I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Lin Zhenting stood in front of Gu Yan and used his only remaining right hand to assume the starting stance of the Lin family's ancient martial arts.

His legs were shaking, not from fear, but from his injury.

But he did not back down.

"Jinyu has been stubborn since she was a child."

"I can't control her."

"Gu Yan, you're in charge from now on."

Lin Zhenting's voice was calm, as if he were explaining something very ordinary.

"I, as a father, have no other skills."

"I can only buy you a few seconds."

"Tell Jinyu, Dad doesn't regret it."

"Dad likes you very much as a son-in-law."

"The thing I'm most proud of in my life is having her as my daughter."

The third strike of the divine calamity has landed.

Lin Zhenting used his last bit of strength to meet him.

His right fist slammed out, colliding with the palm force of the god-level calamity.

His arm began to shatter from his fingertips, the bones breaking into pieces.

His body was pierced, but he did not retreat.

Just before he fell, he glanced back at the golden figure rushing towards him in the distance.

That's Lin Jinyu.

She cried her heart out, and golden flames exploded behind her, as if to burn through the entire sky.

"father--"

Her shouts were torn apart by the river wind.

Lin Zhenting collapsed next to Chen Sinian.

The two lay side by side on the riverbank, blood seeping from beneath them, forming a thin red line.

The line flowed down the crack in the riverbank and into the river, turning that small patch of water a dark red.

The god-level calamity sighed.

There was no pity in that sigh, only a condescending annoyance.

"Many people have died for you."

it says.

"Let me see, there are a few left."

No sooner had it spoken than someone else stepped forward.

It's Zhang Zihao and Bai Zikong.

Two people stood on either side of Gu Yan, blocking her way.

Zhang Zihao was covered in blood. His talent was limited, and no matter how hard he tried, he could only reach the half-step S level.

His face was covered in ash, but his eyes were bright.

He looked at Gu Yan, a relieved smile spreading across his face.

"Gu Yan".

I've wronged you before.

"I don't have enough talent. I could only reach the half-step S level no matter how hard I practiced."

"I can't be of much help."

"But today, I can die in your place."

"This is probably the only thing I can do for you in my life."

Bai Zikong stood beside him, a smile that was almost fanatical on his face.

His legs were shaking, but he still stood ramrod straight.

"Brother Gu, you are my idol."

"I've always wanted to be like you."

"I, Bai Zikong, would have no regrets if I could die for you today."

The two of them rushed towards the divine calamity at the same time.

Zhang Zihao's punches and Bai Zikong's kicks both used the strongest power they had ever possessed.

Their attack was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot in the face of a god-level calamity, but there was not a trace of hesitation in their eyes.

Their bodies were torn apart, but their voices still echoed over the river.

The sound mingled with the wind, with the sound of water, and in the ears of everyone who was still alive.

Gu Yan knelt on the ground.

Something was stuck in his throat, preventing him from speaking.

He could only watch.

Watching Chen Sinian fall, watching Lin Zhenting fall, watching Zhang Zihao and Bai Zikong fall.

Each one of them died in his place.

They all said they had no regrets.

His fingers were digging so hard into the ground that his nails broke off.

Blood seeped from between his fingers, dripping onto the shattered stone slab.

The god-level calamity looked down at him.

Its voice carried a hint of extremely cruel mockery.

Do you know why you humans are so weak?

"It's because of your pathetic and laughable feelings."

"They rushed forward to give their lives for someone who was destined to die."

"You humans are such boring creatures."

It spread its arms and shouted to the entire battlefield.

"Who else?"

"Who else would be willing to die for this loser?"

The battlefield fell silent for a moment.

Only the river breeze is blowing, and the river water is flowing.

Then, a voice rang out.

"I."

It's Lin Jinyu.

She stood in the distance, her long golden hair dancing in the flames.

Her face was covered in tears, but her voice remained steady.

She walked towards Gu Yan step by step, leaving a burning footprint on the ground with each step.

"I."

It's Pei Yuran.

Her sword was already dulled, but her grip did not loosen.

Ice crystals spread from her sword, covering her entire arm.

"I."

It is Chiyomiya Hanae.

Her kimono was stained red, but she still held her pheasant sword in her hand.

The dark red runes on the blade were dazzlingly bright.

"I."

It's Shen Youyao.

Her pupils switched between brown and blood red, and both personalities spoke at the same time.

Her spiritual power spread out like a wall.

"I."

It's Fu Wanqing.

"I."

It was Fu Shiwei.

And then there's more.

The powerful figures in the god-making project.

Edgar Holt, the Thunder Walker.

Aurora Warrior Lyudmila Ivanova.

Judge of Light Madeline Bernal.

The steel statue of Heinrich Wolf.

Carlos Mendes, the King of the Jungle.

Samuel Nkomo, Lord of Sandstorms.

Rajesh Singh is the incarnation of the monkey god.

Demon Blade Kirishima Kun.

Jack Hartman, the Abyss Lancer.

They stepped forward one by one.

Then there were the soldiers on the river embankment.

The gunners in the trenches.

The pilots in the cockpit.

The nurses in the medical team.

The cooks in the kitchen.

Throughout the battlefield, the voices of thousands upon thousands converged into a torrent.

"Me! Me! Me!"

The torrent shook the river water backward, caused the black tide to retreat, and even made the dark clouds in the sky part slightly.

Sunlight streamed through the crack, falling on everyone who called out "I".

Those people included the old and the young, men and women, superhumans and ordinary people.

Their faces were covered in tears, blood, and ash, but their eyes shone brightly.

It was so bright it looked like it was going to burn through the sky that had been ruled by the Black Tide for too long.

For the first time, the expression on the face of the god-level calamity changed.

It looked at the sea of ​​dark people, at those covered in blood yet still marching forward.

A faint hint of irritation flashed in its golden left eye, while the killing intent in its purple right eye intensified.

"boring."

it says.

"Since you all want to die, then you can all die."

"But first and foremost, it's you."

It raised its hand and slapped Gu Yan.

This palm strike was heavier than any of the previous blows.

Wherever the palm strike passed, all the stone slabs on the riverbank were blown away, and the river water was forced to split to both sides.

Gu Yan did not dodge.

He knew he couldn't avoid it.

But the moment that palm struck, he felt something churning wildly inside his body.

Those who died in his place, those who cried out "I," their remaining spiritual energy, their will, their beliefs, their resentment, their anger—all surged into his body in that instant.

His spiritual power was surging, like a sea that had been set ablaze.

Every drop of seawater is burning, every wave is roaring.