply do not understand why you guard this place—do you wish to watch others ascend to godhood?”

“Godhood…?” Xius smiled strangely. “Are you certain the Divine Altar can truly grant divinity?”

His words surprised everyone present. The Demon Emperor Kalan responded, “Xius, don’t try to shake my resolve. If we miss this chance to become gods, survival will be almost impossible.”

“Very well. If you don’t see for yourselves, you’ll never give up.” Xius sighed. “Follow me.” With those words, he took the lead up the mountain.

The peak was not high. Wood estimated it to be rather modest. With no one hindering them, the group easily flew up, each using their own methods.

At the summit was a platform, barren except for its surface, which was covered in strange runes. They reminded Wood of the arrays Gu Feng had drawn before, and he realized this must be the so-called Divine Altar.

Standing at the edge of the magical array were several exquisitely handsome men, each carrying a longbow and a sword at their waist. Wood noted their ears were much sharper than ordinary humans, their bodies slender and elegant, and their attire markedly different from the mainland’s fashions, decorated with patterns of butterflies, trees, and various motifs.

“These are elves,” Gu Feng explained as he noticed Wood’s interest. “One of the most mysterious races on the continent. Regardless of gender, they are incomparably beautiful. Some nobles even delight in collecting elven maidens as slaves.”

Wood nodded, but his attention was drawn to the center of the array, where a woman dressed in dazzling garments danced. She wore ten gemstone rings, each a different color, and gold bands adorned her ankles and wrists. Her movements were lithe and her fingers agile, like a graceful serpent. Though she danced, her eyes betrayed caution and tension; sweat had soaked her thin clothing, making everything beneath barely discernible. As beads of sweat slid over her honeyed skin and pooled between her swaying, voluptuous breasts, her chest became the focal point.

Seeing Wood stare unblinkingly at the dancer, Gu Feng whispered with a laugh, “What, fancy this elven woman? Judging by her attire, she’s probably the high priestess of the elves—hardly an easy conquest.”

Wood shook his head. What he noticed was that, even without music, the dance followed a certain rhythm, gathering immense magical power into the space. Wood, able to commune with the world’s energy, sensed clearly how the magic shifted with her steps. Soon, the high priestess bent one leg and stepped forward with the other, as if walking on water like a celestial maiden. That step into the void, light as it was, triggered massive waves of magic, rippling invisibly through the air in all directions.

In an instant, all the strong present felt the impact—but the power was not directed at them. Instead, it enveloped the entire mountain. The high priestess’s sudden move startled many, leaving them puzzled.

“All right, the first seal is complete!” The woman finally stopped dancing, her breath ragged as if the performance had drained all her strength.

“Thank you for your effort, Xius.” She addressed him, then glanced at the others.

“Fay Julia, Honorable Great Sage—” The two women, both wise and possessed of prophetic abilities, met in this strange space. It was clear they were not strangers.

“Audrey Tautou, High Priestess, are you setting up a seal?” the Great Sage asked curiously.

“Yes. But before I explain, allow me first to apologize to Mr. Gu,” Audrey Tautou looked at Shui Rou’er. “Shui Rou’er acted inappropriately this time. I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against her.”

Gu Feng shook his head. “Such a trivial matter hardly warrants an apology from the elves’ high priestess. I’ll handle it myself.”

Audrey Tautou smiled, “So Mr. Gu accepts. Then, as a future master of the Five Champions, respected by all, our elven clan wishes to become friends with you.”

“Heh, I’d be delighted to be friends with the elves!” Gu Feng replied calmly. “But business is business—Shui Rou’er’s actions I’ll discuss with her myself.”

Hearing this, Shui Rou’er, who had followed, turned pale. She had originally hoped to use this opportunity to eliminate the empire’s holy mages, but her scheme had backfired, likely endangering her own kingdom instead.

Audrey Tautou sighed and looked to the Demon Emperor. “Emperor Kalan, Lunar Priestess, you’ve arrived, and even sent One Finger Moon into the sky. Clearly you’re fully prepared for godhood.”

“If you know my intention, step aside.” The Demon Emperor radiated a terrifying aura, pointing at Audrey Tautou. “Don’t think I won’t touch you just because you’re the elves’ high priestess. Anyone who blocks my path dies!”

The elves outside the array, seeing the Demon Emperor’s power surge, knew that if he acted, the consequences would be earth-shattering. Quickly, they moved to shield the high priestess.

“Among the Five Champions, besides Xius, who else can stand against you? Step aside, all of you!” Audrey Tautou walked out from the elven protection and spoke sincerely, “I do not mean to block your path to godhood. There are reasons beyond my control. Please, listen to me in full.”

Were Xius not present, the Demon Emperor and Lunar Celestial Maiden would have acted long ago, caring little for others. But with a peer among them, they hesitated, choosing to listen.

“Our elven race, compared to humans, possesses long lifespans. Because of this, we have secret archives unknown to mankind. I won’t elaborate on the downfall of the ancient magical civilization—you all know about it. But the Divine Altar holds a great secret.”

“The Divine Altar is said to be a channel through which gods select mortal champions to replenish the divine realm. Once one reaches a certain level of cultivation, passing the gods’ trial at the altar grants eternal life, divine power, and elevates one to the ranks of the gods.”

“Yet, earning the gods’ approval through one’s own power is exceedingly difficult. Even during the height of the ancient magical civilization, only a handful succeeded. To be blunt, according to our clan’s secret records, not even the three Five Champions have reached the threshold required by the gods.”

Everyone was shocked. If even the Five Champions fell short, the requirements for godhood must be unimaginable.

Audrey Tautou continued, “But godhood is too alluring—everyone desires immortality. In those days, the ancient magical civilization reached an unimaginable pinnacle. Unable to attain godhood through power alone, people sought other methods.”

“At that time, a magical genius spent over a hundred years researching, and with the support of the ancient empire’s emperor, discovered the altar’s greatest secret: the Divine Altar is actually a passage between realms. He believed that by opening this channel, even those without sufficient power could become gods. But the gods’ barriers are not so easily breached, and the passage does not lead only to the divine realm…”