379: Rewards for national destiny—do you think they're based on heritage and background?!

"Ding! Congratulations to the Xia Nation team! You have successfully killed the final BOSS — Abyssal Demon Lord · Avatar Projection (LV99 · Demigod)!"

"Full Announcement! The Xia Nation team has achieved the first kill! Obtained SSS-level rating!"

"Reward calculation in progress..."

As the system prompt faded, a massive torrent of experience poured into Su Mo and the women's bodies!

This was a cross-level kill of a demigod!

And it was under the 300% experience bonus from [Blessing of the Gods]! This experience value was simply an astronomical number!

"Buzz —!"

Blinding golden light instantly lit up on Su Mo's body.

"Congratulations! Level increased to LV66!"

"Congratulations! Level increased to LV67!"

...

"Congratulations! Level increased to LV75 (Level cap for Second Awakening)!"

"Detected that you have reached the current tier level cap, overflow experience points will be automatically converted into skill proficiency and free attribute points!"

Awesome!

Su Mo clenched his fists, feeling the terrifying power inside his body that seemed about to overflow.

Level 75! This was the peak of a Second Awakening professional!

Any higher, and he would need to complete the Third Awakening quest to continue leveling up.

He raised the corner of his mouth; this feeling of steady improvement was more real than anything else.

But this wasn't the best part.

The best part was his "harem group".

Shen Yufu, Rose, Luo Xiaorou, Samantha...

These girls, who were only level 40 or 50, saw their levels skyrocket like they were taking a rocket under the irrigation of this experience rain!

"Shen Yufu level increased to LV70!"

"Rose level increased to LV70!"

"Luo Xiaorou level increased to LV60!"

...

Even Qin Lan, who had the lowest level, rushed to LV49 in one breath, stuck at the bottleneck of the First Awakening!

And the highest-level Irina broke through directly to LV89!

Just one step away from the 90-level threshold for the Fourth Awakening!

How could this be a ragtag army?

If they were taken out now, it would be a terrifying legion of high-tier, or even quasi-overlord level members!

"Huff... huff..."

Long Xiya leaned on her dragon spear, half-kneeling on the ground, panting heavily.

The dragon scale armor on her body had become dim, and her fiery red long hair was soaked with sweat, sticking to her cheeks.

Although she was tired, her golden vertical pupils flashed with golden-red light.

Awesome! So awesome!

The feeling of pinning a demigod to the ground and rubbing him, especially tearing the mouth of that foul-mouthed guy, made every pore in her body relax.

"Hey, mother... cough cough, beautiful dragon lady."

Su Mo landed from the air, originally wanting to be snarky, but seeing Long Xiya's murderous look, he quickly changed his words.

He walked to the floating divinity fragment, reached out, and grabbed it, putting it into his pocket.

Then he turned to look at Long Xiya and grinned.

"Good cooperation."

"Does this count as us being even?"

Long Xiya stood up, put away her dragon spear, and gave Su Mo a deep look.

"Even?"

She snorted coldly, brushed the messy hair from her ear, and returned to her cold, aloof demeanor.

"In your dreams."

"I struck that spear for myself; it had nothing to do with saving you."

"You still owe me one... promise yourself to me."

After saying that, she didn't wait for Su Mo to react and turned to walk toward the Golden God-Platform.

Leaving Su Mo with an extremely stylish back.

Su Mo touched his nose, looking at the retreating back, the smile on his lips deepening.

This woman... is interesting.

...

"The third round of trials is completely over!"

"Congratulations to all survivors, you have passed the test of life and death!"

"Next, the final stage of this 'Contest of Ten Thousand Nations' is about to begin — The War of National Fortune!"

Rumble —!

As the electronic voice faded, the blood-red wilderness battlefield began to disintegrate and reorganize like a puzzle.

The ground under their feet shook violently, and the entire world was being torn apart by an invisible force.

Immediately after, countless golden light spots gathered from the void, paving a golden road to the clouds under everyone's feet.

A majestic and ancient aura rushed towards them, making people feel awe.

And at the end of that road.

A magnificent, huge floating island that could not be described in words revealed its true form.

In the center of the island stood an ancient and sacred altar.

Above the altar floated an artifact emitting nine-colored divine light, its specific shape unclear.

That was... the ultimate reward that every country dreamed of!

[national guardian artifact]!

"Rules: The final stage is a free-for-all battle!"

"All surviving players can ascend to the 'God-Sealing Platform'!"

"Whoever can hold the 'national guardian artifact' for ten minutes will be the final winner of this Contest of Ten Thousand Nations!"

"The winner's country will have its national fortune increased by 100%! Resource output doubled! Experience acquisition rate +20%! And receive the protection of the artifact!"

Once this reward was announced, all the survivors' eyes turned red.

This was no longer just a game.

This was national fortune! This was the future!

This was a chance to ascend to the heavens in one step!

"Artifact..."

Su Mo narrowed his eyes, looking at that cluster of nine-colored divine light.

Even from such a distance, he could feel the terrifying energy contained within that thing.

If he could snatch this thing back, whether for his own use or to sell it for money (crossed out), it would be a huge profit!

"Let's go!"

Su Mo waved his hand and led his "female combat team," who had just leveled up and were in a high-spirited state, onto the golden road.

However.

When they arrived under the altar of the floating island, the atmosphere became somewhat strange.

The Xia Nation team, which should have been united against the outside, was not huddling together as before.

Thunder Breaks Heaven, Burning Fierce, Ye Wuhen, and even Long Xiya, who had been fighting side by side with Su Mo, all silently distanced themselves from Su Mo.

They stood at the four corners of the altar, faintly forming a standoff situation.

Su Mo scanned them, a flash of realization in his eyes, but he said nothing.

And opposite them.

Adam Smith and Sato Ryuichi, who had suffered heavy casualties but were still alive, were behaving abnormally at this moment.

There was no more fear or despair on their faces.

Instead, they revealed a sinister, unconcerned, and ferocious grin.

"Su Mo, you are strong, really strong."

Adam Smith held a yellowed, ancient parchment scroll in his hand, and the aura emanating from that scroll was not much weaker than the previous Abyssal Demon Lord projection!

An ancient and powerful divine pressure permeated from the scroll.

He looked at Su Mo, his mouth split open, with a hint of morbid excitement.

"To be able to kill a demigod, you do have the capital to be arrogant."

"But..."

"This game has never just been about individual strength."

"It looks at... foundations! It looks at background! It looks at ancestors!"

Beside him, Sato Ryuichi also laughed sinisterly, clutching a black magatama carved with runes.

Ghost-like runes vaguely appeared on the magatama, emitting an unsettling and evil aura.

"Exactly."

"Mr. Su Mo, your summons are indeed powerful."

"But I don't know if you can still be this arrogant when facing the 'True God' projections of our two countries..."