Novels online

Chapter 1543: Battle for Apotheosis (Part Five)

Due to the Talisman Ancestor's restraint, the Death God was unable to directly act against Yang Haoran. Thus, even if the Death God didn't want to see Yang Haoran ascend to a God Position, he could only place his hopes on others.

Previously, the Death God hadn't been anxious, because he didn't believe Yang Haoran could reach the summit of the Apotheosis Platform. But now, he was somewhat perturbed. Yang Haoran was already not far from the God Position; even if each step was incredibly arduous, the Death God couldn't definitively say Yang Haoran wouldn't reach the top. The situation was already extremely disadvantageous for his side, and if Yang Haoran were to ascend the Apotheosis Platform, it would become even more dire.

“Under no circumstances can Yang Haoran be allowed to ascend the Apotheosis Platform. Use every possible means to stop him immediately! Whoever slays Yang Haoran will be richly rewarded! ”

The Death God’s voice, cold and laced with intense killing intent, rang out. Though lacking powerful destructive force, it possessed a miraculous power that cut through all the explosions, clearly piercing into everyone’s ears.

“Protect Yang Haoran! Absolutely no one is to disturb him from obtaining the God Position! ”

No sooner had the Death God's words fallen than the Talisman Ancestor issued his own command. He knew what the Death God feared, and what it would mean if Yang Haoran acquired the God Position. The Death God didn't want Yang Haoran to become a god, but he was precisely the opposite. The Death God wanted to prevent Yang Haoran from continuing his ascent, and naturally, the Talisman Ancestor wouldn't let the Death God have his way.

In truth, both the Death God and the Talisman Ancestor knew Yang Haoran's name. However, they had never addressed him directly, for they disdained to do so. To put it bluntly, they had never truly acknowledged Yang Haoran. The reason was simple: Yang Haoran was not a god. No matter how powerful he became, he was still just a person, fundamentally different from true gods like themselves. Compared to ordinary mortals, Yang Haoran was merely a slightly larger ant. As true gods, how could they possibly lower themselves to acknowledge Yang Haoran as an equal?

Now, the situation was different. From the current trajectory, if nothing unforeseen occurred, Yang Haoran truly might reach the summit and obtain a God Position. At that point, Yang Haoran's status would be the same as theirs—that of a true god. It was precisely for this reason that their attitude towards Yang Haoran had begun to shift.

A great reward breeds brave men, but that also depends on the circumstances. In the current situation, despite the Death God's command, it had no effect whatsoever. It wasn't that the Yin Division's forces dared to defy the Death God's order, nor that the Death God's promise held no allure for them. Rather, their hearts were willing, but their strength was insufficient. Their side was already at a disadvantage, and the sudden addition of the Great Night Empire's forces had completely suppressed them. They were barely able to cope with the Yin Division's assault, let alone spare any effort to attack Yang Haoran.

On the Apotheosis Platform, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader, under the Spirit Master False God's assault, still managed to close some distance with Yang Haoran. But it was only some distance. The higher one climbed on the Apotheosis Platform, the greater the pressure, and thus Yang Haoran's speed became increasingly sluggish. Logically, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader should have closed more than just some distance with Yang Haoran, yet this was the reality.

This situation arose entirely because the Power of Faith imbued in the Demon Hunter Guild Leader was still too weak. Compared to Yang Haoran, the gap in their Power of Faith was not insignificant. Therefore, while Yang Haoran could easily traverse the steps, it was extremely difficult for him. Furthermore, Yang Haoran had set foot on the Apotheosis Platform earlier, hadn't rested once in between, and hadn't suffered any attacks. In contrast, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader had to constantly fend off attacks from the Spirit Master False God behind him. Thus, while Yang Haoran was already nearing the summit of the Apotheosis Platform, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader had only covered half the distance before he could no longer move.

At this moment, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader's face was contorted in a grimace, his entire body trembling. The beads of sweat on his face were no less, and perhaps even more, than Yang Haoran's. The pressure exerted by the Apotheosis Platform was simply too immense, pushing his physical body to its absolute limit.

He didn't want to give up; he still yearned to continue ascending like Yang Haoran. However, he had no choice but to concede, for the Spirit Master False God relentlessly attacked from behind. Although the Spirit Master False God's strength was no longer what it once was, it still brought considerable negative impact. Coupled with the increasing pressure with each step, persisting in his climb under such circumstances would only lead to certain death.

Moreover, he had only climbed halfway up the Apotheosis Platform, and his physical body was already on the verge of collapsing. This indicated that the Power of Faith augmenting him was still far from sufficient. With half the steps of the Apotheosis Platform remaining, he absolutely could not reach the summit. Forget reaching the summit, he couldn't even attain Yang Haoran's current height.

Though unwilling, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader had no choice but to give up. Knowing full well that success was completely impossible, that there wasn't even a shred of a chance, he wouldn't be foolish enough to court death. Stubbornly continuing to ascend the Apotheosis Platform wouldn't be bravery; it would be stupidity.

At the same time, the Spirit Master False God also made a decision in his heart: to completely abandon this contention for a God Position.

Don't be fooled by the pleasant words the Spirit Master False God had previously spoken to Yang Haoran. In truth, he had been secretly hoping for Yang Haoran's failure to obtain the God Position, so that he might have a legitimate opportunity to succeed him and become the new inheritor of the God Position.

However, at this moment, he clearly understood that he couldn't achieve this. Even if Yang Haoran failed to acquire the God Position, he wouldn't be able to become the new inheritor, because the Power of Faith he possessed was insufficient to reach the summit. He had overlooked this point before, and only after stepping onto the Apotheosis Platform, as the pressure intensified with each upward step, did he realize that the Power of Faith augmenting him simply wouldn't allow him to reach the top. Thus, he could only choose to give up.

The reason his Power of Faith was insufficient was that he had lost many followers over the years. This had not only prevented his Power of Faith from increasing but had also caused it to diminish significantly compared to before.

After making this decision, the Spirit Master False God only wished to fully assist Yang Haoran in acquiring the God Position. After all, Yang Haoran had signed a forbidden art contract with him, and once Yang Haoran became a god, the benefits for him would be immense. The next time the Apotheosis Platform reappeared, his chances of obtaining a God Position would be extremely high. If he still had hope of becoming a god this time, he would absolutely not have gone all out to help Yang Haoran. But since there was no hope of becoming a god, fully assisting Yang Haoran in achieving godhood was the most correct course of action.

After making his decision, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader immediately chose to withdraw from the Apotheosis Platform. Remaining on the platform would subject him to immense negative effects from its pressure, potentially even endangering his life. Withdrawing from the Apotheosis Platform's sphere of influence would significantly lessen the impact, making him much safer.

Seeing the Demon Hunter Guild Leader withdraw from the Apotheosis Platform, the Spirit Master False God understood why he had made that decision. He glanced at Yang Haoran, still climbing, then at the God Position at the very top. Despite countless regrets in his heart, he still chose to leave the Apotheosis Platform's sphere of influence, just like the Demon Hunter Guild Leader.

The two of them, one after the other, departed the Apotheosis Platform's sphere of influence. The instant they stepped out, both felt their bodies become incredibly light, as if a colossal mountain pressing down on them had vanished into thin air. Although they still felt the pressure emanating from the Apotheosis Platform, because they were no longer within its immediate sphere, the pressure was minimal and wouldn't significantly affect their movements or bodies.

After leaving the Apotheosis Platform's sphere of influence, the Demon Hunter Guild Leader, without a word, flew towards Yang Haoran's position above. The higher one went on the Apotheosis Platform, the greater the pressure—this held true whether inside or outside its sphere of influence. The difference was that outside the Apotheosis Platform's sphere, with the Demon Hunter Guild Leader's strength, he could fully withstand this pressure, and it wouldn't significantly affect him. However, if he were still within the Apotheosis Platform's sphere, he wouldn't be able to rapidly leap up the steps and approach Yang Haoran at such speed.

In the blink of an eye, Yang Haoran entered the Demon Hunter Guild Leader's attack range. The Demon Hunter Guild Leader's assault then slammed towards Yang Haoran. With his hopes of becoming a god dashed this time, he naturally did not wish for Yang Haoran to successfully acquire the God Position. Both publicly and privately, such an outcome was unacceptable. Therefore, the very first thing he did after breaking free from the Apotheosis Platform's sphere of influence was to launch an attack on Yang Haoran, preventing him from continuing his ascent.

Seeing this, the Spirit Master False God tried to intervene, but his attack was effortlessly neutralized by the Demon Hunter Guild Leader, having no significant effect whatsoever, let alone successfully stopping him!